High Occurrence Research Articles

The Prevalence of Genetic Determinants of Antibiotic Resistance, which are of Particular Epidemiological Consequences, in the Microbiota of the Oropharyngeal Swabs in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Relevance. Antibiotic resistance of microorganisms can contribute to the chronicity of the inflammatory process, lead to an increase in the cost of treating patients and make it difficult to eradicate the pathogen. Patients with cystic fibrosis constantly require medical supervision, regular visits to medical institutions, and therefore there is a high risk of infection with nosocomial antibiotic- resistant strains. In addition, the necessary intake of antibacterial drugs provides an advantage for the reproduction of resistant microorganisms.Aim. Comparison of the frequency of detection of antibiotic resistance determinants in oropharyngeal swabs in children with cystic fibrosis and conditionally healthy children using molecular biological methods.Materials and methods. A PCR study of oropharyngeal discharge from 100 children with cystic fibrosis and 100 children from the control (healthy comparison subject) group was performed. Genetic antibiotic resistance locus: metallo-b-lactamases of the VIM, IMP and NDM groups; carbapenemase genes of the KPC and OXA-48 groups; extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes of the CTX-M group and the mecA gene were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with hybridization-fluorescence detection.Results and discussion. As a result of the analysis, a statistically significant increase in the frequency of detection of genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance in the microbiota of the oropharyngeal discharge in children with cystic fibrosis was found compared with healthy children (p<0.001). The chances of detecting antibiotic resistance loci in the discharge of the oropharynx among children with cystic fibrosis are 38.5 times higher than among healthy children (95% CI: 5.1-289.5). In 28% of children with cystic fibrosis, DNA of the genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance was detected in the microbiome of the discharge of the oropharynx. A high percentage of the presence of genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance may be the reason for the ineffectiveness of antibiotic therapy.Conclusion. Due to the high occurrence in the microbiome of the oropharyngeal discharge of patients with cystic fibrosis of genetic antibiotic resistance locus that are of particular clinical and/or epidemiological significance, and the high risk of the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains outside medical institutions, it is necessary to include this group of patients in regular epidemiological monitoring.

Magnetic Reconnection in the Martian Magnetotail: Occurrence Rate and Impact on Ion Loss

AbstractThe current sheet is crucial in releasing magnetic free energy in cosmic plasmas via fast magnetic reconnection or wave excitation. This research investigates the characteristics of the Martian tail current sheet by analyzing data acquired from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft over 7 years. For the first time, we find that approximately 15% of the current sheet events display reconnection signatures, including Hall magnetic fields and fast proton flows. These reconnecting current sheets are detected more frequently on Mars than on Earth. The Martian tail current sheet is first demonstrated to be on the proton scale, which can explain the high reconnection occurrence rate. The research also reveals that the current sheets are thinner in regions closer to Mars and in the –E hemisphere. On average, reconnecting current sheets carry high fluxes of protons rather than oxygen ions.

Formation Mechanism and Control Technology of Transverse Corner Cracks During Slab Continuous Casting of Microalloyed Steels

Microalloyed steel with Nb, V, Ti, and other alloying elements is one of the important steel grades in the steel industry. During continuous casting process, high occurrence rate of transverse corner cracks in slabs restricts the quality and efficiency of the production of microalloyed steel grades, and it has not been effectively solved for a long time. Herein, the research progress on the formation mechanism, influential factors, and typical control technologies of transverse corner cracks during slab continuous casting are reviewed. Considering high‐temperature solidification process of microalloyed steel, the control of growth of microstructures and the precipitation behavior of carbonitrides in slab corners are supposed to be the key to avoid transverse corner cracks during slab continuous casting.

Brief research report pesticide occupational exposure leads to significant inflammatory changes in normal mammary breast tissue.

