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Abstract Background Image-based crop growth modeling can substantially contribute to precision agriculture by revealing spatial crop development over time, which allows an early and location-specific estimation of relevant future plant traits, such as leaf area or biomass. A prerequisite for realistic and sharp crop image generation is the integration of multiple growth-influencing conditions in a model, such as an image of an initial growth stage, the associated growth time, and further information about the field treatment. While image-based models provide more flexibility for crop growth modeling than process-based models, there is still a significant research gap in the comprehensive integration of various growth-influencing conditions. Further exploration and investigation are needed to address this gap. Methods We present a two-stage framework consisting first of an image generation model and second of a growth estimation model, independently trained. The image generation model is a conditional Wasserstein generative adversarial network (CWGAN). In the generator of this model, conditional batch normalization (CBN) is used to integrate conditions of different types along with the input image. This allows the model to generate time-varying artificial images dependent on multiple influencing factors. These images are used by the second part of the framework for plant phenotyping by deriving plant-specific traits and comparing them with those of non-artificial (real) reference images. In addition, image quality is evaluated using multi-scale structural similarity (MS-SSIM), learned perceptual image patch similarity (LPIPS), and Fréchet inception distance (FID). During inference, the framework allows image generation for any combination of conditions used in training; we call this generation data-driven crop growth simulation. Results Experiments are performed on three datasets of different complexity. These datasets include the laboratory plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and crops grown under real field conditions, namely cauliflower (GrowliFlower) and crop mixtures consisting of faba bean and spring wheat (MixedCrop). In all cases, the framework allows realistic, sharp image generations with a slight loss of quality from short-term to long-term predictions. For MixedCrop grown under varying treatments (different cultivars, sowing densities), the results show that adding these treatment information increases the generation quality and phenotyping accuracy measured by the estimated biomass. Simulations of varying growth-influencing conditions performed with the trained framework provide valuable insights into how such factors relate to crop appearances, which is particularly useful in complex, less explored crop mixture systems. Further results show that adding process-based simulated biomass as a condition increases the accuracy of the derived phenotypic traits from the predicted images. This demonstrates the potential of our framework to serve as an interface between a data-driven and a process-based crop growth model. Conclusion The realistic generation and simulation of future plant appearances is adequately feasible by multi-conditional CWGAN. The presented framework complements process-based models and overcomes their limitations, such as the reliance on assumptions and the low exact field-localization specificity, by realistic visualizations of the spatial crop development that directly lead to a high explainability of the model predictions.

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease in children and the primary indication for pediatric liver transplantation, yet underlying etiologies remain unknown. Approximately 10% of infants affected by BA exhibit various laterality defects (heterotaxy) including splenic abnormalities and complex cardiac malformations-a distinctive subgroup commonly referred to as the biliary atresia splenic malformation (BASM) syndrome. We hypothesized that genetic factors linking laterality features with the etiopathogenesis of BA in BASM patients could be identified through whole-exome sequencing (WES) of an affected cohort. DNA specimens from 67 BASM subjects, including 58 patient-parent trios, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases-supported Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) underwent WES. Candidate gene variants derived from a prespecified set of 2,016 genes associated with ciliary dysgenesis and/or dysfunction or cholestasis were prioritized according to pathogenicity, population frequency, and mode of inheritance. Five BASM subjects harbored rare and potentially deleterious biallelic variants in polycystic kidney disease 1 like 1 (PKD1L1), a gene associated with ciliary calcium signaling and embryonic laterality determination in fish, mice, and humans. Heterozygous PKD1L1 variants were found in 3 additional subjects. Immunohistochemical analysis of liver from the one BASM subject available revealed decreased PKD1L1 expression in bile duct epithelium when compared to normal livers and livers affected by other noncholestatic diseases. Conclusion: WES identified biallelic and heterozygous PKD1L1 variants of interest in 8 BASM subjects from the ChiLDReN data set; the dual roles for PKD1L1 in laterality determination and ciliary function suggest that PKD1L1 is a biologically plausible, cholangiocyte-expressed candidate gene for the BASM syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to see the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and low dose aspirin (LDA) in recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) due to antiphospholipid antibody (APLA) / Pre APLA syndrome and hyperhomocysteinemia. Method: A total number of 138 women presenting in pregnancy with previous two or more consecutive pregnancy losses with APLA / Pre APLA syndrome or with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) were included in the study. APLA tests and serum homocysteine levels were done in all cases. Patients were put on LMWH 40mg sc/day and tab aspirin 150mg/day after the cardiac activity was noted and continued till twelve hours before planned delivery. In cases of hyperhomocysteinemia vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation was given along with thromboprophylaxis. Results: Out of 138 women with RPL, 105 (76.07%) had recurrent abortions while 52 (37.68%) had history of intrauterine deaths in past pregnancy along with obstetric complications like preeclampsia, IUGR etc. APLA test was positive in 42 women (30.43%) while it was negative in 86 (67.18%) women. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 10 (7.24%) women. Women who received thromboprophylaxis the outcome in index pregnancy was, 94.20% i.e. 130 women had successful pregnancy outcome (live births) while 8 women (6%) had pregnancy loss in spite of thromboprophylaxis and vitamin B12 supplementation. Conclusion: Combination treatment with LDA and LMWH in women with APLA / Pre APLA syndrome and additional vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation in hyperhomocysteinemia significantly improves the pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss with success rate of 94%.

