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The heaviest nuclei where excitations above the ground state can be studied lie near Z ~ 100. These nuclear structure studies are important testing grounds for theoretical models that aim to describe superheavy nuclei. To study the highest neutron orbitals (150 ≤ N ≤ 154), we have populated high angular momentum states in a series of Pu (Z = 94), Cm (Z = 96) and Cf (Z = 98) nuclei, via inelastic and transfer reactions, with heavy beams on long-lived radioactive actinide targets. Multiple collective excitation modes and structures were identified, and their configurations deduced. Quasiparticle alignments are mapped, with odd-A band structures helping identify specific orbital contributions via blocking arguments. Higher-order multipole shapes are observed to play a significant role in disentangling competing neutron and proton alignments. The N > 152 data provide new perspectives on physics beyond the N = 152 sub-shell gap.

Excited states in 62Ni were populated with a (p, p’) reaction using the 14UD Pelletron accelerator at the Australian National University. Electric monopole transition strengths, ρ2(E0), were measured through simultaneous detection of the internal conversion electrons and γ rays emitted from the de-excitation of populated states, using the Super-e spectrometer coupled with a germanium detector. The strength of the 02+ to 01+ transition has been measured to be 77−34+23 × 10−3 and agrees with previously reported values. Upper limits have been placed on the 03+ to 01+ and 03+ to 02+ transitions. The measured ρ2(E0) value of the 22+ to 21+ transition in 62Ni has been measured for the first time and found to be one of the largest ρ2(E0) values measured to date in nuclei heavier than Ca. The low-lying states of 62Ni have previously been classified as one- and two-phonon vibrational states based on level energies. The measured electric quadrupole transition strengths are consistent with this interpretation. However as electric monopole transitions are forbidden between states which differ by one phonon number, the simple harmonic quadrupole vibrational picture is not suffcient to explain the large ρ2(E0) value for the 22+ to 21+ transition.

Solenogam is a recoil spectrometer designed and constructed for use at the Australian National University (ANU) Heavy-Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF). The design enables the study of nuclear excitations populated by the decay of long-lived states such as isomers and radioactive ground states. Solenogam is comprised of high-sensitivity γ-ray and electron detector arrays coupled to a new 8-T solenoid. While the installation of the 8-T solenoid proceeds, off-line measurements have been made to characterise Solenogam’s performance. Gamma-electron coincidences in the electron capture decay of 182Re into 182W were used to investigate conversion coeffcients and γ-e– angular correlations. The measured conversion coeffcients show good agreement with theoretical calculations and have been used to extract E0/E2 mixing ratios for a number of J → J transitions. The angular correlations measured by the array are in qualitative agreement with theoretical calculations. However, the magnitudes of the correlations are attenuated by approximately 40% for reasons unknown at present. These results are the first full use of the Solenogam system for γ-e– coincidence measurements and have proven that the system is capable of highly-sensitive internal conversion analysis of complex decays.

Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been linked to serious illnesses in both humans and animals. The presence of hemolysin, a virulence factor, is critical in the development of A. hydrophila-related illnesses. As a result, precise and timely detection of the hemolysin gene is critical for efficient diagnosis and prevention of many illnesses. The PCR is used in this study to detect the hemolysin gene of A. hydrophila in a novel, fast, and highly sensitive one-step technique. Specific primers were constructed to amplify a conserved area within the hemolysin gene to achieve both specificity as well as sensitivity. The PCR assay was rigorously optimized, taking temperature, primer concentration, and reaction time into account, in order to maximize the efficiency and reliability of this method. In conclusion, this method’s simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity make it highly promising for regular diagnostic applications. Its application would allow for the early detection of A. hydrophila infections, allowing for more effective treatment and control methods.

Investors today are more inclined towards a financial market that increases their knowledge and excess involvement. It is often observed that they are extensively emotionally involved, that impact financial investors’ investment decisions. It is observed that investors always seek guidance from an expert to invest in more appropriate products and services. This guidance and support lead to reaching the ultimate satisfaction of the participants.

