Review of in vitro studies evaluating respiratory toxicity of aerosols: impact of cell types, chemical composition, and atmospheric processing.

In recent decades, several cell-based and acellular methods have been developed to evaluate ambient particulate matter (PM) toxicity. Although cell-based methods provide a more comprehensive assessment of PM toxicity, their results are difficult to comprehend due to the diversity in cellular endpoints, cell types, and assays and the interference of PM chemical components with some of the assays' techniques. In this review, we attempt to clarify some of these issues. We first discuss the morphological and immunological differences among various macrophage and epithelial cells, belonging to the respiratory systems of human and murine species, used in the in vitro studies evaluating PM toxicity. Then, we review the current state of knowledge on the role of different PM chemical components and the relevance of atmospheric processing and aging of aerosols in the respiratory toxicity of PM. Our review demonstrates the need to adopt more physiologically relevant cellular models such as epithelial (or endothelial) cells instead of macrophages for oxidative stress measurement. We suggest limiting macrophages for investigating other cellular responses (e.g., phagocytosis, inflammation, and DNA damage). Unlike monocultures (of macrophages and epithelial cells), which are generally used to study the direct effects of PM on a given cell type, the use of co-culture systems should be encouraged to investigate a more comprehensive effect of PM in the presence of other cells. Our review has identified two major groups of toxic PM chemical species from the existing literature, i.e., metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Zn) and organic compounds (PAHs, ketones, aliphatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, and quinones). However, the relative toxicities of these species are still a matter of debate. Finally, the results of the existing studies investigating the effect of aging on PM toxicity are ambiguous, with varying results due to different cell types, different aging conditions, and the presence/absence of specific oxidants. More systematic studies are necessary to understand the role of different SOA precursors, interactions between different PM components, and aging conditions in the overall toxicity of PM. We anticipate that our review will guide future investigations by helping researchers choose appropriate cell models, resulting in a more meaningful interpretation of cell-based assays and thus ultimately leading to a better understanding of the health effects of PM exposure.

Inter-continental variability in the relationship of oxidative potential and cytotoxicity with PM2.5 mass.

Most fine ambient particulate matter (PM2.5)-based epidemiological models use globalized concentration-response (CR) functions assuming that the toxicity of PM2.5 is solely mass-dependent without considering its chemical composition. Although oxidative potential (OP) has emerged as an alternate metric of PM2.5 toxicity, the association between PM2.5 mass and OP on a large spatial extent has not been investigated. In this study, we evaluate this relationship using 385 PM2.5 samples collected from 14 different sites across 4 different continents and using 5 different OP (and cytotoxicity) endpoints. Our results show that the relationship between PM2.5 mass vs. OP (and cytotoxicity) is largely non-linear due to significant differences in the intrinsic toxicity, resulting from a spatially heterogeneous chemical composition of PM2.5. These results emphasize the need to develop localized CR functions incorporating other measures of PM2.5 properties (e.g., OP) to better predict the PM2.5-attributed health burdens.

Sources of acellular oxidative potential of water-soluble fine ambient particulate matter in the midwestern United States.

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with numerous health complications, yet the specific PM2.5 chemical components and their emission sources contributing to these health outcomes are understudied. Our study analyzes the chemical composition of PM2.5 collected from five distinct locations at urban, roadside and rural environments in midwestern region of the United States, and associates them with five acellular oxidative potential (OP) endpoints of water-soluble PM2.5. Redox-active metals (i.e., Cu, Fe, and Mn) and carbonaceous species were correlated with most OP endpoints, suggesting their significant role in OP. We conducted a source apportionment analysis using positive matrix factorization (PMF) and found a strong disparity in the contribution of various emission sources to PM2.5 mass vs. OP. Regional secondary sources and combustion-related aerosols contributed significantly (> 75 % in total) to PM2.5 mass, but showed weaker contribution (43-69 %) to OP. Local sources such as parking emissions, industrial emissions, and agricultural activities, though accounting marginally to PM2.5 mass (< 10 % for each), significantly contributed to various OP endpoints (10-50 %). Our results demonstrate that the sources contributing to PM2.5 mass and health effects are not necessarily same, emphasizing the need for an improved air quality management strategy utilizing more health-relevant PM2.5 indicators.

Organic/metallic component analysis of lignocellulosic biomass: A thermochemical-perspective-based study on rice and bamboo waste.