Studies have documented the high occurrence of several tumors, including female breast cancer, in populations occupationally exposed to pesticides worldwide. It is believed that in addition to direct DNA damage, other molecular alterations that indicate genomic instability are associated, such as epigenetic modifications and the production of inflammation mediators. The present study characterized the profile of inflammatory changes in the breast tissue of women without cancer occupationally exposed to pesticides. In samples of normal breast tissue collected during biopsy and evaluated as negative for cancer by a pathologist, oxidative stress levels were assessed as inflammatory markers through measurements of lipoperoxides and total antioxidant capacity of the sample (TRAP) by high-sensitivity chemiluminescence, as well as levels of nitric oxide (NOx) metabolites. The levels of inflammation-modulating transcription factors PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) were also quantified, in addition to the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 12 (IL-12). The levels of lipoperoxides, TRAP, and NOx were significantly lower in the exposed group. On the other hand, PPAR-γ levels were increased in the breast tissue of exposed women, with no variation in NF-κB. There was also a rise of TNF-α in exposed women samples without significant variations in IL-12 levels. These findings suggest an inflammatory signature of the breast tissue associated with pesticide exposure, which may trigger mechanisms related to mutations and breast carcinogenesis.

Strategic Trends in Management by Competencies: A Bibliometric Review

Purpose: The objective of this study was to present a current and exhaustive analysis of the contributions and studies carried out by experts regarding strategic management by competencies as a result of a bibliometric review. Theoretical framework: Recent literature, in the last decade, has reported the increase of the need for companies to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage. So, this study about trends in management by competencies becomes essential to review all these works. Design/Methodology/Approach: The bibliometric study was conducted using the SCOPUS database, examining 624 publications from 1966 to 2023. The main findings of this review show that only in the 21st century did the idea of people management by competencies models stand out in the scientific and business scenario. Findings: The evidence shows that the concept of "management," present in 75% of the clusters found (high occurrence), strongly correlates with the theme of the people management model by competencies. The symbiosis between them can become one of the most important strengths (competitive differential) in a significantly changing business scenario. Research, Practical & Social implications: We suggest a future research agenda and highlight the contributions made to other leaders and human resource managers. Originality/Value: The bibliometric analysis allows us to identify that research has been carried out that contributed with elements to the models of competencies and their advances, in order to understand the model of competency management as an integrated and strategic system of evaluation and improvement of the organizations and/or people that compose it.

Fabrication of a 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber Composite Grid Stiffened Structure Using Induction Heating.

In aerospace applications, composite grids have been widely utilized to enhance the strength of large thin-shell components. Recently, a growing focus has been on the research of 3D printing continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. The 3D printing method offers various advantages over traditional molding processes, including a simpler process, higher material utilization, and lower manufacturing costs. However, the use of 3D printing for manufacturing continuous fiber-reinforced composite structures presents challenges, such as a high occurrence of defects within the structure and insufficient mechanical properties. These limitations hinder its widespread application. To address these issues, this study proposes a method for treating 3D-printed composite grid structures using induction heating. Initially, the induction heating mechanism of 3D-printed composite grids was analyzed by studying the impedance at the junction, including direct contact resistance and dielectric hysteresis loss. Subsequently, the impact of induction heating treatment on internal defects was explored by observing micro morphologies. The results show that the combination of induction heating and vacuum pressure effectively reduces porosities within the 3D-printed carbon fiber composite grids. Additionally, 3D-printed composite grid-stiffened PLA structures were fabricated with induction heating, and the bending and impact tests were conducted to evaluate their mechanical properties. The results indicate that using a grid-unit size of 4 mm leads to significant increases in bending strength and modulus of the grid-stiffened structure, with improvements of 137.6% and 217.8%, respectively, compared to the neat PLA panel. This demonstrates the exceptional mechanical enhancement efficiency of the 3D-printed lightweight composite grids.

