Estuarine coastal wetland ecosystems are vulnerable zones of the Earth’s ecosphere, and their vegetation responds sensitively to climate change. Vegetation phenology is a key component of global climate change research. However, due to the complexity and diversity of vegetation types and the influence of sea-land interaction, the phenology characteristics of vegetation in estuarine wetlands have received little attention. Therefore, we took the vegetation of the coastal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in China as the research object. Based on the year-by-year remote sensing classification of vegetation, the Gap Filling and Savitzky-Golay (GF-SG) algorithm was selected to fuse the 250-meter MODIS_NDVI with the 30-meter Landsat data based on Google Earth Engine. Double Logistic function (DL) was used to extract vegetation phenology parameters, and buffer analysis was used to analyze the spatial and temporal variation mechanisms. The results show that YRD is rich in vegetation species. In addition to agricultural vegetation, the main establishment species include Spartina alterniflora, Tamarix chinensis, Phragmites australis, and so on. The area of each vegetation type was characterized by interannual fluctuation changes. Vegetation phenology parameters, including Start of the growing season (SOS), End of the growing season (EOS) and Length of the growing season (LOS), showed interannual spatial differentiation patterns. The mean SOS of the five vegetation species showed a fluctuating downward trend, the mean EOS was more concentrated, and the LOS showed a decreasing and then fluctuating upward trend. Spatially, SOS and EOS showed a trend of advancement from the northeast to the southwest. Overall, the spatial pattern of vegetation phenology in YRD was obviously controlled by the sea-land interaction, showing a trend of gradual postponement from the inland to the ocean direction, but the change of LOS was not obvious.There was a significant seaward nature of vegetation phenology pattern in YRD.

Fast growth in technology affects all aspects of today’s life. Banking and financial payments also profit from this progress, but besides the facilities they serve, there are some disadvantages. Credit card fraud, known as the most prevalent fraud type, causes billions of dollars in loss for banking companies, financial industries, and their related customers every year. Although many solutions offer for preventing and eliminating credit card fraud based on up–to–date machine learning (ML) and, lately, deep learning (DL) methods to solve the problem, most of them do not strike a balance between speed and performance. Disinclination of financial industries to reveal their fraud dataset, which causes putting their reputation at stake, added more challenges. In this study, a prediction model for credit card fraud detection using Ensemble DL models by considering the above challenges to build a more confident and applicable model has been proposed. An Energy-based Restricted Boltzmann Machine (EB-RBM) and Extended Long Short–Term Memory (xLSTM) as base classifiers for developing a bootstrap max-voting ensemble model have been utilized. Final decision-making ensemble model considers %50 voting rights for RBM and LSTM classifiers equally, then normalize and aggregate the results to predict whether it is a fraudulent or genuine transaction. AUC–ROC, AUC–PR, precision, recall, F1–measure, confusion matrix, and elapsed time have been considered as evaluation metrics. The experimental results on the real-world European cardholder dataset reveal that the proposed ensemble model is more efficient in terms of the balance between speed and performance, among the recent models in the field.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has significantly advanced morphological studies, particularly in the investigation of fish scale structures. This technique has unveiled intricate architectural details that are crucial for fish identification and classification. In this study, macro- and microscopic analyses were employed to examine the scale morphology of Schizothorax plagiostomus, a vulnerable cyprinid fish from Kashmir, focusing on two body regions (key scales, which were taken from the region below dorsal fin and above lateral line; lateral line scales which were taken from the lateral line). The general scale type observed in Schizothorax plagiostomus was cycloid. Two types of shapes viz., polygonal and cordate were reported in this species. The rostral margin of the scales displayed round and waved forms. The scales exhibited a small and round focus which was antero-centrally positioned. The scales featured narrow or wide grooves (radii) categorized into three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary, present across all four scale fields (anterior, posterior, nuand lateral), forming a tetra-sectioned type. Circuli, arranged in circular patterns around focus were present which were densely placed in anterior and lateral field and widely spaced in posterior field. Notably, lepidonts on the circuli and chromatophores on the posterior margin were absent in this species. These scale characteristics and their morphologies offer a valuable tool for the identification, classification, and phylogenetic analysis of various freshwater fish species and genera.

