Replacement Method Research Articles

Successful experience of hip arthroplasty with a unipolar endoprosthesis

Introduction. Fractures of the femoral neck occupy a significant place in traumatology and orthopedics and represent a serious pathological problem. Without surgical treatment, this pathology leads to complications and death of the patient within a year. Hip replacement is the choice of treatment method that allows the injured patient to be mobilized as early as possible. This promotes and has a positive effect on the timing and effectiveness of rehabilitation measures and minimizes the risk of developing possible complications. The purpose of this publication is to demonstrate the successful experience of treating a patient with a fracture of the right femoral neck with displacement of fragments using endoprosthetics. Materials and methods. To write the article, we used medical documentation data from a trauma hospital, the results of instrumental research and dynamic observation of the patient. A search was also carried out in the open electronic scientific databases PubMed of the US National Electronic Medical Library and the databases of the Russian scientific electronic library elibrary, using keywords and phrases: Results. Endoprosthesis replacement of the hip joint with a unipolar endoprosthesis was performed. On the sixth day after the surgical intervention, the patient was discharged in satisfactory condition for outpatient treatment by a traumatologist at his place of residence. The wound and sutures have no signs of inflammation, sensitivity and blood supply to the limb are preserved. The patient moves independently using a walker. Discussion. Analyzing the results of surgical treatment in the described clinical case, we can conclude that the method of hip replacement is highly effective in elderly people. Conclusion. Endoprosthesis replacement surgery is low-traumatic and allows the patient to be mobilized early. Our experience allows us to believe that treatment with endoprosthetics is effective for fractures of the femoral neck and allows us to achieve positive results in the early stages.

Evaluation of three acetabular measurement methods for total hip replacement in dogs.

To compare three measurement methods for acetabular sizing and evaluate the influence of osteoarthritis (OA) on the accuracy of measurements. Observational study. Radiographic images of 73 hip joints from 60 dogs with cementless cups. Radiographs were anonymized and measured independently by three observers. One observer measured 12 sets of radiographs three times. A best-fit acetabular circle (AC) and cranial-caudal acetabular line (AL) were measured on ventral-dorsal (VD) radiographic view and open leg lateral (OLL) view. A best-fit femoral head circle (FHC) was measured on VD, OLL, and craniocaudal horizontal beam (CCHB) views. Two observers scored the OA in each hip joint. Intra- and interobserver consistency and repeatability and bias relative to implanted cup size were calculated and analyzed. Intraobserver consistency and repeatability were excellent for all measurements. Interobserver consistency was excellent (ICC > 0.9) for ACVD and ACOLL and was good (0.75 < ICC ≤ 0.9) for all other methods. Bias was small for AC and AL measurements (range, -0.46 to 0.45 mm) and large for FHC measurements (-3.58 to -2.42 mm). OA score significantly influenced bias for all acetabular measurement methods (p < 0.05). All acetabular measurement methods were highly consistent within an observer. Interobserver consistency was highest for ACVD and ACOLL. FHC measurements underestimated cup size. Higher OA scores decreased the accuracy of all acetabular measurement methods. Superimposing a circle on the acetabulum seen on VD radiographic view accurately measures the acetabulum before cementless cup placement.

Comparative analysis of active period and oxidative stress of DDVP and ginger (Zingiber officinale) oil on Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella Hübner) infesting maize grain

BackgroundIndian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is a significant pest infesting stored grains, particularly maize. Over time, synthetic insecticides have been employed to control insect. The residual effects posed on non-target organisms have called for replacement of synthetic insecticides with botanicals. This study therefore aimed at comparing the insecticidal consistency and oxidative stress invoked by dichlorvos (DDVP) and the oil extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Indian meal moth infesting maize. Disinfested maize grains were treated with DDVP and ginger oil extract separately. Adults P. interpunctella were introduced to the treated grains daily using complete replacement method. The percentage mortality was calculated daily for 10 d. Furthermore, the oxidative stress caused by DDVP and ginger oil extract on the moth was evaluated by measuring the level of some oxidative stress biomarkers such as glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activity in the exposed insects.ResultsPreliminary results indicated that both DDVP and ginger oil extract exhibited insecticidal properties against Indian meal moth infesting maize. However, the insecticidal (active) period of ginger oil extract was found to be longer than that of DDVP. Nevertheless, DDVP provoked greater oxidative stress in the exposed moth.ConclusionsGinger oil extract and DDVP show potential for controlling Indian meal moth infestations in stored maize. Yet, ginger oil offers a longer-lasting effect on pest suppression and control. Consequently, it could be a replacement or synergistic insecticide with DDVP to provide ecofriendly insecticide application.

