Pathology as a Basic Medical Subject: Its Relevance and Application During Clinical Practice in Jordanian MD Programs, Interns' and Residents' Perspectives.

Aim: Medical literature revealed that there is a lack of information about the opinions of medical interns and residents about curricula provided to them during their undergraduate programs, either in a group of detached subjects or an incorporated and efficacious topic (ie, pathology). Purpose: To assess and compare the interns' and residents' perspectives towards Pathology as a subject. To recognize their opinions toward the relevance and application of Pathology while practicing clinically. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional online, self-administered questionnaire targeting interns and residents. The questionnaire consisted of 30 questions, enquiring about the demographic data, subject strength, teaching duration, interest in the subject, and usefulness of Pathology as a subject in clinical practice. Results: Overall, 103 participants completed the survey. The female and male percentage was 59.2% and 40.8% respectively. 86.4% of participants were interns, while 13.6% were residents. 87% of participants agreed that applying pathology during clinical practice is a skill that should be strengthened in the early stages of preclinical education of Medicine. A modest percentage believed that a practitioner could efficiently treat the majority of patients with no need to know the specifics of the pathological mechanisms involved. Most of the participants believed that pathology courses helped them in making a differential diagnosis, analysis of normal and pathological constituents, and dissection and identification of structures. Conclusion: This study highlights the positive perceptions of Jordanian interns and residents toward pathology courses. It also demonstrates that participants prefer an active and dynamic educational model with an emphasis on better integration of pathology courses and clinical experiences that fit their needs in clinical practice. Thus, we recommend future studies to compare the competencies of interns and residents enrolled in the courses with integrated medical curricula, of pathology versus those who studied the conventional medical curricula of pathology, as well as to evaluate their perceptions of medical education.

Challenges to establishing and maintaining kidney transplantation programs in developing countries: What are the coping strategies?

Kidney transplantation (KT) is the optimal form of renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal diseases. However, this health service is not available to all patients, especially in developing countries. The deceased donor KT programs are mostly absent, and the living donor KT centers are scarce. Single-center studies presenting experiences from developing countries usually report a variety of challenges. This review addresses these challenges and the opposing strategies by reviewing the single-center experiences of developing countries. The financial challenges hamper the infrastructural and material availability, coverage of transplant costs, and qualification of medical personnel. The sociocultural challenges influence organ donation, equity of beneficence, and regular follow-up work. Low interests and motives for transplantation may result from high medicolegal responsibilities in KT practice, intense potential psychosocial burdens, complex qualification protocols, and low productivity or compensation for KT practice. Low medical literacy about KT advantages is prevalent among clinicians, patients, and the public. The inefficient organizational and regulatory oversight is translated into inefficient healthcare systems, absent national KT programs and registries, uncoordinated job descriptions and qualification protocols, uncoordinated on-site investigations with regulatory constraints, and the prevalence of commercial KT practices. These challenges resulted in noticeable differences between KT services in developed and developing countries. The coping strategies can be summarized in two main mechanisms: The first mechanism is maximizing the available resources by increasing the rates of living kidney donation, promoting the expertise of medical personnel, reducing material consumption, and supporting the establishment and maintenance of KT programs. The latter warrants the expansion of the public sector and the elimination of non-ethical KT practices. The second mechanism is recruiting external resources, including financial, experience, and training agreements.

Machine learning-based cluster analysis identifies four unique phenotypes of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy with distinct clinical profiles and long-term functional and neurological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the predominant cause of spinal cord dysfunction among adults, exhibits diverse interrelated symptoms and significant heterogeneity in clinical presentation. This study sought to use machine learning-based clustering algorithms to identify distinct patient clinical profiles and functional trajectories following surgical intervention. METHODS: In this study, we applied k-means and latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify patient phenotypes, using aggregated data from three major DCM trials. The combination of Nurick score, NDI (neck disability index), neck pain, as well as motor and sensory scores facilitated clustering. Goodness-of-fit indices were used to determine the optimal cluster number. ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test assessed outcome differences, while multinomial logistic regression identified significant predictors of group membership. FINDINGS: A total of 1047 patients with DCM (mean [SD] age: 56.80 [11.39] years, 411 [39%] females) had complete one year outcome assessment post-surgery. Latent profile analysis identified four DCM phenotypes: "severe multimodal impairment" (n = 286), "minimal impairment" (n = 116), "motor-dominant" (n = 88) and "pain-dominant" (n = 557) groups. Each phenotype exhibited a unique symptom profile and distinct functional recovery trajectories. The "severe multimodal impairment group", comprising frail elderly patients, demonstrated the worst overall outcomes at one year (SF-36 PCS mean [SD]: 40.01 [9.75]; SF-36 MCS mean [SD], 46.08 [11.50]) but experienced substantial neurological recovery post-surgery (ΔmJOA mean [SD]: 3.83 [2.98]). Applying the k-means algorithm yielded a similar four-class solution. A higher frailty score and positive smoking status predicted membership in the "severe multimodal impairment" group (OR 1.47 [95% CI 1.07-2.02] and 1.58 [95% CI 1.25-1.99, respectively]), while undergoing anterior surgery and a longer symptom duration were associated with the "pain-dominant" group (OR 2.0 [95% CI 1.06-3.80] and 3.1 [95% CI 1.38-6.89], respectively). INTERPRETATION: Unsupervised learning on multiple clinical metrics predicted distinct patient phenotypes. Symptom clustering offers a valuable framework to identify DCM subpopulations, surpassing single patient reported outcome measures like the mJOA. FUNDING: No funding was received for the present work. The original studies were funded by AO Spine North America.

