bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Retrospective Evaluation of Autopsy Findings and Histopathological Changes in Cases of Fatal Electrocution in Western Ghats of Karnataka, India.
Authors:   Postgraduate, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India., Bhat Pratima R , Jirli Prasanna S ,   Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India., Honnungar Ravindra S ,   Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India., Pujar Somashekhar ,   Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India., Koulapur Vishal V ,   Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India., B Manoranjan ,   Postgraduate, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KAHER, Belagavi, Karnataka 590010, India.
Published: January 2024

Background: The aim of this study is to give an account of autopsy findings and histopathological changes in fatal electrocution cases. A secondary aim was to know the epidemiological profile, cause of death, and its relation to the survival period in fatal electrical injuries. study design: A retrospective study was undertaken of all fatal electrocution cases autopsied in the mortuary of Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital of Belagavi, Karnataka, India between January 2011 to December 2021. Data was collected from autopsy reports, police information, and hospital records. It was further analyzed and expressed in percentages. results: Cases represented 8.2% of all autopsy cases. Only 27% of cases were due to low voltage electric current. Burn injury was seen in 81% of total cases. 43% of cases showed both entry and exit marks. When the skin of this area was sent for histopathological examination there was a mononuclear infiltrate and subepidermal separation seen. There were interstitial hemorrhages on the right atrium of the heart and hemorrhagic foci were seen on the kidneys and lungs too. Petechial hemorrhages were seen on the heart, lungs, and brain. conclusions: Histopathological findings can be used as evidence in determining the cause of death. Deaths due to electrocution demand closer awareness.
Dental Age Estimation using Demirjian's Methods: A Comparative study
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Forensic Medicine,Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., Mishra Ramkrishna , Srivastava Vinay Kumar ,   Professor and Dean, Faculty of Dental Sciences,  Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., Pandey Surendra Kumar ,   Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine,Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., PG Naveen Kumar ,   Professor, Department of Dental Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Published: January 2024

context: There are various methods have been developed for dental age estimation, of these; Demirjian’s seven teeth method is the most tested and accepted method worldwide. It is based on tooth development rather than tooth eruption, because the developmental process is strictly controlled by genes and less inﬂuenced by dietary insufficiency, endocrinal disturbances, and environmental insults. aims: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the applicability of two Demirjian’s methods in a sample of the Varanasi region. setting and design: This is a cross-sectional prospective study. material and methods: The evaluation of digital panoramic images of a total of 432 children and adolescents (237 boys and 195 girls) of age rang 3-16 years from the population of the Varanasi region. Seven left mandibular teeth excluding the third molar were rated and scored to obtain dental age using Dem73 and Dem76 methods. statistical analysis: Paired t-test was applied to determine the significant diﬀerence between estimated dental age and chronological age and correlation was established using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. results: The Dem73 method overestimated the dental age in boys by 0.23 (±0.80) years and by 0.12 (±0.85) years in the total sample. In the girls’ sample, there was no discernible diﬀerence in mean age. In boys, girls, and the total sample, the Dem76 method overestimated dental ages by 0.85 (±1.14), 0.45 (±1.00), and 0.67 (±1.10) years, respectively. Pearson’s correlation revealed a high coefficient value between dental and chronological ages. conclusions: Dem73 method is more applicable than the Dem76 method for age estimation among children and adolescents in the Varanasi region.
Prenatal Autopsy Research on Diverse Congenital Anomalies: A Teaching Institutional Experience
Authors:   Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, BG Nagara 571448, Karnataka, India., K N Kusuma , .. Sumaya ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, BG Nagara 571448, Karnataka, India., MG Abhishek ,   Professor and HOD, Department of Pathology, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, BG Nagara 571448, Karnataka, India.
Published: January 2024