Vegetation overgrowth in rivers worldwide has been a significant problem due to its potential to reduce flood-flowing capacity and cause biodiversity loss. This study tried to develop a model to predict vegetation recruitment during the initial stage of secondary succession, leading to vegetation overgrowth. This study chose a logistic regression model for predicting vegetation recruitment because of its simplicity and lower computational load than machine learning. The model was designed for the Kinu River in Japan, undergoing significant vegetation overgrowth. Data for the model development was obtained from UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) aerial surveys and public databases. To ensure the model’s applicability beyond the training rivers, we trained the logistic regression model in its performance across different river flows and geomorphic characteristics, including the normal and flood times and the gravel-bed and sand-bed. The results indicated that the logistic regression model with three explanatory variables — the distance from the river stream, the relative height, and the vegetation existence history —was optimal for all rivers with the F-measures of 0.79 to 0.85. Additionally, using UAV imagery allowed for high spatial resolution in predicting vegetation recruitment. The best model’s prediction map of the vegetation recruitment demonstrated that it could accurately predict vegetation distributions along the main river channel for the gravel and sand beds.

Editorial to: Efficacy and safety of a novel temperature-controlled catheter for cavotricuspid isthmus ablationHristijan Alagjozovski1 and Christian-H. Heeger2,3,41 Department of Cardiology and Angiologie, Helios Kliniken Schwerin, Germany2 Department of Rhythmology; Cardiology and Internal medicine, Asklepios Klinik Hamburg Altona, Hamburg, Germany.3 Department of Rhythmology, University Heart Center Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.4 German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg / Kiel / Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany.

This study assessed the impact of tourism on fish communities in similar tidal pools with varying intensities of tourist activities on two beaches in Ceará, Brazil: Iparana (less structured for tourism) and Flecheiras (more structured). Visual censuses were conducted on days with low visitation (LV, during the week) and high visitation (HV, weekend) in 28 pools each. The study compared the responses of fish communities between the beaches and the intensity of tourist visitation in terms of species richness, abundance, and Shannon’s diversity index. The similarity between tidal pool fish communities was also compared, assuming taxonomic and trophic functional groups. Tourism structure, visitation intensity, and their interaction significantly impacted species richness and the Shannon diversity index. Beaches, visitation intensity, and temperature affect community parameters and trophic functional composition of the tidal pools. Tourism structure visitation intensity mostly influenced species richness, abundance, and diversity. Omnivorous species were more prevalent in areas where tourists provided food, particularly in Flecheiras. The number of tourists significantly altered the composition of fish assemblages in tidal pools, indicating it is a crucial variable affecting the fish community.

This work proposes a WebXR-based cross-platform architecture for developing spatial web apps using the A-Frame and Networked-Aframe frameworks with a view to an open and interoperable metaverse, accessible from both the web and extended reality devices. A prototype was implemented and evaluated, supporting the capability of the proposed technology stack to enable immersive experiences across different platforms and devices. Positive feedback on ease of use of the immersive environment further corroborates the proposed approach, underscoring its effectiveness in facilitating engaging and interactive virtual spaces. This research enriches the discourse on the metaverse by describing an architecture based on web technologies and open standards as opposed to proprietary technologies. By adhering to principles of interoperability and inclusivity, it lives up to Tim Berners-LeeâĂŹs vision of the World Wide Web as an open platform that transcends geographical and technical boundaries.

The purpose of the current study was to understand the relation between experiences of discrimination, psychological distress and resilience in individuals of the LGBTQ community in India. There were 180 participants, aged between 18-30 years in the study who self- identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. An online Google survey form was designed and circulated to collect information on demographic details, experiences of discrimination, psychological distress and resilience. The results of bivariate correlation revealed that the correlation between experiences of discrimination and resilience was not significant. There was a strong negative significant correlation between psychological distress and resilience (r= -0.58). The linear regression between psychological distress and resilience was statistically significant. According to this result, 34.5% variance in psychological distress was predicted from resilience. The findings can be disseminated through public awareness campaigns, educational programs, or media outlets to raise awareness and promote understanding. It also has implications for clinical practice, such as informing therapeutic interventions or counselling approaches that address the negative effects of discrimination on mental health and well-being. The study may also highlight the need for culturally sensitive and affirming mental health services for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Genomics is an invaluable tool for conservation, particularly for endangered species impacted by wildlife trafficking. This study uses genomic data to provide new insights to aid conservation and management of endangered species, using as a case study the Yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata), a bird endemic to southern South America severely affected by illegal trade and the transformation of its natural habitat. We explore population structure within the Yellow cardinal, delimiting management units and describing connectivity among them. Additionally, we develop and assess the accuracy of a panel of 189 informative SNPs, and demonstrate how these can reliably assign confiscated individuals to one of the management units established. Lastly, we assess hybridization between the Yellow cardinal and the Diuca finch (Diuca diuca), which is reported to occur in regions of sympatry. We confirm that hybridization occurs, although it is not as common as previously thought, and that hybrids might be fertile, as we found evidence of backcrossing with Yellow cardinals. We discuss the implications of this introgression for the evolution and conservation of Yellow cardinals. Our study provides new, valuable information that can guide conservation efforts, comprising a test case for the use of genomics in combating illegal trafficking, with potential application beyond the case of the Yellow cardinal.

