Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals are electrical signals released by muscles during movement, which can directly reflect the muscle conditions during various actions. When a series of continuous static actions are connected along the temporal axis, a sequential action is formed, which is more aligned with people's intuitive understanding of real-life movements. The signals acquired during sequential actions are known as sequential sEMG signals, including an additional dimension of sequence, embodying richer features compared to static sEMG signals. However, existing methods show inadequate utilization of the signals' sequential characteristics. Addressing these gaps, this paper introduces the Spatio-Temporal Feature Extraction Network (STFEN), which includes a Sequential Feature Analysis Module based on static-sequential knowledge transfer, and a Spatial Feature Analysis Module based on dynamic graph networks to analyze the internal relationships between the leads. The effectiveness of STFEN is tested on both modified publicly available datasets and on our acquired Arabic Digit Sequential Electromyography (ADSE) dataset. The results show that STFEN outperforms existing models in recognizing sequential sEMG signals. Experiments have confirmed the reliability and wide applicability of STFEN in analyzing complex muscle activities. Furthermore, this work also suggests STFEN's potential benefits in rehabilitation medicine, particularly for stroke recovery, and shows promising future applications.

Background and Purpose Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders whose diagnosis relies on deficient social interaction and communication together with repetitive behaviours. Multiple studies have highlighted the potential of oxytocin (OT) to ameliorate behavioural abnormalities in animal models and subjects with ASD. Clinical trials, however, yielded disappointing results. Our study aimed at challenging hypotheses accounting for such negative results by assessing the behavioural effects of different regimens of OT administration in the Oprm1 null mouse model of ASD. Experimental Approach We assessed the effects of intranasal OT injected once at different doses and time points following administration, or chronically, on ASD-related behaviours in Oprm1+/+ and Oprm1-/- mice. We then tested whether pairing intranasal OT injection with social experience would influence its outcome on ASD-like core symptoms, and measured gene expression in several regions of the reward/social circuit. Key Results Acute intranasal OT improved social behaviour in Oprm1-/- mice at a moderate dose (0.3 IU) shortly after administration (5 min). Effects on non-social behaviours were limited. Chronic OT at this dose maintained beneficial effects in Oprm1 null mice but was deleterious in wild-type mice. Finally, improvements in the social behaviour of Oprm1-/- mice were greater and longer lasting when OT was administered in a social context, while the expression of OT and vasopressin receptor genes, as well as marker genes of striatal projection neurons, was suppressed. Conclusions and implications Our results highlight the importance of considering dosage and social context when evaluating the effects of OT treatment in ASD.

IntroductionVulvovaginitis is inflammation of the vulvovaginal mucous membranes (1) that responsible of some of pediatric gynecology consultations (2). Prepubertal girls commonly experience a gynecologic issue, which is often characterized by symptoms such as vulvovaginal itching, discharge, irritation, burning or skin changes. The development of these symptoms is primarily influenced by anatomic, physiological, and behavioral factors specific to this age group (3). Streptococcuspyogenes , Haemophilus influenzae andEnterobius vermicularis emerge as the predominant pathogens, while fungal and viral infections exhibit lower occurrence rates (4). The presence of genital discomfort or a burning sensation during urination is often observed in cases of vulvovaginitis. This condition, which is more prevalent in prepubescent girls, can caused by a deficiency of estrogen and poor local hygiene leading to infection of the vaginal mucosa. Despite the lack of precise data on its prevalence, these predisposing factors are known to contribute to the development of vulvovaginitis (3).In addition, favor factors of development of this disease include local alkaline pH, thin labia minora and reauctioned estrogen stimulus during the prepubertal period results in thinning of the vulvovaginal epithelium. Among prepubertal girls, the most common clinical presentation is nonspecific vulvovaginitis caused by endogenous vaginal flora (5). One of the most agents of vulvovaginitis is a parasite calledEnterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis ) (4). This worm exhibits the most extensive geographical distribution among helminths (6). Its induced infection is a global phenomenon and is recognized as the most prevalent form of helminth infection (7). This condition is prevalent across all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, although it is particularly widespread among children between the ages of five and fourteen (8, 9). It is important to note that parasitic infections even in children may lead to malnutrition and decreased learning abilities (10). Embryonated eggs can be detected on various surfaces such as fingernails, clothing, house dust and other objects. Once these eggs are ingested, they undergo hatching within the stomach, giving rise to larvae.These larvae then make their way to the cecum, where they undergo further development and eventually reach adulthood as pinworms, measuring approximately 1 cm in length. The gravid adult female worms exhibit a nocturnal migration to the perianal region, where they lay a substantial number of eggs, up to 11,000 in total. These eggs become infective within a relatively short period of time, approximately six hours after being deposited. The lifespan of E.vermicularis typically ranges from 11 to 35 days (8). Transmission of the infection takes place via direct transmission from an infected individual through the oral-anal route, or through the dispersal of airborne eggs from contaminated clothing or bed linen. Upon ingestion, the eggs hatch and release larvae within the intestine (11).Adult worms in girls may also infiltrate the vagina to release eggs and consequently leading to the development of vulvovaginitis. In 1980, Vaughan reported one of the first enterobiasis in direct observation of vaginal region (9, 12). Moreover, these worms possess the ability to invade the endometrial cavity, thereby inducing endometritis and salpingitis in affected patients (9). For diagnosis collection of eggs from infected area (anus or vagina) can be achieved through the use of the cellophane swab or scotch tape swab method. stool examination not be a reliable means of detecting eggs (13). Cases have been documented wherein this worm have traversed the entire of the reproductive system and penetrated the peritoneal cavity by means of the fallopian tubes (9). In this paper we presented a 4 years Iranian girl that suffered of vulvovaginitis caused by E. vermicularis . her family infected by this parasitic helminth too.

