An integrated buoy-satellite based coastal water quality nowcasting system: India's pioneering efforts towards addressing UN ocean decade challenges.

The Indian coastal waters are stressed due to a multitude of factors, such as the discharge of industrial effluents, urbanization (municipal sewage), agricultural runoff, and river discharge. The coastal waters along the eastern and western seaboard of India exhibit contrasting characteristics in terms of seasonality, the magnitude of river influx, circulation pattern, and degree of anthropogenic activity. Therefore, understanding these processes and forecasting their occurrence is highly necessary to secure the health of coastal waters, habitats, marine resources, and the safety of tourists. This article introduces an integrated buoy-satellite based Water Quality Nowcasting System (WQNS) to address the unique challenges of water quality monitoring in Indian coastal waters and to boost the regional blue economy. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has launched a first-of-its-kind WQNS, and positioned the buoys at two important locations along the east (Visakhapatnam) and west (Kochi) coast of India, covering a range of environmental conditions and tourist-intensive zones. These buoys are equipped with different physical-biogeochemical sensors, data telemetry systems, and integration with satellite-based observations for real-time data transmission to land. The sensors onboard these buoys continuously measure 22 water quality parameters, including surface current (speed and direction), salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin, Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, dissolved methane, hydrocarbon (crude and refined), scattering, pCO2 (water and air), and inorganic macronutrients (nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, phosphate, silicate). This real-time data is transmitted to a central processing facility at INCOIS, and after necessary quality control, the data is disseminated through the INCOIS website. Preliminary results from the WQNS show promising outcomes, including the short-term changes in the water column oxic and hypoxic regimes within a day in coastal waters off Kochi during the monsoon period, whereas effluxing of high levels of CO2 into the atmosphere associated with the mixing of water, driven by local depression in the coastal waters off Visakhapatnam. The system has demonstrated its ability to detect changes in the water column properties due to episodic events and mesoscale processes. Additionally, it offers valuable data for research, management, and policy development related to coastal water quality.

Comparative proteomic profiling of Small Extracellular vesicles derived from iPSCs and tissue specific mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Small Extracellular vesicles (EV) are emerging as crucial intercellular messengers that contribute to the physiological processes. EVs contain numerous functional proteins and nucleic acids derived from their parent cells and have different roles depending on their origin. Functionally, EVs transfer these biological materials from the parent cell to the recipient and thus exhibits a novel therapeutic platform for delivering therapeutics molecules to the target tissue. In this regard, EVs derived from stem cells such as Mesenchymal Stem Cells and iPSCs have demonstrated a higher ability to benefit regenerative medicine. Even though these stem cells share some common properties, due to the differences in their origin (cell sources, the hierarchy of potency, etc) the EVs cargo profiling and functionality may vary. METHOD: We used iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis to conduct a comprehensive and quantitative evaluation of EVs derived from iPSCs and various tissue-specific MSCs in this study. Additionally, the data was analyzed using a variety of bioinformatic tools, including ProteinPilot for peptide and protein identification and quantification; Funrich, GO, Reactome, and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) for pathway enrichment; the STRING database, and the inBio Discover tool for identifying known and predicted Protein-Protein networks. RESULTS: Bioinformatics analysis revealed 223 differentially expressed proteins in these EVs; however, Wharton's jelly MSC-EV contained more exclusive proteins with higher protein expression levels. Additionally, 113 proteins were abundant in MSC-EVs, while others were shared between MSC-EVs and iPSC-EVs. Further, based on an in-depth examination of the proteins, their associated pathways, and their interactions with other proteins, it was determined that these proteins are involved in bone regeneration (9.3%), wound healing (4.4%), immune regulation (8.9%), cardiac regeneration (6.6%), neuro regeneration (8.9%), and hepatic regeneration (3.5%). CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of our proteomic analysis indicate that EVs derived from MSCs have a more robust profile of proteins with higher expression levels than iPSCs. This is a significant finding, as it demonstrates the critical therapeutic role of EVs in a variety of diseases, as demonstrated by enrichment analysis, their versatility, and broad application potential.