Objectives To assess how the COVID outbreak in Brazil might have impacted birth defects in the State of São Paulo. Design Population-based cohort study. Setting The State of São Paulo, in Brazil. Population Births between 2017 and 2022. Methods Exposure was determined by the midpoint of the first trimester. We used a generalized linear model with Poisson distribution and log link, with clustered robust standard errors. Municipality was used for clustering. Main Outcome Measures The Relative Risk (RR) for any congenital anomaly and per each anatomical site. Results There were 2,961,741 cases in the analysis. The RR for congenital anomalies was 0.97 in the first wave (95% CI: 0.95-1.00, p = 0.029) due to a decrease in respiratory, genitourinary and central nervous system defects, a pattern previously associated with fever-induced anomalies. During the third wave, there was an RR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.04-1.13, p < 0.001), with an increase in cleft lip and palate, digestive and circulatory defects, just as severe food insecurity rose. No change in risk was identified during the second wave, when both vaccines were introduced and the sales of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine spiked. Conclusions The COVID-19 outbreak impacted birth defects differently during each wave. Considering concurrent conditions might provide insight into the underlying causes for this phenomenon. The true burden for pregnant individuals of food supply chain disruption, which is also threatened by climate change, might not yet be fully recognized.

Objectives- To estimate the proportion of overweight/obesity, associated factors and correlation of leptin, adiponectin, CRP, and IL-6 with BMI, body fat, and visceral fat among women in first trimester Design- Cross-sectional analytical study Setting- Urban and rural primary health care centres, Puducherry, India Population- Pregnant women with singleton pregnancy in the first trimester Methodology- 465 pregnant women were consecutively enrolled. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history and maternal anthropometry measurements. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile & thyroid stimulating hormone were analyzed using Beckman Coulter autoanalyzer and leptin, adiponectin, CRP & IL-6 were analyzed using ELISA kit. Data analysis was done in STATA version 15.1. Outcomes- Proportion of overweight/obesity and factors associated, correlation of serum biomarkers and BMI, body fat, and visceral fat Results- Of the total 465 women, 11.4% (95% CI: 8.6-14.6) were underweight, 28.6% (95% CI: 24.5-32.9) were overweight and 14% (95% CI: 10.9-17.5) were obese. Multivariate log binomial regression indicated that women aged 31-37 years were 1.5 times more likely (aPR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.0, p = 0.004) to have BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2. Energy intake was also found to be significantly associated with overweight/ obesity. Leptin was positively correlated with BMI (r= 0.51, p <0.001), body fat (r= 0.46, p <0.001) and visceral fat (r= 0.40, p <0.001). CRP showed positive correlation with BMI, body fat and visceral fat. Adiponectin was negatively correlated with BMI (r= -0.35, p <0.001), body fat (r= -0.27, p <0.001) and visceral fat (r= -0.32, p <0.001). Conclusion-The study reported high burden of overweight/obesity with advanced maternal age and high energy intake as predictors of high BMI among pregnant women in the first trimester. Leptin and CRP were positively correlated with BMI, body fat and visceral fat.

Nitrogen (N) deficiency critically affects wheat development and productivity. Our study aimed to decipher tolerance mechanisms to N deficiency regulated by a QTL transferred into bread wheat from wild emmer wheat (WEW). Root system architecture (RSA) and transcriptome modifications in response to severe N deficiency were compared between the introgression (IL99) and its cultivated parent. Higher plasticity was demonstrated in IL99 by modifying the growth strategy of RSA coordinated with shoot development. These included a shift in root orientation from shallow to steep, more and longer roots, and higher root networks, enabling nutrient acquisition from a larger volume and deeper soil layers. Transcriptome analyses revealed gene-expression reprogramming, highlighted by unique GO and KEGG-enriched pathways in leaves and toots. Based on transcriptome results and protein-protein interaction, we identified promising candidate genes associated with uptake of NO 3 - (high-affinity transporter NRT2.4), increased root lignification ( trans-cinnamate 4-monooxygenase (CYP73A), and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL)). Jasmonic acid, known as associated with plasticity of RSA, was predominant among other plant hormones identified in this study, by activating allene oxide synthase ( AOS1), TIFY proteins, transcription factors MTB2 and MYC2. Transcriptomic and developmental changes in IL99 demonstrated fundamental mechanisms underlying its enhanced N-use efficiency and stress tolerance attributed to WEW.

