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In the past two decades, rapid urbanization and globalization have adversely changed our lifestyle and diet habits. Our traditional healthy food habits have been replaced by processed foods with low nutritive value. These measures also saw a high prevalence of depression and other psychiatric disorders not only in western, urbanized countries but also in other developing countries as well. Long-term undernutrition due to deficiency of micronutrients such as iodine and iron can lead to increased chances of physical and mental disabilities. Undernourished children have less energy, decreased curiosity, and less interest in physical activities as well as they lack communication skills. These factors impair their physical, mental, and cognition. The aim of this article was to find the association of micronutrients especially minerals in patients with major depressive disorders. An adequate supply of nutrients is essential to regulate microbiome health and to improve the efficacy of other psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological interventions. Lifestyle interventions in the form of dietary coaching could be used as promising, cost-effective, and practical intervention in depressed individuals. Nutritional interventions should be integrated in the multifactorial and treatment-resistant psychiatry patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hillebrandt, David, Anil Gurtoo, Thomas Kupper, Paul Richards, Volker Schöffl, Pankaj Shah, Rianne van der Spek, Nikki Wallis, and Jim Milledge. UIAA Medical Commission recommendations for mountaineers, hillwalkers, trekkers, and rock and ice climbers with diabetes. High Alt Med Biol. 24: 110–126.—The object of this advice article is not only to give the diabetic mountaineer general guidance but also to inform his or her medical team of practical aspects of care that may not be standard for nonmountaineers. The guidelines are produced in seven sections. The first is an introduction to the guidelines, and the second is an introduction to this medical problem and is designed to be read and understood by diabetic patients and their companions. The third section is for use in an emergency in mountains. The fourth is for rock, ice, and competition climbers operating in a less remote environment. These initial sections are deliberately written in simple language. The fifth and sixth sections are written for clinicians and those with skills to read more technical information, and the seventh looks at modern technology and its pros and cons in diabetes management in a remote area. Sections One and Two could be laminated and carried when in the mountains, giving practical advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide and ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors lie at the heart of next-generation high-power, high-frequency electronics. Here, we report the growth of ultrawide-bandgap boron nitride (BN) thin films on wide-bandgap gallium nitride (GaN) by pulsed laser deposition. Comprehensive spectroscopic (core level and valence band x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman) and microscopic (atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy) characterizations confirm the growth of BN thin films on GaN. Optically, we observed that the BN/GaN heterostructure is second-harmonic generation active. Moreover, we fabricated the BN/GaN heterostructure-based Schottky diode that demonstrates rectifying characteristics, lower turn-on voltage, and an improved breakdown capability (∼234 V) as compared to GaN (∼168 V), owing to the higher breakdown electrical field of BN. Our approach is an early step toward bridging the gap between wide and ultrawide-bandgap materials for potential optoelectronics as well as next-generation high-power electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus in kidney transplant recipients is a risk factor for cardiovascular events and premature death. Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are increasingly used in nontransplant populations to improve diabetes control and cardiovascular and renal benefits. Limited literature exists regarding the safety and efficacy of these agents in renal transplant recipients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all kidney transplant recipients within our health system who were prescribed a SGLT2i after transplantation for diabetes. The safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of SGLT2i were analyzed. Results: Thirty‐nine kidney transplant recipients were initiated on SGLT2i therapy, twenty‐seven of which remained on therapy for at least 1 year. Ten (25%) patients experienced an adverse event while on a SGLT2i, with urinary tract infections (UTI) being the most common. Seventeen patients (43%) discontinued the SGLT2i at the time of chart review, most commonly due to cost and kidney function decline. The median [IQR] hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at SGLT2i initiation of 8.4% [7.8–9.2] decreased to 7.5% [6.8–8.0%] after 3 months and 7.5% [6.5–7.9] after 12 months. No meaningful change in kidney function or tacrolimus exposure was observed. Conclusion: SGLT2i may be a safe and effective treatment for diabetes in kidney transplant recipients. Cost is a barrier to SGLT2i therapy, and UTIs were the most frequently encountered adverse events in this cohort. More studies