Earlier Studies Research Articles

Physical activity and risk of epilepsy: A 2-sample Mendelian randomization study.

There is currently a lack of evidence from earlier studies about the impact of exercise on the risk of epilepsy. We conducted a 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to identify the potential causal relationship between physical activity and epilepsy. We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with physical activity from a recent genome-wide association study of the UK Biobank. Summary statistics of epilepsy were derived from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS) database. We found that self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity increases the incidence of focal epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis(OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.07-1.30, p = 9 × e-4) and overall acceleration average reduces the risk of childhood absence epilepsy(OR: .99; 95% CI: .98 to 1.00; p = .013). Different types of epilepsy respond differently to physical activity; it needs further research to explore the physiological mechanism of physical activity and epilepsy.

Comparative assessment of the effect of intrathecal morphine administration on the postoperative period in cardiac surgery patients

Background. The intrathecal use of morphine during cardiac surgery may improve the course of the postoperative period in patients. Earlier studies on the use of the intrathecal form of morphine to optimize postoperative anesthesia and reduce the duration of mechanical lung ventilation have shown contradictory results, and therefore this issue requires further clarification. Objective. To conduct a comparative assessment of the effect of intrathecal morphine administration at a dose of 200 mcg on the course of the postoperative period in patients who underwent elective cardiac surgery under artificial blood circulation. Material and methods. A prospective single-center study included 42 patients over 18 years old. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 - general anesthesia based on sevoflurane and fentanyl was used; Group 2 - patients who received intrathecal morphine at a dose of 200 mcg 60 minutes before the onset of general anesthesia. All patients underwent elective cardiac surgery under artificial blood circulation. In the postoperative period, the dynamics of changes in acid-base and blood gases, glucose, time to patient extubation, pain intensity, the number of complications and mortality were assessed. Results. Intrathecal morphine administration in patients results in statistically significant (p = 0.017) reduction in postoperative mechanical ventilation duration from (300 (247; 435) min) to 200 (150; 360) min. Pain intensity decreases by 2.1 points at 6 hours after surgeryand by 1.7 points at18-24 hours after surgery. Frequency of intravenous morphine administration decreases in the first postoperative day; NNT (number of patients needed to be treated) indicator was 1.67. Conclusion. Combination of general multicomponent anesthesia with intrathecal morphine administration helps to reduce ALV time, improves postoperative pain relief and reduces need for intravenous narcotic analgesics in cardiac surgery patients.

Pipe failure prediction model based on periodic pipe wall thickness measurement using electromagnetic acoustic resonance

This study proposes a numerical model to predict pipe failure based on periodic non-destructive inspections using electromagnetic acoustic resonance (EMAR). A total of 149 artificially corroded samples that simulated flow-assisted corrosion were prepared; 27 of them were plates, and others were from pipes of various dimensions. The samples were measured using EMAR, and the thicknesses of the samples were evaluated based on the fundamental resonance frequency. The results of the evaluations were compared with the actual thicknesses measured by a caliper gauge to quantify the uncertainty in pipe wall thickness evaluation. Numerical evaluations were performed to predict pipe failure probability in the future based on the results of periodic EMAR measurements. Three scenarios of pipe thickness reduction were considered, and each scenario assumed that pipe thickness measurements by EMAR were performed every five years. The actual pipe wall thickness, which is not necessarily the same as the EMAR evaluations, is estimated as a probability density function using the Bayesian approach proposed in an earlier study by the authors. Whereas this study considers only pipe rupture, the results of numerical simulations support the validity of the model especially when the corrosion rate is not constant.

Relevance of Soil Aggregates on Carbon Sequestration in Mangrove and Rice Ecosystems of Sundarbans Delta

