Per journal policy, no abstract is required for the section EP Rounds.

We define the higher order weighted Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative of Caputo sense, and study main properties of the higher order weighted Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative and integral. In addition, we establish existence of solutions for nonlinear equations using Schaefer’s fixed point theorem, $\alpha$-$\psi$-Contraction theorem, ect. Finally, we test our obtained results through three examples.

There are over 90 clinical trials including drug repositioning that have been initiated to get COVID-19 treatment/management. Antibiotic resistance, drug tolerance, mutation and adverse drug effects possess a great deal of setback during therapy especially with emerging infectious diseases and this necessitates the need for research into getting new drugs or repositioning the existing ones to meet up with the treatment of both infectious and non-infectious diseases affecting humanity. Drug repositioning is a stepwise process that aid in discovering new indications and therapeutic targets of drugs and it usually takes 3-12 years on the average to be completed whereas in drug discovery, an average of 10-17 years is needed for the whole process. This is because in repositioning, research process goes directly to preclinical testing and clinical trials since both the toxicological and pharmacological profile of the drug to be repositioned is known, thus reducing time, risk, and costs. Based on 2009 statistics, 30% of all drugs sold in that year are products of repositioning while only one out of one million potential drug candidates have the possibility of entry into clinical studies with a tendency of having a significant number of failures. Hence the urgent need to discover new uses of existing drugs especially with the emergence of human and animal diseases such as Covid-19 and the high incidence of drug tolerance and resistance. Drug repositioning is therefore considered as an alternative way as it entails the discovery of new therapeutic indications for already existing drugs.

The leukocyte immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptors (LILRs), is constituted by five inhibitory subpopulations (LILRB1-5) and six stimulatory subpopulations (LILRA1-6). The LILR populations substantially reside in immune cells, especially myeloid cells, functioning as a regulator in immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory responses, during which the nonclassical MHC class I molecules are widely involved. In addition, LILRs are also distributed in certain tumor cells, implicated in the malignancy progression. Collectively, the suppressive Ig-like LILRB2 is relatively well-studied to date. Herein, we summarized the whole family of LILRs and their biologic function in various diseases upon ligation to the critical ligands, therefore providing more information on their potential roles in these pathological processes and giving the clinical significance of strategies targeting LILRs.

Mechanical wounding is a common factor inducing herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) production during almost all insect infestations. Additionally, α-farnesene is one of the HIPVs that accumulate in tea plants following infestations by most insects. However, the specific mechanism underlying the wounding-regulated accumulation of α-farnesene remains unclear, especially at the level of epigenetic regulation. Moreover, α-farnesene in tea plants has not been functionally characterized. In this study, we observed that histone deacetylase inhibitors treatment can induce the accumulation of α-farnesene. Subsequent analyses of protein interactions and GUS activity revealed that the histone deacetylase CsHDA6 can interact directly with CsMYC2, which is an important transcription factor in the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway, and co-regulate the expression of the key α-farnesene synthesis gene CsAFS. Wounding caused by an insect infestation affected CsHDA6 production at the transcript and protein levels, while also inhibiting the binding of CsHDA6 to the CsAFS promoter. The resulting increased acetylation of histones H3 and H4 in CsAFS enhanced the expression of CsAFS and the accumulation of α-farnesene. Furthermore, a large amount of α-farnesene can protect tea plants from tea geometrid infestations by attracting the natural enemy of the insect pest. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the effect of histone acetylation on the production of tea plant HIPVs and revealed the importance of the CsHDA6-CsMYC2 transcriptional regulatory module for the accumulation of the anti-insect metabolite α-farnesene in tea plants following an insect infestation.

Heat stress during the reproductive stage results in major losses in yield and quality, which might be mainly caused by an energy imbalance. However, how energy status affected heat response, yield and quality remains unclear. No relationships were observed among the heat resistance, yield, and quality of the forty-nine early rice cultivars under normal temperature conditions. However, two cultivars, Zhuliangyou30 (ZLY30) than Luliangyou35 (LLY35), differing in heat resistance, yield, and quality were detected. The yield was higher and the chalkiness degree was lower in ZLY30 than in LLY35. Decreases in yields and increases in the chalkiness degree with temperatures were more pronounced in LLY35 than in ZLY30. The accumulation and allocation (ratio of the panicle to the whole plant) of dry matter weight and non-structural carbohydrates were higher in ZLY30 than in LLY35 across all sowing times and temperatures. The ATP content was higher in the grains of LLY35 than in ZLY30, whereas the ATPase activity, which determined the energy status, was significantly lower in the former than in the latter. Thus, increased ATPase activity, which improved the energy status of rice, was the factor mediating the balance among heat-resistance, high-yield, and high-quality traits in rice.

