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Abstract At present, the availability of nonrenewable sources and their usage for electric vehicle technology is reducing gradually because of their disadvantages are more environmental pollution, direct effect on human health, less reliability, and taking more time to start functioning. So, in this article, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is considered for the automotive application because of its advantages quick startup, more power density, more safety to handle, high efficiency, and capability of operating at very low operational temperature conditions. However, the drawback of PEMFC is very difficult to identify the accurate MPP position of the fuel system. Here, the improved variable step genetic algorithm is added with the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for tracking the operational point of the proposed system with high efficiency. These hybrid MPPT controller features are easy to understand, more accurate, have a better dynamic response, and have low design complexity. The evaluated proposed MPPT controller operational efficiency, and settling time of the converter voltage at different fuel stack temperature conditions are 98.7402%, and 0.01607 s respectively. Finally, the boost converter is used in this work to enhance the voltage supply capability of the entire system. The proposed system is investigated by applying the MATLAB tool.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and awareness on pulp vitality tests among dental interns and postgraduate (PG) students. Methods: Using a standardized approach and employing focus group discussions, a 13-item questionnaire was developed. The questionnaires were shared with dental interns and PGs of various dental colleges through WhatsApp and their registered e-mail addresses as a Google Form link. Data from all the individuals were collected to assess and compare the knowledge among dental interns and PG students. Results: During 4 weeks, 358 of the total 428 responses were received. The final analysis was carried out using 340 responses (145 PG [42.6%] and 195 intern [57.4%] responses), of which 18 were excluded due to repeated responses. More than half of the participants needed more knowledge about pulp vitality testing. Conclusion: Dental PG students had better knowledge and awareness than interns, but implementing this in practice was relatively negligible. Knowing the importance of comprehending pulp vitality tests may aid students in reducing the possibility of damaging the healthy structure of the teeth.

In this paper, we have investigated the performance of energy efficiency (EE) for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which recently emerged and advanced to preserve speed as well as safe transportation expansion via a cooperative IRS-relay network. To improve the EE, the relay model has been integrated with an IRS block consisting of a number of passive reflective elements. We analyze the ITS in terms of EE, and achievable rate, with different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values under Nakagami-m fading channel conditions that help the system to implement in a practical scenario. From the numerical results it is noticed that the EE for the only relay, IRS, and proposed cooperative relay-IRS-aided network at SNR value of 100 dBm is 30, 17, and 48 bits/joule respectively. In addition, we compare the impact of multi-IRS with the proposed cooperative IRS-relay and conventional relay-supported ITS. Simulation results show that both the proposed cooperative IRS-relay-aided ITS network and multi-IRS-aided network outperform the relay-assisted ITS with the increase in SNR.

Background: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that manifests itself in primary and permanent dentitions. Pit and fissure sealants have become the most effective noninvasive treatment for addressing teeth with deep pits and fissures in children. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of the child when administering the pit and fissure sealant using the rubber dam and MiniDam. Methodology: Fifty-two children in the age range of 9–12 years were randomly allocated into two groups: Group I, rubber dam and Group II, MiniDam. The children were randomly assigned into two groups with 26 members in Group 1 (rubber dam isolation) and 26 members in Group 2 (MiniDam isolation). Children’s anxiety was assessed using the modified Venham scale and heart rate. The children’s pain intensity was assessed using Memojis Pain Scale. The data collected were tabulated and statistically analyzed using SPSS software. The level of significance was established at 0.05. Results: Intergroup comparison of heart rates showed a statistically significant difference for both the groups at various intervals (P value 0.05), that is, before placing the dam, with the dam, and during treatment. Pain and anxiety scores showed a statistically significant difference in both the groups before and after the procedure (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of MiniDam can offer a better option for the pit/fissure sealant procedure due to its unique qualities, including simplicity of placement, improved behavior management, and less chair time in children.

Abstract The present power generation corporations are working on Renewable Power Systems (RPS) for supplying electrical power to the automotive power industries. There are several categories of RPSs available in the atmosphere. Among all of the RPSs, the most general power network used for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is hydrogen fuel which is available in nature. The H2 fuel is fed to the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stack (PEMFS) for producing electricity for the EV stations. The advantages of this selected fuel system are more power conversion efficiency, environmentally friendly, low carbon emissions, more power density, less starting time, plus able to work at very low-temperature values. However, this fuel stack faces the issue of a nonlinear power density curve. Due to this nonlinear power supply from the fuel stack, the functioning point of the overall network changes from one position of the I–V curve to another position. So, the peak voltage extraction from the fuel stack is not possible. In this article, there are various metaheuristic optimization-based Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) methodologies are studied along with the conventional methods for obtaining the Maximum Power Point (MPP) position of the PEMFS. From the simulative investigation, the Continuous Different Slope Value-based Cuckoo Search Method (CDSV with CSM) provides better efficiency with more output power. Also, for all the MPPT methods comprehensive analysis has been made by utilizing the simulation results.

Abstract The present power generation government companies focus on Renewable Power Sources (RPS) because their features are zero carbon footprint, unlimited power source, fewer greenhouse pollutants, fewer output wastages, plus creatinga very healthy atmosphere. In this work, the sunlight source is utilized for the Photovoltaic (PV) standalone network. The merits of sunlight sources are very optimal human resources needed, unlimited natural sources, plus easy operation. However, the solar power resource is nonlinear fashion. As a result, the operating point of the sunlight network fluctuates concerning sunlight intensity. So, in this article, the Modified Grey Wolf Methodology with Adaptive Fuzzy Logic Controller (MGWM-AFLC) is introduced to maintain the operating point of the sunlight system at the global power point position of the PV array. This controller traces the MPP with very low fluctuations in the PV-produced voltage. The advantages of this proposed method arefewer sensing devices required, less difficulty in development, more useful for rapid changes inthe sunlight temperatures, simpler to realize operation, greater economic growth, plus highly useful for household applications. The sunlight set-up generation voltage is lowwhich is improved by introducing the new Wide Power Rating High Voltage DC-DC Boost Converter (WPRHVBC). The features of this WPRHV converter are low voltage strain on semiconductor devices, few passive elements are enough to develop the circuit, plus easy understanding.

