Effect of different preservatives on the physicochemical characteristics and shelf stability of Rasmalai: A comparative study.

Rasmalai is a very popular, delicious, and nutritious indigenous sweet dish in Indo-Pakistani civilization. It has a very short shelf life, i.e., up to 3 days. The study was designed to assess the effect of preservatives (potassium sorbate and calcium propionate) on the shelf stability of Rasmalai. Moreover, proximate composition and sensory evaluation of prepared Rasmalai were also carried out in the present study. In general, potassium sorbate and calcium propionate significantly increased the shelf life of Rasmalai. But treatment (R5) containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) improved its shelf life by up to 12 days by keeping good sensorial characteristics. The maximum total plate counts as well as yeast and molds were observed in control Rasmalai (without any preservatives) whereas minimum counts were found in R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each). In conclusion, all the preservatives used in the present study were effective in enhancing the shelf life of Rasmalai but R5 treatment containing a combination of both potassium sorbate and calcium propionate (500 ppm each) was the most effective in enhancing shelf life without deleterious effect on sensorial characteristics.

Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Versus Redo-Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Aortic Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Aortic stenosis is a common and significant valve condition requiring bioprosthetic heart valves with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) being strongly recommended for high-risk patients or patients over 75 years. This meta-analysis aimed to pool existing data on postprocedural clinical as well as echocardiographic outcomes comparing valve-in-valve (ViV)-TAVR to redo-surgical aortic valve replacement to assess the short-term and medium-term outcomes for both treatment methods. A systematic literature search on Cochrane Central, Scopus, and Medline (PubMed interface) electronic databases from inception to August 2023. We used odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes. Twenty-four studies (25,216 patients) were pooled with a mean follow-up of 16.4 months. The analysis revealed that ViV-TAVR group showed a significant reduction in 30-day mortality (OR 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43 to 0.58, p <0.00001), new-onset atrial fibrillation (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.67, p = 0.002), major bleeding event (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.45, p <0.00001) and lower rate of device success (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.53, p = 0.0003). There were no significant differences between either group when assessing 1-year mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction, postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, and effective orifice area. ViV-TAVR cohort showed a significantly increased incidence of paravalvular leaks, aortic regurgitation, and increased mean aortic valve gradient. ViV-TAVR is a viable short-term option for elderly patients with high co-morbidities and operative risks, reducing perioperative complications and improving 30-day mortality with no significant cardiovascular adverse events. However, both treatment methods present similar results on short-term to medium-term complications assessment.

Exploring Roemheld syndrome: a comprehensive review with proposed diagnostic criteria.

Roemheld syndrome (RS) is a condition that triggers cardiac symptoms due to gastrointestinal compression of the heart. It is often misdiagnosed as other types of cardiac or digestive disorders, leading to unnecessary treatments and reduced quality of life. Here, we provide a thorough review of RS, covering its pathogenesis, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. We found that a number of conditions, including gallstones, hiatal hernia, excessive gas, and gastroesophageal reflux syndrome, can cause RS. The symptoms of RS can include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal pain. Clinical history, physical examination, electrocardiograms, and improvement in symptoms following gastrointestinal therapy can all be used to identify RS. We also propose a set of criteria, the IKMAIR criteria, to improve the diagnostic approach for this condition. Dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, pharmaceutical therapies, and surgical procedures can all be used to control RS. Depending on the underlying etiology and the outcome of treatment, RS has a varying prognosis. We conclude that RS is a complicated and understudied disorder that needs more attention from researchers and patients as well as from medical professionals. We recommend the inclusion of RS in the differential diagnosis for individuals with gastrointestinal problems and unexplained cardiac symptoms. Additionally, we advise treating RS holistically by attending to its cardiac and gastrointestinal components.

The Use of Evidence to Design an Essential Package of Health Services in Pakistan: A Review and Analysis of Prioritisation Decisions at Different Stages of the Appraisal Process.