Thermochemical treatment is significantly impacted by the physiochemical properties of lignocellulosic biomass. Traditional characterization methods lack granularity, requiring advanced analytical techniques for comprehensive biomass characterization. This study analyzed elemental composition and their distribution in untreated rice husk, rice straw, and bamboo chips at micron and sub-micron scales. Results reveal significant variations in composition and spatial distribution of metallic components among agro-residues. Thermogravimetric analysis shows divergent decomposition patterns, while spectroscopic analysis indicates structural complexities and distinct silica content. Surface mapping illustrates prevalent silica and alkali metals on rice husk and rice straw. Atomic force microscopy depicts distinctive surface morphologies, with rice straw exhibiting heightened roughness due to silica bodies. Inductively coupled plasma-mass-spectrometry identified the abundance of alkali and alkaline earth metals in rice waste. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry elucidates elemental spatial localization, affirming heterogeneous distribution across rice waste and homogenous distribution across bamboo waste. This study bridges the gap between biomass composition and optimized thermochemical conversion outcomes.

The inactivation of tolC sensitizes Escherichia coli to perturbations in lipopolysaccharide transport.

The Escherichia coli outer membrane channel TolC complexes with several inner membrane efflux pumps to export compounds across the cell envelope. All components of these complexes are essential for robust efflux activity, yet E. coli is more sensitive to antimicrobial compounds when tolC is inactivated compared to the inactivation of genes encoding the inner membrane drug efflux pumps. While investigating these susceptibility differences, we identified a distinct class of inhibitors targeting the core-lipopolysaccharide translocase, MsbA. We show that tolC null mutants are sensitized to structurally unrelated MsbA inhibitors and msbA knockdown, highlighting a synthetic-sick interaction. Phenotypic profiling revealed that tolC inactivation induced cell envelope softening and increased outer membrane permeability. Overall, this work identified a chemical probe of MsbA, revealed that tolC is associated with cell envelope mechanics and integrity, and highlighted that these findings should be considered when using tolC null mutants to study efflux deficiency.

Major source categories of PM2.5 oxidative potential in wintertime Beijing and surroundings based on online dithiothreitol-based field measurements.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) causes millions of premature deaths each year worldwide. Oxidative potential (OP) has been proposed as a better metric for aerosol health effects than PM2.5 mass concentration alone. In this study, we report for the first time online measurements of PM2.5 OP in wintertime Beijing and surroundings based on a dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. These measurements were combined with co-located PM chemical composition measurements to identify the main source categories of aerosol OP. In addition, we highlight the influence of two distinct pollution events on aerosol OP (spring festival celebrations including fireworks and a severe regional dust storm). Source apportionment coupled with multilinear regression revealed that primary PM and oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) were both important sources of OP, accounting for 41 ± 12 % and 39 ± 10 % of the OPvDTT (OP normalized by the sampled air volume), respectively. The small remainder was attributed to fireworks and dust, mainly resulting from the two distinct pollution events. During the 3.5-day spring festival period, OPvDTT spiked to 4.9 nmol min-1 m-3 with slightly more contribution from OOA (42 ± 11 %) and less from primary PM (31 ± 15 %). During the dust storm, hourly-averaged PM2.5 peaked at a very high value of 548 µg m-3 due to the dominant presence of dust-laden particles (88 % of total PM2.5). In contrast, only mildly elevated OPvDTT values (up to 1.5 nmol min-1 m-3) were observed during this dust event. This observation indicates that variations in OPvDTT cannot be fully explained using PM2.5 alone; one must also consider the chemical composition of PM2.5 when studying aerosol health effects. Our study highlights the need for continued pollution control strategies to reduce primary PM emissions, and more in-depth investigations into the source origins of OOA, to minimize the health risks associated with PM exposure in Beijing.

