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Rebound pain occurs after the resolution of peripheral nerve block and hampers patient recovery in the postoperative period. We sought to synthesise available data from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of prophylactic dexamethasone for rebound pain in adult patients undergoing surgery with a peripheral nerve block. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, RCTs reporting rebound pain and use of dexamethasone in the context of a peripheral nerve block were searched in various databases and updated in May 2023. The primary outcome was the incidence of rebound pain; secondary outcomes included the severity and time to onset of rebound pain, patient satisfaction with pain control, sleep disturbance because of pain, and adverse effects of dexamethasone. Subgroup analysis was conducted based on the effect of route of administration (intravenous or perineural) on the incidence of rebound pain. Trial sequential analysis was performed to rule out the possibility of a false positive result. Seven RCTs comprising 574 patients were included in this review. The dexamethasone group was associated with a reduction in the incidence of rebound pain with an odds ratio of 0.16 (95% confidence interval 0.10–0.27, P =0.00, I 2=0%) compared with the control group. Trial sequential analysis confirmed the adequate information size for the beneficial effect of dexamethasone. Subgroup analysis showed that both intravenous and perineural administration were associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of rebound pain. Current evidence suggests that both intravenous and perineural dexamethasone reduce the incidence of rebound pain after a peripheral nerve block provided for postoperative analgesia. PROSPERO CRD42023424031. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the rotation on the turbulent mixing of two miscible fluids of small contrasting density, induced by Faraday instability, is investigated using direct numerical simulations. We quantify the irreversible mixing, which depicts the conversion of the available potential energy (APE) to the background potential energy (BPE) through the irreversible mixing rate M. We demonstrate that at lower forcing amplitudes, the turbulent kinetic energy (t.k.e.) increases with an increase in the Coriolis frequency f till (f / ω) 2 < 0.25 , where ω is the forcing frequency, during the sub-harmonic instability phase. This enhancement of t.k.e. is attributed to the excitement of more unstable modes. The irreversible mixing sustains for an extended period with increasing (f / ω) 2 till 0.25 owing to the prolonged sub-harmonic instability phase and eventually ceases with instability saturation. When (f / ω) 2 > 0.25 , the Coriolis force significantly delays the onset of the sub-harmonic instabilities. The strong rotational effects result in lower turbulence because the bulk of the APE expends to BPE, decreasing APE that converts back to t.k.e. reservoir for (f / ω) 2 > 0.25. Therefore, in the subsequent oscillation, the t.k.e. available to contribute to the external energy input from periodic forcing is small. Since the instability never saturates for (f / ω) 2 > 0.25 , the conversion of APE to BPE via M continues, and we find prolonged irreversible mixing. At higher forcing amplitudes, the instability delaying effect of rotation is negligible, and the turbulence is less intense and short-lived. Therefore, the irreversible mixing phenomenon also ends quickly for (f / ω) 2 < 0.25. However, when (f / ω) 2 > 0.25 , a continuous irreversible mixing is observed. We also examine the mixing efficiency in terms of M and find that the mixing is efficient at lower forcing amplitudes and rotation rates of (f / ω) 2 > 0.25 because the major portion of APE expends to BPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypercholesterolemia plays a significant role in the formation of gallstones more important being the cholesterol gallstones. Lipid parameters including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins show a significant relation with cholesterol gallstones. Patients with cholesterol type of gallstones have lipid profile parameters towards undesirable ranges as compared to other stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallbladder disease is a common health problem throughout the world. The commonest reason is gallstones accounting for over 90% of cases. Gallstones can occur in any age group of both the sexes. Incidence of gallstones increases with age and is more common in female population including both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. The present study was conducted to assess the age and sex distribution of cholelithiasis cases in tertiary hospital of northern india. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice materials are one of the most desirable and widely used materials due to the characteristics derived from their geometrical formation as opposed to their chemical composition. In this article, a lattice material has been designed and printed using polymer filament wire made of polylactic acid (PLA) and fused deposition modelling (FDM), followed by mechanical testing. In addition, tensile testing of the PLA printed samples has also been carried out to ascertain the tensile properties of the material in use, and the material has shown 38–40 MPa tensile strength with a Young's modulus value of 1538 ± 120 MPa. The lattice was designed using 3D CAD software, and numerical results were obtained using the Autodesk Inventor simulation module. In addition to the experimental test, theoretical tests were also conducted, and the results were compared to the experimental results. With this methodology, the lattice material failure process can be comprehended. Along with the lattices, the PLA tensile test samples were also prepared and tested to check the feasibility of the PLA being used and ascertain the properties. In addition, it has been observed that after a specific load and deformation, the material's resistance increases due to its increased density and repeated cell interference. The major purpose of the study is to explore the aspects and feasibility of the PLA printed lattice material with complex shapes and explore the application potential of such shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gallstone formation results from many complex factors working together. The pathologic factor related to gallstone formation is still the hot debate. In the present study we aim to correlate various gallstone characteristics (number, size, and morphological types,) with clinical indices of cases (Haemoglobin, TLC, DLC, Blood sugar, SGOT, SGPT, Alkaline phosphatase, total serum bilirubin, direct serum bilirubin, Indirect serum bilirubin, total serum protein and albumin values) and also with diabetes mellitus, smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol intake and dietary habits. Material and methods: The patients who attended surgical outdoor, casualty department and admitted in the surgical units of GMC Amritsar, whose clinical and radiological diagnosis of Cholelithiasis and eligible for cholecystectomy were considered. Total of 50 cases were observed for this study. Results: Single stones were present in 15 (30%), double in 6 (12%) and multiple in 29 (58%). In 29 (58%) type of stones was cholesterol, in 9 (18%) pigmented and in 12 (24%) was mixed. Shape of stone was round in 19 (38%), irregular in 15 (30%), facet in 12 (24%) and others in 4 (8%). Out of 50 patients, diabetes mellitus was present in 6 (12%) and absent in 44 (88%). There was no correlation of HB, TLC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, FBS, SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin (T), bilirubin (D), TSP, S. albumin with number of stones (P> 0.05). There was no correlation of HB, TLC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, FBS, SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin (T), bilirubin (D), TSP, S. albumin with type of stones (P> 0.05). There was no correlation of HB, TLC, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, FBS, SGOT, SGPT, bilirubin (T), bilirubin (D), TSP, S. albumin with shape of stones (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Cholesterol type of gallstones was more common among males and females and association of biochemical indices needs further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chitosan–poly(vinyl alcohol)–ionic liquid-grafted hydrogel was prepared for water purification. The hydrogel was characterized using various techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The swelling properties of the