Abstract As of now, there are multiple types of renewable energy sources available in nature which are hydro, wind, tidal, and solar. Among all of that the solar energy source is used in many applications because of its features are low maitainence cost, less human power for handling, a clean source, more availability in nature, and reduced carbon emissions. However, the disadvantages of solar networks are continuously depending on the weather conditions, high complexity of the solar energy storage, and lots of installation place is required. So, in this work, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stack (PEMFS) is utilized for supplying the power to the local consumers. The merits of this fuel stack are high power density, ability to work at very less temperature values, efficient heat maintenance, and water management. Also, this fuel stack gives a quick startup response. The only demerit of PEMFS is excessive current production, plus very less output voltage. To optimize the current supply of the fuel stack, a Wide Input Operation Single Switch Boost Converter (WIOSSBC) circuit is placed across the fuel stack output to improve the load voltage profile. The advantages of the WIOSSBC are less current ripples, uniform voltage supply, plus good voltage conversion ratio. Another issue of the fuel stack is nonlinear power production. To linearize the issue of fuel stack, the Grey Wolf Algorithm Dependent Fuzzy Logic Methodology (GWADFLM) is introduced in this article for maintaining the operating point of the fuel cell near to Maximum Power Point (MPP) place. The entire system is investigated by utilizing the MATLAB software.

Background: The prevalence of skin diseases varies geographically due to factors, such as etiology, environment, genetics, and lifestyle. The current study aimed to determine the incidence and distribution of skin disorders and to provide a description of the histomorphological spectrum. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over a period of two years, from June 2021 to May 2023. A total of 202 skin biopsy samples were evaluated. The histopathological examination of the lesions categorized them into eight groups based on the site, pattern of involvement, and cytological features, according to the Lever’s Histopathology of the Skin. Group 1 consisted of diseases limited to the epidermis and stratum corneum; group 2 consisted of diseases with localized superficial epidermal or melanocytic proliferation; group 3 consisted of diseases of the superficial cutaneous reactive unit; group 4 included diseases with acantholytic, vesicular, and pustular morphology; group 5 included diseases with perivascular, diffuse, and granulomatous infiltrate of the reticular dermis; group 6 included tumors and cysts of the dermis and subcutis; group 7 consisted of inflammatory disorders of skin appendages; and group 8 consisted of disorders of the subcutis. Results: A total of 202 skin biopsies were collected from individuals aged 8-87 years. The majority of the cases belonged to the age group of 31-40 years. The male-to-female ratio was 1.2:1. The trunk was the most common site of biopsy, accounting for 40% of the cases, followed by the upper limb in 25% of the cases. Histopathological lesions were categorized into eight groups based on the site, pattern, and cytological features. Neoplastic lesions, both benign and malignant, accounted for 10.9% of the cases. The majority of the lesions were related to group 6, accounting for 38.1% of the cases, with the epidermal cyst being the most common lesion (7.92%). Basal cell carcinoma, observed in 2.97% of the cases, was the most common lesion among the neoplastic lesions. Group 5 lesions were the third most common (19.8%), with leprosy accounting for 9.4% of these cases. Conclusion: Histopathological examination of skin biopsies is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, and it is often supported by ancillary techniques. Leprosy was the most common disease identified in this study, which underscores the importance of effective preventive measures for control.

Healthcare is a vital sector influencing societal well-being and economic stability. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for innovative solutions, such as remote monitoring and real-time health tracking, to address emerging challenges. This paper examines the transformative potential of wireless technology in revolutionizing healthcare systems, emphasizing advancements in communication, remote surgeries, patient engagement, and cost efficiency. It explores the role of 6G technology in enabling high-speed data transfer, ultra-reliable connectivity, and low latency, providing the foundation for intelligent, connected healthcare ecosystems. Key challenges, including seamless connectivity, data privacy, and network scalability, are analyzed alongside strategies to overcome them, such as adopting 6G-enabled Internet of Everything (IoE), Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) to counter signal blockages, and advanced latency reduction techniques. By reviewing state-of-the-art developments and real-world case studies, the paper demonstrates the indispensable role of wireless technology in enhancing patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and ensuring universal access to high-quality care. It concludes with actionable recommendations for healthcare organizations to embrace these innovations for a resilient and efficient future.

In semantic segmentation, an input image is partitioned into multiple meaningful segments each corresponding to a specific object or region. Multi-scale context plays a vital role in the accurate recognition of objects of different sizes and hence is key to overall accuracy enhancement. To achieve this goal, we introduce a novel strategy called Distributed Multi-scale Pyramid Pooling (DMPP) to extract multi-scale context at multiple levels of feature hierarchy. More specifically, we employ Pyramid Pooling Modules (PPM) in a distributed fashion after all three stages during the encoding phase. This enhances the feature representation capability of the network and leads to better performance. To extract context at a more granular level, we propose an Efficient Multi-scale Context Aggregation (EMCA) module which uses a combination of small and large kernels with large and small dilation rates, respectively. This alleviates the problem of sparse sampling and leads to consistent recognition of different regions. Apart from model accuracy, small model size and efficient execution are critically important for real-time mobile applications. To achieve it, we employ a resource-friendly combination of depthwise and factorized convolutions in the EMCA module to drastically reduce the number of parameters without significantly compromising the accuracy. Based on the EMCA module and DMPP, we propose a lightweight and real-time Distributed Multi-scale Pyramid Network (DMPNet) that achieves an excellent accuracy-efficiency trade-off. We also conducted extensive experiments on both driving datasets (i.e., Cityscapes and CamVid) and a general-purpose dataset (i.e., ADE20K) to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Fuel cell-based power generation is the most utilized renewable energy source in the automotive industry because of its features clean energy, and less environmental pollution. The fuel cell output power is mainly depending on the operating temperature of the fuel cell. The fuel cell gives nonlinear voltage versus current characteristics. As a result, the extraction of maximum power from the fuel stack is very difficult. In order to extract the peak power from the fuel cell, a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller is used at various working temperature conditions of the fuel cell. The main contribution of this study is the introduction and comparative performance analysis of different hybrid MPPT controllers for selecting the optimum duty cycle for the fuel cell-fed boost converter system. The studied MPPT controllers are Adaptive Adjustable Step-based Perturb and Observe (AAS-P&O) controllers, Variable Step Value-Radial Basis Function Controller (VSV-RBFC), Adaptive Step Hill Climb (ASHC) based fuzzy technique, Variable P&O with Particle Swarm Optimization (VP&O-PSO), and Variable Step Grey Wolf Algorithm (VSGWA) based fuzzy logic controller. These hybrid MPPT controllers’ comparative performance analysis has been done in terms of tracking speed of MPP, oscillations across MPP, design complexity of controller, ability to handle fast changes of temperature values, and accuracy of MPP tracking. From the simulative performance results, it is identified that the VSGWA-based fuzzy controller gives superior performance when compared to the other controllers.