Advanced oxidation processes based on the sulfate radicals (SR-AOPs) have been considered as promising methods to eliminate the organic contaminants from wastewater. In this work, the urchin-like Co3O4 was prepared and developed as an efficient heterogenous catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of crystal violet (CV). The morphological observations by SEM and TEM confirmed a distinct urchin-like structure of as-prepared Co3O4 sample. XRD pattern indicated that all the characteristic diffraction peaks belonged to Co3O4 with the face-centered-cubic spinel structure. The contrast experiments showed that the CV degradation efficiency in urchin-like Co3O4/PMS system was much higher than that in pristine PMS or Co3O4 system, suggesting that PMS could be effectively activated by the urchin-like Co3O4 for CV degradation. Kinetic studies revealed that CV degradation reaction in urchin-like Co3O4/PMS system followed the retarded first-order model. The process optimization of CV degradation was implemented by response surface methodology (RSM).

The objective of this work is therefore, to study the removal of three organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, fenthion and malathion), by their adsorption on waste cellulosic basic. The Waste cellulosic basic was characterized using FTIR, XRD, BET and SEM techniques. The effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, temperature and ionic strength were evaluated and the removal efficiency of each parameter was established. The objective of this work is therefore, to study the removal of three organophosphate pesticides (diazinon, fenthion and malathion), by their adsorption on waste cellulosic basic. The Waste cellulosic basic was characterized using FTIR, XRD, BET and SEM techniques. The effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, temperature and ionic strength were evaluated and the removal efficiency of each parameter was established. OUR WORK INVOLVES ISOTHERMS AND A THERMODYNAMIC STUDY

Polyamines are potential source of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in plants under abiotic stress. However, the correlation between polyamine degradation and GABA accumulation in tea plants exposed to drought stress is unclear. In the present study, the contents of GABA and putrescine in tea leaves were increased significantly under drought stress, but the glutamate level did not change. At the same time, five copper-containing amine oxidase ( CuAO) and eight aminoaldehyde dehydrogenase ( AMADH) genes involved in putrescine-derived GABA pathway were identified from Tea Plant Information Archive. Expression analysis indicated that CsCuAO1, CsCuAO3, as well as CsAMADH1 were induced to play important function in response to exogenous putrescine or under drought stress. Thus, the three genes were cloned and their soluble recombinant proteins were produced in Escherichia coli. The catalytic efficiency, the pH and temperature optima of them were determined. CsCuAOs and CsAMADH1 exhibited indispensable function in the GABA production from putrescine in vitro. Subcellular localization assays indicated that CsAMADH1 was localized in plastid, while both CsCuAO1 and CsCuAO3 were localized in peroxisome. In addition, the synergistic effects of CsCuAOs and CsAMADH1 were investigated by transient co-expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana. The overexpression of CsAMADH1 lines in Arabidopsis showed increased GABA level supplemented with exogenous putrescine. Our data suggests that these three genes participate the GABA production through putrescine degradation in tea plants that associate with the response to drought stress.

PVC (premature ventricular complex) is one of the most typical arrhythmias detected in young patients. We report a case of a patient with symptomatic high burden PVC origin from posterolateral RVOT.

Background. Isoniazid (INH) is one of the drugs in the classical therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis. Several INH population pharmacokinetic models were established in the last ten years. This systemic review was performed i) to summarize published population pharmacokinetic (PPK) models of INH and ii) to summarize and explore identified covariates influencing the INH pharmacokinetic models. Methods. A search of publication for population pharmacokinetic analyses of INH either in healthy volunteers or patients from 2011 to 2021 was conducted in PubMed databases. Reviews, methodology articles, non-compartmental analysis, in-vitro, and animal studies, were excluded. Results. 12 studies were included in this review. INH pharmacokinetics was described as two-compartment with first-order absorption and elimination in most of the included studies. In most of the studies, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2 ) genotype polymorphism (n=11) was the most common identified covariates affecting INH pharmacokinetic parameters. Body weight (n=2) and body mass index (BMI) (n=1) were the most common significant covariates retained in the final model. Conclusions . The population pharmacokinetic of INH has been extensively reviewed and the published PPK models of INH and its parameters were summarized in this review. The PPK variability of INH was reported to be explained mainly by the NAT2 genotype polymorphism on the clearance (CL) parameter. This review shows that to optimise and rationalise the dosing regimen of INH, a patient’s NAT2 genotype should be considered. Body weight and BMI value should be taken into consideration when making dosing adjustments for INH to achieve therapeutic range.

