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Purpose – The study uses the multivariate GARCH-BEKK model (which was first proposed by Baba et al. (1990) and then further developed by Engle and Kroner (1995)) to examine the return and volatility spillover between India and four leading Asian (namely, China, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong) and two global (namely, the United Kingdom and the United States) equity markets. Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a multivariate GARCH-BEKK model to quantify return correlation and volatility transmission across the pre- and post-2008 global financial crisis periods (apart from other conventional time series modelling like cointegration, Granger causality using vector error correction model (VECM)). Findings – The results show a tendency of the Indian stock market index to move along with the US and Hong Kong market indices. The decrease in the value of the co-integration coefficient during the recession was explained by reduced investor confidence in developing countries. The result further shows a clear distinction in terms of volatility spillover between the Asian market vis-a-vis US and UK markets. Volatility transmission from India to Asian markets was found to be significantly higher as compared to the US and UK. So also, the study’s results show a puzzling result giving us comparable co-integration ranks for phase 2 (expansion) and phase 3 (slow-down) of the business cycle in most cases. Research limitations/implications – In Granger causality testing, the results were unable to ascertain the difference between phase 2 (expansion) and phase 3 (slowdown). However, the multivariate GARCH (MGARCH)-BEKK model showed a clear reduction in volatility transmission to NIFTY50 (is the flagship index on the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE)) as India entered slow-down. This shows that the Indian economy does go through different business cycles, and the changes in parameters hence prove hypothesis 3 to be true with respect to volatility transmission to India from International markets. Originality/value – The results show that for all countries, the volatility transmitted to India increases significantly going from phase 1 (recession) to phase 2 (expansion) and reduces again once the countries enter slow-down in phase 3 (slowdown). This shows that during expansion shocks and impulses in international markets affect the Indian markets significantly, supporting the increase in co-integration in phase 2 (expansion). During expansion, developing markets like India become profitable for investors, due to the high growth rate when compared to developed countries. This implies that a significant amount of capital enters Indian markets, which is susceptible to the volatility of international markets. The volatility transmission from India to the US and UK was insignificant in phase 1 (recession and recovery) and phase 3 (slow-down) showing a weak linkage between the markets during volatile time periods.

The co-precipitation technique is employed for preparing ZnO/CoFe2O4 composites. X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Rietveld refinement techniques is performed to investigate the composite structure obtained after annealing. The Rietveld refinement method gives information about crystalline phases present in the sample. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction results reveals the presence of two phases where phase 1 is zinc oxide with hexagonal structure, whereas phase 2 is cobalt ferrite with cubic structure. XRD shows the size of crystallites for phase 1 is 43 nm, and for phase 2 is 38 nm. FTIR peaks centered at 440–515 cm−1 corresponds to M–O stretching vibrations. Dielectric properties such as ε′, ε″, Tanδ, conductivity, and electric modulus of the sample have been measured at temperature 30–300 °C and the frequency range is 1–107 Hz. Dielectric parameters show dependence on frequency and temperature as well as on concentration and temperature used for synthesis of samples. Synthesized sample at temperature 400 °C and concentration 1:1 shows highest value of ε′ i.e., above 1000. To study magnetic properties VSM characterization is used. High value of ε′, Tan δ and remarkable low value of conductivity (high resistivity), retentivity (0.01–2.17 emu/g) and coercivity (34.8–213 Oe) indicate its application in high frequency devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban courtyards are essential for counteracting the negative impacts of increasing temperatures and creating more enjoyable outdoor spaces in cities. To understand how to enhance cooling within urban courtyard blocks, this research analyzes a range of studies from different locations and years and has many potential benefits for sustainable living and aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like Energy Efficiency (SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Good Health - Well-being (SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being). The outcomes from this paper will possibly help in reducing effects of climate change by making a positive contribution to sustainable development. To understand the direction of research interest in the past decade, this analysis first identifies prominent authors, journals, and publication trends. It then explores the various parameters, algorithms, and software tools that researchers have utilized to improve cooling in urban microenvironments. Various algorithms including genetic algorithms, deep learning algorithms, etc. were used in the research proposed by various researchers, most of them aimed at enhancing thermal comfort and energy efficiency. This review further studies the outcomes and predicted parameters achieved from these optimization strategies, providing insights into their efficiency and possible real-world applications. These results and outcomes presented by various researchers are discussed thoroughly in the current study which helps in easy implementation on the real word applications. Despite the fact that several studies have produced promising results, the accuracy and results vary greatly in the literature and hence the present work not only reviews previous research but also identifies limitations and scope for interdisciplinary collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the economic and environmental implications of comprehensive reductions in emissions in small and medium enterprises. The document focuses on reduction from all three scopes, which are analyzed through a simple cost-benefit framework. The case studies of three companies in different sectors: automotive manufacturing, Textile, and Food processing, demonstrate substantial reduction of greenhouse gases, including 25%, 30%, and 12% reduction in scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3, respectively. Economical results feature reduced energy bills, tax deductions, and more efficient supply chains. Environmental implications include improved air quality, reduced waste, and lower carbon footprint. The policy implication is that similar strategies are beneficial for all businesses and offer attractive economic and operational opportunities. Furthermore, the paper can also help policymakers make data-driven decisions regarding the industry and the company. The method for future research comprises long-term economic and environmental effects, specific sectoral difficulties, and available reduction technologies.