BACKGROUND: Pakistan embarked on a process of designing an essential package of health services (EPHS) as a pathway towards universal health coverage (UHC). The EPHS design followed an evidence-informed deliberative process; evidence on 170 interventions was introduced along multiple stages of appraisal engaging different stakeholders tasked with prioritising interventions for inclusion. We report on the composition of the package at different stages, analyse trends of prioritised and deprioritised interventions and reflect on the trade-offs made. METHODS: Quantitative evidence on cost-effectiveness, budget impact, and avoidable burden of disease was presented to stakeholders in stages. We recorded which interventions were prioritised and deprioritised at each stage and carried out three analyses: (1) a review of total number of interventions prioritised at each stage, along with associated costs per capita and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted, to understand changes in affordability and efficiency in the package, (2) an analysis of interventions broken down by decision criteria and intervention characteristics to analyse prioritisation trends across different stages, and (3) a description of the trajectory of interventions broken down by current coverage and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: Value for money generally increased throughout the process, although not uniformly. Stakeholders largely prioritised interventions with low budget impact and those preventing a high burden of disease. Highly cost-effective interventions were also prioritised, but less consistently throughout the stages of the process. Interventions with high current coverage were overwhelmingly prioritised for inclusion. CONCLUSION: Evidence-informed deliberative processes can produce actionable and affordable health benefit packages. While cost-effective interventions are generally preferred, other factors play a role and limit efficiency.

Costing Interventions for Developing an Essential Package of Health Services: Application of a Rapid Method and Results From Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MNHSR&C) in Pakistan has committed to progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 by providing an Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). Starting in 2019, the Disease Control Priorities 3rd edition (DCP3) evidence framework was used to guide the development of Pakistan's EPHS. In this paper, we describe the methods and results of a rapid costing approach used to inform the EPHS design process. METHODS: A total of 167 unit costs were calculated through a context-specific, normative, ingredients-based, and bottom-up economic costing approach. Costs were constructed by determining resource use from descriptions provided by MNHSR&C and validated by technical experts. Price data from publicly available sources were used. Deterministic univariate sensitivity analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Unit costs ranged from 2019 US$ 0.27 to 2019 US$ 1478. Interventions in the cancer package of services had the highest average cost (2019 US$ 837) while interventions in the environmental package of services had the lowest (2019 US$ 0.68). Cost drivers varied by platform; the two largest drivers were drug regimens and surgery-related costs. Sensitivity analyses suggest our results are not sensitive to changes in staff salary but are sensitive to changes in medicine pricing. CONCLUSION: We estimated a large number of context-specific unit costs, over a six-month period, demonstrating a rapid costing method suitable for EPHS design.

Early pandemic in-hospital outcomes and mortality risk factors in COVID-19 solid organ transplant patients.

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with COVID-19 have a higher risk of mortality than those without COVID-19. However, it is unclear how SOT patient outcomes compare to the general population without SOT who contract COVID-19. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample from January to December 2020 to investigate inpatient outcomes seen in SOT recipients after contracting COVID-19 compared to nontransplant patients. We identified our study sample using ICD-10 CM and excluded those <18 years of age and those with dual organ transplants. Inpatient outcomes were compared in SOT and non-SOT COVID cohorts, and we further evaluated predictors of mortality in the SOT with COVID population. Results: Out of the 1,416,445 COVID-19 admissions included in the study, 8315 (0.59%) were single SOT recipients. Our analysis that adjusted for multiple baseline characteristics and comorbidities demonstrated that COVID-19 in SOT patients was associated with higher rates of acute kidney injury (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81-3.02, P < 0.01), lower rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54-0.85, P < 0.01), and similar rates of cardiac arrest, pulmonary embolism, circulatory shock, cerebrovascular events, and in-hospital mortality. Age >65 was associated with mortality in SOT patients. Conclusion: In this nationally representative sample, SOT patients presenting with COVID-19 experienced similar rates of mortality compared to those without SOT. SOT patients were more likely to develop acute kidney injury. Further research is needed to understand the complex relationship between transplant patient outcomes and COVID-19.

Use of benzothiophene ring to improve the photovoltaic efficacy of cyanopyridinone-based organic chromophores: a DFT study.

