Polidocanol sclerotherapy for the treatment of aneurysmal bone cyst, with or without pathological fractures: A prospective, comparative study.

Introduction: Polidocanol sclerotherapy in the treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) with or without pathological fractures has been a topic of debate. While some studies recommend intralesional curettage as the preferred treatment, others suggest intralesional sclerosants as an effective alternative. Material and methods: This study evaluates the use of polidocanol-based percutaneous sclerosant therapy in 28 patients with ABCs, of which 8 patients had pathological fracture. The patients received injections every four weeks based on clinical and radiological evaluation of the cyst, and the study assessed the results and complications of the treatment. Results: In group A (without pathological fractures), 14 out of 17 (82.4 %) lesions healed without any significant residual lesion. Three out of 17 (17.6 %) patients required further surgical intervention and were treated by curettage and bone grafting, definitively. Minor local inflammatory reaction was observed in 3 patients, which resolved without intervention within 3-4 days. In group B, all the 8 patients (100 %) with pathological fracture in their lesions healed as Grade 1 healing, without any significant residual lesion. One patient developed an episode of anesthesia related complication (delayed recovery) which resolved within an hour, without any residual effect. At final follow up, no recurrence was seen in any patient. Conclusion: The study concludes that polidocanol sclerotherapy is an effective treatment option for patients with ABCs, with or without pathological fractures, and has the potential to become the new treatment of choice for pathological fractures due to its low invasiveness, low morbidity, and affordability. However, further research is needed to confirm the efficacy of polidocanol sclerotherapy in larger patient populations and to compare its effectiveness with other treatment options.

Orthopaedic problems in the blind.

Background: Blindness is a common problem in every society and country. The problem ranges from complete blindness to partially sighted in the affected population. India has close to 12 million visually impaired people. Orthopaedic problems are not uncommon in blind. Orthopaedic Surgeons though had been aware of the postural and gait abnormalities in blind but very few published studies have systematically focused on the effect of blindness on the development of posture and gait. Methods: Case Control study done for the orthopaedic evaluation of the blind and partially sighted individuals. The study population included 242 students of Ahmadi School for the Blind, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (India), as the cases and another matched set of 250 non-blind children. All the children were assessed for the orthopaedic problems like degree of ligamentous laxity, spinal alignment, foot morphology and alignment of hips, knees and ankles. Standing posture and gait were also examined and recorded. Ligamentous laxity was assessed according to the method adopted by Beighton et al.10 Chi-square test was applied using IBM SPSS 23.0. Results: 139 children (57.4 %) were found to have laxity of the ligaments. 72 children (29.7 %) had spine deformities, out of which kyphosis was present in 34 (47.2 %), scoliosis in 23 (31.9 %), lordosis in 13 (18.0 %), and meningomyelocele in 2 (2.9 %) children. 119 children (49.1 %) had foot deformities. 37 children (15.2 %) had knee deformity. 22 children (9.0 %) showed evidence of cerebral palsy. 216 children (89.2 %) had varying degrees of postural abnormalities. The data was statistically significant when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Blindness causes a wide range of complicated sensory and motor problems that frequently forces people into isolation. Blind rehabilitation requires an interdisciplinary approach. Orthopaedic problems are quite common in blind individuals and should be dealt separately.

Extranodal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Presenting as Diffuse Joint Pain: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) of bone is a rare presentation of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), which remains asymptomatic or present late in clinical course as bone pain or pathological fracture. We report a case of a 15-year-old male child presenting with diffuse joint pain and swelling over his left shoulder and elbow, associated with B symptoms. Radiological examination revealed lytic lesions in multiple bones along with collection along the left iliopsoas and hip joint, suggestive of infective etiology. The diagnostic dilemma was resolved on biopsy, which confirmed DLBCL involving bones and soft tissue.

A clinic-epidemiological study of 148 patients of pemphigus at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar: a case series.

A seven-year retrospective study was held at the Department of Dermatology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, between 2013 to 2020 to determine the demography and clinical features of pemphigus. Among 148 patients included in this study 88 (58%) were females and 60 (40%) were males with a female to male ratio of 1.46:1. Average age at onset of the disease was 38±12 years (range 14-75 years). On the basis of Autoimmune Bullous Skin Disorder Score (ABSIS), 14 (9.3%) patients had mild disease, 58 (38.7%) had moderate disease, and 76 (50.7%) patients had severe disease. In total, 144 (96%) patients had pemphigus vulgaris, 3 (2%) patients had pemphigus foliaceous and 1 (0.7%) patient had paraneoplastic pemphigus. Severe pemphigus was more frequently associated with multiple relapses (p=0.00). This study shows poor prognostic factors like severe pemphigus vulgaris associated with multiple relapses. Five years of follow-up shows that complete remission on minimal therapy was achieved more in patients who received Rituximab.

