Study on groundwater pollution and its human impact analysis using geospatial techniques in semi-urban of south India.

Groundwater recharging and thus renewable groundwater supplies will experience considerable changes due to climate change. The present investigation focussed to evaluate the susceptibility of subsurface water in rapid developing textile industrial region of Southern India. To determine the aquifer's susceptibility, the DRASTIC-LU Remote sensing and GIS based vulnerability model was applied and the results were compared with human activity risk (HAR) analysis to ensure the water borne disease on human health.

Synaptic integration of somatosensory and motor cortical inputs onto spiny projection neurons of mice caudoputamen.

The basal ganglia play pivotal roles in motor control and cognitive functioning. These nuclei are embedded in an anatomical loop: cortex to basal ganglia to thalamus back to cortex. We focus here on an essential synapse for descending control, from cortical layer 5 (L5) onto the GABAergic spiny projection neurons (SPNs) of the caudoputamen (CP).

Enhancing SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in Malawi using telephone syndromic surveillance from July 2020 to April 2022.

Introduction: Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in low-resource countries such as Malawi requires cost-effective surveillance strategies. This study explored the potential utility of phone-based syndromic surveillance in terms of its reach, monitoring trends in reported SARS-CoV-2-like/influenza-like symptoms (CLS/ILS), SARS-CoV-2 testing and mortality.

Methods: Mobile phone-based interviews were conducted between 1 July 2020 and 30 April 2022, using a structured questionnaire.

Isochronic development of cortical synapses in primates and mice.

The neotenous, or delayed, development of primate neurons, particularly human ones, is thought to underlie primate-specific abilities like cognition. We tested whether synaptic development follows suit-would synapses, in absolute time, develop slower in longer-lived, highly cognitive species like non-human primates than in shorter-lived species with less human-like cognitive abilities, e.g.

Protocol to implement a syndromic surveillance survey of COVID-19 in Malawi.

Introduction: Malawi experienced two waves of COVID-19 between April 2020 and February 2021. A High negative impact of COVID-19 was experienced in the second wave, with increased hospital admissions that overwhelmed the healthcare system. This paper describes a protocol to implement a telephone-based syndromic surveillance system to assist public health leaders in the guidance, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies for COVID-19 prevention and control in Malawi.

Layer 5 of cortex innervates the thalamic reticular nucleus in mice.

Neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) are a primary source of inhibition to the dorsal thalamus and, as they are innervated in part by the cortex, are a means of corticothalamic regulation. Previously, cortical inputs to the TRN were thought to originate solely from layer 6 (L6), but we recently reported the presence of putative synaptic terminals from layer 5 (L5) neurons in multiple cortical areas in the TRN [J. A.

Regional cytoarchitecture of the adult and developing mouse enteric nervous system.

The organization and cellular composition of tissues are key determinants of their biological function. In the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the enteric nervous system (ENS) intercalates between muscular and epithelial layers of the gut wall and can control GI function independent of central nervous system (CNS) input. As in the CNS, distinct regions of the GI tract are highly specialized and support diverse functions, yet the regional and spatial organization of the ENS remains poorly characterized.

Simulation of ground water quality for noyyal river basin of Coimbatore city, Tamilnadu using MODFLOW.

In recent years groundwater modelling has become a major part of many projects dealing with groundwater exploitation, protection and remediation. Coimbatore city is located along the Noyyal River which is grown in size and population on either side of the river and the dumping of wastes very close to the river banks, leads to pollution of both surface and groundwater. Study on the quality of groundwater along the Noyyal River in Coimbatore city of Tamilnadu, is necessary to safeguard the interest of the people with respect to quality and quantity of water.

Bio-energy generation and treatment of tannery effluent using microbial fuel cell.

In this study, Graphite Particle (GP) and Carbon Cloth (CC) are employed as anode electrodes to study both bio-energy generation, and decrease of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) simultaneously using tannery effluent. The influence of electrodes distance (10 cm and 20 cm) on electricity production was evaluated. COD removal level of GP (75%) and CC (60%), maximum power outputs for 10 cm distance (600 ± 5 mW m) & (500 ± 10 mW m) and for 20 cm distance (520 ± 5 mW m) and also (430 ± 20 mW m) GP and CC were noted correspondingly.

Evaluating the effect of a community score card among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in two districts in Malawi.

Malawi faces challenges with retaining women in prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services. We evaluated Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE's) community score card (CSC) in 11 purposively selected health facilities, assessing the effect on: (1) retention in PMTCT services, (2) uptake of early infant diagnosis (EID), (3) collective efficacy among clients, and (4) self-efficacy among health care workers (HCWs) in delivering quality services.

Integration of signals from different cortical areas in higher order thalamic neurons.

Higher order thalamic neurons receive driving inputs from cortical layer 5 and project back to the cortex, reflecting a transthalamic route for corticocortical communication. To determine whether or not individual neurons integrate signals from different cortical populations, we combined electron microscopy "connectomics" in mice with genetic labeling to disambiguate layer 5 synapses from somatosensory and motor cortices to the higher order thalamic posterior medial nucleus. A significant convergence of these inputs was found on 19 of 33 reconstructed thalamic cells, and as a population, the layer 5 synapses were larger and located more proximally on dendrites than were unlabeled synapses.

Correlation of non-clinical parameters with the hematological indices in type 2 diabetic Mellitus patients.

