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Purpose – The purpose of the present study is to identify the core cultural aspects perceived by the executives of public, private and foreign banks in India. Design/methodology/approach – Of the 124 responses, 96 usable responses were assessed from middle and lower level managers. Qualitative content analysis and deconstruction method were used to identify the perceived cultural aspects. Findings – Interestingly, managers of Indian banking industry stated that cultural aspects of their banks possess good work and working environment, prefer people, management, experience and promotions in comparison to other factors like policy, bonus, market, commitment, project, etc. It is also noted that cultural aspects of banks prefer learning, training and team working. Practical implications – Assessment of the perception of managers toward their culture will foster the banks to develop integral subculture and to achieve the long-term organizational goals. Originality/value – The study analyze the cultural aspects in Indian banking industry qualitatively, based on executives characteristics. This qualitative analysis helps to find out more contemporary and prevailing factors of banks.

Abstract Background Lung cancer ranks as one of the most rapidly growing malignancies. Which is characterized by its poor prognosis and a low survival rate due to late diagnosis and limited efficacy of conventional treatments. In recent years nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier in the management of lung cancer, presenting novel strategies to enhance drug administration, improve therapeutic efficiency, and mitigate side effects. This research comprehensively evaluates the current state and research trends concerning the application of nanomaterials in lung cancer through bibliometric analysis. Materials and methods We employed a systematic approach by retrieving studies from the Scopus database that focused on nanomaterials and lung cancer between 2003 and 2023. Subsequently, we carefully selected relevant articles based on predetermined inclusion criteria. The selected publications were then subjected to bibliometric and visual analysis using softwares such as VOSviewer and Biblioshiny. Results A total of 3523 studies that meet inclusion criteria were selected for bibliometric analysis. We observed a progressive increase in the number of annual publications from 2003 to 2023, indicating the growing interest in this field. According to our analysis, China is the primary contributor to publication output among the countries. The “Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China” was the most influential institution. Among the authors, "Dr. Jack A. Roth” and “Dr. Huang Leaf” had the highest number of publications and cited publications, respectively. The “International Journal of Nanomedicine” was found to be the most prolific journal in this field. Additionally, “Biomaterials” emerged as the most cited journal. Through keyword analysis, we identified five main research themes and future research directions; nono-immunotherapy and green synthesis are the hot topics in this research field. Conclusion Our study summarized the key characteristics of publications in this field and identified the most influential countries, institutions, authors, journals, hot topics, and trends related to the application of nanomaterials in lung cancer. These findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge and serve as a foundation for future research endeavors in this area. More effective efforts are needed in this field to reduce the burden of lung cancer and help achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Elaeocarpus angustifolius is a scared tree species in India with a poor regeneration capability. It produces a moderately hard timber generally of various end uses. The present study is a report on infestation of three insect pests namely Hyposidra talaca (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Homona coffearia (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) damaging the plant at its nursery stage. The infestation intensity of H. talaca and S. litura was observed to be in the range of 60-70% leading to 80-90% defoliation of the seedlings. However, H. coffearia has lesser damage potential. All the three insect pests are polyphagous in nature, reported to damage many agriculture, horticulture and forestry crops. However, all the three insect pests are being reported as pest of this plant at nursery stage for the first time. The characteristics of larvae, pupa, adult and their feeding pattern have been discussed in the present article.

Background and Aims: The time paediatric patients should resume oral intake after surgery is still ill-defined. No specific evidence suggests that the usual practice of postoperative fasting of 4–6 h to reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is beneficial. The primary objective of this study was to assess the occurrence of PONV with early oral feeding compared to conventional feeding in children undergoing daycare surgery under general anaesthesia. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted in 300 children undergoing daycare surgery under general anaesthesia. Children were randomised into the early feeding group (Group EF, n = 150) or the conventional feeding group (Group CF, n = 150). Group EF received carbohydrate-containing oral fluids when the child demanded feed in the postoperative period. Group CF received oral fluids 4 h post-anaesthesia. All patients were monitored for occurrence of PONV, postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay and parental satisfaction. The incidence of PONV was compared using the Chi-squared test, while other continuous variables were compared using the Student’s t-test. Results: Both groups were comparable regarding PONV (12% in Group EF vs. 18.7% in Group CF, P = 0.109). The Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability scores were significantly lower in Group EF at 0 min (P = 0.011), 30 min (P = 0.001) and 1 h (P < 0.001). Patients in Group EF had a significantly shorter duration of hospital stay, that is, 6.31 [standard deviation (SD): 3.52] [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45–12.24] h in EF versus 10.13 (SD: 2.99) (95% CI: 5.12–16.33) h in CF (P < 0.001). Parents of the children in Group EF had significantly better parental satisfaction scores (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Early postoperative feeding in children undergoing lower abdominal, non-gastrointestinal surgery under general anaesthesia does not increase the incidence of PONV.

Aim: This study investigates the interaction of zirconia and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with indirect composite in fixed dental prostheses. This investigation aimed to assess the shear bond strength (SBS) and color stability of zirconia and PEEK before and after aging, addressing critical concerns in dental restorative applications. Settings and Design: The current in vitro study used 96 samples, 48 of which were divided into two groups, zirconia and PEEK, before and after thermocycling. A dual-axis chewing simulator was used for thermocycling. SBS was measured using a universal testing machine, and color stability was checked using a reflective spectrophotometer. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six samples were categorized into zirconia and PEEK groups, each with subgroups undergoing thermocycling. Samples were prepared using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing milling and veneered with composite resin. Thermocycling involved 10,000 cycles, simulating stress levels equivalent to approximately 1 year of clinical use. SBS was assessed using standardized tests. Stereomicroscopic analysis was performed to evaluate the type of failure. Color stability of the core materials with indirect composite was done using a spectrophotometer before and after aging. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis included paired t-tests and independent t-tests in SPSS software. Results: The results revealed that SBS values for composite on PEEK decreased from 13.86 ± 0.164 MPa before thermocycling to 13.46 ± 0.185 MPa after thermocycling, with a significant difference (P < 0.005). However, both pre- and postthermocycling values for PEEK were higher than zirconia. The t-test confirmed the lower bond strength of composite to zirconia, with a noteworthy improvement after aging. Stereomicroscopic images revealed adhesive failure for the zirconia group and mixed (adhesive and cohesive) failure for the PEEK group. ΔE values were 3.21 ± 0.127 and 2.93 ± 0.142 for zirconia and PEEK groups, respectively (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be deduced that PEEK is a feasible substitute for zirconia when used in conjunction with indirect composite for the fabrication of dental prostheses.

