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Land use (in ha) associated with meat and feed produced in Europe and their changes due to potential substitution with insect biomass (A - meat production effects (log scale); B - compound feed production effects). Keywords: environmental indicators; insect production chains; life cycle assessment; sustainability; sustainable food systems EN environmental indicators insect production chains life cycle assessment sustainability sustainable food systems 112 120 9 08/24/23 20230801 NES 230801 Implications Insects can address sustainability issues associated with current food systems by providing an alternative protein source to address hunger and disease. Non renewable energy use (in MJ) associated with meat and feed produced in Europe and their changes due to potential substitution with insect biomass (A - meat production effects; B - compound feed production effects). [Extracted from the article]

Four new water-soluble bidentate ligands, namely, (cyclopentadienyl)ethyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphadamantane (1), 1,2-bis-(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantan-6-yl) ethane (2), 1,3-bis-(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaaadamantan-6-yl) propane (3) and 1,4-bis-(1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantan-6-yl) butane (4) have been synthesized and characterized by multi-nuclear NMR (1H, 13C and 31P), elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. Compound 1 was synthesized by using two different synthetic routes in excellent yields and is also the first example of water-soluble chelating cyclopentadienyl ligand containing 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity-related data derived from multiple complex systems spanning media, social, economic, food activity, health records, and infrastructure (sensors, smartphones, etc.) can assist us in understanding the relationship between obesity drivers for more efficient prevention and treatment. Reviewed literature shows a growing adaptation of the machine-learning model in recent years dealing with mechanisms and interventions in social influence, nutritional diet, eating behavior, physical activity, built environment, obesity prevalence prediction, distribution, and healthcare cost-related outcomes of obesity. Most models are designed to reflect through time and space at the individual level in a population, which indicates the need for a macro-level generalized population model. The model should consider all interconnected multi-system drivers to address obesity prevalence and intervention. This paper reviews existing computational models and datasets used to compute obesity outcomes to design a conceptual framework for establishing a macro-level generalized obesity model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally activated perlite‐supported cobalt oxide (Co‐TAP) catalyst has been synthesized via the deposition‐precipitation method. FTIR peaks at around 663 and 565 cm–1 and XRD peaks arise from diffraction of FCC planes of CoO crystals confirm the presence of Co3O4 crystallites on Co‐TAP surface. UV–Vis DRS studies reveal the presence of octahedrally coordinated Co3+ and tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions. EDX analysis of Co‐TAP clearly shows the enhanced percentage of silica and cobalt oxide. All characterization studies suggest the presence of Lewis acidic sites on Co‐TAP which have been utilized in a series of liquid‐phase esterification reactions of benzoic acid with various alcohols over three different reaction media (conventional, microwave, and sonication). The reactions are carried out in one‐pot, single‐step, solvent‐free reaction conditions, and the catalyst is filtered easily, regenerated, and reused up to five reaction cycles with analogous efficiency suggesting that acidic sites of the catalyst remain stable in all reaction mediums. The stability of regenerated Co‐TAP catalyst after the fifth reaction cycle is confirmed by FTIR spectrum which resembles the FTIR of fresh catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with damage of cells of both innate and adaptive immunity, which results in immune system's impairment leading to secondary infections. Microbiological evaluation helps in diagnostic as well as antimicrobial stewardship leading to accurate treatment of COVID-19 infected patients. Aim: To evaluate superadded bacterial and fungal infections in COVID-19 infected patients and to evaluate bacterial and fungal infections in COVID-19 non infected patients admitted with Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India, over a period of eight months (May to December, 2020). Respiratory samples, received from indoor patients with history of ARI, were processed for COVID-19 (TrueNat Real Time Polymerase chain reaction) as well as for bacterial and fungal cultures following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Identification and susceptibility pattern was evaluated by Vitek2 compact system (bioMérieux, Inc. Durham, North Carolina/USA). Quality control strains used were American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Staphylococcus aureus 29213, Escherichia coli 25922 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) levels were standardised as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline, 2020. All statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test using Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: Total patients admitted with the history of ARI were 542; COVID-19 Positive Group (CPG) included 115 (21.22%) while COVID-19 Negative Group (CNG) included 427 (78.78%). Growth in bacterial and fungal cultures in CPG was 59.13% (68/115) while in CNG; it was 47.78% (204/427). Among the bacterial isolates, most common isolate was Klebsiella pneumoniae {CPG: 41.93% (26/62); CNG: 36.72% (76/207)}, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa {CPG: 33.87% (21/62); CNG: 31.88% (66/207)}. Fungal isolates in CPG was 19.48% (15/77) (p-value 0.0445). On comparing Antimicrobial Susceptibility (AST) pattern of Enterobacterales in both CPG (n=36) and CNG (n=102), no statistically significant difference was observed. Co-morbid conditions were found mostly in CNG 89% (140/158) with ARI while only 11% (18/158) was found in CPG. Conclusion: Secondary respiratory infections are quite common amongst COVID-19 positive patients. However, growth in culture, type of isolates, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was almost similar with COVID-19 non infected patients admitted with ARI. Co-morbidity had the similar impact as COVID-19 infection with respect to co-infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted on hamsters to examine if changes in voluntary exercise contribute to alterations in energy balance during pregnancy or after experimental manipulations of ovarian hormone levels as in other species. The results revealed that Syrian hamsters do not display important alterations in voluntary exercise during pregnancy or in reaction to manipulations of ovarian steroid levels, unlike rats. Therefore, in Syrian hamsters, changes in energy balance caused by pregnancy or steroids, are not affected by changes in food or voluntary exercise.