Purpose of the Study: This research investigates the use of plant species in Odisha's Shraddha rituals, aiming to highlight the interplay between cultural traditions and biodiversity conservation. It seeks to understand how these rituals contribute to the preservation of the region's botanical heritage and the broader environmental sustainability. Methodology: The study employed qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, discussions with key informants, and direct observations, across both rural and urban areas of Odisha's coastal districts. A total of 167 informants from diverse backgrounds participated, providing comprehensive insights into the rituals and their associated flora. The research also involved collecting plant specimens and photographic documentation to enrich the understanding of these practices. Main Findings: Thirty-nine plant species across 24 families, crucial to the Shraddha rituals, were identified. Notable species like Areca catechu and Cocos nucifera emerged as symbols of the spiritual-nature bond in Odia culture. The study uncovers challenges such as overharvesting and habitat destruction, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable harvesting practices and biodiversity conservation. Applications of this Study: The findings are instrumental for cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and sustainable resource management. They provide a framework for local communities and religious leaders to engage in sustainable practices and for conservation bodies to develop strategies that balance cultural traditions with ecological preservation. Novelty/Originality: This research is unique in its ethnobotanical approach to exploring the role of religious rituals in environmental conservation. Integrating cultural anthropology with botanical science offers new insights into how traditional practices can support biodiversity preservation. Its comprehensive analysis across both rural and urban settings in Odisha adds depth and relevance to the understanding of these rituals in contemporary society, making it a novel contribution to the field.

Conventional energy networks produce energy with less efficiency. Also, these source’s development costs and size are more. So, the world is focusing on renewable energy networks for energy production to the consumer. In this work, a proton exchange membrane fuel stack (PEMFS) technology is selected for energy feeding to the hydrogen vehicle. The merits of this stack are more abundant, faster fuel stack operational response, and more efficient for electrical automotive networks. However, the fuel stack’s energy production is nonlinear and its operational point varies concerning the fuel stack device operating temperature. The particle swarm optimized adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (PSO-ANFIS) is proposed in this work to find the operational point of the fuel cell network. The features of this hybrid methodology are the low number of iteration values required, low convergence time, low-level dependence on the fuel stack, and high compliance for the quick deviations of the fuel system temperature. The operating efficiency and tracking time of the proposed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller are 95.60% and 0.1089 s. Another issue of the fuel cell is high output current generation and less voltage production. This condition is happening in the fuel cell because of its chemical reaction dynamics, internal resistance of the cell, and electrochemical potential. Due to this excess current flow in the fuel cell, the direct fuel stack-fed electrical networks face the issue of high power conduction losses. To reduce the power conduction losses of the system, a single-switch power circuit is used to reduce fuel source current, thereby optimizing the excessive power losses of the system. The whole fuel stack energy production network is analyzed by selecting the MATLAB Window.

At present, there are different types of Renewable Energy Resources (RESs) available in nature which are wind, tidal, fuel cell, and solar. The wind, tidal, and solar power systems give discontinuous power supply which is not suitable for the present automotive systems. Here, the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stack (PEMFS) is used for supplying the power to the electrical vehicle systems. The features of fuel stack networks are very quick static response, plus low atmospheric pollution. Also, this type of power supply system consists of high flexibility and more reliability. However, the fuel stack drawback is a nonlinear power supply nature. As a result, the functioning point of the fuel stack varies from one position to another position on the V-I curve of the fuel stack. Here, the first objective of the work is the development of the Grey Wolf Optimization Technique (GWOT) involving a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) for finding the Maximum Power Point (MPP) of the fuel stack. This hybrid GWOT-FLC controller stabilizes the source power under various operating temperature conditions of the fuel stack. However, the fuel stack supplies very little output voltage which is improved by introducing the Single Switch Universal Supply Voltage Boost Converter (SSUSVBC) in the second objective. The features of this proposed DC-DC converter are fewer voltage distortions of the fuel stack output voltage, high voltage conversion ratio, and low-level voltage stress on switches. The fuel stack integrated SSUSVBC is analyzed by selecting the MATLAB/Simulink window. Also, the proposed DC-DC converter is tested by utilizing the programmable DC source.

The technique of three-dimensional (3D) printing is used for generating 3D objects using Computer-Aided Design software or 3D scanners. The employment of 3D printing in medical and dental fields is one among the foremost recent emerging trends since it has numerous advantages over traditional techniques in terms of patient-specific personalized care. The database was thoroughly searched using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Ebscohost with keywords such as 3D printing, additive manufacturing, study model, treatment planning, clinical approach, fluoride application, space maintainer, occlusal splints, endodontic procedures, rehabilitation, nasoalveolar molding, and so on. There were no restrictions made on the year of publication, but the articles published in English were evaluated. With the continual advancements within the technology, this paper is aimed toward reviewing the present literature on various applications together with its specific applications regarding pediatric dental practice.

This study aims to explore the viability of adding a hybrid blend of eggshell and banana fibers treated with NaOH to improve the structural characteristics of epoxy composites. In order to determine their appropriateness for different applications, the study includes assessments of mechanical performance, water permeability, and heat transfer properties. Chicken eggshell was used to make calcined eggshell particulate (CEP), and bananas were used to obtain processed banana fibers (TBF). For the creation of bio-composites, NaOH-treated banana fiber (30 wt.%) was integrated into an epoxy matrix with different weight percentages of CEP (like 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 wt.%) through the hand layup with a vacuum backing technique. Examination of the data revealed that, in comparison to epoxy with no reinforcement, the addition of bio-fillers improved the thermal insulation (4 wt.% of CEP exhibits 0.052 W/mk), water absorption (4 wt.% of CEP produced 5.31%), flexural strength (20 wt.% of CEP exhibit 36.57 MPa), and modulus (12 wt.% of CEP exhibit 300.12 MPa) of the hybrids. This suggests that by lowering the conductivity of the bio-based composites, the inclusion of these bio-based reinforcements improved their thermal insulation ability. The resistance to temperature fluctuations is stronger when there is less thermal conductivity.

The rise in energy demand in the present scenario can be balanced with the help of solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems. But, the nonlinearity in I-V and P-V characteristics makes it very difficult to extract the maximum power of the solar PV. Also, the classical Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques fail to track the global Maximum Power Point (MPP) from the multiple local MPPs under Partial Shading Conditions (PSCs). In this work, a Variable Step Size ANN-based MPPT technique is proposed and it is compared with the other MPPT techniques in terms of steady-state behavior, settling time of converter power, power point tracing speed, oscillations of MPP, and operating efficiency. The compared MPPT techniques are Adaptive Perturb & Observe (AP&O), Adaptive Feed Forward Neural Network Controller (AFFNNC), Artificial Neural Network-based P&O (ANN-based P&O), ANN-based Incremental Conductance (ANN-based IC), ANN-based Hill Climb (ANN-based HC), and Radial Basis Functional Controller based Fuzzy (RBFC based Fuzzy). The boost converter is interfaced in the middle of the PV system and load to step-up the PV supply voltage. The performance of selected neural networks MPPT techniques is studied by utilizing a MATLAB/Simulink window.