CONTEXT: According to estimates, 3-7% of the world’s population suff ers from congenital diseases, however the true percentage may differ substantially because cases in developing countries are sometimes not reported. Fetal autopsies are crucial for confi rming fetal congenital anomalies despite antenatal diagnostic techniques. In order to categorize congenital defects systemically and correlate these lesions with radiological results, the current investigation is being conducted. AIMS: The present study is undertaken to study and categorizing the various congenital anomalies according system wise involvement and to correlate these lesions with radiological findings wherever available. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross sectional study. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The retrospective study was carried out at the Pathology department. The request form was used to collect clinical and radiological information, and each case was reviewed in accordance with protocol. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: SPSS software was used for the statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean and median were calculated. Finally, anomalies were categorized system wise. RESULT: The study comprised 85 cases with a 1.9:1 male to female fetal ratio. The most frequently affected system was a central nervous system. An unusual case of Patau and Down syndrome was identifed. CONCLUSION: Fetal autopsy aids in the detection of a number of congenital malformations as well as the provision of information regarding the likelihood of these anomalies recurring in the future. Regular antenatal check-ups with specific diagnostic test help to avoid congenital anomalies in subsequent pregnancies.
Impact of Winter Season and Other Contributory Variables on Estimation of Time Since Death using Livor and Rigor Mortis in Varanasi Region
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of Forensic Medicine,Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., Singh Jyotsana , Kumar Ambrish ,   Research Scholar, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., Mishra Ramkrishna ,   Research Scholar, Department of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India., Pandey Surendra Kumar ,   Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND: A significant question in forensic casework is the estimation of time since death (TSD) in the early post-mortem phase. Muscles undergo a condition of rigor mortis following death, accompanied by post-mortem consumption of adenosine triphosphate. Lividity is a dark purple coloration of the skin induced by blood accumulating in the affected area. Environmental factors play a crucial part in the determination of TSD using different parameters through various methods. AIMS: The purpose of this study is assessment of TSD and effect of contributory variables on existence of rigor mortis and fixation of lividity in cadavers kept at room temperature during winter season in Varanasi region. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a prospective and observational study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 102 cadavers escorted for medicolegal autopsy at the mortuary of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi for the duration of consecutive two years in winter season from December 2019 - February 2020 and November 2020 - February 2021. RESULT: All the cases were studied for rigor mortis and found an average post-mortem interval of 18.67 ± 9.43 hrs. Post-mortem lividity was found to be not fixed in 21 (20.59%) cases before 10hrs, while 76 (74.51%) cases of lividity had already been fixed after 10hrs and 5 (4.9%) cases of lividity were found to be not observable. CONCLUSION: Livor and rigor mortis have minimal predictive potential due to the effect of different contributory variables on the development of rigor and fixation of lividity.
Intracardiac Metastasis of SCC Of Lung: Rare Unusual Incidental Finding on Autopsy Case Report
Authors:   Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India., Dawani Astha , Panchonia Ashok ,   Professor, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India., Jaiswal Sunil ,   Demonstrator, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India., Shinde Pankaj ,   Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India., Kiyawat Priyanka ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital, Indore 452001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Published: January 2024

INTRODUCTION: Metastasic tumors of the heart are extremely rare and these cases are mostly diagnosed at autopsy. Although being rare, these tumors are 30 - 40 times more common than the primary cardiac tumors. The incidence of metastatic tumor of the heart is 1.5 to 20.6% which is gradually increasing in number. In the majority of carcinomas metastatic to the heart,the primary tumor is in the thoracic cavity or contiguous area, and the tumor reaches the heart by metastasizing to the mediastinal lymph nodes and from there it extends in a retrograde fashion to the cardiac lymph vessels. METHODOLOGY: Autopsy was conducted on a 40-year-old male patient who had died of a chronic unknown illness and his organs which included heart, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys ere received in our department. OBSERVATION AND RESULTS: Microsections from lung and various portions of the heart showed a well diff erentiated SCCs with keratinization and sporadic keratin pearls. CONCLUSION: Metastasis to the heart develops very rarely as the initial presentation of a malignancy. Most of the patients have widespread metastasis and cardiac involvement is usually diagnosed at autopsy. Although cardiac metastasis from heart is rare, the possibility of the primary should be considered in the absence of a previous history, symptoms or even a discrete lesion.
A Ruptured Ovarian Ectopic Pregnancy in a Tubectomy Patient: A Rare Case Report
Authors:   Junior Resident, Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha 442001, Maharashtra, India., Saluja Naina , Makarande Jayant S. ,   Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha 442001, Maharashtra, India.
Published: January 2024

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian pregnancy is extremely uncommon, and when it does occur, it typically occurs in young, multiparous women who are extremely fertile. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case ofa 33-year-old multiparous female who underwent bilateral tubectomy 4 years back, presented with abdominal pain, and was diagnosed as ruptured ectopic pregnancy and was confi rmed intra-operatively and histopathological as ovarian pregnancy. DIAGNOSIS: Ruptured Ovarian Ectopic Pregnancy. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION: The patient was immediately taken for surgery with blood transfusion (2 unit prc), laparotomy was done and the ruptured ovary was removed and cauterized. CONCLUSION: We want to conclude that although ectopic ovarian or tubal gestation following tubectomy is uncommon, one must take this possibility into account if the patient exhibits the classic signs and symptoms of ectopic gestation after a history of amenorrhea. Better investigations and imaging technique knowledge are therefore vitally needed for early diagnosis in order to give time for conservative non-surgical management and lower morbidity related to blood loss and surgery.
Clinical Profile of Cases of Neonatal Pneumonia
Authors:   Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Janakpuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110058., R Shrikanth , Tripathi Harshita ,   Junior Consultant, Department of Pediatrics, Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, Janakpuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110058.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Respiratory distress (RD) in neonates is one of the important clinical manifestations of a variety of disorders of the respiratory system and non-respiratory disorders. The high percentage of babies with respiratory distress is because babies have minimal respiratory reserve and they can encounter numerous problems in transition from intrauterine to extra-uterine life. Methodology: All the babies born at or referred to NICU of Hospital during the neonatal period of (0-28) days of birth and meeting the criteria for case definition were included in the study. Sample size 150 consecutive newborns with respiratory distress were considered as cases for this study. Results: None of the clinical features were significantly associated with outcome in neonates with pneumonia except respiratory rate  60/min. Conclusion: Chest retraction and tachypnea had high sensitivity. Grunting, lethargy, poor feeding & hypothermia had high specificity.
A Study on Immediate outcome in Late Preterm Neonates at Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India., D.C Divyarani , R. Patil Goudappa ,   Department of Pediatrics, Gulburga Institute of Medical Sciences, Kalaburgi, Karnataka 585101, India.
Published: January 2024