Background. Advanced stage and high mortality are characteristics of cervical cancer in developing countries. The comprehension of the diagnosis itinerary is one of the main strategies to control the disease impact. Objectives. We aimed to identify reasons for the delay in the diagnosis of symptomatic cervical cancer according to the patient’s perspectives reported in qualitative studies. Search Strategy. We searched in four databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science) until April 2020. In August 2021, we screened the papers’ references for more articles. Selection Criteria. We included qualitative studies of women with advanced cervical cancer that explored their experiences before treatment. We excluded unoriginal studies, non-qualitative and duplicated studies. Language criteria or time limits were not applied. Data Collection and Analysis. We selected 39 articles for a full reading. We included fifteen and excluded twenty-four papers. Furthermore, we choose the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) for quality assessment. BSR codified the papers included. She chose The Model of Pathways to Treatment to guide the codifying process. Main Results. The studies reported between 11-27 of the 32 COREQ-checklist items. Four main themes emerged from the synthesis: 1) Health seeking motivators; 2) Obstacles to seek medical care; 3) Diagnosis delay; 4) Coping with the disease. These themes were derived from a combination of patient personal knowledge and beliefs, social relationships, socioeconomic status, and characteristics of the healthcare system. Conclusions. Individual behavior, social factors, and health care organization contribute to the delay in diagnosing advanced cervical cancer.

Dioecious trees are important components of many forest ecosystems. Outcrossing advantage and sexual dimorphism are two major mechanisms that explain the persistence of dioecious plants; however, they have rarely been studied in dioecious trees. In this study, we investigated the influence of gender and genetic distance between parental trees (GDPT) on the growth and functional traits of 229 seedlings of a dioecious tree, Diospyros morrisiana. We found significant positive relationships between GDPT and seedling sizes and tissue density. However, the positive outcrossing effects on seedling growth mainly manifested in female seedlings, but were not prominent in male seedlings. Male seedlings generally had higher biomass and leaf area than female seedlings, but such differences diminished as the GDPT increased. Our research highlights that outcrossing advantage in plants can be sex-specific and sexual dimorphism begins from the seedling stage of dioecious trees.

Techniques of reduced-representation sequencing (RRS) have revolutionized ecological and evolutionary genomics studies. Precise establishment of orthologs is a critical challenge for RRS, especially when a reference genome is absent. The proportion of shared heterozygous sites across samples is an alternative criterion for filtering paralogs, as divergent lineages should be less likely to share heterozygosity. In the prevailing pipeline for variant calling of RRS data - PYRAD/IPYRAD, maxSharedH is an often overlooked parameter with implications to detecting and filtering paralogs according to shared heterozygosity. Using empirical GBS data of two primroses (Primula alpicola Stapf and Primula florindae Ward) and their putative hybrids, we explore the impact of maxSharedH on filtering paralogs and further downstream analyses. Our study sheds light on the simultaneous validity and risk of filtering paralogs using maxSharedH, and its significant effects on downstream analyses of outlier detection, population assignment, and demographic modelling, emphasizing the importance of attention to detail during bioinformatics processes. The mutual confirmation between results of population assignment and demographic modelling in this study suggested maxSharedH = 0.10 has a potentially excessive and asymmetrical effect on the removal of truly shared heterozygous sites as paralogs. These results indicate that hybridization origin hypotheses of putative hybrids represented by results with maxSharedH = 0.25 and 0.50 are more credible. In conclusion, we revealed the critical hazard of paralogs filtration according to sharing heterozygosity at first, so that we propose to use specific protocols, rather than maxSharedH, to filter potential paralogs for closely related lineages.