Plasmid-mediated colistin resistance from fresh meat and slaughtered animals in the Czech Republic: nation-wide surveillance 2020-2021.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in domestic and imported meat and slaughter animals in the Czech Republic during 2020-2021 by using selective cultivation and direct PCR testing. A total of 111 colistin-resistant Escherichia coli isolates with mcr-1 gene were obtained from 65 (9.9%, n = 659) samples and subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Isolates with mcr were frequently found in fresh meat from domestic production (14.2%) as well as from import (28.8%). The mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates predominantly originated from meat samples (16.6%), mainly poultry (27.1%), and only minor part of the isolates came from the cecum (1.7%). In contrast to selective cultivation, 205 (31.1%) samples of whole-community DNA were positive for at least one mcr variant, and other genes besides mcr-1 were detected. Analysis of whole-genome data of sequenced E. coli isolates revealed diverse sequence types (STs) including pathogenic lineages and dominance of ST1011 (15.6%) and ST162 (12.8%). Most isolates showed multidrug-resistant profile, and 9% of isolates produced clinically important beta-lactamases. The mcr-1 gene was predominantly located on one of three conjugative plasmids of IncX4 (83.5%), IncI2 (7.3%), and IncHI2 (7.3%) groups. Seventy-two percent isolates of several STs carried ColV plasmids. The study revealed high prevalence of mcr genes in fresh meat of slaughter animals. Our results confirmed previous assumptions that the livestock, especially poultry production, is an important source of colistin-resistant E. coli with the potential of transfer to humans via the food chain. IMPORTANCE We present the first data on nation-wide surveillance of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in the Czech Republic. High occurrence of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance was found in meat samples, especially in poultry from both domestic production and import, while the presence of mcr genes was lower in the gut of slaughter animals. In contrast to culture-based approach, testing of whole-community DNA showed higher prevalence of mcr and presence of various mcr variants. Our results support the importance of combining cultivation methods with direct culture-independent techniques and highlight the need for harmonized surveillance of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance. Our study confirmed the importance of livestock as a major reservoir of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance and pointed out the risks of poultry meat for the transmission of mcr genes toward humans. We identified several mcr-associated prevalent STs, especially ST1011, which should be monitored further as they represent zoonotic bacteria circulating between different environments.

Prevalence of Incidental Maxillary Sinus Anomalies on CBCT Scans: A Radiographic Study.

CBCT significantly impacts dental procedures and has brought significant reforms to our approach to diagnosis and treatment planning despite its limitations in differentiating soft tissues. It is an excellent imaging modality and quickly identifies sinus opacification and provides valuable insight into paranasal sinus pathologies, with considerably lower radiation exposure. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of maxillary sinus abnormalities in CBCT scans, identify the frequency, type, and location of these findings, and find the correlation between the distance of periapical lesions and radiographic changes in the maxillary sinus. Two examiners independently evaluated 117 patients to diagnose and classify the cases into different abnormality subtypes. The periapical lesions most closely related to the sinus were recorded. The diameters of the left and right maxillary sinus ostium and the distance of the ostium's lower border to the sinus's osseous floor were recorded. The findings were correlated with the age and gender of these patients. The present study reveals that sixty-one patients were diagnosed with mucosal thickening (52.1%). The sinus wall most affected by mucosal thickening was the maxillary sinus floor, followed by the medial and lateral walls. Of 19 patients with periapical lesions, 15 had maxillary sinus mucosal thickening, which is statistically significant (p = 0.004). The high occurrence of abnormalities in the maxillary sinus emphasizes the importance for the radiologist to comprehensively interpret the whole volume acquired in CBCT images, including the entire sinus. Incidental findings may be considered in the individual clinical context of signs and symptoms, reducing the risk of overestimating the real impact of radiographic findings.

Continental mollusk assemblages from the Quaternary of Uruguay

Only a few studies on Quaternary continental mollusks of Uruguay have been published over the last few decades. Despite the high occurrence of this group in many of the Late Pleistocene outcrops of the country, all of them are better known for their classic Ice Age mammal assemblages. To overcome this situation, 23 localities were sampled from two lithostratigraphic units: the Sopas and Dolores formations. The identified species are included in the families Sphaeriidae, Cyprinidae, Mycetopoda, Acridae (freshwater bivalves); Ampullariidae, Cochliopidae, Tateidae, Chilina, Physidae, Planorbidae (freshwater gastropods); Scolodontidae, Succineidae, Charopidae and Bulimia (terrestrial gastropods). As a result of these new samplings, the Sopas Formation mollusk species count increased from 20 to 29 species, and the Dolores Formation from six to 29 species. Seventeen of these species are new records for the Quaternary of Uruguay, and eight for the Quaternary of South America. Two bivalves, five freshwater gastropods, and a new terrestrial gastropod were added for the Sopas Formation; and for the Dolores Formation, four new bivalves, 14 new freshwater gastropods, and five new terrestrial gastropods. The Dolores Formation has been the most understudied unit until now, increasing here its biodiversity to 23 species. These new records of freshwater and terrestrial gastropods, increase the biodiversity and biogeographical range of the continental mollusks of the Late Pleistocene-early Holocene of the region. In addition, new AMS 14C ages were obtained for both lithostratigraphic units, framing the age of the mollusk assemblages for both formations in the a maximum range of 13,000–48,000 years before the present.