Hypoxia preconditioning elicit differential response in tissue-specific MSCs via immunomodulation and exosomal secretion.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are emerging as an ideal candidate for regenerative medicine. It is known that the culture conditions impact the cellular properties of MSCs and their therapeutic behavior. Moreover, maintenance of MSCs in low oxygen tension for a short duration has shown to be beneficial for MSCs as it is similar to that of their physiological niche. However, the precise mechanism through which hypoxia pre-conditioning affects MSCs is not clear yet. Thus, in this study, we have investigated the effect of hypoxia exposure (1% O2) on tissue-specific MSCs over a period of time under serum-free culture conditions and evaluated the changes in expression of immuno-modulatory molecules and exosome biogenesis and secretion markers. It was observed that all MSCs responded differentially towards hypoxia exposure as indicated by the expression of HIF-1α. Moreover, this short-term exposure did not induce any changes in MSCs cellular morphology, proliferation rate, and surface marker profiling. In addition, we observed an enhancement in the expression of immunomodulatory factors (HLA-G, PGE-2, and IDO) after hypoxia exposure of 12 to 24 h in all tissue-specific MSCs. Interestingly, we have also observed the upregulation in exosome secretion that was further corelated to the upregulation of expression of exosome biogenesis and secretion markers (ALIX, TSG101, RAB27a, RAB27b). Though there was a differential response of MSCs where WJ-MSCs and BM-MSCs showed upregulation of these markers at 6-12 h of hypoxia pre-conditioning, while AD-MSCs showed similar changes beyond 24 h of hypoxia exposure.

Persistence of marine heat waves for coral bleaching and their spectral characteristics around Andaman coral reef.

Coral reefs are fragile and endangered ecosystems in the tropical marine and coastal environment. Thermal stress due to marine heat waves (MHW) could cause significantly negative impacts on the health conditions, i.e., bleaching of the coral ecosystem. The current study is an attempt to quantify the intensity of coral bleaching in the Andaman region in recent decades using the intensity of marine heat wave (IMHW) estimated from satellite measured sea surface temperature (SST). A linear regression model was developed between IMHW and in situ observations of percent coral bleaching (PCB) which has the slope 7.767 (of IMHW unit) and intercept (- 141.7). Further, an attempt was also made to establish the relationship between PCB and the ratio between the remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) at 443 and 531 nm to upscale the percentage of coral bleaching at synoptic scales. A significant positive correlation between the PCB and band ratio index was found (R2 = 0.72). This approach can be used for the operational monitoring of coral reef beaching in this region.

Genetic Diversity-Area Relationships across Bird Species.

The genetic diversity-area relationship (GAR), compared with the extensively explored species-area relationship (SAR), remains poorly recognized despite the importance of understanding it for the development and application of biodiversity theory. It has been hypothesized that maintaining genetic diversity within a population is mechanistically similar to maintaining species diversity within a community, implying that GAR trajectories should behave mathematically as SAR ones. Here we test this prediction by fitting microsatellite heterozygosity and allelic richness in relation to distribution range size across bird species against eight well-known SAR models. The Monod model best described the data on resident and migratory species combined and especially the data on resident species only, showing that with increasing range size, genetic diversity across species rapidly increased up to a certain level and then tended toward an asymptote. None of the candidate models provided an adequate fit for the data on migratory species, likely because their breeding range size mostly is large in that a GAR curve has become flat. Our work takes the first step toward formulating GARs and applying them to predicting the effect of habitat fragmentation on genetic diversity.

Correction: Topological behaviour of ternary non-symmorphic crystals KZnX (X = P, As, Sb) under pressure and strain: a first principles study.

Correction for 'Topological behaviour of ternary non-symmorphic crystals KZnX (X = P, As, Sb) under pressure and strain: a first principles study' by Atahar Parveen et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, 20, 5084-5102.

Topological behaviour of ternary non-symmorphic crystals KZnX (X = P, As, Sb) under pressure and strain: a first principles study.

An ab initio study on the impact of hydrostatic pressure and strain on the electronic properties of an unexplored class of ternary Zintl phases KZnX (X = P, As, Sb) is reported. Density functional theory (DFT) based studies revealed that all the three materials are direct band gap semiconductors under ambient conditions. We have theoretically demonstrated that KZnX can be driven into different metallic phases under pressure. In contrast, by applying strain the compounds can be realized as topological insulators. This is confirmed by the observed non-trivial topological character in the electronic band structure of the present ternary systems. For the precise determination of low energy band topology, the Tran Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TBmBJ) exchange potential was used by incorporating spin-orbit coupling. The concomitant change of electronic band shapes as a function of pressure indicates a semi-metallic nature in KZnX (X = P, As, Sb) at 30 GPa, 21 GPa and 11 GPa respectively. Based on an analysis of the parity eigenvalues, we anticipate that a band inversion occurs between the Zn-s and X-p states, thus demonstrating a weak topological behaviour in semi-metallic states. Also, a weak non-trivial topologically insulating phase is realized in strained KZnAs (18%) and KZnSb (10%) which appears to be due to overlapping of the Zn-s and X-p orbitals. The calculated surface spectral functions further validate the non-triviality of strained KZnX (X = As, Sb), whereas strained KZnP is found to be a trivial insulator. We confirm the topological behaviour of these materials by calculating topological surface states and defining a Z2 topological invariant. Our work based on sophisticated first-principles calculations highlights that both pressure and strain can trigger topological phases in non-symmorphic trivial band insulators even with a weak spin orbit interaction. This study paves the way for realizing semi-metallic and topological insulating states in non-symmorphic ternary semiconductors, which have not been experimentally demonstrated so far.