hydrogels were optimized by varying the solvent, pH, time, and temperature. The maximum swelling of the hydrogel was 330%. The hydrogel absorbed dye, nitrite, and Pb2+, with removal rates of up to 97% for dye and 88% for Pb2+. The hydrogel could effectively recover oil from an oil–water mixture, where the removal mechanism was predominantly attributed to electrostatic interactions between the cationic hydrogel and the dye, Pb2+, and nitrite anions. The hydrogel was biodegradable, making it environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Systematic evaluation of genetic diversity exists in wild and related tetraploid wheat wheat species T. turgidum and T. timopheevii. • Using genotypic datasets, we found duplicated accessions in T. timopheevii (∼65 %) and in T. turgidum (47 %). • We combined genotypic and phenotypic datasets to identify core set accessions to introduce novel genetic diversity in wheat breeding programs. The domestication bottleneck has reduced genetic diversity in wheat, necessitating the use of wild relatives in breeding programs. Wild tetraploid wheat are widely used in the breeding programs but with morphological characters, it is difficult to distinguish these, resulting in misclassification/mislabeling or duplication of accessions in the Gene bank. The study aims to explore Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to characterize wild and domesticated tetraploid wheat accessions to generate a core set of accessions to be used in the breeding program. TASSEL-GBS pipeline was used for SNP discovery, fastStructure was used to determine the population structure and PowerCore was used to generate a core sets. Nucleotide diversity matrices of Nie's and F -statistics (F ST) index were used to determine the center of genetic diversity. We found 65 % and 47 % duplicated accessions in Triticum timopheevii and T. turgidum respectively. Genome-wide nucleotide diversity and F ST scan uncovered a lower intra and higher inter-species differentiation. Distinct F ST regions were identified in genomic regions belonging to domestication genes: non-brittle rachis (Btr1) and vernalization (VRN-1). Our results suggest that Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon as the hub of genetic diversity of wild emmer; Turkey, and Georgia for T. durum ; and Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Armenia for the T. timopheevii. Identified core set accessions preserved more than 93 % of the available genetic diversity. Genome wide association study (GWAS) indicated the potential chromosomal segment for resistance to leaf rust in T. timopheevii. The present study explored the potential of GBS technology in data reduction while maintaining the significant genetic diversity of the species. Wild germplasm showed more differentiation than domesticated accessions, indicating the availability of sufficient diversity for crop improvement. With reduced complexity, the core set preserves the genetic diversity of the gene bank collections and will aid in a more robust characterization of wild germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is conflicting evidence regarding the analgaesic efficacy of single-shot serratus anterior plane block (SAP) for breast surgery. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the analgaesic efficacy of SAP compared with non-block care (NBC) and other regional blocks, i.e. paravertebral block (PVB) and modified pectoral nerve block (PECS block) for breast surgery. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched. We included randomized controlled trials reporting the use of the SAP block in adult breast surgery. The primary outcome was postoperative oral morphine equivalent (OME) consumption for up to 24 hours. Random-effects models were used to pool results and mean difference (MD), and odds ratio (OR) was calculated for continuous and dichotomous outcomes, respectively. GRADE guidelines were used to evaluate the strength of evidence, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to provide certainty to the conclusion. Twenty-four trials enrolling 1789 patients were included. Moderate strength evidence suggested that SAP provided a significant reduction in 24-hour OME compared with NBC [MD - 24.9 mg (95% CI - 41.54, -8.25; P < 0.001, I2 = 99.68%)]. TSA ruled out the possibility of false-positive results. Subgroup analysis for the SAP demonstrated that the superficial plane approach was more effective in reducing opioid consumption than the deep approach. The odds of developing PONV were significantly lower in SAP compared to NBC. Compared with PVB and PECS, SAP block was not statistically different for 24-hour OME and time to first rescue analgaesia. Single-shot SAP reduced opioid consumption, prolonged analgaesia duration, lowered pain scores, and decreased the incidence of PONV compared to NBC. There was no statistically significant difference in the studied endpoints between SAP, PVB, and PECS blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centrosymmetric species with AB2 boding motif where central atom (A) is relatively more electronegative than the end ligands (B atoms) have been predicted to exhibit an unusual form of three-center/four-electron (3c/4e) long-bonding where bonding/antibonding interactions occur between the two end ligands (B–B) bypassing the central atom albeit via sharing the latter's lone pair. Such a long-bond of sigma- and pi-type has so far been predicted as single bonds and mainly as linear (B–A–B) bonding motifs. This work, through computations based on density-functional theory (DFT) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, reveals pi-type long-bonding between carbon atoms separated by more than 2 angstroms in the gas-phase chain species, namely CnX (X = O,N; n = 2,4,6,8). Notably, this work, through DFT and NBO analysis, not only successfully predicts pi-type long-bonding in linear and nonlinear CnX species (mainly those where X is the central atom) but is also able to reveal multiple pi long-bonds particularly in the triplet-C2O as well as a pi long-bond in an isomer of C8N where N is not the central atom. However, preliminary computations using complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) multi-reference method performed in this work could only confirm antibonding pi long-bond orbital, whereas the validity of bonding pi long-bond orbital of the proposed long-bond could not be ascertained through the CASSCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If V 1 , ... , V n are translations of a Vitali set by rational numbers, then we prove that ⋃ i = 1 n V i contains no measurable subset of positive measure. This provides a decomposition of ℝ as a countable union of disjoint sets, any finite union of which has Lebesgue inner measure zero. As a consequence, we present a function δ : ℝ → (0 , + ∞) for which there is no measurable function f : ℝ → ℝ satisfying 0 < f ≤ δ , on any measurable set of positive Lebesgue measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In these days, development of multicomponent‐based polymerization is gaining much attraction. Keeping this point in view, we synthesized fluorescent conjugated and nonconjugated polythioamide in one‐pot using dialdehyde, diamines, and elemental sulfur in presence of IL1–IL2@Fe3O4NPs as catalyst via Willgerodt–Kindler reaction. Herein, ionic liquid‐coated over magnetized iron nanoparticles heterogenous catalyst were synthesized. Catalyst was characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Polymerization of multicomponent reaction proceeds smoothly in the presence of catalyst at ambient temperature with excellent yield. As magnetic catalyst recovered easily from the reaction mixture, this method shows excessive potential for efficient polymerization approach toward structurally diversified polythioamides. By the development of new magnetic catalyst, we overawed the limitations of multicomponent polymerization such as the poor solubility of polymer, low molecular weight, stoichiometric balance, easy removal of catalyst, and complicated workup. The prepared polythioamides were characterized with 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nasal saline irrigation is highly recommended in patients following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to aid the postoperative recovery. Post-FESS patients have significantly altered anatomy leading to markedly different flow dynamics from those found in pre-op or non-diseased airways, resulting in unknown flow dynamics. Methods: This work investigated how the liquid stream disperses through altered nasal cavities following surgery using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). A