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Federated learning uses the concept of decentralized training of n number of local clients for a small number of epochs say 2-5, and then averaging the learned weights of all local clients, and evaluating on test dataset with the average weights loaded to a global model. The train dataset is split into n clusters and each cluster acts as a distributed data for each local model. Each round of weight averaging and then uploading the average weights on each local client for further training is called communication round and it was observed that similar accuracy can be obtained with a lesser amount of training time. In this paper, instead of averaging the weights, a weighted mean concept was developed where the PSO vector helps to find the weight values for the best accuracy of a global model. It was found that PSO can help in two ways by bettering the accuracy and also reducing the training time. The proposed approach can enhance the performance of pre-trained models like AlexNet, VGG16, InceptionV3, and ResNet50 on CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets. The maximum increase was found with VGG16 of around 26.01% for CIFAR-10 and 26.84% for CIFAR-100. Similarly, on the Tomato dataset, AlexNet accuracy can be increased by 28.56%. Multi-modal model accuracy on the fake news dataset was also enhanced by 8.21%.

Introduction: The patient data from the third wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in New Delhi caused by the Omicron variant in terms of severity of disease, incidental diagnosis, outcome, and effect of vaccination are relatively lacking. We set out to investigate the demographic and clinical parameters and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the differences between incidentally and symptomatically diagnosed patients, and the impact of vaccination on clinical manifestations and outcomes. Methods: The study was conducted at a non-COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care institute in India. The data with regard to presentation, vaccination, and outcome were collected prospectively. Results: A total of 101 patients were analyzed for the study. The mean age was 50.63 years with 46.53% women. No patient was of pediatric age. Respiratory failure was present in 26.73%. COVID-19 pneumonia was present in only 13.86%. There were 17 deaths. Only 4 deaths were caused by COVID-19 pneumonia. 60.4% of the patients were incidentally detected and 39.6% were symptomatically diagnosed. No incidentally detected patient had respiratory failure or COVID-19 pneumonia. Out of 101 patients, 66.34% were vaccinated and 33.66% were unvaccinated. Death occurred in 8.96% of vaccinated and 32.5% of unvaccinated patients. No vaccinated patient died due to COVID-19 pneumonia compared to 11.76% of unvaccinated patients. Conclusion: The Omicron wave had more patients admitted with incidentally detected COVID-19 than symptomatic individuals. These patients required in-hospital management of coexisting illnesses rather than for COVID-19. There were more deaths with non-COVID-19 causes. Vaccination appeared to be protective against severe COVID-19. Mortality was found to be lower in vaccinated individuals.

Herein, state‐of‐the‐art multiscale modeling methods have been described. This research includes notable molecular, micro‐, meso‐, and macroscale models for hard (polymer, metal, yarn, fiber, fiber‐reinforced polymer, and polymer matrix composites) and soft (biological tissues such as brain white matter [BWM]) composite materials. These numerical models vary from molecular dynamics simulations to finite‐element (FE) analyses and machine learning/deep learning surrogate models. Constitutive material models are summarized, such as viscoelastic hyperelastic, and emerging models like fractional viscoelastic. Key challenges such as meshing, data variability and material nonlinearity‐driven uncertainty, limitations in terms of computational resources availability, model fidelity, and repeatability are outlined with state‐of‐the‐art models. Latest advancements in FE modeling involving meshless methods, hybrid ML and FE models, and nonlinear constitutive material (linear and nonlinear) models aim to provide readers with a clear outlook on futuristic trends in composite multiscale modeling research and development. The data‐driven models presented here are of varying length and time scales, developed using advanced mathematical, numerical, and huge volumes of experimental results as data for digital models. An in‐depth discussion on data‐driven models would provide researchers with the necessary tools to build real‐time composite structure monitoring and lifecycle prediction models.

Faster and predictable osseointegration is crucial for the success of dental implants, especially in patients with compromised local or systemic conditions. Despite various surface modifications on the commercially available Titanium (Ti) dental implants, the bioactivity of Ti is still low. Thus, to achieve both biological and therapeutic activity on titanium surfaces, surface modification techniques such as titanium nanotubes have been studied as nanotube surfaces can hold therapeutic drugs and molecules. The main aim of the present research work is to study the early osseointegration around the novel Simvastatin drug eluting nanotubular dental implant. In the present research, the titanium nanotubes were fabricated on the screw-shaped dental implant surface and the Simvastatin drug was loaded into the nanotubes using the ultrasonication dip method. In vitro and In vivo studies were carried out on the modified dental implants. In vitro cell culture study reported enhanced osteogenic activity on the drug-loaded nanotube surface implants. The in vivo animal studies were evaluated by micro-CT, histopathology, and reverse torque removal analysis methods. The test results showed faster osseointegration with the strong interface on the Simvastatin drug-loaded implant surface at 4 weeks of healing as compared to the control implants.