The benzothiophene based chromophores (A1D1-A1D5) with A-π-A configuration were designed via end-capped tailoring with benzothiophene type acceptors using reference compound (A1R). Quantum chemical calculations were accomplished at M06/6-311G(d,p) level to probe optoelectronic and photophysical properties of designed chromophores. Therefore, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), binding energy (Eb), open circuit voltage (Voc), transition density matrix (TDM), density of state (DOS) and UV-Vis analyses of A1R and A1D1-A1D5 were accomplished. The designed compounds (A1D1-A1D5) exhibited absorption values in the visible region as 616.316-649.676 nm and 639.753-665.508 nm in gas and chloroform phase, respectively, comparing with reference chromophore. An efficient charge transference from HOMO towards LUMO was found in A1D1-A1D5 chromophores which was further supported by TDM and DOS analyses. Among all chromophores, A1D2 exhibited unique characteristics such as reduced band gap (2.354 eV), higher softness (σ = 0.424 eV), lower exciton binding energy (0.491 eV) and maximum value of open circuit voltage (Voc = 1.981 V). Consequently, A1D2 may be considered as potential candidate for the development of optoelectronic devices. These analyses revealed that the studied compounds exhibited promising findings. They may be utilized in the realm of organic solar cells.

Successful treatment with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in a VEXAS syndrome patient with associated myelodysplastic syndrome: a case report and systematic review.

Vacuoles, E1 syndrome, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic (VEXAS) syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects various organ systems. It is associated with hematologic malignancies and is generally refractory to therapies. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) may be considered for selected patients. We report a case wherein systemic and hematological manifestations completely resolved in a patient with VEXAS and associated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), following the administration of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide as part of the preparation for allo-HSCT. We conducted a systematic literature review and included 86 patients with VEXAS syndrome and associated MDS. Most cases presented with musculoskeletal involvement (71%) and anemia (72%) with lower-risk MDS. Most patients responded to corticosteroids (CS) but had a recurrence of symptoms with CS taper and were refractory to other immunosuppressive agents. Hypomethylating agents and Janus kinase inhibitors achieved a complete response in some cases. Further research is needed to develop more effective treatment strategies.

Use of Endpoints in Phase III Randomized Controlled Trials for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Over the Last 15 Years: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the proportion of primary and secondary endpoints in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) phase III randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and analyze their trends in time and study sponsorship status. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS version 28. A total of 147 HSCT phase III RCTs from 2006 to 2021 reported 197 primary and 600 secondary endpoints. Overall survival (OS, 17 %), progression-free survival (PFS, 15 %), graft versus host disease (GVHD, 8 %), event-free survival (EFS, 8 %), and organ function (8 %) were the most common primary endpoints. GVHD (12.3 %, n = 74), safety/toxicity/adverse events (11.8 %, n = 71), OS (11.5 %, n = 69), PFS (9.3 %, n = 56), and relapse rate (RR; 7.5 %, n = 45) were the most common secondary endpoints during 2006-2021. After 2013, an increase was noted in the use of PFS as a primary endpoint (12 %-18 %, p = 0.196), while the use of OS as a primary endpoint declined (20 %-13 %, p = 0.170). An increase was observed in using the secondary endpoints RR (5 %-10 %, p = 0.047) and NRM (3 %-6 %, p = 0.047). EFS was used more (14 % vs. 4 %, p = 0.012) than ORR (11 % vs. 2 %, p = 0.003) as a primary endpoint in pharmaceutical-compared to non-pharmaceutical-sponsored studies. As secondary endpoints, the use of EFS (4 % vs. 1 %, p = 0.013) and ORR (4 % vs. 1 %, p = 0.028) was higher, whereas that of organ systems/functions (1.5 % vs. 5.5 %, p = 0.022) and GVHD (6.5 % vs. 15 %, p = 0.002) was lower in pharmaceutical-compared to non-pharmaceutical sponsored studies. GVHD-free relapse-free survival was reported as a primary endpoint in 2 % of studies, while only 5 % reported quality of life as a secondary endpoint. We described commonly used endpoints in HSCT phase III RCTs and patterns in their use over time by funding source and study intervention category.