realistic squeeze profile was determined from physical experiments with a 27-year-old male using a squeeze bottle with load sensors. The administration technique involved a head tilt of 45-degrees forward to represent a head position over a sink. After the irrigation event that lasted 4.5 s, the simulation continued for an additional 1.5 s, with the head orientation returning to an upright position. Results: The results demonstrated that a large maxillary sinus ostium on the right side allows saline penetration into this sinus. The increased volume of saline entering the maxillary sinus limits the saline volume available to the rest of the sinonasal cavity and reduces the surface coverage of the other paranasal sinuses. The average wall shear stress was higher on the right side than on the other side for two patients. The results also revealed that head position alters the sinuses' saline residual, especially the frontal sinuses. Conclusion: While greater access to sinuses is achieved through FESS surgery, patients without a nasal septum limits posterior sinus penetration due to the liquid crossing over to the contralateral cavity and exiting the nasal cavity early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the increasing need for green and cost‐effective catalysts, a novel biomass‐derived heterogeneous catalyst that is effective in a number of environmentally friendly applications has been synthesized. The heterogeneous catalyst (Au@CIL), composed of ionic‐liquid‐functionalized cellulose embedded with Au nanoparticles (NPs), was developed for the selective reduction of the nitro group. The Au NPs are formed by the reduction of Au3+ to Au0 with ascorbic acid while embedded in the solid support system. The presence of embedded Au NPs was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, zeta‐potential measurements, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, elemental dot mapping, and atomic force microscopy. In water at 30 °C, the heterogeneous catalyst Au@CIL selectively transforms aromatic nitro compounds into the corresponding amines in the presence of other functional groups, such as hydroxy, amino, aldehyde, carboxylic acid, and amide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypyrrole-based hybrid nanocomposites have drawn much attentiveness of the researchers and scientists owing to their superior and much improved physical, chemical and biomedical properties. This review article outlines the important synthesis strategies, properties and conduction mechanism of polypyrrole-based hybrid nanocomposites. Moreover, an exhaustive account of their diverse applications in energy storage devices, electronic devices, sensors, electromagnetic interference shielding and microwave absorption, actuators, protective or anti-corrosion coatings, catalyzed photo-degradation of dyes, removal of other environmental pollutants and biomedical field has been overviewed. At last, future prospects and challenges of polypyrrole-based hybrid nanocomposites have been highlighted precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fill up some gaps in the existing literature on the Henstock-Kurzweil integration on metric measure spaces. The most important one is the choice of suitable candidates for 'intervals' in metric spaces for which the conclusion of Cousin's lemma holds. We also provide some characterizations of compactness and completeness in terms of Cousin's lemma, along with some alternative proofs of a few related results. Then we improve the result regarding differentiability of the primitives of Henstock-Kurzweil integrable functions on metric spaces, and a few consequences. We propose shorter proofs of measure theoretic characterizations of the HK-integral in terms of the variational measure $V_F$ as well as the $ACG^\Delta$ functions. Finally, we present alternative proofs of some generalizations of two results on Lebesgue integration. The first one bypasses Vitali covering lemma for a result on absolute continuity, while the second one is a version of the fundamental theorem of calculus in our setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintaining homeostasis is an integral part of all physiological processes both in health and disease including critically ill patients and may impact clinical outcomes. The present study was designed to assess prevalence of serum calcium, phosphate, vitamin-D3, FGF-23, and PTH levels abnormalities in AKI. Patients and methods: Single-center, prospective, observational study in a tertiary care hospital. Patients meeting KDIGO criteria for AKI were included. Paired blood samples were drawn from eligible patients--first sample within 24 hours of AKI diagnosis and second after 5 days or at time of hospital discharge, whichever was earlier for measuring serum calcium (albumin corrected), phosphate, PTH, 25(OH)Vit-D, and FGF-23 levels. Clinical outcomes analyzed included survival status, utilization of RRT, and hospital stay. Results: Of the 50 patients with AKI, about three-fourths were males. Mean age of the participants was 57.32 ± 11.47 years. Around half of patients had hypocalcemia and four-fifths had low serum phosphate. Nearly 82% had low 25(OH)Vit-D and 52% cases had high PTH level. Patients who underwent RRT had numerically higher but not significant serum calcium and PTH levels. FGF-23 levels (pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients on RRT (81.70 ± 17.30 vs non-RRT, 72.43 ± 20.27, p = 0.049), nonsurvivors (87.96 ± 18.82 vs survivors 57.11 ± 15.19, p = 0.045), and those hospitalized for time of stay above median (109.67 ± 26.97 vs below median 70.27 ± 20.43, p = 0.046). Among all the bone and mineral parameters analyzed high FGF23 levels were consistently linked with poor clinical outcomes in AKI. Conclusion: The present study found high prevalence of calcium and phosphate disorders in AKI with dysregulated phosphate homeostasis as evidenced from elevated FGF-23 levels linked with morbidity and mortality in AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frailty is a common clinical syndrome in the elderly that may be associated with increased risk of health complications and decreased physical functioning. Early screening of individuals who are at high risk of frailty is required to allow timely intervention for the prevention and reversal of frailty. There is a paucity of information on frailty among the Indian elderly population and especially among the elderly chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. Hence, the aim of the present study was to find out the occurrence of frailty in elderly patients with CKD. Methods: The present prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from an outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital. We enrolled 200 participants aged 60 years or above, dividing them into two groups as case (included those with CKD stage 3 and above who were not on dialysis with or without any coexisting comorbidities) and control groups (included those non-CKD patients with or without any coexisting comorbidities). Exclusion criteria were patients with prior history of stroke with neurological complications, dementia or cognitive deficit, severe Parkinson's disease, and nonambulatory. Assessment of frailty was done using the short physical performance battery test (SPPBT) and handgrip strength (HGS). Assessment of HGS was done using a JAMAR hand dynamometer. The data were analyzed using SPSS V 20.0. Results: Majority of the participants were male in the case group (58%), while they were almost equal in the control group (51%). Most of the participants belonged to the age groups of 60–70 years with a mean age of 68.8 ± 5.90 years and 67.99 ± 5.93 years in case and control groups, respectively. In the case group, more than half of the patients had CKD stage 4 (57%), followed by CKD stage 5 (36%). There was no significant difference in diabetes mellitus (P = 0.41), hypertension (P = 0.63), malignancy (P = 1.0), CLD (P = 0.097), and thyroid disorder (P = 0.85) among the groups. Using SPPBT, frailty was found to be significantly higher in CKD patients in comparison to control (78% vs. 62%, P = 0.014). Using the HGS criteria, frailty was detected almost similar in both the groups (CKD vs. non-CKD; 77% vs. 78%, P = 0.866). Frailty was found to be high (78.5%) in CKD patients who had estimated glomerular filtration rate of <30 ml/min. Moreover, frailty was significantly higher in those with diabetes with CKD than diabetic alone (P = 0.009). Conclusion: Frailty was found to be high in elderly patients with CKD as compared to the non-CKD population. This indicates a need for continuous assessment of frailty and timely tailored