Tag: nevin manimala

Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 3;13(1):5416. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31364-7.

ABSTRACT

Wear properties of Al-Mg-Si alloy matrix hybrid composites made with Si-based refractory compounds (SBRC) derived from bamboo leaf ash (BLA) as complimentary reinforcement with alumina have been studied. The experimental result indicate that optimum wear loss was obtained at higher sliding speed. The wear rate of the composites increased with an increase in BLA wt. %, with the composites having 4%SBRC from BLA + 6% alumina (B4) showing the least wear loss for the different sliding speeds and wear loads considered. With increasing BLA weight percent, the composites’ wear mechanism was mostly abrasive wear. Numerical optimization results using central composite design (CCD) reveal that at a wear load of 587.014N, sliding speed of 310.053 rpm and B4 hybrid filler composition level respectively, minimum responses in wear rate (0.572mm²/min), specific wear rate (0.212cm²/g.cm³) and wear loss (0.120 g) would be obtained for the developed AA6063 based hybrid composite. Perturbation plots indicate that the sliding speed have more impact on wear loss, while wear load have significant impact on the wear rate and specific wear rate.

PMID:37012279 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-31364-7

Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 3;13(1):5413. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31446-6.

ABSTRACT

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by black flies. Human onchocerciasis is a public health and socioeconomic problem in Nigeria. Its prevalence and morbidity have reduced over the years because of control efforts especially, Mass Drug Administration with ivermectin. The current goal is to eliminate the disease transmission by 2030. Understanding the changes in transmission patterns in Cross River State is critical to elimination of onchocerciasis in Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis in Cross River State after over two decades of mass ivermectin distribution in endemic communities. Agbokim, Aningeje, Ekong Anaku and Orimekpang are four endemic communities from three Local Government Areas of the State selected for this study. Transmission indices such as infectivity rates, biting rates and transmission potentials, parity rates and diurnal biting activities were determined. A total of 15,520 adult female flies were caught on human baits, Agbokim (2831), Aningeje (6209), Ekong Anaku (4364) and Orimekpang (2116). A total of 9488 and 5695 flies were collected during the rainy and dry seasons respectively in the four communities studied. The differences in relative abundance among the communities were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Monthly and seasonal fly numbers varied significantly (P < 0.008). There were differences in diurnal biting activities of flies in this study at different hours of the day and different months. The peak monthly biting rates were 5993 (Agbokim, October), 13,134 (Aningeje, October), 8680 (Ekong Anaku, October) and 6120 (Orimekpang, September) bites/person/month while the lowest monthly biting rates were 400 (Agbokim, November), 2862 (Aningeje, August), 1405 (Ekong Anaku, January) and 0.0 (Orimekpang, November and December) bites/person/month. Differences in biting rates among the study communities were significant (P < 0.001). The peak monthly transmission potential in Aningeje was 160 infective bites/person/month in the month of February while the lowest (except for months with no transmission) was 42 infective bites/person/month in the month of April. All other study sites had no ongoing transmission in this study. Transmission studies showed that there is progress toward transmission interruption especially in 3 out of the four studied areas. Molecular O-150 poolscreen studies is required to confirm the true transmission situation in the areas.

PMID:37012274 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-31446-6

Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 3;13(1):5424. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31574-z.

ABSTRACT

Speckle-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging (SB-PCXI) can reconstruct high-resolution images of weakly-attenuating materials that would otherwise be indistinguishable in conventional attenuation-based X-ray imaging. The experimental setup of SB-PCXI requires only a sufficiently coherent X-ray source and spatially random mask, positioned between the source and detector. The technique can extract sample information at length scales smaller than the imaging system’s spatial resolution; this enables multimodal signal reconstruction. “Multimodal Intrinsic Speckle-Tracking” (MIST) is a rapid and deterministic formalism derived from the paraxial-optics form of the Fokker-Planck equation. MIST simultaneously extracts attenuation, refraction, and small-angle scattering (diffusive dark-field) signals from a sample and is more computationally efficient compared to alternative speckle-tracking approaches. Hitherto, variants of MIST have assumed the diffusive dark-field signal to be spatially slowly varying. Although successful, these approaches have been unable to well-describe unresolved sample microstructure whose statistical form is not spatially slowly varying. Here, we extend the MIST formalism such that this restriction is removed, in terms of a sample’s rotationally-isotropic diffusive dark-field signal. We reconstruct multimodal signals of two samples, each with distinct X-ray attenuation and scattering properties. The reconstructed diffusive dark-field signals have superior image quality-as measured by the naturalness image quality evaluator, signal-to-noise ratio, and azimuthally averaged power-spectrum-compared to our previous approaches which assume the diffusive dark-field to be a slowly varying function of transverse position. Our generalisation may assist increased adoption of SB-PCXI in applications such as engineering and biomedical disciplines, forestry, and palaeontology, and is anticipated to aid the development of speckle-based diffusive dark-field tensor tomography.

PMID:37012270 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-31574-z

Sci Rep. 2023 Apr 3;13(1):5434. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31773-8.