Genetics aspect of vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) biosynthesis and signaling pathways in fruits and vegetables crops.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential nutrient that plays a critical role in many physiological processes in plants and animals. In humans, vitamin C is an antioxidant, reducing agent, and cofactor in diverse chemical processes. The established role of vitamin C as an antioxidant in plants is well recognized. It neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause damage to cells. Also, it plays an important role in recycling other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, which helps maintain the overall balance of the plant's antioxidant system. However, unlike plants, humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid or vitamin C in their bodies due to the absence of an enzyme called gulonolactone oxidase. This is why humans need to obtain vitamin C through their diet. Different fruits and vegetables contain varying levels of vitamin C. The biosynthesis of vitamin C in plants occurs primarily in the chloroplasts and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The biosynthesis of vitamin C is a complex process regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent research has identified several key genes that regulate vitamin C biosynthesis, including the GLDH and GLDH genes. The expression of these genes is known to be regulated by various factors such as light, temperature, and plant hormones. Recent studies highlight vitamin C's crucial role in regulating plant stress response pathways, encompassing drought, high salinity, and oxidative stress. The key enzymes in vitamin C biosynthesis are L-galactose dehydrogenase (GLDH) and L-galactono-1, 4-lactone dehydrogenase (GLDH). Genetic studies reveal key genes like GLDH and GLDH in Vitamin C biosynthesis, offering potential for crop improvement. Genetic variations influence nutritional content through their impact on vitamin C levels. Investigating the roles of genes in stress responses provides insights for developing resilient techniques in crop growth. Some fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, along with strawberries and kiwi, are rich in vitamin C. Guava. Papaya provides a boost of vitamin C and dietary fiber. At the same time, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple, mangoes, and kale are additional sources of this essential nutrient, promoting overall health. In this review, we will discuss a brief history of Vitamin C and its signaling and biosynthesis pathway and summarize the regulation of its content in various fruits and vegetables.

Elucidating the Mechanism of Copper-Induced Photoluminescence Quenching in 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-Sulfonic Acid.

To explore the possible impact of 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid (PBSA) on the function of a sunscreen, in this work we investigate the binding of copper metal ions (Cu2+) to PBSA. Due to the existence of an intrinsic interaction phenomenon between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules, the photoluminescence (PL) quenching arises owing to the charge transfer from PBSA to Cu2+ ions. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching is probed experimentally following excitation at 306 nm by evaluating various quenching parameters with the help of the Stern-Volmer plot. Through the assessment of the values of the Stern-Volmer constant ( K SV = 45.2 M - 1 ) and bimolecular quenching rate constant ( k q = 0.77 × 10 10 M - 1 . s - 1 ), it is deduced that the dynamic mode of PL quenching is operative between PBSA and Cu2+ ions. We evaluate the number of binding sites (n = 1) that advocate the presence of a single binding site in PBSA for Cu2+ ions. The numerical value of standard Gibbs free energy change, Δ G o ~ -27.485 kJ.mol-1 implies the spontaneous binding between Cu2+ ions and PBSA molecules. The results obtained give an insight into the mechanism of metal-induced PL quenching of water soluble PBSA sunscreen.

Proposed novel classification of circumscribed Lower-Grade Gliomas (cLGG) vs. infiltrating Lower-Grade Gliomas (iLGG): Correlations of radiological features and clinical outcomes.