intervention for prevention and reversal of frailty in the elderly CKD population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments designate the quick growing of optimization meta-heuristics in the domain of optimization. Sine–cosine optimizer is a stochastic technique that generates various preliminary random research agents global optimal solutions and involves them to fluctuate toward or outwards the superior global optima solution utilizing a mathematical model based on sine and cosine trigonometry functions. Nevertheless, standard SCA provides insufficient global optima results on complex dimension functions illustrating poor convergence rate. The search process of the SCA method holds various shortcomings such as slow convergence, weak balance amid exploration and exploitation, and inefficiency in convergence. To overcome these shortcomings in this work, we are trying to present a new heuristic approach based on merging the features of SCA (sine–cosine approach) with a HS (harmony search approach) known as HSCAHS algorithm. The existing approach integrates the merits of the sine–cosine algorithm and HS algorithm to reduce demerits, like the trapping in local optima and unbalanced exploitation. The new approach presents own work performance in two different stages; firstly, the sine–cosine algorithm starts the explore procedure to augment exploration capability. Secondly, harmony search part starts its search from SCA finds so far to augment the exploitation tendencies. Hence, hybrid approach can find best possible solution in which least time improves the exploitation and exploration. Hence, the newly existing hybrid approach can be quickly convergent, statistically sound and more robust. The capability of the hybrid approach is verified by applying it on eighteen tested benchmark, economic dispatch, three-bar truss design, rolling element bearing design, multiple disc clutch brake design, speed reducer design and planetary gear train design problems. The experimental solutions reveal that the hybrid approach is able to finding the superior quality of optimal goal (or solution) of the optimize functions in most cases in comparison with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has both short term as well as long-term consequences in critically ill patients. The present study is an attempt to study its etiological profile in intensive care units (ICUs) which has been only scarcely done in India. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients admitted with or developing AKI during their ICU stay were included in the prospective study and were defined as well as staged according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Patients were followed up at discharge and at 3 months to determine the outcome as either favorable (renal recovery) or adverse (residual renal dysfunction, dialysis dependence, or death). Various known risk factors, as laid down by KDIGO, were identified and analyzed with respect to their association with the outcome. Results: Out of total of 120 subjects, almost half of the subjects (47.5%) had Stage I AKI, 27.5% had Stage II AKI and the remaining quarter of subjects had Stage III AKI. One fourth had pre-existing chronic kidney disease and three-fourth subjects had developed de novo AKI of which more than half of patients had community-acquired AKI. Anemia and sepsis were the most prevalent risk factors. The highest rate of renal recovery was demonstrated in Stage I AKI. Overall mortality was 28%, highest in Stage III AKI. Conclusion: The study demonstrated increasing prevalence of the adverse outcome in a linear fashion with an increase in the severity of AKI. Sepsis was not only the most prevalent risk factor but was also strongly associated with an adverse outcome. The epidemiology of AKI in critical care in India has started to resemble high-income group countries, in terms of both age distribution as well as etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study was aimed to study and develop in-depth understanding of the effect of the coronal angulation of sacral vestibule S2 on morphometry of sacral vestibule in north-west Indian population presenting to our institution, which will go a long way in planning to treat the posterior pelvic injuries with percutaneous screws, thereby reducing the morbidity associated with open fixation. Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics and Radiodiagnosis at Dr Rajendra Prasad Govt.Medical College, Kangra at Tanda over a period of one year. All the patients of the age > 18 years and above submitting for either abdominal, lower spinal or non-orthopedic pathology of pelvic region, presenting for computed tomography to the Department of Radiodiagnosis were included in the study. Results: The coronal angulation of S2 vestibule ranged from 1° to 10° with a mean of 5.06° ± 2.77°. There was a weak relation between coronal angulation of S2 and age-groups 18–30 years (r = 0.105; P = 0.186), 31–40 years (r = 0.040; P = 0.715), 41–50 years (r = − 0.085; P = 0.330), 51–60 years (r = 0.119; P = 0.079), and > 60 years (r = − 0.166; P = 0.605). There was non-significant difference in coronal angulation of S2 (P = 0.913) between males and females. There was a weak relation between interspinus distance with coronal angulation of S2 (r = 0.069; P = 0.090). There was no relation between height with coronal angulation of S2 (r = 0.019; P = 0.631). Conclusion: The present study, the first of its kind in the north-western part of India arrived to help us anthropometric measurements of sacral vestibule, thereby, helping in development of local protocols for percutaneous fixation in sacral fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foot rot/gummosis of citrus, caused by Phytophthora spp., is the most important disease of citrus, responsible for the yield losses of 10 to 30% in fruit production in major citrus growing countries. Considering the burden of disease, the present study was undertaken to evaluate different native potent strains of Trichoderma spp. against the foot rot/gummosis of citrus. Results: Based on molecular characteristics, i.e., ITS ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, 3 isolates of Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica and 7 isolates of Trichoderma (6 isolates of T. asperellum and one of T. harzianum) were identified. Trichoderma isolates and Metalaxyl-M + Mancozeb were used to assess antagonistic activity against the foot rot/gummosis under field conditions. T. asperellum T20 mutant reduced gummosis lesion size (95.67%), improved feeder root density (0.0236 cm3), increased number (990.16), and yield of fruits (168.83 kg). Conclusions: The talc-based bioformulation of T20 mutant (T. asperellum) strain, used as a soil treatment, was able to manage effectively the gummosis/foot rot of citrus and also exhibited the highest yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemosensing, an interdisciplinary scientific domain, plays a pivotal role ranging from environmental monitoring to healthcare diagnostics and (inter)national security. Metal‐organic gels (MOGs) are recognized for their stability, selectivity, and responsiveness, making them valuable for chemosensing applications. Researchers have explored the development of MOGs based on different metal ions and ligands, allowing for tailored properties and sensitivities, and have even demonstrated their applications as portable sensors such as paper‐based test strips for practical use. Herein, several studies related to MOGs development and their applications in the chemosensing field via UV‐visible or luminance along with electrochemical approach are presented. These papers explored MOGs as versatile materials with their use in sensing bio or environmental analytes. This review provides a foundational understanding of key concepts, methodologies, and recent advancements in this field, fostering the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of a novel binuclear Cu(II) carboxylate complex under ambient laboratory conditions is presented. The complex exhibits a paddle wheel structure in which the axial positions are occupied by two copper atoms instead of two water molecules. The synthesized complex was characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, FT-IR, X-ray diffraction, and UV-visible spectroscopy techniques. The thermal stability of the metal complex was studied by the thermogravimetric analysis study. The synthesized metal complex was employed for the synthesis of metal complex-coated polyether sulfone (PES) membranes which were characterized before and after filtration using the FESEM technique. The photocatalytic efficiency of