Ruthenium-catalyzed formation of lactones from diols in aqueous medium has been demonstrated. 1,3,5-Triazaphosphaadamantane (PTA) included water-soluble ruthenium complexes [RuCl2 (PPh3)(2,6-Py-(CH2-PTA)2 ]·2Br and [RuCl2 (PPh3)2 (2-PyCH2 PTA)]·Br in the presence of KOH were found to be efficient for the synthesis of lactones from diols. The reported synthetic protocol is green as it uses water as solvent, avoids the use of any hydrogen acceptor/oxidant, and produces hydrogen as the only side product. Mechanistic studies revealed that lactone formation involved aldehyde intermediate and followed dehydrogenative pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a ruthenium complex bearing a PN-chelating ligand is described. The complex, in the presence of KOH, enabled the synthesis of ketones from secondary alcohols in the absence of a hydrogen acceptor in aqueous medium. This synthetic protocol, which uses water as the medium, is green and has a high atom economy as it avoids the use of an acceptor and produces hydrogen as the sole byproduct. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the catalytic cycle involves a phosphine dissociative pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CMS recently assumed responsibility for estimating the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) error rate from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Here, the method used to calculate national, by State, and by error type, estimates for the inpatient acute care portion of this rate is presented. For fiscal years (FYs) 1998 and 2000 discharges, national estimates for the net error rate were 2.6 and 2.8 percent, respectively, about $2 billion annually. Wide variation in State rates illustrates that estimates to the State level are essential for targeting and monitoring interventions to reduce improper Medicare inpatient acute care reimbursements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article outlines the development, successes, and future directions of the Medicare Peer Review Organization (PRO) program. As established by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, the purpose of the PRO program is to promote the quality, medical necessity, and appropriateness of services reimbursed through Medicare. We describe the evolution of the PRO program from a retrospective quality review approach, focused on individual events, to a proactive, quality improvement approach. Priorities for future development are described, including the identification of additional clinical areas for attention, improvements in program infrastructure, and broadening the scope of projects to new provider settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solid-state fluorescence from Zn-doped CQDs@bioplastics nanocomposite is reported. • Zn-doped CQDs were synthesized from Brassicca juncea flower extract. • UVC-tube down-conversion was demonstrated with bioplastic nanocomposite. • Zn-doped bioplastic nanocomposite emits more brightly than the unintentional one. • CIE chromatic coordinates of (0.39, 0.56 vs. 0.29, 0.55) were obtained. The enhancement of solid-state fluorescence from nanocomposite bioplastics containing intentionally Zn-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) has been reported. For the synthesis of CQDs from Brassica juncea flower extract, an economical, ecologically sustainable, and one-step hydrothermal method was used. The morphological, structural, and physicochemical properties were examined. The quasi-circular shaped CQDs, with an average diameter of 4.7 nm, were discovered to emit yellow-greenish fluorescence upon UV stimulation, to have exceptional photostability, and to be highly water soluble, with a quantum yield of up to 18%. Furthermore, a commercial UVC-tube wrapped with bioplastic nanocomposite emitted a greenish-yellow colour where intentionally Zn-doped CQDs@bioplastic nanocomposite emits more intensely than an unintentional one with CIE chromatic coordinates (0.39, 0.56 vs. 0.29, 0.55). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocompatibility, low toxicity, ease of functionalization, ecologically sustainable synthesis, and a diverse variety of applications have all contributed to the current popularity of fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a relatively new rising star among zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials. However, expensive precursors and production, as well as a time-consuming procedure, frequently restrict the economic design that must be addressed. In this work, we report an economical, sustainable and green synthesis of fluorescent CQDs co-doped with N and Ca from mustard (Brassica) flower extract without the need of additional doping element precursors. The quasi-circular or polygonal shaped CQDs were revealed to be yellow-greenish fluorescent in nature with outstanding photo-stability and excellent water solubility, with an average diameter of 4.38 nm and a relative quantum yield of about 15%. The compositional analysis, crystallinity, and functional groups contained in as-synthesized N,Ca-co-doped CQDs were determined by XPS, XRD, and FTIR analysis, respectively. The presence of dominant sp3 hybridized carbons over sp2 was confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The plausible fluorescence mechanisms are also proposed. Additionally, a biodegradable bioplastic derived from corn starch was used to develop an N, Ca-co-doped CQDs@bioplastic composite in order to demonstrate how it may be used to produce down-conversion light emitting diodes and optical displays. The impact of CQD concentrations and pH sensitivity were investigated further. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]