In Silico Detection and Conveyance Feasibility of Antifungal Prodrug Flucytosine on the Surface of Pristine and Germanium-Doped SiC Nanosheet.

The work describes a novel sensing and transportation feasibility of the well-established antifungal drug Flucytosine (5-FC) using a 2D Silicon carbide (SiC) and Germanium-doped Silicon carbide (Ge@SiC) nanosheet via PBE level of Density functional theory. The computational study revealed that the drug molecules adhere to SiC and Ge@SiC sheets, maintaining their structural properties through physisorption on SiC and chemisorption on Ge@SiC. The charge transfer process associated with the adsorption is observed by Lowdin charge analysis and both the SiC and Ge@SiC sheets are identified as a feasible oxidation-based nanosensor for the drug.

Assessment of Lead Exposure and Associated Risk Through Human Biomonitoring Among Urban Communities in Chennai, Southern India.

Background: Lead exposure is a widely acknowledged risk to public health for children and adults. However, despite efforts to phase out major sources over the last several decades, estimates of the prevalence of blood lead exposures and associated risks remain poorly characterized in many low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives:  This study aimed to determine blood lead levels (BLLs) and assess potential sources of lead exposure among urban communities in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Computational approaches for identifications of altered ion channels in keratoconus.

Background: Keratoconus is an etiologically complex, degenerative corneal disease that eventually leads to loss of corneal integrity. Cells in corneal epithelium and endothelium express various types of ion channels that play important roles in ocular pathology. This emphasizes the need of understanding alterations of ion channels in keratoconus.

Incidental Finding of Double Posterior Belly of Digastric Muscle in Head and Neck Cancer Patient.

Objectives: The digastric muscles have important roles in swallowing, chewing, speech, and landmark identification during neck dissection. The posterior belly of the digastric muscle (PBDM) is often useful for defining boundaries in surgical neck dissection as it contributes to the carotid, submandibular, and submental triangles. The cadaveric prevalence rate of anatomic variations in the digastrics has been reported to be 31.

Innovations in forensic science: Comprehensive review of hyperspectral imaging for bodily fluid analysis.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has become a crucial innovation in forensic science, particularly for analysing bodily fluids. This advanced technology captures both spectral and spatial data across a wide spectrum of wavelengths, offering comprehensive insights into the composition and distribution of bodily fluids found at crime scenes. In this review, we delve into the forensic applications of HSI, emphasizing its role in detecting, identifying, and distinguishing various bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, vaginal fluid, semen, and menstrual blood.

SARS-CoV-2 infections before, during, and after the Omicron wave: a 2-year Indian community cohort study.

Background: We measured the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and re-infections in an adult community-based cohort in southern India.

Methods: We conducted a 2-year follow-up on 1229 participants enrolled between May and October 2021. Participants provided vaccination histories, weekly saliva samples, and blood samples at 0, 6, 12, and 24 months.

Antibacterial effect of Softsoap used to disinfect dentures.

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of Softsoap and Efferdent used as solutions to disinfect Lucitone 199 poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) resin used for dentures.

Methods: S. mutans and plaque bacteria were grown for 24 hours, and suspended to a concentration of 1x10⁶ cells/ml.

3D histology reveals that immune response to pancreatic precancers is heterogeneous and depends on global pancreas structure.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal cancer for which few effective therapies exist. Immunotherapies specifically are ineffective in pancreatic cancer, in part due to its unique stromal and immune microenvironment. Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, or PanIN, is the main precursor lesion to PDAC.

Mitochondrial Adaptation in Skeletal Muscle: Impact of Obesity, Caloric Restriction, and Dietary Compounds.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The global obesity epidemic has become a major public health concern, necessitating comprehensive research into its adverse effects on various tissues within the human body. Among these tissues, skeletal muscle has gained attention due to its susceptibility to obesity-related alterations. Mitochondria are primary source of energy production in the skeletal muscle.

Traumatic Dental Injuries and their Association with Demographics and Other Predisposing Risk Factors in School Children Aged between 8-13 Years: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Traumatic dental injuries are most commonly seen in school age children. This not only affects physical, but, also, the psychological and social well-being of a child. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in school children aged between 8 and 13 years and their association with the demographics and other predisposing risk factors.