The regulating role of Mimosa acantholoba var. eurycarpa in tropical dry forest succession: stem twisting as a successional accelerating mechanism

Several Fabaceae species dominate tropical dry forest (TDF) early succession thanks to their mechanisms to cope with the harsh environmental conditions prevailing at these successional stages. Mimosa acantholoba var. eurycarpa is one of these dominant species. We studied its dominance effect with special attention to the consequences of a stem deteriorating process here referred to as ‘stem twisting’, which ultimately causes stem breakage and leads to crown de-structuring and possibly premature tree death. Using 16 years of dynamic data gathered in permanent secondary forest plots spanning a broad age range in a Mexican TDF, we evaluated the effect of this species on understorey vegetation attributes. The density of M. acantholoba var. eurycarpa reduced understorey plant density. Almost half (47%) of the trees of this species underwent stem twisting at some point in succession, with the twisting probability being directly related to increments in tree size (crown area and basal area). The death risk of twisted trees (adjusted for crown area, number of stems, and basal area) was three-fold that of non-twisted trees. With age, M. acantholoba var. eurycarpa trees collapse because of their twisted stem condition, altering forest structure and opening the canopy. This phenomenon releases the growth of late-successional species in the understorey, thus accelerating successional development. These results indicate that stem twisting is a key driver of successional speed, given its high occurrence among adult trees of the study species. We conclude that M. acantholoba var. eurycarpa is a keystone taxon capable of controlling the successional pathway in TDF, first through its dominance in early succession and later via its massive death due to stem twisting.

The influence of climate parameters on fires in the Paraíba do Sul River valley, southeast Brazil

Brazilian biomes have been experiencing an increase in fires during the whole year, but fires increase substantially during drier periods. Several indexes might be good indicators of the severity of the droughts, such as The Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Vegetation Health Index (VHI). This study therefore aimed to understand the dynamics of climate, using some indexes and fires in Paraíba do Sul River Valley, Paulista portion, to verify whether fire is more likely to spread in hotter and drier years. We hypothesized that fire events are more frequent and burned areas are larger in hotter and drier years in the region. By conducting a cross-correlation analysis and separating the monthly data into dry and rainy seasons, it was possible to establish a correlation between climate parameters and fire. A significant correlation was found between RAI and fires in both seasons. Additionally, we observed that high occurrences of fire events and burning areas were more explained by RAI, VHI and SPI-3 in dry and wet seasons than by temperature and SPI-1, SPI-6 and SPI-12. We noticed a complex dynamic between fire events, burned area, the environment, and climatic variables. However, the studied indexes proved to be effective tools for detecting drought conditions in the region and their relationship to fire.
 Keywords: burning, climatic indexes, Paraíba do Sul River Valley.

Coastal and regional marine heatwaves and cold spells in the northeastern Atlantic