End-of-life Care and Social Security Issues among Geriatric People Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India.

CONTEXT: The care of sick members is the hallmark of a civilized society. End-of-life care and social security for elderly are emerging issues nowadays. AIMS: The aim of this study is to explore the desires of the elderly regarding the end-of-life care decisions along with to find out social security measures among the study population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The cross-sectional study conducted in the geriatric outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study period was 4 months from August to November 2017. The geriatric patients attending geriatric outpatient department were interviewed using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Convenient sampling was used and a total of 138 participants were included in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Proportions were used in the study. RESULTS: A total of 63.77% participants expected to die at home surrounded by their family members during their time of death followed by hospital (31.88%). Majority (63.77%) stated their opinions to die a senile death. Organ donation after death was the willingness shown by as high as 70.3%, but registered organ donors were 6.5%. 94.2% participants expected to be cremated after their death while others buried in accord to their religious practices. Only 7.24% of participants had a legal will of their financial establishments. It was observed that even half of the population (47.8%) did not have any form of health or life insurance. CONCLUSION: Home-based care of the elderly is needed so that they can live their last days of life peacefully. Awareness about health and life insurance should be increased by urgent intervention.

Role of spin-orbit interaction on the nonlinear optical response of CsPbCO3F using DFT.

We explore the effect of spin-orbit interaction (SOI) on the electronic and optical properties of CsPbCO3F using the full potential linear augmented plane wave method with the density functional theory (DFT) approach. CsPbCO3F is known for its high powder second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient (13.4 times (d36 = 0.39 pm V-1) that of KH2PO4 (KDP)). Calculations are done for many exchange correlation (XC) potentials. After the inclusion of SOI, the calculated Tran-Blaha modified Becke-Johnson (TB-mBJ) band gap of 5.58 eV reduces to 4.45 eV in agreement with the experimental value. This is due to the splitting of Pb p-states. Importantly, the occurrence of a band gap along the H-A direction (indirect) transforms to the H-H (direct) high symmetry points/direction in the first Brillouin zone. We noticed a large anisotropy in the calculated complex dielectric function, absorption, and refractive index spectra. The calculated static birefringence of 0.1049 and 0.1057 (with SOI) is found to be higher than that of the other carbonate fluorides. From the Born effective charge (BEC) analysis we notice that the Cs atom shows a negative contribution to birefringence whereas Pb, C, and F atoms show a positive contribution. In addition, we have also calculated the nonlinear optical χ(-2ω;ω,ω) dispersion of a CsPbCO3F single crystal. We found that d11 = d12 = 4.35 pm V-1 at 1064 nm, which is 11.2 times higher than d36 of KDP. The origin of the highly nonlinear optical susceptibility dispersion of CsPbCO3F is explained. Overall, our results are in agreement with experiments and it is obvious from the present study that CsPbCO3F is a direct band gap, large second harmonic generation, and good phase matchable NLO crystal in the ultraviolet region.

Modulating the hAM/PCL Biocomposite for Expedited Wound Healing: A Chemical-Free Approach for Boosting Regenerative Potential.