ABSTRACT

Multiple types and classes of medications are administered in the acute management of traumatic spinal cord injury. Prior clinical studies and evidence from animal models suggest that several of these medications could modify (i.e., enhance or impede) neurological recovery. We aimed to systematically determine the types of medications commonly administered, alone or in combination, in the transition from acute to subacute spinal cord injury. For that purpose, type, class, dosage, timing, and reason for administration were extracted from two large spinal cord injury datasets. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the medications administered within the first 60 days after spinal cord injury. Across 2040 individuals with spinal cord injury, 775 unique medications were administered within the two months after injury. On average, patients enrolled in a clinical trial were administered 9.9 ± 4.9 (range 0-34), 14.3 ± 6.3 (range 1-40), 18.6 ± 8.2 (range 0-58), and 21.5 ± 9.7 (range 0-59) medications within the first 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post-injury, respectively. Those enrolled in an observational study were administered on average 1.7 ± 1.7 (range 0-11), 3.7 ± 3.7 (range 0-24), 8.5 ± 6.3 (range 0-42), and 13.5 ± 8.3 (range 0-52) medications within the first 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post-injury, respectively. Polypharmacy was commonplace (up to 43 medications per day per patient). Approximately 10% of medications were administered acutely as prophylaxis (e.g., against the development of pain or infections). To our knowledge, this was the first time acute pharmacological practices have been comprehensively examined after spinal cord injury. Our study revealed a high degree of polypharmacy in the acute stages of spinal cord injury, raising the potential to impact neurological recovery. All results can be interactively explored on the R_XSCI web site ( https://jutzelec.shinyapps.io/RxSCI/ ) and GitHub repository ( https://github.com/jutzca/Acute-Pharmacological-Treatment-in-SCI/ ).

PMID:37012257 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-023-31773-8

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2023 Mar 24;296:122662. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122662. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The UV spectra of Diclofenac Potassium DIC and Methocarbamol MET are superimposed making their analysis using direct or derivative spectrophotometric methods quite complicated. This study presents four effective spectrophotometric methods that enable simultaneous determination of both drugs without interference. The first method is based on application of simultaneous equation method on their zero order spectra where DIC has shown absorbance maxima at 276 nm and MET displays two absorbances maxima at 273 nm and 222 nm in distilled water. The second method relies on dual wavelength method, the two wavelengths (232 and 285 nm) were chosen for determination of DIC where the absorbance differences at these wavelengths are proportional to DIC concentration while the absorbance differences of MET are equal to zero. For the determination of MET, the two wavelengths (212 and 228 nm) were selected. The third method of first-derivative ratio has been applied where the derivative ratio absorbances of DIC and MET were measured at 286.1 and 282.4 nm, respectively. The fourth method utilizing ratio difference spectrophotometric (RD) method was eventually performed on the binary mixture. The amplitude difference between the two wavelengths (291and 305 nm) was calculated for DIC estimation while the amplitude difference between the two wavelengths (227and 273 nm) for MET determination. All methods show linearity range from 2.0-25 μg. mL^-1 and 6.0-40 μg. mL^-1 for DIC and MET respectively. The developed methods have been statistically compared with a reported method based on first derivative method and the results of statistical comparison confirm the accuracy and precision of the proposed methods therefore they can be effectively applied for determination of MET and DIC in pharmaceutical dosage form.

PMID:37011438 | DOI:10.1016/j.saa.2023.122662

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Apr 3. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c00734. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Criegee intermediates (CIs) are important carbonyl oxides that may react with atmospheric trace chemicals and impact the global climate. The CI reaction with water has been widely studied and is a main channel for trapping CIs in the troposphere. Previous experimental and computational reports have largely focused on reaction kinetic processes in various CI-water reactions. The molecular-level origin of CI’s interfacial reactivity at the water microdroplet surface (e.g., as found in aerosols and clouds) is unclear. In this study, by employing the quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics with the local second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory, our computational results reveal a substantial water charge transfer up to ∼20% per water, which creates the surface H₂O⁺/H₂O^– radical pairs to enhance the CH₂OO and anti-CH₃CHOO reactivity with water: the resulting strong CI-H₂O^– electrostatic attraction at the microdroplet surface facilitates the nucleophilic attack to the CI carbonyl by water, which may counteract the apolar hindrance of the substituent to accelerate the CI-water reaction. Our statistical analysis of the molecular dynamics trajectories further resolves a relatively long-lived bound CI(H₂O^–) intermediate state at the air/water interface, which has not been observed in gaseous CI reactions. This work provides insights into what may alter the oxidizing power of the troposphere by the next larger CIs than simple CH₂OO and implicates a new perspective on the role of interfacial water charge transfer in accelerating molecular reactions at aqueous interfaces.

PMID:37011411 | DOI:10.1021/jacs.3c00734

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Mar 30;67(3):427-441. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000593.