Hamming distances of unsaturated orthogonal arrays

Orthogonal arrays (OAs) are applied in the statistical design of experiments, coding theory, cryptography, various types of software testing and quality control and have many connections to other combinatorial designs. The Hamming distances of OAs play a critical role in many areas such as algebraic combinatorics, quantum information theory, and wireless sensor networks. However, the calculation method of Hamming distances is difficult, especially for mixed orthogonal arrays (MOAs), since they rely on constructions or structures of OAs in many cases. In this article, by using the number of coincidences, we find some OAs with high strength and MOAs with strength 2 and 3, whose Hamming distances do not depend on their structures. We also calculate Hamming distances of a series of unsaturated asymmetrical OAs via their construction methods such as deleting columns, the expansive replacement method, and difference schemes.

Convenient Au@Ag Double‐Layer Nanoarray Fabricated by Rapid Thermal Annealing and Chemical Replacement Method for Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Sensing

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has a wide range of applications in molecular recognition, environmental pollutant detection, and other fields. However, the intensity and number of “hot spots” in 1D and 2D nanostructures are limited due to the scale‐dependent localized plasmonic effect of nanostructures, making it difficult to increase the detection limit. Herein, a kind of 3D substrate called Au@Ag double‐layer nanoarray (Au@Ag DLA) is prepared using rapid thermal annealing and chemical replacement methods. The energy‐dispersive spectrometer spectra confirm the successful growth of AgNPs on the gold nanoarray (Au SLA) by showing no presence of the copper element, indicating complete replacement of the Cu film deposited on Au SLA by Ag atoms. The detection limit of malachite green in Au@Ag DLA is 10−8 mol L−1, four and three orders of magnitude higher than that of Au SLA and AgNPs, respectively. This stronger SERS effect of Au@Ag DLA arises from the larger number of intense hot spots generated not only on the horizontal surface but also in the vertical direction. This finding provides a method for developing efficient and stable 3D SERS substrate, which can be utilized for the trace detection of water pollutants and pesticide residue.

Interface Engineering Induced by Low Ru Doping in Ni/Co@NC Derived from Ni-ZIF-67 for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Overall Water Splitting.

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising approach for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER); however, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a major bottleneck due to its high energy requirements. High-performance electrocatalysts capable of facilitating HER, OER, and overall water splitting (OWS) are highly needed to improve OER kinetics. In this work, we synthesized a trimetallic heterostructure of Ru, Ni, and Co incorporated into N-doped carbon (denoted as Ru/Ni/Co@NC) by first synthesizing Ni/Co@NC from Ni-ZIF-67 polyhedrons via high-temperature carbonization, followed by Ru doping using the galvanic replacement method. Benefiting from increased active surface sites, modulated electronic structure, and enhanced interfacial synergistic effects, Ru/Ni/Co@NC exhibited exceptional electrocatalytic performance for both HER and OER processes. The optimized Ru/Ni/Co@NC catalyst, with a minimal Ru mass ratio of ∼2.07%, demonstrated significantly low overpotential values of 34 mV for HER and 174 mV for OER at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 with corresponding Tafel slope values of 33.42 and 34.39 mV/dec, respectively. Further, the optimized catalyst was loaded onto carbon paper and used as anode and cathode materials for alkaline water splitting. Interestingly, a low cell voltage of just 1.44 V was obtained. The enhanced electrolytic performance was further elaborated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which confirmed that Ru doping in Ni/Co introduced additional active sites for H*, enhancing adsorption/desorption abilities for HER (ΔGH* = -0.30 eV), lowering water dissociation barrier (ΔGb = 0.49 eV) and reducing the energy barrier for the rate-determining step of OER (O* → OOH*) to 1.62 eV in an alkaline environment. These findings reflect the significant potential of ZIF-67-based catalysts in energy conversion and storage applications.