Abstract Cardiac rhythm regulated by micro-macroscopic structures of heart. Pacemaker abnormalities or disruptions in electrical conduction, lead to arrhythmic disorders may be benign, typical, threatening, ultimately fatal, occurs in clinical practice, patients on digitalis, anaesthesia or acute myocardial infarction. Both traditional and genetic animal models are: In-vitro: Isolated ventricular Myocytes, Guinea pig papillary muscles, Patch-Clamp Experiments, Porcine Atrial Myocytes, Guinea pig ventricular myocytes, Guinea pig papillary muscle: action potential and refractory period, Langendorff technique, Arrhythmia by acetylcholine or potassium. Acquired arrhythmia disorders: Transverse Aortic Constriction, Myocardial Ischemia, Complete Heart Block and AV Node Ablation, Chronic Tachypacing, Inflammation, Metabolic and Drug-Induced Arrhythmia. In-Vivo: Chemically induced arrhythmia: Aconitine antagonism, Digoxin-induced arrhythmia, Strophanthin/ouabain-induced arrhythmia, Adrenaline-induced arrhythmia, and Calcium-induced arrhythmia. Electrically induced arrhythmia: Ventricular fibrillation electrical threshold, Arrhythmia through programmed electrical stimulation, sudden coronary death in dogs, Exercise ventricular fibrillation. Genetic Arrhythmia: Channelopathies, Calcium Release Deficiency Syndrome, Long QT Syndrome, Short QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome. Genetic with Structural Heart Disease: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia, Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Atrial Fibrillation, Sick Sinus Syndrome, Atrioventricular Block, Preexcitation Syndrome. Arrhythmia in Pluripotent Stem Cell Cardiomyocytes. Conclusion: Both traditional and genetic, experimental models of cardiac arrhythmias’ characteristics and significance help in development of new antiarrhythmic drugs.

Shear and torsional load on soft solids such as brain white matter purportedly exhibits the Poynting Effect. It is a typical nonlinear phenomenon associated with soft materials whereby they tend to elongate (positive Poynting effect) or contract (negative Poynting effect) in a direction perpendicular to the shearing or twisting plane. In this research, a novel 3D micromechanical Finite Element Model (FEM) has been formulated to describe the Poynting effect in bi-phasic modeled brain white matter (BWM) representative volume element (RVE) with axons tracts embedded in surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) for simulating brain matter's response to pure and simple shear. In the presented BWM 3D FEM, nonlinear Ogden hyper-elastic material model is deployed to interpret axons and ECM material phases. The modeled bi-phasic RVEs have axons tied to the surrounding ECM. In this proof-of-concept (POC) FEM, three simple shear loading configurations and a pure shear case were analyzed. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) was calculated for stress and deformation response plots to understand the effect of axon-ECM orientations and loading conditions on the degree of Poynting behavior. Variations in normal stresses (S11, S22, or S33) perpendicular to the shear plane underscored the significance of axonal fiber-matrix interactions. From the simulated ensemble of cases, a transitional dominance trend was noticed, as simple sheared axons showed pronounced Poynting behavior, but shear deformation build-up in the purely sheared brain model exhibited the highest Poynting behavior at higher strain % limits. At lower strain limits, simple shear imparted across and perpendicular to axonal tract directions emerged as the dominant Poynting effect configurations. At high strains, the stress-strain% plots manifested mild strain stiffening effects and bending stresses in purely sheared axons, substantiated the strong non-linearity in brain tissues’ response.

Introduction: Six-minute walk test (6MWT) has a significant prognostic value in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Those who desaturate early during 6MWT are likely to have frequent exacerbations. Aims and Objectives: To follow-up and compare exacerbations and hospitalisations of COPD patients having early desaturation versus nonearly desaturation determined during baseline 6MWT. Methods: It was a longitudinal follow-up study conducted in a tertiary care institute from November 1, 2018 to May 15, 2020 involving 100 COPD patients. A decrease in SpO2 by ≥4% in baseline 6MWT was considered a significant desaturation. If the desaturation occurred within first minute of the 6MWT, the patient was called early desaturator (ED); if it occurred later, the patient was called nonearly desaturator (NED). If the saturation did not fall, then the patient was called nondesaturator. During the follow-up, 12 patients dropped out and 88 remained. Results: Of 88 patients, 55 (62.5%) were desaturators and 33 were nondesaturator. Of 55 desaturators, 16 were ED and 39 were NED. EDs had significantly higher number of severe exacerbations (P

Introduction: The international data shows that long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) compliance is insufficient and variable. We conducted the first study from India on LTOT compliance, factors affecting compliance, indications, and survival through oxygen concentrator. Materials and Methods: Our organization from Delhi had given 378 oxygen concentrators over the last 5 years. We evaluated 120 patients randomly for participating in the study. Compliance was defined as the use of LTOT for at least 15 h/day. Results: Ninety-seven patients were included in the final analysis after exclusion criteria. The compliance to LTOT was seen in 45.36% (44/97). The commonest cause of noncompliance was lack of instructions (49.06%) followed by electricity issues, social stigma, and workplace constraints. A higher PaCO2 was associated with significantly lower compliance (PaCO2 53.18 vs. 44.98 mmHg, P = 0.036). Interstitial lung disease was associated with significantly higher compliance. Oxygen prescription was titrated with arterial blood gas analysis in only 4.12%. The indications for LTOT were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (49.48%), posttuberculous obstructive airway disease (20.6%), and interstitial lung disease (12.37%). We found a significant reduction in the mean number of exacerbations/year from 3.91 to 1.93 (P < 0.0001). 61.86% of the patients were surviving on LTOT with a median survival time of 12 months. Conclusion: The adherence to LTOT in Indian patients is suboptimal mainly due to lack of instruction and is associated with a higher PaCO2. The practice of titration needs to be followed. The development of a national registry to monitor LTOT should be the long-term target.