Migration is a widely observed phenomenon supported by morphological, physiological and behavioural traits that vary with season. Moreover, they also vary between sexes in a wide range of migrant species due to different life-history requirements. Recently studies have unpacked the genetic components underpinning migration in the marmalade hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) by detecting differential gene expression between migrant and non-migrant females. Male hoverflies also migrate, but changing sex ratios during their journeys in autumn, from approximately 50% females in northern Europe to ~90% the south, suggest males are poorer long-distance migrants. To elucidate the mechanisms underpinning this sex difference, we carried out morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic characterisation of actively migrating females and males caught as they traversed a high mountain pass in the Pyrenees. Females and males show similar physiological adaptations to migration such as hyperphagia and resistance to starvation, but females display significantly higher tolerance to cold and hypoxia, up-regulate a suite of immune genes, and have lower wing loading values and a higher flight capacity. In addition, age-related loss of flight muscle size indicates that females are significantly older than male migrants, and transcriptomics indicate that this increased longevity is centred on up-regulation of takeout and the suppression of hormonal pathways maintaining reproductive diapause. These results may be relevant to a swathe of insect migrants that show sex biased migrations and influence population dynamics in many beneficial and pest species world-wide.

The rhizosphere is a key interface between plants, microbes and the soil which influences plant health and nutrition and modulates terrestrial biogeochemical cycling processes. Recently it has been shown that the rhizosphere environment is far more dynamic than previously recognized, with evidence emerging for diurnal rhythmicity in rhizosphere chemistry and in the composition of rhizosphere microbial communities. Rhythmicity of the rhizosphere microbiome is in part linked to the host plant's circadian rhythm, although evidence also points to some heterotrophic rhizosphere bacteria and fungi possessing rhythmicity. We review the evidence for diurnal rhythmicity in the composition and abundance of rhizosphere microbial communities, and its link to the plant circadian clock. Factors which may drive microbial rhythmicity in the rhizosphere are discussed, including diurnal change in the flux and composition of root exudates, rhizosphere physico-chemical properties and plant immunity mechanisms. The potential contributions of microbial processes to community rhythmicity are considered, including self-sustained microbial rhythms, bacterial movement into and out of the rhizosphere, and microbe-microbe interactions. We also consider evidence that changes in microbial composition mediated by the plant circadian clock may affect microbial function and its significance for plant health and broader soil biogeochemical cycling processes. We identify key knowledge gaps and approaches which could help to resolve the spatial and temporal variation and functional significance of rhizosphere microbial rhythmicity. This includes unravelling the factors which determine the oscillation of microbial activity, growth and death, and cross-talk with the host over diurnal time frames. We conclude that diurnal rhythmicity is an inherent characteristic of the rhizosphere environment and that temporal factors should be considered and reported in experimental studies conducted on the rhizosphere.