Introduction: Micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities are biological indicators of genotoxicity and chromosomal instabilities. Breast lesions are frequently encountered in routine clinical practice and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is used as a routine diagnostic modality. Aim: To identify the utility of micronucleus scoring in classifying and diagnosing palpable breast lesions with FNAC. Materials and Methods: The present study was a two year retrospective analysis in the Department of Pathology of Guntur Medical College and Government General Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Case records and FNAC smears of breast lesions in the period from March 2018 to February 2020 were retrieved from the departmental archives. Data was analysed in the month of September 2020. A total of 108 cases were included in the study. Micronucleus scoring was done on the FNAC smears independently by two institutional pathologists who were blinded to clinical data and final diagnosis and mean micronuclear scores were obtained. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test on Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 14) to determine the significance of micronuclear score in differentiating benign and malignant lesions, and in grading the malignant tumours. Results: All the cases were classified into four categories: benign, atypical favouring benign, suspicious of malignancy, invasive breast carcinoma on cytology. In the present study it was found that micronucleus scoring was effective in differentiating various benign and malignant breast lesions (p-value=0.0001) and also in grading of malignant tumours (p-value=0.05). The results obtained showed that there exists a significant level of correlation with other well established standard grading systems (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.94). Conclusion: The present study revealed that micronucleus scoring is indeed a useful and reliable method for diagnosing breast lesions and can be used as an adjunct in classifying difficult and borderline cases on cytology.

Extended Spectrum beta lactamase producing pathogens are reported in many clinical samples and pose an emerging threat health. To find the prevalence of ESBL producing Enterobactriacea pathogens isolated from inpatients (Medical and Surgical Wards; Hospital stay > 72 h) admitted to Prince, Mutib, Hospital Sakaka, Jouf. A total of 1043 Enterobactriacea were isolated during April 2015 to October 2016 study period. Vitek -2 compact (biomeriux Leon, France) was used for identification and antimicrobial sensitivity (AST) test. A Total of 115/1043 (11.02%) ESBL producing pathogens were isolated from urine 15.07% (n=242), sputum 13.6 % (n=220), wound 10.8% (n=287) and blood 5.4 % (n=294). Klebsiella pneumonia is most dominant followed by E coli and Proteus miribilis. Cephamycins and carbapenems were found most effective (100% sensitivity) against the pathogens isolated. The aminoglycosides, beta lactams and Fluroquinolnes class of antibiotics, microorganisms have gained the resistance of 20%, 22.7%, 40-70% respectively. The infection control measures should be taken seriously and making of effective use of antibiotics is need of hour.

Conflict-free addressing (CFA) techniques are necessary for Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) hardware. For low radices, well-proven XOR-based addressing architectures are available in the literature. Applications such as wireless communication use higher FFT radices, more processing elements, and a larger number of memory sets for a continuous flow of data. In the existing CFA techniques, the complexity increases with increasing radices or memory sets. In the proposed technique, the higher number of memory sets and radix are leveraged to advantage. A novel scheme is suggested to reduce the complexity using a progressive shifting technique. The mathematical basis of the scheme is derived here and illustrated with an example of 512-point radix-16 FFT. The proposed and existing CFA architectures are designed using Verilog and implemented in the Semiconductor Laboratory, Chandigarh, 180 nm SCL library. The synthesis results show that the proposed scheme achieves a 33% area reduction, 23% lower power consumption, and 39% improvement in execution time performance compared with the existing XOR based schemes. The area reduction factor further improves with a higher number of FFT points.

Phytodiversity survey of sacred groves was carried out for a period of two years (2016-2018) in Bhadrak district of Odisha, India. A total of 42 plant species belonging to 39 genera under 26 families are recorded from 20 selected sacred groves of the district. Moraceae represents the dominant family. The respondents affirmed that the plants inside these sites are never cut or harmed and some plant like neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), banyan (Ficus benghalensis L.) and peepal (Ficus religiosa L.) present in the sacred groves are more than a century old. The present study indicates the role of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation through faith, belief, religious activity and community participation.

The present study documents the traditional fish drying techniques used by the fisher folk communities of Bhadrak district, Odisha, India. Information on local knowledge and the use of different fish drying methods within the study area was collected from 72 fisher folk through semi-structured questionnaires, free interviews, informal conversations and direct observations. The results showed that sun drying was the most extensively used method for fish preservation. About 19.4% of the informants preferred to spread the fishes directly on earth, 34.8% on the mat, 5.5% on palm leaves, 29.2 % over bamboo bars and 11.2% followed interlocking of snouts/jaws on bamboo sticks. Almost all the fish drying devices are handmade with bamboo, wooden pole and sometimes nylon threads following traditional technologies. The quality of the dry fish could be improved by educating fishermen on hygiene, sanitation, use of good water quality and raw materials for processing. In this context, the low-cost solar dryer can be constructed by using locally available materials, thus preventing contamination and dependence on weather conditions. The dry fish production can play a crucial role in socio-economic upliftment, employment generation and poverty alleviation particularly to women as they depend on it directly for their livelihoods.

The outer surface of the building is the same size as its premises, with greater heat loss. Therefore, when building, renovating, or expanding apartment, if possible, avoid all kinds of spaces, ledges, and lodges in the walls. It makes sense to build unheated exterior buildings on the north side of the apartment. The storage rooms for garden tools and bicycles, technical buildings protect the warm part of the house from wind and cold. In the most common design of a private apartment, the energy consumption for heating is 110-130 kW per 1 m2 per year. In this paper, an energy distribution model was proposed to estimate the photo energy with the help of deep learning model. A small apartment not only uses less energy but also requires lower construction costs. An energy-efficient apartment is a building with a low-energy consumption and comfortable microclimate. Energy savings in such homes can be up to 90%. Annual heat demand can be less than 15 kWh per square meter of energy-efficient home.

Resistance to antibiotics is a serious concern and immediate steps are required to crub the resistance gained by microorganisms. Extended spectrum beta- lactamases (ESBLs) producing E.coli (Escherichia coli) is rapidly increasing and making antibiotics difficult to treat around the world. The screening of ESBL producers among Escherichia coli was done by method Double Disk Synergy Test (DDST), using ceftazidime and ceftriaxone disc and Combined Disc Test (CD) using ceftazidime-clavulanic acid according to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) protocol. In the DDST method, out of 60 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, 22 were found ESBL positive isolates, and among 22 positive isolates 18 strains shows increase in zone of inhibition by both ceftazidime and ceftriaxone disc. The remaining 4 ESBL isolates, 3 of them showed zone of inhibition to ceftazidime and only 1 isolate showed inhibition by ceftriaxone disc. Similarly, in CD method apart from 22 isolates detected by DDST method it detected 1 more isolate as ESBL producers. Furthermore, the CD method detects inducible beta- lactamase in III generation of cephalosporin sensitive isolate. Our study showed 22 isolates were found by DDST method and 23 isolates by CD method. This study results showed the prevalence of ESBL in E. coli were 36.66% by DDST and 38.33% by CD tests and we conclude that combined disk test (CD) is better than DDST for detection of ESBL.