Mangrove ecosystems are net carbon sinks. These have high carbon sequestration potential in soil, sediments, and water column. The soil organic carbon (SOC) which is protected by the aggregates is called the slow pool. In this pool, the organic matter is partially decomposed. Carbon which is present between aggregates is called inter-particulate organic carbon and the carbon which is present within aggregates is called intra-particulate organic carbon. It is also called particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C). Many reports have suggested that macroaggregates (>250μm) provide less protection to carbon in comparison to micro aggregates (<250μm), to decomposition. The present paper depicts the comparative analysis of particulate organic carbon (POC) sequestration and soil aggregate stability in mangrove and rice ecosystem of the Sundarban delta. In our study seven different sites were selected based on the degradation status of mangroves from 1930 to 2013 by National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad in Sagar Island, Sundarban, India. In order to estimate the POC sequestration and soil aggregate stability aggregate fractions of different sizes were extracted from the sample with the help of Yoder apparatus. POC in soil aggregates of each class were estimated with the help of C/N analyser. Samples were collected from all the two depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) of all sites. To estimate the aggregate stability Mean weight diameter (MWD) was calculated. In mangrove, The average mean weight diameters (MWD) of soils were in between 0.088 to 0.145 mm whereas in rice it was in between 0.120 to 0.438 mm among the seven different sites. This shows that more aggregate stable soil is under the rice system than that of mangrove system. The soils of the top layer had more aggregate stability than the sub-soil in both the (mangroves and rice) systems. The MWD of soil aggregate under the rice system was higher than in the mangroves system. Macroaggregate are generally formed through the cementation of microaggregates. Earlier studies have suggested that aggregate transformation is strongly regulated by microbial activity. Fungal hyphae physically bind the microaggregate together to form macroaggregate and it also stabilize the contents present in microaggregate. This paper investigates the significant impact of all three factors (i.e. ecology, site and depth) on the aggregate stability and POC sequestration.

A Global Perspective on Mutual Fund Research: A Bibliometric Investigation

This study tries to present a comprehensive overview of Mutual Fund research and pinpoints the broad trends in the field. The study uses bibliometric analysis techniques and a Systematic Literature Review to achieve the stated purpose. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to identify patterns and trends focusing on citation, co-authorship, and co-occurrence. The bibliometric analysis was conducted on 1506 articles from the top finance and economics journals accessed through the Scopus database over 35 years (1991-2025). Analytical tools such as Biblioshiny with R packages and VOS Viewer were utilized. The sharp increase in publications suggests a growing interest among researchers in Mutual fund model research. The current analysis reconciles several divergent findings from earlier studies on Mutual fund research, including the risk analysis and the low-risk anomaly. Also, it identifies potential research gaps for future studies.

Baryogenesis from a Majorana fermion coupled to quarks

In the theory with a Majorana fermion (X) coupled to quarklike fermions (Q) via a dimension-six four-fermion vector-vector interaction, we have computed in an earlier work the baryon asymmetry generated in the decay and scattering processes of the X with Q. In this work we consider such processes in the expanding early Universe, set up the Boltzmann equations governing the X and net baryon number densities, and numerically solve them in example benchmark points, taking the thermally averaged decay and scattering rates and their temperature dependence from the earlier study. We find that starting from a baryon symmetric universe at early time, the presently observed baryon asymmetry of the universe (BAU) can be explained in this theory over a wide range of mass scales, Mχ∈(104,1016) GeV for appropriately chosen couplings. We find that scattering processes play a crucial role in generating the baryon asymmetry in this theory. We present our results in a general manner that should be useful not just in our theory, but also in other related theories that share the essential ingredients. Our results should help guide promising ways to probe such new physics in terrestrial experiments. For instance, in regions of parameter space that yield the observed BAU, we present the rate for neutron-antineutron (n−n¯) oscillation and discuss the prospects for observing this in upcoming experiments. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

The latency time of SARS-CoV- 2 Delta variant in infection- and vaccine-naive individuals from Vietnam

BackgroundThe latency time (from infection to infectiousness) guides the choice of measures required to control an infectious disease. Estimates of the SARS-CoV- 2 latency time are sparse due to lack of appropriate and representative data. Infection time is rarely known exactly and exposure information may be subject to several biases. Information on the endpoint requires repeated testing. Moreover, estimation is challenging because both the starting point and endpoint are typically interval censored and data may be subject to length-biased sampling (truncation).MethodsWe collected detailed information on exposure from public health reports produced during an outbreak with the SARS-CoV- 2 Delta variant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in May-July 2021. Using a custom digital form and application facilitated reliable choices on exposure window. This comprehensive data set on exposure and test results from 1951 individuals, collected in the absence of large-scale vaccination or earlier infection, is the first of its kind outside of China. We accounted for the doubly interval censored nature of the observations and went beyond the standard assumption of a constant infection risk over calendar time (exponential growth) and allowed for flexibility regarding the latency time (generalized gamma distribution). We addressed right truncation due to a cutoff in data collection and a finite quarantine length. Employing a Bayesian approach, using the program JAGS, made the analyses relatively straightforward.ResultsAssuming exponential growth, our estimate of SARS-CoV- 2 Delta variant’s mean latency time was 3.22 (95% Credible Interval 2.89 - 3.55) days; the median was 1.81 (95% CrI 1.44- 2.16) days; the 95 th percentile was 10.98 (95% CrI 9.91 - 12.41) days. These values were much larger if a uniform infection risk was assumed.ConclusionsUsing a Bayesian approach with the JAGS program, we were able to estimate the SARS-CoV- 2 latency time distribution of the Delta variant in infection-naive and vaccine-naive individuals. Estimates were sensitive to the assumptions made regarding the risk of infection within the exposure window. Compared to earlier studies, the median latency time was shorter, while the 95 th percentile was larger. Our results stress the importance of thoughtful data collection and analysis for evidence-based control of an infectious disease.