ntroduction: Surfactant replacement therapy is one of the best studied therapies in neonates. It has been shown in numerous clinical trials to be successful in ameliorating RDS. These trials have examined the effects of surfactant preparations delivered through the endo tracheal tube either within minutes of birth(prophylactic treatment) or after the symptoms and signs of RDS are present (selective or “rescue” treatment). Methodology: Details regarding maternal risk factors were collected by detailed history taking and the medical records with them. The infants in the sample were followed throughout their stay in the SNCU and postnatal wards, up until hospital discharge. Data were collected from infants and mothers medical records and supplemented with additional information collected at discharge using a structured form covering the variables of interest. Variables relating to the mothers and their infants were analyzed Results: Regarding respiratory morbidities, 34 neonates presented with respiratory distress secondary to pneumonia which accounts for 2%. 2 of the neonates presented as TTNB which accounts for about 2%. 62 neonates didn’t have any respiratory distress which accounts for about6 2%. Conclusion: Birth asphyxia constitutes the second most morbidity with 41 neonates affected which constitute about 41%. A large number of the infants in this study had respiratory distress 34%, followed by Pneumonia and TTN.
Early Neonatal Morbidities of Late Preterm Neonates Admitted to SNCU in the Government District Hospital
Authors:   Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Gulburga Institute of medical sciences, Kalaburgi, Karnataka 585101, India., R. Patil Goudappa , D.C Divyarani ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kodagu Institute of medical sciences, Madikeri, Karnataka 571201, India.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: The rate of preterm birth is increasing worldwide primarily at the expense of late preterm newborns. Late preterm infants are the fastest growing sub group of neonates and constitute approximately75% of all preterm birth sin2009. The birth rate of late preterm new borns has increased by 25% from 1990 to 2005 in the United States. Methodology: Details regarding maternal risk factors were collected by detailed history taking and the medical records with them. The infants in the sample were followed throughout their stay in the SNCU and postnatal wards, up until hospital discharge. Data were collected from infants and mothers medical records and supplemented with additional information collected at discharge using a structured form covering the variables of interest. Results: Hyperbilirubinaemia, Sepsis, Birth asphyxia and respiratory distress constitute the major neonatal morbidities which accounts for 68%, 68%, 41% & 34% respectively. Conclusion: Rate of re hospitalization is high in late preterm neonates.
Role of ScvO2 in the Management of Fluid Refractory and Cathecholamine Resistant Shock among Children: A Hospital Based Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors:   Assistant Professor,Department of Paediatrics, Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Kumbhari, Solapur, Maharashtra 413006, India, Vidyanand Chavan Manisha , Milind Patil Pratibha ,   Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Kumbhari, Solapur, Maharashtra 413006, India, Haval Mandar ,   Consultant Paediatrician, Department of Paediatrics, Ashwini Rural Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Kumbhari, Solapur, Maharashtra 413006, India
Published: January 2024

ackground: The highest mortality rates are observed in children under five years in developing countries. Shock is the result of various etiologies and the leading causes of shock in children younger than 5 years of age. More specifically, the outcome benefit of further optimizing metabolic parameters, namely ScvO2, directed therapy remains unknown. Even though current ACCM/PALS guidelines represent best practice, prospective randomized trials are lacking to confirm all components of these recommendations. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the role of ScvO2 in management of fluid refractory. Methods: The study design was one year randomized controlled trial. Institutional Ethical Clearance was obtained for the study prior beginning of the study. Children fulfilling the selection criteria were selected After obtained written informed consent, demographic data was recorded and history was taken. Clinical examination was done for all patients and findings were recorded on predesigned and pretested proforma. Result: 31.37% children in group A and 27.45% in group B presented with fever. Majority of the children were hypotensives. 66.67% of patients in both the groups had ephedrine. Outcome among children with group B was significantly better (94.12%) compared to group A (80.39%) supporting the current ACCM/PALS guidelines. Conclusion: It may be concluded that, ScvO2 in management of fluid refractory and catecholamine resistant shock has reduced the mortality but did not influence the hospital stay.
Failure to Thrive: A Rare Case Report
Authors:   Additional Professor ,Dept. of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala 680596, India., Keshavan T.M. Ananda , Preethi Thomas Elizabeth ,   Senior Resident, Dept. of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala 680596, India.
Published: January 2024