are needed to understand the safety profile and determine the effect of SGLT2i on diabetes‐related comorbidities among kidney transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is pertinent to have a Tuning Fork Hearing Test that stand-alone can detect severities (Mild, Moderate, Severe and Profound) and the types of hearing losses (Conductive, Sensorineural, and Mixed). A novel 3-Step Tuning Fork Hearing Test (3-STFHT) was attempted for the first time that could detect both the types and the severities of hearing losses. The study was aimed to describe the method of the 3-STFHT and evaluate its clinical utility and reliability. Research Design: Hospital-based observational study of a diagnostic tool. Settings: Otorhinolaryngology Department of a tertiary care medical college hospital. Subjects: 108 adult patients (216 ears) who required hearing evaluation. Main Outcome measures: Sensitivity and specificity of novel 3-STFHT were assessed by comparing its results with the reports of pure tone audiometry in detecting the type and severity of hearing loss. The new 3-STFHT was found very effective (100% sensitivity and specificity) in detecting conductive and profound sensorineural hearing losses. The sensitivity in detecting sensorineural hearing loss was found 97%-100%. The sensitivity was observed relatively low (92%) at detecting mixed hearing loss. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the 3-STFHT in detecting the types of hearing losses was found 97% and 86% respectively. The novel 3-STFHT, which is simple and convenient, was found very effective in detecting the types and severity of hearing losses. The 3-STFHT can be an important tool in otorhinolaryngology practice and in primary care setting for detecting and screening the types and severities of hearing losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis (CKD-5D) are among the worst hit by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Need to travel for dialysis, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive state put them at risk of severe disease and poor outcomes. We report our experience of COVID-19 in a cohort of CKD-5D from a public sector tertiary-care center from western India. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 58 CKD-5D patients with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to our COVID-19 hospital. Suspected COVID-19, acute kidney injury (AKI), or AKI on CKD were excluded. We studied the clinical, demographic, radiological, and laboratory profiles; treatment; and outcomes of the patients. We assessed the potential clinical and laboratory parameters to predict mortality. Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.7 ± 16.9 years, with 55% males. Comorbidities included hypertension (65%), diabetes (19%), and cardiovascular disease (15.5%). The presenting features included fever (69%), respiratory distress (50%), upper respiratory symptoms (36%), and diarrhea (13%). Five (8.6%) were asymptomatic. Bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging were the commonest radiological pattern. The patients were managed with oxygenation, hydroxychloroquine, steroids, anticoagulation, remdesivir, and favipiravir. Twenty-two (37.9%) patients died, predominantly due to respiratory failure. Disease severity and C-reactive protein (CRP) above 175 mg/L at admission were the only parameters predictive of mortality. Conclusion: CKD-5D patients with COVID-19 were less likely to present with the classical syndrome of fever and respiratory distress compared with reports from the general population and had higher mortality. Only disease severity and high CRP (>175 mg/L) were predictive of mortality in our cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although acute encephalopathy is quite commonly seen in patients of SARS-CoV-2 infection, encephalitis characterised by brain inflammation is relatively rare. Encephalitis caused by Herpes simplex type 1 is the most common cause of identified sporadic encephalitis, and early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent the devastating outcome. In this brief communication, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 associated haemorrhagic encephalitis mimicking herpes encephalitis. In today's pandemic era, it is especially important to distinguish herpes encephalitis from SARS-CoV-2-associated encephalitis as treatment and prognosis of both the conditions differ greatly. This case highlights the importance of suspecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient presenting with clinical symptoms and brain imaging suggestive of Herpes encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of adolescent girls in rural India lack awareness regarding menstrual hygiene management (MHM), access to sanitary absorbents and necessary facilities in schools, homes, and workplaces. This study evaluated an intervention to strengthen a public health programme aimed to increase the use of safe, sanitary absorbents and knowledge of MHM among tribal adolescent girls. This project was implemented in 202 villages of two sub-districts of Narmada district in Gujarat, India, for one year (2018–2019). The intervention consisted of capacity building of 892 government frontline health workers and teachers, followed by supportive supervision. Convergence with concerned departments was achieved through meetings with stakeholders. "MHM-corners" and "MHM-Committees" were created at schools and Anganwadi-centres to improve access to menstrual absorbents and information. Household surveys of adolescent girls were conducted at baseline (n = 507) and end-line (n = 550) in 27 randomly selected villages to evaluate outcomes. Of 550 girls at the end-line, mean age 16.3 years, 487 (88.5%) were tribal, and 243 (44%) were out-of-school. The primary outcome of interest, the proportion of adolescent girls using safe, sanitary absorbents, increased from 69% to 90.5% (OR: 5.19, CI: 3.61–7.47). Their knowledge of the uterus as the origin of menstrual blood and hormonal changes as the cause for menstruation improved from 6.3% to 66% (p-value < 0.001) and 7.5% to 73% (p-value < 0.001), respectively. School absenteeism during menstruation reduced from 24% to 14% (p-value < 0.001). It is possible to improve MHM knowledge and practices among adolescent girls from tribal communities by utilising existing government systems. Awareness and access to safe absorbents can lead to safe and hygienic MHM practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, the thermal performance of a hydrogen (H)-terminated diamond field-effect transistor (FET) is investigated using Raman spectroscopy and electrothermal device modeling. First, the thermal conductivity (κdiamond) of the active diamond channel was determined by measuring the temperature rise of transmission line measurement structures under various heat flux conditions using nanoparticle-assisted Raman thermometry. Using this approach, κdiamond was estimated to be 1860 W/m K with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 1610 to 2120 W/m K. In conjunction with measured electrical output characteristics, this κ was used as an input parameter for an electrothermal device model of an H-terminated diamond FET. The simulated thermal response showed good agreement with surface temperature measurements acquired using nanoparticle-assisted Raman thermometry. These diamond-based structures were highly efficient at dissipating heat from the active device channel with measured device thermal resistances as low as ∼1 mm K/W. Using the calibrated electrothermal device model, the diamond FET was able to operate at a very high power density of 40 W/mm with a simulated temperature rise of ∼33 K. Finally, the thermal resistance of these lateral diamond FETs was compared to lateral transistor structures based on other ultrawide bandgap materials (Al0.70Ga0.30N, β-Ga2O3) and wide bandgap GaN for benchmarking. These results indicate that the thermal resistance of diamond-based lateral transistors can be up to ∼10× lower than GaN-based devices and ∼50× lower than other UWBG devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19-associated neurological manifestations are being reported with increased frequency throughout the world. In a study from China, symptoms referable to peripheral nervous system (PNS) were described in approximately 9% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients. Common PNS symptoms reported in the study were loss of taste/smell and muscle pains. With this communication, we expand the spectrum of PNS manifestations of Covid-19 infection by reporting an association of steroid responsive diffuse anterior horn cell disease with Covid-19 infection from a tertiary care centre in India. Neurological manifestations of Covid-19 are diverse, and our case which to best of my knowledge is the first case in literature to report an occurrence of steroid responsive diffuse anterior horn cell disease associated with Covid-19 infection, adds to the ever-increasing spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with this pandemic causing virus. Good response to steroid in our case serves to provide an insight into the possible pathogenesis of this manifestation and also paves the way for future therapeutic decisions related to this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Hydrogenated diamond has been regarded as a promising material in electronic device applications, especially in field-effect transistors (FETs). However, the quality of diamond hydrogenation has not yet been established, nor has the specific orientation that would provide the optimum hydrogen coverage. In addition, most theoretical work in the literature use models with 100% hydrogenated diamond surfaces to study electronic properties, which could be unreachable experimentally. In this work, we have carried out a detailed study using fully atomistic reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on low indices diamond surfaces i.e. (0 0 1), (0 1 3), (1 1 0), (1 1 3), and (1 1 1) to evaluate the quality and hydrogenation thresholds on different diamond surfaces and their possible effects on electronic properties. Our simulation results indicate that the 100% surface hydrogenation on these surfaces is hard to achieve because of the steric repulsion between the terminated hydrogen atoms. Among all the considered surfaces, the (0 0 1), (1 1 0), and (1 1 3) surfaces incorporate a larger number of hydrogen atoms and passivate the surface dangling bonds. Our results on hydrogen stability also suggest that these surfaces with optimum hydrogen coverage are robust under extreme conditions and could provide homogeneous p-type surface conductivity on the diamond surfaces, a key requirement for high-field, high-frequency device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]