Augmentation of elastic stable intramedullary nail with external fixator in the management of comminuted shaft femur fracture in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The management of adolescent femur fractures continues to evolve and remains controversial. Currently, operative fixation methods are favoured, offering options such as external fixator, flexible and locked intramedullary nailing, compression and locked plating. Our study aims to introduce a novel approach for treating adolescent femoral shaft fractures by combining an external fixator with an elastic stable intramedullary nail. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 32 patients aged 11-16 years with femoral shaft fractures treated using an external fixator augmented elastic intramedullary nail at our institution from August 2015 to January 2019. RESULTS: All patients achieved bony union. We analysed patient's results both clinically and radiologically. On average, the surgery took 77.34 minutes to complete with an average time to union of 13.9 weeks. External fixator and elastic nail removal took an average of 3.59 months and 26.5 months, respectively. At the final follow-up, knee range of motion averaged 131.88 degrees. According to the Flynn criteria, functional outcomes were excellent in 18 patients, satisfactory in 11 patients and poor in 3 patients. Pin site infection occurred in 3 patients, malunion in 4 patients, limb length shortening < 1 cm in 3 patients, distal nail tip prominence and knee stiffness in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: The management of femur fractures in adolescents using an elastic nail augmented with an external fixator is a minimally invasive procedure that provide secure fracture stabilization and predictable outcomes.

Methylation pattern and mRNA expression of synapse-relevant genes in the MAM model of schizophrenia in the time-course of adolescence.

Schizophrenia is highly heritable and aggregating in families, but genetics alone does not exclusively explain the pathogenesis. Many risk factors, including childhood trauma, viral infections, migration, and the use of cannabis, are associated with schizophrenia. Adolescence seems to be the critical period where symptoms of the disease manifest. This work focuses on studying an epigenetic regulatory mechanism (the role of DNA methylation) and its interaction with mRNA expression during development, with a particular emphasis on adolescence. The presumptions regarding the role of aberrant neurodevelopment in schizophrenia were tested in the Methyl-Azoxy-Methanol (MAM) animal model. MAM treatment induces neurodevelopmental disruptions and behavioral deficits in off-springs of the treated animals reminiscent of those observed in schizophrenia and is thus considered a promising model for studying this pathology. On a gestational day-17, adult pregnant rats were treated with the antimitotic agent MAM. Experimental animals were divided into groups and subgroups according to substance treatment (MAM and vehicle agent [Sham]) and age of analysis (pre-adolescent and post-adolescent). Methylation and mRNA expression analysis of four candidate genes, which are often implicated in schizophrenia, with special emphasis on the Dopamine hypothesis i.e., Dopamine receptor D2 (Drd2), and the "co-factors" Disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), Synaptophysin (Syp), and Dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (Dtnbp1), was performed in the Gyrus cingulum (CING) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Data were analyzed to observe the effect of substance treatment between groups and the impact of adolescence within-group. We found reduced pre-adolescent expression levels of Drd2 in both brain areas under the application of MAM. The "co-factor genes" did not show high deviations in mRNA expression levels but high alterations of methylation rates under the application of MAM (up to ~20%), which diminished in the further time course, reaching a comparable level like in Sham control animals after adolescence. The pre-adolescent reduction in DRD2 expression might be interpreted as downregulation of the receptor due to hyperdopaminergic signaling from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), eventually even to both investigated brain regions. The notable alterations of methylation rates in the three analyzed co-factor genes might be interpreted as attempt to compensate for the altered dopaminergic neurotransmission.

Ex vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches to unveil the mechanisms underlying vasorelaxation effect of Mentha Longifolia (L.) in porcine coronary artery.