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease with an incidence of about 1 in 2500– 3300. Neurological manifestations may be due to involvement of the cerebrum, spine, cranial nerves and peripheral nerves. The severity of NF1 depends on the area of the brain involved. In children they may present with features of failure to thrive, when the lesion involves the hypothalamic area. We are presenting a rare case of diencephalic syndrome with involvement of hypothalamus, chiasm, suprasellar region, midbrain and cerebellum.
End Stage Renal Disease: AVF for Hemodialysys: Clinical Assessment with/without Ultrasound Doppler, Complications and Failure
Authors:   Professor, Department of Radiology, PIMS Medical College, Garha Road, Jalandhar 144001, Punjab, India., Seth Sunil , Nagi Gurinderjit Singh ,   Professor, Department of Surgery, PIMS Medical College, Garha Road, Jalandhar 144001, Punjab, India., Seth Suruchi ,   ssociate Professor, Department of Dental Sciences, PIMS Medical College, Garha Road, Jalandhar 144001, Punjab, India.
Published: January 2024

Objective/Background: The objective of this study was to study the complications and failure rate after creating an arteriovenous fistula in patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (chronic renal failure). It was also intended to study the importance of preoperative Clinical assessment/physical examination of the patient; and if the vessels for anastomosis appeared to be of a doubtful size, then a doppler study was done to ensure that the vein is of adequate size for creation of a good fistula. Method: In this study 121 cases of end-stage renal disease (chronic renal failure) who needed vascular access for hemodialysis were taken. Ultrasound Doppler study was conducted in those patients whose vessels (for anastomosis) appeared to be of small size on Clinical examination. In the study, the arteriovenous fistulae were created under local anesthesia observing all aseptic precautions. Results: Most commonly, the difficulty encountered during surgery was when the caliber of the vein was small i.e. less than 2.5 mm. An arteriovenous fistula was created only when the size of the vein was at least 2.0 mm. When the size of the vein was small, then a longitudinal incision was given in the vein or Cheatlemanouvre was undertaken to perform the anastomosis. In 4 of the 121 cases when radiocephalic fistula was attempted, we had to convert to brachio-cephalic. No major complication was encountered during the surgery or post-operatively. Some patients (five) had redness and inflammation. Inflammation and redness subsided with antibiotics and it resulted in satisfactory recovery. The fistulas started well showing good thrill. After 30 days, 106 out of 121 AV fistulas created were functioning very well with a patency rate of 87.6%. Conclusion: There was no major complication after creating an arteriovenous fistula. It is important to do a thorough physical examination before surgery so that the vessel is assessed. In doubtful cases, an ultrasound doppler study should be done to know the size and patency of the vessel. We should also take relevant history especially of hypertension, diabetes, i/v canulation, etc.
Role of Upper Limb Elevation in the Management of Hand Edema in a Patient with External Fixator Our Experience
Authors:   Senior Resident, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India., K. Nishad. , Thomas Neljo ,   Senior Resident, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India., Chittoria Ravi Kumar ,   Professor, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India., Singh Barath Kumar ,   Senior Resident, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India., Chakiath Jacob Antony ,   Senior Resident, Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry 605006, India.
Published: January 2024

Upper limb edema after any trauma or after any surgical procedure is very common. The edema of the hands can cause many complications including the stiffness of the joints. So, the edema of the hands should be managed promptly to get optimal results. There are many methods to reduce hand edema. Hand elevation is one of the time-tested methods to deal with hand edema. Hand elevation can be done by various methods. But a certain number of patients who are on skeletal stabilization with an external fixator can find it difficult to elevate using a conventional cuff and collar or pillow. In such a patient we tried hand elevation using a cloth and an IV stand. The hand circumference of the patient was measured daily using a fabric tape and the findings were noted serially for two weeks results showed that edema reduced considerably following elevation. The method is easy, safe, reproducible, and less costly.
A Case Report on Thoracotomy for Left Bronchogenic Cyst Excision
Authors:   3rd Year Resident,Department of General Surgery, SMIMER, Hospital, Umarwapa, Surat-395003, Gujarat, India., Mehta Parth Nilesh , Chauhan Harish Devjibhai ,   Professor, Department of General Surgery, SMIMER, Hospital, Umarwapa, Surat-395003, Gujarat, India.
Published: January 2024