ABSTRACT Innate immune cells, such as macrophages, mount an immune response upon exposure to antigens and pathogens. Emerging evidence shows that macrophages exposed to an antigen can generate a “memory-like” response (a.k.a. trained immunity), which confers a non-specific and enhanced response upon subsequent stimulation with a second antigen/microbe. This trained immunity has been implicated in the enhanced response of macrophages against several invading pathogens. However, the association between the nature of the antigen and the corresponding immune correlate of elicited trained immunity is not fully understood. Similarly, the response of macrophages trained and restimulated with homologous stimulants to subsequent infection by pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains unexplored. Here, we report the immune and metabolic profiles of trained immunity in human THP-1-derived macrophages after homologous training and restimulation with BCG, LPS, purified protein Derivative (PPD), heat-killed Mtb strains HN878 (hk-HN), and CDC1551 (hk-CDC). Furthermore, the impact of training on the autophagic and antimicrobial responses of macrophages with or without subsequent infection by clinical Mtb isolates HN878 and CDC1551 was evaluated. Results show that repeated stimulation of macrophages with different antigens displays distinct pro-inflammatory, metabolic, antimicrobial, and autophagy induction profiles. These macrophages also induce a differential antimicrobial response upon infection with clinical Mtb HN878 and CDC1551 isolates. A significantly reduced intracellular bacterial load was noted in the stimulated macrophages, which was augmented by the addition of rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. These observations suggest that the nature of the antigen and the mode of stimulation shape the magnitude and breadth of macrophage innate memory response, which impacts subsequent response to Mtb infection.IMPORTANCETrained immunity (a.k.a. innate memory response) is a novel concept that has been rapidly emerging as a mechanism underpinning the non-specific immunity of innate immune cells, such as macrophages. However, the association between the nature of the stimuli and the corresponding immune correlate of trained immunity is not fully understood. Similarly, the kinetics of immunological and metabolic characteristics of macrophages upon “training” by the same antigen as primary and secondary stimuli (homologous stimulation) are not fully characterized. Furthermore, the ability of antigens such as purified protein derivative (PPD) and heat-killed-Mtb to induce trained immunity remains unknown. Similarly, the response of macrophages primed and trained by homologous stimulants to subsequent infection by pathogenic Mtb is yet to be reported. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that the nature of the stimuli impacts the depth and breadth of trained immunity in macrophages, which differentially affects their response to Mtb infection.

The dairy industry is becoming one of the biggest sectors within the global food industry, and these industries use almost 34% of the water. The amount of water used is governed by the production process and the technologies employed in the plants. Consequently, the dairy industries generate almost 0.2–10 L of wastewater per liter of processed milk, which must be treated before being discharged into water bodies. The cultivation of microalgae in a mixotrophic regime using dairy wastewater enhances biomass growth, productivity, and the accumulation of value-added product. The generated biomass can be converted into biofuels, thus limiting the dependence on petroleum-based crude oil. To fulfill the algal biorefinery model, it is important to utilize every waste stream in a cascade loop. Additionally, the harvested water generated from algal biomass production can be recycled for further microalgal growth. Economic and sustainable wastewater management, along with proper reclamation of nutrients from dairy wastewater, is a promising approach to mitigate the problem of water scarcity. A bibliometric study revealing limited work on dairy wastewater treatment using microalgae for biofuel production. And, limited work is reported on the pretreatment of dairy wastewater via physicochemical methods before microalgal-based treatment. There are still significant gaps remains in large-scale cultivation processes. It is also crucial to discover robust strains that are highly compatible with the specific concentration of contaminants, as this will lead to increased yields and productivity for the targeted bio-product. Finally, research on reutilization of culture media in photobioreactor is necessary to augument the productivity of the entire process. Therefore, the incorporation of the microalgal biorefinery with the wastewater treatment concept has great potential for promoting ecological sustainability.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have demonstrated that high-risk fertility behaviour (HRFB), which includes maternal age below 18 or above 34 years, short birth intervals (less than 24 months), and high parity (birth order above 4), is associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. There is a substantial research gap in the domain of high-risk fertility behaviour in the Indian context. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the current trends and patterns in the prevalence of high-risk births among Indian women, with a primary focus on identifying contributing factors associated with this prevalence. Methods The study utilized data from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey (NFHS), which has been conducted in five rounds since 1992–93. Data from all rounds were used to assess the overall trend. However, data from the most recent round of NFHS, conducted during 2019–21, were employed to evaluate current levels and patterns of HRFB prevalence and to identify socio-economic and demographic predictors of HRFB using binomial and multinomial logistic regression models. Results The prevalence of HRFB has exhibited a consistent decreasing pattern from 1992 to 93 to 2019–21 in India. However, 29.56% of married women continue to experience high-risk births with notably higher rates in several states (e.g., 49.85% in Meghalaya and 46.41% in Bihar). Furthermore, socio-demographic factors like wealth index, educational level, social group, religion, mass media exposure, family size, age at marriage, type and region of residence, and reproductive factors like birth intention, place and type of delivery, ANC visits and current contraceptive use were identified as significant predictors of high-risk births among women in India. Conclusion Despite a 20.4 percentage point decline in HRFB prevalence over the past three decades, a significant proportion of women in specific regions and demographic subgroups continue to experience high-risk births. Therefore, the present study recommends interventions aimed at preventing high-risk births among women in India, with particular emphasis on states with high HRFB prevalence and women from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide. Cigarette smoke which has approximately 2–3 µg of Cadmium (Cd) per cigarette contributes to the environmental exposure and development and severity of COPD. With the lack of a cadmium elimination mechanism in humans, the contribution of cadmium induced stress to lung epithelial cells remains unclear. Studies on cadmium responsive miRNAs suggest regulation of target genes with an emphasis on the critical role of miRNA–mRNA interaction for cellular homeostasis. Mir-381, the target miRNA in this study is negatively regulated by cadmium in airway epithelial cells. miR-381 is reported to also regulate ANO1 (Anoctamin 1) expression negatively and in this study low dose cadmium exposure to airway epithelial cells was observed to upregulate ANO1 mRNA expression via mir-381 inhibition. ANO1 which is a Ca2+-activated chloride channel has multiple effects on cellular functions such as proliferation, mucus hypersecretion and fibroblast differentiation in inflamed airways in chronic respiratory diseases. In vitro studies with cadmium at a high concentration range of 100–500 µM is reported to activate chloride channel, ANO1. The secretory epithelial cells are regulated by chloride channels like CFTR, ANO1 and SLC26A9. We examined “ever” smokers with COPD (n = 13) lung tissue sections compared to “never” smoker without COPD (n = 9). We found that “ever” smokers with COPD had higher ANO1 expression. Using mir-381 mimic to inhibit ANO1, we demonstrate here that ANO1 expression is significantly (p

Chronic wounds take longer to heal and, if left untreated, can result in severe repercussions such as sepsis, gangrene, and amputation. The current treatment procedures followed are wound cleaning and debridement, specialized dressings, antibiotics and antiseptics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and vacuum-assisted wound closure. Some of the limitations of these treatment options are multidrug resistance and tissue toxicity. Cold plasma is an emerging technology that has opened a new frontier in biomedical applications and is found to have great utility in wound healing. Cold plasma comprises reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that can be targeted against bacterial inactivation and improve wound healing. The amount of RONS produced can be controlled by several parameters such as gas composition, flow rate, power, frequency, voltage, distance, and exposure time. The reactive species causes damage to the cell membrane as well as the intracellular components which ultimately lead to bacterial cell death. It can also accelerate wound healing by activating neutrophils, macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. These help in maintaining tissue oxygenation, initiating angiogenesis, collagen synthesis which aids in rapid wound closure. In this review, we summarize the various characteristics of cold plasma that can be optimized to produce an effective antimicrobial effect. The different mechanisms of bacterial inactivation and the stimulation of wound healing processes by the reactive species are discussed. Furthermore, numerous pieces of evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials that prove that cold plasma is an effective approach are presented.