OBJECTIVE: Mentha (M.) longifolia (L.) is traditionally used for various ailments. The current study was intended to explore the underlying vasorelaxation mechanisms of M. longifolia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Aqueous-methanol extract from the aerial parts of M. longifolia was prepared and subjected to activity-guided fractionation. The vasorelaxant activity was performed using porcine coronary arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. In-vitro PDE inhibitory activity of the active fraction was carried out using the radio-enzymatic assay. The active fraction was also subjected to GCMS. Docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies were also performed RESULT: We had observed that aqueous-methanolic extract induced relaxation in the coronary artery in a dose-dependent manner when the endothelium was intact and denuded. n-butanol fraction (MLB) has produced a maximum effect, and it was selected for mechanistic studies. MLB has significantly enhanced the relaxation produced by cAMP and cGMP, elevating atrial natriuretic peptide, sodium nitroprusside, isoproterenol, and forskolin. The pre-treatment with MLB inhibited the contractile response produced by KCl, U46619, and CaCl2 in without endothelium rings. MLB has non-selectively inhibited the PDE isoforms. GCMS analysis of MLB has revealed the presence of menthol, thymol, and carvacrol in the active fraction. Docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies have indicated that thymol can be a competitive inhibitor for PDE1. CONCLUSION: It is postulated that an n-butanol fraction of Mentha longifolia produced endothelium-independent relaxation due to increased levels of cAMP and cGMP caused by the inhibition of various PDEs.

Single-stage versus two-stage reconstruction in chronic multi ligament knee injury.

BACKGROUND: Multi ligament knee injury (MLKI) refers to the disruption of at least 2 of the 4 major knee ligaments. These injuries are managed in single and two-stage surgeries however, treatment guidelines for best practice are unsettled. There is no study in the literature that compares single and two-stage surgery for the management of chronic multiligament knee injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the functional outcome between single-stage and two-stage surgical fixation in chronic multi-ligament knee injury. METHODS: Twenty seven patients with chronic MLKI with at least 2 years of follow up were included. Fourteen patients underwent reconstruction of torn ligaments in a single-stage operation (Group I) and 13 patients underwent reconstruction of torn ligaments in two stages (Group II). Assessment of clinical outcome was done with IKDC knee score, TEGNER LYSHOLM knee score, range of movement and laxity tests (Anterior drawer test, Lachman, Posterior drawer test, pivot shift test, dial test, varus and valgus stress test). RESULTS: At final follow up, there was no significant difference in post-operative IKDC knee scores in group I and group II (84.7±7.1 and 81.4±8.4 respectively, p=0.3) and Lysholm scores (85.8±8.3 and 80.9±8.3 respectively, p=0.1), range of movement (133.2±5.7 and 131.5±6.6 respectively, p=0.5) and all the patients regained full extension. At the final follow up 12/14 patients (85.7%) in group I and 11/13 patients (84.6%) in group II had a negative/grade 1 anterior drawer test (p=0.6), 14/14 (100%) in group I and 13/13 (100%) patients had negative/grade 1 lachman test (p=0.6), 13/14 patients (92.8%) in group I and 13/13 patients (100%) patients in group II had negative/grade 1 pivot shift test (p=0.4), 9/10 patients (90%) in group I and 12/13 patients (92.3%) in group II had negative/grade 1 posterior drawer (p=0.6), 6/6 patients (100%) in group I and 6/7 patients (85.7%) in group II had negative/grade 1 dial test (p=0.3), 5/6 patients (83.3%) in group I and 5/7 patients (71.4%) in group II had negative/grade 1 varus stress test (p=0.4), 6/7 patients (85.7%) in group I and 7/7 patients (100%) in group II had negative/grade 1 valgus stress test (p=0.1). CONCLUSION: Chronic MLKI managed by single stage and two stage reconstruction provides similar functional outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Retrospective Cohort Study.

Pharmacological exploration of anti-arthritic potential of terbutaline through in-vitro and in-vivo experimental models.

Terbutaline have been reported to have anti-inflammatory activity. Present study aimed to check the anti-arthritic activity of terbutaline. The drug was tested using in vitro models (bovine serum albumin denaturation, egg albumin denaturation and HRBC membrane stabilization) and in vivo (formaldehyde induced arthritis). Results of bovine serum albumin denaturation assay illustrated that terbutaline inhibited 89.54±0.46% denaturation at 6400µg/ml concentration. Terbutaline resulted in dose dependent impediment of protein denaturation in egg albumin denaturation assay with 74.40±0.72% inhibition at concentration of 6400µg/ml. Terbutaline also showed protection of HRBC membrane against hypotonic stress in a dose dependent manner, with maximum 76.45±0.62% prevention at 6400µg/ml concentration. Results of formaldehyde induced arthritis model showed that paw volume was significantly declined by terbutaline with maximum percentage inhibition at 10th day of study period which implies immune inhibitory potential of terbutaline. Findings of present study concluded that terbutaline has arthritis reducing potential possible through inhibitory effects on synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators as well as limiting the formation of autoantigen. Thus, terbutaline might be the potential candidate for use in treatment of arthritis.

Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Behavior and Risk Perception of COVID-19 Pandemic among Medical and non-Medical University Students.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has substantially affected students around the globe due to the closure of educational institutes. However, student involvements and contributions are important in combating the disease; for this reason, the current study was designed to assess the knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP), preventive behavior, and risk perception among university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted among medical and non-medical university students, from April 1 to June 30, 2020. The 68-item questionnaire was used to evaluate responses using statistical approaches (Student's t-test, regression-analysis, and co-relation analysis) by considering a P-value <0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 503 university students (medical and nonmedical) were selected, where majority of participants were females (83%) and 64.5% were of age ranged from 16 to 21 years old. The participants (80%) reported good disease knowledge with a mean score of 12.06 ± 1.75, which substantially higher among medical students (P < 0.05). Most of the respondents (72%) believed that COVID-19 will be effectively controlled through precautionary measures. In correlation subgroup analysis, a significant relationship (P = 0.025) between knowledge and positive attitude were indicated. Fear and knowledge of COVID-19 emerged as strong predictors (P < 0.001) of preventive behaviors towards disease. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, positive attitudes, and suitable practices among students toward COVID-19. University students can be involved in public education to aid the health authorities in achieving the targets of educational campaigns with maximum population coverage.

Design of a computationally efficient observer-based distributed fault detection and isolation scheme in second-order networked control systems.

This paper presents a novel directional observer-based fault detection and isolation scheme for second-order networked control systems (NCS). The directional unknown input observer (UIO) tool is exploited to study the problem of distributed fault detection and isolation (FDI). Two design schemes with global and partial/local network models are proposed to solve the distributed FDI problem. Thresholds are computed for the application of the proposed schemes in a noisy environment. In addition, the salient features of the proposed schemes are that both fault detection and fault isolation are achieved in a single step using a single observer. The schemes are applied to power system models to validate their results. A detailed comparison with existing FDI schemes is also provided, which clearly shows the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in terms of computational requirements.

Prediction of peroneus longus graft diameter for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction by inframalleolar harvest and from anthropometric data.

BACKGROUND: The literature is gradually drifting towards a graft of larger diameter for successful ACL reconstruction. There is no published literature regarding the anthropometric predictors for the diameter of the peroneus longus tendon (PLT) graft obtained in ACL reconstruction through the inframalleolar approach. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were finally evaluated for anthropometric parameters to predict quadrupled PLT graft diameter in ACL reconstruction using the inframalleolar technique. Intraoperative quadrupled PLT graft diameter was correlated to the patient's anthropometric data such as age, height, weight, duration of injury, and BMI. We used regression analysis in a stepwise manner to ascertain anthropometric indices associated with the graft diameter. RESULTS: This study included 46 males and six females. Mean age was 28.2 ± 7.4 years, mean height was 172.7 ± 2.8 cm, mean weight was 75.6 ± 3.4 kg, mean BMI was 25.3 ± 0.9 kg/m2, mean duration of injury was 9.2 ± 3.9 months, and mean graft diameter was 9.3 ± 0.4 mm. Positive correlation with graft diameter was found only with height (r = 0.6, P < 0.01) and weight (r = 0.4, P < 0.01). On analysing through linear regression, height and weight had significant association with graft diameter, and we formulated the following prediction equation: PLT graft diameter (mm) = 0.083 × height (cm) + 0.011 × weight (kg) -5.854. CONCLUSION: Patients' characteristics, including height and weight, have a significant correlation with quadrupled PLT graft diameter and the average diameter of graft is > 9 mm through this approach.

Role of Huntington procedure as a limb salvage surgery for complex gap nonunion of tibia in children.