ABSTRACT

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by CYP21A2 gene mutations, and its molecular diagnosis is widely used in clinical practice to confirm the hormonal diagnosis. Hence, considering the miscegenation of the Brazilian population, it is important to determine a mutations panel to optimise the molecular diagnosis. The objective was to review the CYP21A2 mutations’ distribution among Brazilian regions. Two reviewers screened Brazilian papers up to February 2020 in five databases. The pair-wise comparison test and Holm method were used in the statistical analysis. Nine studies were selected, comprising 769 patients from all regions. Low proportion of males and salt-wasters was identified in the North and Northeast regions, although without significant difference. Large gene rearrangements also had a low frequency, except in the Center-West and South regions (p < 0.05). The most frequent mutations were p.I172N, IVS2-13A/C>G, p.V281L and p.Q318X, and significant differences in their distributions were found: p.V281L was more frequent in the Southeast and p.Q318X in the Center-West and Northeast regions (p < 0.05). Thirteen new mutations were identified in 3.8%-15.2% of alleles, being more prevalent in the North region, and six mutations presented a founder effect gene. Genotype-phenotype correlation varied from 75.9%-97.3% among regions. The low prevalence of the salt-wasting form, affected males and severe mutations in some regions indicated pitfalls in the clinical diagnosis. The good genotype-phenotype correlation confirms the usefulness of molecular diagnosis; however, the Brazilian population also presents significant prevalence of novel mutations, which should be considered for a molecular panel.

PMID:37011374 | DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000593

Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Mar 30;67(3):372-377. doi: 10.20945/2359-3997000000590.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the distribution profile of thyroidectomies in Brazil from 2010 to 2020 from a macro-regional perspective.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, detailed and descriptive study built on secondary data obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). We organized the data in tables and grouped them according to the federative unit, macro-region, type of procedure, mortality rate, and year of performance. We performed statistical analysis using the χ² test to assess the association between the variables, observing a P value of < 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%.

RESULTS: From 2010 to 2020, 160 219 thyroidectomy surgeries were performed, of which 77 812 (48.56%) were total, 38 064 (23.76%) partial and 41 191 (25.70%) oncological. The Southeast was responsible for the largest share of procedures, with 70 745 (44.15%), followed by the Northeast with 43 887 (27.39%). In 2020, the procedure was less performed, with 9226 (5.75%) surgeries. The total mortality rate was 0.16% during the study period.

CONCLUSION: We found that thyroidectomies are carried out mainly in the Southeastern, Northeastern, and Southern regions, and showed a downward trend in 2020, which may be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, total thyroidectomy is the most performed surgery, and the Northern region had the highest mortality rate.

PMID:37011372 | DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000590

Tex Heart Inst J. 2023 Mar 1;50(2):e227867. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-22-7867.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pericardial effusion (PE) is a commonly encountered condition in clinical practice, but its etiology can be difficult to identify, with many cases remaining classified as idiopathic. This study aimed to investigate whether an association exists between asthma and idiopathic PE (IPE).

METHODS: Patients who had been diagnosed with PE in the authors’ outpatient cardiology clinics between March 2015 and November 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The study population was divided into 2 groups-non-IPE (NIPE) and IPE-based on whether a cause had been identified. Demographic, laboratory, and clinical data for the 2 groups were examined statistically.

RESULTS: A total of 714 patients were enrolled in the study after exclusion of 40 cases. Of these 714 patients, 558 were allocated to the NIPE group and 156 to the IPE group (NIPE group median [IQR] age, 50 [41-58] years vs IPE group median [IQR] age, 47 [39-56] years; P = .03). Asthma was significantly more prevalent among patients in the IPE group than among those in the NIPE group (n = 54 [34.6%] vs n = 82 [14.7%]; P < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, asthma (odds ratio, 2.67 [95% CI, 1.53-4.67]; P = .001) was found to be an independent predictor of IPE. In the IPE group, patients with asthma had either mild or moderate PE, with the right atrium being the most common location in these patients.

CONCLUSION: Asthma was an independent predictor of mild to moderate IPE. The right atrium was the most frequently encountered location for PE in patients with asthma.

PMID:37011363 | DOI:10.14503/THIJ-22-7867

Health Aff (Millwood). 2023 Apr;42(4):508-515. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01205.

ABSTRACT

Computer code that transfers data to third parties (third-party tracking) is common across the web and is subject to few federal privacy regulations. We determined the presence of potentially privacy-compromising data transfers to third parties on a census of US nonfederal acute care hospital websites, and we used descriptive statistics and regression analyses to determine the hospital characteristics associated with a greater number of third-party data transfers. We found that third-party tracking is present on 98.6 percent of hospital websites, including transfers to large technology companies, social media companies, advertising firms, and data brokers. Hospitals in health systems, hospitals with a medical school affiliation, and hospitals serving more urban patient populations all exposed visitors to higher levels of tracking in adjusted analyses. By including third-party tracking code on their websites, hospitals are facilitating the profiling of their patients by third parties. These practices can lead to dignitary harms, which occur when third parties gain access to sensitive health information that a person would not wish to share. These practices may also lead to increased health-related advertising that targets patients, as well as to legal liability for hospitals.

PMID:37011312 | DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01205