Bronchogenic cysts are uncommon congenital anomalies of foregut origin usually located within the mediastinum and the lung and are rarely diagnosed in adults. Surgical excision is recommended to establish a diagnosis based on histologic examination, alleviate symptoms if present, and prevent future complications. The thoracoscopic approach is becoming the primary therapeutic option.
Success in Prevention of Casing Failures Opposite Salts, Little Knife Field, ND
Authors: Rike E. A.
Published: January 2024

Early in 1981, Gulf became aware of a severe problem with casing failures opposite salts in the Little Knife Field. A concerted effort WRS initiated at that time to isolate and remedy the cause of failures. By properly designing tubulars, utilizing a relaxed invert oil emulsion drilling fluid, and properly designing cementing programs, the problem has been arrested. In the 22 wells drilled in the Little Knife Field since initiation of this drilling program in 1981, there have been no instances of casing failure.
Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root foraging and competitive ability depend on soil phosphorus distribution: Evidence from two pairs of invasive and native plants
Authors: Yao Na-Na , Wang Xiao-Jing , Deng Hao-Hui , Fan Sheng-Qi , Zhang Hai-Jie , Peng Shao-Lin , Chen Bao-Ming
Published: January 2024

Besides uptake of nutrients by roots, plants can acquire nutrients through arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF play a crucial role in plant growth and competition. However, few studies have investigated the effects of AMF on root-foraging and competition between invasive and native species in response to heterogeneous nutrients. Two pairs of invasive and native plants of the Asteraceae family were selected to create a common garden experiment involving three factors (heterogeneous vs. homogeneous phosphorus (P), with vs. without AMF, and monoculture vs. mixture). The results showed that AMF significantly reduced the foraging scale of the invasive species, Bidens pilosa,and decreased the precision of the invasive species, Praxelis clematidea, and the native species, Emilia sonchifolia. In monoculture, AMF significantly decreased the total biomass of the two invasive species under heterogeneous P rather than homogeneous P, which was confirmed by N and P uptake. In mixture, heterogeneity significantly decreased the tolerance competitive ability of B. pilosabut increased that of P. clematidea. In the homogeneous P, AMF significantly decreased the suppression ability of B. pilosa, while in the heterogeneous P, AMF decreased that of P. clematidea. Heterogeneous P with AMF increased the suppression ability of B. pilosa but decreased that of P. clematidea. The interactive effects of AMF and soil P distribution on root foraging and nutrient uptake and competition differ among the four species and show invasive-native pair differences. These findings provide valuable insights into the interactive effects and highlight the context dependency of these interactions.
Improving Semen Quality of rams fed with ration containing protected maggot oil
Authors: Septiana Tabita Thertini , Khotijah Lilis , Wiryawan I Komang Gede
Published: January 2024

Black soldier fly maggot oil has emerged as a potential alternative energy source for livestock because of its high-fat content, which contains lauric, myristic, oleic, and palmitic acids that are known to improve livestock reproduction. A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding protected maggot oil at different levels on the macroscopic and microscopic ram sperm quality. The study used 15 local rams with an age of approximately 10–12 months. The study used a randomized group design with treatments in the form of concentrates containing different levels of protected maggot oil: P0(0 protected maggot oil (control)), P1(4% protected maggot oil), and P2(8% protected maggot oil). The variables measured were nutrient consumption, blood cholesterol levels, scrotal circumference, and sperm quality. The data obtained were analysed using ANOVA. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the consumption of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, scrotal circumference, and semen macroscopic quality. The 4% and 8% protected maggot oil treatments produced significantly (p < 0.05) higher consumption of lauric, myristic, and oleic acids, blood cholesterol levels, and sperm motility than the control, but there were no significant differences between P1 and P2. It can be concluded that protected maggot oil up to 8% can increase the availability of lauric, myristic, and oleic fatty acids, and improve microscopic sperm quality.
ESRNN: Effective Residual Self-Attention Recurrent Neural Network with Soft Threading Function for Sound Event Location
Authors: Zhang Bin , He Jiawen , Liu Peishun , Wang Liang , Zhou Hao , Wang Xuening , Tang Ruichun
Published: January 2024

