Applications of drone in disaster management: A scoping review.

The use of drones has rapidly evolved over the past decade involving a variety of fields ranging from agriculture, commercial and becoming increasingly used in disaster management or humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, the evidence of its use in mass disasters is still unclear and scarce. This article aims to evaluate the current drone feasibility projects and to discuss a number of challenges related to the deployment of drones in mass disasters in the hopes of empowering and inspiring possible future work.

Distribution, pollution, and human health risks of persistent and potentially toxic elements in the sediments around Hainan Island, China.

Human activities have changed the global concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and significantly altered the marine ecosystem. Little is known about the concentrations of these PTEs around Hainan Island in China, or their distribution and human health risks. Understanding the variability of PTEs in marine sediments and how they accumulate is important not only for biodiversity and ecological conservation, but also for management of aquatic natural resources and human health risk assessments.

Epidemiology of Ectoparasites (Ticks, Lice, and Mites) in the Livestock of Pakistan: A Review.

Ectoparasites, including lice, ticks, and mites, inhabit the host skin and depend on their host for sustenance, maturation, and multiplication. Among these, ticks are more prevalent in various regions of Pakistan because of favorable climatic conditions, lack of awareness of livestock keepers' regarding ectoparasite infestation rate, insufficient veterinary services, and inadequate control measures. Ectoparasitic infestation is a primary threat to cost-effective livestock production by damaging skin and transmitting multiple diseases between animals.

Keyhole Formation by Laser Drilling in Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Ti6Al4V Biomedical Alloy: Mesoscopic Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation versus Mathematical Modelling Using Empirical Validation.

In the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process, the operating conditions are essential in determining laser-induced keyhole regimes based on the thermal distribution. These regimes, classified into shallow and deep keyholes, control the probability and defects formation intensity in the LPBF process. To study and control the keyhole in the LPBF process, mathematical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are presented.

Non-Destructive X-ray Characterization of a Novel Joining Method Based on Laser-Melting Deposition for AISI 304 Stainless Steel.

In this study, an application of the laser-melting deposition additive manufacturing technique as a welding method has been studied for the laser welding (LW) of AISI 304 stainless steel, specifically 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm thick sheets.

Laser Melting Deposition Additive Manufacturing of Ti6Al4V Biomedical Alloy: Mesoscopic In-Situ Flow Field Mapping via Computational Fluid Dynamics and Analytical Modelling with Empirical Testing.

Laser melting deposition (LMD) has recently gained attention from the industrial sectors due to producing near-net-shape parts and repairing worn-out components. However, LMD remained unexplored concerning the melt pool dynamics and fluid flow analysis. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and analytical models have been developed.

At-home wireless monitoring of acute hemodynamic disturbances to detect sleep apnea and sleep stages via a soft sternal patch.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects more than 900 million adults globally and can create serious health complications when untreated; however, 80% of cases remain undiagnosed. Critically, current diagnostic techniques are fundamentally limited by low throughputs and high failure rates. Here, we report a wireless, fully integrated, soft patch with skin-like mechanics optimized through analytical and computational studies to capture seismocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and photoplethysmograms from the sternum, allowing clinicians to investigate the cardiovascular response to OSA during home sleep tests.

p53, p21, and cyclin d1 protein expression patterns in patients with breast cancer.

Background And Aim: The mutation in the wild-type tumor suppressor gene p53 is the most common genetic change in human tumors. In addition, the normal function of p21, which is both antiproliferative and an inhibitor of the cell cycle, is disrupted in some types of cancer. Meanwhile, cyclin D1 is a member of the cyclin protein family that is involved in regulating cell cycle progression.

Single center, open label dose escalating trial evaluating once weekly oral ixazomib in ART-suppressed, HIV positive adults and effects on HIV reservoir size in vivo.

Background: Achieving a functional or sterilizing cure for HIV will require identification of therapeutic interventions that reduce HIV reservoir size in infected individuals. Proteasome inhibitors, such as ixazomib, impact multiple aspects of HIV biology including latency, transcription initiation, viral replication, and infected cell killing through the HIV protease - Casp8p41 pathway, resulting in latency reversal and reduced measures of HIV reservoir size ex vivo.

Methods: We conducted a phase 1b/2a dose escalating, open label trial of weekly oral ixazomib for 24 weeks in antiretroviral (ART)-suppressed, HIV positive adults (NCT02946047).

Observational study of clinico-radiological follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia: a district general hospital experience in the UK.

Background: The British Thoracic Society (BTS) recommends that all patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia should have a chest X-ray (CXR) and clinical follow-up at 6 or 12 weeks, depending on the disease severity. Little data is available on long-term CXR follow-up for moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This study aims to evaluate compliance with clinico-radiological follow-up of patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia at a local hospital in the UK, as per the BTS guidance, and to analyse radiological changes at clinical follow-up at 12 weeks, in order to risk-stratify and improve patient outcomes.

Do entrepreneurial orientation and intellectual capital influence SMEs' growth? Evidence from Pakistan.

This research analyzes the impacts of intellectual capital (IC) and the balancing power of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on innovation growth (IG) in Pakistan's SME sector. A quantitative approach on smart PLS has been applied through the SEM model, backed by a survey to gather primary data from 256 participants of Pakistan's SME sector. A significant effect of human capital on Pakistani firms' IG was identified.