Effect on functional outcome of robotic assisted rehabilitation versus conventional rehabilitation in patients with complete spinal cord injury: a prospective comparative study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Comparative Study. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the functional outcomes of Robotic-assisted rehabilitation by Lokomat system Vs. Conventional rehabilitation in participants with Dorsolumbar complete spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: University level teaching hospital in a hilly state of northern India. METHODS: 15 participants with Dorsolumbar SCI with ASIA A neurology were allocated to robotic rehabilitation and 15 participants to conventional rehabilitation after an operative procedure. Pre-and Post-rehabilitation parameters were noted in terms of ASIA Neurology, Motor and sensory function scores, WISCI II score (Walking Index in SCI score), LEMS (Lower Extremity Motor Score), SCI M III score (Spinal Cord Independence Measure III score), AO Spine PROST (AO Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma), McGill QOL score (Mc Gill Quality of Life score), VAS score (Visual Analogue Scale) for pain and Modified Ashworth scale for spasticity in lower limbs. RESULTS: On comparing robotic group with conventional group there was a statistically significant improvement in Robotic-assisted rehabilitation group in terms of Motor score (p = 0.034), WISCI II score (p = 0.0001), SCIM III score (p = 0.0001), AO PROST score (p = 0.0001), Mc GILL QOL score (p = 0.0001), Max velocity (p = 0.0001) and Step length (p = 0.0001). Whereas LEMS score (p = 0.052), ASIA neurology (p = 0.264 (ASIA A); 1.000 (ASIA B); 0.053 (ASIA C)), VAS score (p = 0.099), Sensory score (p = 0.422) and Modified Ashworth scale for spasticity (p = 0.136) were not statically significant when comparing between two groups. CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted rehabilitation is superior than conventional rehabilitation in people living with SCI with AIS A neurology. Differences in the patient group, type of a lesion its and severity, duration from onset to initiation of rehabilitation, devices employed, administration of the therapies and regulation of interventions are likely the cause of variations in the findings seen in the literature for robotic assisted training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The Impact of Russia-Ukraine geopolitical conflict on the air quality and toxicological properties of ambient PM2.5 in Milan, Italy.

The geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine has disrupted Europe's natural gas supplies, driving up gas prices and leading to a shift towards biomass for residential heating during colder months. This study assessed the consequent air quality and toxicological impacts in Milan, Italy, focusing on fine particulate matter (PM2.5, dp < 2.5 µm) emissions. PM2.5 samples were analyzed for their chemical composition and assessed for their oxidative potential using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay across three periods reflecting residential heating deployment (RHD): pre-RHD, intra-RHD, and post-RHD periods. During the intra-RHD period, PM2.5 levels were significantly higher than those in other periods, with concentrations reaching 57.94 ± 7.57 µg/m3, indicating a deterioration in air quality. Moreover, levoglucosan was 9.2 times higher during the intra-RHD period compared to the pre-RHD period, correlating with elevated levels of elemental carbon (EC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These findings were compared with previous local studies before the conflict, underscoring a significant rise in biomass-related emissions. DTT assay levels during the intra-RHD were 2.1 times higher than those observed during the same period in 2022, strongly correlating with biomass burning emissions. Our findings highlight the necessity for policies to mitigate the indirect health effects of increased biomass burning emissions due to the energy crisis triggered by the geopolitical conflict.

Healing Assessment of Spinal Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Deciding the healing end point in spinal tuberculosis (STB) remains a controversial topic. The current systematic review aims to address the controversy existing in the literature to find a comprehensive method to assess healing in STB. METHODS: A thorough literature search was carried out for studies with the assessment of healing parameters in STB. Data extraction was carried out manually, which included study characteristics and healing criteria evaluated in each study. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis of 8 included studies showed that healing parameters were described in 3 domains: clinical, hematologic, and radiologic response of the patient to antitubercular chemotherapy. Each domain included various individual parameters, with clinical and radiologic assessment criteria being used in most of the studies. Improvement in terms of pain, constitutional symptoms, weight gain, neurology; variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein; and changes in radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/computed tomography were found to be promising predictors in the assessment of healing. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologic response parameters emerged as the maximally used criteria to assess healing in STB. However, in the absence of any statistical analysis and an observed lag in radiologic response, the cumulative effect of all the parameters in 3 domains (clinical, hematologic, and radiologic) can be used to declare a spinal tubercular lesion nonhealing, healing, or healed.

Identifying urban emission sources and their contribution to the oxidative potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Kuwait.

