Predictors of Encephalitis in Children with Scrub Typhus-Associated Acute Febrile Illness.

Scrub typhus (ST) is an emerging public health concern in India. Despite being treatable, 20-30% of acute febrile illnesses (AFI) progress to encephalitis in endemic regions. This study aimed to identify early markers for encephalitis development in children hospitalized with AFI and positive Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ots) serology.

Re-evaluating Presumptive Treatment with Doxycycline/ Azithromycin in Children With Acute Febrile Illness in a Scrub Typhus Endemic Region: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of children with acute febrile illness (AFI) attending the peripheral health facilities in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, due to Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ots) and re-evaluate the strategy of presumptive administration of doxycycline/azithromycin (PDA) to patients with AFI.

Methods: Children aged 2-18 years with AFI attending 16 peripheral health facilities in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, were enrolled in September 2023. Blood samples were tested for O.

Assessment of natural radioactivity in the Higher and Tethys Himalayan Rocks along Manali-Leh Highway, India.

The Higher and Tethys Himalayan region of NW-Himalaya is less explored from the natural radioactivity mapping assessment, though geologically and tectonically, this region is still active. The concentration of primordial radionuclides (Ra, Th, and  K) in rock samples of the Manali-Leh Highway region of the Himalayas is determined in the present study using the HPGe detector. The radiological hazard parameters are also estimated in terms of radium equivalent activity (Ra), annual effective dose (E and E), hazard indices (H, H, H, and H), and gamma absorbed dose rate.

Safety Profile of Mass Administration of Albendazole Among School Children (6-19 Years): A Prospective Active Surveillance Study.

Background: Infections with Soil-transmitted Helminths (STHs) impact about 24% of the global population. A disproportionate number of individuals, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, live in emerging nations. In India, between the ages of one and fourteen, almost 220 million children are susceptible to intestinal worm infestations caused by parasites.

Exploring allelochemicals for cleaner and sustainable agriculture: A bibliometric review on research trends, challenges and future prospective.

Allelopathic research is not getting the intended consideration because of the complexities involved in their isolation, identification, understanding their modes of action, interactions with other environmental factors, impacts on non-target organisms and exploration of their utility in diverse fields. Additionally, their variability and trace availability have presented hurdles in establishing future research utilities and their field applications. Exploring the historical context of allelopathic research is essential for obtaining a more profound understanding of the progression in this research domain and to identify the research gaps and potential future prospectives.

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) - Selenocysteine metabolism preserves the follicular fluid's (FF) redox homeostasis via IGF-1- NMD cascade in follicular ovarian cysts (FOCs).

Follicular ovarian cysts (FOCs) are characterized by follicles in the ovaries that are >20 mm in diameter and persist for >10 days without the corpus luteum, leading to anovulation, dysregulation of folliculogenesis and subfertility in humans and livestock species. Despite their clinical significance, the precise impact of FOCs on oocyte reserve, maturation, and quality still needs to be explored. While FOCs are observed in both human and livestock populations, they are notably prevalent in livestock species.

SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2 for Predicting Intensive Care Admission in Wheezy Children: An Observational Study.

Objective: To determine the sensitivity of cut-off of SpO2/FiO2 (SF ratio) < 300 at hospital admission for predicting the need for admission in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in wheezy children. Secondary objectives were to determine the sensitivity of cut-off of SF ratio < 300 for predicting in-hospital mortality and that of PaO2/FiO2 (PF ratio) < 200 for predicting intensive care admission and in-hospital mortality. We also ascertained the correlation between SF ratio and PF ratio in the above population.

Diminished NAD+ levels and activation of retrotransposons promote postovulatory aged oocyte (POAO) death.

Death is the fate of postovulatory aged or unfertilized oocytes (POAO) in many animals. However, precise molecular mechanisms are yet to be discovered. Here, we demonstrate that increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium ion (Ca+2) channels, and retrotransposon activity induce apoptosis, which in turn causes POAO death.

Association between thyroid functions, cognition, and functional connectivity of the brain in early-course schizophrenia: A preliminary study.

Background: The functional outcome of the debilitating mental illness schizophrenia (SZ) has an integral role in cognition. The thyroid hormone has a vital role in the developmental stages and functioning of the human brain.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between thyroid functions, cognition, and functional imaging of the brain in persons with SZ.

Balanced spatiotemporal arrangements of histone H3 and H4 posttranslational modifications are necessary for meiotic prophase I chromosome organization.

Dynamic nuclear architecture and chromatin organizations are the key features of the mid-prophase I in mammalian meiosis. The chromatin undergoes major changes, including meiosis-specific spatiotemporal arrangements and remodeling, the establishment of chromatin loop-axis structure, pairing, and crossing over between homologous chromosomes, any deficiencies in these events may induce genome instability, subsequently leading to failure to produce gametes and infertility. Despite the significance of chromatin structure, little is known about the location of chromatin marks and the necessity of their balance during meiosis prophase I.

Comparison of efficiency of various DC-DC converters connected to solar photovoltaic module.

In this paper, an attempt is made to build an effective solar photovoltaic (PV) system considering geographical aspects such as irradiance and temperature using the single-diode equation model. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of various DC-DC converters (buck, boost, inverting buck-boost, non-inverting buck-boost (NIBB), Cuk, and single-ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC)) connected to a solar photovoltaic (PV) module was conducted in order to determine the optimal combination of DC-DC converter and solar PV. Moreover, the R, L, and C parameters for the converters have also been proposed to gain optimum efficiency from the solar PV system, and it has been shown that increasing the resistance decreases the ripple value.

Smart photovoltaic system for Indian smart cities: a cost analysis.

In this paper, a methodology and optimization using the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm for life cycle cost (LCC) assessment of photovoltaic (PV) system for some Indian smart cities have been presented. Smart cities are the urban areas that utilize solar power PV system with other advanced innovations. The life cycle cost with and without carbon credit earned due to solar power generation in particular smart city should be known.

Ultimate fate and possible ecological risks associated with atrazine and its principal metabolites (DIA and DEA) in soil and water environment.

Atrazine (AT) is a triazine herbicide widely used to control weeds in several crops. De-isopropylatrazine (DIA) and de-ethylatrazine (DEA) are two of the eight primary metabolites produced by AT breakdown in soil and water. The physico-chemical properties of the soil determine their final fate.

Persistence, leaching and associated toxicity risks of insecticide pyriproxyfen in soil ecosystem.

Pyriproxyfen is a pyridine-based insecticide used for pest control in fruits and vegetables. It is a potent endocrine disruptor and hormone imitator. Considering its potential hazards to non-target organisms and the associated environment, a lab study was conducted for assessing persistence, mobility in sandy loam soil and associated risk to various non-target organisms and soil enzymes.