Erdheim-Chester Disease: an elusive diagnosis in a 50-year old Ethiopian man presenting with diffuse sclerotic bone lesionSemir Abdi Usmael 1*, Addisu Alemu Gebrehiywot2, Anteneh Belachew Fantaye2, Ashenafi Lemma Bekele 3, Solomon Bishaw Yezengaw4, Tekalegn Tsegaye Tefera 5, Hunduma Bikila Bote 5, Kalkidan Abera Shibeshi61 Department of Internal Medicine, Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Science, Harar, Ethiopia2 Department of Pathology, Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Science, Harar, Ethiopia3 Department of Radiology, Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Science, Harar, Ethiopia4 Department of Radiology, Jugel General Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia5 Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Science, Harar, Ethiopia6 Department of Radiology, Harar General Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia* Corresponding author: semirabdi61@gmail.com

Advancing Transcatheter Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Regurgitation: Innovations in Devices and Multi-Modality ImagingJulien Dreyfus, MD, PhD1; David Messika-Zeitoun, MD, PhD21: Cardiology Department, Centre Cardiologique du Nord, 32-36 rue des moulins gémeaux, 93200 Saint-Denis, France2: Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaWord Count : 912 wordsAddress for correspondence :Julien Dreyfus, Department of Cardiology, Centre Cardiologique du Nord, Saint-Denis, France. Tel: +33149334803, Fax: +33149334143, E-mail: dreyfusjulien@yahoo.frFor patients with severe symptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR) who are deemed at high surgical risk, off-label use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly performed. However, the rate of complications is high in this subset, including migration, paravalvular regurgitation, pacemaker implantation, stroke, bleeding, vascular complication, acute renal failure, surgical conversion and mortality.(1)In this issue of Echocardiography , Hu et al (ref) present their findings on 70 patients (56% of males, mean age=74±8 years) with severe symptomatic AR (all in NYHA functional class III or IV) on native or bioprosthetic valves who underwent a TAVR using the Vita-Flow valves (Microport), a novel self-expanding valve (Figure). The population was divided into two groups: group A consisted of 40 patients with aortic root dilatation or valve prolapse and no valvular calcifications, while group B comprised 30 patients with aortic valve degeneration and/or mild senile calcifications (Agatston score ranging from 0 to 100). All interventions were performed under general anesthesia, with procedural guidance provided by both fluoroscopy and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography. A comprehensive pre-procedural assessment of the anatomy was conducted using both transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and computed tomography (MSCT) and dedicated software. The study focuses on the utility of echocardiography in the pre-procedural screening, intra-procedural monitoring, and 30-day post-procedural follow-up, while also identifying potential predictors for post-procedural complications.The main results from the study can be summarized as follow:Multimodality imaging analysis demonstrated significant concordance between TEE and MSCT especially in the assessment of the annulus and aorta dimensions, as well as left and right coronary artery height, enabling accurate device sizing.The procedural success rate was high (96%) and there were no deaths at 30 days.Multiple underlying mechanisms of AR were successfully treated.Mild peri-valvular leakage was observed in 16% of cases but no moderate or greater peri-valvular leakage was reported.Incidence of significant complications was low, with 3% experiencing iliac artery dissection, 4% encountering stroke, and 3% developing acute renal insufficiency within 30 days post-procedure. No migration was reported.A noteworthy 22% of patients required new pacemaker implantation due to complete atrioventricular block, with a median implantation time of 6 days with right bundle branch block as the only independent predictor.Procedural success correlated with a positive left ventricular and atrial remodeling at 30 days (reductions in left atrial and left ventricular diameters, and improvement of the left ventricular ejection fraction).The main limitations of this study include its retrospective single-center design, small sample size (although relatively large for a single center), mix of TAVR on native