Purpose: We hypothesize that lower grade gliomas (LGG) can be identified and classified into two distinct subtypes: radiologically circumscribed Lower-Grade Gliomas (cLGG) and infiltrating Lower-Grade Gliomas (iLGG) based on radiological parameters and that these two different subtypes behave differently in terms of clinical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on surgical patients diagnosed with lower grade glioma over five years. Patient records and MRIs were reviewed, and neurosurgeons classified tumors into cLGG and iLGG groups. Results: From the 165 patients in our cohort, 30 (18.2%) patients were classified as cLGG and 135 (81.8%) patients were classified as iLGG Mean age in cLGG was 31.4 years while mean age in iLGG was 37.9 years (p = 0.004). There was significant difference in mean blood loss between cLGG and iLGG groups (270 and 411 ml respectively, p = 0.020). cLGG had a significantly higher proportion of grade II tumors (p < 0.001). The overall mean survival time for the iLGG group was 14.96 ± 1.23 months, and 18.77 ± 2.72 months for the cLGG group. In univariate cox regression, the survival difference between LGG groups was not significant (HR = 0.888, p = 0.581), however on multivariate regression cLGG showed a significant (aHZ = 0.443, p = 0.015) positive correlation with survival. Intense contrast enhancement (HZ = 41.468, p = 0.018), blood loss (HZ = 1.002, p = 0.049), and moderately high Ki-67 (HZ = 4.589, p = 0.032) were also significant on univariate analyses.Conclusion: cLGG and iLGG are radiologically distinct groups with separate prognoses, surgical experience, and associations.

The effectiveness of the community reinforcement approach (CRA) in the context of quality of life and happiness among people using drugs.

Introduction: The Community Reinforcement Approach is an evidence-based treatment modality for alcohol and drug addiction treatment with proven efficacy and cost-effectiveness. The present study investigated the effectiveness of the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) in the context of quality of life among drug addicts. Materials and methods: A total of 60 inpatient substance abusers post detoxification in Fountain House, Lahore, Pakistan, participated in this study. Fountain House was selected as the Minnesota model is primarily used there. Therefore, a new treatment approach was introduced to investigate its effectiveness for individuals with substance abuse. A randomized 12-week trial was conducted as a substance use disorders (SUDs) treatment program. Persons with SUD (i.e., identified patients) enrolled in a residential treatment program were randomized into the integrated model of the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) and traditional Minnesota model treatment (n = 30), and traditional Minnesota model treatment only (TMM; n = 30). All the participants in the experimental group attended the group therapy sessions and other activities in the facility in addition to the treatment conditions. The participants attended the individual therapeutic sessions, which were conducted according to the CRA guidelines used in the experimental group. In this study, each individual in the CRA treatment group received 12 one-to-one sessions ranging from 45 min to 1 h. The WHOQOL-BREF scale and Happiness Scale (1) were used for data collection. Result: The results showed a significant increase in the quality of life of participants in the treatment group with CRA compared with the control group with TMM. The findings also indicated that the individuals in the treatment group with CRA had improved levels of happiness compared with individuals with TMM. Discussion: The CRA is an effective and adaptable treatment approach that works well in combination with other treatment approaches. The proven efficacy, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness distinguish it from other treatment methods. Implications: The CRA should be adapted, assessed, and evaluated further, especially in Pakistan, where there is a pressing need to adopt an effective treatment strategy for addiction problems.

Modulating plant-soil microcosm with green synthesized ZnONPs in arsenic contaminated soil.

Biogenic nanoparticle (NP), derived from plant sources, is gaining prominence as a viable, cost-effective, sustainable, and biocompatible alternative for mitigating the extensive environmental impact of arsenic on the interplay between plant-soil system. Herein, the impact of green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) was assessed on Catharanthus roseus root system-associated enzymes and their possible impact on microbiome niches (rhizocompartments) and overall plant performance under arsenic (As) gradients. The application of ZnONPs at different concentrations successfully modified the arsenic uptake in various plant parts, with the root arsenic levels increasing 1.5 and 1.4-fold after 25 and 50 days, respectively, at medium concentration compared to the control. Moreover, ZnONPs gradients regulated the various soil enzyme activities. Notably, urease and catalase activities showed an increase when exposed to low concentrations of ZnONPs, whereas saccharase and acid phosphatase displayed the opposite pattern, showing increased activities under medium concentration which possibly in turn influence the plant root system associated microflora. The use of nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed a significant differentiation (with a significance level of p < 0.05) in the structure of both bacterial and fungal communities under different treatment conditions across root associated niches. Bacterial and fungal phyla level analysis showed that Proteobacteria and Basidiomycota displayed a significant increase in relative abundance under medium ZnONPs concentration, as opposed to low and high concentrations, respectively. Similarly, in depth genera level analysis revealed that Burkholderia, Halomonas, Thelephora and Sebacina exhibited a notably high relative abundance in both the rhizosphere and rhizoplane (the former refers to the soil region influenced by root exudates, while the latter is the root surface itself) under medium concentrations of ZnONPs, respectively. These adjustments to the plant root-associated microcosm likely play a role in protecting the plant from oxidative stress by regulating the plant's antioxidant system and overall biomass.