To meet the energy needs batteries and supercapacitors are evolved as a promising candidate from the class of energy storage devices. The growth in the development of new 2D electrode materials brings a new revolution in energy storage devices with a comprehensive investigation. MXene, a new family of 2D metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides due to their attractive electrical and electrochemical properties e.g. hydrophilicity, conductivity, surface area, topological structure have gained huge attention. In this review, we discussed different MXene synthesis routes using different etchants e.g. hydrofluoric acid, ammonium hydrazine, lithium fluoride, and hydrochloric acid, etc showing that fluorine formation is compulsory to etch the aluminum layer from its precursor. Due to the advantage of large interlayer spacing between the MXene layers in MXene, the effect of intercalation on the performance of batteries and supercapacitors using MXene as electrodes by various sized cations are reviewed. Different MXene hybrids as supercapacitor electrodes will also be summarized. Lastly, the conclusion and future scope of MXene to be done in various supercapacitor applications are also presented.

In developing countries, cysticercosis is a common human infestation that usually presents as neurocysticercosis. Lesions in eye, skeletal muscles and subcutaneous tissues are rare. We report this case of an uncommon clinical presentation of soft tissue cysticercosis as an isolated hand swelling without neurological involvement. We want to highlight that it should be considered as a differential diagnosis especially in endemic areas and sometimes when it does not get resolved by medical management, it should be surgically excised as it happened in our case.

BackgroundControversy exists regarding the association of cigarette smoking and renal dysfunction, particularly among African Americans, who are disproportionately affected by chronic kidney disease; therefore, we evaluated the relationship between cigarette smoking and rapid renal function (RRF) decline in the Jackson Heart Study. Methods and ResultsRates of RRF decline were determined among 3648 African American participants enrolled at baseline in the Jackson Heart Study. RRF decline was defined as an absolute decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate of 30% from visit 1 to visit 3. There were 422 current, 659 past, and 2567 never smokers identified at visit 1. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, physical activity, education, alcohol consumption, and prevalent cardiovascular disease, current smokers demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of RRF decline compared with never smokers (incidence rate ratio 1.83, 95% CI 1.31–2.56). Current smokers using 1 to 19 and ≥20 cigarettes daily had an increased incidence of RRF decline (incidence rate ratios of 1.75 [95% CI 1.18–2.59] and 1.97 [95% CI 1.17–3.31], respectively). There was a significant, progressive reduction in estimated glomerular filtration rate from visit 1 to visit 3 in current and past smokers compared with never smokers. Finally, current smokers had a 1.38‐fold increase in C‐reactive protein compared with never smokers, after controlling for covariates. ConclusionsIn a large African American cohort, current cigarette smoking was independently associated with RRF decline in a dose‐dependent manner. There was also evidence of increased inflammation (C‐reactive protein) in current smokers, suggesting a potential mechanism for these relationships.

Extra-articular temporomandibular bony ankylosis between the coronoid process and the zygoma is quite uncommon. In this paper we present a case of fusion of the left coronoid to the zygomatic bone in a 23-year-old male. This bony ankylosis was the result of five-week-old untreated zygomatic complex fracture. Ankylosis developed secondary to heterotopic bone formation following trauma. Zygomatico-coronoid ankylosis of the mandible is a complication which rarely occurs if fractures of the middle third of the facial skeleton have been adequately treated. The patient was treated by intraoral coronoidectomy. The rationale for clinical and radiographic diagnosis and treatment is reviewed.

In the increasingly turbulent business environment knowledge is considered to be the most important source of sustainable competitive advantage and to sustain it, an organization must create, share, and utilize the knowledge it possesses. The critical knowledge is only available to the organization as long as employees are willing to cooperate. It can easily be lost if the employees decide to explore other opportunities outside the organization or employees fear to share knowledge with co-workers. To achieve continuous growth, organizations need to understand the factors which motivate and de-motivate the employees to share knowledge. The present study examines the impact of employees’ perception of perceived benefits and cost of knowledge sharing on their knowledge sharing behavior. Data were collected from 228 employees of two major Information Technology organizations in India. The results of regression analysis showed that benefits mainly perceived increase in expected association with others and expected contribution to organization positively influences employees’ knowledge sharing behaviour. Perceived cost was found to influence negatively on knowledge sharing behaviour. The findings of the study are expected to provide significant inputs to organizations to design the practices which make knowledge sharing an integral part of the day-to-day conversation.