In this study, we investigated the seasonal variations, chemical composition, sources, and oxidative potential of ambient PM2.5 (particles with a diameter of less than 2.5 µm) in Kuwait City. The sampling campaign was conducted within the premises of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research from June 2022 to May 2023, covering different seasons throughout the year. The personal cascade impactor sampler (PCIS) operated at flow rate of 9 L/min was employed to collect weekly PM2.5 samples on PTFE and quarts filters. These collected samples were analyzed for carbonaceous species (i.e., elemental and organic carbon), metals and transition elements, inorganic ions, and DTT (dithiothreitol) redox activity. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and multi-linear regression (MLR) were used to identify the predominant emission sources and their percentage contribution to the redox activity of PM2.5 in Kuwait. The results of this study highlighted that the annual-averaged ambient PM2.5 mass concentrations in Kuwait (59.9 µg/m3) substantially exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 10 µg/m3. Additionally, the summer season displayed the highest PM2.5 mass concentration (75.2 µg/m3) compared to other seasons, primarily due to frequent dust events exacerbated by high-speed winds. The PCA identified four primary PM2.5 sources: mineral dust, fossil fuel combustion, road traffic, and secondary aerosols. The mineral dust was found to be the predominant source, contributing 36.1% to the PM2.5 mass, followed by fossil fuel combustion and traffic emissions with contributions of 23.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The findings of MLR revealed that road traffic was the most significant contributor to PM2.5 oxidative potential, accounting for 47% of the total DTT activity. In conclusion, this comprehensive investigation provides essential insights into the sources and health implications of PM2.5 in Kuwait, underscoring the critical need for effective air quality management strategies to mitigate the impacts of particulate pollution in the region.

Discovery of Selective Tertiary Amide Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 (CDK2).

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are key regulators of the cell cycle and are frequently altered in cancer cells, thereby leading to uncontrolled proliferation. In this context, CDK2 has emerged as an appealing target for anticancer drug development. Herein, we describe the discovery of a series of selective small molecule inhibitors of CDK2 beginning with historical compounds from our ERK2 program (e.g., compound 6). Structure-based drug design led to the potent and selective tool compound 32, where excellent selectivity against ERK2 and CDK4 was achieved by filling the lipophilic DFG-1 pocket and targeting interactions with CDK2-specific lower hinge binding residues, respectively. Compound 32 demonstrated 112% tumor growth inhibition in mice bearing OVCAR3 tumors with 50 mg/kg bis in die (BID) oral dosing.

Biochar production and its environmental applications: Recent developments and machine learning insights.

Biochar production through thermochemical processing is a sustainable biomass conversion and waste management approach. However, commercializing biochar faces challenges requiring further research and development to maximize its potential for addressing environmental concerns and promoting sustainable resource management. This comprehensive review presents the state-of-the-art in biochar production, emphasizing quantitative yield and qualitative properties with varying feedstocks. It discusses the technology readiness level and commercialization status of different production strategies, highlighting their environmental and economic impacts. The review focuses on integrating machine learning algorithms for process control and optimization in biochar production, improving efficiency. Additionally, it explores biochar's environmental applications, including soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and wastewater treatment, showcasing recent advancements and case studies. Advances in biochar technologies and their environmental benefits in various sectors are discussed herein.

Design, optimization, and evaluation of a wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for aerosol collection.

In this study, we developed, optimized, and evaluated in lab and field experiments a wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) for the collection of ambient PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm) into ultrapure water by applying an electrostatic charge to the particles. We operated the wet ESP at different flow rates and voltages to identify the optimal operating conditions. According to our experimental measurements, a flow rate of 125 lpm and an applied positive voltage of 11 kV resulted in a lower ozone generation of 133 ppb and a particle collection efficiency exceeding 80-90% in all size ranges. For the field tests, the wet ESP was compared with the versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES) connected to a BioSampler, a PTFE filter sampler, and an OC/EC analyzer (Sunset Laboratory Inc., USA) as a reference. The chemical analysis results indicated the wet ESP concentrations of metal and trace elements were in very good agreement with those measured by the VACES/BioSampler and PTFE filter sampler. Moreover, our results showed comparable total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations measured by the wet ESP, BioSampler, and OC/EC analyzer, while somewhat lower TOC concentrations were measured by the PTFE filter sampler, possibly due to the limitations of extracting water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) from a dry substrate in the latter sampler. The comparable TOC content in the wet ESP and BioSampler samples differs from previous findings that showed higher TOC content in BioSampler samples compared to those collected by dry ESP. The results of the Dithiothreitol (DTT) assay showed comparable DTT activity in the VACES/BioSampler and wet ESP PM samples while slightly lower in the PTFE filter samples. Overall, our results suggest that the wet ESP could be a promising alternative to other conventional sampling methods.

C-Arm a Useful Tool for Surgeons in Reduction of Zygomatic Complex Fracture: A Comparative Study: Article Type-Original Research.