Background: The study's main aim is to compare and correlate the levels of various hematological indices in type 2 DM patients with the gender, age, duration, and family history of diabetic conditions to predict diabetes-related complications.

Methods: The diabetic population is divided into 2, group 1- subjects with complications and group 2- subjects without complications. Hematological indices are measured using an automated analyzer.

Multi-modal imaging of a single mouse brain over five orders of magnitude of resolution.

Mammalian neurons operate at length scales spanning six orders of magnitude; they project millimeters to centimeters across brain regions, are composed of micrometer-scale-diameter myelinated axons, and ultimately form nanometer scale synapses. Capturing these anatomical features across that breadth of scale has required imaging samples with multiple independent imaging modalities. Translating between the different modalities, however, requires imaging the same brain with each.

An ultrastructural connectomic analysis of a higher-order thalamocortical circuit in the mouse.

Many studies exist of thalamocortical synapses in primary sensory cortex, but much less in known about higher-order thalamocortical projections to higher-order cortical areas. We begin to address this gap using genetic labeling combined with large volume serial electron microscopy (i.e.

A three-dimensional thalamocortical dataset for characterizing brain heterogeneity.

Neural microarchitecture is heterogeneous, varying both across and within brain regions. The consistent identification of regions of interest is one of the most critical aspects in examining neurocircuitry, as these structures serve as the vital landmarks with which to map brain pathways. Access to continuous, three-dimensional volumes that span multiple brain areas not only provides richer context for identifying such landmarks, but also enables a deeper probing of the microstructures within.

Sensitivity to myelin using model-free analysis of the water resonance line-shape in postmortem mouse brain.

Purpose: Dysmyelinating diseases are characterized by abnormal myelin formation and function. Such microstructural abnormalities in myelin have been demonstrated to produce measurable effects on the MR signal. This work examines these effects on measurements of voxel-wise, high-resolution water spectra acquired using a 3D echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) pulse sequence from both postmortem fixed control mouse brains and a dysmyelination mouse brain model.

Neuronal BIN1 Regulates Presynaptic Neurotransmitter Release and Memory Consolidation.

BIN1, a member of the BAR adaptor protein family, is a significant late-onset Alzheimer disease risk factor. Here, we investigate BIN1 function in the brain using conditional knockout (cKO) models. Loss of neuronal Bin1 expression results in the select impairment of spatial learning and memory.

colonization and persistence in a primate model.

is associated with aggressive periodontitis resulting in premature tooth loss in adolescents. Tooth adherence and biofilm persistence are prerequisites for survival in the oral domain. Here, using a rhesus monkey model, 16S rRNA sequencing, and weighted network analysis, we assessed colonization of variants and ascertained microbial interactions in biofilm communities.

Contrast enhancement of biological nanoporous materials with zinc oxide infiltration for electron and X-ray nanoscale microscopy.

We show that using infiltration of ZnO metal oxide can be useful for high resolution imaging of biological samples in electron and X-ray microscopy. The method is compatible with standard fixation techniques that leave the sample dry, such as finishing with super critical CO drying, or simple vacuum drying up to 95 °C. We demonstrate this technique can be applied on tooth and brain tissue samples.

Increased leukotoxin production: Characterization of 100 base pairs within the 530 base pair leukotoxin promoter region of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin (LtxA) is a major virulence factor that kills leukocytes permitting it's escape from host immune surveillance. A. actinomycetemcomitans strains can produce high or low levels of toxin.

Viral Suppression and HIV Drug Resistance at 6 Months Among Women in Malawi's Option B+ Program: Results From the PURE Malawi Study.

Background: In 2011, Malawi launched Option B+, a program of universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment for pregnant and lactating women to optimize maternal health and prevent pediatric HIV infection. For optimal outcomes, women need to achieve HIVRNA suppression. We report 6-month HIVRNA suppression and HIV drug resistance in the PURE study.

Impact of Facility- and Community-Based Peer Support Models on Maternal Uptake and Retention in Malawi's Option B+ HIV Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Program: A 3-Arm Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (PURE Malawi).

Background: Many sub-Saharan African countries have adopted Option B+, a prevention of mother-to-child transmission approach providing HIV-infected pregnant and lactating women with immediate lifelong antiretroviral therapy. High maternal attrition has been observed in Option B+. Peer-based support may improve retention.

Survival of an Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans quorum sensing luxS mutant in the mouths of Rhesus monkeys: insights into ecological adaptation.

Experiments were designed to explore a prominent autoinducer-2 (AI-2) producing gene (luxS) related to colonization and survival of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a low abundance member of the indigenous flora, that forms a key component of the dysbiotic flora in localized aggressive periodontitis. The luxS gene was disrupted in a primate strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans before implantation into the oral cavity of Rhesus monkeys (Rh).

Exploring the Experiences of Women and Health Care Workers in the Context of PMTCT Option B Plus in Malawi.

Introduction: Malawi has embarked on a "test-and-treat" approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, known as "Option B+," offering all HIV-infected pregnant and breastfeeding women lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) regardless of CD4 count or clinical stage. A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted to explore early experiences surrounding "Option B+" for patients and health care workers (HCWs) in Malawi.

Methods: Study participants were purposively selected across 6 health facilities in 3 regional health zones in Malawi.