Abstract. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report describes an increase in the number and intensity of marine heatwaves (MHWs) and a decrease in marine cold spells (MCSs) in the global ocean. However, these reported changes are not uniform on a regional to local basis, and it remains unknown if coastal areas follow the open-ocean trends. Surface ocean temperature measurements collected by satellites (from 1982–2022) and 13 coastal buoys (from 1990–2022) are analyzed in the northeastern Atlantic and three subregions: the English Channel, Bay of Brest and Bay of Biscay. The activity metric, combining the number of events, intensity, duration and spatial extent, is used to evaluate the magnitude of these extreme events. The results from in situ and satellite datasets for each of the studied regions are quite in agreement, although the satellite dataset underestimates the amplitude of activity for both MHWs and MCSs. This supports the applicability of the method to both in situ and satellite data, albeit with caution on the amplitude of these events. Also, this localized study in European coastal northeastern Atlantic water highlights that similar changes are being seen in coastal and open oceans regarding extreme events of temperature, with MHWs being more frequent and longer and extending over larger areas, while the opposite is seen for MCSs. These trends can be explained by changes in both the mean of and variance in sea-surface temperature. In addition, the pace of evolution and dynamics of marine extreme events differ among the subregions. Among the three studied subregions, the English Channel is the region experiencing the strongest increase in summer MHW activity over the last 4 decades. Summer MHWs were very active in the English Channel in 2022 due to long events, in the Bay of Biscay in 2018 due to intense events and in the Bay of Brest in 2017 due to a high occurrence of events. Winter MCSs were the largest in 1987 and 1986 due to long and intense events in the English Channel. Finally, our findings suggest that at an interannual timescale, the positive North Atlantic Oscillation favors the generation of strong summer MHWs in the northeastern Atlantic, while low-pressure conditions over northern Europe and a high off the Iberian Peninsula in winter dominate for MCSs. A preliminary analysis of air–sea heat fluxes suggests that, in this region, reduced cloud coverage is a key parameter for the generation of summer MHWs, while strong winds and increased cloud coverage are important for the generation of winter MCSs.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MCDA AND GFI METHODS IN DETERMINING FLOOD-PRONE AREAS IN JATINANGOR DISTRICT, SUMEDANG

Abstract. Flood is one of the natural disasters which has a high intensity in terms of occurrence. Despite the loss value in each event which is not as high as some natural disasters, such as earthquakes or tsunamis, the high occurrence of floods may cause high loss in total. Floods damage property and infrastructure, disrupt economic activity, displace people, harm communities, and degrade ecosystems. This study aims to compare the flood hazard model using Geomorphic Flood Index (GFI) and Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). GFI is an established method which already used globally to identify the flood-prone area and the depth of the flood. The parameter needed to calculate GFI are the elevation, river network, and historical flood event. Meanwhile, the MCDA method tries to combine environmental, physical, and hydrographic factors, such as land use/land cover, precipitation, and runoff. The study area is Jatinangor District in Sumedang Regency which part of West Java Province, Indonesia. This location is chosen based on historical and potential flood events. Besides, Jatinangor District is the center of industry and commerce which Sumedang Regency is very dependent on. The finding of this study is expected to identify suitable methods for assessing flood hazards in Jatinangor or other areas with similar characteristics, between GFI and MCDA.

Data augmentation strategy for power inverter fault diagnosis based on wasserstein distance and auxiliary classification generative adversarial network

With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the brushless DC motor (BLDCM) drive system's reliability and safety have attracted extensive attention. The three-phase full-bridge inverter (TFI) of the BLDCM drive system has a high fault occurrence rate under actual working conditions. It is difficult to identify the fault directly, which leads to imbalanced fault datasets. In addition, it is challenging to obtain fault samples directly, which increases the difficulty of fault diagnosis. In response to these problems, a data augmentation method based on Wasserstein distance and auxiliary classification generative adversarial network (WAC-GAN) for TFI fault diagnosis has been proposed. First, based on the Auxiliary Classification Generative Adversarial Network (ACGAN), one-dimensional convolutions are constructed to replace two-dimensional convolutions for the characteristics of a three-phase current signal to improve the extraction efficiency of signal features. Then, the Wasserstein distance is introduced to improve the model's objective function. Based on the principle of the mutual game between the generator and discriminator, the generator can mine the sample distribution characteristics from few fault mode samples and generate numerous fault samples of specific categories to accomplish the purpose of data augmentation. The experimental results show that the fault diagnosis accuracy of the WAC-GAN model under different datasets and different fault modes can achieve satisfactory fault recognition performance. Compared with other data augmentation methods, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method has been verified.