Abstract Background Head and neck cancer (HNC) is one of the most frequent malignancies in Asian males with a poor prognosis. Apart from well-known prognostic indicators, markers of tumor hypoxia can help us predict response to treatment and survival. Methods A review of the literature on the present evidence and potential clinical importance of tumor hypoxia in head and neck cancer was carried out. The data obtained from the literature search is presented as a narrative review. Results The literature shows possible associations between prognosis and low tumor oxygenation. Intermediate hypoxia biomarkers like HIF-1, GLUT-1, miRNA, and lactate, can help in predicting the response to therapy and survival as their altered expression is related to prognosis. Conclusions Hypoxia is common in HNC and can be detected by use of biomarkers. The tumors that show expression of hypoxia biomarkers have poor prognosis except for patients with human papilloma virus-associated or VHL-associated cancers. Therapeutic targeting of hypoxia is emerging; however, it is still in its nascent stage, with increasing clinical trials hypoxia is set to emerge as an attractive therapeutic target in HNC.

This paper applied the fuzzy function approach, combined with the ridge regression model, to produce daily rainfall projections from large-scale climate variables. This study developed a statistical downscaling model based on principal components, c-means fuzzy clustering, Volterra series, and ridge regression. The model is known, hereafter as SDC2R2. In the developed downscaling model, the use of ridge regression, instead of multiple linear regression, is proposed to downscale daily rainfall with wide range (WR) predictors. The WR predictors were applied to sufficiently incorporate climate change signals. The developed model also captured the non-linear interactions of the climate variables by applying the transformation of Volterra series realization over WR predictors. This transformation was performed by applying principal components as orthogonal filters. Further, these principal components were clustered by using c-means clustering and non-linear transformations were applied on these membership functions, to improve the prediction ability of the model. The reanalysis of climate data from the National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) was used to develop the model and was validated by using the Global Climate Model (GCM) for four locations in the Manawatu River basin. The developed model was used to obtain future daily rainfall projections from three Representative Concentrative Pathways (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5) scenarios from the Canadian Earth System Model (CanESM2) GCM. The performance of the model was compared with a widely used statistical downscaling model (SDSM). It was observed that the model performed better than SDSM in downscaling rainfall on a daily basis. Every scenario indicated that there is a probability of obtaining high future rainfall frequency. The results of this study provide valuable information for decision-makers since climate change may potentially impact the Manawatu basin.

Introduction: Various medicinal and aromatic plants possess bioactive components that exhibit therapeutic, cosmetic and pharmaceutical properties. Allium species comprise a subgroup of these medicinal plants which offers these potential advantages. The natural volatile oils derived from these plants have a broad range of functions owing to their richness in bioactive components. Therefore, the interest of presents study is to provide an updated and quantified information regarding the therapeutical commercial products, chemical composition, and biological applications, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Allium genus essential oils. Methods: This work is designed using a mixed methodology; an extensive data search was conducted for the period from 2000 to 2023 (July). The keywords “Essential oil”, “Allium genus”, “Bioactive components”, “Antimicrobial activity”, and “Antioxidant potential”, were utilised to extract the data. The information for the literature review was obtained from the PubMed database, while the SCOPUS online database was used for bibliometric analysis. Results: A total of 294 entries were found in PubMed, out of which only 42 studies were selected for comprehensive review based on their experimental approach, including in vivo (1) and in vitro (41) studies. Apart from this, 244 articles were selected and subjected to bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software. The Allium genus is one of the most representative genera from Amaryllidaceae family, whose therapeutic benefits are properly consolidated in a wide variety of ailments. Traditionally, the Allium species have been consumed in China as spices and vegetables. Although, modern Chinese medicine system have conducted several studies over the years to address the chemical composition, biological applications and commercially available products containing the essential oils of genus Allium. Conclusion: In this sense, this concise review provides an overview of the composition and biological potential (antioxidant and antimicrobial) of the Allium species-derived essential oils. The results from published works also illustrate that these volatile oils are effective in several microbial species and can be exploited as a multi-potent drug against various ailments with advanced safety and efficacy. Although, the integration of past knowledge with current research underscores the enduring significance of Allium essential oils. Furthermore, it highlights the research patterns and future trends in this research domain, providing valuable insights for future researchers to explore this domain further.

Objective:Though airway ultrasonography (USG) is used to assess difficult laryngoscopy (DL), there is still ambiguity about approach followed and parameters assessed. There is need of a simple, stepwise sonographic assessment with clearly defined parameters for DL prediction. The primary objective of this study was to find diagnostic accuracy of sonographic parameters measured by a stepwise Airway-USG in DL prediction (DLP).Methods:This prospective, observational cohort study was done in 217 elective surgical adult patients administered general anaesthesia with tracheal intubation using conventional laryngoscopy from 1st May 2019 to 31st July 2020, after ethical approval. A sagittal Airway-USG was done using 2-6 Hz transducer in three steps specifying probe placement and head position. Demographic, clinical and Airway-USG measurements were noted. Correlation of the clinical/sonographic parameters was made with Cormack-Lehane score on DL. After receiver operating characteristic curve plotting, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value (NPV) of DL was calculated for each parameter using open-epi software.Results:DL was observed in 19/217 patients. Airway-USG parameters of skin to epiglottis distance >2.45 cm, hyomental distance with head extension 3.93 cm and maximum skin to tongue distance >5.45 cm were statistically significant in predicting DL. DLP score with presence of >3 positive parameters showed 98% specificity, 98% NPV and 96% diagnostic accuracy to predict DL.Conclusion:DLP score derived from Airway-USG may be used as a screening and diagnostic tool for DL.

Background: Giardiasis is an important cause of diarrheal disease and is associated with morbidity in children and adults worldwide. We aimed to study the prevalence of Giardiasis, its clinical presentations, seasonal trends in detection, and coinfection with other intestinal parasites along with comparison of fecal antigen and microscopy for the detection of Giardiasis. Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective study conducted from Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2021 at our university hospital. Iodine and normal saline mounts and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used for the detection of Giardiasis in stool samples. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of tests were computed. Results: Of 8364 patients, 432 (5.2%) had Giardiasis by microscopy and/or ELISA. Giardiasis was more common in males compared to females (318/5613 [5.6%] vs. 114/2751 [4.1%]; P = 0.003) and among those ≤10 y compared to older individuals (102/560 [18.2%] vs. 330/7804 [4.2%]; P

Head and neck cancer ranks as the sixth-most common malignancy worldwide, characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Research studies indicate that molecular diagnostics play a crucial role in the early detection and prognostic evaluation of these diseases. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for head and neck cancer and elucidate their interactions with miRNAs and possible therapeutic drugs. Four drivers, namely, FN1, IL1A, COL1A1, and MMP9, were identified using network biology and machine learning approaches. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) showed that these genes were significantly involved in different biological processes and pathways, including coagulation, UV-response-down, apoptosis, NOTCH signaling, Wnt-beta catenin, and other signal pathways. The diagnostic value of these hub genes was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The top interactive miRNAs, including miR-128-3p, miR-218-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-129-2-3p, and miR-1-3p, targeted the key genes. Furthermore, the interaction between the key genes and drugs was also identified. In summary, the key genes and miRNAs or drugs reported in this study might provide valuable information for potential biomarkers to increase the prognosis and diagnosis of head and neck cancer.