1 Introduction:Intestinal parasites are causing a significant global health concern, with over 3.5 billion people affected worldwide [1,2,3]. The infestation rates vary depending on the country of residence and individual demographics related to populations’ exposure. Common intestinal parasites include soil-transmitted helminths such asAscaris lumbricoides , Trichuris trichiura , hookworm, and protozoa like Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba spp [4, 5]. Least developed countries in particular, face higher prevalence and burden rates of these infections due to factors related to poverty and underdevelopment including limited access to clean water, poor hygiene and sanitation practices, malnutrition, and hot and humid climates [6,7]. This combination of conditions and practices create an ideal environment for the transmission, spread, and local establishment of intestinal parasites [8,9,10]. Sudan and South Sudan are predominantly endemic with soil-transmitted helminthes and other parasitic diseases [10 - 23].Additionally, infection with intestinal parasites poses a serious health, socio-cultural, and economic burdens in endemic countries, while in industrialized nations, mainly immigrants, seasonal workers, and nomadic populations are the primary groups at risk [24, 25]. Transmission of parasites can occur through direct person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated sources like food, water, or soil [26]. In high burden areas, coinfections with multiple parasites are increasingly occurring due to the poor living conditions, malnutrition, and weakened immuno-system [27,28, 29]. It lead to high morbidity, mortality, disability, and enhance the susceptibility to other infections [27 - 29]. Children, teens and adult, are at higher risk of adverse health outcomes with multiple parasitic infections compared to single infestations [30]. Here, we report case to highlight how poor socio-economic conditions and disadvantaged living situations of immigrants can profoundly affect health outcomes even in developed countries.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic component. This research work aims to identify key genes associated with ASD using a hybrid deep learning approach To identify influential/key genes associated with ASD, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network is constructed, and a Graph Convolutional Network (GCN), a deep learning method, is employed. The GCN extracts features from the network structure based on gene interactions. Subsequently, Logistic Regression (LR) leverages these features to classify genes into influential and non-influential categories. The LR is chosen for its effectiveness in binary classification and ability to reveal feature importance, providing valuable insights into the underlying genetic mechanisms of ASD. Additionally, a simulation using the Susceptible-Infected (SI) model is conducted to calculate the infection ability of influential genes. This simulation demonstrates the higher infection ability of the genes identified by the proposed method, highlighting its effectiveness in pinpointing key genetic factors associated with ASD. Also, the result compared with existing centrality methods. The proposed method performs better to identify key genes involve in ASD. Our proposed method outperforms traditional measures in identifying key genes in the network, offering potential applications for identifying biomarkers. This innovative approach aligns with advancements in therapeutic and diagnostic systems, healthcare information systems, and neural engineering, providing a robust framework for future ASD research and potential applications in other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Glaciers are retreating worldwide at an ever-increasing rate, exposing new ice-free areas to ecological succession. This process leads to changes in biodiversity and potentially to species interactions. However, we still have a limited understanding of how glacier retreat influences species interaction networks, particularly the structure and robustness of mutualistic networks. After reconstructing plant--pollinator networks along a glacier foreland, we address the effects of glacier retreat on pollination network structure and robustness. Our results show that the prevalence of different network motifs changes over space-time. With glacier retreat, pollination networks shift from being highly connected with specialist interactions to loosely connected with generalist interactions. Furthermore, network robustness decreased with glacier retreat. Despite the turnover of plant species, we find that structural roles played by different plant species stay constant over space-time. Our findings suggest that glacier retreat pushes pollination networks towards a loss of specialist interactions and low robustness, leading to increased fragility in the long term. Monitoring network motifs may provide valuable insights into the ability of novel pollination networks to withstand disturbances and preserve functionality in the face of glacier extinction.

MRSA-Positive Sternoclavicular Septic Arthritis Mimicking Mediastinal Malignancy in a Patient with Multiple Injection History: A Rare Case Report

The impact of the window layer material on Nanowall-based solar cells employing CdTe technology has been investigated using the Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) software Silvaco. The window layer materials that are most commonly discussed in the literature including Cd0.6Zn0.4Te, CdSe, CdS, Cd0.2Zn0.8S, ZnSe, ZnOS, CdSO, ZnO, and Mg0.2Zn0.8O have been selected for this study. The results show that window layer bandgap and band alignment with the absorber are critical. Higher bandgap materials like ZnO enhanced short-circuit current by improving window transparency, while unfavorable band offsets in MgZnO limited performance. Analysis of external quantum efficiency (EQE) confirmed the importance of window layer selection in mitigating blue loss and optimizing the solar cell response. The results offer insights for optimizing CdTe nanowall solar cells by strategically selecting the window layer material with the appropriate bandgap and band offsets.

High-throughput sequencing was conducted on Erigeron breviscapus rhizosphere soil over one, two, and three years to analyze continuous cropping effects on the microbial community structure. There was a decrease in yield and the soil properties changed. Soil ammonium nitrogen and total phosphorus content increased annually, while soil hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus content decreased annually. Compared with that of the CK, soil total potassium, available potassium, and nitrate nitrogen content and cation exchange capacity all increased, which showed a decreasing trend followed by an increase in planting years. Nine bacterial phyla, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Actinomycetes, Blastomonas, and Bacteroidetes as the dominant phyla. Among them, the Proteobacteria phylum highest relative abundance was significantly and positively correlated with total nitrogen (TN) and quick potassium content (P＜0.05) , and cation exchange. Five fungal phyla were detected, namely Ascomycetes, Mortierellomycota, Potentillomycetes, Rhodophyta, and Stramonium.

