Significant Escalation Research Articles

Mpox Preparedness and Response 2024: Position Statement of The Disaster Management Experts Club

Statement of intent The worldwide re-emergence of mpox underlines the pressing necessity for a strengthened, coordinated, international strategy to manage and avert future outbreaks. The Disaster Management Experts Club promotes an approach that emphasises strong surveillance systems, healthcare readiness, and global cooperation to avert dissemination of thisvirus. Although mpox has demonstrated a comparatively mild clinical presentation in numerous instances, especially relative to its initial outbreaks, its capacity for rapid transmission, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, necessitates a proactive global response. The objective of this position is to reduce the current threats associated with mpox and prevent potential future pandemics. Through this, the Disaster Management Experts Club seeks to advocate: Augmented surveillance and proactive detection: Surveillance systems are crucial for identifying cases, monitoring transmission dynamics, and detecting potential mutations. The need to augment early warning systems encompasses not only case identification, but also indirect indicators such as absenteeism from employment or education. Enhancedresilience of healthcare systems: A resilient healthcare infrastructure that facilitates early case detection, isolation, and infection control is essential. The smooth transition of patients through primary healthcare, prehospital care, and hospital triage is vital for effectivempox Infection control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and rigorous environmental cleaning protocols, must be intensified to reduce nosocomial infections, as evidenced in previous outbreaks. International collaboration: A proactive coalition can limit the dissemination of mpox, especially considering its zoonotic origins and cross-border transmission. Cooperative initiatives among public health organisations, government entities, and healthcare providers are essential to the establishment of a comprehensive database to monitor and analyse mpox cases across various regions. Abstract The global emergence of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, traces back to the mid-19th century. The 2022 outbreak represented a significant escalation, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency. The imminent risk of a pandemic requires a proactive strategy for preparedness and mitigation. Despite human-to-human transmission, the clinical manifestations of mpox in the recent outbreak were notably milder, frequently presenting as subclinical prodromes and benign skin lesions resembling those of common sexually transmitted infections. Although complications were rare, they included severe outcomes such as pneumonia, sepsis, and neurological issues, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Effective management of the outbreak required robust surveillance systems for early case detection, trend monitoring, and contact tracing. The smooth flow of patients through primary healthcare, prehospital care, and hospital triage was critical for early detection and isolation of suspected cases. Infection control measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental cleaning protocols, played a role in reducing nosocomial infection. This article highlights the importance of training healthcare providers, fostering collaboration across health sectors, and developing disaster preparedness plans to respond effectively to future outbreaks. It also explores the role of individual and mass vaccination, particularly among high-risk populations. This publication serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the mpox pandemic and the collaborative efforts of the Disaster Management Experts Club in tackling this public health challenge.

A Prioritization Method for Combinatorial Test Cases Based on Convolutional Neural Network with Wide Multi-Layer Kernels and Its Application

When the quantity of parameters or values in systems being tested is substantial, there is a significant escalation in the number of combinatorial test cases. The execution of all test cases will require a substantial allocation of time and resources. Prioritization technology enables early detection of system faults and enhances test efficiency. Most existing prioritization methods rely on historical empirical data, which can be challenging to obtain in many cases. In the meantime, random prioritization often leads to lower fault detection rates. This paper presents a prioritization method for combinatorial test cases based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The weights of suspected fault-inducing interactions are initially extracted through a convolution operation in the subset of upfront test cases. Second, the features related to fault-inducing interactions are derived using wide multi-layer kernels convolutional neural network (WCNN). Third, the deep WCNN-SVM model undergoes training and makes predictions on the entire set of test cases. The predicted results are then combined with weights to prioritize combinatorial test cases. Test cases of equal priority are adjusted based on distance entropy. Application experiments on UAV demonstrate that the proposed method effectively enhances both fault detection speed and fault detection rate.