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Bone–Implant Contact in Three Short Dental Implant Models with Varying Osseointegration Percentages

Objectives: Dental implants have become a cornerstone of restorative dentistry, providing a long-lasting method for tooth replacement. The degree of osseointegration has a significant effect on biomechanical stability at the bone–implant contact (BIC), determining the continued efficacy of these implants. However, the exact consequences of changing osseointegration levels on different implant designs, especially in bones with variable densities, are not well known. Methods: This study used 3D finite element analysis (FEA) to look at the biomechanical performance of three short dental implants: BioMet 3iT3, Straumann® Standard Plus Short-Regular Neck (SPS-RN), and Straumann® Standard Plus Short-Wide Neck (SPS-WN). This paper tested the implants at four stages of osseointegration: 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in both high-density (bone type III) and low-density (bone type IV) cancellous bone. It also created and examined realistic CAD models under static occlusal loading conditions to assess stress distribution and major strains at the bone–implant contact. Results: The study discovered that as osseointegration increases, von Mises stress and principal strains go down significantly for all implant types. The SPS-WN implant had the lowest strain values, especially for bone with low density. These reductions demonstrate increased mechanical stability as the bone–implant interface becomes more capable of dispersing mechanical stresses, minimizing the potential for localized deformation and bone resorption. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of achieving optimum osseointegration to reduce mechanical stress and increase the lifespan of dental implants. The SPS-WN type implant performed better in biomechanical tests than the others, especially when bone conditions were not ideal. This makes it a great choice for clinical applications that need long-term implant success.

Options for optimizing noninvasive respiratory support in the development of hypoxemic acute respiratory failure

Introduction. Acute respiratory failure (ARF) remains one of the most relevant problems of modern medicine and intensive care, and respiratory support (RS) remains the indispensable method of temporary external respiratory function replacement. Despite of widespread use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in clinical practice, at present systematic scientific data about possibilities for optimizing the use of these methods of RS in patients with hypoxemic ARF development is absent. It can be assumed that the combination of mask NIV and high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) at the stage of ARF development can improve results of treatment in this group of patients.The objective was to improve the results of treatment in patients with hypoxemic ARF through the combined use of mask NIV and HFOT.Materials and methods. The prospective cohort study included 77 patients aged 46.8 ± 11.8 years. Patients were randomized into three groups: in group A, RS was performed by using NIV and traditional low-flow oxygen therapy, in group B – by using HFOT, in group C – by sequential combination of NIV sessions and HFOT. The groups compared gas exchange rates, RS duration, intubation rate and nosocomial pneumonia (NP) incidence, length of treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospitalizations, overall mortality, and prognostic factors for tracheal intubation were also studied.Results. The combination of mask NIV and HFOT was found to be more clinically effective compared to their separate use. Combination of mask NIV and HFOT had the best effect on gas exchange rates in the long term period, reduced RS duration, intubation rate and pneumonia incidence, ICU treatment duration. Risk factors for tracheal intubation were revealed: RS duration more than 4.5 days, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) more than 18 cm of water.Conclusions. The combination of mask NIV and HFOT increases the therapeutic potential of each of these RS methods and improves the results of treatment in patients with hypoxemic ARF development.

Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction Via Oxygen Vacancy‐Rich Silica‐Supported Ag/Pd Nanoshells

AbstractHerein, we demonstrated the fine‐tuning of catalysts’ active phase by employing AgPd nanoshells with distinct Ag/Pd ratios synthesized via a galvanic replacement method for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, more interestingly, the subsequent immobilization of such Ag/Pd ratios onto silica further influenced the support characteristics, creating an increasing concentration of oxygen vacancies in this typically inert support — a surprising and unparalleled outcome attested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and theoretical calculation. Such a phenomenon promoted obtaining an optimized electro/photocatalyst with exceptional activity, facilitating not just the ORR but also the photochemical water‐splitting reaction. Curiously, adjusting the Ag/Pd ratio also affected the ORR mechanism, which was switched from a 2‐electron to a 4‐electron after optimization. Finally, Ag38Pd62/SiO2, the catalyst with the best proportion, exhibited a remarkable hydrogen production rate of 1039.8 μmol/gcatalyst during 300 minutes of water splitting, surpassing the performance of the conventional Degussa TiO2 P25 catalyst.