Background: Despite international commitment and government policies and programmes, a vast majority of women of rural India are socially and economically deprived in the patriarchal sociocultural framework. Strategies to improve women empowerment need context-specific field-based evidence. Objectives: This study was undertaken to address the research question: “Are women with a higher level of social capital more empowered than their counterparts?” Methods: A community-based cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in the Wardha district of Maharashtra, where a two-stage cluster random sampling technique was used to select the 300 study subjects. The outcome variable, women empowerment was assessed using four domains: mobility, inter-spouse communication, household decision-making and asset ownership. The independent variables included social capital along with potential sociodemographic confounders. Multivariate linear regression was applied using the backward stepwise method. Results: The participants had better women empowerment percentage score in the “Household decision-making” domain compared to the other domains. The women empowerment score was found to be significantly higher in the participants with increasing age, higher education, those involved in business/service, above poverty line (ABL), nuclear family, married, and those having at least one living child. In the adjusted analysis, the social capital was found to be a significant determinant of women empowerment, along with age, education, religion, marital status and family type. Conclusion: The improvement of social capital in the form of community-based development projects through Self-Help Groups (SHG) and microfinance programmes need to be encouraged by the Government and NGOs, as this strategy has the potential to improve women empowerment through community-driven development.

The aim of this pilot study was to assess the astigmatism after small incision cataract surgery by use of a novel software guided surgical technique. The software system guides the surgeon toward a hypothetical shape of the cornea. When this shape is achieved, the vertical meridian is relaxed and the incision does not produce any astigmatism. How that hypothetical shape is to be achieved by the surgeon is described. If preoperative astigmatism exists, the hypothetical shape calculated by the system takes that into account. This enables the surgeon to reduce preexisting astigmatism, without having to change the site or size of the standard 6 mm 12 o clock incision of SICS. Results: Results indicated that preoperative astigmatism reduced in 11 out of 14 cases at the end of 8 weeks, remained unchanged in one, and increased by less than 0.5D in two cases. This proves the hypothesis that the vertical corneal meridian is under higher tension and relaxing it by flattening the perpendicular meridian has a reducing effect on postoperative astigmatism.

Strategies to reduce the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir are urgently required. The antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-mediating anti-HIV antibodies have shown an association with HIV control. We assessed if such antibodies can be generated in vitro and whether the generated antibodies can facilitate the reduction of reactivated HIV reservoir. We isolated HIV-1-gp140-specific memory B cells from HIV-1-infected long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) with or without plasma ADCC and cultured them to generate anti-HIV antibodies. The ability of the generated antibodies to mediate ADCC and facilitate NK cell-mediated lysis of reactivated HIV reservoir was assessed by the rapid fluorometric antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assay and a flow-based novel latency reduction assay, respectively. All LTNPs showed the presence of gp140-specific memory B cells [median: 0.79% (0.54%–1.225%)], which were successfully differentiated into plasma cells [median 72.0% (68.7–82.2%)] in an in-vitro culture and secreted antibodies [median OD: 0.253 (0.205–0.274)]. The HIV-gp140-specific antibodies were generated from 11/13 LTNPs irrespective of their plasma ADCC status. The generated antibodies from LTNPs with plasma ADCC showed higher ADCC potency (median: 37.6%, IQR: 32.95%–51%) and higher reduction in reactivated HIV reservoir (median: 62.5%, IQR: 58.71%–64.92%) as compared with the antibodies generated from LTNPs without plasma ADCC (ADCC: median: 8.85%, IQR: 8%–9.7%; and % p24 reduction median: 13.84, IQR: 9.863%–17.81%). The potency of these antibodies to reduce latent reservoir was two-fold higher than the respective plasma ADCC. The study showed that the potent ADCC-mediating antibodies could be generated from memory B cells of the LTNPs with plasma ADCC activity. These antibodies also showed potent ability to facilitate NK cell-mediated lysis of reactivated HIV reservoirs. It also indicated that memory B cells from individuals with plasma ADCC activity should be preferentially used for such antibody generation. The important role of these antibodies in the reduction of latent reservoirs needs to be further evaluated as a useful strategy to obtain a functional cure for HIV infection.