Introduction: Reduction of zygomaticomaxillary (ZMC) fracture is often difficult to evaluate intraoperatively because of it peculiar anatomy and limited accessibility. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of use of C-arm as a tool for intraoperative monitoring of ZMC fracture reduction. Materials and Methods: Group I (C-Arm) and Group II (control group) comprised of patients with isolated unilateral displaced Zygomatic complex (ZMC) fractures and having orbital volume change. The efficacy of use of C-arm intra-operatively was evaluated to analyse the reduction of fracture. Results: It was observed that mean change in ocular volume was around 1.07cm2 for Group I and 1.51cm2 in Group II. Thus post-operative eye volume was near to normal in Group I than Group II. The change in ocular volume post-operatively was observed to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) in both the groups. Post HOC Tukey statistical analysis determined the intergroup relation in change in eye volume between normal, pre- and post-operative and was found to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). The intergroup comparison between Group I and Group II was done using ANOVA statistical analysis and was found to be statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). Discussion: Our study revealed that C-arm is definitively an effective tool in the oral and maxillofacial surgery armamentarium, giving better results with minimal surgical exposure and by eliminating operator related error. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03221-y.

Utility of clinicoradiological, microbiological, histopathological, and molecular methods in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of STB is mainly based on clinicoradiological observations substantiated by bacterial culture, staining, Gene Xpert, and histopathology. The purpose of the study was to correlate these methods to evaluate the effectiveness in the diagnosis of STB. METHODS: A total of 178 clinicoradiologically suspected cases of STB were included in the study. The specimens for diagnostic workup were collected either during surgery or by CT-guided biopsy. All these specimens were tested for tuberculosis through ZN staining, solid culture, histopathology, and PCR. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of each test were calculated using histopathology as a gold standard. RESULTS: Out of the 178 cases, a total of 15 cases were excluded from this study. Among the remaining 163 cases, TB was diagnosed in 143 [87.73%] on histopathology, 130 [79.75%] on Gene Xpert, 40 [24.53%] on culture, and 23 [14.11%] on ZN stain. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of Gene Xpert were 86.71, 70, 95.38, and 42.42%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of AFB culture were 27.97, 100, 100, and 16.26%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of AFB stain were 16.08, 100, 100, and 14.29%, respectively. Gene Xpert showed a moderate agreement [Ƙc = 0.4432] with histopathology. CONCLUSION: No single diagnostic modality can ascertain the diagnosis, and it is desirable to have a combination of diagnostic batteries for better results. A combination of Gene Xpert and histopathology aids in early and reliable diagnosis of STB.

Deformity Correction with Interbody Fusion Using Lateral versus Posterior Approach in Adult Degenerative Scoliosis: A Systematic Review and Observational Meta-analysis.

This study was designed to systematically review and meta-analyze the functional and radiological outcomes between lateral and posterior approaches in adult degenerative scoliosis (ADS). Both lateral (lumbar, extreme, and oblique) and posterior interbody fusion (posterior lumbar and transforaminal) are used for deformity correction in patients with ADS with unclear comparison in this cohort of patients in the existing literature. A literature search using three electronic databases was performed to identify studies that reported outcomes of lateral (group L) and posterior interbody fusion (group P) in patients with ADS with curves of 10°-40°. Group P was further subdivided into minimally invasive surgery (MIS-P) and open posterior (Op-P) subgroups. Data on functional, radiological, and operative outcomes, length of hospital stay (LOHS), fusion rates, and complications were extracted and meta-analyzed using the random-effects model. A total of 18 studies (732 patients) met the inclusion criteria. No significant difference was found in functional and radiological outcomes between the two groups on data pooling. Total operative time in the MIS-P subgroup was less than that of group L (233.86 minutes vs. 401 minutes, p <0.05). The total blood loss in group L was less than that in the Op-P subgroup(477 mL vs. 1,325.6 mL, p <0.05). Group L had significantly less LOHS than the Op-P subgroup (4.15 days vs. 13.5 days, p <0.05). No significant difference was seen in fusion rates, but complications were seen except for transient sensorimotor weakness (group L: 24.3%, group P: 5.6%; p <0.05). Complications, such as postoperative thigh pain (7.7%), visceral injuries (2%), and retrograde ejaculation (3.7%), were seen only in group L while adjacent segment degeneration was seen only in group P (8.6%). Lateral approach has an advantage in blood loss and LOHS over the Op-P subgroup. The MIS-P subgroup has less operative time than group L, but with comparable blood loss and LOHS. No significant difference was found in functional, radiological, fusion rates, pseudoarthrosis, and complications, except for transient sensorimotor deficits. Few complications were approach-specific in each group.