Correction: Association of SNPs within TMPRSS6 and BMP2 genes with iron deficiency status in Saudi Arabia.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257895.].

Virus-Shaped Mesoporous Silica Nanostars to Improve the Transport of Drugs across the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Conditions affecting the brain are the second leading cause of death globally. One of the main challenges for drugs targeting brain diseases is passing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Here, the effectiveness of mesoporous silica nanostars (MSiNSs) with two different spike lengths to cross an in vitro BBB multicellular model was evaluated and compared to spherical nanoparticles (MSiNP). A modified sol-gel single-micelle epitaxial growth was used to produce MSiNS, which showed no cytotoxicity or immunogenicity at concentrations of up to 1 µg mL-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear and neuronal cells. The nanostar MSiNS effectively penetrated the BBB model after 24 h, and MSiNS-1 with a shorter spike length (9 ± 2 nm) crossed the in vitro BBB model more rapidly than the MSiNS-2 with longer spikes (18 ± 4 nm) or spherical MSiNP at 96 h, which accumulated in the apical and basolateral sides, respectively. Molecular dynamic simulations illustrated an increase in configurational flexibility of the lipid bilayer during contact with the MSiNS, resulting in wrapping, whereas the MSiNP suppressed membrane fluctuations. This work advances an effective brain drug delivery system based on virus-like shaped MSiNS for the treatment of different brain diseases and a mechanism for their interaction with lipid bilayers.

A Bibliometric analysis of scientific publication on Peri-Implantitis from 1990 to 2020.

Background: Peri-implantitis can involve about 13% of implants and 20% of patients, it has been reported that its incidence increases from about 0.4 to 43.9% in 3-5 years. The purpose was to analyze, using bibliometric indicators, the scientific efficiency of different organization, countries, and researchers that published articles on Peri-implantitis in various dental journals during the period from 1990 to 2020. Material and Methods: The search was carried out using Scopus database on publications related to Peri-implantitis from 1990 to 2020 using VOSviewer 1.6.15. The selected search encompassed title of article, citation count, year of publication, authors, institution, country and keywords. Data maps were obtained from VOS viewer based on number of papers, citation count, sources, countries and authors. A density visualization analysis was performed to interpret the data. Bibliometric analysis with reference to citation and documents, authors, journals and keywords was also evaluated. Results: An upsurge in number of cumulative papers published on Peri-implantitis from 1990 to 2020 was observed. The top three countries that published most research papers on Peri-implantitis included United States, Sweden and Switzerland respectively. The most productive organization in the field was Blekinge Institute of Technology, Karlskrona, Sweden. The maximum numbers of papers were published in "Clinical Oral Implants Research", while the most published and cited author was Niklaus P. Lang, with 50 papers, 5391 citations with 107.82 average citations per paper. Conclusions: There is a tremendous increase in number of publications on peri-implantitis through collaboration of authors, nations and institutes. Among the leading countries from where evidence is originating includes, USA, Sweden and Switzerland. The leading institutes whose work received most citations included, Kristiansand University (Sweden), Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden), Trinity college (Dublin) and University Of Bern (Switzerland). A positive trend of highly collaborative work was observed among the institutes and authors on peri-implantitis. Key words:Bibliometric analysis, Peri-Implantitis, Scopus, Dental implants.

Findings of a Community Health Needs Assessment Survey in Al Najaf Governorate Iraq: A Snapshot of Al Marashda's Health Status.

BACKGROUND: Community health assessment (CHA) is a well-known method for identifying and analyzing community health needs. This CHA survey aimed to identify and analyze community health needs and assets to prioritize these needs and to plan and act upon significant unmet community health needs. METHODS: The CHA was planned based on the suggested standard of the North Carolina Guide including eight phases from July to December 2023. The CHA survey was performed among Al-Marashda region residents in the Al-Manathera district. The sample size of our study was 184 interviews of 12536 population. The primary data, which included demographic information, quality of life statements, and community improvement, were collected from the community using a questionnaire through opinion surveys and focus groups, while the secondary data which included the social, health, and economic status of Al-Marashda region residents were obtained from district and governorate sources. Analysis of whole data sources allowed 10 areas of community concern to be identified. RESULTS: Findings from the CHA survey showed that diabetes and high blood pressure, poverty and unemployment, and air pollution were the most common public health problems as priorities. CONCLUSIONS: The high-priority problems of Al-Marashda are in common with the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) priority in Al Najaf. However, poverty and air pollution are specific to the Al-Marashda region. Public health authorities and the city governorate are advised to consider, support, and develop community diagnosis documents to implement appropriate interventions.