Sound event location is a critical aspect of two-dimensional direction-of-arrival (2D-DOA) estimation, predicting azimuth and elevation angles in 3D Cartesian coordinates for active sound events using multi-label regression. Challenges with conventional methods like the multi-signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm and baseline convolution recurrent neural network (BCRNN) include decreased precision and high computational demands, particularly in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments (SNR\textless-5 dB). Our work introduces an innovative solution, the effective residual self-attention recurrent neural network (ESRNN). ESRNN addresses distortion problems in low SNR conditions caused by the MUSIC algorithm, also enhancing 2D-DOA prediction accuracy in various SNR-reverberation scenarios. We propose two filter structures, ESRNN-L and ESRNN-G, tailored for SNRs above 0 dB and below -5 dB, respectively. Evaluating on TAU Spatial Sound Events 2019 datasets with synthetic SNRs from -10 dB to 30 dB, our experiments demonstrate ESRNN-L achieves a 21 \(%\) lower 2D-DOA error than BCRNN at SNRs below -5 dB. Additionally, ESRNN-G exhibits a 15$%$ lower error with a 10$%$ parameter reduction when SNRs exceed 0 dB. When compared with other principal attention methods through ablation study, it also showcases the model's efficiency and robustness.
Optimization of Machine Tool Settings for Spirac Hypoid Gears by Controlling Symmetry of Contact Paths
Authors: Xuan Jiamin , Li Haitao , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2024

A new method is developed for computing the machine tool settings for Spirac hypoid gears by controlling the symmetry of contact paths on the concave and convex tooth surfaces of the gear. By modifying the angular setting of the head cutter when cutting the pinion, the direction angles of the two contact paths are equated to estimate their symmetry. The relation between the direction angles is formulated precisely, the influence of the angular setting on the contact paths is investigated, and the equations for obtaining the values of the machine tool settings are derived. The proposed method is applied to a numerical example of a Spirac hypoid gear pair, and the results reveal that the contact paths on the concave and convex tooth surfaces are approximately symmetrical and the transmission errors of both sides are comparable.
Performance Evaluation of DG Interconnected Radial Distribution System
Authors: Chauhan Gaurav , Bangia Sakshi
Published: January 2024

The distribution system has become very complex entity due to increase in power system utilities, so it is very difficult task to improve the voltage profile and to maintain the quality of power of such complex system. Distribution generation (DG) can play major role to enhance the power quality of the system and also improves the reliability of the system. DGs act as an active distribution system and form the link between high voltage transmission line and low voltage utility. This helps in reducing the active power loss of the system. This paper presents optimizing techniques for DG model in terms of operating point, size and location to minimize the active power loss of overall system. For the proposed objective functions the variation in power loss can be observed with respect to DG current injection. The load characteristics have been taken into consideration to develop the proposed techniques and the system has been treated as constant current model. The proposed system has been simulated and verified by MATLAB software for RDS (radial distribution system).
The Hospital Emigration to Another Region in the Light of the Environmental, Social and Governance Model in Italy During the Period 2004-2021
Authors: Resta Emanuela , Resta Onofrio , Costantiello Alberto , Leogrande Angelo
Published: January 2024

The following article presents an analysis of the impact of the Environmental, Social and Governance-ESG determinants on Hospital Emigration to Another Region-HEAR in the Italian regions in the period 2004-2021. The data are analysed using Panel Data with Random Effects, Panel Data with Fixed Effects, Pooled Ordinary Least Squares-OLS, Weighted Least Squares-WLS, and Dynamic Panel at 1 Stage. Results show that HEAR is negatively associated to E, positively to S and negatively associated to the G within the ESG model. The data were subjected to clustering with a k-Means algorithm optimized with the Silhouette coefficient. The optimal clustering with k=2 is compared to the sub-optimal cluster with k=3. The results suggest a negative relationship between the resident population and hospital emigration at regional level. Finally, a prediction is proposed with machine learning algorithms classified based on statistical performance. The results show that the Artificial Neural Network-ANN algorithm is the best predictor. The ANN predictions are critically analyzed in light of health economic policy directions.
JEL CODE: I11, I12, I13, I14, I15, I18
Cross-scale phase relationship of the Ca II K index with solar wind parameters: a Space Climate focus
Authors: Reda Raffaele , Giovannelli Luca , Alberti Tommaso
Published: January 2024

The solar wind, representing one of the most impacting phenomena in the circum-terrestrial space, constitute one of the several manifestation of the magnetic activity of the Sun. With the aim of shedding light on the scales beyond the rotational period of the Sun (i.e., Space Climate scales), this study investigates the phase relationship of a solar activity physical proxy, the Ca II K index, with solar wind properties measured near the Earth, over the whole space era (last 5 solar cycles). By taking advantage of a powerful tool such as the Hilbert-Huang Transform, we investigate the dependence of their phase coherence on the obtained time scale components. Phase coherence at same time scales is found between all the components, while it is preserved also between adjacent components with time scales $\gtrsim$ 2 yrs. Finally, given the availability of the intrinsic modes of oscillation, we explore how the relationship of Ca II K index with solar wind parameters depends on the time scale considered. According to our results, we hypothesize the presence of a bifurcation in Ca II K index - solar wind speed (dynamic pressure) phase-space, where the time scale seems to act as bifurcation parameter. This concept may be pivotal for unraveling the complex interplay between solar activity and solar wind, bearing implications from the prediction and the interpretation point of view in Space Climate studies.
Aerodynamic Performance Analysis on Various Wheel Configurations of Commercial Vehicle
Authors: Cho SeongJin , LEE SangWook
Published: January 2024