Developing effective strategic communication for sustainable strategic implementation performance

The study’s objective is to examine strategy communication (SC) issues during the strategy implementation (SI) process and how to set up effective SC for sustainable implementation performance. The methodology is based on a review of the literature and an examination of related studies that have addressed the impact of SC on SI. The study found that SC is one of the top ten factors that influence SI, either positively or negatively. Some research emphasized communication and its elements as an individual factor, while others attributed the impact to communication characteristics. Also, the majority of those to whom SC is directed are from corporate or top management to lower managers, and occasionally to non-managerial levels. Some research has identified the SC tools and methods employed, whereas others have not. The number of examined studies is minimal, which limits the findings. The implication is that selected studies examined many types of organizations, which broadens the scope to include numerous industries of varying characteristics. This study examines SC alone as a factor affecting the SI process, whereas several earlier studies, if not all, looked at SC in conjunction with other relevant factors. The framework and model have added value to the strategy management field.

Discovering the richness of Brazilian amphibians and reptiles through images from Instagram profiles

ABSTRACT Social media posts can enhance public understanding of biodiversity by promoting species discovery and raising awareness of its importance. Here, we evaluated the representativeness of amphibian and reptile species published on Instagram profiles and discussed the role of social media in publicizing these animals. We analyzed Brazilian profiles that regularly published photos of herpetofauna on Instagram between 2015 and 2021. We identified 1,739 images of 597 amphibian species, mostly anurans, and 2,036 images of 532 reptile species, mostly squamates. The number of images is strongly correlated with the number of amphibian and reptile species featured on Instagram profiles. The species featured in the posts tended to reflect the actual richness of the herpetofauna from Brazil, with a tendency toward species described in earlier taxonomic studies. Endemic and native Brazilian species appeared more frequently, most of which were not classified as threatened. As a result, endangered species were underrepresented in posts, indicating the need for more content highlighting their conservation. These actions, however, should be approached cautiously due to the risks of inadvertently exposing species targeted by the illegal wildlife trade. Finally, we discuss strategies to optimize social media posts to ensure they fulfill their potential in supporting biodiversity conservation.

Patient preferences for key organizational features of primary cardiovascular care in Quebec: a discrete choice experiment

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases and their risk factors are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and are among the top reasons for primary care visits. Little is known about patient preferences for primary care in the context of chronic conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of key organizational features identified by patients and providers on patients’ choice of a preferred primary care practice to receive cardiovascular care.MethodsA discrete choice experiment survey was completed by a weighted online sample of 501 Quebec residents having or being at risk of cardiovascular disease. Respondents completed one of two blocks of nine choice sets by indicating, among three hypothetical primary care practice alternatives in each choice set, their preferred and second-most preferred options. Alternatives were differentiated on the basis of five key attributes identified as priorities in an earlier Delphi study: listening to and respecting care preferences; providing personalized information; 24-to- 48-h accessibility in the event of a problem; continuity of care; and up-to-date clinical skills. Each attribute could be assigned a best, moderate, or worst level. Choices were analyzed using generalized multinomial logit modeling. Marginal effects and choice probabilities for policy-relevant scenarios were estimated.ResultsAll five attributes significantly influenced choices of primary care practice. The marginal effects of worst attribute levels were of much greater magnitude than those of best levels for all attributes. Improving short-term accessibility from worst to moderate level had the largest average incremental effect on the probability of patients choosing a practice. Best continuity of care was more valued by older patients and those in poorer general health, but had nonsignificant impact unless it was coupled with enhanced short-term accessibility.ConclusionsA balanced approach across the key organizational features covered seems more advantageous for primary care practices than focusing solely on achieving excellence in any single attribute. The interactions between patient preferences for short-term accessibility and continuity of care should be taken into account when planning and implementing organizational change in primary care. Whether these preferences are generalizable to other jurisdictions and subsets of primary care patients deserves further exploration.

The effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on the locomotor activity of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) on their natural pastures after clamp castration—a pilot study

BackgroundDuring seasonal round-ups, free-grazing reindeer are gathered from natural pastures. Reindeer bulls removed from breeding are clamp castrated, traditionally without analgesia, and then returned to the grazing grounds. The new Finnish Animal Welfare Act requires the use of analgesia in painful procedures. Our earlier studies have shown that a single dose of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) meloxicam may maintain therapeutic plasma concentrations for 2–3 days in reindeer. No studies have been conducted on the effect of meloxicam on the locomotor activity of free-ranging castrated reindeer after castration. We installed GPS collars on 16 male reindeer (at least 5 years old, 130–160 kg), chosen to be castrated as a standard procedure during the round-up held on 5 Oct 2020. Of these, eight were randomly selected to receive approximately 0.5 mg/kg of meloxicam subcutaneously (NSAID group) and eight received no analgesia (TRAD group). The trackers were set to provide location twice per hour with 10 m accuracy. From the GPS data, we calculated the daily distances travelled by the reindeer during the 3 days after castration and analysed the differences between the treatments using a GEE model. Fixed factors were treatment (NSAID or TRAD), days (1–3) and hours, and the interactions between these variables. Our key presumption was that a meloxicam injection can reduce the pain related restless locomotion of newly clamp castrated reindeer.ResultsThe overall mean ± SE daily distances travelled by NSAID (n = 8) and TRAD (n = 8) reindeer did not differ (6.60 ± 0.67 km vs. 8.60 ± 1.54 km). However, all reindeer (n = 16) moved more on day 1 than day 3. TRAD reindeer travelled farther than NSAID on day 1 (11.67 ± 2.25 km vs. 7.08 ± 0.61 km, P < 0.05), but no differences were observed on days 2 or 3 due to high variation (10.19 ± 3.87 km vs. 6.59 ± 0.85 km and 5.35 ± 0.39 km vs. 6.17 ± 0.70 m, P > 0.1). NSAID movement remained stable between the days (P > 0.1), while TRAD activity declined (P = 0.002), levelling with NSAID by day 3. Daytime distances exceeded nighttime distances on days 2 and 3, with TRAD showing more disrupted daily rhythms.ConclusionsMeloxicam may reduce restlessness in newly castrated reindeer, changing postoperative locomotor activity patterns in a way that suggests pain alleviation during the first 2–3 days following clamp castration. Further studies are needed on the use of analgesia and GPS collars for pain monitoring in freely grazing reindeer.

Effect of pesticide use alteration on phytoseiid mite species composition and subsequent spider mite control using commercialized Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) in Japanese pear orchards

Abstract Our earlier study revealed that pesticide use considering the preservation of phytoseiid mites is crucially important for the effective utilization of commercialized Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) release materials for spider mite control in Japanese pear orchards. Pesticide use alteration corresponding to commercialized N. californicus release material installation might change phytoseiid mite species composition and affect the efficacy of commercialized N. californicus in spider mite control. This study evaluated the effect of pesticide use alteration on phytoseiid mite species composition and subsequent spider mite control using commercialized N. californicus at Japanese pear orchards. We examined the population dynamics of spider mites and phytoseiid mites in Japanese pear orchards during 2019–2023. In 2022 and 2023, commercialized N. californicus release materials were installed at a Japanese pear orchard under conditions limiting the use of pesticides with adverse effects on phytoseiid mites. The results demonstrated that the most dominant species was shifted from N. californicus to Amblyseius eharai Amitai et Swirski (Acari: Phytoseiidae) with no significant suppression effects of commercialized N. californicus in spider mite control. The results also demonstrated a decline in the distribution of commercialized N. californicus to pear leaves. Amblyseius eharai and indigenous N. californicus dominantly existed in that order before commercialized N. californicus distribution to pear leaves. These results suggest that intraguild predation by A. eharai and competition with indigenous N. californicus might be involved in the less efficient distribution of commercialized individuals as major and minor factors, respectively.