Role of hematological indices in predicting preeclampsia and its severity: retrospective case-control study.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious condition that threatens pregnancy with severe sequelae on both the mother and infant. Early detection of PE will lead to favorable outcomes, and using readily available markers like hematological indices is an attractive choice. Examine the diagnostic utility of hematological indices in pregnant women to predict preeclampsia and its severity. In a retrospective case-control study that included 252 women, all had their complete blood picture evaluated during their first and third trimesters as part of their outpatient antenatal care during their pregnancy. They were also divided into 3 groups: healthy pregnant women (control), non-severe PE, and severe PE, each involving 84 women. The changes in platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) between 1st and 3rd trimesters showed an excellent ability to differentiate between severe PE and control (area under the curve = 0.954, cutoff ≤ -5.45%) and a good ability to differentiate between severe PE and non-severe PE (area under the curve = 0.841, cutoff ≤ -7.89%). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio showed a good to excellent ability to differentiate between severe PE and non-severe PE compared to control in the first and third trimesters and the percentage change between them. Changes in neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and PLR strongly predict preeclampsia and its severity since they offer more predictive values than measuring NLP and PLR at different stages of pregnancy individually.

The relationship between hair cortisol concentration and autism diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Autistic children are prone to experience heightened levels of distress and physiological reactivity to a range of sensory, social, and emotional stimuli. In line with this, multiple studies have demonstrated that autistic children have higher acute cortisol stress responses to adverse or threatening stimuli and altered cortisol awakening responses. However, few studies have examined whether this sensitivity may relate to heightened levels of chronic stress and persistently elevated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. The measurement of cortisol accumulation in hair is considered a non-invasive biomarker of chronic stress and has been associated with several childhood diseases. Here, we investigated whether hair cortisol concentration in a large sample of autistic children differed from non-autistic children, and after accounting for a range of child, parental and family-level characteristics. METHODS: Hair cortisol concentration was measured in 307 autistic children and 282 non-autistic controls aged between 2 and 17 years recruited from four Australian states who participated in providing hair samples and demographic data to the Australian Autism Biobank. Independent samples t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to determine significant differences in the mean hair cortisol concentration (pg/mg) between potential covariates. Primary analysis included multivariable regression modelling of the collapsed sample to identify variables that were significantly associated with hair cortisol concentration after controlling for covariates. We also accounted for the potential interaction of multiple biological (e.g., age, sex, BMI) and psychosocial characteristics at the level of the child, the mother and the father, and the family unit. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that the diagnosis of autism was not a significant predictor of chronic stress, as measured by hair cortisol concentration. However, findings of the multivariable regression analysis showed that key factors such as area of residence (Queensland vs Victorian state of residence) and decrease in child's age were significantly associated with higher hair cortisol concentration whereas lower family income was significantly associated with higher hair cortisol concentration. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that socioeconomic factors such as family annual income affect hair cortisol status in autistic children, indicating that the psychosocial environment may be a potential mediator for chronic stress in autistic children just as it has been demonstrated in non-autistic children.

Multimedia glosses and second language vocabulary learning: A second-round meta-analysis.

The use of glosses to aid vocabulary learning in second languages has been one of the most actively studied areas in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) literature. To compile research articles that examine the effect of utilizing glosses on second language (L2) vocabulary learning, the present study employed a second-order meta-analysis technique. The second-order meta-analysis is a study that synthesizes and analyzes the findings of multiple meta-analyses rather than individual primary studies, providing a higher level of abstraction and overview of existing evidence. The study synthesizes the results from seven primary meta-analyses conducted between 2008 and 2023, which included 136 original studies. Results showed that the overall mean effect size for using glosses was medium (g = 0.63 for the fixed-effect size model and 0.76 for the random-effect size model). The results showed that moderators had a significantly mitigated the effects of multimedia glosses. In particular, beginner-level students benefited greatly from being exposed to multimedia glosses, resulting in a large effect size. Additionally, the recognition test tended to produce a higher effect size compared to other types of vocabulary tests. Furthermore, glossing was found to be more effective in improving vocabulary acquisition in expository texts rather than narrative texts. Moreover, single-mode glosses were reported to be more effective than multi-mode glosses. The findings indicated that in-text glosses, out-text glosses, and bottom glosses exhibited a small effect size, whereas pop-up and margin glosses demonstrated a medium effect size. Implications for language learning and suggestions for future meta-analytic research are provided.