A randomized double-blinded trial to assess recurrence of systemic allergic reactions following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Systemic allergic reactions (sARs) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines were initially reported at a higher rate than after traditional vaccines. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the safety of revaccination in these individuals and to interrogate mechanisms underlying these reactions. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded, phase 2 trial, participants aged 16 to 69 years who previously reported a convincing sAR to their first dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine were randomly assigned to receive a second dose of BNT162b2 (Comirnaty) vaccine and placebo on consecutive days in a blinded, 1:1 crossover fashion at the National Institutes of Health. An open-label BNT162b2 booster was offered 5 months later if the second dose did not result in severe sAR. None of the participants received the mRNA-1273 (Spikevax) vaccine during the study. The primary end point was recurrence of sAR following second dose and booster vaccination; exploratory end points included biomarker measurements. RESULTS: Of 111 screened participants, 18 were randomly assigned to receive study interventions. Eight received BNT162b2 second dose followed by placebo; 8 received placebo followed by BNT162b2 second dose; 2 withdrew before receiving any study intervention. All 16 participants received the booster dose. Following second dose and booster vaccination, sARs recurred in 2 participants (12.5%; 95% CI, 1.6 to 38.3). No sAR occurred after placebo. An anaphylaxis mimic, immunization stress-related response (ISRR), occurred more commonly than sARs following both vaccine and placebo and was associated with higher predose anxiety scores, paresthesias, and distinct vital sign and biomarker changes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support revaccination of individuals who report sARs to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Distinct clinical and laboratory features may distinguish sARs from ISRRs.

Impact of feeding biochar sources in rohu (Labeo rohita): Evaluating the growth, nutrient absorption, carcass composition, haematology and mineral status.

Biochar, an organic carbonaceous matter, is a unique feed additive that is now being used in aquaculture industry to formulate a cost-effective and eco-friendly diet. This experiment (in door) was conducted over course of 90 days to determine the most effective form of biochar, produced from various sources, for supplementation in Moringa oleifera seed meal-based diet. These sources were: farmyard manure biochar, parthenium biochar (PB), vegetable waste biochar, poultry waste biochar (PWB) and corncob waste biochar, added at 2 g/kg concentration to determine the effect of supplementation on the growth indices, nutrient absorption, carcass composition, haematology and mineral status of Labeo rohita (rohu) fingerlings. The research design consisted of six test diets with three replications (6 × 3) of each. Total of 270 fingerlings (6.30 ± 0.020 g) were fed at 5% body weight and 15 of them were kept in separate steel tanks. The results indicated that PWB was most effective in improving weight gain (285.58 ± 4.54%) and feed conversion ratio (1.060 ± 0.040) compared to control diet and other test diets. The same type of biochar (PWB) produced the best results for nutrient digestibility, that is, crude protein, crude fat and gross energy and carcass composition. In terms of haematology and mineral status, PWB showed the best results. In conclusion, it was found that PWB significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) L. rohita fingerling's growth, carcass composition, nutrient digestibility, haematological parameters (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and haemoglobin) and mineral composition (Ca, Na, P, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, K and Cu) whereas PB negatively affected all parameters. It is anticipated that the potential use of biochar will increase in aquaculture industry, as research on its incorporation in fish feeds is still limited.