New Late Cretaceous titanosaur sauropod dinosaur egg clutches from lower Narmada valley, India: Palaeobiology and taphonomy.

The Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lameta Formation is well-known for its osteological and oological remains of sauropods from the eastern and western parts of the Narmada Valley, central India. The newly documented ninety-two titanosaur clutches from Dhar District (Madhya Pradesh State, central India) add further to this extensive data. Previously parataxonomy of these titanosaur clutches was carried out with a few brief reports on palaeobiological and taphonomic aspects. The quantitative data collected from the new clutches (this study) opens avenues to additionally understand more about titanosaur palaeobiology and to qualitatively understand preservation and taphonomical aspects of their egg clutches. Herein, we document 256 eggs and three clutch patterns (viz. circular, combination, linear) that are assignable to six oospecies. The high oospecies diversity points to a possible high diversity in titanosaur taxa in the Indian sub-continent though it is not reflected in titanosaurid body fossils. All the macro- and micro-structures helped in understanding egg deformation and preservation from a taphonomic point of view. Additionally, a pathologic egg documented from the study area helped in understanding the reproductive biology of titanosaurs, such as the possibility of segmented oviduct and sequential laying of eggs by titanosaurs. In addition, we made an attempt to infer aspects such as egg burial, absence of parental care, colonial nesting behavior. All the egg clutches were observed within sandy limestone and calcareous sandstone lithologies that occur in scattered outcrops with rocks showing floating siliciclastic grains in a micritic groundmass. Further, the presence of ferruginous sandstone in the Jamniapura and Padlya regions (Dhar District, central India) is indicative of a possible alluvial/fluvial setting. The presence of grainy intraclastic fabric, alveolar-septal fabrics, brecciation and shrinkage cracks observed in the clutch-bearing rocks are indicative of a low energy-low gradient palustrine depositional condition in a fluvial/alluvial setting. Finally, we envisage that a few egg clutches of this area were laid close to lake/pond margins while most were laid away from the lake/pond margins, and thus, were hatched.

Review on machine learning-based bioprocess optimization, monitoring, and control systems.

Machine Learning is quickly becoming an impending game changer for transforming big data thrust from the bioprocessing industry into actionable output. However, the complex data set from bioprocess, lagging cyber-integrated sensor system, and issues with storage scalability limit machine learning real-time application. Hence, it is imperative to know the state of technology to address prevailing issues. This review first gives an insight into the basic understanding of the machine learning domain and discusses its complexities for more comprehensive applications. Followed by an outline of how relevant machine learning models are for statistical and logical analysis of the enormous datasets generated to control bioprocess operations. Then this review critically discusses the current knowledge, its limitations, and future aspects in different subfields of the bioprocessing industry. Further, this review discusses the prospects of adopting a hybrid method to dovetail different modeling strategies, cyber-networking, and integrated sensors to develop new digital biotechnologies.

Is the facial nerve at risk following surgical correction of mandibular condylar fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To review the literature on the effect of different surgical approaches on facial nerve injuries. The present systematic review addresses the following focus question: Is the facial nerve at risk following surgical correction of mandibular condylar fracture? Electronic and manual literature searches were conducted on databases:PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google scholar,Cochrane and clinicaltrials.gov for studies published until July 2020 to collect information about the effect of different surgical approaches on facial nerve injuries. Systematic literature review was performed following the prisma guidelines to identify studies. Quantitative retrospective and prospective studies,controlled trials,controlled clinical trials were included;case reports and review articles were excluded from this systematic review. 1500 articles published till July 2020 was identified. 116 articles met inclusion criteria. After applying exclusion criteria seven articles were shortlisted. The level of heterogeneity was observed to be less than 50%, between all parameters for all studies making publication bias to be minimum. On comparing various studies statistically using Z-test for all parameters,it was observed that level of significance was significant for various findings like Displacement/Dislocation of fracture and transient facial nerve weakness was found to be statistically significant between all studies (p-value <0.05). Odd ratio, relative ratio and 95% CI was derived for all parameters recorded for various studies. Due to less number of subjective studies, and variability in study designs and lack of reporting on confounding factors,definitive conclusions on effect of various surgical approaches on facial nerve injury cannot be drawn Future well-designed long-term randomized controlled trials are necessary to reveal the necessary correlation between both the parameters.