Purpose: At present, commercially available antiurolithic drugs have more adverse effects than potential therapeutic or preventive effects with chronic use. With this in mind, the present study was designed to assess the antiurolithic effect of olive oil in a mouse model of ethylene glycol (EG)-induced urolithiasis. Materials and Methods: Adult albino mice were divided into 6 groups. Group I was fed the vehicle only. Group II was supplemented with 0.75% EG alone in drinking water during the experimental period to initiate deposition of calcium oxalate in kidneys, which leads to urolithiasis in animals. Groups III (olive oil control group) through V were fed olive oil orally at various doses during the experimental period. Group VI received cystone (750 mg/kg). Groups IV–VI additionally received 0.75% EG in drinking water ad libitum. SPSS ver.17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The study results showed significantly higher levels of serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine (p

Background: Recently Cross body stretch and Sleeper stretch are used to improve internal rotation Range of motion in Shoulder Pathologies. It was proposed to study the effect of cross body stretch and sleeper stretch in subjects with periarthritis of shoulder. Methods: 60 subjects with a mean age of 53 years having clinical diagnosis of Periarthritis of shoulder and full filled the inclusive criteria are taken. After the initial measurements, the subjects are randomly assigned into 2 stretching groups. Group-A performed the Sleeper stretch. Group-B performed a Cross body stretch. Both Groups performed the Stretch in Duration of 6weeks – once daily for 5 repetitions holding each stretch for 30 seconds for 5 days a week. Along with this technique conventional physiotherapy like IFT, overhead pulleys, Pendula exercises, Wall climbing exercises, mariners wheel exercises are performed. After the treatment, subjects were evaluated for their pain profile using visual analogue scale, Goniometer for measuring Range of motion. Results: For within group comparison we used Paired t-test analysis, For Between group comparison we used Independent t-test for statistical analysis. At the end of 6 weeks It was found that subjects treated with cross-body stretch showed significant improvement in terms of VAS scores and Range of motion scores (P=0.000) and patients treated with Sleeper stretch showed significant improvement in terms of VAS scores and Range of motion scores (P=0.000). When compared between Groups the VAS and Range of motion scores showed a significant improvement in Cross body stretch Group than the Sleeper stretch Group (P=0.000). Conclusion: It was concluded that both stretching techniques were found improvement in Range of motion and VAS and Cross-body Stretch showed more Significant improvement than the sleeper Stretch after 6 weeks treatment.

Aim: The objective of this study is to compare the knowledge, practice and awareness of oral hygiene among three different age groups (15-30, 30-45 and 45-60-year-olds) of the Saudi population in Sakaka. Methods: 629 subjects aged between 15-60 years were randomly selected. Data were collected by self-administered structured questionnaires and analysis was done using the SPSS statistical software. The subjects were divided in to A group (>30 years), B group (45 years) and C group (

Objective: To develop and explore the use of PEGylated poly (propylene imine) dendritic architecture for the delivery of an anti bacterial bioactive, Trimethoprim. Methods: For this study, PEGylated poly(propylene imine) dendritic architecture was synthesized and loaded with Trimethoprim and targeted to the resistant producing strains of both gram positive and gram negative. The antibacterial activity was carried out by agar well-diffusion method to compare zone of inhibition with standard drug and plain PPI dendrimer. Results: The study showed that the Trimethoprim loaded dendrimer has significant antibacterial activity than the plain PPI dendrimer, but standard drug was not shown zone of inhibition upon both microorganisms but Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) the pure drug showed activity. Conclusions: In this study antibacterial activity of synthesized system is also relatively safer and holds potential to deliver any other antibacterial agent to the resistant producing strains.

Objective: To evaluate the anti inflammatory activity of leaves extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia (J. gossypifolia) L. Methods: The plant J. gossypifolia L. (Eurphorbiaceae) is known as belly ache bush. The plant originated from Brazil and it is now cultivated in tropical countries throughout the world. The roots, stems, leaves, seeds and fruits of the plant have been widely used in traditional folk medicine in many parts of West Africa. The young stem of the plant is used as tooth brush as well as to clean tongue in the treatment thrush. The tuber of the plant grinded into a paste is also locally used in the treatment of hemorrhoids. The present study aimed to evaluate the anti inflammatory activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of J. gossypifolia leaves by in vitro HRBC membrane stabilization method. Results: The in vitro method showed significant anti inflammatory property of different extracts tested. Conclusions: The aqueous extract at a concentration of 200 μg/mL showed significant activity when compared with the standard drug Diclofenac sodium.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of Vinca rosea methanolic whole plant extracts in alloxan induced diabetic rats for 14 days. The methanolic whole plant extract at high dose (500 mg/kg) exhibited significant anti-hyperglycemic activity than whole plant extract at low dose (300 mg/kg) in diabetic rats. The methanolic extracts also showed improvement in parameters like body weight and lipid profile as well as regeneration of β-cells of pancreas in diabetic rats. Histopathological studies reinforce the healing of pancreas, by methanolic Vinca rosea extracts, as a possible mechanism of their antidiabetic activity.

An efficient scheme is presented for implementing the sign LMS algorithm in block floating point format, which permits processing of data over a wide dynamic range at a processor complexity and cost as low as that of a fixed point processor. The proposed scheme adopts appropriate formats for representing the filter coefficients and the data. It also employs a scaled representation for the step-size that has a time-varying mantissa and also a time-varying exponent. Using these and an upper bound on the step-size mantissa, update relations for the filter weight mantissas and exponent are developed, taking care so that neither overflow occurs, nor are quantities which are already very small multiplied directly. Separate update relations are also worked out for the step size mantissa. The proposed scheme employs mostly fixed-point-based operations, and thus achieves considerable speedup over its floating-point-based counterpart.