Assessing the Frequency of COVID-19 in Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global health crisis with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for myocardial infarction and identify associated demographic and clinical characteristics. In this study, a retrospective and descriptive cross-sectional design was used to examine all patients (a total of 85) who experienced acute myocardial infarction and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The study measured various parameters, such as COVID-19 status, age, sex, ethnicity, diabetes, and hypertension. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25 software. Out of the 85 patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for myocardial infarction (MI), 14 patients (16.5%) were found to have COVID-19. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed through RT-PCR testing for 2 patients, while the remaining 12 patients were diagnosed using lung CT scans. Among the COVID-19 patients, 21.4% (n = 3) had background diabetes, and 7.1% (n = 1) had background hypertension. MI recurrence was observed in 14.3% of COVID-19 patients (2 cases). Unfortunately, 1 COVID-19 patient, a 70- year-old Persian woman with diabetes and hypertension, passed away. No significant differences were found in terms of age, sex, ethnicity, underlying diabetes, or underlying hypertension between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. The high occurrence of COVID-19 among myocardial infarction (MI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is worth noting. Further investigation is recommended to explore the impact of demographic and contextual factors on the severity and outcomes of primary PCI in MI patients with COVID-19, as well as the underlying mechanisms involved.

Indigestible foreign bodies in the forestomach of slaughtered goats in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The primary domestic animal in Somali communities is the goat. Their main economic importance is as a food source and a main form of agriculture in the country. There has been a recent decline in the goat population in Somalia, which may be due to the shortage of feed and an increasingly contaminated environment that is affecting the population's food supply and nutritional status. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with indigestible foreign bodies (IFBs) ingestion in goats in Mogadishu, Somalia. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Somalia Meat Company in Mogadishu, Somalia, in February 2022. A total of 250 goats were included in this study, and records were kept on age, sex, body condition, and location. Following the slaughter, goats were inspected for IFBs, and their stomach compartments were incised and examined. Indigestible foreign body classifications was noted and subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0. A total of 90/250 (36%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.1-42.3) goats presented IFBs, being 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69-87) in the rumen, 12/90 (13%; 95% CI: 7-22) in the reticulum, and seven/90 (8%; 95% CI: 3-15) on both. The most observed IFBs were plastic in 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69-87), followed by ropes in eight/90 (10%; 95% CI: 5-18). A high IFB prevalence was observed in goats aged >2-≤3 years (44%), followed by >3 years (36%). The lowest frequency was observed in goats aged <2 years (30%). Overall, there was an association between IFBs in goats and poor body conditions (χ2 = 47%, p < 0.04). The absence of a plastic waste disposal system in the area, and communal free-grazing of livestock in highly contaminated sites, appeared to be significant contributors to the high occurrence of IFBs in goats. Therefore, appropriate policies for solid waste management should be implemented.

Frequency and Intensity of Cyclonic Systems in CORDEX RCMs Model Environment under the Future Emission Scenarios

Tropical Cyclonic Disturbances (TCDs) are one of the most extreme meteorological calamities bringing destruction to life and livelihood in the coastal societies across the globe. With the rising concerns of climate change today, addressing the TCDs in future scenarios under the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) in climate models becomes a necessity. The current study investigates the frequency and intensity of these cyclonic systems in future climate over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) which is one of most vulnerable regions on earth for deadliest TCDs. To assess the TCDs frequency and intensity, we have considered TCDs in regional climate model REMO2009 and RegCM4 in future climatic conditions. The future climatic conditions include the intermediate emissions (IE) represented as RCP4.5 (R4.5) and high emission (HE) pathways i.e., RCP8.5 (R8.5). For this, we have considered the upcoming decades 2031-2060 (as near future climate) at model horizontal resolution 0.44°x0.44° (spatial resolution ~ 50 km) under both RCPs in both models i.e., REMO2009 under R4.5, RegCM4 under R4.5, REMO2009 under R8.5 and RegCM4 under R8.5. The projected TCD frequencies in the models under both the RCPs show high occurrence frequencies. Further, we observe a bimodal characteristic in the occurrence with October as primary TCD active month and May as secondary in almost all conditions. However, highly intense TCDs are more dominant in the month of May. The projected TCDs in future emissions scenarios likely show slightly increased TCDs besides surge in the intensity. The current results possibly suggest more potential destructive impacts due to TCDs on the coastal societies lying beside the BoB in upcoming decades. Thus, the present study is likely to help in framing TCDs associated mitigation and adaptation policies by the apex decision making authorities.