SHP2 belongs to a cytoplasmic non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase class. It plays a critical role in the development of various cancers, such as gastric cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer. Thus, SHP2 has gained the interest of researchers as a potential target for inhibiting tumor cell proliferation in SHP2-dependent cancers. This study employed pharmacophore-based virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA, and principal component analysis (PCA), followed by ADME prediction. We selected three potential hits from a collective database of more than one million chemical compounds. The stability of these selected hit–protein complexes was analyzed using 500 ns MD simulations and binding free energy calculations. The identified hits Lig_1, Lig_6, and Lig_14 demonstrated binding free energies of −161.49 kJ/mol, −151.28 kJ/mol, and −107.13 kJ/mol, respectively, compared to the reference molecule (SHP099) with a ΔG of −71.48 kJ/mol. Our results showed that the identified compounds could be used as promising candidates for selective SHP2 allosteric inhibition in cancer.

High Resolution (HR) images have numerous applications, such as video conferencing, remote sensing, medical imaging, etc. Furthermore, a few challenges with the super resolution algorithms of magnetic resonance brain images are now obtainable, namely, low sensitivity, significant frequency noise as well as poor resolution. To fix these problems, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) singular frame quality improvement method is described. There are two stages in this proposed method, involving training and testing. During the training stage, the HR, and Low Resolution (LR) pictures are employed as input, and they are preprocessed to create blocks of images. The histogram and DCT are used for extracting the features from the LR and HR blocks, and these extracted features are assigned with class id. The CNN, which extracts the features and allocates class id, receives its feature extractor as its final input. An LR input image is once more divided into [2 × 2] blocks during the testing stage, so each block histogram and DCT feature are estimated. Each feature vector is fed into the neural network as well as the results are contrasted with a set of feature vectors that have been recorded, in addition to the class id that has been allocated to a certain vector. In order to generate a Super resolution image with an LR image, a relevant HR block is then swapped out for this LR block. These results indicated that the initial dataset can achieve 22.4 and 19.5 Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) values while measuring the effectiveness of this proposed method using RMSE and PSNR. Then, the second dataset illustrates that the PSNR and RMSE values are 20.1 and 25.5. For the third dataset, the values are 45.7 and 12.3, respectively. However, the presented method works better than the neural method of Super Resolution Channel Spatial Modulation Network and resolution enhancement technique.

Abstract Introduction Cytomegalovirus establishes life-long latency after primary infection in childhood. Cytomegalovirus reactivation has been well reported in immune-compromised patients; however, in the last few years it has been observed that cytomegalovirus reactivation also occurs in critically ill patients without exogenous immunosuppression, which increases length of intensive care unit stay and mortality rate. Case report A 63-year-old Indian male, without any known comorbidity, developed severe coronavirus disease 2019 and was admitted to the intensive care unit. He received remdesivir, tocilizumab, steroids, anticoagulants, and empiric antibiotics over the next 3 weeks. However, his clinical condition did not improve much, and during the 9th week of illness his condition started deteriorating and routine bacterial cultures, fungal cultures, and cytomegalovirus real-time polymerase chain reaction on blood were negative. His clinical condition worsened rapidly, which led to the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Tracheal aspirate bacterial and fungal culture showed no growth, but cytomegalovirus real-time polymerase chain reaction showed 21,86,000 copies/mL in tracheal aspirates. After 4 weeks of ganciclovir treatment, the patient improved clinically and was discharged. Currently he is doing well and able to do his routine activity without the need of oxygen. Conclusion Timely management with ganciclovir is associated with favorable outcome in cytomegalovirus infection. Thus, it can be suggested that treatment should be initiated with ganciclovir if a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 has high cytomegalovirus load in tracheal aspirates, along with unexplained and prolonged clinical and/or radiological features.

Abstract Urtica dioica is a perennial herb from the family of Urticaceae that is commonly known as stinging nettle. This plant is widespread in Europe, Africa, America, and a part of Asia, as it adapts to different environments and climatic conditions. The leaves, stalk, and bark of U. dioica found applications in the field of nutrition, cosmetics, textile, pest control and pharmacology. In this connection, bioactive chemical constituents such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids, carotenoids, and fatty acids have been isolated from the plant. With this review, we aim at providing an updated and comprehensive overview of the contributions in literature reporting computational, in vitro, pre-clinical and clinical data supporting the therapeutic applications of U. dioica. Experimental evidence shows that U. dioica constituents and extracts can provide neuroprotective effects by acting through a combination of different molecular mechanisms, that are discussed in the review. These findings could lay the basis for the identification and design of more effective tools against neurodegenerative diseases. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) encompass a heterogenous group of diffuse parenchymal lung disorders characterized by variable degrees of inflammation and fibrosis. Pretherapeutic clinical testing models for such diseases can serve as a platform to test and develop effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed patient derived 3D organoid model to recapitulate the disease process of ILDs. We characterized the inherent property of invasiveness in this model and tested for antifibrotic responses with an aim to develop a potential platform for personalized medicine in ILDs. Methods In this prospective study, 23 patients with ILD were recruited and underwent lung biopsy. 3D organoid-based models (pulmospheres) were developed from the lung biopsy tissues. Pulmonary functioning testing and other relevant clinical parameters were collected at the time of enrollment and follow up visits. The patient derived pulmospheres were compared to normal control pulmospheres obtained from 9 explant lung donor samples. These pulmospheres were characterized by their invasive capabilities and responsiveness to the antifibrotic drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib. Results Invasiveness of the pulmospheres was measured by the zone of invasiveness percentage (ZOI%). The ILD pulmospheres (n = 23) had a higher ZOI% as compared to control pulmospheres (n = 9) (516.2 ± 115.6 versus 54.63 ± 19.6 respectively. ILD pulmospheres were responsive to pirfenidone in 12 of the 23 patients (52%) and responsive to nintedanib in all 23 patients (100%). Pirfenidone was noted to be selectively responsive in patients with connective tissue disease related ILD (CTD-ILD) at low doses. There was no correlation between the basal pulmosphere invasiveness, response to antifibrotics, and FVC change (Δ FVC). Conclusions The 3D pulmosphere model demonstrates invasiveness which is unique to each individual subject and is greater in ILD pulmospheres as compared to controls. This property can be utilized to test responses to drugs such as antifibrotics. The 3D pulmosphere model could serve as a platform for the development of personalized approaches to therapeutics and drug development in ILDs and potentially other chronic lung diseases.

Ensuring and further increasing student engagement in the classroom is a challenging task for the teachers. Teachers need to be creative with the tasks and activities they employ in the classroom so that students pay more attention to the topic being discussed. Greater the involvement of the students, better would be the chances that they learn. This study focused on studying the attitude of students towards sketchnoting activity in the classroom. College going students from Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)., Bachelor of Arts (B.A., Applied Psychology) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc., Clinical Psychology) courses were included in the sample.

