LI-RADS categories and clinicopathological features predict recurrence-free survival in patients with radical resected hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Scrotal masses, encompassing a range of benign and malignant conditions, present a significant clinical challenge due to their varied etiology and potential impact on male reproductive health. The evaluation and management of these masses require a comprehensive approach, integrating clinical, radiological, and histopathological assessments to ensure accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment. Aim: To evaluate the histomorphological spectrums of neoplastic and non neoplastic lesions of the scrotum. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, five-year crosssectional study was conducted at the Department of Pathology at Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray (H.B.T) Medical College and Dr. Rustom Narsi Cooper Municipal General Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, over a period of one year from January 2018 to December 2022. A sample size of 129 cases was obtained according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The specimens received in the Pathology laboratory were examined grossly and microscopically. Special stains were performed as per the requirement. Relevant clinical data (age, presenting complaints, duration, clinical diagnosis, laterality, nature of specimen, whether biopsy or resection) were obtained from the requisition forms submitted with the surgical specimens. All the findings were entered into a master chart, which was later used for further statistical evaluation with the help of Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: A total of 129 cases of testicular and scrotal lesions were received in the surgical histopathology section from 21787 cases over five years, which accounts for 0.59%. Only one case was with genital ambiguity, while the rest of the cases (n=128) were males. Out of 129 cases, 115 cases (89.14%) were non neoplastic, while only 14 cases (10.85%) were neoplastic. The maximum number of cases (50 cases, 38.75%) was seen in the age group of 16 to 35 years. Seventy seven cases (59.68%) had lesions of the testicular parenchyma and epididymis, 28 cases (21.7%) from the paratestis and the tunica and 24 cases (18.6%) from the scrotal sac. Right-sided involvement (63cases, 48.83%) was more common than the left side (57 cases, 44.18%). Conclusion: Non neoplastic lesions are commoner than neoplastic masses. Most of the non neoplastic lesions present similarly on physical examination, so radiological findings help in differentiating various lesions and guide further treatment. At times, neoplastic masses can mimic non neoplastic lesions. Accurate radiological intervention, history taking and clinical details can aid in diagnosis and appropriate surgical management.

Glycolytic flux increase in Lactococcus cremoris coincides with accelerated pathway decay and reduced cumulative product yield.

The maximum number of maximum dissociation sets in potted graphs

The maximum number of cliques in graphs with given fractional matching number and minimum degree

Continuous manifold systems (CMS) are widely used for energy and mass transfer. The flow distribution of the branch ports directly affects the flow pattern of the chamber. However, the current understanding of the flow distribution in CMS under unsteady flow conditions and the optimization of their geometry is still limited. In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed to investigate the flow distribution of branch ports under unsteady flow conditions. Moreover, this study analyzed the effects of the geometric parameters of CMS on the non-uniformity coefficient (α) and total pressure drop (ΔP) under the maximum inlet flow condition (Q = 23.40 L/s). The results show that (i) from 0 to 12 s, the flow ratio (β) at the branch ports decreases in the direction of the fluid flow and then increases in the same direction from 12 to 90 s; (ii) as flow growth coefficient (η) increases, α for the maximum inlet Reynolds number (Re) increases slightly, and the difference in α corresponding to the same Re at different time points decreases; (iii) the increase in area ratio (AR) causes the flow rate of the first branch port to rise and the flow of the terminal branch port to decrease. The value of α increases linearly with AR: α = 0.23AR−0.11; (iv) The most economical approach involves adopting a linearly tapered branch ports width design with b 1/b 10 = 1.50, which decreases α by 65.04% while increasing the ΔP by 9.93% compared to the original design. This study can provide a reference for engineers in designing CMS with unsteady flow.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) is a highly valued vegetable in Nepal. Head size and quality of broccoli largely depend on temperature and genetic potentiality. Hence, location specific varietal selection is crucial. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the growth, yield and postharvest quality of broccoli varieties in Sindhuli and Kailali districts of Nepal during October, 2024 to February, 2025. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The five broccoli varieties studied were Calabrese, Chitwan Local, Centauro, Everest Green and Green Pia. Results revealed that in Sindhuli significantly the maximum plant height (75.27 cm), number of leaves (13.44), earliest head initiation (43.50 days) and maturity (58.5 days) were observed in Calabrese; however, head diameter (19.17 cm) and yield (21 mt/ha) were maximum in Everest Green which was at par with Centauro (19.45 mt/ha). In Kailali, maximum number of leaves (11.7) and leaf area (327.72 cm2) were observed in Chitwan Local; highest plant height, earliest head initiation (41.5 days) and maturity (53.75 days) in Calabrese; maximum head diameter (17 cm) in Green Pia and yield (19 mt/ha) was maximum in Everest Green which was statistically at par with Green Pia and Centauro. TSS, TA% and pH differed in Sindhuli but remained similar in Kailali. Green Pia had the longest shelf life in both the locations. Thus, Everest Green and Centauro in Sindhuli, while any variety among Everest Green, Centauro and Green Pia in Kailali proved to be promising to maximize the yield.