Wolbachia are a group of intracellular bacteria known to be prevalent among arthropods. Wolbachia infection cause declines of host populations, and also gives rise to host resistance to a wide range of pathogens. Over the past few decades, Wolbachia is used as a biological tool to control mosquito vectors. The study was aimed to identify Wolbachia strains in field collected St. albopicta from different breeding sites in Kerala. A total of 105 Samples were collected from 3 different areas with different breeding sites, areca nut planation in Kasaragod (North Kerala), rubber and pineapple plantation in Kottayam (Central Kerala) and tyres and containers in Thiruvananthapuram (South Kerala). The positive samples showing clear intensity were selected from general as well as strain specific samples for sequencing. The samples prior to sending for sequencing was extracted and purified using gel extraction kit and lyophilized. The sequences were aligned using ClustalW software. Then further phylogenetic analysis were made using MEGA 5 software. The positive samples were found to have 95% A(wAlbA) and B(wAlbB) super infection with 5% and 3% single infection of wAlbA and wAlbB strains respectively.

Objective: To inform, develop and evaluate Beyond the Bump (BtB); an online program to improve access to education and support physical activity in the postpartum. Design, Setting and Population: Three-phase mixed-methods design before, during and following a 10-week Australia-wide online pilot program during COVID-19 with women in their first year postpartum and health professionals. Methods: Phase-one: needs assessment focus groups and interviews postpartum women and heatlh professionals. Phase-two: program implementation pre-post health measures survey, attendance and engagement in BtB. Phase-three: program evaluation feedback surveys and interviews. Main Outcome Measures: Identify postpartum educational support needs, barriers and enablers of program attendance and physical activity. Mental health symptoms, wellbeing health behaviours and physical activity levels. Results: Women and health professsionals expressed strong need for a postpartum program with access to expert education on exercise, pelvic floor, sleep and baby nutrition. Despite BtB being developed from womens suggestions (including time-of-day ‘morning’), attendance to all ten sessions was poor (23% (n = 162) participated in first session and 5% in the last session). Barriers to attendance included ‘too busy’,‘forgot’ and ‘topic not relevant for age of child’. 88% of women reported education as the most enjoyable part of the program. 100% of women interviewed would recommend the program to a friend. Conclusions: There is a continuing need for postpartum support. Online programs with access to expert education and exercise were of significant interest and value. However, more research is needed to improve the uptake and value placed on mothers’ wellbeing and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: The intentional commencement of cervical ripening and uterine contraction for the purpose of achieving delivery prior to the onset of spontaneous parturition is known as induction of labour. When the benefits to the mother or the foetus surpass the benefits of extending the pregnancy, it is indicated. AIM: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of a transcervical foley’s catheter with extra amniotic saline infusion against intra cervical prostaglandin E2 gel for inducing labour in term pregnant women. RESEARCH MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2020 to June 2021, a comparative study was undertaken at R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre. The study enrolled a total of 72 individuals. After obtaining informed consent from the patients who were admitted, and meeting the inclusion criteria, detailed history was collected, baseline investigations were done. After clinical examination of the patient, by using the simple lottery method, patients were divided into group A (Extra amniotic saline infusion group with Foley’s catheter) and group B (Dinoprostone (PGE2 gel) group). RESULTS: Prolonged gestational age, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and oligohydramnios were the most frequent causes for induction in the EASI group, accounting for 38.89 %, 38.89 % and 22.22 %, respectively. The dinoprostone group has 36.11 %, 33.33 %, and 25%, respectively. After induction, the majority of patients in the EASI group had a modified Bishop’s score of 2. CONCLUSION: Our research found that PGE2 and EASI were equally effective in inducing labour. KEY WORDS: Induction of labour.

Nanotechnology is a novel and promising technology that has been introduced into many fields, including medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. For the food industry, nanotechnology is of great interest as an emerging technology in the area of food processing, safety, and packaging. For example, nanotechnology can be used in food processing to enhance the overall quality of food including, taste, flavor, bioavailability, and can also help to extend product shelf life. With regard to food safety, nanotechnology is utilized to detect pathogens and toxins in food products and to strengthen barrier properties. Additionally, nanotechnology is widely used in food packaging as an antimicrobial and to produce intelligent packaging. However, nanoparticles may have a potential toxicity risk to human health. Therefore, establishing an adequate regulatory system to manage the potential risks associated with nanotechnology applications is recommended. This review covered nanotechnology in food safety and packaging, classifications, and safety concerns.

In this paper, we first gave the Green's function of a sixth-order linear differential equation with variable coefficients, and then proved the existence of positive periodic solutions for a sixth-order differential equation with a singularity of repulsive type via Schauder's fixed point theorem.