There is an arising need for effective wound dressings that retain the bioactivity of a cellular treatment, but without the high costs and complexities associated with manufacturing, storing, and applying cell-based products. As skin wound recovery is a dynamic and complicated process, a significant obstacle to the healing of skin wounds is the lack of an appropriate wound dressing that can imitate the microenvironment of healthy skin and prevent bacterial infection. It requires the well-orchestrated integration of biological and molecular events. In this study, we have fabricated full-thickness skin graft biocomposite membranes to target full-thickness skin excision wounds. We reinforced human amniotic membrane (hAM) with electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) to develop composite membranes, namely, PCL/hAM and PCL/hAM/PCL. Composite membranes were compared for physical, biological, and mechanical properties with the native counterpart. PCL/hAM and PCL/hAM/PCL displayed improved stability and delayed degradation, which further synergically improved the rapid wound healing property of hAM, driven primarily by wound closure analysis and histological assessment. Moreover, PCL/hAM displayed a comparable cellular interaction to hAM. On application as a wound dressing, histological analysis demonstrated that hAM and PCL/hAM promoted early epidermis and dermis formation. Studies on in vivo wound healing revealed that although hAM accelerates cell development, the overall wound healing process is similar in PCL/hAM. This finding is further supported by the immunohistochemical analysis of COL-1/COL-3, CD-31, and TGF-ß. Overall, this conjugated PCL and hAM-based membrane has considerable potential to be applied in skin wound healing. The facile fabrication of the PCL/hAM composite membrane provided the self-regenerating wound dressing with the desired mechanical strength as an ideal regenerative property for skin tissue regeneration.

Comparison of the Latarjet Procedure With the Modified Putti-Platt Surgery for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Dislocation With Respect to Functional Outcome.

Introduction Shoulder dislocation is the most common injury encountered in orthopedic outpatient department. The choice of procedure depends on the expertise of surgeons. The objective of this study was to compare the Latarjet procedure with the modified Putti-Platt surgery for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation in terms of functional outcomes. Materials and methods A quasi-experimental study evaluated 60 patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability. Patients were assigned to either Latarjet or modified Putti-Platt surgery. Functional outcomes were assessed at six months using the Constant-Murley shoulder score. Results This study encompassed 60 patients (mean age: 23.93±5.88 years) undergoing shoulder procedures. Functional outcomes exhibited a majority of 55% excellent, 35% good, 6.7% fair, and 3.3% poor outcomes. No significant differences in functional outcomes were found between the procedures. Conclusion Both procedures may be viable options for recurrent shoulder instability. The choice may depend on patient factors and surgeon preference. Further research is needed to refine techniques and identify ideal candidates.

The Frequency of Hypoglycemia and Its Symptoms in Preterm Neonates in the First 24 Hours.

Introduction Hypoglycemia is a critical concern in neonatal care, particularly among preterm infants. This study aims to investigate the frequency of hypoglycemia within the first 24 hours of life in preterm neonates, considering factors such as gestational age (GA), birth weight, and gender. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2021. The sample comprised 186 preterm infants selected through consecutive sampling. Data collection involved demographic information, glucose level monitoring, and symptom assessment. Results Of the 186 preterm neonates, 31.7% (n=59) experienced hypoglycemia within the first 24 hours, with feeding refusal being the predominant symptom. There was a significant difference in hypoglycemia occurrence between infants born before and after 32 weeks of gestation (p<0.05). Males were slightly more affected than females, although not statistically significant. Infants weighing less than 2 kg showed a higher susceptibility to hypoglycemia. Conclusion The early detection and management of hypoglycemia are crucial in preterm neonatal care. Close monitoring, especially in the initial four hours, is essential to prevent complications. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings and improve understanding and management strategies for hypoglycemia in preterm neonates, particularly within the first 24 hours of life.

Advancements in Retinoblastoma Treatment: Unraveling the Potential of Intravitreal Chemotherapy.

Retinoblastoma necessitates urgent attention due to its potential fatality if untreated. Multiple treatment options are available and should be employed according to size, location, and the extent of dissemination. This review emphasizes the need for increased awareness, advanced diagnostic tools, and innovative treatment approaches, especially intravitreal chemotherapy (IVitC) to address the diverse manifestations and aggressive nature of retinoblastoma. Timely diagnosis and commitment to treatment are pivotal, as delays and reluctance to undergo enucleation contribute to unfavorable outcomes. The evolving treatment landscape, spanning from traditional interventions to modern targeted therapies such as intravitreal melphalan, holds promise for improved outcomes. While the intravitreal approach presents challenges, ongoing research aims to establish its definitive role in retinoblastoma treatment. In the treatment of retinoblastoma, IVitC raises considerations about side effects. The risk of tumor spread beyond the eye is rare, emphasising the potential of IVitC in carefully selected cases. Intravitreal injections exhibit fewer local adverse effects compared to intra-arterial chemotherapy, with careful measures reducing significant ocular complications. The evaluation of ocular toxicity, particularly with melphalan, underscores the importance of a nuanced approach to achieve the right balance between therapeutic efficacy and ocular safety. This comprehensive analysis of studies on IVitC and its ocular and systemic complications provides valuable insights for enhanced patient care. The review concludes with a focus on balancing safety and efficacy in local chemotherapeutic drugs, highlighting the need for thoughtful measures and continued research to optimise treatment modalities globally.