In this study, the aerodynamic characteristics of wheel layouts in commercial vehicles, including dual and tandem axle wheels, were investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with isolated and in-vehicle systems.
For the dual wheel system, an increase in offset distance reduced the drag by up to 31.2% for the Fackrell A2 wheels thanks to the decrease in the low pressure area behind the wheels. In the case of tandem wheel configuration, drag increased as the axle spread increased. As the axle spread increases, the rear wheels move out of the slipstream of the front wheel, causing a sharp increase in drag, while the front wheels' drag remains constant across all axle spreads. In a realistic commercial vehicle model, the same trend was observed. An increase in offset distance reduced the drag by approximately 4.30, and the increase in axle spread increased the drag by 4.62%.
These results are expected to contribute to the improvement of fuel efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the aerodynamic drag of commercial vehicles.
A novel high-frequency phase/frequency detector circuit with minimum dead zone for use in phase-locked loops For IoT applications
Authors: ghezelsofla Essmaeel , Ghorbani Alireza , javadifar nader
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a phase/frequency detector circuit is presented by using a transmission gate to minimize the dead zone in phase lock loop circuits. Reduction in power consumption, increase in speed and minimization of the dead zone which are the important parameters that are considered in the design of phase lock loop. Jitter decreasing and frequency range increasing is attained by correction in the operation of PFD block in PLL. The loss of the clock edge and the creation of a dead zone are the basic problems of the most of phase/frequency detectors at high frequencies. The lowest phase difference detectable by this circuit is 3 ps at the frequency of 4 GHz, which has a much better performance compared to other detectors. It should be noted that this circuit is capable of detecting very small phase differences at high frequencies. The occupied area of the designed circuit 39.5 * 44.5 µm2 and the power consumption is 490µ. The proposed circuit is simulated in 0.18µm TSMC technology with 1.8v power supply.
Glutamatergic system regulates feather pecking behaviors in laying hens: the gut-brain axis mechanism
Authors: Yan Xiliang , Wang Chao , Li Yaling , Lin Yating , Wu Yinbao , Wang Yan
Published: January 2024

Background
Feather pecking (FP), characterized by pecking at and pulling out of feathers of conspecifics, is a serious welfare and economic problem in laying hen husbandry. There is increasing evidence pointing pout to a critical role of gut microbiota in regulating host behaviors. However, the biological mechanism underlying the role of gut microbiota in FP is still unclear, evidenced by the lack of an appropriate treatment.
Results
In this work, we applied a multi-omics approach combined with a series of physiology assays to investigate the gut-brain axis of FP behavior. We show that chronic treatment with environmental stress induced severe FP accompanied by reduced production performance and increased anxiety- and depression-related behaviors, in comprison with control-treated laying hens. In addition, the immune system was severely suppressed in FP chickens. It is worth noting that the diversity and composition of gut microbiota were significantly altered, and thus leading to the reduced stability in microbial community. Importantly, a variety of differential metabolites were identified from non-targeted metabolomic analysis, which were mainly associated with arginine and histidine biosynthesis. A significant increase of glutamate levels was also observed in the hippocampus of FP chickens. Moreover, the eukaryotic transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that the expressions of two glutamate-related receptors, GRIN2A and SLC17A6, were significantly upregulated in the hippocampus. Spearman correlation analysis showed that both genes GRIN2A and SLC17A6 in the hippocampus were significantly positively correlated with arginine levels in the duodenum, and Romboutsia in the duodenum were significantly negatively correlated with arginine.
Conclusions Romboutsia
and other bacteria genera in the intestine may increase the plasma levels of arginine and histidine by increasing the synthesis of arginine and histidine and decreasing the metabolism of arginine, which in turn increases glutamate levels and GRIN2A and SLC17A6 gene expression in the hippocampus, and regulates the glutamatergic system to influence the FP behavior of laying hens.
Heat transfer in material having random thermal conductivity using Monte Carlo simulation and deep neural network
Authors: kumar rakesh
Published: January 2024