A critical analysis of the factors influencing peaceful coexistence between Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

IntroductionBangladesh currently hosts over a million Rohingya refugees in 33 fetid, dire, and confined camps, with the majority arriving after the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Although Rohingya refugees have been arriving in Bangladesh since the 1970s, the mass influx following the 2017 military hostilities in Myanmar’s Rakhine State marked a significant crisis escalation. Initially, the local host communities displayed positive, sympathetic attitudes toward the refugees. However, recent evidence suggests a significant decline in social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, with host communities expressing diminished sympathy and growing concerns over the refugees’ prolonged presence in Cox’s Bazar.ObjectivesThis paper investigates the factors influencing the peaceful coexistence between Rohingya refugees and host communities, drawing on the perspectives of development and humanitarian service providers in the Ukhiya and Teknaf sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar.MethodsThe study utilized a mix of theoretical literature and empirical data to identify five determining factors: economic, social, political, cultural, and environmental. Data collection included 18 in-depth key informant interviews, supplemented by analyses of secondary sources drawn from both gray and academic literature.FindingsThe findings indicate that perceived outgroup threats are increasingly undermining peaceful coexistence, despite the absence of direct conflicts between the host and refugees. While political and cultural factors have remained relatively stable, social, economic, and environmental factors continue to erode the current status of peace.DiscussionThe study highlights spatial and psychological proximity as critical overarching factors in fostering peaceful coexistence. It concludes that closer proximity heightens integrated threats, whereas maintaining optimal distance enhances the likelihood of peaceful coexistence. Therefore, the Rohingya response plan should incorporate conflict-sensitive strategies to tackle the adversity of threat factors while maintaining social cohesion as promoting peaceful coexistence between hosts and refugees.

The difference between guideline based lipid optimisation and real-world practice in a very high risk population

Abstract Background Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important risk factor for the progression of cardiovascular disease and early optimisation of lipid lowering therapy following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stroke is associated with improved outcomes. Recent guidelines have advocated the use of combination lipid-lowering therapy and achieving very low LDL-C concentrations.Purpose To identify if optimal lipid management in high risk patients has occurred. Methods A retrospective analysis of high-risk patients with a prior history of ACS or stroke presenting with a further subsequent ACS/stroke from January 2022 to December 2022 in a UK District General Hospital was performed. Lipid lowering therapy in primary care in the 18 months leading up admission, inpatient admission and subsequent 12 month post admission (delivered through the cardiac rehabilitation service post ACS and via primary care post stroke) was compared to our regional secondary prevention lipid lowering pathway. This patient group, with recurrent events, was selected as represents the "very high risk group" and had been through various clinicians multiple times increasing the opportunity to treat to guidance. Results 102 very high risk patients were admitted within the 12 month period. Only 79/102 patients had lipid profile in preceding 18 months and only 19% were compliant with the standard secondary prevention guidelines (20/102 patients high intensity statins), mainly due to reduced intensity statin doses (60%) and no lipid lowering medications (15%). A significant proportion of patients did not have any lipid blood tests during their index admission (no lipid profile 21% in stroke group vs 77% in ACS group) and whilst there was a significant inpatient escalation in lipid therapy this was mainly confined to high dose statins, and seen more clearly in the ACS group (ACS 65% vs stroke 21%). During the 12 months following admission a significant number of patients had no further lipid profiles (21% ACS vs 57% stroke) and minimal further optimisation of lipid management. Further escalation following high intensity statins were rare with only 5 / 102 patients receiving high intensity statin plus ezetimibe, 1 patient receiving statin/ ezetimibe/ PCSK9 inhibitor. Only 45% of patients achieved the guideline target of LDL < 1.8 mmol/L and only 18% achieved the ESC target of LDL <1.4 during 1 year follow up. Conclusion Although lipid guidelines have changed in recent year’s clinical real-world practice locally has not reflected these important developments, even in a very high-risk group patients are not benefiting from established evidence-based interventions. A majority of our ACS patients did not have a lipid profile blood test during their admission highlighting the fact that whilst guidelines have progressed significantly over the last few years the clinical importance of lipid optimisation in practice has not been appreciated by many of the cliniciansResults

Deep learning of Sentinel-1 SAR for burnt peatland detection in Ireland

Peatlands represent vital carbon reserves; however, once ignited, they release stored carbon, inflicting lasting environmental harm and necessitating prolonged recovery periods. An innovative method merging Sentinel-1 satellite imagery and deep learning (DL) is proposed to monitor burnt peat across diverse regions of Ireland, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Sentinel-2 images and field measurements were used to train deep neural networks (DNN) and the accuracy in detecting burnt peat areas reached 80 %. This was achieved by combining the VV (vertical transmit, vertical receive) and VH (vertical transmit, horizontal receive) from Sentinel-1. Time-series analysis of Sentinel-1 VV backscatter change for Wicklow Mountains in 2018 highlights the Sentinel-1's capacity to detect various phenomena, including snowfall and burnt peat, evident prior to the peat fire event. Furthermore, an examination of peat fire occurrences in Wicklow Mountains from 2018 to 2023 through time series and mapping shows a significant escalation, with the largest burnt areas detected in 2023 spanning over 40 km².