BACK GROUND: Complex gap nonunion of tibia following open fractures and osteomyelitis with pathological fractures in children is a treatment challenge with unpredictable outcome. Treatment options available are bone transport, bone grafting, induced membrane technique, allograft reconstruction and Huntington procedure (ipsilateral transposition of vascularized fibula). There is no consensus in the literature about which technique is optimal in the given situation. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the role of Huntington procedure in the management of complex gap nonunion of tibia in paediatric patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eighteen patients (11 males and 7 females) with a mean age of 8.4 years (range 3-12 years) having complex gap nonunion of tibia with an average bone defect of 6.6 cm (range 5-17 cm) were treated with Huntington procedure between June 2008 to December 2016. The mean follow-up was 4.3years (range 3.5-6 years). RESULT: Union was seen in all except one, with an average time to union being 11.5 weeks and13.8 weeks at proximal and distal tibio-fibular synostosis respectively. Revision plating was done in one patient with nonunion. Hypertrophy of fibula was seen in all patients. One patient developed 15° ankle varus and required corrective osteotomy. Ankle was fixed in equinus in three patients with a mean value of 13.3° (range 5°-25°). Lambrinaudi procedure was done to correct 25° fixed ankle equinus in one patient. Fixed flexion deformity of knee was seen in nine patients with a mean value of 9.7° (range 5°-20°). Two patients had iatrogenic foot drop; one recovered completely and one had only partial recovery. Shortening was seen in eight patients with a mean value of 3.5 cm (range 1-5 cm). At final evaluation 9 patients were very satisfied, 8 satisfied and 1 was dissatisfied. CONCLUSION: Huntington procedure is a useful limb salvage surgery for complex gap nonunion of tibia in children. However; further improvements in the surgical technique are needed to increase the patient satisfaction by reducing the risk of complications.

Surgical Risk and Pathological Results of Emergency Resection in the Treatment of Acutely Obstructing Colorectal Cancers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: The treatment of acutely obstructing colorectal cancers is still a matter of debate. The prevailing opinion is that an immediate resection should be performed whenever possible. This study sought to determine whether immediate resection is safe and oncologically valid. METHODS: We completed a retrospective 2-center cohort study using the medical records of patients admitted for acutely obstructing colorectal cancer under the care of the Colorectal Team, Noble's Hospital, Isle of Man, and the Emergency Surgery Unit, Umberto I University Hospital, Rome, from March 2013 to May 2017. The primary endpoints were 90-day mortality and morbidity, reoperation rate, and length of stay. The secondary endpoints were status of margins, number of lymph nodes retrieved, and the rate of adequate nodal harvest. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Mortality was associated with age > 80 years and Dukes B tumors. The length of hospital stay was shorter in patients who had their resection less than 24 hours from their admission, in those who had laparoscopic resection and in those with distal tumors. The number of lymph nodes retrieved and rate of R0 resections were similar to those reported in elective colorectal surgery and were greater in laparoscopic resections and in patients operated on within 24 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: Immediate resection is a safe and reliable option in patients with acutely obstructing colorectal cancer.

Sliding mode control for a fractional-order non-linear glucose-insulin system.

By providing the generalisation of integration and differentiation, and incorporating the memory and hereditary effects, fractional-order modelling has gotten significant attention in the past few years. One of the extensively studied and utilised models to describe the glucose-insulin system of a human body is Bergman's minimal model. This non-linear model comprises of integer-order differential equations. However, comparison with the experimental data shows that the fractional-order version of Bergman's minimal model is a better representative of the glucose-insulin system than its original integer-order model. To design a control law for an artificial pancreas for a diabetic patient using a fractional-order model, different techniques, including feedback linearisation, have been applied in the literature. The authors' previous work shows that the fractional-order version of Bergman's model describes the glucose-insulin system in a better way than the integer-order model. This study applies the sliding mode control technique and then compares the obtained simulation results with the ones obtained using feedback linearisation.

DNA Methylation of the t-PA Gene Differs Between Various Immune Cell Subtypes Isolated From Depressed Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a tremendous health threat to the world's population. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment option for refractory MDD patients. Ample evidence suggests brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to play a crucial role in ECT's mode of action. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are involved in BDNF production. HYPOTHESIS: The DNA methylation of gene regions encoding for t-PA and PAI-1 might be a suitable biomarker for ECT response prediction. METHODS: We withdrew blood from two cohorts of treatment-resistant MDD patients receiving ECT. In the first cohort (n = 59), blood was collected at baseline only. To evaluate DNA methylation changes throughout the treatment course, we acquired a second group (n = 28) and took blood samples at multiple time points. DNA isolated from whole blood and defined immune cell subtypes (B cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, and T cells) served for epigenetic analyses. RESULTS: Mixed linear models (corrected for multiple testing by Sidak's post-hoc test) revealed (1) no detectable baseline blood DNA methylation differences between ECT remitters (n = 33) and non-remitters (n = 53) in the regions analyzed, but (2) a significant difference in t-PA's DNA methylation between the investigated immune cell subtypes instead (p < 0.00001). This difference remained stable throughout the treatment course, showed no acute changes after ECT, and was independent of clinical remission. CONCLUSION: DNA methylation of both proteins seems to play a minor role in ECT's mechanisms. Generally, we recommend using defined immune cell subtypes (instead of whole blood only) for DNA methylation analyses.