Reducibility of iron bearing material is an important property which represents its suitability of reduction in iron making furnaces. It has direct influence on improving productivity and lowering energy consumption in iron making process. The reducibility of iron ore pellets of a specific chemistry can be improved by the optimization of physical parameters such as induration temperature, improving size distribution of fines, improving apparent porosity etc. In this study, the reference pellet is prepared in a typical plant condition and the properties of the reference pellet are considered as base value to improve reducibility index (RI) maintaining other properties at the acceptable limit without altering pellet chemistry. Optimization of induration temperature at the 1250-1275ºC shows around 74 % RI, which is 5 points more than the base value of 69.5 %. Furthermore, on optimizing additives size, such as limestone fines and anthracite coal fines at -350 mesh and induration temperature of 1250-1275ºC, RI is improved to 77 %, i.e., 8 points improvement is achieved with respect to the base value.

Research Question: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical decision support tool, Opt-IVF, in achieving the following outcomes: reducing the total cumulative dosage of Gonadotropins (Gn) used during controlled ovarian stimulation cycles and reducing the repeated ultrasonogram (USG) monitoring for follicular growth monitoring without compromising the number of good quality blastocysts obtained., Design: The study design employed a Multi-center Randomized Trial. The study enrolled 115 women aged 25-45 years undergoing IVF. Among the participants, 55 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (Opt-IVF), and 60 were randomly assigned to the control group. The intervention involved using a clinical decision support tool, Opt-IVF, to guide Gonadotropin dosing and trigger dates for a personalized controlled ovarian stimulation cycle., Results: The participants in the intervention group required significantly lower cumulative gonadotropin dosage during their controlled ovarian stimulation cycles. The intervention group had higher numbers of oocytes retrieved and M2 oocytes retrieved than the control group. The number of good quality blastocysts, the good blastocyst rate, the ovarian sensitivity index (OSI), and the pregnancy rate in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group., Conclusions: The utilization of the clinical decision support tool led to several positive outcomes, including eliminating the need for ultrasound exams after day 5, reducing the dosage of gonadotropin required, and yielding significantly higher numbers of high-quality blastocysts and higher pregnancy rates. Thus, Opt-IVF can successfully provide a personalized, optimized, and simplified approach to superovulation. Opt-IVF consistently outperformed the clinical teams in all outcomes.

Digital smile designing (DSD) is a concept of dentistry which combines the old and the new and becomes a different world in the world of smile aesthetics and functionality. Dental aesthetics is not just a cosmetic issue but a multidimensional part of oral health that has a great impact on psychological well-being, social life, functional capabilities, and, hence, the quality of life. To put it simply, the recognition of its significance stresses the necessity of complete dental care which is the one that combines beauty and function as well as health. This systematic review aims to analyze the recent use and patient satisfaction of DSD and to show the recent advances in DSD. A thorough literature search was conducted across the online databases for articles about the implementation of digital smile analysis in dentistry. The articles that were published between 2013 and 2023 on DSD were selected which included randomized and non-randomized trials and observational studies covering the effectiveness, advantages, and patients' opinions about the treatment. The National Institutes of Health tool was applied for bias assessment. Ten studies were selected to address the use of DSD in dentistry based on the inclusion criteria. The findings from these studies suggest that DSD is useful in improving communication, reducing working time, minimizing errors, enhancing patient satisfaction, and providing clinical adequacy for final prosthetic pieces, indicating the usefulness of this approach in dental procedures. Smile designing using digital technologies has the potential to improve dental aesthetics and treatment procedures while showcasing their reliability and clinical effectiveness., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Jain et al.)

When considering dental restorations, the use of fixed partial dentures is one of the most widely accepted treatment options. In the past, fabrication was done using traditional techniques and the conventional workflow was by far the popular method; however, nowadays digital workflows are being used as a means to produce the prosthesis. This systematic review aims to compare the workflows by considering their respective qualities, such as precision, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and clinical performance. A complete search has been carried out to incorporate any relevant studies published between the years 2012 and 2023 in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library. Two independent reviewers screened articles for inclusion and assessed the studies' methodological quality rating via the NIH Tool. A total of 22 relevant articles were reviewed after a systematic search strategy. The main outcome of the review was digital workflows were found to reduce working time, eliminate the selection of trays, minimize material consumption, and enhance patient comfort and acceptance. The studies also showed that digital workflows resulted in greater patient satisfaction and higher success rates than conventional workflows. Workflows for digital dentistry demonstrated to be better than traditional ones due to the cost-effectiveness, accuracy, and time optimization for the fabrication of fixed prostheses., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Mahato et al.)