A novel improvement of particle swarm optimization using an improved velocity update function based on local best murmuration particle

Improvement of particle swarm optimization (PSO) is relevant to solving the inherent local optima and premature convergence problem of the PSO. In this paper, a novel improvement of the particle swarm optimization is provided to curb the problem of the classical PSO. The proposed improvement modifies the updating velocity function of the PSO, and it uses a local best murmuration particle which is found using the k-means clustering technique. In this contribution, each particle moves towards the global best position by not only using the personal best and global best, but particles are modelled to move in murmuration towards the global best using the personal best, global best and a local best particle known as the local best murmuration particle. The improved model was tested against the traditional PSO and two other variants of the PSO and genetic algorithm (GA) using 18 benchmark test functions. The proposed improvement demonstrated superior exploration abilities by achieving the best optimum values in 15 out of 18 functions, particularly in the multimodal functions, where it achieved the best optimum value in all 6 cases. It also achieved the best worst-case values in 12 out of 18 functions, especially in the variable-dimension functions, where other algorithms showed significant escalation, indicating the proposed improvement’s reliability and robustness. In terms of convergence, the proposed improvement exhibited the best convergence rate in all 18 functions. These findings highlight the impressive ability of the proposed improvement to converge swiftly without compromising accuracy.

THE POPULATION OF MILA FACING THE EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 07, 2020

The surge in urbanization within regions vulnerable to seismic activity poses a significant escalation in seismic risks. Effective mitigation strategies, reliant on improved architectural practices and behavioral adaptations, are imperative to curtail the toll of seismic events. Seismic vulnerability, intricately intertwined with seismic hazard, building conditions, and populace preparedness, underscores the need for comprehensive risk assessment. Although studies elucidating seismic risk knowledge and behaviors are scant in Algeria, they are more prevalent in Mediterranean regions. This paper delves into the examination of risk culture, discerning both direct and indirect causative factors behind the seismic disaster that befell Mila on August 7, 2020.Employing a research methodology that integrates the method Did You Feel It (DYFI USGS ) with a survey model used in Beirut, Lebanon.The findings offer notable insights for two principal reasons. Firstly, local perceptions of the seismic event's severity surpassed estimates by the US Geological Survey (USGS). Secondly, despite the relatively minor magnitude of seismic effects in the El Kherba neighborhood, the populace displayed inadequate preparedness for future earthquakes. Additionally, site-specific factors exerted substantial influence on crisis outcomes. In this context, the preparedness of Algerian society for seismic risks depends on understanding the phenomenon, recognizing associated hazards, and identifying available resources. Contribution: this study serves as a pivotal resource for fostering proactive local population preparedness and mitigating natural risks. Furthermore, it seeks to augment the efficacy of policies aimed at managing natural disaster risks in Algeria.

Artificial intelligence scribe: A new era in medical documentation

The high workloads involved in clinical documentation represent one of the major factors contributing to the significant escalation of clinician burnout. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has provided new avenues for relieving this burden by automating certain tasks like clinical documentation through the generation of clinical notes from a transcript of a clinical encounter. The advances in large language models (LLMs) have led to the emergence of such startups, but they come with their own set of challenges, predominantly surrounding the concerns of documentation accuracy, completeness, and data security. These can be addressed with a multi-faceted approach which could include fine-tuning the currently available models; using domain-specific models and in-house AI systems to ensure data security; and involving smaller LLMs and clinicians in the development and implementation of such systems. We can imagine a future where these systems are deeply incorporated into electronic health records, providing not only automated clinical documentation but also improving Clinical Decision Support systems, research, and patient communication.