Moderate-Intensity Exercise Enhances Mitochondrial Biogenesis Markers in the Skeletal Muscle of a Mouse Model Affected by Diet-Induced Obesity.

Skeletal muscle is composed of bundles of muscle fibers with distinctive characteristics. Oxidative muscle fiber types contain higher mitochondrial content, relying primarily on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP generation. Notably, as a result of obesity, or following prolonged exposure to a high-fat diet, skeletal muscle undergoes a shift in fiber type toward a glycolytic type.

The Importance of Sleep in Overcoming Childhood Obesity and Reshaping Epigenetics.

The development of childhood obesity is a complex process influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as sleep, diet, physical activity, and socioeconomic status. Long-term solutions for decreasing the risk of childhood obesity remain elusive, despite significant advancements in promoting health and well-being in school and at home. Challenges persist in areas such as adherence to interventions, addressing underlying social determinants, and individual differences in response to treatment.

Omega-3 Supplementation and Its Effects on Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by the destruction of the articular cartilage, resulting in a pro-inflammatory response. The progression of OA is multifactorial and is influenced by the underlying cause of inflammation, which includes but is not limited to trauma, metabolism, biology, comorbidities, and biomechanics. Although articular cartilage is the main tissue affected in osteoarthritis, the chronic inflammatory environment negatively influences the surrounding synovium, ligaments, and subchondral bone, further limiting their functional abilities and enhancing symptoms of OA.

Performance optimization for an optimal operating condition for a shell and heat exchanger using a multi-objective genetic algorithm approach.

In this study, shell and heat exchangers are optimized using an integrated optimization framework. In this research, A structured Design of Experiments (DOE) comprising 16 trials was first conducted to systematically determine the essential parameters, including mass flow rates (mh, mc), temperatures (T1, t1, T2, t2), and heat transfer coefficients (€, TR, U). By identifying the first four principal components, PCA was able to determine 87.

Targeting Molecular Mechanisms of Obesity- and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy with Nerve Growth Factor.

Skeletal muscle plays a critical role in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Muscle atrophy, characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and function, occurs due to an imbalance between the rates of muscle protein synthesis and degradation. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms that lead to muscle atrophy in obese and T2DM mouse models.

Hybrid optimization algorithm for enhanced performance and security of counter-flow shell and tube heat exchangers.

A shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) for heat recovery applications was studied to discover the intricacies of its optimization. To optimize performance, a hybrid optimization methodology was developed by combining the Neural Fitting Tool (NFTool), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), and Grey Relational Analysis (GRE). STHE heat exchangers were analyzed systematically using the Taguchi method to analyze the critical elements related to a particular response.

Origin, evolution, and maintenance of gene-strand bias in bacteria.

Gene-strand bias is a characteristic feature of bacterial genome organization wherein genes are preferentially encoded on the leading strand of replication, promoting co-orientation of replication and transcription. This co-orientation bias has evolved to protect gene essentiality, expression, and genomic stability from the harmful effects of head-on replication-transcription collisions. However, the origin, variation, and maintenance of gene-strand bias remain elusive.

Structural Allograft Versus Mechanical Interbody Devices Augmented With Osteobiologics in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review.

Study Design: Systematic Literature Review.

Objective: Perform a systematic review evaluating postoperative fusion rates for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using structural allograft vs various interbody devices augmented with different osteobiologic materials.

Methods: Comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed.

An automatic diagnostic model for the detection and classification of cardiovascular diseases based on swarm intelligence technique.

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) rank among the leading causes of mortality. One out of every three deaths is attributed to cardiovascular disease, according to new World Heart Federation research. Cardiovascular disease can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, alcohol, smoking, a poor diet, inactivity, and other medical disorders like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Delayed onset enophthalmos and hypoglobus mimicking silent sinus syndrome following midface trauma.

Craniomaxillofacial trauma is primarily diagnosed and managed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Among the cases encountered, midface fractures involving orbital walls are highly prevalent. In these fractures, involvement of the orbital walls, particularly floor of the orbit, can lead to considerable aesthetic and functional limitations.