The effect of different aromatic conjugated bridges on optoelectronic properties of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based donor materials for organic photovoltaics.

A series of twelve Acceptor-π-Donor-π-Acceptor (A-π-D-π-A) topology-based donor molecules, where diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) as donor core unit is connected through furan which acts as conjugated π-bridge (CB) to aromatic derivatives (Ar) as acceptor units, have been investigated by making substitutions in acceptor units by using density functional theory(DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) for organic solar cell applications. The comparative study of optoelectronic properties indicates that thiadiazole with pyridine units containing molecules (M6b) exhibit lower energy of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels than those of oxadiazole and pyridine containing units (M6b). Among our investigated donors, the smallest Eg of 1.60 eV was observed for both M6a and M6b with distinctive broad absorption at 843 and 857 nm, respectively. Overall, smaller electron transfer (λe) values in contrast to hole transfer (λh) demonstrate that these donor compounds would be best for λe. The calculated open circuit voltage (Voc) is 2.45 and 2.17 eV, regarding bisPCBM and PC60BM (phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester) acceptors. Thus, these theoretical calculations not only endorse the deep consideration between the chemical structures and optoelectronic characteristics of the donor-acceptor systems but also suggest appropriate materials for high-performance Organic Photovoltaics (OPV). Graphical abstract.

Electroconvulsive therapy, changes in immune cell ratios, and their association with seizure quality and clinical outcome in depressed patients.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Approximately 30-50% of depressed patients fail to reach remission with standard treatment approaches. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective options for these patients. Its exact therapeutic mechanism remains elusive, and reliable predictors of response are absent in the routine clinical practice. To characterize its mode of action and to facilitate treatment decision-making, we analyzed ECT's acute and chronic effects on various immune cell subsets. For this purpose, blood was withdrawn from depressed patients (n=21) directly before and 15 min after the first and last ECT session, respectively. After isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we investigated defined populations of immune cells and their proportional changes upon ECT treatment using flow cytometry. By these means, we found ECT remitters (R; n=10) and non-remitters (NR; n=11) to differ in their relative proportion of putative immunoregulatory CD56highCD16-/dim and cytotoxic CD56dimCD16+ natural killer (NK) cells (CD56highCD16-/dim/CD56dimCD16+: R=0.064(±0.005), NR=0.047(±0.005), p<0.05; linear mixed models) and thus in their NK cell cytotoxicity. NK cell cytotoxicity was further increased after a single ECT session (before=0.066(±0.005), after=0.045(±0.005), p<0.001) and was associated with ECT quality parameters (maximum sustained coherence: r2=0.389, ß=-0.656, p<0.001) and long-term BDI-II rating changes (r2=0.459, ß=-0.726, p<0.05; both linear regression analysis). To conclude, particular NK cell subsets seem to be involved in ECT's acute effect and its clinical outcome. Due to the limited number of patients participating in our pilot study, future approaches are required to replicate our findings.

Distributed fault detection and isolation in second order networked systems in a cyber-physical environment.

Modern industrial processes and cyber-physical systems (CPS) are prone to anomalies both due to cyber and physical perturbations. Cyber disturbances or attacks being more hazardous may give birth to a series of multiple coordinated faults. In order to detect and isolate such faults, this paper proposes a novel distributed fault detection and isolation scheme for second-order networked systems. The system is assumed to be working in a cyber-physical environment where it is likely to face multiple simultaneous faults. Each node has access to measurements of states of its neighboring nodes. A distributed fault detection and isolation filter (DFDIF) is designed such that fault detection and fault isolation can be obtained in a single step. Using the proposed filter, each node can detect and isolate multiple simultaneous faults in its neighboring nodes. The detection and isolation of faults with a single filter at each node reduces the overall computational burden of distributed fault detection and isolation (DFDI) scheme. The proposed framework is tested for power network and robotic formations. Finally, a comparison with existing techniques is provided to prove the effectiveness of the proposed method.