Экономика РФ в январе – апреле 2024 года

Based on the analysis of a number of macroeconomic and sectoral indicators, it is established that in January–April 2024, there was an economic decline compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Moreover, the extent of the decline is increasing month by month. It is noteworthy that the authorities, as in the past in the USSR, are turning a blind eye to the decline. The causes of the decline are determined by the combined impact of both cyclical factors (Western economic sanctions, overstrain from military expenditures) and long-term trends of a decline in fixed assets and a reduction in the workforce, as well as the qualifications of personnel at all levels. The future prospects of the Russian economy are determined, along with ensuring effective economic policy and building a functional state system, by the level of escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and the extent of economic sanctions. In the event of significant escalation of military actions, what will be required is a transition to a wartime economy with a high share of military expenditures in GDP, a reduction in consumer spending and non-productive investments, mobilization of labor resources in favor of the armed forces and the military-industrial complex, and the introduction of a rationing system for main food products, as well as the nationalization of several companies. The success of this structural maneuver is determined by the organization and qualifications of the state apparatus. In the case of moderate escalation of military actions and economic sanctions, the radical nature of structural and institutional changes will decrease.

Numerical Study on the Impact of the Richardson Number on Convection in an Enclosure, with Moving Sidewalls for Three Aspect Ratios: A = 1, 2 and 0.5

Using mathematical models, this research investigation seeks to explore how varying aspect ratios and the Richardson number impact the mixing effectiveness, fluid flow velocity, and heat transfer characteristics in a rectangle-shaped space where cooling occurs along the sides and warm with a steady temperature exists throughout the 80% of the bottom section's center. Discretizing the governing equations through the finite volume approach, we solved them iteratively using the Tri-diagonal Matrix Algorithm, where pressure-velocity coupling was successfully implemented via the SIMPLER procedure. Innovative approaches for convection and diffusion terms involved employing a power-law difference scheme alongside a central differential scheme. In various simulations with specified parameters (Re = 100, Pr = 0.71), we visualized results in forms like streamlines, isothermal lines, and temperature/velocity profiles, along with local and average Nusselt numbers. We observe five unique structure formations during flow behavior by analyzing how Richardson numbers impact heat transmission within a specific geometric configuration (enclosure size A = 1). A change in aspect ratio leads to improved control over fluid movement while minimizing structural distortion. A subtle rise in heat transmission emerged as the average Nusselt number and Richardson number intersection strengthened force convection's domination while experiencing significant escalation under conditions conductive to natural convection. Decreasing the aspect ratio increased heat transfer efficiency when the Richardson number rose.

Investigation of magnetic and electric properties of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles at different temperatures

Multiferroic bismuth ferrite shows a massive interest in its potential application in magnetic and electronic devices however maintaining high purity in bismuth ferrite nanoparticles at different temperatures is a difficult task for researchers. Several samples are prepared with different annealing temperatures and investigated in different atmospheres to recognize magnetic and electrical properties. A xerogel powder of bismuth ferrite is synthesized by the sol-gel route. The powder then anneals at 500, 600, 700, and 800 °C to form a nanostructure. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the annealed samples are in rhombohedral structure with R3c space symmetry and show a significant increase in crystal size and reduction in lattice strain with increasing annealing temperature. FESEM reveals the microstructural features of annealed nanoparticles which represent the conversion of spherical to cubic morphology with annealing temperature. Vibrating sample magnetometer investigations were conducted as a function of annealing and surface (300, 200, 80 K) temperatures. Insignificant variations of saturation magnetization are detected with surface temperature, but considerable degradation is observed with increasing annealing temperatures. The band-gap energy of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles annealed at 500, 600, 700, and 800 ºC is measured and significant escalation is observed from 1.93 to 2.06 eV. Electrical property analyses have been investigated as a function of frequency at different surface temperatures of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 °C. Remarkable variations are established in the electric and magnetic properties. Bismuth ferrite has been widely investigated due to its promising multifunctional device applications such as memory devices, spintronics, sensors, actuators, and photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.

