A Novel Extended Susceptible, Exposed, Infected, and Recovered Model with Surveys for Analysis of COVID-19 Pandemic in Rajasthan.

The impact of COVID-19 on human life has been catastrophic. It is the greatest crisis that humankind has ever faced. It already caused over 21 million confirmed cases and 758,000 deaths as of July 2021. Modeling frameworks, underlying assumptions, available datasets, and the region/time frame being modeled, predictions are possible, but the projections might vary widely, making it difficult to rely on one model universally way. This article presents the prediction and forecasting technique for COVID-19, using the widely adopted susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered (SEIR) model. The modified SEIR model is presented to model the pandemic to represent an open system where the mass movement of the population is considered. Spreading patterns of the pandemic over time, in actual and as per the model, are compared to check the authenticity of the model.

Managing social-educational robotics for students with autism spectrum disorder through business model canvas and customer discovery.

Social-educational robotics, such as NAO humanoid robots with social, anthropomorphic, humanlike features, are tools for learning, education, and addressing developmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder or ASD) through social and collaborative robotic interactions and interventions. There are significant gaps at the intersection of social robotics and autism research dealing with how robotic technology helps ASD individuals with their social, emotional, and communication needs, and supports teachers who engage with ASD students. This research aims to (a) obtain new scientific knowledge on social-educational robotics by exploring the usage of social robots (especially humanoids) and robotic interventions with ASD students at high schools through an ASD student-teacher co-working with social robot-social robotic interactions triad framework; (b) utilize Business Model Canvas (BMC) methodology for robot design and curriculum development targeted at ASD students; and (c) connect interdisciplinary areas of consumer behavior research, social robotics, and human-robot interaction using customer discovery interviews for bridging the gap between academic research on social robotics on the one hand, and industry development and customers on the other. The customer discovery process in this research results in eight core research propositions delineating the contexts that enable a higher quality learning environment corresponding with ASD students' learning requirements through the use of social robots and preparing them for future learning and workforce environments.

Brolucizumab-associated intraocular inflammation in Indian patients by VRSI study group.

CONTEXT: Concerns about brolucizumab's (Pagenax®) association with intraocular inflammation (IOI) limit its use despite its cost-effectiveness and efficacy. This multicentric study analyzes IOI incidence across 21 tertiary eyecare centers in India since its introduction in October 2020. PURPOSE: To determine the real-world incidence rate of IOI in Indian patients secondary to intravitreal brolucizumab across 21 tertiary eye care centers in India. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective multicentric, survey-based study. METHODS: Data including number of patients treated, clinical indications, side effects encountered, and IOI case details was collected via Google Forms in 21 Indian tertiary eye care centers since October 2020. Mean, median, frequency, and standard deviation were calculated for statistical analysis. RESULTS: All centers used pro re nata protocol for brolucizumab injections with a minimum injection interval of 8 weeks. The incidence of IOI was 0.79% (21 events out of 2655 eyes). Treatment indications included idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and off-label uses. IOI was experienced after the first injection (57%) in majority of cases with a median onset of 14 days (range: 1-65 days). IOI was mild in 28.5%, moderate in 33%, and severe in 38% of cases. Eighteen out of 21 IOI eyes recovered preinjection best corrected visual acuity or better. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found a lower IOI incidence (0.79%) with brolucizumab (Pagenax) in Indian patients compared to previously reported literature. IOI events were mostly mild to moderate, and post-treatment, most patients improved or maintained BCVA. Larger prospective multicentric studies with PRN dosing protocol are needed to confirm these findings.

Microwave assisted synthesis of some novel 2-pyrazoline derivatives as possible antimicrobial agents.

Some new [3-(4-phenyl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl](pyridine-4-yl)methanones and 3-substituted phenyl-5-substituted phenyl-4,5-dihydro-pyrazole-1-carbothioamides have been synthesized employing microwave techniques and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Substituted acetophenones (1) were reacted with appropriately substituted benzaldehydes (2) in the presence of ethanol to furnish substituted chalcones (3a-f). These chalcones were further treated with isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) to afford substituted [3-(4-phenyl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl](pyridine-4-yl)methanones (4a-f). Reaction of these chalcones with thiosemicarbazide yielded substituted 3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothioamides (5a-f). The structures of newly synthesized compounds (4a-f) and (5a-f) have been confirmed by suitable spectroscopic techniques such as IR and 1H NMR. All the compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger The compounds exhibited moderate antibacterial and good antifungal activities. Compound 4b and 4d showed significant antifungal activity against A. niger and C. albicans, respectively.