A review on synthesis of coumarin derived Schiff’s base metal complexes and their control over E. coli bacterium

Nowadays, the dilemma of drug resistance to antibacterial strains is of huge concern. Among the bacteria, Escherchia coli (E. coli) is the major pathogen, which is found in human and other animals. It is responsible for variety of severe diseases. A variety of commonly used antibiotics such as amoxicillin, gentamycin, etc and fluid replacement method are the suggested treatments for the infections caused by E. coli. In a study, it was established that the metal-based heterocyclic drugs demonstrated a different mode of action compared to the commonly used heterocyclic antibacterial drugs. Coumarin, an oxaheterocycle, is a privileged scaffold in medicinal chemistry. Metal complexes of coumarin-derived Schiff’s bases exhibit a broad range of pharmacological activities. Therefore, in the present review article, we have focused on the synthesis of metal complexes of coumarin derived Schiff’s bases as well as their respective Schiff’s base ligands and their antibacterial activities against the gram-negative bacterium E. coli.

Complementary and competitive dynamics of CO2 and N2 in CH4 – Flue gas replacement within natural gas hydrates

To mitigate global warming, the paramount imperative lies in curbing the emission of CO2. The guest replacement method is a prominent carbon-neutral technological advancement that involves injecting CO2 into natural gas hydrate layers to accomplish the dual objectives of energy production and carbon storage. In this study, the guest dynamics in the CH4 – flue gas replacement process were examined, and the impacts of the N2 concentration of the injected gas were systematically analyzed. A powder X-ray diffraction analysis of the cage-specific guest distributions after CH4 − CO2 (20 %) + N2 (80 %) replacement revealed that CH4 production increased in both the large and small cages compared to the CH4 – CO2 replacement. This enhancement was attributed to the N2 molecules participating in both cages. However, this simultaneously led to a decrease in CO2 storage potential, indicating a ‘complementary’ relationship for CH4 production and a ‘competitive’ one for CO2 storage with respect to CO2 and N2. In situ Raman spectroscopy revealed that the introduction of N2 resulted in a deceleration of CO2 storage kinetics. Guest composition measurements after replacement showed an upward trend in CH4 production and a simultaneous decline in CO2 storage as the N2 composition increased. Notably, an intriguing correlation was established between the CO2/N2 ratios for the injected gas and the replaced hydrates, exhibiting a strong alignment with a simple first-order equation. The findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of the CH4 − CO2 + N2 replacement technique but provide practical insights for its application in real-world scenarios.

Research on wind turbines preventive maintenance strategies based on reliability and cost-effectiveness ratio

Purpose The purpose of this study is to optimize the operational efficiency of the entire system by developing a reasonable maintenance strategy for wind turbines that improves component reliability and safety while reducing maintenance costs. Design/methodology/approach A hybrid incomplete preventive maintenance (PM) model based on boundary intensity process is established to give dynamic PM intervals for wind turbines using an iterative method with reliability as a constraint; the selection method of PM and replacement is given based on the cost-effectiveness ratio, which in turn determines the optimal number of PM for wind turbines. Findings The reliability is used to obtain the components’ maintenance cycle, and the cost-effectiveness ratio is used to select the number of maintenance times, thus, getting the optimal maintenance strategy. The validity of this paper’s method is verified by arithmetic cases, which provides a new method for formulating a reasonable PM strategy for wind turbines. Practical implications The wind turbine preventive maintenance strategy for Boundary intensity process proposed in this paper can scientifically formulate the maintenance strategy, optimize the cost-effectiveness per unit of time of the wind power generation system, and solve the problems of difficulty in formulating a reasonable maintenance strategy for the wind turbine components and high operation and maintenance costs. Originality/value In this paper, the authors describe the failure pattern by a Boundary intensity process, establish a hybrid incomplete PM model by introducing a failure intensity increment factor and an age reduction factor and establish a maintenance strategy optimization model with comprehensive consideration of reliability and cost-effectiveness ratio. Finally, the validity of the model in this paper is verified by arithmetic case analysis. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2024-0153/

Main Surgical Methods of Critical Tibial Bone Defects Replacement (Literature Review). Part II

Summary. This part of literature review is devoted to the main methods of critical bone defects replacement of the tibia, which cannot be repaired by using bone autoplasty. A search in the PubMed database for the period 2010 - 2023 was carried out, with preference given to the material from the last 5 years; the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular methods of treatment are shown. This article provides a descriptive, non-systematic review of the current literature on methods of tibial bone defect replacement and possible directions for future research. A thorough search in the PubMed database was performed using relevant search terms, with peer-reviewed articles in English identified and evaluated. No strict inclusion or exclusion criteria were used to select articles for a full-text review. Instead, a subjective assessment of the relevance of individual articles to the overall narrative and surgical techniques review was made, which ultimately resulted in 40 articles being referenced.