Development and application of a comprehensive evaluation index system for groundwater quality evolution patterns

In recent years, driven by rapid socio-economic development and intensified human activities, the groundwater quality has exhibited a concerning trend of degradation. The challenge lies in integrating the impacts of both natural and anthropogenic factors to establish a scientific evaluation framework for the evolution of groundwater quality. This study adopts the model of driving forces – pressures – state – impacts – responses (DPSIR) proposed by the European Environment Agency, in conjunction with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Information Entropy Theory (IET), and the Water Quality Index (WQI) evaluation methods, to construct an evaluation index system for groundwater quality evolution that encompasses driving forces, state, and response systems. Initially, twelve indicators relevant to groundwater quality are quantified by screening across three systems, and a functional relationship between the categorization and scoring of each indicator is established. Subsequently, the weights for each system and indicator are obtained through the AHP, and the objective weights of the indicators are determined using the IET. The scores of each indicator are then comprehensively calculated. Finally, based on the defined types of groundwater quality evolution patterns, an integrated assessment of the evolution of groundwater quality over various time periods is conducted. Taking the Shijiazhuang region as a case study and analyzing the hydrochemical data of groundwater from 1985 to 2015, the results indicate a shift in the groundwater quality evolution pattern from one dominated by natural factors to one primarily influenced by human activities (The comprehensive score of the evaluation index system has increased from 1.84 to 3.25). Among these, the application of fertilizers emerges as the most important driving factors affecting groundwater quality. Particularly, nitrate and total hardness (TH) have emerged as the most salient indicators of quality degradation, with a significant escalation in their composite scores. At the outset, nitrate registered a score of 0.408, while TH scored 0.326; yet, these values have sharply ascended to 0.716 and 0.467, respectively, by the advanced stage. The study concludes with a discussion on the accuracy, strengths, limitations, and applicability of the evaluation index system. The establishment of this evaluation framework provides a scientific basis for the management and protection of groundwater resources and serves as a reference for identifying groundwater quality evolution patterns in other regions.

Insights into the swelling force in commercial LiFePO4 prismatic cell

Lithium-ion batteries undergo reversible and irreversible swelling force during cycling. The mechanical behavior and swelling force of lithium-ion batteries are important in practical applications. In this study, the variation and the aging mechanism of swelling force, and the growth pattern under different cycling conditions have been studied with commercial cells. The findings reveal distinct dynamic stress peaks corresponding to the state of charge (SOC) increase, indicative of notable lattice expansions in both cathode and anode. This expansion intensifies over cycles, with the most significant escalation observed at 30 % SOC, gradually assuming a pivotal role in battery expansion dynamics. Post-mortem analysis, coupled with stress-strain evaluations, attributes this phenomenon primarily to moduli variations across SOC during the aging process. Moreover, the trajectory of swelling force amplification varies across aging paths, with high-temperature cycling demonstrating accelerated growth. This accelerated growth stems from the broadened expansion of battery components beyond solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation induced by high-temperature aging.

Growing soil erosion risks and their role in modulating catastrophic floods in North Africa

Intensifying hydroclimatic changes in North Africa are causing unprecedented floods, droughts, and land degradation patterns that are increasingly associated with human casualties, socioeconomic instabilities, and outflow migrations. These patterns’ and their future forecasts remain largely unquantified, aggravating the impacts on several populous areas. To address this deficiency, we employ pixel-based remote sensing data correlation analysis and soil loss modeling to constrain the uncertainties on the decadal hydroclimatic and ecosystem changes in North Africa. Using cloud-based big data analysis in Google Earth Engine, we establish the convolution between precipitation patterns and surface textural characteristics, evaluating the spatial distribution of soil erosion risks at the continental scale. Our investigation uses a multi-step approach, integrating risk areas derived from soil erosion with high-resolution population data, offering critical insights into zones of different vulnerabilities. Our results unveiled a significant escalation in soil erosion anomalies over the past two decades. In particular, 15 % of the areas receiving precipitation in all of North Africa are currently at medium to high risk of soil erosion versus only 7 % in 2002. These risks are concentrated in urban areas, where each year, ∼29,000 people become highly vulnerable to these hazards, up from ∼22,000 in 2002. These increases are primarily associated with the surge in semi-unformal urban settings and the rise in rain aggressiveness and storminess. These factors, combined with the poor public perception of the imminence of these risks, create hotspots where the impacts are becoming insurmountable, as considered herein for the case of the recent catastrophic floods in Derna, Libya, used as a validation site. We conclude that increased soil erosion will modulate the impacts of upcoming catastrophic floods. As such, a pressing change in urban and land use policies in expansive areas of North Africa is called for to increase their resilience to upcoming hydroclimatic fluctuations.