The Impact of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation Prior to Thyroidectomy on Mitigating Postoperative Hypocalcemia.

Background Hypocalcemia remains the most frequent complication after thyroidectomy. It can either be transient or permanent, and patients often find it unpleasant due to its association with prolonged hospitalization. The objective of this study was to determine the role of preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation in preventing hypocalcemia after subtotal/total thyroidectomy. Material and methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan, from January 2023 to July 2023. We utilized non-probability purposive sampling. Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were recruited and followed until discharge to ascertain outcomes. They were divided into two groups: Group A received vitamin D (200,000 IU) one week preoperatively as single intramuscular dose and calcium (1 gm) orally two times daily for one week preoperatively, while Group B served as the control. Venous blood samples were taken post-surgery, on the second and seventh day and at day 30 to assess hypocalcemia. Chi-square test was employed, comparing hypocalcemia in both groups with a p-value ≤0.05 considered significant. Results One hundred thirty-two patients underwent subtotal/total thyroidectomy, with 46.2% (n = 61) being male and 53.8% (n = 71) female. The mean age of these patients was 37.12 ± 6.22 years, ranging from 20 to 50 years, and 57.6% (n = 76) were aged over 35 years. More than half (55.3%, n = 73) hailed from rural areas, while 4.7% (n = 59) resided in urban locales. Among the patients, 15.9% (n = 21) had a history of diabetes, and 24.2% (n = 32) were hypertensive. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.32 ± 2.41 kg/m2, with 7.6% (n = 10) classified as obese. The mean preoperative serum calcium level was 9.87 ± 1.07 mg/dL. Postoperatively, the mean serum calcium level was 8.74 ± 0.83 mg/dL. Both Group A (preoperative vitamin D and calcium supplementation) and Group B (control) demonstrated comparable baseline characteristics before undergoing thyroidectomy. The incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia was notably lower in Group A, with only 4.5% (n = 3) experiencing this complication. By contrast, 24.2% (n = 16) of patients in Group B, the control group, developed hypocalcemia (P = 0.001). Conclusion Our study supports the use of preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation in patients undergoing thyroidectomy to combat hypocalcemia. The treated group showed significantly lower hypocalcemia compared to the untreated group B. We recommend preoperative calcium and vitamin D supplementation for all thyroidectomy patients to reduce related morbidities and hospitalization duration.

Comparison of Partial Meniscectomy With Meniscal Repair With Respect to Functional Outcome.

Introduction Meniscus tear is a commonly encountered sports-related injury requiring surgical intervention due to knee mobility dysfunction and discomfort. Previously, it has been thought that these are non-functional vestigial structures and they used to be excised commonly. Recent studies have shown that meniscal repair gives superior results when compared with partial meniscectomy. Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Orthopedics Department, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 92 patients of both genders with meniscal injuries were included. Forty-six of them underwent meniscal repair (Group A), and 46 underwent partial meniscectomy (Group B). Functional outcome was noted after 12 weeks and recorded. Results The age range was from 18 to 50 years with a mean of 28.630±6.64 years in Group A and 29.630±8.12 years in Group B. Functional outcome was excellent in 44 (95.7%) patients who underwent meniscal repair as compared to 23 (50%) patients who underwent partial meniscectomy (P= 0.000). Conclusion It is concluded that meniscal repair should be pursued over partial meniscectomy when surgically treating meniscal tears.

Effect of Coca-Cola on the Dissolution of Persimmon-Related Phytobezoar in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction Bezoars, masses of indigestible foreign bodies formed in the gastrointestinal tract, pose challenges in their management. Phytobezoars are particularly problematic due to their difficult diagnosis and resilience towards treatment. Recently, Coca-Cola has emerged as a potential solution due to its acidic composition and mucolytic properties. However, existing evidence is limited, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies. This research explores the efficacy of Coca-Cola in dissolving persimmon-related phytobezoars, aiming to contribute valuable insights to non-invasive treatment options. Material and methods Conducted as a descriptive case series, this study employed gastric cola lavage using non-probability purposive sampling. Patients aged 18-70 with persimmon-related phytobezoars were included. Two nasogastric tubes were inserted for cola lavage over 12 hours, utilizing three liters of cola until the disappearance of symptoms. When the bezoar disappeared, it was considered as complete success to the treatment. Results Out of 31 patients, 45.2% were male and 54.8% were female, with a mean age of 56.77 ± 9.01 years. Efficacy was noted in 54.8% of cases. Age less than 50 and no history of diabetes mellitus were associated with higher chances of treatment success (p-value ≤0.05). Conclusion Ingestion of Coca-Cola was highly effective, safe, and reliable for the dissolution of persimmon-related phytobezoars, as the frequency of efficacy was high in our study. Coca-Cola ingestion is a non-invasive and cost-effective mode of phytobezoar dissolution that should be taken as a first-line initial treatment option to attain desired outcomes.