Smart self-assembled polymeric-MMT/Moringa Oleifera L. particles by solvent replacement method

Obesity, stemming from metabolic syndrome and energy imbalance, is a common health concern characterized by excess energy consumption and fat buildup. Moringa Oleifera L. (MO), known for its anti-obesity properties, is extracted via Soxhlet extraction. MO is extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method. To evaluate the antioxidant properties of MO powder, several analyses were conducted, including the assessment of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) activity, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity. The TPC and TFC, DPPH activity, and ABTS activity values were determined to be 386.7 mg GAE/g and 82.33 mg QE/g, 32.86 %, and 49.4 % respectively. To improve drug delivery, the freeze-dried MO powder was encapsulated within a polymeric carrier, poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). Moreover, the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) into the MO-loaded PCL nanoparticles enhanced the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of MO. Nanoprecipitation was employed as a method to produce the nanoparticles, and the effects of four key parameters were studied: the ratio of aqueous phase volume to organic volume (1.5 – 10), stirring speed (400 rpm – 1200 rpm), mass weightage of MO (1 % -5 %), and mass weightage of MMT (2 % - 5 %). Design Expert was utilized for full factorial analysis to assess the impact of these parameters on encapsulation efficiency and drug loading. The optimal formulation was achieved at the ratio of aqueous phase volume to the organic volume of 1.5, stirring speed of 400 rpm, mass weightage of MO at 1 %, and mass weightage of MMT at 5% The expected encapsulation efficiency is 91.33 % and drug loading is 6.49 %.

Two medicinal molecules Hydralazine and Isoniazid have the potential to control wheat crown rot by combing with a N-acetyltransferase FDB2

Fusarium pseudograminearum is the main pathogen that causes wheat crown rot (WCR), causing serious harm to wheat production. Wheat secretes Benzoxazolinones (Bxs) as fungicidins to prevent F. pseudograminearum infection. Fusarium Detoxification of Bx 2 (FDB2) can degrade Bx to non-fungitoxic N-(2-hydroxyphenyl) malonamic acid. Therefore, FDB2 may be a potential drug target for WCR.In the present study, the structure of FDB2 was determined using the molecular replacement method. The overall FDB2 structure displayed a typical N-acetyltransferase (NAT1) conformation. Unlike other NAT1s, the active site cleft is divided into two parts by a long loop (A135MSPYPDVRKNQA147). Hydralazine, Isoniazid, and 2,4′-dibromoacetanilide were screened out as potential inhibitors of FDB2 by structure alignment. Affinity measurements by MST showed that FDB2 prefers to combine Isoniazid and Hydralazine rather than its natural substrate, 2-aminophenol. Wheat seedling infection assays showed that Isoniazid and Hydralazine suppress F. pseudograminearum invasion in wheat. Our study found that Hydralazine and Isoniazid have the potential to control WCR. This article provides a new idea for the application of medicine, which has serious adverse effects, on plant disease control to reduce research costs and make obsolete drugs shine with vitality.

Comparison of Biomechanical, Clinical Indicators, and Quality of Life in People Undergoing Hip Replacement Surgery with Anterior and Posterior Approaches

Background: There are ongoing debates among surgeons regarding the most effective surgical method for hip replacement, with varying preferences for the anterior and posterior approaches. Both methods have demonstrated excellent long-term outcomes, with clinical differences primarily observed in the early postoperative period. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the anterior and posterior methods of hip replacement after six months of surgery in terms of biomechanical and clinical indicators, as well as quality of life. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, 42 patients who underwent hip replacement surgery using either the anterior (n = 22) or posterior method (n = 20) at least six months (and a maximum of 12 months) post-surgery, along with 20 healthy individuals, were evaluated. Biomechanical indices of the center of pressure (COP) were measured using a force plate during two-leg standing with eyes open and closed. Functional balance, independence, self-perception of performance, satisfaction, and quality of life were assessed using the timed up and go test (TUG), Barthel Index, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the SF-36, respectively. Results: No significant differences were found between the anterior and posterior groups in terms of COP, clinical variables, and quality of life (P &gt; 0.05). However, when compared to the control group, the anterior replacement group exhibited significantly higher COP displacement in the medial-lateral direction (P = 0.03) and COP velocity in the anterior-posterior direction (P = 0.02) during two-leg standing with eyes open. No significant differences in COP variables were observed in the posterior replacement group compared to the control group (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: The findings indicate no significant differences between the anterior and posterior approaches to hip replacement in terms of biomechanical and clinical indicators, as well as quality of life after six months. Therefore, the choice of surgical method can be based on the patient's condition and the surgeon’s expertise in the respective approach.