This study was conducted to assess genetic variability for maturity and panicle components in rice. A set of 22 F5:6 lines along with their 13 parents genotypes were assessed in randomize complete block design (RCBD) with three replications grown at Agricultural Research Station, Baffa Mansehra during 2023 growing season. The data were recorded on seven morphological traits. Highly significant variations (P ≤ 0.05) were also detected across parental lines and F6 progenies for all traits. ‘Swatai 2014’ showed the maximum heading (80 days) among the parents, and ‘Dilrosh’ the shortest maturity period (101 days). Fakhre Malakand had maximum number of primary branches per panicle (12), while it was Swat 2 for maximum secondary branches per panicle (30.1). Among the F6 lines, ARS-185 and ARS-201 took least days to heading (89 days) while ARS-201 took least days to mature (121 days). ARS-245 had the greatest value for number of primary branches per panicle (11.7) whereas line ARS-155 had the maximum value for number of secondary branches per panicle (28.3). Days to maturity (0.92) had the highest heritability estimates followed by days to heading (0.86) and culm length (0.81). Flag leaf area (24.36%), culm length (25.86%) and secondary branches per panicle (18.46%) exhibited high genetic advance as percent of mean. The better performance of ARS-201, ARS-245, and ARS-155 on maturity and panicle attributes indicated a useful trait that implied on utilization in multi-location yield trials.

The experiment evaluating different growing media on the growth and development of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) seedlings in the mid-hill region of Nepal was conducted under polyhouse conditions using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments and four replications in Tehrathum district. The treatments included various combinations of organic and inert components, i.e. soil, FYM, cocopeat, vermicompost, poultry manure, vermiculite, and perlite in different ratios. Parameters recorded included germination percentage, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length, secondary root number, fresh weight, and dry weight at different growth stages. Results revealed significant differences among treatments for all parameters except for germination. All treatments demonstrated high and comparable germination rates, ranging from 92.66% to 96.66% with the highest germination recorded in T2 (cocopeat + soil, 4:1) at 96.66% and the lowest in T4 (vermicompost + poultry manure + soil, 1:1:2) at 92.66%. The combination of vermicompost + poultry manure + soil (1:2:1) i.e. T4 produced the most vigorous seedlings, with maximum seedling height (18.65 cm), leaf numbers (9.46), stem diameter (0.38 cm), fresh weight (2.47 gm), dry weight (0.27 gm), root length (86.12 cm) and secondary root numbers (13.87). Seedlings grown in T2 (Soil + cocopeat, 1:4) exhibited the poorest performance across all parameters, with significant differences at the 5% level of significance. The findings suggest that nutrient-rich organic growing media with proper aeration and moisture-holding capacity are optimal for nursery production of chilli in the mid-hill region of Nepal.

Background: Oligohydramnios is one of the most common complications in pregnant women, leading to the various complications like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and low birth weight. This study evaluated the risk factors contributing, perinatal and maternal outcomes of oligohydramnios in pregnant women. Methods: The study was conducted at Government General Hospital, Karimnagar from July to December 2024. Out of collection of 450 pregnant women, 106 patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria of present prospective observational study. Pregnant women, the data was analyzed according to the parameters like age, amniotic fluid index (AFI) value, and risk factors. Results: Upon distribution of patient data based on age it is observed that maximum number of 39.6% (42) are from the age group of 23-27 years and distributed based on risk factors, 30% (32) patients with pregnancy induced hypertension, 46% (49) patients with hypothyroidism,11% (12) patients of diabetes mellitus, 11% (12) patients with advanced age,43% (46) patients with dehydration. Analysis of data based on outcomes of oligohydramnios, maximum number of samples with 42% (45) found with low birth weight. Distribution of data according to the gestational age the peak number of (101) patients were from 28-42 weeks. Conclusion: We found hypothyroidism, pregnancy induced hypertension as the major risk factors contributing to the oligohydramnios and low birth weight and IUGR as major adverse outcomes associated with it. Rate of caesarean section was higher in patients with oligohydramnios and more common of neonate’s admission into NICU and has a significant correlation with adverse perinatal outcome.