Background and Objective: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of telemedicine in blood pressure (BP) management when compared to conventional care. We initiated a hypertension telehealth clinic in our urban primary care clinic and through this study aim to evaluate the strengths and limitations of telemedicine in hypertension (HTN) control. The primary outcome of the study is to identify the proportion of patients with improved HTN. Secondary outcomes included identifying: predictors for lower BP, predictors of missing telehealth appointments, and comorbid conditions that are more likely to necessitate use of more than 1 antihypertensive medication. Methods and Analysis: Patients seen in the HTN telehealth clinic from May 1st, 2022 to October 31st, 2022 were identified. A retrospective chart review was done to compare the BP during in-person visit prior to first telehealth visit, telehealth visit home BP readings and last recorded in-office BP on chart at end of study period. Descriptive statistical analysis, Chi Square test, and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze data. Results: Of the 234 appointments, 83% were conducted and 154 patients were seen. A remarkable decrease in percentage of patients with BP >140/90 was seen when comparing in-office visit BP to first telehealth visit home BP, 72% versus 45% respectively. No remarkable difference was noted in percentage of patients with BP >140/90 when comparing first telehealth visit home BP to last in-office BP recorded on chart, 45% and 41% respectively. Patients with diabetes had lower odds of missing appointments, adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.34 ([0.12-0.91], P = .03). Patients with partners were more likely to have lower BP at the telehealth visit, aOR:3.2 ([1.15-9.86], P = .03) while patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (aOR 0.27 ([0.08-0.77], P = .02) and CAD, aOR 0.24 ([0.06-0.8], P = .03) were less likely to have lower BP. Conclusion: The study demonstrated telemedicine as a great tool to prevent overtreatment of hypertension as significant difference between in-office BP and home BP during telehealth visits was noted. We did not see a significant change in blood pressure when comparing home BP at first telehealth visit to the last in-person clinic BP at end of study period.

Anthropometric measurements like height and gender have been frequently found to be inaccurate in prediction of size of double lumen tube (DLT). A tracheal ultrasonography (TUS) is a technique that can be used to predict the size of DLT and its correct placement for lung isolation. We aim to check the accuracy of ultrasound over clinical methods. This prospective study included 68 patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery requiring one-lung ventilation (OLV) with DLT. The groups were assessed for the size of DLT by either anthropometric measurement using height and gender (Group C) or ultrasound method (Group U). Further, the accuracy of placement of DLT was assessed through, either lung auscultation in group C or various ultrasonographic and ventilatory parameters such as lung isolation in the first attempt (lung sliding and lung pulse sign), oxygenation status and peak airway pressure, in group U. Surgeon satisfaction score was also compared in both the groups. The accuracy of predicted DLT size between Group C and Group U was statistically significant (p=0.044). In Group C, 56% of patients showed a mismatch between the predicted DLT size and the actual size required, while in Group U, the mismatch was only 32.4%. The accuracy of DLT placement through group C was 41% as compared to 79% in Group U. Surgeon satisfaction score was also significantly higher in Group U as compared to Group C (p=0.0028). Thus, our study suggests that tracheal and chest ultrasonography for DLT size selection and placement for lung isolation is superior to clinical methods.

A plant-growth promoting bacterial consortium of halotolerant Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. was evaluated for the ability to prime banana (Musa acuminata cv. Berangan) plants against abiotic (salinity) and biotic (Foc-TR4) stress challenges. PGPB consortium-primed banana plants showed better growth (plant height, root length and root biomass) and improved physiological parameters (relative water content, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents) in both stressed conditions compared to non-primed banana plants. In addition, primed banana plants showed a reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in proline and antioxidant enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). In salt-stress conditions (sea salt at 100 mM NaCl equivalent), primed plants showed higher levels of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ and lower levels of Cl- and Na+ compared to non-primed salt-stressed plants. Under Foc-TR4 stress, the primed plants showed significant enhancement in the levels of total soluble phenolics, lignin content and defense-related enzyme activities (β-1, 3-glucanase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chitinase, polyphenol oxidase, and lipoxygenase). Expression analysis of nine stress-responsive MaWRKY genes (MaWRKY4, MaWRKY23, MaWRKY24, MaWRKY25, MaWRKY28, MaWRKY45, MaWRKY65, MaWRKY89 and MaWRKY145) showed significant upregulation in primed banana plants under salt and Foc-TR4 stresses compared to non-primed plants. These results demonstrate that inoculation with the PGPB consortium improved banana plant growth characteristics and primed WRKY-mediated protection against abiotic and biotic stresses.

Introduction: One of the rapidly escalating public health problems worldwide is traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to road traffic accidents. In comparison to postneurosurgery patients and other patients inhabiting the intensive care units (ICUs), patients with TBI are more susceptible to nosocomially acquired infections from the hospital milieu. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a university hospital in Northern India from December 2018 to September 2022. All patients presenting with TBI formed the cohort of our study population. Results: A total of 72 patients with TBI were enrolled. The mean age of patients was 40.07 ± 18.31 years. The most common infections were ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (44/72, 61.11%) and bloodstream infection (BSI) in 21 (21/72, 29.17%) patients. Concomitant infections were observed in 21 (21/72, 29.17%) patients. The common organism causing VAP was Acinetobacter spp. (29/58, 50.0%), BSI was Klebsiella pneumoniae (10/23, 43.48%), urinary tract infection was K. pneumoniae (5/16, 31.25%), and surgical site infection was Acinetobacter spp. (3/8, 37.5%) in TBI patients. An increased incidence of multidrug resistance was demonstrated in our patients. The increased length of hospital and ICU stay, ICU admission, intubation, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension were statistically significant parameters that made TBI patients prone to develop an infection. Conclusion: TBI patients suffering from underlying comorbidities are prone to develop infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria was observed among our study cohort which also mirrors the lack of adherence to infection control measures.

Background: Radiographical examination of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) showing changes in the shape of the condyle. Clinicians should have anatomical knowledge to assess the morphology of the condyle. Early detection of TMJ prevents the future possibility of osseous deformities. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of morphological variations in the condyles of dentate patients on digital panoramic radiographs. Methods: A total of 2364 digital panoramic radiographs were retrospectively selected from the previous patient's record that visited the Department and were observed by two radiologists for formulation of operational definitions. The OPG was evaluated for the subcondylar cysts, osteophytes, erosions, knife edges, and flattening of condyles. Morphological trends in condyles were evaluated. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 68.73% of cases showed positive condylar changes, among which 31.13% revealed osteophytes, 27.13% flattening of condyles, 26.46% erosions, knife edges, and subcondylar cysts were 8.30%, and 6.95%, respectively, and the relationship between the type of condyles and the age groups were found to be statistically significant (P value: 0.05). Conclusions: Osteophytes were found to be the most predominant feature than other condylar morphological changes so preventive measures to be taken to stop further progression of the disease.