Hyperkalemia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes

Hyperkalemia is one of life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the diseases in which patients can commonly develop hyperkalemia due to various factors. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of hyperkalemia and potential risk factors that contribute to development of hyperkalemia among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This is a single centered retrospective study in all deceased diabetic patients who were previously admitted to Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital, Kelantan state of Malaysia from January 2017 to December 2017 with or without hyperkalemia. A total of 132 patients were studied after screening for eligibility from medical records. Hyperkalemia was defined as potassium level ≥5.5 mEq/L. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify potential risk factors associated with hyperkalemia. The occurrence of hyperkalemia among T2DM patients was 54.5%. In multivariable analysis, stage 4 CKD (eGFR: 15-29 ml/min/1.73m2) (AOR=0.154, 95%CI=0.003,0.763), use of ARB (AOR=26.269, 95%CI=1.25,548.50) and length of stay (AOR=1.007, 95%CI=1.001,1.013) were the significant risk factors for hyperkalemia. No significant difference between diabetes patients with hyperkalemia (DMHK) group with diabetes patients without hyperkalemia (DMWOHK) group in terms of clinical outcomes. Among diabetic patients with hyperkalemia, the mean time from development of hyperkalemia until death was 99.92±119.07 hours. In conclusion, this study shows that hyperkalemia is common among T2DM patient in our study setting. Although a number of factors may contribute to the high occurrence of hyperkalemia, the use of ARB, advanced CKD at stage 4 and length of stay are major determinants of hyperkalemia occurrence. Aggressive management of hyperkalemia may be beneficial as to prevent significant clinical outcomes requiring intensive care management and cardiac problem lead to death.

Studies on the Fungi and Phytochemical Potential of Tomatoes (Solunium Lycopersicum L.) in Port Harcourt

Tomato contains large amount of water which makes it more susceptible to spoilage by fungi. The fungi responsible for the tomatoes spoilage, produce mycotoxins that are detrimental to human health. The sample from Mile 1 market had highest colony count of Mucur spp. The phytochemical study of the tomato extracts both revealed that phenol had the highest occurrence 30.25±1.35 &amp; 22.2±1.60 and tannin lowest 2.83±0.73&amp; 0.24±0.12. Bioactive compounds stored in plant possess biological and antibacterial activities that can be used as an alternative medicine for the treatment of bacterial infections in man. These compounds have been reported to bestow resistance in opposition to microbial pathogens and this could be accountable for the exhibition of antibacterial activity by both extracts in this present study.

Features of the use of ischemic preconditioning for the correction of vibration polyneuropathy of the upper extremities

Introduction. The study of the methods for non-pharmacological correction of vibration polyneuropathy is relevant in view of the high prevalence of vibration disease in various industries, and high occurrence of disability of workers. Ischemic preconditioning has shown its effectiveness in correcting the manifestations of vibration polyneuropathies. The high frequency of nerve compression in tunnels against the background of polyneuropathic lesions in vibration disease dictates the need to study the effectiveness of the method in various forms of vibration polyneuropathy.&#x0D; The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of ischemic preconditioning in various forms of vibration polyneuropathy.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Twenty nine patients with a proven diagnosis of vibration disease were examined and treated uisng the ischemic preconditioning. They were divided into 2 groups: group 1 – 18 individuals with upper extremities polyneuropathy without nerve compression, group 2 – 11 subjects with compression complications of polyneuropathy. The examinations included neurological survey, electroneuromyographic investigation before and after the course of ischemic preconditioning conducted according to a patented technique.&#x0D; Results. A decrease in sensory disturbances and improvement in the impulse conduction along the sensory fibers of the nerves of the upper extremities after a course of ischemic preconditioning in the group of the patients without compression neuropathies were noted. In the group of the patients with polyneuropathies complicated by the nerve compression in tunnels, the positive effect was less significant.&#x0D; Limitations. The study was limited by the assessment of clinical and electroneuromyographic parameters in 29 patients with vibration disease due to the exposure to local vibration before and after the course of ischemic preconditioning.&#x0D; Conclusion. The method of ischemic preconditioning is effective as a method for non-pharmacological correction of vibration polyneuropathy. Compression neuropathies are predictors of lower efficiency of the method, and therefore it is important to select patients for the treatment by this method with the preferred inclusion of the patients with uncomplicated vibration polyneuropathies.