This study emphasizes rapid and simultaneous adsorptive removal of estrogenic hormones (EH): estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), and estriol (E3) from wastewater using recycled waste cigarette electrospun fibers (WCENFs). The submicron fibers exhibited a strong affinity towards all EH due to abundant hydrogen bonding interactions. The adsorption kinetics pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, Elovich, and fractional power models were explored and fitted towards optimum conditions for the large-scale removal process of the EH. Results showed that E1, E2, and EE2 followed pseudo-second-order kinetics while E3 followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. In combination, the total adsorption capacity achieved was 2.14 mg/g, whereas the individual values for E1, E2, EE2, and E3 were 0.551, 0.532, 0.687, and 0.369 mg/g, respectively. The percentage efficiency of WCENFs was highest with EE2 ~64.3% and least with E3 ~34.6%. The WCENFs could repeatedly be used for four adsorption-desorption cycles as an effective adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of four EH via batch adsorption studies. According to the results obtained, the repurposing of waste cigarette butts to WCENFs presented itself as a suitable alternative for removing EH and possibly other organic pollutants from water.

Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) is an herbal supplement commonly used in the Indian alternative medicine system Ayurveda. This herb has been promoted to the public in India as an immune booster to prevent novel coronavirus disease 2019. However, small reports have recently shown an association between Giloy use and the development of herb‐induced liver injury (HILI) with autoimmune features in some patients. This large retrospective Indian multicenter study spanning 13 centers at nine locations was designed to identify features and outcomes of HILI temporally associated with Giloy use. Chemical and toxicological analyses of retrieved Giloy samples using state‐of‐the‐art methods were also performed. We report 43 patients, of whom more than half were female, with a median time from initial Giloy consumption to symptom onset of 46 days. Patients presented with acute hepatitis, acute worsening of chronic liver disease (CLD, the most common clinical presentation), or acute liver failure. Causality assessment revealed probable liver injury in 67.4%. The most common autoantibody detected was anti‐nuclear antibody. Liver biopsy in a subset revealed HILI associated with autoimmune features and hepatocyte and canalicular cholestasis and neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration. Conclusion: Giloy is associated with acute hepatitis with autoimmune features and can unmask autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in people with silent AIH‐related CLD. Further studies on the safety (and efficacy) of untested but heavily promoted herbals in alternative systems of medicine are an unmet need in the interests of public health and are especially important during this global health emergency.