In Intelligent Heterogeneous Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (IH-VANETs), long urban roads with a high density of vehicles and a maximum number of road signals increase unpredictable delays in terms of long travel times and heavy traffic congestion. These unpredictable delays are exacerbated by the rapid increase in vehicle density and irregular traffic flow on roads with high traffic signals. To address this gap, an optimized fitness-based enhanced ant colony optimization (OF-EACO) for IH-VANETs is proposed. OF-EACO aims to find optimal, uncongested short roads with low vehicle density and fewer traffic signals, thereby providing shorter travel times for vehicles without traffic congestion and unpredictable delays. To achieve this goal, the novel road fitness function of the proposed OF-EACO assigns a high road fitness score to roads according to short length, low vehicle density, and low signal count to support quick travel of vehicles between two ends without delay and traffic congestion. OF-EACO's roulette wheel takes the road fitness scores of available roads as input and outputs the optimal road. The optimal road is rich in all aspects and is intended to reduce travel time through short and un crowded roads. A network simulator is used to simulate the proposed OF-EACO, existing vehicular multi-hop routing algorithm with intelligent transportation system (VMR-ITS), and improved distance-based ant colony optimization routing (IDBACOR).Simulation results of the proposed OF-EACO indicated that, due to the use of optimal roads, it was able to achieve significant improvements in terms of vehicle travel cost, road establishment time, convergence speed, road traffic congestion overhead, routing overhead, Computational overhead, Computational Complexity, Actual Wall Time Analysis, and Energy Consumption compared to VMR-ITS and IDBACOR.

The present communication deals with composition and seasonal abundance of micro algae in the mangrove habitats of Vashista Godavari estuary near Darbharevu to Biyyaputippa, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. Monthly water samples were collected for a period of one year from January 2024 to December 2024. A total of 57 micro algal species were identified, out of these, 26 species belong to Bacillariophyceae, 14 species belong to Chlorophyceae, 10 species belong to Cyanophyceae, 5 forms related to Euglenophyceae and remaining two species related to Dinophyceae. Abundance of micro algae varied seasonally with a maximum number of cells per liter (5340) was observed in the month of April and minimum number of cells per liter (964) was observed in the month of August. Another growth peak for the abundance (2934 cells/lit.) of micro algae was reported in the month of November

BackgroundDespite global investment in studying, protecting, and managing carnivores, species like the clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa (Griffith, 1821), renowned for its elusive nature, remain significantly understudied. There is also insufficient knowledge of clouded leopard research trends in spatial and temporal domains. Additionally, thematic areas of research on this species are not clearly known. This gap in information may hinder the development of effective strategies to address key conservation challenges such as habitat loss, poaching, and illegal trade.MethodsTo bridge these gaps, we systematically reviewed 123 peer-reviewed journal articles published up to December 2022, offering critical insights into the current state of knowledge and identifying future research priorities to inform conservation planning.ResultsThe spatial analysis of clouded leopard research reveals that Thailand (n = 28) dominates the range countries, while the USA (n = 26) dominates non-range countries in terms of research efforts. Temporally, research output has shown a significant increase since 2006, peaking in 2016 (n = 13), with a positive trend in publications (Kendall’s tau = 0.52, P < 0.001). Most studies focused on anatomy and physiology in captive populations (n = 31) and habitat use and distribution in free-ranging populations (n = 23). The studies on the impact of climate change on the clouded leopard and its habitat, alongside feeding ecology, remain scant, necessitating the future research in these areas. Our analysis also revealed that the maximum number of publications employed diagnosis and treatment (26%), followed by camera trapping (24.4%). We recommend integrating local ecological knowledge and monitoring technologies to map the clouded leopard’s corridors, connectivity, and bottleneck sites at the landscape level. A higher number of publications addressed habitat loss and illegal trade as the primary threats to clouded leopard conservation. Effective law enforcement, proper land use, land cover planning, and community engagement are crucial for conserving this species. Moreover, clouded leopard range countries are recommended to develop sustainable financial mechanisms and implement the conservation action plan across the country, which can improve conservation outcomes.