Hereditary hyperferritinemia cataract syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hyperferritinemia without iron overload, and early-onset bilateral cataracts. Diagnosis is unusual in early infancy. We present here the case of an infant girl diagnosed at the age of 9 months whose mother was also diagnosed by family screening. The mother had a cataract which required follow up. It is important to inform pediatricians of this syndrome in order to avoid unsafe treatments, such as phlebotomies, and to set up an ophthalmologic follow-up.

Background： This study investigated the effects of nutritional status at the time of admission on clinical outcomes in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods：A retrospective analysis was performed on 54 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical data of admitted patients, albumin and pre-serum albumin levels, gastrointestinal intolerance, and general information were collected and analyzed. The primary clinical outcomes were length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs. Results：The results showed that albumin and pre-serum albumin levels of patients at admission were negatively associated with the length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs (P < 0.001). Patients with poor appetite had longer hospital stays (P < 0.001) and higher hospital costs (P = 0.022). Conclusion：These results indicated that the nutritional status at admission can directly influence the clinical outcomes of COVID-19.

Objectives We aimed to investigate the effects of PCSK9 inhibitor on blood lipid levels in patients with high and very-high cardiovascular risk. Design 14 trials (n=52,586 patients) comparing treatment with or without PCSK9 inhibitors were retrieved from PubMed and Embase updated to 1st Jun 2021. The data quality of included studies was assessed by two independent researchers using the Cochrane systematic review method. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and changes in serum LDL-C, TC, TG, ApoB, LP (a), Non HDL-C, HDL-C and ApoA1 from baseline were analyzed using Rev Man 5.1.0 software. Results Compared to treatments without PCSK9 inhibitor, addition of PCSK9 inhibitors (evolocumab and alirocumab) had obvious decreasing effects on the levels of LDL-C [MD=-46.86, 95% CI (-54.99 to -38.72), P<0.00001], TC [MD=-31.92, 95% CI (-39.47 to -24.38), P<0.00001], TG [MD=-8.13, 95% CI (-10.48 to -5.79), P<0.00001], LP(a) [MD=-26.69, 95% CI (-27.93 to -25.44), P<0.00001], Non HDL-C [MD=-42.86, 95% CI (-45.81 to -39.92), P<0.00001] and ApoB [MD=-38.44, 95% CI (-42.23 to -34.65), P<0.00001] in high CVD risk patients. Conversely, changes of HDL-C [MD = 6.27, CI (5.17 to 7.36), P < 0.00001] and ApoA1 [MD = 4.33, 95% CI (3.53 to 5.13), P < 0.00001] from baseline were significantly more in high CVD risk patients who received PCSK9 inhibitors treatment. Conclusion Addition of PCSK9 inhibitors to standard therapy resulted in definite improvement in blood lipid levels than those therapies without its addition.

Driveline site infections are a common complication following ventricular assist device (VAD) placement but infectious complications at the prior pump inflow site rarely occur 1,2,3. That said, VAD pump explantation due to complications or myocardial recovery are becoming more common in this population as patients are living longer with contemporary centrifugal VAD technology 4. The current literature is limited in terms of risk for reoperation and an optimal surgical approach to prevent early or long term post-operative infectious complications 3,5,6. We present a case series of three VAD explants resulting in remote pump site complications following explant using various techniques: 1) outflow graft transection with VAD inflow cannula plug placement and 2) transection of the inflow graft after removal of silastic cover using a combined left subcostal and anterior thoracotomy. A summary of the combined case timelines is noted in Figure 1.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a widely used nanomaterial, whose unique carbon-based structure bears abundant oxygen-containing functional groups. An increasing number of investigations have been performed on the effects of GO on plants due to its extensive use in various fields. In this work, under the optimized GO concentration (6 mg/L), we found that GO promoted the growth rate of the root of poplar. TEM images depicted that the plasmolysis and an increased number of starch grains were the two major physiological changes in the root cell samples. GO adhered to the cell membrane on the inner side of the cell wall and enhanced the toughness of the adventitious root. And the activity of oxidoreductases were measured and SOD, POD were found to increase significantly compared with the control group, but the increase of CAT was not obvious. Related gene expression was enhanced at low concentration of GO, but inhibited at high concentration. Our results indicate the possible usage of GO as enhancers in the growth of poplar tissue culture seedlings.