Introduction: Traditionally, radiographs were used to assess the working length of root canals. However, the use of Electronic Apex Locators (EAL) may be a non-invasive alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the electronic apex locator (EAL) compared to radiographic measurements in determining the working length of root canals., Method: The study assessed the performance of EALs in different scenarios, including the presence of blood and pulp tissue, the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an irrigant, and post-instrumentation with normal saline. An electronic apex locator (DTE DPEX-V; Woodpecker, China) was used alongside traditional radiographs to measure the working length in 144 root canal treatments. Bland-Altman analysis was used to compare the measurements between EAL and radiographs using Jamovi software, v2.4.8 (https://www.jamovi.org/)., Result: The findings revealed strong correlations between EAL and radiographic measurements across all testing environments, with Pearson's correlation coefficients ranging from 0.944 to 0.998. The Bland-Altman analysis suggests bias; the average difference was negative and close to zero (Pulp: -0.354, EDTA: -0.0972, NaOCl: -0.0382, Saline: -0.0139) when EAL measurements were compared to radiographic measurements., Conclusion: The working length measurement of root canals using an electronic apex locator such as DTE DPEX-V is comparable to traditional radiographic measurements. The use of irrigants improves the measurement. The EAL has the potential to be an alternative to the invasive radiograph for root canal length measurement., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Bhagat et al.)

Aim: To assess this risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among Ontario physicians by specialty and in comparison with non-physician controls during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the primary outcome was incident SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Secondary outcomes were hospitalization, use of critical care, and mortality., Results: From March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, 6172/30 617 (20%) active Ontario physicians tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Infection was less likely if physicians were older (OR 0.78 [0.76-0.81] per 10 years), rural residents (OR 0.70 [0.59-0.83]), and lived in more marginalized neighborhoods (OR 0.74 [0.62-0.89]), but more likely if they were female (OR 1.14 [1.07-1.22]), worked in long-term care settings (OR 1.16 [1.02-1.32]), had higher patient volumes (OR 2.05 [1.82-2.30] for highest vs lowest), and were pediatricians (OR 1.25 [1.09-1.44]). Compared with community-matched controls (n=29 763), physicians had a higher risk of infection during the first two waves of the pandemic (OR 1.38 [1.20-1.59]) but by wave 3 the risk was no longer significantly different (OR 0.93 [0.83-1.05]). Physicians were less likely to be hospitalized within 14 days of their first positive PCR test than non-physicians (P<0.0001), but there was no difference in the use of critical care (P=0.48) or mortality (P=0.15)., Conclusion: Physicians had higher rates of infection than community-matched controls during the first two waves of the pandemic in Ontario, but not from wave 3 onward. Physicians practicing in long-term care facilities and pediatricians were more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 than other physicians.