valves and valve-in-valve procedures, and a short follow-up period.A significant proportion of patients with surgical indications for severe AR are not referred, often due to high surgical risk or comorbidities(2,3). Transcatheter treatment of AR is currently on the rise but is much more challenging than for aortic stenosis, notably due to the absence of calcifications.TAVR is currently mostly performed using prostheses developed for aortic stenosis. A recent multicenter registry (PANTHEON) including 201 patients treated with commercially available devices (self-expandable and balloon expendable valves developed for AS) showed that with improvements in TAVR devices, in experienced centers and in selected patients, satisfactory outcomes can be achieved in a majority of patients, but that complications rates remained high (12% of embolization or migration at 1 month and 10% of moderate or greater residual leakage), regardless of prosthesis type. Critically, these complications were associated with high mortality or hospitalization for heart failure rates at 1 year (approximately 25%). Rates of permanent pacemaker implantation were also high (approximately 22%), often associated with device oversizing.(1)Several devices designed for the management of AR are currently available or under evaluation. Presently, the JenaValve Trilogy system (JenaValve Technology) is the only dedicated device to have received Conformité Européenne (CE) mark approval for the transcatheter treatment of patients with AR. A recent multicenter registry, comprising 58 consecutive patients from 6 centers across Germany, demonstrated excellent outcomes with a 98% implantation success rate, the absence of moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation, a 30-day mortality rate of 1.7%, and a 19.6% rate of new permanent pacemaker implantation.(4) The Jena-Valve ALIGN-AR Pivotal Trial (NCT04415047) included 177 patients with 91% of procedures performed under general anesthesia. The trial yielded a procedural success rate of 95%, with 3% of patients necessitating subsequent surgery. Only 0.6% experienced moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation, and 30-day mortality rate was 2.2%. Additionally, 24% of patients received new pacemaker implantation, a rate that tended to decrease with experience, particularly with refined strategies for device sizing and positioning.The J-Valve (JC Medical), specifically designed for the treatment of patients with AR, is another alternative. A recent study including 27 patients for compassionate use found a procedural success rate of 81% overall and 100% in the last 15 cases, with no patient having residual AR of moderate or greater degree at 30 days and a 13% rate of new pacemaker implantation.(5)In conclusion, there is a genuine enthusiasm for transcatheter AR management, driven by both industry innovation and clinical demand. Dedicated devices seem to perform better than devices commercially used for aortic stenosis, but pacemaker implantation rate remains high. Multimodal imaging plays a pivotal role in patient and device selection, procedural guidance, and follow-up. Although echocardiography seems accurate, as for aortic stenosis, MSCT will remain the method of choice for pre-intervention procedural planning. As the landscape rapidly evolves, refining patient selection, procedural techniques, and postprocedural care will be paramount to ensuring optimal outcomes in this challenging patient population.

Recent international agreements have strengthened and expanded commitments to protect and restore native habitats. Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation is hindered because how such commitments should be implemented has been strongly debated. By bringing together researchers on both sides of the habitat fragmentation debate, we identify three incontrovertible principles for area-based biodiversity conservation. Such principles are related to habitat geographic coverage, amount, and connectivity. They emerge from our fundamental agreement that, while large areas of nature are important and must be protected, conservation or restoration of multiple small habitat patches is also critical for global conservation, particularly in regions with high land use. We contend that the many area-based conservation initiatives expected in the coming decades should follow the principles we propose. Considering the importance of biodiversity for maintenance of ecosystem services, we suggest that this would bring unequivocal societal benefits.