the metal complex was studied for the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV irradiation in the presence of H2O2 and was compared with the photodegradation efficiency of the metal complex-coated polyether sulfone (PES) membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice structures have been proven to be one of the best choices since their inception, for various structural and other commercial applications, for enhanced mechanical properties, especially in the case of vibration isolation, where band gaps play a vital role. In the present study, additively manufactured 3D printed lattices are prepared with the help of fused deposition modelling (FDM) under various design variations such as Diamond, Kelvin, and Octa formations. Further, three variations in the form of cell density have been used in all the designs, such as low, medium, and high density. The effect of the design variations on Young's modulus, ultimate compressive strength, and plateau stress have been studied, and comparative analysis amongst the designs has been carried out. In the case of the diamond foam, the Young's modulus of 54.84, 79.43, and 63.13 MPa has been obtained for low, medium, and high density, respectively. However, in the case of Octa formation with a high-density apology, highest value of young modulus is obtained, which is 174.94 MPa. But the plateau stress is the best in the case of high-density diamond topology and least in the case of high-density Octa formation. In addition, the diamond foam with the medium density has shown the best compressive strength, i.e., 5.003 MPa. Moreover, vibration analysis properties were explored; interestingly, it has been seen that the transmissivity of the medium-form structures for all shapes is higher than the others whereas the natural frequency of the Diamond and Octa shapes is lower. Hence the shape and form of the lattice have a significant effect on the final properties of the lattices and lattice structures contribute to structural integrity in terms of better properties and enhanced behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We define variational measure with respect to measurable gauges and explore its properties. Further we establish that for continuous additive interval functions, it agrees with the usual variational measure on measurable sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid nanocomposites (HNCs) of polypyrrole (PPy) and CuS were synthesized by an in situ chemical polymerization method. The HNCs were prepared by varying the CuS nanoparticles weight percentage (10–40%) in PPy matrix. The XRD and FESEM characterization indicated the uniform distribution of CuS nanoparticles in PPy matrix. The XRD pattern revealed the presence of hexagonal CuS peaks overlapped with amorphous PPy pattern. Williamson Hall method was employed to estimate intrinsic strain in HNCs. FTIR spectrum revealed the shifting of 1025 cm−1 peak toward higher wavenumber, indicating insertion of CuS nanoparticles in PPy. The room temperature electrical conductivity of PPy is found to be increased from 1.15 × 10−1 to 3.70 S/cm as the content of CuS nanoparticles increases up to 40 wt% in HNCs. To explore the charge transport mechanism in HNCs,the conductivity was measured in the temperature range of 300–15 K. The measured conductivity data was analyzed with the help of Arrhenius model and 3d Mott's variable range hopping (VRH) model in the temperature range of 35–300 K. The approximate values of Mott's parameters at 300 K such as the density of states at Fermi level, average hopping distance and average hopping energy of HNCs were estimated as ~ 4×1024 cm−3eV−1, ~ 1.7 Å and ~ 10 meV respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has recently gained popularity for postoperative analgesia after cesarean delivery (CD) as it provides both visceral and somato-sensory blockade of the abdomen. Aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the analgesic potential of QLB after CD. Methods: Electronic database from inception to December 2019 was searched systematically for randomized-controlled trials comparing QLB with injection of inactive solution in women undergoing CD. Primary outcome was consumption of morphine at 24 h. Morphine consumption at 48 h, dynamic and static pain scores at various time intervals were the secondary outcomes studied. Results: Seven trials met the inclusion criteria. Morphine consumption was reduced significantly with QLB in comparison to sham or no block at 24 h (mean difference [MD] − 9.84 mg; 95% confidence interval [CI] − 18.16, − 0.50; p = 0.04; I2 = zero). Adequate "information size" for above outcome was confirmed with trial sequential analysis, ruling out any possibility of a false-positive result. QLB significantly reduced pain scores at rest (MD − 1.13; 95% CI − 1.75, − 0.56; p = 0.00) and on movement (MD − 1.48; 95% CI − 2.5, − 0.46; p = 0.01) at 6 h. However, statistically significant difference in pain scores persisted only for dynamic pain at 24 h (MD − 0.55; 95% CI − 1.04, − 0.06; p = 0.03). QLB does not provide any additional analgesic benefit to the parturient receiving intrathecal morphine. Conclusion: QLB significantly reduces opioid requirements in CD and may have analgesic effects lasting 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Cochrane Collaboration methodology and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Topic include Mean Difference (MD) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated for continuous outcomes and Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% CI for dichotomous outcomes.

Semiconducting cuprous iodide (CuI) nanocrystals have been synthesized by the one‐pot sonochemical method at room temperature. The synthesis was performed in aqueous medium using ascorbic acid, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, p‐toluene sulfonic acid and docusate sodium as surfactants. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study of resulting material reveals the crystalline nature, cubic zinc blende lattice structure and γ phase of CuI nanocrystals. Scherrer method, Williamson‐Hall plot and Size‐Strain plot method have been used to investigate the particle size and intrinsic strain values from the XRD analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed the morphology and different shapes (truncated tetrahedron, irregular, hexagonal & clustered) of CuI nanocrystals synthesized using different surfactants. In the PL spectrum of γ‐CuI nanoparticles strong near band‐edge emission was observed at about 423 nm. A slight red‐shift in near band edge emission was observed due to the presence of surfactants. Enhanced electrical conductivity values (1.96 S/cm–9.19 S/cm) were obtained due to the presence of surfactants for γ‐CuI nanocrystals. These properties of CuI nanocrystals makes them a suitable material for the design and development of optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has both short term as well as long-term consequences in critically ill patients. The present study is an attempt to study its etiological profile in intensive care units (ICUs) which has been only scarcely done in India. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients admitted with or developing AKI during their ICU stay were included in the prospective study and were defined as well as staged according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Patients were followed up at discharge and at 3 months to determine the outcome as either favorable (renal recovery) or adverse (residual renal dysfunction, dialysis dependence, or death). Various known risk factors, as laid down by KDIGO, were identified and analyzed with respect to their association with the outcome. Results: Out of total of 120 subjects, almost half of the subjects (47.5%) had Stage I AKI, 27.5% had Stage II AKI and the remaining quarter of subjects had Stage III AKI. One fourth had pre-existing chronic kidney disease and three-fourth subjects had developed de novo AKI of which more than half of patients had community-acquired AKI. Anemia and sepsis were the most prevalent risk factors. The highest rate of renal recovery was demonstrated in Stage I AKI. Overall mortality was 28%, highest in Stage III AKI. Conclusion: The study demonstrated increasing prevalence of the adverse outcome in a linear fashion with an increase in the severity of AKI. Sepsis was not only the most prevalent risk factor but was also strongly associated with an adverse outcome. The epidemiology of AKI in critical care in India has started to resemble high-income group countries, in terms of both age distribution as well as etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Short