The Modified Quadratic Bounded Knapsack Problem with Multiple Constraints (MQBKMC) represents a challenging combinatorial optimization problem with considerable importance in practical domains such as inventory management and logistics. This study investigates the performance and parameter sensitivity of the Energy Valley Optimizer (EVO) algorithm in solving MQBKMC. Specifically, we examine the effects of varying critical algorithm parameters, including the maximum number of function evaluations (MaxFes) and the number of particles (nParticle), on the quality of obtained solutions. Experimental results reveal that increasing MaxFes consistently leads to improved solution quality, underscoring the significance of extended exploration in facilitating algorithm convergence. In contrast, increasing the number of particles does not necessarily yield performance gains and instead significantly elevates computational demands. These findings provide practical insights into the optimal parameterization of EVO, particularly beneficial for applications that require efficient handling of high-dimensional, multi-constrained optimization problems. Overall, the EVO algorithm demonstrates promising efficacy and robustness for effectively addressing MQBKMC.

This study compares important meteorological characteristics across two time periods, 1951–1986 and 1986–2020, using IMD 0.25° × 0.25° gridded datasets of Tmax, Tmin, and rainfall to examine long-term climate variability across 27 districts (as of 2020) and three agro-climatic zones of Chhattisgarh, India. The analysis incorporates district-level meteorological variables such as diurnal temperature range (DTR), annual rainfall, number of rainy days, maximum and minimum temperatures, and extreme climate indices including the Cold Spell Duration Index (CSDI), Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI), Consecutive Dry Days (CDD), and Consecutive Wet Days (CWD). These indices where percentile methods which were calculated using RClimDex, an R package developed by ETCCDI. The findings show that although parts of the Bastar Plateau Zone experienced an increase in rainfall, the Chhattisgarh Plain and Northern Hill Zones exhibited a significant decline in annual rainfall. Maximum temperatures and DTR increased in several regions, while dry periods became longer and more frequent. Most districts also showed a substantial rise in warm spells and a decrease in cold spells, indicating a shift toward a warmer and more variable climate. these changes in temperature extremes and rainfall patterns signal heightened climate risks, particularly for agriculture and water resources. the results emphasize the need for localized adaptation strategies, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and informed planning by policymakers and stakeholders to mitigate future vulnerabilities in the region.

The article is devoted to the global problem of driver shortages in road freight transportation. One promising way to mitigate this labour shortage is to enhance the logistics of order fulfilment for the fleet of trucks and the drivers who operate them. This study proposes to discard all restrictions on the organization of work for drivers, except those established by European Union Regulation 561/2006, which affect fatigue and road safety. The object of the study is the work schedule of drivers while performing a given volume of intercity cargo transportation. The subject of the study is the influence of methods of work organization and driver interaction on achieving the minimum required number of drivers, provided that the given volume of transportation orders is completed on time and in accordance with EU Regulation 561/2006. In particular, it is proposed to abandon the assignment of drivers to vehicles and introduce a variable method, with the beginning and end of each driver's shift coinciding with the points of loading and unloading of goods. In this case, the complexity of the active schedule development methodology increases, as it is necessary to consider the organizational interactions of drivers on routes. Drivers are given the opportunity to transfer vehicles to each other and perform combined tasks. However, at the same time, they can rest only at the end of the shift without violating regulations 561/2006. Thus, the drivers' working time is used more efficiently. The task of building schedules is, in this case, NP-complex and its exact and guaranteed solution is not always available. However, the study used a modified method of ordering mixed disjunctive graphs to find such a solution. One of the modifications is that the field of possible solutions is limited by operations on the auxiliary graph used in the methodology. The structure of the auxiliary graph depends on the number of drivers who can be involved in transportation. Thus, the chromatic number of the auxiliary graph should not be greater than the specified maximum number of drivers. Another modification concerns the preparation of the content and the list of arcs of the main graph. The arcs are formed taking into account the early possible beginnings and late completions of transportation. It became possible to develop a heuristic algorithm for ordering the graph and obtain a guaranteed optimum with these changes. The algorithm was applied to a test model of transportation performance with different numbers of drivers and different options for limiting their work. It was demonstrated that under different conditions, it is possible to achieve varying efficiencies of order fulfilment, to use the minimum number of personnel. Thanks to the proposed method, it is possible to reduce the required number of drivers by at least 7% compared to the current organization of their work, that is, without a variable method, fixed points of stay of drivers. The practical value of the proposed methodology and the corresponding algorithm lies in their ability to be successfully applied in the activities of road freight carriers, thereby partially addressing the problem of labour shortage. The results demonstrate the possibility of organizing the work and rest of a limited number of hired drivers in such a way that they will be able to complete 24% more orders in the same amount of time, while ensuring the maximum permitted duration of their truck driving and the minimum duration of shift and inter-shift rest.