Modulating the internal porosity of organogel electrolyte via pore-forming agent for low temperature resistant and flexible quasi-solid supercapacitors

The widely applicable gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) hold significant promise for the commercialization of low-temperature flexible quasi-solid-state supercapacitors (FQSCs). However, their flexibility and electrochemical performance are compromised under extreme cold conditions, severely limiting their practical applications. Inspired by the novel effects of “pore-form agents (PFA)”in hydrogel-controlled drug release & delivery, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel electrolytes with optimized internal porosity (polymeric structure) were prepared by introducing PFA as pore-regulator and in-situ leaching process, hereby enhancing the hydrogel's electrical conductivity and low-temperature performance. Furthermore, in order to further enhance its low-temperature tolerance, the composition of the electrolyte was adjusted via binary solvent replacement method. FQSCs composed of PVA-PFA30-EG exhibited significantly improved high specific capacitances of 131.72 F g−1 at 25 °C and 72.90 F g−1 at −40 °C when tested at 1 A g−1, with only a 6.36 % capacitance decay after 10,000 cycles at −40 °C. This performance surpasses that of most previously reported low-temperature FQSCs. The novel approach proposed in this paper provides a new avenue for flexible energy storage devices in extremely cold conditions.

Socioeconomic impact of livestock production in Gokuleshowor, Baitadi, Nepal

The study was carried out at the Baitadi district's Dilashaini rural municipality. The study area was primarily based on agriculture. Farmers in the studied area adopted a complex type of farming system that includes livestock, crops, fruits, forestry, and vegetable farming. This study was mainly conducted to identify key problems faced by farmers and the socioeconomic importance of livestock farming. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to randomly choose respondents for a key informant interview. 61 households were randomly selected without the replacement method. The results showed that most of the households were headed by men (52 households). The primary occupation was agriculture (72%), followed by business (22%). A benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.65 was discovered. Milk was priced at 48.08 rupees per liter. We found feeding management to be the main problem. Farmers invest a huge amount of their income in managing feed for livestock. Natural breeding was largely prevalent in the study area (96%); artificial insemination was still rare. In the studied area, the dairy sector was profitable, so it emphasized improved breeding programs, improved feeding management, and the establishment of well-managed dairy cooperatives, which helped in the development of the rural economy and the lifestyle of farmers.

Pore-scale deformation characteristics of hydrate-bearing sediments with gas replacement

Gas replacement method enables the simultaneous exploitation of natural gas and the realization of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Safe exploitation of hydrate-bearing sediments (HBS) has garnered significant attention, particularly concerning the engineering geological risks involved. Understanding deformation characteristics during shear after the replacement of HBS is crucial for safe and efficient exploitation. This study employs microfocus computer tomography and digital volume correlation (DVC) to investigate the deformation characteristics of HBS samples with varying replacement percentages. Key findings include: 1. An increase in failure strength of HBS is observed with higher replacement percentages due to improved hydrate cementation and consolidation under confining pressure. 2. DVC analysis shows that narrower radial displacement ranges are associated with increased pore compression, while wider ranges indicate greater particle repositioning. Frequent large axial displacements suggest significant pore compaction, whereas smaller axial displacements indicate particle movement and pore-filling phenomena. 3. The gas replacement process enhances the cementation structure of HBS without altering hydrate saturation, resulting in thinner shear bands and accelerated strain softening with higher replacement percentages. 4. The DVC approach effectively captures volumetric strain and deformation behaviors, offering valuable insights into sediment responses under shear. This study provides a theoretical reference for geological safety evaluation during gas replacement exploitation.

Improved methods for genetic manipulation of the alkaliphile Halalkalibacterium halodurans.

An improved approach was developed for the genetic manipulation of the Gram-positive extremophile Halalkalibacterium halodurans (formerly called Bacillus halodurans). We describe an allelic replacement method originally developed for Staphylococcus aureus that allows the deletion, mutation, or insertion of genes without leaving markers or other genetic scars. In addition, a protocol for rapid in vitro plasmid methylation and transformation is presented. The combined methods allow the routine genetic manipulation of H. halodurans from initial transformation to the desired strain in 8 days. These methods improve H. halodurans as a model organism for the study of extremophiles.