Pogostemon cablin cultivation faces massive constraints because of its susceptability to drought stress that reduces patchouli propagation and oil yield. The present study has achieved an efficient and rapid direct regeneration system for the transgenic production of P. cablin using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. To establish an efficient regeneration protocol for fast in-vitro multiplication of patchouli plants, leaf, petiole, and transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) explants were used and inoculated on an MS medium supplemented with different combinations of phytohormones. A comparative study showed a maximum regeneration frequency of 93.30 ± 0.56% per explant was obtained from leaf segments on optimal MS medium fortified with 0.2mg/L BAP and 0.1mg/L NAA. Leaf and petiole explants took 25-35 days to regenerate while tTCL section showed regeneration in just 15-20 days on the same medium. Subsequently, productive genetic transformation protocol OD600 0.6, AS 200µM, 30mg/L kanamycin, and infection time 5 min. was standardized and best-suited explants were infected at optimum conditions from the Agrobacterium tumefaciens (LBA 4404) strain harboring ACC deaminase to generate transgenic P. cablin Benth. (CIM-Samarth) plants. The investigation suggested that the optimized protocol provides a maximum transformation frequency of 42 ± 1.9% in 15-20 days from tTCL. The transgenic plants were shifted to the greenhouse with a 52.0 ± 0.8% survival frequency. A molecular docking study confirmed significant binding affinity of ligand ACC with ACC deaminase at the catalytic site, and ligand interactions showed four H-bonds at the binding pocket with amino acids Cys-196, Val-198, Thr-199, and Gly-200 that validate gene relative expression in transgenic plants. Among all transgenic acclimatized greenhouse-grown patchouli plants, line PT4 showed improved drought resistance under severe water stress as its RWC was 71.7 ± 2.3% to 75.7 ± 2.1% which is greater than the RWC of the control plant, 58.30 ± 0.21%. Analysis of the other physiological indicators, H2O2, chlorophyll content, and ROS result support drought resistance ability. Our study concluded that the first report on P. cablin, tTCL direct regeneration, and standardized transformation protocol created a new opportunity for genetic manipulation to achieve drought-resistant patchouli plants for cultivation in all seasons at the commercial level.

Abstract Rice is an essential crop, growing in nearly every part worldwide. Grains are the most common rice plant part consumed as food; however, other plant parts also have some significant values apart from grains. Rice bran is the outer layer of the rice grain, an excellent source of various phenolic, flavonoid, and phytoactive compounds. This review article discusses the various compounds found in rice bran with their structure and properties. Different medicinal properties of rice bran are also discussed in this review article. Several constituents of rice bran show anticancerous activity through various mechanisms like cell cycle arrest and regulation of apoptotic factors. Anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and cholesterol‐lowering are the other activities of rice bran, briefly explained in the article, along with their mechanism of action. A bibliographic network, including keyword bibliography analysis and a three‐field plot, has also been discussed to show the trends and network of common keywords in the recently published documents in the Scopus database. Overall, this review explores the rice bran compositions with their structures, activity, and various medicinal uses of rice bran, which can be proven an efficient oil source for nutritional purposes.

Among numerous synthetic macromolecules, polyurethane in its different forms has proven its sheer dominance and established a reputation as a reliable and trusted material due to its proficiency in terms of superior properties, which include: high mechanical strength and abrasion resistance, good durability, good adhesion, good thermal stability, excellent chemical and weathering resistance. Synthetic polyurethane materials are non-biodegradable, poisonous, and use petrochemical-based raw materials, which are now depleting, leading to a surge in polyurethane production costs. Bio-based polyurethanes (PU) have been synthesized by researchers in recent decades and have mostly overtaken petrochemical-based PU in terms of challenges such as solid pollution, economic effectiveness, and availability of raw materials. Enormous kinds of available bio-renewable sources as predecessors for the production of polyols and isocyanates have been explored for the development of “greener” PU materials; these bio-based polyurethanes have significant potential to be used as future PU products, with a partial or total replacement of petroleum-based polyurethanes, due to increasing concern about the environment, their relatively low cost and biodegradability. This critical review concentrates on the possibilities of renewable sources to be used for polyurethane production and gives a clear perspective on the journey, utilization, and recent advancements in the field of different bio-based polyurethane polymers that have arisen over the last decade.

According to the world Summit of sustainable Development, the major reason for lack of safe water is either scarcity of water or contamination of water sources. Therefore this study eye on developing nations, seeks to find sustainable, yet economically and socially practical solution to the problems associated with polluted water. To fulfil the objectives of the present study, two medicinal value plants Dhav (Anogeissuslatifolia wall.) and Aragvadha (Cassia fistula Linn.) were selected and absorbents were prepared from the bark of both the plants. Then the reactors were prepared using the different compositions of sand, gravel, absorbents of Dhavand Aragvadha and cotton.In this way four filter reactors were prepared. The feeding rate of raw water is maintained at 0.5 litre per hour. The results revealed that Dhav plant absorbent was found more effective thanAragvadha. All reactors shows different efficiencies for different parameters suggesting that reactors should be prepared based on need or targeted parameters. Over all reactor 4 shows better efficiency for all the parameters. The main exclusivity of the present reactor is low cost with no electricity demand. The prepared reactors are environment friendly and easily implementable but further study is required to prove it on large scale.

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation from the past few decades has been widely studied due to the substantial depletion of the stratospheric ozone (O3) layer, causing morphological, physiological, cytological, and biochemical alterations in plants. As a potent abiotic stress factor, enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation has been flagged as a key factor under UV-B stress. UV-B adversely affects plant growth and development. Plants have evolved defense strategies under UV-B stress to counteract these detrimental effects. The most common protective response is an accumulation of secondary metabolites. These provide photoprotection by acting as UV-B absorbing compounds through quenching ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).UV-B-induced metabolites share a common origin in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. These phenylpropanoids induced via UV Resistance Locus 8 (UVR8) signaling are transcriptionally regulated by MYB transcription factors (TFs) and are efficiently transported to different cellular and membrane-limited compartments. The accumulation of metabolites like flavonoids, anthocyanins, lignins and tannins in plants marks the importance of its metabolism in UV-B tolerance mechanism. Plant species responded differently to increased UV-B exposure in terms of phenylpropanoid concentration. Apart from UV-B screening agents, these are also potent ROS scavengers due to their structural composition and less reactive nature. The dynamic balance between ROS accumulation under UV-B stress and its metabolism via phenylpropanoids holds the key to the stress tolerance attributes of a plant. The present review focuses on the UV-B-induced secondary metabolites in plants, their biosynthesis, and defense strategies that will help in the elucidation of medicinally important bioactive compounds as well as in the development of UV-B tolerant plants.

The Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) is a critical and essential part of the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Due to past catastrophic disasters, critical systems of NPP like EDG are designed to meet high dependability requirements. Therefore, we propose a framework for the dynamic reliability assessment using the Fault Tree and the Dynamic Bayesian Network. In this framework, the information of the component's failure probability is updated based on observed data. The framework is powerful to perform qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of the system. The validity of the framework is done by applying it on several NPP systems.

Injectable hydrogels offer numerous advantages in various areas, which include tissue engineering and drug delivery because of their unique properties such as tunability, excellent carrier properties, and biocompatibility. These hydrogels can be administered with minimal invasiveness. In this study, we synthesized an injectable hydrogel by rehydrating lyophilized mixtures of guar adamantane (Guar-ADI) and poly-β-cyclodextrin (p-βCD) in a solution of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) maintained at pH 7.4. The hydrogel was formed via host-guest interaction between modified guar (Guar-ADI), obtained by reacting guar gum with 1-adamantyl isocyanate (ADI) and p-βCD. Comprehensive characterization of all synthesized materials, including the hydrogel, was performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and rheology. The in vitro drug release study demonstrated the hydrogel’s efficacy in controlled drug delivery, exemplified by the release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and anastrozole, both of which followed first-order kinetics. Furthermore, the hydrogel displayed excellent biocompatibility and served as an ideal scaffold for promoting the growth of mouse osteoblastic MC3T3 cells as evidenced by the in vitro biocompatibility study.