Stochastic heat transfer simulations play a pivotal role in capturing real-world uncertainties, where randomness in material properties and boundary conditions are present. Traditional methods, such as Monte Carlo simulation , perturbation methods, and polynomial chaos expansion, have provided valuable insights but face challenges in efficiency and accuracy, particularly in high-dimensional systems. This paper introduces a methodology for one-dimensional heat transfer modeling that incorporates random boundary conditions and treats thermal conductivity as a random process The proposed approach integrates Monte Carlo simulation with Cholesky decomposition to generate a vector of thermal conductivity realizations, capturing the inherent randomness in material properties. Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations based on these realizations yield rich datasets of temperatures at various locations. A deep neural network (DNN) is then trained on this FEM data, enabling not only rapid and accurate temperature predictions but also bidirectional computations—predicting temperatures based on thermal conductivity and inversely estimating thermal conductivity from observed temperatures.
Emergency Department Care Experiences among 2SLGBTQQIA+ Patients: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Chard Sidonie , Karabelas-Pittman Sawyer , Martin Kel , Chapple Elliot , Messenger David , Bartels Susan , Walker Melanie
Published: January 2024

Background Equity-deserving groups (EDG), including those who identify as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and/or asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+), are disproportionately treated in the Emergency Department (ED). This study aimed to understand ED care experiences of 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals compared to those who do not identify as equity-deserving in Kingston, Canada, ultimately aiming to enhance inclusivity and better meet healthcare needs.
Methods Data were collected through a mixed qualitative/quantitative cross-sectional study using a novel electronic survey tool (Spryng.io), which purposely integrates qualitative and quantitative data, while minimising researcher bias. A community-based participatory approach was employed to involve community stakeholders. Participants were recruited from the Kingston Health Sciences Centre's ED, Urgent Care Centre, and at community-based organisations. Quantitative data were analysed using chi-squared tests, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results were triangulated. Focus group discussions with community partners were then undertaken to contextualise findings.
Results Compared to the control group (n=949), 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals (n=118) felt their identity had a more negative impact on their care (p<0.0001) and experienced more judgment and disrespect from healthcare providers (HCPs) (p<0.0001). Four themes emerged from triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data: (1) mixed emotions regarding ED care; (2) transgender and non-binary health care considerations; (3) unmet mental health needs; and (4) lack of patient-centred care for 2SLGBTQQIA+ patients.
Conclusions This study highlights the need for 2SLGBTQQIA+-specific competency training for ED HCPs to provide effective, patient-centered care. 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals often face unmet mental health care needs, requiring tailored mental health care provision in the ED. Intersectionality within the 2SLGBTQQIA+ population underscores the importance of trauma-informed care. Strategies to improve 2SLGBTQQIA+ healthcare include implementing safer spaces, clear feedback mechanisms, referrals to gender-affirming specialists, and privacy in triage. Further research should assess the impact of educational interventions on HCP knowledge and patient experiences in the ED.
Toxicometabolomics-Based Cardiotoxicity Evaluation of Thiazolidinedione Exposure in Human-Derived Cardiomyocytes.
Authors: Sultan Abdullah Al , Rattray Zahra , Rattray Nicholas J. W.
Published: January 2024

Introduction
Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), represented by pioglitazone and rosiglitazone, are a class of cost-effective oral antidiabetic agents posing a marginal hypoglycaemia risk. Nevertheless, observations of heart failure have hindered the clinical use of both therapies.
Objective
Since the mechanism of TZD-induced heart failure remains largely uncharacterised, this study aimed to explore the as-yet-unidentified mechanisms underpinning TZD cardiotoxicity using a toxicometabolomics approach.
Methods
The present investigation included an untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry-based toxicometabolomics pipeline, followed by multivariate statistics and pathway analyses to elucidate the mechanism(s)of TZD-induced cardiotoxicity using AC16 human cardiomyocytes as a model, and to identify the prognostic features associated with such effects.
Results
Acute administration of either TZD agent resulted in a significant modulation in carnitine content, reflecting potential disruption of the mitochondrial carnitine shuttle. Furthermore, perturbations were noted in purine metabolism and amino acid fingerprints, strongly conveying aberrations in cardiac energetics associated with TZD usage. The results also highlighted changes in polyamines (spermine and spermidine) and amino acid levels (L-tyrosine and valine), indicating phenotypic alterations in cardiac tissue (hypertrophy), which represents another characteristic of cardiotoxicity and a potential associated mechanism. In addition, this comprehensive study identified two groupings – (i) valine and creatine, and (ii) L-tryptophan and L-methionine – that were significantly enriched in the above-mentioned mechanisms, emerging as potential fingerprint biomarkers for pioglitazone and rosiglitazone cardiotoxicity, respectively.
Conclusion
These findings demonstrate the utility of toxicometabolomics in elaborating on mechanisms of drug toxicity and identifying potential biomarkers, thus encouraging its application in the toxicological sciences.