Background: We aimed to identify the central lifestyle, the most impactful among lifestyle factor clusters; the central health outcome, the most impactful among health outcome clusters; and the bridge lifestyle, the most strongly connected to health outcome clusters, across 29 countries to optimise resource allocation for local holistic health improvements., Methods: From July 2020 to August 2021, we surveyed 16 461 adults across 29 countries who self-reported changes in 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes due to the pandemic. Three networks were generated by network analysis for each country: lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks. We identified the variables with the highest bridge expected influence as central or bridge variables. Network validation included nonparametric and case-dropping subset bootstrapping, and centrality difference tests confirmed that the central or bridge variables had significantly higher expected influence than other variables within the same network., Results: Among 87 networks, 75 were validated with correlation-stability coefficients above 0.25. Nine central lifestyle types were identified in 28 countries: cooking at home (in 11 countries), food types in daily meals (in one country), less smoking tobacco (in two countries), less alcohol consumption (in two countries), less duration of sitting (in three countries), less consumption of snacks (in five countries), less sugary drinks (in five countries), having a meal at home (in two countries), taking alternative medicine or natural health products (in one country). Six central health outcomes were noted among 28 countries: social support received (in three countries), physical health (in one country), sleep quality (in four countries), quality of life (in seven countries), less mental burden (in three countries), less emotional distress (in 13 countries). Three bridge lifestyles were identified in 19 countries: food types in daily meals (in one country), cooking at home (in one country), overall amount of exercise (in 17 countries). The centrality difference test showed the central and bridge variables had significantly higher centrality indices than others in their networks (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: In 29 countries, cooking at home, less emotional distress, and overall amount of exercise emerged as common central lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge lifestyle factors, respectively. However, notable regional variations necessitate tailored interventions and resource allocations to effectively address unique local key variables and promote holistic health in each locale. The study's cross-sectional design and self-reported data may limit generalisability, emphasising the need for cautious interpretation and further longitudinal research., Keywords: global; across-country comparisons; lifestyle; health outcomes; network analysis., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2025 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Human breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for newborns, but the potential transfer of contaminants like mycotoxins, particularly ochratoxin A (OTA), from maternal blood to milk remains a concern. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of global OTA levels in human breast milk and assess the associated health risks. We conducted a thorough search of scientific databases, including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed, using keywords related to OTA in human breast milk. A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. OTA levels compared to limits, estimated infant intake at various ages and health risks assessed using Margin of Exposures (MOEs) and Hazard quotient (HQ). Our findings reveal the widespread presence of OTA in breast milk across different regions, with notably higher levels detected in Africa compared to Asia, South America and Europe. The higher concentrations observed in warmer, humid climates suggest that environmental factors significantly influence OTA contamination. Mature breast milk samples generally exhibited greater OTA exposure. The neoplastic and non-neoplastic effects demonstrate generally low risks globally. The regional differences in OTA levels and associated health risk assessments underscore the need for continued research into the health impacts of OTA exposure in infants. This includes further investigation into multiple sources of exposure, such as infant formula, within the broader context of the exposome framework.

Parthenolide (PTL) is a sesquiterpene lactone that occurs naturally. It demonstrates a variety of beneficial effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. The study investigated the potential protective impact of PTL on indomethacin (INDO) induced stomach ulcers in rats. The rats were classified into 5 distinct categories. Group 1 served as the "control" group. Rats in the second group received a single oral dosage of INDO (50 mg kg -1 ). Rats in Groups three and four received 20 and 40 mg kg -1 oral PTL 1 h before INDO. Omeprazole (30 mg kg -1 ) was given orally to Group 5 rats 1 h before INDO. Pretreatment with PTL increased stomach pH and decreased gastric volume as well as reduced the morphological and histological changes induced by INDO. Analysis of probable pathways showed that pre-treatment with PTL successfully reduced oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic consequences caused by INDO. The ingestion of PTL leads to a notable increase in the levels of glutathione reduced (GSH) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, PTL decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA). In contrast, it was shown that PTL increased both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). PTL shows a significant decrease in the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). PTL therapy resulted in a decrease in Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) levels and an increase in B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) levels. In conclusion, PTL offers gastroprotection by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic qualities., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the combination effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and metformin against letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Female Wistar rats were administered letrozole (1 mg/kg/day, p.o) for 21 days, except for the control group of animals. On the 22nd day, PCOS-induced animals were segregated into 4 groups and administered with CMC, ACV, metformin, and a combination of ACV and metformin, respectively. The treatments were continued for 15 days, and on the 36th day, all the animals were sacrificed for biochemical (blood glucose, lipid profile), hormonal (sex hormones and adiponectin), and pro-inflammatory mediator estimations in blood samples. The ovarian tissue samples were used for oxidative stress parameters and histological alterations. The PCOS control animals showed a significant alteration in the estrous cycle. The administration of letrozole resulted in the alteration of hormonal balance and elevation of body weights, glycemic state, lipid profile, pro-inflammatory mediators in serum, and oxidative stress in ovarian samples. Individual treatment groups and combination treatment groups reversed the letrozole-induced alterations in PCOS animals, and more promising results were observed with combination therapy than with individual treatment groups. Further, the therapeutic potential of the combination treatment group was also confirmed by the histological observations in the ovarian samples. The study showed that the combination of ACV and metformin significantly alleviated letrozole-induced PCOS complications in rats. This might have been achieved by mitigating the hormonal imbalance, pro-inflammatory, hyperglycemic, and hyperlipidemic states in serum, and oxidative stress in the ovary samples., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

This study reviews global levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in infant formula and cereal-based foods, using Monte Carlo simulation to assess risks. The review found 24 studies on global OTA levels in infant food and cereal-based products, using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase until March 2024. We estimated OTA exposure in infant food based on concentration, intake and body weight. The exposure and hazard quotient margin were calculated using BMDL10 and TDI values. Monte Carlo simulation evaluated human health risks from OTA in infant formula and cereal-based foods. A global study from 14 countries shows varying levels, surpassing EU limits in Tunisia, Ecuador, the USA, and generally in Africa, notably in infant cereals, which had higher levels than formula. Globally, OTA was present in 29.3% of the 3348 samples analyzed, with Lebanon at 95.2% and Brazil at 0%. Analysis indicates only non-carcinogenic risk for infants. While health risks for infants are mostly low, ongoing research and monitoring are vital to minimize OTA exposure in infant food.