The efficacy and safety of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in preventing non valvular atrial fibrillation stroke have been confirmed by multiple randomized controlled and registered studies,and have been recommended by several guidelines for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk of stroke.We reported an 80-year- old male

Altitude is a critical factor influencing vegetation composition, ecosystem properties, and soil nutrient availability. This study, conducted in the Central Himalaya’s Myagdi area in Nepal, explores the distribution of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) across an altitudinal range from 1800 m to 3800 m above sea level. A total of 50 species were identified, predominantly herbs (40), followed by shrubs (7), climbers (2), and ferns (1). The researchers employed square plots (n=69 of 25 m2) sampled at 100-meter intervals along the altitudinal gradient. Various factors such as slope aspect, disturbance levels, and habitat characteristics were recorded at each plot. Soil samples were collected using standard methods, and soil variables including pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus were investigated. The findings indicated a decline in plant species abundance with increasing elevation, as determined by a linear model. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between habitat characteristics and slope aspect. However, there was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between disturbance levels and MAP abundance. Soil pH exhibited a decreasing trend with elevation (4.5 to 6.5), while SOC increased with higher elevations, suggesting a positive relationship. Although species richness did not significantly correlate with SOC, total nitrogen showed a positive relationship with elevation. Available potassium exhibited a significant positive relationship with elevation, as did the correlation between plant abundance and potassium. Conversely, available phosphorus displayed a significant negative relationship with elevation, while a positive relationship was observed between plant number and phosphorus. The study underscores the intricate relationships between soil parameters, MAPs, and environmental factors along altitude gradients. Further research in different Himalayan regions will enhance our understanding of these interactions, contributing to broader insights into the impacts of altitude on vegetation and ecosystems.

Background: Studies that examine a link between long-term exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) and atopic dermatitis (AD) in children are lacking. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the effect of long-term exposure to PM on AD in infants. Methods: A total of 150 infants diagnosed with AD before age 2 were enrolled and followed until age 3 in Seoul, Korea. Long-term exposures to ambient PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM 10) from birth to age 3 were assessed at an individual level. Effects of long-term exposure to PM 10 on AD persistence and sensitization to aeroallergens were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Out of 150 infants, 54 (36.0%) showed remission of AD at age 3. The risk of AD persistence at age 3 significantly increased with an increase in long-term exposure to PM 10 [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.07, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.01−1.12, p = .017 per 1 µg/m 3]. Moderate-to-severe AD at enrollment was more likely to persist at age 3 with increased exposure to PM 10 ( p < .05), whereas the persistence of mild AD was not influenced by PM 10 exposure. Long-term exposure to PM 10 increased the risk of sensitization to pollen (HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02−1.27, p = .021). However, it did not affect sensitization to house dust mites or pet allergens. Conclusions: An early-life long-term exposure to ambient PM 10 in infants with AD decreases remission and increases sensitization to pollen at age 3.

The coastal waters of Kerala, in the southeastern Arabian Sea (SEAS), are unique during the Southwest monsoon season due to the concurrent occurrence of two physical processes, the upwelling and Mudbanks. However, little is known about the viral ecology and activity in a system where upwelling and mudbanks coexist, though it is generally recognized that microbial assemblages play a vital role in the food web dynamics of marine systems, particularly in upwelling. Water samples were taken from three locations, M1, M2, and M3, off Alappuzha, on the southwest coast of India to examine the viral activity and distribution. An 18-week study in 2014 and a 16-week study in 2016 on a weekly/biweekly interval were carried out from April to September, which were categorized into three seasons April to May, as pre-monsoon, June to August as monsoon, and September period as late-monsoon. The dissolved oxygen levels showed the incursion of hypoxic waters in all the stations during the peak upwelling period. Upwelling signals were prominent in all the stations, but Mudbank and upwelling co-occurred at M2 alone during monsoon. The abundance of viruses ranged from 0.86 to 15.68×106 Viral like Particles (VLPs mL-1) and prokaryotic abundance ranged from 2.73-16.26×105 cells mL-1. Viral and prokaryotic abundance was significantly higher in the monsoon compared to pre and late-monsoon. Based on Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results, the non-tailed viruses constituted the major (43%) proportion of the total viruses during this study region. However, the viral production rates and viral-mediated bacterial mortality were high in the pre-monsoon compared to the monsoon and late-monsoon periods. There was no obvious effect of Mudbanks on viral dynamics and the observed variations in virological and hydrological features were governed mainly by coastal upwelling.