Candida parapsilosis is a common cause of non - albicans candidemia. It can be transmitted in healthcare settings resulting in serious healthcare-associated infections and can develop drug resistance to commonly used antifungal agents. Following a significant increase in the percentage of fluconazole (FLU)-nonsusceptible isolates from sterile site specimens of patients in two Ontario acute care hospital networks, we used whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis to retrospectively investigate the genetic relatedness of isolates and to assess potential in-hospital spread. Phylogenomic analysis was conducted on all 19 FLU-resistant and seven susceptible-dose dependent (SDD) isolates from the two hospital networks, as well as 13 FLU susceptible C. parapsilosis isolates from the same facilities and 20 isolates from patients not related to the investigation. Twenty-five of 26 FLU-nonsusceptible isolates (resistant or SDD) and two susceptible isolates from the two hospital networks formed a phylogenomic cluster that was highly similar genetically and distinct from other isolates. The results suggest the presence of a persistent strain of FLU-nonsusceptible C. parapsilosis causing infections over a 5.5-year period. Results from WGS were largely comparable to microsatellite typing. Twenty-seven of 28 cluster isolates had a K143R substitution in lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (ERG11) associated with azole resistance. As the first report of a healthcare-associated outbreak of FLU-nonsusceptible C. parapsilosis in Canada, this study underscores the importance of monitoring local antimicrobial resistance trends and demonstrates the value of WGS analysis to detect and characterize clusters and outbreaks. Timely access to genomic epidemiological information can inform targeted infection control measures., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Intestinal colonization with pathogens and antimicrobial-resistant organisms (AROs) is associated with increased risk of infection. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) has successfully been used to cure recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and to decolonize intestinal AROs. However, FMT has significant practical barriers to safe and broad implementation. Microbial consortia represent a novel strategy for ARO and pathogen decolonization, with practical and safety advantages over FMT. We undertook an investigator-initiated analysis of stool samples collected from previous interventional studies of a microbial consortium, microbial ecosystem therapeutic (MET-2), and FMT for rCDI before and after treatment. Our aim was to assess whether MET-2 was associated with decreased Pseudomonadota (Proteobacteria ) and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) burden with similar effects to FMT. Participants were selected for inclusion if baseline stool had Pseudomonadota relative abundance ≥10%. Pre- and post-treatment Pseudomonadota relative abundance, total ARGs, and obligate anaerobe and butyrate-producer relative abundances were determined by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. MET-2 administration had similar effects to FMT on microbiome outcomes. The median Pseudomonadota relative abundance decreased by four logs after MET-2 treatment, a greater decrease than that observed after FMT. Total ARGs decreased, while beneficial obligate anaerobe and butyrate-producer relative abundances increased. The observed microbiome response remained stable over 4 months post-administration for all outcomes. IMPORTANCE Overgrowth of intestinal pathogens and AROs is associated with increased risk of infection. With the rise in antimicrobial resistance, new therapeutic strategies that decrease pathogen and ARO colonization in the gut are needed. We evaluated whether a microbial consortium had similar effects to FMT on Pseudomonadota abundances and ARGs as well as obligate anaerobes and beneficial butyrate producers in individuals with high Pseudomonadota relative abundance at baseline. This study provides support for a randomized, controlled clinical trial of microbial consortia (such as MET-2) for ARO decolonization and anaerobe repletion., Competing Interests: The authors declare a conflict of interest. E.A.V. is a cofounder of Nubiyota and K.C. is employed by Nubiyota. S.H. was an investigator in a clinical trial by Finch Therapeutics, for which she received a research grant. NuBiyota manufactured MET-2 and funded the original trial. No funding was received from NuBiyota for the current study.

Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of performing retropubic mid-urethral transvaginal tape (TVT) with self-tailored ordinary polypropylene mesh (STOM) under sedation and local anesthesia in female patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The second objective was to evaluate perioperative and immediate postoperative complications, success rates, and cost-effectivity. Materials and methods Forty-two subjects treated for stress urinary incontinence using STOM under local anesthesia were reviewed. Pre- and postoperative evaluation included assessment of valid questionnaires such as the urogenital distress inventory (UDI) and medical, epidemiologic, and social aspects of aging incontinence questionnaire (MESA), uroflowmetry in all cases, and urodynamics in some instances. Success rates and complications were compared with published studies. Results The mean operating time was 27 mins, and the median visual analog scale (VAS) score at 12 hours was three. Postoperative MESA and UDI scores had significant improvement. The mean hospital stay was 18 hours. Mean preoperative and postoperative Q max had no significant difference. With a mean follow-up of 27.32±3.29 months, the cure was seen in 38 patients (90.4%), improvement in three patients (0.07%), and failure in one patient (0.02%). Mesh-related complications (extrusion) occurred in one patient. The sling cost was reduced from approximately $500 (Gynecare TVT sling; Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) to $12.44 (Ethicon 15 x 7.6 cm Prolene (polypropylene mesh); Ethicon Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA) in our study. Conclusion Performing TVT with STOM under sedation and local anesthesia as a daycare procedure was feasible and cost-effective, has a high success rate, and was associated with minimal complications. It should be considered in developing countries with vast patient burdens, such as India., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Kalra et al.)