Cisplatin (CP) is a highly effective broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic agent for several solid tumors. However, its clinical use is associated with ovarian toxicity. Icariin (ICA) is a bioactive flavonoid of Epimedium brevicornum with reported protective activities against inflammation, oxidative stress and ovarian failure. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of ICA against CP-associated ovarian toxicity in rats. Rats were randomized into five groups and treated for 17 days: control, ICA (10 mg/kg/day, for 17 days. p.o.), CP (6 mg/kg, i.p. on days 7 and 14), CP + ICA (CP 6 mg/kg i.p. on days 7 and 14 and ICA 5 mg/kg p.o. daily), and CP + ICA (CP 6 mg/kg i.p. on days 7 and 14 and ICA 10 mg/kg p.o. daily). Our results indicated that ICA effectively improved ovarian reserve as indicated by attenuating CP-induced histolopathological changes and enhancing serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). Furthermore, co-administration of ICA with CP showed restoration of the oxidant-anti-oxidant balance in ovarian tissues, evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Also, ICA suppressed ovarian inflammation as evidenced by down-regulation of the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). ICA inhibited ovarian apoptosis in CP-treated rats by down-regulation of CASP3 and Bax and up-regulation of Bcl-2 mRNA expression. Further, ICA enhanced PTEN, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-AMPKα expression. In conclusion, ICA possesses a protective activity against CP-induced ovarian toxicity in rats by exhibiting antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-apoptotic activities and modulating NF-κB expression and PTEN/AKT/mTOR/AMPK axis in ovarian tissues., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

High temperature dissociations of organic molecules typically involve a competition between radical and molecular processes. In this work, we use a modeling, experiment, theory (MET) framework to characterize the high temperature thermal dissociation of CH 2 F 2 , a flammable hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that finds widespread use as a refrigerant. Initiation in CH 2 F 2 proceeds via a molecular elimination channel; CH 2 F 2 →CHF+HF. Here we show that the subsequent self-reactions of the singlet carbene, CHF, are fast multichannel processes and a facile source of radicals that initiate rapid chain propagation reactions. These have a marked influence on the decomposition kinetics of CH 2 F 2 . The inclusion of these reactions brings the simulations into better agreement with the present and literature experiments. Additionally, flame simulations indicate that inclusion of the CHF+CHF multichannel reaction leads to a noticeable enhancement in predictions of laminar flame speeds, a key parameter that is used to determine the flammability of a refrigerant., (© 2024 UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory and The Authors. ChemPhysChem published by Chemistry Europe and Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Empagliflozin (EMP) is known for its poor safety and efficacy profile due to its fast body distribution and poor solubility. Accordingly, an oral long-acting and floating/raft-forming nano gel was optimized to release coated EMP nanoparticles, and the released EMP nanoparticles showed enhanced dissolution compared to raw EMP particles. To repurpose EMP for cancer treatment, EMP shows anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects against cancer cells. EMP nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR, PXRD, SEM, EMP encapsulation assay, and release studies. The raft-forming gel encapsulating the EMP was optimized and characterized. The EMP co-polymeric nanoparticles were studied to investigate EMP anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities against stomach cancer cells. The solubility of EMP nanoparticles was enhanced in 0.1 N HCl and pH 6.8 by 5 and 12 folds, respectively, compared to raw EMP powder. The particle size and zeta-potential values of improved EMP nanoparticles were 135.40 ± 18.60 nm, and -19.30 ± 0.80 mV, respectively. FT-IR, PXRD, SEM and TEM characterizations revealed polymeric coating of EMP particles. The study suggested that this optimized controlled-release raft-forming gel is a promising local oral approach against stomach cancer. The repurposing of EMP co-polymeric nanoparticles for stomach cancer and associated gastritis treatment was justified., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: In this study, we assessed the general population's fears towards various diseases and events, aiming to inform public health strategies that balance health-seeking behaviours., Methods: We surveyed adults from 30 countries across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions between July 2020 and August 2021. Participants rated their fear of 11 factors on an 11-point Likert scale. We stratified the data by age and gender and examined variations across countries and regions through multidimensional preference analysis., Results: Of the 16 512 adult participants, 62.7% (n = 10 351) were women. The most feared factor was the loss of family members, reported by 4232 participants (25.9%), followed by cancer (n = 2248, 13.7%) and stroke (n = 1416, 8.7%). The highest weighted fear scores were for loss of family members (mean (x̄) = 7.46, standard deviation (SD) = 3.04), cancer (x̄ = 7.00, SD = 3.09), and stroke (x̄ = 6.61, SD = 3.24). The least feared factors included animals/insects (x̄ = 3.72, SD = 2.96), loss of a mobile phone (x̄ = 4.27, SD = 2.98), and social isolation (x̄ = 4.83, SD = 3.13). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was the sixth most feared factor (x̄ = 6.23, SD = 2.92). Multidimensional preference analyses showed distinct fears of COVID-19 and job loss in Australia and Burundi. The other countries primarily feared loss of family members, cancer, stroke, and heart attacks; this ranking was consistent across WHO regions, economic levels, and COVID-19 severity levels., Conclusions: Fear of family loss can improve public health messaging, highlighting the need for bereavement support and the prevention of early death-causing diseases. Addressing cancer fears is crucial to encouraging the use of preventive services. Fear of non-communicable diseases remains high during health emergencies. Top fears require more resources and countries with similar concerns should collaborate internationally for effective fear management., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Background: For healthcare delivery to be optimally effective, health systems must possess adequate levels and we must ensure a fair distribution of human resources aimed at healthcare facilities. We conducted a scoping review to map the current state of human resources for health (HRH) in India and the reasons behind its shortage., Methods: A systematic search was conducted in various electronic databases, from the earliest available date till February 2024. We applied a uniform analytical framework to all the primary research reports and adopted the "descriptive-analytical" method from the narrative paradigm. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to arrange the retrieved data into categories based on related themes after creating a chart of HRH problems., Results: A total of 9675 articles were retrieved for this review. 88 full texts were included for the final data analysis. The shortage was addressed in 30.6% studies (n = 27) whereas 69.3% of studies (n = 61) addressed reasons for the shortage. The thematic analysis of data regarding reasons for the shortage yielded five kinds of HRH-related problems such as inadequate HRH production, job dissatisfaction, brain drain, regulatory issues, and lack of training, monitoring, and evaluation that were causing a scarcity of HRH in India., Conclusion: There has been a persistent shortage and inequitable distribution of human resources in India with the rural expert cadres experiencing the most severe shortage. The health department needs to establish a productive recruitment system if long-term solutions are to be achieved. It is important to address the slow and sporadic nature of the recruitment system and the issue of job insecurity among medical officers, which in turn affects their other employment benefits, such as salary, pension, and recognition for the years of service., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Central and bridge nodes can drive significant overall improvements within their respective networks. We aimed to identify them in 16 prevalent chronic diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to guide effective intervention strategies and appropriate resource allocation for most significant holistic lifestyle and health improvements., Methods: We surveyed 16 512 adults from July 2020 to August 2021 in 30 territories. Participants self-reported their medical histories and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes. For each disease subgroup, we generated lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks. Variables with the highest centrality indices in each were identified central or bridge. We validated these networks using nonparametric and case-dropping subset bootstrapping and confirmed central and bridge variables' significantly higher indices through a centrality difference test., Findings: Among the 48 networks, 44 were validated (all correlation-stability coefficients >0.25). Six central lifestyle factors were identified: less consumption of snacks (for the chronic disease: anxiety), less sugary drinks (cancer, gastric ulcer, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes), less smoking tobacco (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), frequency of exercise (depression and fatty liver disease), duration of exercise (irritable bowel syndrome), and overall amount of exercise (autoimmune disease, diabetes, eczema, heart attack, and high cholesterol). Two central health outcomes emerged: less emotional distress (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, eczema, fatty liver disease, gastric ulcer, heart attack, high cholesterol, hypertension, insomnia, and pre-diabetes) and quality of life (anxiety, autoimmune disease, cancer, depression, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome). Four bridge lifestyles were identified: consumption of fruits and vegetables (diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and insomnia), less duration of sitting (eczema, fatty liver disease, and heart attack), frequency of exercise (autoimmune disease, depression, and heart attack), and overall amount of exercise (anxiety, gastric ulcer, and insomnia). The centrality difference test showed the central and bridge variables had significantly higher centrality indices than others in their networks (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: To effectively manage chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced interventions and optimised resource allocation toward central lifestyle factors, health outcomes, and bridge lifestyles are paramount. The key variables shared across chronic diseases emphasise the importance of coordinated intervention strategies., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2024 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)