This work focuses on the use of cyclodextrin-based polymers for obtaining luminescent materials with a wide range of applications. To achieve Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE), a new strategy has been developed involving host-guest inclusion and non-inclusion complexes instead of using mixtures of good and bad solvents. Two well-known AIEgens tetraphenylethene (TPE) and tetraphenylcyclopentadiene (TPC) have been chosen along with cyclodextrin (CD)- urethane based nanosponges varying CD:linker ratios. The CD-based nanosponges were obtained by reacting β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in DMF with the suitable cross-linking agent, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), at three CD-HDI molar ratios (1:4, 1:6, and 1:8). A comprehensive morphological and photophysical characterization is undertaken. High fluorescence quantum yield (f F) values are obtained, depending on the solvent or solvent mixture used to transport the AIEgen to the promoting host. A f F of 60% is observed for the AIEgen-CD:linker ratio of 1:4 for TPE and 81% for TPC with a ratio of 1:8. This is found to promote the AIE effect by restricting the free motion (loose bolt effect) of the phenyl rings in TPE and TPC, inside the nanosponges.

11institutetext: Knowledge-based Systems and Document Processing Research Group Faculty of Computer Science Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg 11email: katrin.krieger@ovgu.de Introduction: Salivary gland tumours are one of the most important diseases of the head and neck region. The aim of this study is determination of the Prevalence of salivary gland tumours in hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2014 to 2020. Methods: In this cross-sectional study in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals, all the patients with salivary gland tumours who presented to the affiliated hospitals from 2014 to 2020 were selected for this study. The hospitals are located in Shiraz, Iran, which is completely ethnically Iranian. Results: Among 451 patients with salivary gland tumours, 71.4% (322 cases) had benign tumours and 28.6% (129 cases) had malignant tumours. Individuals with benign tumours had, on average, significantly lower ages at the time of diagnosis, in comparison to the malignant ones (46.2 years vs. 58.6 years, p < 0.001). The most common site of involvement was the parotid gland (89.2%). The most common benign tumour was pleomorphic adenoma. The most common malignant primary salivary gland tumour was mucoepidermoid. The majority of benign tumours (73.2%) were located in the parotid gland, while only 51% of malignant tumours were located in the parotid. Conclusion: In conclusion, we demonstrate that ethno-geographic variation might affect the distribution of SGTs across tumour sites and histopathologic types. Further research into the clinical and survival aspects of these pathologies is needed to elucidate the clinical factors and impact.

Objective: To determine the contrast enhancement values in the facial nerve segments using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to examine the association with clinical progress in Bell’s palsy. Materials and Methods: Temporal MRI images of 90 adult patients with Bell’s palsy and 45 individuals without facial nerve pathology (control group) were analyzed retrospectively. Each of the five intratemporal segments of the facial nerve was delineated bilaterally, and quantitative values obtained using ROI (region of interest) were recorded. These values were compared between the affected and unaffected sides of Bell’s palsy patients, as well as between the unaffected side and the control group. The association between the disease’s progress was examined. Results: The ROI value of the affected side of the patients was significantly greater than the normal side in all segments. Contrast measures in five separate patient segments could not predict improvement after three months. At the end of the 6th month, ROI values could not predict whether the patient would have progression or not. In all 5 segments, ROI intensity values were found to be significantly higher in the unaffected sides of patients than in the ears of healthy individuals in the control group. Conclusion: The contrast enhancement values in the affected facial nerve segments of Bell’s palsy patients were significantly higher compared to the unaffected side and healthy controls. The considerable rise in signal intensity values evaluated by ROI may indicate systemic and local immunological disease.

Key points: 1. This study seeks to look at the clinical effectiveness of treating patients with CRSwNP and CRSsNP with the intra-operative use of the PROPEL implant in the frontal sinus during either functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) or computer assisted sinus surgery (CASS). It seeks to assess the change in SNOT22 scores post-operatively to evaluate the change in not only physical but also psychological symptoms in a UK district general hospital. 2. Results were obtained from a sample size of 23 adult patients who had PROPEL implants inserted between September 2021 and October 2023 at N. Patients either had PROPEL mini or PROPEL Contour implants inserted. 3. Clinical improvement was measured using pre- and 3-month post-operative SNOT22 scores with a mean clinical important difference (MCID) taken as 9 (8). Post-operative follow up was at one week for review and debridement, and then at 3 months where the patients were also assessed for frontal sinus patency. 4. The average reduction in SNOT22 score was 38 (range 1-75), with an average percentage reduction of 70%. No significant complications were reported throughout the follow up period for all patients. 5. This study has been able to demonstrate that within the limitations described, the use of the PROPEL implant for frontal sinus disease may confer a clinically significant reduction in the subjective symptoms and therefore an improvement in patients’ quality of life.