Aim: The aim of the current research was to assess the ability of different dental varnishes in averting enamel demineralization adjoining the orthodontic brackets., Materials and Methods: Seventy-five premolars devoid of dental caries that were subjected to extraction for orthodontic purposes were employed in this research. The surface of enamel was etched with 37% phosphoric acid and subjected to primer application. Individual brackets were placed on the midregion of the buccal surfaces of the premolars with Transbond™ XT adhesive. Postbracket bonding, the dry premolar tooth samples were set aside cautiously. The samples were then allocated to three groups: Group I: Duraphat Varnish, Group II: Clinpro XT Varnish, and Group III: Profluorid Varnish. Every sample was independently subjected to immersion in demineralizing solution for a period of 96 h at 37°C in an incubator. Areas of demineralization were evaluated by documenting the microhardness along the severed surface using a microhardness tester equipped with a Vickers diamond., Results: The highest surface microhardness was noted with Profluorid Varnish group at 328.48 ± 1.12 in pursuit by Clinpro XT Varnish group at 322.08 ± 0.04 as well as Duraphat Varnish group at 307.42 ± 0.28 with a statistically noteworthy dissimilarity amid the groups., Conclusion: In conclusion, the three varnishes employed had an influence on the prevention of enamel demineralization surrounding the orthodontic brackets. Profluorid varnish however exhibited maximum efficiency in avoiding enamel demineralization versus Clinpro XT varnish as well as Duraphat varnish group., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the speech analysis in acquired maxillary defect patients treated with maxillary obturator., Materials and Methods: Total of 16 patients were considered in the study. The age group of these patients ranged from 40 to 75 years with a mean age of 59.5 years, irrespective of their gender. The surgical obturator was fabricated using self-cure acrylic. The surgical obturator was delivered immediately after surgery. After a healing period of about 2 weeks, the surgical obturator was replaced by an interim prosthesis. This was processed with the help of heat-cure polymethylmethacrylate. The total number of patients was divided into two groups, namely, (A) Definitive obturator group and (B) Interim obturator group. The speech intelligibility (SI), was analyzed., Results: The mean scores for SI before prosthesis in definitive and interim groups were 19.13 ± 3.22 and 19.87 ± 1.72, respectively. This was increased after prosthesis insertion to 24.38 ± 1.30 and 22.37 ± 1.18, which further increased after adaptation period of 2 months to 28.75 ± 1.28 and 24.62 ± 1.59 in two groups., Conclusion: The present study concluded that speech was severely affected by maxillary resection and that rehabilitation with maxillary obturator was successful in restoring these aspects of speech., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Introduction: Population-level surveillance systems have demonstrated reduced transmission of non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined whether this reduction translated to reduced hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits associated with influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, human parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus, and common cold coronavirus in Ontario., Methods: Hospital admissions were identified from the Discharge Abstract Database and exclude elective surgical admissions and non-emergency medical admissions (January 2017-March 2022). Emergency department (ED) visits were identified from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes were used to classify hospital visits by virus type (January 2017-May 2022)., Results: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitalizations for all viruses were reduced to near-trough levels. Hospitalizations and ED visits for influenza (9,127/year and 23,061/year, respectively) were nearly absent throughout the pandemic (two influenza seasons; April 2020-March 2022). Hospitalizations and ED visits for RSV (3,765/year and 736/year, respectively) were absent for the first RSV season during the pandemic, but returned for the 2021/2022 season. This resurgence of hospitalizations for RSV occurred earlier in the season than expected, was more likely among younger infants (age ≤6 months), more likely among older children (aged 6.1-24 months), and less likely to comprise of patients residing in higher areas of ethnic diversity (p<0.0001)., Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a reduced the burden of other respiratory infections on patients and hospitals. The epidemiology of respiratory viruses in the 2022/23 season remains to be seen., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Habbous et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Dynamic muscular workload assessments of tractor operators are rarely studied or documented, which is critical to improving their performance efficiency and safety. A study was conducted to assess and model dynamic load on muscles, physiological variations, and discomfort of the tractor operators arriving from the repeated clutch and brake operations using wearable non-invasive ergonomic transducers and data-run techniques. Nineteen licensed tractor operators operated three different tractor types of varying power ranges at three operating speeds (4-5 km/h), and on two common operating surfaces (tarmacadam and farm roads). During these operations, ergonomic transducers were utilized to capture the load on foot muscles (gastrocnemius right [GR] and soleus right [SR] for brake operation and gastrocnemius left [GL], and soleus left [SL] for clutch operation) using electromyography (EMG). Forces exerted by the feet during brake and clutch operations were measured using a custom-developed foot transducer. During the process, heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption rates (OCR) were also measured using HR monitor and K4b2 systems, and energy expenditure rate (EER) was determined using empirical equation. Post-tractor operation cycle, an overall discomfort rating (ODR) for that operation was manually recorded on a 10-point psychophysical scale. EMG-based maximum volumetric contraction (%MVC) measurements revealed higher strain on GR (%MVC = 43%), GL (%MVC = 38%), and SR (%MVC = 41%) muscles which in normal conditions should be below 30%. The clutch and brake actuation forces were recorded in the ranges of 90-312 N and 105-332 N, respectively and were significantly affected by the operating speed, tractor type, and operating surface ( p < 0.05). EERs of the operators were measured in the moderate-heavy to heavy ranges (9-24 kJ/min) during the course of trials, suggesting the need to refine existing clutch and brake system designs. Average operator ODR responses indicated 7.8% operations in light, 48.5% in light-moderate, 25.2% in moderate, 10.7% in moderate-high, and 4.9% operations in high discomfort categories. When evaluated for the possibility of minimizing the number of transducers for physical workload assessment, EER showed moderate-high correlations with the EMG signals ( r GR = 0.78, r GL = 0.75, r SR = 0.68, r SL = 0.66). Similarly, actuation forces had higher correlations with EMG signals for all the selected muscles ( r = 0.70-0.87), suggesting the use of simpler transducers for effective operator workload assessment. As a means to minimize subjectivity in ODR responses, machine learning algorithms, including K-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest classifier (RFC), and support vector machine (SVM), predicted the ODR using body mass index (BMI), HR, EER, and EMG at high accuracies of 87-97%, with RFC being the most accurate. Such high-throughput and data-run ergonomic evaluations can be instrumental in reconsidering workplace designs and better fits for end-users in terms of agricultural tractors and machinery systems.