Global climate action is urgent, with forest carbon stock critical for mitigating climate change, yet vulnerable to its impacts. However, the long-term dynamics of climate-driven forest carbon stock has not fully been expressed. Here, we introduce the Forest carbon stock Accumulated by Single Tree growth (FAST) framework and constructed a counterfactual scenario to isolate and quantify the impacts of major climatic drivers on forest carbon stock for 1901-2022. Results show that most breakpoints in climate-driven forest carbon stock occurred post-1970, with Europe experiencing the latest, followed by Asia, and North America the earliest. Furthermore, we observe a prevailing increasing trend in climate-driven forest carbon stock, especially in post-breakpoints period (from 53% to 68%), indicating that climate changes have alleviated climatic constraints on forest carbon stocks in most areas. FAST can be utilized for historical, current and future forest carbon stock estimation, providing scientific support for sustainable forest management decisions.

The goals is to analyze whether acupuncture and photobiomodulation have an effect on muscle fatigue, identify which is more efficient in reducing the fatigue effects, after the protocols applying individuals are able to perform the same workload, or improve it. It is a quantitative and experimental study, [72 active subjects (42 m. 32 f., 20 to 38 y), η: (age 25.79 y, h 172.01 cm, w 72.28 kg, BMI 24.37)]. Fatigue was assessed BOSCO modified protocol in a force plate, induced with 100 CMJ until failure. After the treatment protocols. Results show a significant difference after the intervention in groups A and D, (the sum of median heights, 2.60 cm and 2.45 cm, d 0.387 and 0.413, increasing h 14.44% and 12.36%, p < 0.001). Conclusion that acupuncture and photobiomodulation are efficient in minimizing fatigue, indicating that these treatment intervention protocols can improve muscular performance with jump height gain.

Understanding how diversity is maintained in plant communities requires that we first understand the mechanisms of competition for limiting resources. In ecology, there is an underappreciated, but fundamental distinction between systems in which the depletion of limiting resources reduces the growth rates of competitors versus systems in which resource depletion reduces the time available for competitors to grow, a mechanism we call “competition for time.” Importantly, modern community ecology, and our framing of the coexistence problem are built on the implicit assumption that competition reduces the growth rate. However, recent theoretical work suggests competition for time may be the predominant competitive mechanism in a broad array of natural communities, a significant advance given coexistence follows naturally when species compete for time. In this study we first introduce competition for time conceptually using a simple model of interacting species. Then, we perform an experiment in a Mediterranean annual grassland to determine whether competition for time is an important competitive mechanism in a field system. Indeed, we find that species respond to increased competition through reductions in their lifespan rather than their rate of growth. In total, our study suggests competition for time may be overlooked as a mechanism of biodiversity maintenance.

Abstract Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, radiological features, treatments, and prognosis of patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody associated disease (MOGAD) overlapped with NMDA receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who exhibited dual positivity for MOG antibodies and NMDAR antibodies in serum/CSF from Jan 2018 to Jun 2023 Results: Ten patients with MOGAD and NMDAR encephalitis were enrolled. The median age of initial attacks was 23 (range: 10-43) years old. Common symptoms were cortical encephalopathies (8/10), focal neurological deficits (4/10), as well as other presentations including headache, fever, optic neuritis, and transverse myelitis. CSF pleocytosis was general (9/10, median 63.9 cells/μl). Lesions on brain MRI included brainstem (37.5%), cerebral cortex (33.3%), basal ganglia (25.0%), hippocampus (20.8%). The average follow-up duration was 25.4 months. 10/10 patients developed more than one relapse attacks, with MOG positivity before (10%), simultaneous (40%) or after anti-NMDAR encephalitis (50%). Most patients (7/10) had good response to first-line therapy, but experienced next relapse with an average interval of 6.7 (range: 2-14) months. We conducted initial analysis of lymphocyte subsets in these patients, which revealed CD3+ and CD4+ T cells increased after immunosuppressants medication (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion: MOGAD overlapping with NMDAR encephalitis presents a distinct clinical phenotype which differs from either MOGAD or NMDAR encephalitis. Brainstem in combination with cortical lesions might be warning signs for this overlapping syndrome. Due to the high recurrent rates, we recommend early diagnosis and timely treatment with high-efficiency immunosuppressants at onset.