Investigating structural and electronic properties of neutral zinc clusters: a G0W0 and G0W0Г0(1) benchmark.

The structural and electronic properties of zinc clusters (Znn) for a size range of n = 2-15 are studied using density functional theory. The particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to search the structure and to determine the ground-state structure of the neutral Zn clusters. The structural motifs are optimized using the density functional theory approach to ensure that the structures are fully relaxed. Results are compared with the literature to validate the accuracy of the prediction method. The binding energy per cluster is obtained and compared with the reported literature to study the stability of these structures. We further assess the electronic properties, including the ionization potential, using the all-electron FHI-aims code employing G0W0 calculations, and the G0W0Г0(1) correction for a few smaller clusters, which provides a better estimation of the ionization potential compared to other methods.

Comparison of five different disseminated intravascular coagulation criteria in predicting mortality in patients with sepsis.

OBJECTIVE: Even though patients with sepsis and DIC have a higher mortality rate compared to those without DIC, screening for DIC is not currently part of sepsis management protocols. This may be due to a lack of literature on the frequency of DIC occurrence in sepsis patients, as well as the absence of evidence on the optimal DIC criteria to use for identifying DIC and predicting mortality among the five criteria available. To address this gap, this study investigates the predictive value of five different criteria for diagnosing DIC and its relationship to patient outcomes in our population of sepsis patients. METHODS: In the Medicine department of Aga Khan University Hospital, a retrospective observational study was conducted, enrolling all adult patients with International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) coding of sepsis and clinical suspicion of DIC between January 2018 and December 2020. To diagnose DIC, five different criteria were utilized, namely the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH), the Korean Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (KSTH), the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM), the revised-JAAM (RJAAM), and the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (JMHW). The study analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and accuracy of these five criteria, as well as the overall prediction of mortality. RESULTS: Of 222 septic patients included in this study with clinical suspicion of DIC, 94.6% of patient had DIC according to KSTH criteria, followed by JAAM (69.4%), ISTH (64.0%), JMHW (53.2%) and lastly R-JAAM (48.6%). KSTH had sensitivity of 95.4% in diagnosing DIC and predicting mortality with a positive predictive value of 70% but specificity of 7.3% only. JAAM had sensitivity of 75.9%, positive predictive value of 75.9% with a specificity of 45.5%. ISTH had sensitivity of 69.4%, positive predictive value 75.3% and specificity of 48.5%. CONCLUSION: DIC can impose a significant burden on septic patients and its presence can lead to higher mortality rates. Early detection through screening for DIC in septic patients can potentially reduce mortality. However, it is necessary to identify the most appropriate diagnostic criteria for each population, as various criteria have demonstrated different performance in different populations. Establishing a gold standard for each population can aid in accurate diagnosis of DIC.

Access authentication via blockchain in space information network.

Space Information Network (SIN) has significant benefits of providing communication anywhere at any time. This feature offers an innovative way for conventional wireless customers to access enhanced internet services by using SIN. However, SIN's characteristics, such as naked links and maximum signal latency, make it difficult to design efficient security and routing protocols, etc. Similarly, existing SIN authentication techniques can't satisfy all of the essentials for secure communication, such as privacy leaks or rising authentication latency. The article aims to develop a novel blockchain-based access authentication mechanism for SIN. The proposed scheme uses a blockchain application, which has offered anonymity to mobile users while considering the satellites' limited processing capacity. The proposed scheme uses a blockchain application, which offers anonymity to mobile users while considering the satellites' limited processing capacity. The SIN gains the likelihood of far greater computational capacity devices as technology evolves. Since authenticating in SIN, the technique comprises three entities: low Earth orbit, mobile user, and network control centre. The proposed mutual authentication mechanism avoids the requirement of a ground station, resulting in less latency and overhead during mobile user authentication. Finally, the new blockchain-based authentication approach is being evaluated with AVISPA, a formal security tool. The simulation and performance study results illustrate that the proposed technique delivers efficient security characteristics such as low authentication latency, minimal signal overhead and less computational cost with group authentication.