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of boron and gibberellic acid (GA3) on the vegetative growth, fruiting, yield, and biochemical quality of phalsa (Grewia asiatica L.). Foliar application of boron (0.2% and 0.4% and GA3 (25 ppm and 50 ppm), alone and in combination, significantly influenced vegetative, reproductive, and quality parameters compared to the control. Vegetative attributes such as shoot length, shoot diameter, number of shoots per plant, and number of leaves per shoot were markedly enhanced by combined treatments. The maximum shoot length (142.69 cm), shoot diameter (0.98 cm), and number of leaves per shoot (45.86) were recorded with GA3 50 ppm + boron 0.4%. Fruit set, fruit number per shoot, fruit weight, and yield also improved significantly under combined treatments. GA3 50 ppm + boron 0.4% registered the highest fruit set (76.02%), fruit number (83.46/shoot), and yield (6.48 kg/plant and 99.73 q/ha). Similarly, physical attributes such as fruit diameter (1.08 cm) and volume (1.30 cc) were maximized under the same treatment. Biochemical constituents including TSS, sugars, and ascorbic acid content increased with GA3 and boron application, while titratable acidity decreased. The highest TSS (26.41%), total sugars (20.06%), and ascorbic acid (41.68 mg/100 g) were recorded with GA3 50 ppm + boron 0.4%. Overall, the combined application of GA3 50 ppm with boron 0.4% proved most effective in improving vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality of phalsa.

Gamma-Aminobutyric acid profiling (GABA) and standardization of in-vitro regeneration protocol in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes

Tillering is a pivotal growth stage in rice that influences yield formation. Deep understanding of the relationship between tillering dynamics and yield formation in a particular agro ecosystem is crucial to escalating rice productivity. To find the optimum age of seedlings and characterize the contribution of cultivar tillering ability as affected by seedling age on tillering pattern, dry matter accumulation, yield components, and grain yield. The field experiments were conducted over 2-year period (2019 and 2020) using a split-plot design. Six cultivars were chosen, to represent moderate to high tillering abilities, and four different seedling ages were chosen (15, 25, 30 and 35 days), to produce differential tillering dynamics. The results revealed that both the cultivars and seedling age significantly affected the tillering pattern, phenological, dry matter production and yield contributing characteristics of modern transplanted Aman rice. In the initial stages, the treatments did not show any significant effect. At all the growth stages 15 days old seedlings of different cultivars showed maximum tillering. Older seedlings reduced the number of tillers m-2 and increased the tiller mortality. Tiller mortality reached a peak between panicle initiation (PI) and booting (BT) stages. Leaf area (cm) significantly differs among different cultivars but not by seedling age. Total dry matter production gradually increased from maximum tillering to the maturity stage in all varieties. The number of panicles was positively related to the maximum number of tillers and grain yield. Total number of tillers at harvest had the biggest direct effect on grain yield. But in all the cases transplanting with younger seedlings (15 days) in a hill did not show significantly higher grain yield. These findings suggest that farmers may use 25-day-old rice seedlings to achieve more yield during T. Aman season in Bangladesh.

The microscopic structure of several amorphous substances often reveals complex patterns such as medium- or long-range order, spatial heterogeneity, and even local polycrystallinity. To capture all these features, models usually incorporate a refined description of the particle interaction that includes an ad hoc design of the inside of the system constituents and use temperature as a control parameter. We show that all these features can emerge from a minimal athermal two-dimensional model where particles interact isotropically by a double-well potential, which includes an excluded volume and a maximum coordination number. The rich variety of structural patterns shown by this simple geometrical model apply to a wide range of real systems including water, silicon, and different amorphous materials.