Vivipary is the precocious and continuous growth of seedlings inside the fruits when they are attached to the mother plant. It occurs due to complex ecophysiological processes and adaptations involved in seed germination in marshy or unstable habitats such as estuaries, sea belts, tidal zones, riverine areas, rocky slopes, etc. In cryptovivipary seeds germinate inside the fruit but the seedling or plumule comes out when the fruit detaches from the mother plant. The vivipary was first time reported in 1965 in the caper bush (Capparis sepiaria), but lacked thorough mechanism and critical notes; the present manuscript highlights the mechanism of cryptovivipary in wild caper bush described. In addition, we provide an updated classification of viviparous plants to better describe and understand this trait.

Introduction:Cyclopia (synophthalmia) is a fatal uncommon congenital abnormality.1-3 It is the severest case of holoprosencephaly (HPE).1,3-7 During the organogenesis, the embryonic prosencephalon is divided partially or never into the right and left cerebral hemispheres,2,3which leads to the pilgrims not being divided into double separate caves.1,4,7-9 This happens between the eighteenth and the twenty-eighth day of pregnancy.1,4,7,8 The incidence is 1.05 per 100,000 births including stillbirth1 with a tendency to occur in females8. Clinically, there are typical craniofacial features including a single or imperfectly cleft eye in one orbit, nasal agenesis or proboscis, which is a non-functional nose located above the central orbit and that is known as Rhinocephaly.1-3,6,9,10 Furthermore, the extracranial characteristics along with Cyclopia, for instance, polydactyly, renal dysplasia, Omphalacele1,2,6 also cardiac malformations such as ventricle septum defect (VSD).10 Synophthalmia is possible to develop for no specific reason7 or due to risk factors such as exposure to deformed substances during pregnancy10, diabetes, infections6, and genetic mutations6,10. This case is incompatible with life4,5,7 either abortion or stillbirth or dying several hours after birth.1,3,8,10 Diagnosis began from the 22nd week of pregnancy6 by ultrasound (US).4-7 The most common syndrome associated with Cyclopia is Patau (trisomy 13)3,10. Herein, we present a unique case of alobar holoprosencephaly with cyclopia which was diagnosed after miscarriage.

INTRODUCTIONSince its discovery by Robert Koch in 1882 (CDC, 1982), tuberculosis (TB) has and is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. In 2022 alone 10.6 million people were infected with TB and 1.3million died. It is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (World Health Organization, 2023).Tuberculous pleuritis or pleurisy (TBP) is the second most common form of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. It affects the pleura, in both immunocompetent and immunocomprised persons (Cohen and Light, 2015) (Nanyoshi et al. , 2022) in as high as 25% of tuberculosis(TB) cases (Porcel, 2009). TBP usually presents as a unilateral pleural effusion, although about 10% of cases are bilateral (Wang et al. , 2015).Effusions in TBP have long been postulated to be due to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to mycobacterium antigens from raptured sub pleural caseous material; however recent advances have demonstrated a likelihood of paucibacillary bacterial infection within the pleural cavity (Morné J. Vorster, 2015).In high TB endemic areas prevalence of TBP has been shown to be higher in young people (mean age 34) (Porcel, 2009) compared to elderly population(>65years) in low endemic areas (Baumann et al. , 2007). The most common symptoms for TBP are pleuritic chest pain which precedes a non-productive cough; then fevers, night sweats, weight loss and malaise (Wang et al. , 2015).The gold standard for diagnosis of TBP is the demonstration of Mycobacterium tuberculosis  in the pleural biopsy specimens, pleural fluid or sputum (Gopi et al. , 2007); the challenges to this include scarcity of thoracoscopy services, paucibacillary nature of effusion and lack of sputum (since the cough is usually non-productive). However, presumptive diagnosis can also be achieved with reasonable certainty, by showing parietal pleura granuloma (through biopsy and histology) or elevated levels of pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) or interferon-γ, considering the clinical context of the patient (Trajman et al. , 2008).Since its discovery in 1978, adenosine deaminase(ADA) test on pleural fluid has become famous in diagnosis of TBP, more so in patients with exudative and lymphocytic pleural effusion in high TB endemic areas (Aggarwal et al. , 2019). The test is simple, affordable, rapid and minimally invasive (LIGHT, 2010). ADA levels greater or equal to 40 IU/L are associated with a sensitivity of 87.8 to 97.6% and specificity of 90.4 to 92.4 % (Huan et al. , 2021). However, in low and middle income settings the test hasn’t been embraced because of laboratory inadequacies and lack of knowledge about it, and fear of false positives, majorly malignancy, empyema, Para-pneumonic, collagen diseases, (Valdés et al. , 1993) and rheumatoid pleuritis (Hooper, Lee and Maskell, 2010).We present and discuss a case of TBP diagnosed by pleural ADA, in a 28-year-old woman who acquired symptoms during pregnancy through delivery. We also put forward the advantage and applicability of this test amidst lack of thoracoscopy services in Uganda and other low resource settings.