Background The prevalence of obesity and thyroid cancer (TC) is increasing worldwide, and obesity is a risk factor for TC. Objectives This study aimed to elucidate physicians' awareness of obesity as a risk factor for TC. Materials and methods A cross-sectional, self-report online questionnaire was distributed to physicians in all regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic data and questions concerning the risk factors for TC, including obesity. Results A total of 310 physicians participated in this study. Of the respondents, 35.8% ( n = 111) were aged 30-40 years, 40.6% ( n = 126) were board certified, and 52.3% ( n = 162) had >10 years of experience. Only 36.8% ( n = 114) of respondents were familiar with the relationship between obesity and TC risk ( P < 0.001). In terms of knowledge of obesity as a risk factor for TC, a significant difference was observed for the following sociodemographic characteristics: sex, educational attainment, and years of experience. A significant difference was also observed with awareness of other risk factors for TC. Conclusions In light of the limited awareness of the correlation between obesity and TC, the most effective approach to address these misconceptions would be to implement diverse and ongoing medical education initiatives., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Alqahtani et al.)

Objective: Diabetic retinopathy is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus that may lead to vision loss. Retinal problems are more likely to occur as the illness advances. Micro- and macro-vascular angiopathy is both linked to diabetes mellitus. Examining the impact of diabetes on blood vessels is one approach to understanding the disease's outward symptoms. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the morphology and breadth of conjunctival vessels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to establish a correlation between these alterations and clinical retinal changes., Patients and Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, KIMS, Koppal, Karnataka. The study included diabetic patients who voluntarily participated and were assessed at the Ophthalmology Outpatient Department (OPD). The general and ophthalmic history was taken for both cases and control. The best corrected visual acuity was estimated. Each subject, including cases and controls, had a general and ophthalmic history recorded. The anterior segment was evaluated with a slit lamp. After completing the clinical examination, the subjects underwent a conjunctival vessel imaging study using the slit lamp. The imaging included the study of conjunctival vessel morphology using ImageNet., Results: Both the test and control groups are comparable in terms of age and gender. The severity of diabetic retinopathy was shown to correlate with the conjunctival width range. Mild diabetic retinopathy is characterized by a conjunctival width of 30-34 microns (mean: 34.9), moderate diabetic retinopathy by 35-39 microns (mean: 37.3), severe diabetic retinopathy by 40-44 microns (mean: 42.4), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy by 50-54 microns (mean: 45.6)., Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus patients have larger conjunctival arteries as the disease becomes more severe. Dilated and tortuous conjunctival arteries are visible indicators that correlate with worsening diabetic retinopathy. This could be used for screening to ensure timely referral.

This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the oral health statuses of children and adults within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) population through an umbrella review approach. The prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, and associated variables were investigated across selected studies. A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, Science Direct, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Wiley Online Library to identify relevant studies. The assessed variables included dental caries prevalence, periodontal disease prevalence, oral hygiene indicators, and the necessity of dental treatment. The pooled prevalence rates, odds ratios, and standardized mean differences were calculated where applicable. The pooled prevalence of dental caries among ASD individuals ranged from 60.6% to 67.3%, while the periodontal disease prevalence ranged from 59.8% to 69.4%. High rates of dental treatment under general anesthesia were reported. Heterogeneous dental caries and periodontal disease prevalence rates were identified, highlighting the need for collaboration and preventive care. Several studies also reported higher prevalence rates of dental trauma and self-inflicted oral injuries among individuals with ASD. However, the review also identified significant methodological limitations in the included studies, including inconsistency in oral health assessment methods and potential bias. The necessity for targeted policies due to high prevalence rates and the requirement for integrated care systems in high DMFT regions were also observed. The umbrella review synthesized diverse findings, revealing variations in dental caries and periodontal disease prevalence among ASD individuals. This review underscores the need for tailored interventions and policies to address oral health disparities. It highlights the necessity of integrated care systems, methodological improvements, and longitudinal studies to comprehensively address the multifaceted oral health challenges within the ASD population.

Background: The interconnected nature of lifestyles and interim health outcomes implies the presence of the central lifestyle, central interim health outcome and bridge lifestyle, which are yet to be determined. Modifying these factors holds immense potential for substantial positive changes across all aspects of health and lifestyles. We aimed to identify these factors from a pool of 18 lifestyle factors and 13 interim health outcomes while investigating potential gender and occupation differences., Methods: An international cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 countries across six World Health Organization regions from July 2020 to August 2021, with 16 512 adults self-reporting changes in 18 lifestyle factors and 13 interim health outcomes since the pandemic., Results: Three networks were computed and tested. The central variables decided by the expected influence centrality were consumption of fruits and vegetables (centrality = 0.98) jointly with less sugary drinks (centrality = 0.93) in the lifestyles network; and quality of life (centrality = 1.00) co-dominant (centrality = 1.00) with less emotional distress in the interim health outcomes network. The overall amount of exercise had the highest bridge expected influence centrality in the bridge network (centrality = 0.51). No significant differences were found in the network global strength or the centrality of the aforementioned key variables within each network between males and females or health workers and non-health workers (all P-values >0.05 after Holm-Bonferroni correction)., Conclusions: Consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugary drinks, quality of life, emotional distress, and the overall amount of exercise are key intervention components for improving overall lifestyle, overall health and overall health via lifestyle in the general population, respectively. Although modifications are needed for all aspects of lifestyle and interim health outcomes, a larger allocation of resources and more intensive interventions were recommended for these key variables to produce the most cost-effective improvements in lifestyles and health, regardless of gender or occupation., Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclose no relevant interests., (Copyright © 2023 by the Journal of Global Health. All rights reserved.)