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Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with increasing prevalence worldwide, significantly affecting quality of life. While dietary factors are suspected to influence the onset and severity of AD, the relationship between comprehensive dietary patterns and AD, particularly in conjunction with comorbidities such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies, remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the dietary patterns of adults and children with AD and their association with disease severity and the presence of comorbidities. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 patients diagnosed with AD, recruited from the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology (DVL). Dietary patterns were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and AD severity was measured using the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. The presence of comorbidities, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergies, was confirmed through patient history, clinical examination, and review of medical records. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The study found that the mixed diet pattern had the highest adherence (mean ± SD: 7.1 ± 1.9), followed by vegetarian (5.8 ± 1.9) and non-vegetarian (5.1 ± 2.0) patterns. The mean SCORAD index was 43.8 ± 14.1, indicating moderate to severe AD. Pruritus and sleep loss scores were 5.1 ± 2.0 and 4.1 ± 1.9, respectively. The prevalence of comorbidities was 36.7% for asthma, 57.3% for allergic rhinitis, and 32.0% for food allergies. The study identified significant associations between dietary patterns and AD severity, as well as with the presence of comorbidities. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential impact of dietary patterns on AD severity and the high prevalence of comorbidities among individuals with AD. The findings suggest that a mixed dietary pattern may be commonly adhered to by AD patients and could play a role in managing the disease. The study emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach in managing AD, considering both dietary interventions and the treatment of comorbid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study included 207 Malabari goats from six centers viz., University Goat and Sheep Farm, Mannuthy and 5 field centres of the ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement (Malabari). The study was planned to detect single nucleotide variations in inhibin alpha gene of Malabari goats. Genomic DNA was isolated from 207 animals and PCR was done to amplify 220 bp fragment of exon 2 region of inhibin alpha (INHA) gene. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique was used to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The SSCP showed a similar pattern of two bands (CC) for all samples and the population was found to be monomorphic for the locus.

The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is a globally threatened species of stork; in Sri Lanka, it is a scarce resident breeder, and the largest bird in the country, yet the population status and ecology of the species is poorly understood. This study tracks the stork’s spatial distribution and habitat use within the island, along with aspects of its ecology. Data was collected via field sampling and questionnaire surveys, over a period of five years across the lowlands of the country. The bird was observed 184 times, with numbers per sighting ranging from 1–17 individuals. The species’ distribution was restricted to dry lowlands (rainfall

Photocatalysis is a process of clean technology where solar energy is converted into useful chemical reactions. There are confronted challenges and limitations when claiming the most efficient TiO2 photocatalytic activity. Scientists tend to break through the barriers of TiO2 photocatalysis by implementing different modification strategies for pure TiO2 in order to eliminate the encountered limitations and thereby enhance the efficiency for further development of photocatalytic applications. Charge carrier recombination is one of the major limitations in the photocatalytic process. Doping incorporated with metals and nonmetals owns the capacity to subdue the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes by ensuring charge carrier separation. At the same time, this could enhance the capturing of photoenergy by narrowing the band gap of TiO2. Dye sensitization is another branch of possible modification of TiO2 photocatalysis that is implemented in solar electricity generation, photocatalytic water splitting, and pollutant degradation. It assists in reduction of transparency in the visible range and obtaining a longer electron lifetime by efficient charge separation. Attention is given to the application of TiO2 photocatalysis based on environmental decontamination, biocidal applications, and energy‐based applications. Hence, TiO2 photocatalysis plays a crucial role in reaching higher technological development while maintaining a balance with environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • 0.6 mol% of Nd3+-doped CBP phosphor is promising for near infrared emission applications at 1.06 μm. • The emission band at 1.53 μm is useful in optical communication systems and IR laser applications. • 0.6 mol% of Er3+ doped CBP phosphor useful for green emission applications. Abstract Different concentrations of neodymium (Nd3+) and erbium (Er3+) doped calcium borophosphate (CBP) phosphors were prepared by solid state reaction method. These phosphors were characterized by XPS, photoluminescence (PL) and decay profiles. XPS spectra were recorded and discussed about various anionic groups. NIR photoluminescence spectra were measured and studied for Nd3+ and Er3+ doped CBP phosphors of different concentrations. The PL measurements showed that the intensity of luminescence increased with increasing doping concentrations upto 0.6 mol % and then decreased at higher concentrations due to the concentration quenching effect for both the ions. Decay curves were obtained for the energy levels, 4F 3/2 of Nd3+ and 4I 13/2 of Er3+ in these CBP phosphors and lifetimes were measured. In the case of Er3+ ion, visible emission and decay profiles were also measured in these phosphors. CIE color chromaticity diagrams are drawn for Er3+ ions in calcium borophosphate phosphors. The above results showed that Nd3+ and Er3+ doped CBP phosphors might be useful for NIR and green emission applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Antibiotic overuse and misuse among dentists was found to be substantial. Exploration of scientific literature revealed very limited studies in India assessing the antibiotic prescription pattern among dentists. Antibiotics are one among the most commonly prescribed drugs by dentists for prophylactic and therapeutic management of oro-dental infections. Increasing inappropriate use of antibiotics has helped the bacteria to armor themselves and develop "Antibiotic Resistance." Antibiotic resistance is an emerging global menace haunting all fields of the medical fraternity. All dentists should have to take moral responsibility to minimize and wisely use antibiotics. Aim: To know the prescription pattern of antibiotics for various dental procedures by dental practitioners. Objective: For treating in a better way to prevent antibiotic resistance. Materials and Methods: A self-administered, 12-item close-ended questionnaire was used. Questionnaire consisted of questions pertaining to knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental health care professionals before prescribing antibiotics. Associations were found out via the Chi-square test with P value kept as P ≤ 0.05. Results: With a response rate of 69.76%, medical representatives, patients' preference, fear of losing patients, and fear of spread of infections can potentially "influence" a dentist's capability to prescribe antibiotics. Conclusion: The dental profession as a whole needs to acquire a deeper understanding of the global effects of superfluous antibiotic prescription. Antibiotics, when judiciously used, are precise life-saving drugs. Proper knowledge about the prescription of antibiotics is the need of the hour. As a nation, we must respond to this growing problem so that antibiotics misuse can be stopped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the effect of thermo-diffusion and diffusion-thermo on non-Darcy convective heat and mass transfer flow of a viscous, electrically conducting fluid through a porous medium in a Co-axial cylindrical duct where the boundaries are maintained at temperature Tw and Concentration Cw. The behavior of velocity, temperature and concentration is analyzed at different axial positions. The shear stress and the rate of heat and mass transfer have also been obtained for variations in the governing parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus is a globally threatened species of stork; in Sri Lanka, it is a scarce resident breeder, and the largest bird in the country, yet the population status and ecology of the species is poorly understood. This study tracks the stork's spatial distribution and habitat use within the island, along with aspects of its ecology. Data was collected via field sampling and questionnaire surveys, over a period of five years across the lowlands of the country. The bird was observed 184 times, with numbers per sighting ranging from 1-17 individuals. The species' distribution was restricted to dry lowlands (rainfall <2200mm, elevation <300m). The bird showed preference for savannah/woody savannahs, dry mixed evergreen forests, permanent wetlands, and croplands, and was prominently found within protected areas. Lesser Adjutants were generally solitary, except in the driest months of the year (i.e., August-September and March-April), which are probably the two breeding periods of the bird in Sri Lanka. Except for an abandoned nest, no active nest was found. Habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, agricultural intensification, and development projects were identified as potential threats faced by the species, which varied in magnitude across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]