Purpose: With the advent of COVID-19 era, teaching activities have migrated from offline to online platform. In this study, we assess whether the increased exposure to visual display terminal (VDT) devices is affecting the health of school-age children with regard to computer vision syndrome (CVS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out by means of an online questionnaire. Participants were students ranging from Class 1 to Class 12. Questions were posed to participants pertaining to screen exposure time, physical activity levels, dry eye symptoms, and asthenopia symptoms. The dry eye part was adapted from the 5 Item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ5 questionnaire), and the asthenopia part was adapted from the questionnaire developed by Ames et al. A total of 554 students were included in the study. The data received were statistically analyzed. Results: An increase in screen exposure time during COVID era was reported by 237 (42.8%) students. The major contributors to screen usage were online classes and assignments (94% of students). The prevalence of headache was higher in students using tablet/iPad and smartphone as the VDT device. The headache, eyeache, DEQ5 scores, and asthenopia scores were significantly correlated with screen exposure time, and a significant increase was observed in parameters from pre-COVID to COVID era. Concentration span in online classes showed a positive correlation with amount of physical activity of the student. Conclusions: Dry eye, asthenopia, and musculoskeletal symptoms of CVS have increased significantly during COVID era. Screen exposure needs to be restricted and adequate attention needs to be given to physical activity.

Background: Until recently, the removal of ephelides on face was predominantly carried out by using dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and radiofrequency cauterization. As these treatment modalities caused undesirable side effects such as scarring, this study is being performed to compare the effect of ND:YAG laser and radiofrequency to remove ephelides with laser showing better result and fewer side effects. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in the department of dermatology, venerology, and leprology during the period 2017 to 2019 after obtaining clearance from Board of Studies and Ethical committee. Patient was thoroughly examined on the basis of history and examination for a confirm diagnosis. After confirming the diagnosis, the patient’s face was divided into left and right sides. On to the right-sided freckles of the face, radiofrequency cauterization was carried out and on left part, Nd:YAG was performed. The objective parameters were estimated at the end of 1 month using global improvement scale and also by evaluating patient’s satisfaction score. Photographs of both sides of the face were taken at 0, 1 week, and at 1 month under consistent background, position, and lighting and compared with the pretreatment images. Results: The study population consisted of 9 (18%) males and 41 (82%) females. Distribution of global improvement scores 3 and 4 was significantly more among Nd:YAG laser (65.0% and 10.0%, respectively) compared to radiofrequency ablation (2.5% and 0.0%, respectively). Mean freckle area severity index (FASI) score post-treatment and reduction in score were significantly more among Nd:YAG laser compared to radiofrequency ablation. Erythema, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation were significantly more among radiofrequency ablation. Conclusion: Nd:YAG laser showed satisfactory result in removing freckles in comparison to radiofrequency ablation.

Introduction: Kyphoscoliosis with pregnancy is a rare but serious disorder which often requires caesarean delivery. Both general and regional anaesthesia have been used in these cases but data regarding outcomes with spinal anaesthesia (SA) are limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study to identify patients with kyphoscoliosis undergoing caesarean delivery at a tertiary care hospital in India. Those parturients who received SA were compared with those receiving general anaesthesia (GA group) with respect to cardiorespiratory parameters, maternal outcomes and neonatal outcomes. Results: The GA group had significantly worse cardiorespiratory parameters including pulmonary function tests, right atrial pressures and cardiac ejection fraction as compared to SA group. All the GA group patients required mechanical ventilation while no patients in the SA group needed mechanical ventilation. Intraoperative hypotension was more common in the SA group. Neonatal outcomes were worse in the GA group with lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min and more nursery admissions than the SA group. No maternal or neonatal deaths occurred in either group. Conclusion: Kyphoscoliotic parturients scheduled for CD can be successfully managed with SA with good maternal and neonatal outcomes. GA may be reserved for severe kyphoscoliotic parturients with cardiorespiratory complications. The safety of SA in severe kyphoscoliosis requires further studies.

Abstract Background The world has been facing the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The novel coronavirus primarily affects the lungs but also affects multiple organ systems including the cardiovascular system causing myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Cardiomyopathy has been reported in patients with COVID-19; however, prognosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy in a patient with COVID-19 is still unexplored. More knowledge is required to understand the incidence of cardiomyopathy due to novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Case presentation We report a case of peripartum cardiomyopathy gravida 2 parity 2 COVID-19 confirmed patient who underwent an emergency preterm lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) for severe pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) and landed up in acute congestive cardiac failure with pulmonary oedema. A postpartum 32 years female presented to our institute, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital with tachycardia, hypertension, anasarca, tachypnea with desaturation on room air. She had undergone emergency caesarean section for severe preeclampsia with intrauterine growth retardation. On post-operative day 2 (POD2), she complained of shortness of breath. On POD 3 she tested positive RT-PCR for COVID-19 infection. She responded to treatment with steroids. However, on POD6, She developed severe pulmonary oedema with poor ejection fraction necessitating endotracheal intubation and pressure control ventilation. Congestive cardiac failure was managed with diuretics and digoxin. Gradually oxygenation improved. She was electively ventilated for 3 days. Gradually, ejection fraction improved with the resolution of B lines. On the 9th POD, after a successful spontaneous breathing trial, she was extubated and non-invasive ventilation with bi-level positive airway pressure was attached. The patient was gradually tapered off of the non-invasive ventilation over 2 days. On the 11th post-operative day, she was maintaining oxygen saturation on nasal prongs and was sent to the ward. Conclusions We recommend early use of bedside lung ultrasonography; echocardiography and close cardiovascular monitoring in severe COVID-19 infected pregnant patients who present with shortness of breath, tachypnea, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and previous cardiac abnormalities for expedite management and improved prognosis. An ideal case scenario for extubation may not be present, non-invasive ventilation with bi-level positive airway pressure post-extubation helps in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Background: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of mortality in India and it is predominately due to atherosclerosis. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries without a history of cardiac disease and to determine plaque location in the coronary arterial system. Methodology: This study was conducted in the departments of anatomy and forensic medicine on 50 adult human hearts which had no history of cardiac disease. The coronary arteries were dissected, and 300 sections were taken from the origin, division, and from the distal end of right and left coronary arteries. These tissues underwent (histological) evaluation to note atherosclerosis. Results: In the present study, out of 50 cases, 40 (80%) had atherosclerosis. The majority of atherosclerosis was present at the division of coronary arteries (18.6%). Seventy-two percentage of atherosclerosis is present at left coronary artery (LCA) division (bifurcation) and 40% at right coronary artery (RCA) division (bifurcation). Grade I atherosclerosis was observed in 18.3% of hearts, grade II in 7%, and grade III in 2% of specimens, respectively. Both RCA and LCA had a higher proportion and grade of atherosclerosis at bifurcation points than proximal and distal segments. Conclusion: The proportion and grade of atherosclerosis are significantly higher at the division of coronary arteries without a history of cardiac disease. The identification of high-risk areas for atherosclerosis will lead to future advances in locally oriented preventive strategies.