read sequencing technologies, such as genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), have been utilized in genetic mapping, marker development, and population genomic studies. High-throughput and multiplexing capability coupled with low cost make GBS an appropriate tool for molecular research. Here, we present the application of GBS to characterize wheat aneuploid stocks and detect chromosomal aberrations including aneuploidy and chromosomal deletions. These aneuploids are an important resource that have been used in wheat genetics and genomics studies to localize genes, determine physical positions, and develop chromosome bin maps. Results: Using GBS, we mapped sequence reads and quantified read coverage across chromosome bins. Using this approach, we confirmed known deletions and aneuploid stocks. In addition, we were also able to fully characterize these stocks and to identify several novel deletions and aneuploids. With this knowledge and a quick detection tool at our disposal, we can easily isolate these deletions and aneuploids into distinct lines. Conclusion: We envision this tool to replace the intensive cytogenetics techniques, such as C-banding, and fluorescent- and genomic-in situ hybridization to accurately detect chromosome dosage and segmental deletions in wheat genetic stocks as well as other crop species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal choice of vasopressor drugs for managing hypotension during neuraxial anaesthesia for Caesarean delivery is unclear. Although phenylephrine was recently recommended as a consensus choice, direct comparison of phenylephrine with vasopressors used in other healthcare settings is largely lacking. Therefore, we assessed this indirectly by collating data from relevant studies in this comprehensive network meta-analysis. Here, we provide the possible rank orders for these vasopressor agents in relation to clinically important fetal and maternal outcomes.Methods: RCTs were independently searched in MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and clinicaltrials.gov (updated January 31, 2019). The primary outcome assessed was umbilical arterial base excess. Secondary fetal outcomes were umbilical arterial pH and Pco2. Maternal outcomes were incidences of nausea, vomiting, and bradycardia.Results: We included 52 RCTs with a total of 4126 patients. Our Bayesian network meta-analysis showed the likelihood that norepinephrine, metaraminol, and mephentermine had the lowest probability of adversely affecting the fetal acid-base status as assessed by their effect on umbilical arterial base excess (probability rank order: norepinephrine > mephentermine > metaraminol > phenylephrine > ephedrine). This rank order largely held true for umbilical arterial pH and Pco2. With the exception of maternal bradycardia, ephedrine had the highest probability of being the worst agent for all assessed outcomes. Because of the inherent imprecision when collating direct/indirect comparisons, the rank orders suggested are possibilities rather than absolute ranks.Conclusion: Our analysis suggests the possibility that norepinephrine and metaraminol are less likely than phenylephrine to be associated with adverse fetal acid-base status during Caesarean delivery. Our results, therefore, lay the scientific foundation for focused trials to enable direct comparisons between these agents and phenylephrine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palladium nanoscale particles possessing distinct planes/facets for fuel cell applications are challenging to construct using simple methods. This work exhibits a facile-solution phase room-temperature synthesis of highly branched and exceptionally ordered 3D Pd nano-fractals (200–300 nm). Using high-resolution atomic imaging, we explain the mechanism of growth and proliferation of facets after twinning. Due to its unique and novel shape, there is an unprecedented 2.025 eV blue shift in d-region of XPS spectra of Pd nano-fractals indicating a phenomenal increase in surface electron density. This is highly favorable for utilizing this promising catalyst for enhanced surface activity. The Pd nano-fractal structures are tested as anodic material, and they show significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and superior long-term stability towards methanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media. Thus, low-index enclosed Pd nanostructures could be useful catalysis materials if uniquely shaped and morphologically controlled at nanoscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work highlights the thermomechanical investigations of silicon carbide (SiC) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3)–reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE)–based feed stock filament of commercial fused deposition modeling (FDM) setup. The recycled HDPE waste was collected (from domestic waste) and washed with water jet for removal of contamination in the first stage. After contamination removal, rheological and thermal behavior (melt flow index, melting temperature, decomposition and enthalpy, etc.) of the unreinforced and reinforced polymer matrix was observed. The SiC and Al2O3 reinforcements in the HDPE matrix have been controlled by twin-screw extrusion process, followed by its processing on single-screw extrusion for preparation of FDM feed stock filament. The feed stock filament prepared by single-screw extruder was subjected to tensile test for mechanical properties (such as peak strength, peak load, and Young's modulus). After ascertaining mechanical properties, multifactor optimization has been performed. Finally, scanning electron micrographs were obtained to understand the distribution of ceramic particles. This study highlights the detailed procedure for managing the polymer waste with improved mechanical properties by considering multifactor optimization. This will enhance the sustainability and also helps to develop low-cost, in-house FDM filament for possible applications as rapid tooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Post‑operative sore throat (POST) is a common undesirable consequence of tracheal intubation. Magnesium, an N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate receptor antagonist, has anti‑nociceptive and anti‑inflammatory properties, and has been found to be useful in POST prevention in various trials. We conducted this systematic review and meta‑analysis to study the efficacy of topical magnesium in preventing POST in adult patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia with single lumen tracheal tube. Methods: Comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane central registers of controlled trial databases through July, 2018 and data were pooled using fixed effect modelling followed by random‑effect methods (after assessing heterogeneity with fixed modelling). The primary outcome was the incidence of POST at 24 h after surgery/extubation. Comparative results were deliberated as pooled mean difference for continuous variables and Mantel–Haenszel (MH) odds ratio for dichotomous variables. Statistical analysis was done using Comprehensive Meta‑Analysis‑Version 3 (Biostat Inc., USA). Results: Seven trials involving 726 study participants were included in the final analysis. Incidence of POST at 24 hours was significantly lower in magnesium group (26/363) in comparison to active and non‑active control group (89/363); P = 0.00‑ RR 0.22 (95%CI = 0.12‑0.39, I² = 0%). No significant adverse events were reported with the use of topical magnesium. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of topical magnesium before the induction of general anaesthesia seems to be an effective measure to decrease the incidence of POST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bidentate ureido-dihomooxacalix[4]arene based supramolecular hosts (n-propyl 1 and tert-butyl 2) were processed into organic nanoparticles via a bottom up approach in which a single step of re-precipitation was employed. These organic nanoparticles were then coupled with gold nanoparticles on the surface, resulting in an organic – inorganic hybrid framework (n-propyl H1 and tert-butyl H2). Photophysical studies of the organic nanoparticles and of the hybrid material were performed. The size and morphology were determined by TEM and DLS analysis. Moreover, the prepared hybrid frameworks were screened against various anions using UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectrophotometry. H1 exhibited ratiometric response towards iodide ion in aqueous medium, and colour change of the solution from pink to light blue was observed. This hybrid material selectively and sensitively detected iodide ion with detection limit of 8.3 nM and with almost no interference from other anions. H1 sensor ability was also tested with artificial and real urine samples. H2 showed different responses and no selectivity to any anion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to fabricate acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)/high impact polystyrene (HIPS) based multi-material geometries using a low cost polymer printer. At the same time, efforts have been made to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the obtained prints and to perform the optimization using the Taguchi-Grey (TGRA) method.Design/methodology/approach Initially, the feedstock materials were in-house fabricated in the form of filament wires, workable with fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique, of 1.75 ± 0.1 mm diameter by using a single screw extruder. Multi-material structures were fabricated using variable parameters (such as: raster angles, layer height, fill density and solid layers) and the experimentation was conducted as per Taguchi L18 array. Mechanical responses obtained by performing tensile, impact and bending test were studied in response to input variables and ultimately optimized settings were obtained, for individual as well as multiple parameters). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to analyze the fractured surfaces.Findings The Signal/Noise (S/N) plots for the quality characteristics highlighted that selected input parameters significantly influenced the obtained values for tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength. Micrographs of the fractured specimens showed the occurrence of brittle fracture with higher levels of perimeter, infill density and solid layers. The extent of delamination was also increased under the bending load and further increased by increasing solid layers.Practical implications The results of the study strongly advocated the utility of fabricated multi-materials structures in automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing industries.Originality/value This work represents the fabrication, testing and analysis of polymer-based multi-material structures for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this research article, a novel method of additive manufacturing (AM) assisted investment casting (IC) has been demonstrated (by using the patterns prepared from waste materials reinforced with ceramic particles) for development of a metal matrix composite (MMC). In first stage, recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE) has been selected as matrix material, while ceramic reinforcement of SiC and Al 2 O 3 has been blended in LDPE by screw extrusion. Initially, the recycled LDPE has been collected in granules form from the local market and processed on single screw extruder to prepare pallets. The ceramic particles and LDPE were blended together to prepared the final blend in different proportions on twin screw extruder. After that Taguchi L9 orthogonal array has been employed to ascertain the affect of different input parameters of FDM machine to prepare the functional prototypes in the form of cubical patterns. Instead of using conventional IC, a rapid method has been employed to prepare sacrificial pattern by using siladent powder (which is being used for preparing cast in clinical dentistry for dentures). Further this method has been explored as an alternate route of rapid IC, which requires very less time as compared to the traditional methods. At final stage cast were prepared with aluminium (Al) alloy as matrix material reinforced with SiC and Al 2 O 3 (which were present in the mould cavity after removal of LDPE). The properties of MMC prepared via this novel route were subjected to hardness and grain size testing supported by photomicrographs and EDAX analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infantile Haemangiomas is one of the commonest childhood tumours. Several modes of treatment are available including observation only. Recently propranolol has been used as first line therapy in various reports. We present here a prospective study of 30 patients of Infantile Heamangiomas in which propranolol was used with an aim to study the dose standarization, efficacy & safety profile of the drug. All the patients had pretreatment cardiovascular, respiratory and investigative work up and then started on oral propranolol therapy at a dosage of 2-3mg/kg/day in two divided doses for a mean duration of 7.8 months (range 6-9 months). All the patients responded to the treatment by showing reduction in size, colour changes in the lesion and resolution of ulceration. In maximum 22 (73.33%) patients there was >50% reduction i size, 6(20%) patients had complete resolution of the lesion and only 2 (6.66%) had <25% reduction in size. All 4(100%) patients with ulceration had complete healing of the ulcer. There was no major side effect of the drug except mild self limiting diarrhoea in 2(6.66%) patients. We conclude that oral propranolol should be used as first line therapy in all infants with Infantile Cutaneous Haemangiomas at an early stage when response is good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Coins are the commonest foreign body ingested in paediatric populations. Although most ingested coins are either spontaneously passed or retrieved with medical intervention without serious consequence, there is potential for serious morbidity and mortality related to paediatric coin ingestion. We performed a 10-year retrospective review of Australian denomination coin ingestion at a tertiary paediatric hospital in Sydney, Australia. We attempted to determine whether a relationship exists between coin size, patient age, coin ingestion and spontaneous passage. Methods Hospital records of all children presenting in a 10-year period to a paediatric tertiary care centre for coin ingestion were reviewed. Demographic information, coin denomination, previous history, symptoms, investigations, management, outcome and complications were recorded. Results 241 cases were identified. The majority (55%) of cases occurred in children ≤3 years of age (range 7 months–11 years, mean 3.39 years). The most common location where coins were identified was in the proximal third of the oesophagus or at the cricopharyngeus (65%). Spontaneous passage occurred in 84 cases (34.9%) while 167 cases (69.3%) required intervention. Children ≤3 years were more likely to ingest small coins (<22 mm) (OR: 2.44; 1.39–4.17) and children >3 years were more likely to ingest larger coins (22–26 mm) (OR: 2.17; 1.39–4.35). Conclusions Coin size, coin weight and age of the child appear to be predictors for both likelihood of ingestion and spontaneous passage in paediatric coin ingestion cases. A child with minimal symptoms, witnessed ingestion and radiographic identification of the coin in the lower oesophagus or more distal can often be safety observed for up to 24 h in anticipation of spontaneous passage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Middle turbinate (MT) lateralisation with adhesion formation (MiTLAF) is a common complication following endoscopic sinus surgery, frequently resulting in surgical failure, persistence of preoperative symptoms, and delayed secondary complications. Packing materials, splints, or spacers reduce the risk of MiTLAF but often result in postoperative nasal obstruction and discomfort, along with reduced access for irrigation. Temporary suture medialisation of the MTs reduces the risk of MiTLAF and prevents the problems encountered with packing, splints, or spacers. However, the techniques described in the literature are technically challenging and often ineffectual. Methods. We describe a method of suture placement that provides a secure temporary MT medialisation, without the technical challenges of traditional techniques, using a 4-0 Monocryl (Poliglecaprone 25, Ethicon, Somerville, NJ, USA) suture on a 19 mm precision point reverse cutting PS-2 curved needle. We review 25 consecutive patients undergoing sinonasal procedures with our new technique and assess for MiTLAF. Results. In our cohort, only one patient experienced MiTLAF which was not clinically significant. Conclusions. Our method is simple, easy to perform, and highly effective and prevents adhesion formation without the need for postoperative splints or packing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the effects of phosphorus (0, 20, 30, and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1) and biofertilizers [Rhizobium (Rhizobium leguminosarum bv viciae), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Pseudomonas fluorescens), Rhizobium + PGPR, and