Incidence and Long-Term Outcomes of Biliary Tract Cancers in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1976 to 2018.

Biliary tract cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder, and ampulla of Vater cancers, rank second among hepatobiliary cancers, known for their poor prognoses. The United States has witnessed a notable increase in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma incidence. This study examines the incidence and survival outcomes of biliary tract cancers in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1976 to 2018. Using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), residents aged 20 and above were analyzed across four eras. Incidence rates were calculated and adjusted for age and sex, and temporal trends were assessed using Poisson regression. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma exhibited a significant escalation in incidence rates over time, while gallbladder cancers showed a decline among women. Median survival times for biliary tract cancers notably improved. These findings confirm the rising incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and suggest improving survival rates. Nevertheless, the overall prognosis for biliary tract cancers remains very poor, emphasizing the continual need for enhanced management strategies and further research.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of High Intensity Laser therapy (HILT) and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on Functional Improvement in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients

BACKGROUND : Knee osteoarthritis causes sore, joint stilted, progressive deformity and functional encroachment. The current therapeutic focus on rectifying function and assuaging symptoms, especially pain. There are two types of laser therapy, namely Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT). High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) is a high-intensity laser radiation with photochemical, photothermal, and photomechanical action possess many therapeutic steads including analgesic, anti-edematous, and biostimulating effects. In this study, we compare the effectiveness of HILT with LLLT on functional enhancement in knee osteoarthritis assessed by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). AIMS : To compare the effectiveness of HILT with LLLT on functional enhancement in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHOD : This research is a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test with controlled group design. There were 27 subjects of knee osteoarthritis patients who were divided into 2 treatment groups, the first treatment group admit HILT therapy (14 patients) and the second treatment group admit LLLT therapy (13 patients). Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULT : There was a significant difference in the mean value of functional improvement as measured by KOOS before and after treatment in each group (p < 0.001) and there was a significant difference in the mean value of KOOS in the two groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION : The administration of HILT has shown significant escalation of functional improvement compared to the administration of LLLT in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Effect of high oxalic acid intake on growth performance and digestion, blood parameters, rumen fermentation and microbial community in sheep

Oxalic acid, a crucial secondary metabolite prevalent in most plants, often constitutes an unavoidable component of the diet for grazing animals, particularly in saline-alkaline grasslands. This research focused on examining the effects of elevated oxalic acid consumption on various aspects of sheep health and metabolism, including growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood biochemical indices, rumen fermentation, and microbial populations. Employing a single-factor experimental model, 24 six-month-old German Merino sheep (with an average body weight of 32.08 ± 3.43 kg) were systematically segregated into three distinct groups. Each group contained eight replicates, with each replicate comprising a single sheep. The diet of the experimental groups was enhanced with oxalic acid concentrations of 1 % (T1) and 2 % (T2), whereas the control group received no oxalic acid addition. Under ad libitum feeding, the duration of the experimental phase spanned a total of 60 days. Outcomes demonstrated that a 2 % oxalic acid augmentation notably diminished the sheep's daily weight gain (ADG) (P<0.05), elevated the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P<0.05), and reduced the ruminal pH levels (P<0.05), compared to both control group and 1 % oxalic acid group. This pH reduction markedly curtailed the synthesis of essential ruminal constituents such as acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid (P<0.05). Furthermore, there was a notable decline in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, alongside rises in both blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (CREA)(P<0.05), coupled with a significant reduction in serum calcium concentrations (P<0.05) in 2 % oxalic acid group, compared to both control group and 1 % oxalic acid group. Moreover, the 2 % oxalic acid addition adversely impacted the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), as well as the concentration of NH3-N in the rumen fluid (P<0.05), compared to both control group and 1 % oxalic acid group. Pertaining to rumen microorganisms, there was a significant escalation in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level, contrasted by a substantial reduction in the presence of Fibrobacteres (P<0.05). At the genus level, an increased concentration of oxalic acid in the diet correlated with a pronounced decline in the relative abundance of Prevotella_1, and a substantial decrease was observed in the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 (P<0.05). In summary, while sheep can acclimate to an inclusion of 1 % oxalic acid in their diet, an augmentation of 2 % oxalic acid appears detrimental, impinging upon growth performance, fiber and crude protein (CP) digestibility, blood calcium levels, rumen pH, volatile acid content, and the microbial ecosystem within the sheep’s rumen.