In silico genomic insights into bacteriophages infecting ESBL-producing Escherichia coli from human, animal, and environmental sources

BackgroundThe emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli, particularly extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC), is a global public health concern. Bacteriophages (phages) play a significant role in bacterial evolution and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study investigates prophages integrated within ESBL-EC genomes to assess their diversity, gene content, and potential contributions to ESBL-EC persistence across human, animal, and environmental reservoirs. Between May and December 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Abuja and Lagos, collecting 448 stool, cecal, and environmental samples from abattoir workers, slaughtered cattle, and the abattoir environment. ESBL-EC genomes from these samples, obtained in an earlier study, were analyzed for phage regions using PHASTER. Intact prophages were analyzed in silico using computational tools to detect ARGs, ESBL genes, virulence factors, and heavy metal resistance. Their genomic relationships were examined with statistical significance of p < 0.05.ResultsOut of 448 samples, ESBL-EC prevalence was 21.7% (97/448). Among 97 ESBL-EC isolates, 646 prophage regions were detected, with 30% (194/646) classified as intact phages. Among the 158 phages with genus assignments, Punavirus was the most prevalent (60.1%). Escherichia was the most frequent predicted host (308/646), particularly in cattle (n = 143) and human (n = 124) sources. Among ESBL-EC genomes, 83.5% (81/97) with intact phages carried phage-associated ARGs, 76.3% (74/97) carried phage-associated ESBL genes, 18.6% (18/97) harbored phage-associated virulence factors, 15.5% (15/97) contained phage-associated plasmids, and 10.3% (10/97) had heavy metal resistance. The most prevalent phage-associated ARGs detected were qnrS1 (73/81) and blaCTX-M-15 (72/81). Two isolates recovered from abattoir workers carried two phage-like plasmids, each harboring either tet(A) or blaCTX-M-55 gene. The predominant phage lifestyles were temperate (n = 182), mainly in the Peduoviridae family, and lytic (n = 12) in the Punavirus genus.ConclusionThis is the first study in Nigeria to characterize phages in ESBL-EC isolates at the One Health interface. The presence of intact phages in humans, animals, and the environment underscores the complex interactions shaping phage ecology. The discovery of ARGs, virulence genes, and heavy metal resistance within prophages suggests a potential role in AMR dissemination. Future research should focus on elucidating mechanisms of ARG transfer mediated by phages in One Health settings.

Artificial intelligence coach bots: coaches’ perceptions of potential future impacts on professional coaching, a qualitative study

PurposeThis research aimed to understand perceptions of experienced coaches of the potential changes and impacts artificial intelligence (AI) coach bots pose to the coaching industry in the imminent future.Design/methodology/approachThis was an exploratory qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine credentialed professional coaches with a range of experience with AI coach bots. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsFour themes were developed from the data: (1) The limited coaching capabilities of AI coach bots; (2) the greater accessibility of AI coaching services; (3) possible AI-human hybrid service delivery and (4) ethical issues in using AI coach bots. The interviewees emphasised the importance of the human presence, human qualities and human characteristics in the coaching context.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited by the small sample size, so the findings cannot be statistically generalised to the coaching industry.Practical implicationsAlignment with earlier studies indicates that practical implications of the study are that coaches might usefully explore hybrid delivery of services and that professional bodies should establish clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI coach bots.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies exploring the impact of AI coach bots on professional coaching and the coaching industry.

Non-scaling topological defects and gravitational waves in higgs portal

Abstract One of the simplest extensions of the Standard Model is the Higgs portal extension involving a dark Higgs. Dark sectors that include dark matter candidates, WIMPs, axions, and dark photons, can naturally have this type of interaction, where the dark Higgs is charged under some symmetry, which may or may not be spontaneous broken by the vacuum expectation value. In this Letter, using lattice simulations, I show that if the reheating temperature of the Universe is sufficiently high, topological defects such as domain walls and cosmic strings associated with these symmetries are naturally formed even if the symmetries are never restored due to negative thermal mass squares. This occurs due to the early Universe’s non-adiabatic oscillation of the Higgs around the onset of oscillation, which overshoots the origin, and tachyonic instability that enhances fluctuations. The gravitational waves generated by these topological defects can be very significant due to the energetic processes induced by matter effects in the hot and dense Universe irrelevant to the typical energy scale of the dark sector in the vacuum or whether the symmetry is broken in the vacuum. Alongside earlier studies that assume a symmetric phase in the early Universe, the Higgs portal models naturally predict local overdensities from topological defects, which can induce miniclusters and primordial black holes, as well as the gravitational waves. These phenomena provide novel opportunities to search for the models with the Higgs portal extension.