Surgical Strategies for Ingrown Toenails: A Comprehensive Review of Techniques, Outcomes, and Advancements.

Ingrown toenail (IGTN), known as onychocryptosis or unguis incarnatus, is a painful condition affecting the big toe, with symptoms including pain, inflammation, and infection. This review explores surgical options for IGTN, categorized into altering the nail plate or diminishing periungual tissues. Conservative treatments alleviate early-stage symptoms, while surgical interventions are reserved for severe cases. Various surgical techniques are discussed, such as the Winograd technique, Vandenbos procedure, chemical matricectomy, radiofrequency ablation, bipolar diathermy, carbon dioxide laser ablation, Zadik's procedure, Howard-Dubois procedure, Super U procedure, Noël's procedure, knot technique, and toenail paronychium flap. The choice of procedure depends on the severity and recurrence of IGTN.

Pseudoautosomal deletions encompassing a novel homeobox gene cause growth failure in idiopathic short stature and Turner syndrome.

Growth retardation resulting in short stature is a major concern for parents and due to its great variety of causes, a complex diagnostic challenge for clinicians. A major locus involved in linear growth has been implicated within the pseudoautosomal region (PAR1) of the human sex chromosomes. We have determined an interval of 170 kb of DNA within PAR1 which was deleted in 36 individuals with short stature and different rearrangements on Xp22 or Yp11.3. This deletion was not detected in any of the relatives with normal stature or in a further 30 individuals with rearrangements on Xp22 or Yp11.3 with normal height. We have isolated a homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) from this region, which has at least two alternatively spliced forms, encoding proteins with different patterns of expression. We also identified one functionally significant SHOX mutation by screening 91 individuals with idiopathic short stature. Our data suggest an involvement of SHOX in idiopathic growth retardation and in the short stature phenotype of Turner syndrome patients.

Observational evidence of salt finger in the diurnal thermocline.

Due to strong turbulent mixing, the ocean surface boundary layer region is generally not conducive to double diffusion. However, vertical microstructure profiles observations in the northeastern Arabian Sea during May 2019 imply the formation of salt fingers in the diurnal thermocline (DT) region during the daytime. In the DT layer, conditions are favorable for salt fingering: Turner angle values are between 50 and 55° with both temperature and salinity decreasing with depth; shear-driven mixing is weak with a turbulent Reynolds number of about 30. The presence of salt fingering in the DT is confirmed by the presence of staircase-like structures with step sizes larger than the Ozmidov length and by the dissipation ratio that is larger than the mixing coefficient. The unusual daytime salinity maximum in the mixed layer that supports salt fingering is primarily due to a daytime reduction in vertical entrainment of fresh water along with minor contributions from evaporation and horizontal advection and a significant contribution from detrainment processes.

Enhancing Documentation Precision in Ophthalmic Surgery: A Quality Improvement Project.

Background Effective clinical documentation, particularly operative notes, is essential for maintaining healthcare standards and fostering interdisciplinary communication. This study focuses on improving the quality of ophthalmic operative notes by adopting the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) guidelines for good surgical practice. Methodology A retrospective cross-sectional audit at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Pakistan, assessed 138 operative notes against the RCS criteria. After an educational session and the placement of memory aids in operation theaters, a re-audit of 125 notes was conducted. Parameters were selectively applied based on relevance to specific cases, and omissions were discussed with the local ethical committee. Results The initial audit revealed deficiencies in 10 critical areas, with only three parameters exceeding 85% accuracy. The re-audit showed significant improvement across these parameters, achieving documentation of 85.3% of all criteria. Paired t-test results indicated a substantial difference in documentation quality before and after interventions. Conclusions A combined strategy involving surgeon education, memory aids, and adherence to established standards significantly enhances operative note quality. The study underscores the importance of sustained reinforcement mechanisms for continuous improvements in documentation practices.