Waste nylon fishing net fiber incorporated natural rubber composites as a remedy for waste reusing into a value‐added material

AbstractThis study focuses on reusing the waste fishing nets with natural rubber (NR) to create a value‐added composite material. WNF fibers at different loadings (2, 4, and 6 phr) and lengths (2, 3, 5, and 7 mm) were investigated for a general tire formulation. The anisotropic nature of WNF was evident in tear strength, with optimal results for 2 mm, 2 phr fiber loading. It displayed 15.87% improvement longitudinally compared with the control. Further, it displayed improved 5.55% hardness, whereas resilience, abrasion volume loss, and tensile strength were decreased. In the second stage, these fibers treated with KOH (2%, 6%, and 10%) with the expectation of enhancing the mechanical properties. The 2% KOH‐treated sample presented a significant escalation in hardness (+12.50%), resilience (+6.25%), abrasion volume loss (+3.63%), tear strength (+17.23%), and tensile strength (+8.20%) as of the control. Partial replacement of carbon black (CB) with 2% KOH treated 2 mm 2 phr WNF was evaluated. A 9% of CB in rubber compound was easily supersede by WNF. Our findings indicated that WNF fibers could be reuse as a filler in rubber composite where special property enhancements are advantageous in tire technology.

1657 Resected Gastric Adenocarcinomas at a Single Institution: Outcomes and Trends over 17 Years.

Outside of clinical trials, real-world data of advanced gastric cancers (AGCs) managed with perioperative or adjuvant chemotherapy with a backbone of D2 lymphadenectomy is limited. Curative resections for gastric adenocarcinoma between January 2003 and January 2020 at the Tata Memorial Centre were analyzed, comparing three time periods marking major increments in annual gastric resections (GRs). 1657 radical gastric resections were performed with a morbidity and mortality rate of 34.9% and 1.4%, respectively. Over three consecutive periods, the number of annual GRs increased from 56/year to 97/year to 156/year (P < 0.001) with a significant escalation in surgical magnitude and complexity. Improvement in surgical quality indicators (median lymph node yield from 15 to 25, P < 0.001 and margin negativity from 8.2 to 5.5%, P = 0.002) was observed with no corresponding increase in severe complications (6.9%) or mortality (1.4%). The proportion of distal and signet ring cancers was found to decrease over time, with an increase in proximal cancers and younger age at presentation. Overall, 90% of GRs were for AGCs with a median overall survival (OS) of 4.4 years (± 6 months), and 5-year OS rate of 47.6% (± 1.9%). Change in pattern of tumor characteristics was observed. Aggressive treatment options for AGC were employed progressively with excellent survival. With increase in volumes, improvements in surgical quality indicators, and a relative improvement in postoperative mortality was observed. These results provide a roadmap for developing dedicated gastric cancer centers.

Graphene-based aerogel for efficient oil sorption and water pollution remediation

In the past few years, there has been a notable rise in the release of industrial waste oil, frequent oil spills at sea, and a significant escalation in the severity of water pollution. This issue has garnered global attention and is now recognised as a widespread concern. Hence, there is a pressing demand for an oil-absorbing material exhibiting high oil-absorption capabilities and robust mechanical properties. This study introduces a new aerogel characterised by a three-dimensional hierarchical pore size structure derived from natural corn stalk powder and graphene oxide (GO). The developed aerogel demonstrated notable sorption capacity ranging from 70.6 to 131.0 g/g, along with excellent compressibility and high elasticity. These properties enable effective oil-water separation and selective sorption. This study introduces a novel approach to treating agricultural waste and presents a straightforward, environmentally friendly, cost-effective method for synthesising high-performance graphene-based oil-absorbing agents.