Converging ethnicity and class: a strategy for fostering interethnic solidarity and mitigating income inequality

ABSTRACT A dominant political narrative of welfare chauvinism posits that migration and ethnic minorities threaten the interests of non-migrant citizens, particularly those in lower socio-economic positions. This framing fuels intergroup tensions, fostering an ‘us vs. them’ attitude, undermining cohesion. Building upon literature on social identity and boundary-making processes, this study investigates whether an alternative political narrative that merges class and ethnicity – invoking a diverse working class – promotes solidarity for the improvement of income positions for citizens with and without a migration background. And whether it does so more than a general-social-class narrative and a ‘welfare-chauvinism’ narrative. Our study uses an original survey-experiment, incorporated in the 2023 Dutch Parliamentary Election Study (N = 4824). We investigate whether the impact of the narratives varies by type of solidarity and participants’ social class and migration background. Contrary to expectations, the merge-class-and-ethnicity narrative did not increase interethnic-class solidarity. However, it decreased levels of chauvinist-class solidarity. Put differently, the merge-class-and-ethnicity narrative did not contribute directly to higher levels of interethnic-class solidarity, but only indirectly by the stronger rejection of exclusionist-ingroup solidarity. These findings differ from earlier studies conducted in the US. We call for a better understanding of the conditionality of responses to political narrative(s) that promote solidarity.

Brown dwarf number density in the JWST COSMOS-Web field

Abstract Brown dwarfs are failed stars with very low mass (13 to 75 Jupiter mass), and an effective temperature lower than 2500 K. Their mass range is between Jupiter and red dwarfs. Thus, they play a key role in understanding the gap in the mass function between stars and planets. However, due to their faint nature, previous searches are inevitably limited to the solar neighbourhood (20 pc). To improve our knowledge of the low mass part of the initial stellar mass function and the star formation history of the MilkyWay, it is crucial to find more distant brown dwarfs. Using JamesWebb Space Telescope (JWST) COSMOS-Web data, this study seeks to enhance our comprehension of the physical characteristics of brown dwarfs situated at a distance of kpc scale. The exceptional sensitivity of the JWST enables the detection of brown dwarfs that are up to 100 times more distant than those discovered in the earlier all-sky infrared surveys. The large area coverage of the JWST COSMOS-Web survey allows us to find more distant brown dwarfs than earlier JWST studies with smaller area coverages. To capture prominent water absorption features around 2.7 μm, we apply two colour criteria, F115W – F277W + 1 &lt; F277W – F444W and F277W – F444W &gt; 0.9. We then select point sources by CLASS_STAR, FLUX_RADIUS, and SPREAD_MODEL criteria. Faint sources are visually checked to exclude possibly extended sources. We conduct SED fitting and MCMC simulations to determine their physical properties and associated uncertainties. Our search reveals 25 T-dwarf candidates and 2 Y-dwarf candidates, more than any previous JWST brown dwarf searches. They are located from 0.3 kpc to 4 kpc away from the Earth. The spatial number density of 900-1050 K dwarf is (2.0 ± 0.9) × 10–6 pc–3, 1050–1200 K dwarf is (1.2 ± 0.7) × 10–6 pc–3, and 1200–1350 K dwarf is (4.4 ± 1.3) × 10–6 pc–3. The cumulative number count of our brown dwarf candidates is consistent with the prediction from a standard double exponential model. Three of our brown dwarf candidates were detected by HST, with transverse velocities 12 ± 5 km s–1, 12 ± 4 km s–1, and 17 ± 6 km s–1. Along with earlier studies, the JWST has opened a new window of brown dwarf research in the MilkyWay thick disk and halo.