Background: The advancement in the dentin regeneration aiming at the preservation of pulpal vitality has challenged the traditional concept of substituting diseased tooth with inert materials. Clinical studies, demonstrating preservation of pulpal vitality with the use of biomimetic materials in deep carious lesions, are lacking in the literature. Objective: This clinical study aims to assess the treatment outcome of vital pulp therapy using Biodentine in cases of deep carious lesion in a single visit treatment protocol. Methodology: Twelve posterior teeth with deep carious lesion with no signs of irreversible pulpitis were selected for the study. After rubber dam application, excavation of caries was performed until all infected dentin was removed leaving behind affected dentine. Biodentine was applied followed by immediate restoration with bonded composite resin. The patient was recalled at time intervals of 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and up to 1 year for clinical and radiographic evaluation. Outcome was described in terms of success and failure. Success was defined as clinical absence of signs and symptoms, response to sensibility test on every recall visits, no tooth discoloration seen, and radiographical absence of periapical pathosis. Results: All the 12 patients were recalled at the end of 1 year for follow-up. The overall success rate was 83.4%. Two of the twelve cases required root canal treatment to relieve painful pulpitis. On clinical and radiographic examination, no signs of periapical pathosis were noted in the 10 successful cases. Conclusion: In deep carious lesions, vital pulp therapy with Biodentine has proven to maintain the pulpal vitality in permanent teeth with single visit treatment protocol.

Summary: HIV infection predisposes latent tuberculosis-infected (LTBI) subjects to active TB. This study is designed to determine whether HIV infection of LTBI subjects compromises the balanced Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific T helper 17 (Th17) response of recognized importance in anti-TB immunity. Comparative analysis of Mtb- and cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD4+ T cell responses demonstrates a marked dampening of the Mtb-specific CD4+ T cell effectors and polyfunctional cells while preserving CMV-specific response. Additionally, HIV skews the Mtb-specific Th17 response in chronic HIV-infected LTBI progressors, but not long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), with preservation of pro-inflammatory interferon (IFN)-γ+/interleukin-17+ (IL-17+) and significant loss of anti-inflammatory IL-10+/IL-17+ effectors that is restored by anti-retroviral therapy (ART). HIV-driven impairment of Mtb-specific response cannot be attributed to preferential infection as cell-associated HIV DNA and HIV RNA reveal equivalent viral burden in CD4+ T cells from different antigen specificities. We therefore propose that beyond HIV-induced loss of Mtb-specific CD4+ T cells, the associated dysregulation of Mtb-specific T cell homeostasis can potentially enhance the onset of TB in LTBI subjects.

Abstract Clinical genetics laboratories have recently adopted guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants set by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) and Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP). The use of in silico algorithms to predict whether amino acid substitutions result in human disease is inconsistent across clinical laboratories. The clinical genetics community must carefully consider how in silico predictions can be incorporated into variant interpretation in clinical practice. Please see related Research article: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-017-1353-5

Background: COVID-19 patients particularly those with Diabetes, critically ill and Immunocompromised patients have higher probability of suffering from opportunistic fungal infections. Treatment of COVID19 with immunosuppressive agents (e.g. corticosteroids and cytokine blockers) remains a complicated challenge, especially among patients with severe disease which may increase the risk of invasive fungal infections. The present study aims at finding the association of risk factors in COVID-19 affected patients leading to opportunistic fungal infections. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a total number of 500 clinically suspected cases of fungal infection attending ENT outpatient department during May 2021 to August 2021. Samples were processed by microscopy and culture. Results: Of which 324 cases (64.8%) showed fungal growth. Among these 324 cases, 51.5% were Aspergillosis, 31.4% were Mucormycosis, 12.9% were Candidiasis, 2.4% were mixed infection with Mucormycosis and Aspergillosis and 1.5% were other opportunistic fungi. Out of 324 cases, known diabetics were 50% and non-diabetic with increased blood glucose levels were 22.8% and on steroid therapy were 66.3%. Most of the cases were presented in the recovery phase of COVID-19 (74%) than during the active phase (26%) of the infection. Conclusion: Patients with Covid 19 are prone to fungal infections because of immune dysregulation and the widespread use of immunomodulatory drugs along with certain risk factors like diabetes mellitus and immunocompromised conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]