Introduction: The upper extremity is commonly involved in severe soft tissue defects that can be challenging functionally and cosmetically. Anatomical studies on skin vascularization provide developmental base for the flap nourished by perforating arteries. Perforator flaps reduce donor site morbidity and recovery time. Therefore, in case of cosmetic surgery of soft tissue defect of the arm, it is mandatory for reconstructive surgeons to have beforehand knowledge of vascular anatomy of cutaneous perforators of the arm. Hence, a study was done to evaluate the total number of perforators, distribution from bony landmarks, and pedicle length from source vessels on the medial, lateral, and posterior aspects of the arm. Methodology: The study was undertaken at the Department of Anatomy, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, on 15 upper limbs of fresh cadavers of both the sexes of adult age group. Methylene blue dye was injected into the arterial system of the arm. After one hour, perforators were visualized by incising the margins of the stained arm skin. Results: We observed that maximum numbers of perforators were contributed by direct branch of the brachial artery (49.7%), followed by superior ulnar collateral artery. Numbers of perforators on the medial aspect of the arm were maximum (52.0%), followed by lateral aspect and posterior aspect of the upper arm. Perforators supplying the posterior and lateral aspects of the arm had the maximum mean length. Conclusion: Thus, a detail understanding of position, length, and numbers of perforators of the arm helps surgeons to predefine the appropriate perforator flaps for reconstructive surgeries.

Background: Blood supply management amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became a cause of concern. Blood donations in the pandemic reduced significantly because of travel restrictions and fear of contracting the virus by visiting blood banks. The WHO (World Health Organization), NACO (National AIDS Control Organization) and the SBTC (State Blood Transfusion Council) published guidelines to ensure the safety of blood donors and staff during the pandemic and to ensure correct procedures are followed. The blood centre physicians took measures for appropriate clinical use of blood and blood products, which reduced the number of transfusions and thereby safeguarded the blood supply for those who needed it the most. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, and 33 blood banks from 33 districts of Madhya Pradesh in collaboration with the National Health Mission and NACO. This was a retrospective study from pre-lockdown to lockdown and unlock phases 1 to 5 for nine months (February 2020 to October 2020) from 33 district-level blood centres of Central India, and the study compared the impact on blood supply from pre-pandemic time to the COVID-19 pandemic time. During the stipulated time period of 9 months, which included the pre-pandemic blood supply, the phases of lockdown when Section 144 was imposed in the country and the unlock phases, the management of transfusion services by the district blood banks of Central India during the COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated. The strategies adopted to maintain the blood supply and adequate inventory were studied. Results: The blood donation percentage in the district hospitals of Madhya Pradesh dropped drastically by 61.5% in February 2020 (pre-pandemic time) to 3.35% in April 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). The nadir of fall in blood donations was seen in April 2020 (phase 1 of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown) with a zenith in February 2020 (pre-pandemic time). The minimum number of donations 8,037 (3.32%) in all 33 districts of Central India was seen in April, when the lockdown restrictions in the country were the strictest. In response to the reduced blood supply, the blood centres adopted strategies to maintain the inventory. Routine requests and inventory were monitored strictly for judicious and rational use of blood and its components. Conclusion: The motivation, dedication and the judicious use of blood products in addition to blood conservation strategies, first-in-first-out policy, maintaining an emergency stock of blood and strict monitoring by blood centre physicians led to the gradual upward trend of blood stocks, and hence blood supply management amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be sustained.

Introduction: Myopia has a multifactorial aetiology, involving interplay between environmental, genetic and behavioural factors. In today’s times of digitalisation, young people are now more exposed to digital devices, which is another possible risk factor for myopia. Aim: To determine the effect of mobile and laptop overuse on progression of myopia in young people at three time points of six months interval. Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Shyam Shah Medical College and associated Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India, from of January 2019 to September 2020. A total of 400 eyes of 200 myopic patients were included. All the eyes were categorised into three groups based upon degree of myopia at the time of presentation. Cycloplegic autorefraction followed by subjective refinement of refraction was done and Spherical Equivalent (SE) was calculated in time 1, time 2 and time 3. Progression of myopia was calculated as increase in myopic refraction of subject’s eye between time 1 and time 3. Questionnaire survey about amount of time spent on mobile and laptop and their working distance was done. Then task-specific-diopter-hours per day were calculated. Multivariate analysis was done to estimate the adjusted odds ratio for mobile and laptop use associated with myopia progression. Results: The present study was conducted on 200 patients having varying degree of myopia. Mean age of patients with low, moderate and high myopia was 18.62±3.18, 17.65±3.59 and 17.49±3.91 years, respectively. The male to female ratio was 1.04:1. This study documents task specific mobile and laptop diopter hours per day was significantly higher in eyes with progression as compared to no progression in low, moderate as well as in high myopes (p-value

Instrumentation and Control systems (I&C) play a significant role in nuclear power plants (NPP) and other safety critical systems (SCS). We have conducted a rigorous study and discussions with experienced practitioners worldwide the strategy for the development of I&C systems to investigate the several aspects related to their dependability. We discussed with experienced practitioners that work on nuclear domain with the intention of knowing their approach, they use day-to-day for the development of such systems. The aim of this research is to obtain to provide guidance to those building I&C systems of NPP and have implications on state engineering licensure boards, in the determination of legal liability, and in risk assessment for policymakers, corporate governors, and insurance executives.

Kolloli et al. examine whether aggregation contributes to enhanced pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a rabbit model of pulmonary infection. They demonstrate that aggregation increases the ability of M. tuberculosis to grow robustly and promote inflammation and host cell death in the rabbit lungs, thus increasing disease burden.

A novel approach for the preservation of freshly cut mangoes is proposed using clove essential oil (CEO) nanoemulsions incorporated edible coatings. CEO nanoemulsions were fabricated with CEO in the range of 1 to 2.5% (v/v), while the surfactant concentration was fixed at 5% (v/v). The droplet size of prepared nanoemulsions was found in the range of 77.54 to 210.2 nm after size reduction by ultrasonication. CEO nanoemulsions showed a better antimicrobial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa in comparison to free oil. Chitosan films loaded with CEO nanoemulsions showed less tensile strength while maintaining elongation. Shelf life studies of freshly cut mangoes with edible coatings was conducted and changes in TSS content, titratable acidity and weight loss was determined during 15 days of storage at 4 °C. Sensory evaluation of the coated fruits on a five-point hedonic scale showed scores above three, suggesting overall acceptability of quality.

Purpose – Various scams and swindles in banks demand effective supervision and competent workforce, as it involves with workplace accountability and undertaking customer support services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the managerial effectiveness of selected public, private and foreign banks in India. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 467 questionnaires from (middle and top-level) managers of (five public, five private and five foreign banks) fifteen banks have been considered. The descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA are used to differentiate each sector of banks. Findings – The significant difference denoted in terms of managerial effectiveness among banks. The results revealed that managers of public banks are action-oriented and receptive to feedback, whereas the manager of private sector banks embodies self-disclosure and perceptiveness. The correlates, namely, action-orientation, self-disclosure and receptivity to feedback evident significant among foreign banks. Practical implications – The consideration and application of such correlates would surely help managers, decision-makers and practitioners to enhance their effectiveness. Human resource professionals can use these results to develop programmes and policies for better management. Originality/value – The study is imperative as it compares the behaviour of managers of public, private and foreign banks individually. The findings demonstrate that correlates of managerial effectiveness significantly differ among the banks.