Fracture patterns in diaphyseal gunshot trauma: role of the bullet’s impact point and angle

Abstract Skeletal trauma assessment is an important task of forensic anthropologists and pathologists. This applies in particular to badly preserved bodies where the soft tissue cannot provide forensic evidence. Yet, the interpretation of ballistic long bone trauma can be difficult due to little conclusive data. Thus, this study explored the variability of diaphyseal fracture patterns dependent on the bullet’s angle and point of impact. 20 femurs from body donors were embedded in Clear Ballistics Gel® and divided into 4 experimental groups: 70° angled shot on the centre of the anterior shaft aspect; perpendicular shot on the centre of the lateral shaft aspect; perpendicular shot on the centre of the posterior shaft aspect; grazing shot from posterior on the margin of the medial shaft aspect. In each case, a 9-mm Luger full metal jacket projectile was shot at a distance of 2 m and an impact speed of 360 m/s. All fractures were examined macroscopically. For the trauma comparison, a fifth group (perpendicular shot on the centre of the anterior shaft aspect), previously analysed in an earlier study, was included. Although the groups revealed similar fracture characteristics, the results suggest the bullet’s impact angle and location influence the fracture pattern. The most dissimilar fracture pattern was reproduced in the grazing shots, where only one defect hole was seen, instead of an entry and exit hole like in the other groups. The findings highlight the variability of ballistic fracture patterns in long bones and may serve as guidelines during the skeletal trauma assessment.

Correlation between stimulation levels und ECAP thresholds for audiometry-based fitting of cochlear implants. German version

Persons whose speech recognition with hearing aids at 65 dBSPL, WRS65(HA), is inadequate but whose maximum monosyllabic word recognition score (WRSmax) is still measurable may benefit from acochlear implant (CI). Using avalidated prediction model, one can estimate word recognition with aCI, WRS65(CI), for these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) and stimulation parameters of the CI system. In this prospective study, 37patients were included. The WRS65(CI) was determined after6 and 12months and compared with the predicted WRS65(CI). The correlation of minimum and maximum electrical stimulation with the ECAP was investigated. All patients showed asignificantly better WRS65(CI) after 12months compared with the preoperatively determined WRS65(HA). The proportion of patients whose WRS65(CI) fell short of the predicted value by more than 20percentage points was 19% after 6months and 5% after 12months. In the patient population, there was acloser correlation of the ECAP thresholds with the maximum than with the minimum electrical stimulation. For patients whose speech understanding with hearing aids is inadequate-even with avery high preoperative WRSmax in moderately severe hearing loss-CI fitting appears to be apromising treatment option. The predictive model enables individual treatment planning. Its application contributed to aquality of care that was higher than was found in an earlier retrospective study. The correlation found between stimulation intensity and ECAP in acohort of patients with achieved predicted values supports the hypothesis that afitting procedure based on ECAP and audiometry is apromising approach.

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF VASANTKUSUMAKAR RASA IN DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY: A RANDOMIZED SINGLE BLIND CLINICAL TRIAL

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is the most important and under-treated microvascular complication of Diabetes Mellitus. The symptoms- tingling, numbness, pricking pain, allodynia- generally commence in the legs and show a stocking glove pattern. Few FDA- approved drugs like pregabalin, gabapentin, duloxetine are used as a part of management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the contemporary medicine. They are effective for symptomatic relief but are associated with significant adverse effects. Post-covid era has evolved as the most promising one for exploration of alternative medicine. Rasaushadhis (herbo-mineral/ metallic compounds) are potent drugs that are thought to work at cellular level. Vasantkusumakar Rasa is a promising drug for diabetic complications as earlier studies have proven its protective effects on nerves via anti-oxidant, micronutrient and immune-modulatory effects. This study was intended to assess its efficacy and safety in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.Methodology: A double-arm single blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 30 subjects having diabetic peripheral neuropathy, randomized into two groups- 15 in each. Control group was treated with placebo drug (125mg twice daily with water) and trial group was treated with Vasantkusumakar Rasa (125mg twice daily with cow’s ghee). A 30-day follow up (30th, 60th and 90th day) was planned for this study. Conventional anti-diabetic medications were continued in both the groups. Reduction in signs and symptoms using Toronto Clinical Scoring System score and indifference between the serum creatinine and liver function tests were primary outcomes; reduction in Vibration perception threshold using biothesiometer, Visual Analogue Scale and HbA1c were secondary outcomes. Paired t-test and 2 sample t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results: Vasantkusumakar Rasa posed a significant effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy as p value is &lt;0.05 for TCSS and VPT scores in trial group as compared to control group. Clinical safety of Vasantkusumakar Rasa was also evident as no adverse effects were observed on RFT and LFT parameters in trial group. (p value&gt; 0.05)Conclusion: Vasantkusumakar Rasa is a promising Rasaushadhi that may prove to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of DPN as an add-on drug along with the conventional modern medications.