Background: Reliable reports on hand hygiene performance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking as most hospitals continue to rely on direct observation to measure this quality indicator. Using group electronic hand hygiene monitoring, we sought to assess the impact of COVID-19 on adherence to hand hygiene., Methods: Across 12 Ontario hospitals (5 university and 7 community teaching hospitals), a group electronic hand hygiene monitoring system was installed before the pandemic to provide continuous measurement of hand hygiene adherence across 978 ward and 367 critical care beds. We performed an interrupted time-series study of institutional hand hygiene adherence in association with a COVID-19 inpatient census and the Ontario daily count of COVID-19 cases during a baseline period (Nov. 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020), the pre-peak period of the first wave of the pandemic (Mar. 1 to Apr. 24, 2020), and the post-peak period of the first wave (Apr. 25 to July 5, 2020). We used a Poisson regression model to assess the association between the hospital COVID-19 census and institutional hand hygiene adherence while adjusting for the correlation within inpatient units., Results: At baseline, the rate of hand hygiene adherence was 46.0% (6 325 401 of 13 750 968 opportunities) and this improved beginning in March 2020 to a daily peak of 79.3% (66 640 of 84 026 opportunities) on Mar. 30, 2020. Each patient admitted with COVID-19 was associated with improved hand hygiene adherence (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.0621, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0619-1.0623). Increasing Ontario daily case count was similarly associated with improved hand hygiene (IRR 1.0026, 95% CI 1.0021-1.0032). After peak COVID-19 community and inpatient numbers, hand hygiene adherence declined and returned to baseline., Interpretation: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with significant improvement in hand hygiene adherence, measured using a group electronic monitoring system. Future research should seek to determine whether strategies that focus on health care worker perception of personal risk can achieve sustainable improvements in hand hygiene performance., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Susy Hota reports funding from Finch Therapeutics Group and participation with the board of directors of the 2Association for Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Canada, outside the submitted work. Jerome Leis reports payment for expert testimony for the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Ministry of Attorney General, outside the submitted work. No other competing interests were declared., (© 2021 CMA Joule Inc. or its licensors.)