Pseudo-spark switches have been successfully used in a variety of pulsed-power applications, including the European Large Hadron Collider, the Z-hoop fusion device, and the Dense Plasma Focus device. For such applications, it is important to reduce the trigger energy of the switch to save cost and improve stability. In this paper, a laser-triggered pseudo-spark switch is designed, which is triggered by a laser with a wavelength of 532 nm. Increasing the laser energy reduces the delay and jitter of the switch, and the laser energy threshold of 1.5 mJ for achieving switch stability can make the jitter of the switch less than 1 ns; in addition, increasing the hydrogen pressure inside the tube reduces the delay and jitter of the switch; and when the triggering energy is sufficiently large, the switch delay and jitter do not change with the switch when the anode voltage is changed, and the switch delay and jitter do not change with the switch. When the trigger energy is large enough, changing the anode voltage, the delay and jitter of the switch do not change with the switching voltage.

As more and more converter stations are constructed at high altitude, how to reasonably select the minimum air spacing of converter station substation equipment has become an important issue for DC power transmission at high altitude. In order to study the influence of air environment on switching impulse discharge characteristics of air gap at high altitude, this paper conducts switching impulse discharge tests on 1m rod-plate air gap under different air pressure, temperature and humidity conditions, investigates switching impulse discharge characteristics of rod-plate air gap at high altitude, and compares and analyses differences in correction results of various discharge voltage correction methods. Studies have shown that air pressure as well as temperature and humidity have an effect on air gap discharge voltage. Meanwhile, based on different atmospheric parameters, correction formulas are obtained for 1m rod-plate air gap discharge voltage, and the elevation correction coefficients of 1m rod-plate air gap at each altitude was obtained. The results of the study provide a reference for external insulation of equipment and its insulation fit in converter stations at high altitude.

The Static Frequency Converter (SFC) in a pumped storage power plant often causes harmonic problems in the dragging processes, which may lead to the false operation of automatic devices in the power station, and even damage to the power equipment. These harmonics caused by SFC contain both characteristic and non-characteristic degrees, and the components are more complex. Hence, the existing harmonic suppression methods using APF or PPF compensation all have some problems. The SFC starting control strategy based on Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (LADRC) is proposed in this paper to reduce the non-characteristic subharmonics. Firstly, the factors affecting the non-characteristic harmonic content are analyzed, and a mathematical model of the conventional SFC starting transfer function is established. On this basis, the LADRC controller is used as the speed loop of SFC starting to replace the PI controller. The stability is judged by drawing the Bode plot and the zero-pole plot. Finally, A Matlab/Simulink simulation model of LADRC-based SFC starting is established in a pumped storage power plant with actual parameters, and simulation accurate measurements verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy for non-characteristic harmonic current suppression.

To assess whether SARS-CoV-2 infection induces changes in the urinary volatilomic fingerprint suitable for non-invasive COVID-19 diagnosis and management, urine samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (62), recovered COVID-19 patients (30), and non-infected individuals (41), were analysed using solid-phase microextraction technique in headspace mode, combined with gas chromatography hyphenated with mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). A total of 101 volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) from 13 chemical families were characterized, with terpenes, phenolic compounds, norisoprenoids, and ketones being the most represented groups. Overall, the levels of terpenes and phenolic compounds decreased in the control group, whereas those of norisoprenoids and ketones increased significantly. In turn, a remarkable increase was noticed in norisoprenoids and ketones and a milder increase in alcohols, furanic, and sulfur compounds in the recovery group than in the COVID group. Multivariate statistical analysis identified sets of VOMs that could constitute the signatures of COVID-19 development and progression. These signatures are composed of D-carvone, 3-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (MTA), 1,1,6-trimethyl-dihydronaphthalene (TDN), 2-heptanone, and 2,5,5,8a-tetramethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8-octahydro-1-naphthalenyl ester acetate (TONEA) for COVID-19 infection and nonanoic acid, α-terpinene, β-damascenone, α-isophorone, and trans-furan linalool for patients recovering from the disease. The study reported in the current article provides evidence that changes in the urinary volatilomic profile triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection constitute a promising and valuable screening and/or diagnostic and management tool for COVID-19 in clinical environment.