A split-thickness skin graft (STSG) is one of the main tools used in the reconstruction of skin defects. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been widely used as adjunct therapy for wound healing for decades. Few studies have conducted the outcomes of NPWT use as a postoperative dressing for STSGs. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of the application of NPWT versus conventional dressing on STSGs after soft-tissue reconstruction. A prospective observational study was performed at the King Abdullah Medical City. A total of 18 patients with STSGs for acute or chronic skin defects were recruited. Patients from the two groups—10 patients in the NPWT group and 8 in the No-NPWT group—were postoperatively evaluated for three weeks. Assessment included the STSG take rate, wound healing, pain, infection, hematoma formation, and the need to re-graft the same recipient area. Our data demonstrated a higher mean skin graft take rate in the second and third weeks of the No-NPWT group compared to the NPWT group, but it was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant differences between the two groups in terms of wound healing, pain, infection, hematoma formation, and the need to re-graft (p > 0.05) were found. Our study showed that the conventional dressing of STSGs is not inferior to NPWT. In addition, conventional dressing was shown to be easier to use and less expensive to apply, as well as having a higher skin graft take rate and lower infection rate.

Soft winter wheat has been adapted to the north-central, north-western, and south-central United States over hundreds of years for optimal yield, height, heading date, and pathogen and pest resistance. Environmental factors like weather affect abiotic traits such as pre-harvest sprouting resistance. However, pre-harvest sprouting has rarely been a target for breeding. Owing to changing weather patterns from climate change, pre-harvest sprouting resistance is needed to prevent significant crop losses not only in the United States, but worldwide. Twenty-two traits including age of breeding line as well as agronomic, flour quality, and pre-harvest sprouting traits were studied in a population of 188 lines representing genetic diversity over 200 years of soft winter wheat breeding. Some traits were correlated with one another by principal components analysis and Pearson’s correlations. A genome-wide association study using 1,978 markers uncovered a total of 102 regions encompassing 226 quantitative trait nucleotides. Twenty-six regions overlapped multiple traits with common significant markers. Many of these traits were also found to be correlated by Pearson’s correlation and principal components analyses. Most pre-harvest sprouting regions were not co-located with agronomic traits and thus useful for crop improvement against climate change without affecting crop performance. Six different genome-wide association statistical models (GLM, MLM, MLMM, FarmCPU, BLINK, and SUPER) were utilized to search for reasonable models to analyze soft winter wheat populations with increased markers and/or breeding lines going forward. Some flour quality and agronomic traits seem to have been selected over time, but not pre-harvest sprouting. It appears possible to select for pre-harvest sprouting resistance without impacting flour quality or the agronomic value of soft winter wheat.

Author(s): Sheila Nainan Myatra (corresponding author) [1]; Apeksh Patwa [2]; Jigeeshu Vasishtha Divatia [1] Tracheal intubation is one of the most commonly performed procedures in the operating room (OR), intensive [...]

Abstract Background We report an interesting case of a primary isolated intraventricular and intracranial hydatid cyst in 20-year-old female that mimicked bleeding cystic tumor presenting as intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus. Case presentation Patient presented with headache and giddiness for 1 month. On magnetic resonance imaging, there was multiloculated multi-cystic lesion in left lateral ventricle and adjacent left periventricular deep white matter. Lesion was causing compression of the body of the left lateral ventricle with temporal horn dilatation and midline shift of 17–18 mm toward right side. On investigation, it was diagnosed intracranial hydatid cyst with intraventricular extension. Patient underwent complete removal of cerebral hydatid cyst. Follow-up postoperative computed tomography scan done which revealed no residual hydatid cyst. Conclusion In this case, larvae of echinococcus might have passed through capillaries of liver and lungs and entered systemic circulation reaching brain. Intracerebral hydatid cysts are rare and hence, dangerous if the diagnosis and treatment is not prompt. Intracerebral hydatid cysts have slow growth rate with late-stage symptoms, morbidity and mortality are high. So, take home message is whenever intracranial cystic lesion are found on magnetic resonance imaging hydatid cyst with possible intracranial extension should be considered in differential diagnosis.