Ceftriaxone versus antistaphylococcal antibiotics for definitive treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Optimal therapy for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections is unclear. Current standard of care consists of antistaphylococcal antibiotics (ASAs) such as nafcillin, oxacillin and cefazolin. Ceftriaxone has been evaluated due to its advantage as a once-daily outpatient regimen.

Computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD): A comparison using asymptotic vs rational approximation in thermoluminescence kinetic models.

In this study an open-source tool GCD Analyzer, based on Microsoft® Excel, for Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution analysis (CGCD) of thermoluminescence (TL) glow peak has been developed using a more accurate rational approximation. It is capable of deconvolution of glow curves having discrete or continuous trap distribution and can be used for routine as well as emergency radiation dosimetric analysis. This tool has a unique feature of TL glow curve analysis by combining discrete and continuous energy distributions for crystalline, amorphous, and mixed materials.

Dermatopathology resident training and education during the COVID-19 pandemic: Challenges faced and lessons learned.

Clinical laboratory services and associated training programs faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. With the introduction of pandemic related strictly mandated institutional policies of physical distancing, dermatopathology rotations, a key component of both dermatology and pathology residency programs, were impacted. In order to adapt to this new environment, a few modifications in resident training and education were introduced at various institutions.

Improved anti-inflammatory effect of curcumin by designing self-emulsifying drug delivery system.

The purpose of the present study was to prepare and evaluate self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) of curcumin (Cur) to enhance its solubility and percentage release for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin loaded SEDDS formulation was prepared, and zones of self-emulsification were recognized by dilution method for the construction of phase diagram. Lauroglycol FCC, tween 80 (surfactant), and transcutol HP (co-surfactant) were selected based on their solubility and highest emulsion region in phase diagram.

What you need to know about children's COVID-19: a systematic review.

The aim of the systematic review is to describe clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children with a focus on the possible reasons why children are less susceptible to COVID-19 and whether their immune response works better than adults. The three research questions below were determined. (1) Why do pediatric COVID-19 cases have milder clinical symptoms than adults? (2) What are clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 in children? (3) How long lasts viral shedding after recovery? We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, as well as foreign literature with English translations.

Microemulsified Gel Formulations for Topical Delivery of Clotrimazole: Structural and In Vitro Evaluation.

Microemulsified gels (μEGs) with fascinating functions have become indispensable as topical drug delivery systems due to their structural flexibility, high stability, and facile manufacturing process. Topical administration is an attractive alternative to traditional methods because of advantages such as noninvasive administration, bypassing first-pass metabolism, and improving patient compliance. In this article, we report on the new formulations of microemulsion-based gels suitable for topical pharmaceutical applications using biocompatible and ecological ingredients.

Contextual contact tracing based on stochastic compartment modeling and spatial risk assessment.

The current situation of COVID-19 highlights the paramount importance of infectious disease surveillance, which necessitates early monitoring for effective response. Policymakers are interested in data insights identifying high-risk areas as well as individuals to be quarantined, especially as the public gets back to their normal routine. We investigate both requirements by the implementation of disease outbreak modeling and exploring its induced dynamic spatial risk in form of risk assessment, along with its real-time integration back into the disease model.

A dynamic forensic medicine approach: Management of the dead during COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia.

It has been a difficult year ahead since the announcement of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Many countries including Malaysia have struggled to take urgent and aggressive measures to advise, detect, screen, test, isolate and treat their citizens in order to fight against the virus. All countries must strike a balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption and at the same time, preserving human rights which includes managing the dead with dignity and respect.

Factors contributing to distress among school and college-going adolescents during COVID-19 Lockdown: A cross-sectional study conducted in Sibi Balochistan, Pakistan.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented nationwide lockdowns. While this leads to a decrease in disease transmission, there is a concurrent increase in the levels of psychological distress. To estimate the levels of psychological distress in school- and college-going adolescents currently under lockdown and to determine the factors associated with this psychological distress.

Farming lifestyle and human milk: Modulation of the infant microbiome and protection against allergy.

There has been an increased prevalence of several allergic manifestations such as food allergy, atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma. Several explanations have been proposed why this has occurred, but one of the main contributing factors may be the gradual loss of microbial exposures over time in regions where allergy is prevalent. Such exposures occur in individuals who practise a traditional farming lifestyle and are protected against allergy.

Frequency of high bleeding risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of risk factors for bleeding and high bleeding risk in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods: The single-centre retrospective observational study was conducted at Ittefaq Hospital Lahore and comprised data of patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from February 2018 to December 2019. Minor and major bleeding risk factors were identified on the basis of the consensus definition of the Academic Research Consortium.

The Underappreciated Role of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Its Strong Link to Lung Cancer.

The World Health Organisation reported COPD to be the third leading cause of death globally in 2019, and in 2020, the most common cause of cancer death was lung cancer; when these linked conditions are added together they come near the top of the leading causes of mortality. The cell-biological program termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in organ development, fibrosis and cancer progression. Over the past decade there has emerged a substantial literature that also links EMT specifically to the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as primarily an airway fibrosis disease; COPD is a recognised strong independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer, over and above the risks associated with smoking.

Characteristics and significance of "green snake" bites in Myanmar, especially by the pit vipers Trimeresurus albolabris and Trimeresurus erythrurus.

Snakebite is an important problem in Myanmar. Regionally, bites by Eastern Russell's vipers, Daboia siamensis (Viperidae, Viperinae), and monocled cobras, Naja kaouthia are considered medically important, but those categorised as "green snake" bites are not. However, these may include bites by green pit vipers, Trimeresurus spp.