uninoculated control] in lentil. Application of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in the highest number of nodules, nodule dry weight, leghemoglobin content in nodules, chlorophyll content, yield attributes, and grain yield. Coinoculated treatment performed better than uninoculated control, and individual inoculations of Rhizobium and PGPR in terms of all above mentioned parameters. Application of 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 + Rhizobium inoculation gave statistically similar and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 + Rhizobium + PGPR inoculation gave significantly higher grain yield than that by 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 alone. The use of Rhizobium alone and Rhizobium + PGPR consortium can save not only 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 but also increase the grain yieldof lentil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved agricultural technologies are helping in meeting the foodgrain needs of growing global population while the arable land is shrinking. So, the excessive and continuous use of chemical fertilizers has ensured the high crop production and productivity of foodgrains. However, continuous application of inorganic fertilizers has created many problems related to biosphere i.e. environmental, soil and human being. In recent years, the scientists are concerned about biosphere hazardous; thus, reducing the extra burden of inorganic fertilizers by using microbial inoculants for integrated nutrient management. The microbial inoculations supplement the plant growth and yield by direct ways (increase in supply of nutrients i.e. nitrogen, production of metabolites such as auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins as well as through the solubilization of phosphate and other minerals) and indirect ways (biofertilizers eliminate the pathogens by the production of cyanide, siderophores, chitinase etc.). The microbial inoculation stimulates the plant to use applied as well as fixed nutrients i.e. phosphate efficiently, thus helps to reduce the fertilizers input. Secondly, biofertilizers are considered as economically feasible and environmentally safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly hybrid nature inspired algorithm called HPSOGWO is presented with the combination of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The main idea is to improve the ability of exploitation in Particle Swarm Optimization with the ability of exploration in Grey Wolf Optimizer to produce both variants’ strength. Some unimodal, multimodal, and fixed-dimension multimodal test functions are used to check the solution quality and performance of HPSOGWO variant. The numerical and statistical solutions show that the hybrid variant outperforms significantly the PSO and GWO variants in terms of solution quality, solution stability, convergence speed, and ability to find the global optimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue is not only regarded as an organ of storage related to fuel metabolism but also an endocrine organ involved in the regulation of insulin sensitivity ,lipids and energy metabolism. Adipogenesis has been studied by different authors taking samples from cheek, chin, periocular fat, inguinal pad fat, epididymal pad fat etc. Very few authors have studied lipogenesis in mammary gland though mammary fat tissue is considered crucial for mammary ductal morphogenesis. So, the development of adipocytes in human fetal mammary gland was studied on forty four foetuses of different gestation period in Government Medical College Jammu. We observed the appearance of preadipocytes at 15th week and organization of mature adipocytes into lobules at 23 weeks of gestation. The morphology of developing adipocytes showed a great variation and a close relationship was observed between adipogenesis and angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to investigate the intranasal deposition of corticosteroid sprays. CFD Lagrangian tracking models terminate particle motion once particles come into contact with a surface ("trap" boundary condition) and disregard the liquid film buildup on the mucosal surfaces of the sinonasal cavity walls. However, the interaction between spray droplets and the mucosal surface is critical for corticosteroid delivery using the exhalation delivery system (EDS) nasal spray device. Droplets coalesce on sinonasal walls, forming a thin "wall-film" on which droplets spread along the surface, splash, and/or break into secondary particles, depending on impact energy. To advance nasal drug delivery modeling, three CFD models of fluticasone propionate deposition using the EDS device in a Draf III post-surgical geometry were developed: (1) using traditional "trap" boundary conditions; (2) using "wall-film" boundary conditions and one-way coupling; and (3) using "wall-film" boundary conditions with two-way coupling (to account for the high-mass loading in the near-nozzle spray field). Contour plots and data sets for each CFD model were qualitatively compared with physical models in the same geometry (visualized in a 3D-printed sinonasal cast). The CFD simulations showed that EDS delivers fluticasone to all sinonasal regions, including areas superiorly and posteriorly in the sinonasal cavity. In addition, deposition improved and more closely correlated with physical experiments as the CFD model complexity evolved. "Wall-film" modeling of EDS delivery demonstrated increased surface coverage compared to the "trap" model. The "wall-film/two-way coupling" model demonstrated substantially higher deposition in the remote frontal and maxillary sinuses, agreeing with physical cast experiments. In conclusion, CFD simulation of EDS delivery using the "wall-film" boundary/two-way coupling model appears to most accurately represent observations from physical model experiments in the same geometry. • We created CFD models of drug deposition with the exhalation delivery system (EDS). • An iterative process improved CFD model simulation of deposition in nasal casts. • The most accurate CFD model used "Wall-film" conditions and two-way coupling. • CFD simulations and cast studies suggest EDS delivers drug to all sinonasal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cells are the efficient electrochemical energy conversion devices with wide-ranging applications. Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) is the primary component of a PEM fuel cell whose proton conductivity majorly determines the performance of the fuel cells. Due to the high cost and limited range of operating parameters, alternatives of perfluorinated ionomers based commercial PEMs are urgently required. Sulfonated polyimides (SPIs) based hydrocarbon PEMs, have exhibited better proton conductivity even at low hydration levels and high temperatures, making them possible candidates for replacing commercial PEMs. However, finding alternative SPI PEMs is a critical polymer discovery problem that requires enormous experimental efforts where Machine learning (ML) approaches can help to reduce such efforts. To this end, both supervised and unsupervised ML approaches are developed to predict the proton conductivity of SPIs. A hybrid dataset of 81 unique SPIs is generated that consists of collected chemical structure–properties data from reported literature and calculated quantitative structure–property and semi-empirical quantum chemical descriptors. Using simple and interpretable Decision Trees, rules that lead to a low or high class of proton conductivity labels with high accuracy are identified. The trained decision tree model can accurately predict the proton conductivity class labels with a prediction accuracy of 88% and a kappa statistic of 0.77. The random forest regression (RFR) model, on the other hand, identified additional set of features that can predict proton conductivity with reasonable error. Thus, high information-gain features have been identified and their correlation with the proton conductivity class labels have been explored. These findings are key to designing novel SPI PEMs while correlating proton transport at the ionomer level with factors such as the morphology of the microstructure and inter-chain interactions. [Display omitted] • High proton conductivity Sulfonated Polyimides(SPI) identified using Machine learning • Data set of 81 SPI repeat units used along with open-source featurization techniques • Quantitative structure–property relationship and semi-empirical descriptors used • Repeat unit-level features for determining proton conductivity in SPI PEMs identified PEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]