Synthesis of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as potential antimicrobial agents.

Some new 3-acetyl-5-(3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2-substituted phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 2-(3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-5-substituted phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles have been synthesized and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. Initially, 3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbonyl chloride (1) was prepared from cinnamic acid in the presence of chlorobenzene and thionyl chloride. This compound (1) was treated with hydrazine hydrate to afford 3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbohydrazine (2) which was further reacted with various aromatic aldehydes to yield hydrazones (3a-h). Further reaction of these hydrazones (3a-h) with acetic anhydride gave 3-acetyl-5-(3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-2-substituted phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (4a-h). Reaction of the same compounds (3a-h) in the presence of chloramine-T afforded 2-(3-chloro-1-benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-5-substituted phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (5a-h). The structures of newly synthesized compounds (4a-h) and (5a-h) have been confirmed by spectroscopic techniques such as IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. All the compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis. Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and for antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Asperigillus niger. The compounds exhibited significant antibacterial and moderate antifungal activities. Compounds 4c and 4e were found to be most potent with activities, even better than standard drug ciprofloxacin against S. aureus and B. subtilis.

Recorded infection control messages delay inter-professional communication but are not associated with COVID-19 prevalence or mortality: insights from a national switchboard analysis.

Appropriate dissemination of information to the general public is a key component of the pandemic response. In 2018, recorded infection control advice messages were affixed to 30% of England's automated hospital switchboards during the seasonal influenza and norovirus outbreaks. As the majority of messages were mandatory for all callers, healthcare professionals using the hospital switchboard - including during time-critical emergencies - had their enquiries significantly delayed by these measures. Importantly, published analyses did not demonstrate an association between these messages and patient outcomes. As of May 2020, 85% of NHS trusts made use of infection control messages; on average, these delayed healthcare professionals by 59.4 seconds per call, but had no clear association with patient outcomes from COVID-19. An ongoing national switchboard quality improvement project seeks to establish a gold standard whereby healthcare professionals with urgent enquiries can press 'X' to skip past infection control messages and have their calls triaged immediately.

Mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes in a cell culture dish.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent stem cells capable of self-renewal and have broad differentiation potential yielding cell types from all three germ layers. In the absence of differentiation inhibitory factors, when cultured in suspension, ES cells spontaneously differentiate and form three-dimensional cell aggregates termed embryoid bodies (EBs). Although various methods exist for the generation of EBs, the hanging drop method offers reproducibility and homogeneity from a predetermined number of ES cells. Herein, we describe the in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiac myocytes using the hanging drop method and immunocytochemistry to identify cardiomyogenic differentiation. In brief, ES cells, placed in droplets on the lid of culture dishes following a 2-day incubation, yield embryoid bodies, which are resuspended and plated. 1-2 weeks following plating of the EBs, spontaneous beating areas can be observed and staining for specific cardiac markers can be achieved.

Optical coherence tomography for precise localization of inapparent retained foreign body in ocular coats.

OBJECTIVE: To report the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for precise localization of inapparent, retained foreign body in ocular coats. METHODS: A 30-year-old man presented with diminution of vision in left eye of 1 year duration. Visual acuity was 20/400. Ocular examination revealed a large macular hole. An impacted foreign body in the ocular coats was suspected and picked up with ultrasound B scan although orbital computed tomography scan failed to detect any foreign body. OCT helped in precise localization of intraocular foreign body, enabling its removal through the macular hole following vitrectomy. RESULTS: At 6 weeks follow-up, macular hole was closed and visual acuity improved to 20/100, N36. Repeat OCT did not reveal any foreign body. CONCLUSION: OCT is a useful adjunct for precise localization of retained, inapparent intraocular foreign body in the ocular coats.