Industrialization and modernization of agricultural systems contaminated lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere of the Earth. Sustainable remediation of contamination is essential for environmental sustainability. Myco-remediation is proposed to be a green, economical, and efficient technology over conventional remediation technologies to combat escalating pollution problems at a global scale. Fungi can perform remediation of pollutants through several mechanisms like biosorption, precipitation, biotransformation, and sequestration. Myco-remediation significantly removes or degrades metal metals, persistent organic pollutants, and other emerging pollutants. The current review highlights the species-specific remediation potential, influencing factors, genetic and molecular control mechanism, applicability merits to enhance the bioremediation efficiency. Structure and composition of fungal cell wall is crucial for immobilization of toxic pollutants and a subtle change on fungal cell wall structure may significantly affect the immobilization efficiency. The utilization protocol and applicability of enzyme engineering and myco-nanotechnology to enhance the bioremediation efficiency of any potential fungus was proposed. It is advocated that the association of hyper-accumulator plants with plant growth-promoting fungi could help in an effective cleanup strategy for the alleviation of persistent soil pollutants. The functions, activity, and regulation of fungal enzymes in myco-remediation practices required further research to enhance the myco-remediation potential. Study of the biotransformation mechanisms and risk assessment of the products formed are required to minimize environmental pollution. Recent advancements in molecular "Omic techniques"and biotechnological tools can further upgrade myco-remediation efficiency in polluted soils and water., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey concerning the practice of occlusal splint for treating temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) by the dental practitioners of Jabalpur., Materials and Methods: A questionnaire containing questions on diagnosis, treatment, and management of TMD was given to a total of 157 general dental practitioners in Jabalpur. The responses were collected; data analysis was done by Chi-square test., Results: Of the General Dental Practitioner's, nearly 78% of participants did not attend any continuing dental education on TMD per year. More than 10 years of experience (82%) was associated with increase in positive response for treatment of TMD patient. Both the diagnosis and treatment of TMD patient were done using combination methods. The duration of splint use was considered patient dependent (42.27%) irrespective of the years of practice. Soft splint was most commonly employed for treatment, and fabrication of splint was done on hinge and mean value articulator., Conclusion: The knowledge of occlusal splint by general practitioners was found to be insufficient for treating TMDs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences.)