This research explores the impact of elevated ozone (eO 3), elevated carbon dioxide (eCO 2), and their interaction on the yield and quality of mustard (Brassica juncea) crops through a Free Air Concentration Enrichment (FACE) experiment conducted in an open field setting. By examining a range of physiological parameters across different mustard varieties, this study aims to understand the responses of these crops to changing atmospheric conditions and identify genotypes with enhanced resilience to eO 3 and adaptability to future eCO 2 levels. Key physiological traits, including photosynthate availability, antioxidant and secondary metabolite production, and gas exchange parameters (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and water-use efficiency), were analyzed at various growth stages to assess their correlation with yield and quality attributes under each treatment condition. The findings demonstrate that eO 3 significantly reduces yield by impacting quaternary branches, seed yield, biomass, and other yield-related parameters, while eCO 2 promotes yield and quality, enhancing photosynthesis and subsequent photosynthate accumulation. Notably, eCO 2 was found to mitigate the adverse effects of eO3 on yield and fatty acid composition, indicating a potential buffer against ozone-induced stress. Among the studied varieties, Pusa Bold exhibited superior performance, showing particular resilience to eO3 and benefiting from eCO2 enhancement. Multivariate analysis and linear modeling of the physiological parameters highlighted significant treatment and genotypic differences, underscoring the complex interplay between environmental factors and crop physiology. The study’s outcomes suggest that selecting genotypes with tolerance to ozone and favorable responses to elevated CO2 could be pivotal in sustaining mustard production under future climatic conditions. This research contributes to the broader understanding of how elevated atmospheric gases influence agricultural crops, offering insights for breeding and management practices aimed at enhancing crop resilience and food security in the face of climate change.

Background: COVID-19 is a pandemic respiratory tract disease caused by Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV2). Its clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to acute respiratory failure, multi-organ dysfunction, and death. Purpose: This study revealed the utility of platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as a severity and mortality marker in COVID-19 infection, as well as its connection with other inflammatory indicators such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Methods: A total of 400 patients (206 males and 104 females; mean age: 64.5±17.1, years; range, 20-100 years) were hospitalized with COVID-19 between April 2020 and December 2021. The patient’s demographic and clinical information, including ward and critical care data, were gathered from their medical records. On the first and last days, the CRP, NLR, and PLR values of the patients, who were divided into groups based on their hospitalization and outcomes, were analyzed. Results: The results showed that the PLR had statistically significant (P value=0.012) elevation, at the beginning of the hospitalization period it was 245±160, while at the end of the period it had increased to 341±747 (P value = 0.012). there was a significant association between PLR and length of hospital stay and mortality, there was also a substantial correlation between PLR and the last status of the participants, these analyses showed that the mean PLR in the dead group was 445±590, whereas 304±795 in the survived group which is statistically significant with P value=0.007, that supports our hypothesis that there is a correlation between higher PLR and severity of COVID-19 infection and mortality rate. Conclusion: In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the specificity of PLR values at the point of severity and outcome was shown to be as CRP and NLR values, this demonstrates that there is a significant association between these markers and length of hospital stay and mortality. The higher NLR, the longer the hospital stays and the worse the prognosis, there was a significant correlation between age, days of admission and mortality.

Safety has been defined as the absence of threat and stimuli never associated with an aversive event (unconditioned stimulus, US) can inhibit conditioned defensive responses. Relief is a positive response elicited by the termination of an aversive US and stimuli presented upon the moment of relief elicit appetitive conditioned responses. Unclear remains whether the threat absence and threat termination share inhibitory mechanisms or rather these two types of safety are distinct. Fifty-eight participants learned that one stimulus (forward CS+) was shortly presented before a mildly painful electric stimulation (US), one stimulus (backward CS+) was presented shortly after the US, and one stimulus (CS-) was never associated with the US. During a summation test, forward CS+ was presented in compound with either the backward CS+ or the CS-. Conditioned defensive responses were successfully acquired on both verbal and physiological responses meaning that forward CS+ compared to both CS- and backward CS+ was rated more aversive and elicited stronger physiological responses. During summation test, conditioned physiological defensive responses were significantly and comparably attenuated by both backward CS+ and CS-, but inhibition of startle potentiation by the relief-associated stimulus was not evident during the early test trials. In summary, conditioned defensive responses can be inhibited by signals of threat absence (CS-) and threat termination (backward CS+). However, the underlying mechanisms of these two signals may differ.