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, debilitating illness with significant medical morbidity, often secondary to current treatments, and a high recurrence rate. This burden of disease reflects limitations in the tolerability and efficacy of current treatments. There is a compelling body of evidence linking the gut microbiota to mental illness, and while microbial manipulation via probiotic use has been studied as a therapeutic in BD, targeted trials of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have not been conducted in this population., Methods and Design: We describe a pilot randomized controlled trial of FMT in participants with BD depression to assess the feasibility, efficacy, safety, and tolerability of this intervention. Individuals between 18 and 65 years of age will be enrolled in the study if they meet diagnostic criteria for a major depressive episode of at least moderate severity in the context of a BD diagnosis and have not responded to treatment for BD. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either screened and processed donor stool (allogenic FMT) or their own stool (autologous FMT) via colonoscopy and monitored for 24 weeks post intervention. Depressive and manic symptoms, treatment acceptability, and gastrointestinal and other side effects are assessed at baseline (prior to randomization) and weekly. Stool samples to assess microbiome composition are obtained at baseline and 3 and 6 months., Discussion: Currently, FMT represents a novel therapeutic option for treating BD depression. This protocol allows for the assessment of the feasibility, efficacy, acceptability, and safety of an intervention aimed at changing the microbiome in those with BD. Results from this pilot study will guide the development of larger trials of FMT for BD depression and may give more insight into how the gut microbiome are altered in those with BD depression., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Gov NCT03279224., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Objective: The diagnosis and treatment of female urethral stricture disease (FUSD) are practiced variably due to the scarcity of data on evaluation, variable definitions, and lack of long-term surgical outcomes. FUSD is difficult to rule out solely on the basis of a successful calibration with 14F catheter. In this study, we have tried to characterize the variable clinical presentation of FUSD, the diagnostic utility of calibration, videourodynamic study(VUDS), and urethroscopy in planning surgical management., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of records of 16 patients who underwent surgical management of FUSD was analyzed. The clinical history, examination findings, and the results of all the investigations (including uroflowmetry, VUDS findings, urethroscopy) they underwent, the procedures they had undergone ,and the follow-up data were studied., Results: A total of 16 patients underwent surgical management of FUSD. 13 out of 16 patients had successful calibration with 14F catheter on the initial presentation. These 13 patients on VUDS demonstrated significant BOO and had variable stigmata of stricture on urethroscopy. The mean IPSS, flow rate, and PVR at presentation and after urethroplasty were 23.88±4.95, 7.72±4.25mL/s, 117.06±74.46mL and 3.50±3.44, 22.34±4.80mL/s, and 12.50±8.50mL, respectively. (p < 0.05). The mean flow rate after endo dilation(17F) (n=12) was 11.4±2.5mL/s while after urethroplasty improved to 20.30±4.19mL/s and was statistically significant(p < 0.05)., Conclusions: An adept correlation between clinical assessment, urethroscopy findings, and VUDS is key in objectively identifying FUSD and planning surgical management. A good caliber of the urethra is not sufficient enough to rule out a significant obstruction due to FUSD. Early urethroplasty provides significantly better outcomes in patients who have failed dilation as a treatment., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Background: Cell-mediated inflammatory response, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes are being recognized as an important role in carcinogenesis. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been used as an independent prognostic factor in varieties of cancers. NLR can be easily determined from complete blood count, and it could be considered as a simple and inexpensive prognostic marker., Aim: In this study, we evaluate the prognostic significance of NLR in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)., Materials and Methods: Clinical and epidemiological data of all biopsy-proven nonmetastatic OSCC treated between 2014 and 2018 were taken into consideration. Pretreatment absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were used to get NLR. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, the impact of NLR on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was investigated., Results: A total of 50 patients of OSCC with median pretreatment NLR ratio of 2.52 were identified. Based on the median NLR as a cutoff, patients were classified into two groups, i.e., high NLR and low NLR. Elevated NLR was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.01). Four-year OS and PFS were significantly better for patients with low NLR when compared with high NLR group (51.4% vs. 100%, P = 0.001). Four-year PFS for high and low NLR groups was 38.8% and 87.8% ( P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis confirmed that NLR is an independent prognostic factor ( P = 0.003)., Conclusion: Pretreatment NLR provides a simple, cheap and early predictor of outcome in this group of patients. However, an optimal cutoff value of NLR should be determined, for which larger sample size and prospective studies are required., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.)

The emergence of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy reflects a break-through for infertile patients with premature ovarian failure. To study the efficacy of intra-ovarian infusion of autologous PRP on the improvement of ovarian reserve parameters and the subsequent artificial reproductive technique (ART) cycle outcomes in infertile women with poor ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency, a systematic search in electronic databases like Medline (through PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane was done using relevant search terms. Except for case series, case reports, and review articles, all other types of studies, those evaluated for the effects of intra-ovarian infusion of PRP in subfertile women for decreased ovarian reserve (DOR) or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) were included in our systematic review. The data were extracted from each eligible study and cross-checked by two authors. Intra-ovarian PRP infusion appears to be effective in ovarian rejuvenation, and the results of the subsequent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle are encouraging. PRP intervention was found to be beneficial in terms of an improvement in ovarian reserve parameters (increase in serum anti-mullerian hormone or antral follicle count or decrease in serum follicular stimulating hormone). ICSI cycle performance in terms of the total number of oocytes retrieved, number of two-pronuclei embryos, fertilization rate, number of cleavage stage embryos, number of good quality embryos, and cycle cancellation rate were found to be improved after intra-ovarian PRP infusion as compared to their previous cycle without PRP infusion., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2020, Panda et al.)

Rates of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infections have remained relatively low in Canada. We recently observed an increase of 113% in these infections rates, which coincided with emergence of Enterococcus faecium pstS-null sequence type 1478. The proportion of this sequence type increased from 2.7% to 38.7% for all tested isolates from 2013-2018.