The Serological Evidence of Positive Rheumatoid Factor in Morphea Patients and Its Relation to Disease Severity.

Background and objective Morphea, or localized scleroderma (LS), is an autoimmune skin disorder characterized by inflammation and sclerosis. Its potential causes include infections, genetic predisposition, and trauma. The disease involves cycles of inflammation and fibrosis, leading to skin hardening and scarring, which can cause deformities if untreated. Research exploring the link between morphea and rheumatoid factor (RF), a marker associated with other autoimmune conditions, is ongoing. This study aimed to examine the less-explored role of RF, a marker typically linked to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in the severity of morphea. It focused on assessing the levels of RF among morphea patients and its correlation with disease severity, intending to provide deeper insights into the condition and its management. Methods This study involved a simple randomized cross-sectional analysis to evaluate the role of the RF in measuring morphea severity among patients at the Dermatology and Venereology Department of Al-Sader Teaching Hospital from October 2022 to December 2023. We included participants with clinically and laboratory-confirmed morphea while excluding those with other autoimmune dermatological diseases, recent systemic steroid or immunosuppressive therapy, and pregnant women. The assessment of disease severity was done by utilizing the Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with a significance threshold of p<0.05. Results Elevated RF levels were significantly associated with increased morphea severity, with severe cases showing higher RF levels (mean: 30.34 U/mL) compared to moderate (25.83 U/mL) and mild cases (21.56 U/mL) (p = 0.028). However, no significant correlation was found between RF levels and demographic factors such as age, gender, or occupation. Patients with high RF levels had a longer disease duration (mean: 57.15 years) compared to those with normal levels (25.83 years, p = 0.020). Significant differences were observed in lesion distribution on the back (p = 0.002). Logistic regression indicated that severe morphea patients were more likely to have elevated RF levels [odds ratio (OR): 1.158, p = 0.014]. Conclusions This study enriches our understanding of RF's role in morphea, revealing no significant correlation with demographic factors but suggesting its potential role in disease chronicity and severity.

Rice Weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.) Gut Bacteria Inhibit Growth of Aspergillus flavus and Degrade Aflatoxin B1.

In this study, bacteria residing in the gut of the rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) feeding on aflatoxin-contaminated corn kernels were isolated and evaluated for their ability to suppress Aspergillus flavus and to remove/degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Four morphologically distinct S. oryzae gut-associated bacterial isolates were isolated and identified as Bacillus subtilis (RWGB1), Bacillus oceanisediminis (RWGB2), Bacillus firmus (RWGB3), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (RWGB4) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. These bacterial isolates inhibited A. flavus growth in the dual culture assay and induced morphological deformities in the fungal hyphae, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. All four bacterial isolates were capable of removing AFB1 from the nutrient broth medium. In addition, culture supernatants of these bacterial isolates degraded AFB1, and the degradation of toxin molecules was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The bacterial isolates, B. subtilis RWGB1, B. oceanisediminis RWGB2, and P. aeruginosa RWGB4, were capable of producing antifungal volatile organic compounds that inhibited A. flavus growth. These results suggest that the bacterial isolates from S. oryzae gut have the potential to bind and/or degrade AFB1. Further research on their application in the food and feed industries could enhance the safety of food and feed production.

Overweight, Obesity, and Associated Risk Factors among Students at the Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and the associated risk factors among medical students at Jazan University in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 228 medical students from their second to sixth academic years at the Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary habits, comorbidities, medication use, family history, and lifestyle factors. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference were recorded. Chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify the risk factors associated with obesity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the participants was 13.3% and 15%, respectively. Hence, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity is 28.3%. The mean weight was 63.39 ± 18.93 kg, and the mean height was 163.48 ± 9.78 cm. On the other hand, 17.3% of participants were underweight, whereas 54.4% had normal BMI. Most of the participants (61%) did not engage in regular exercise. A high proportion consumed fruits (82.9%) and vegetables (58.8%) 3 or fewer days per week, and 84.2% consumed 3 or fewer meals per day. Fast-food consumption more than 3 days per week was reported by 42.1% of participants. Obesity was not significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, physical activity, dietary habits, comorbidities, medication use, or family histories. However, those with a monthly family income of SAR 15,000-24,999 had significantly lower odds of obesity than those in the lowest income group (OR 0.230, p = 0.045). Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among medical students at Jazan University is high. Although no significant associations were found between obesity and most risk factors, this study highlights the need for interventions that promote healthy lifestyles among medical students. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for preventing and managing obesity in this population.

Mesoporous SO42- / kit-6-catalyzed hydrocracking of waste chicken oil.

In this study, we studied the hydrocracking of waste chicken oil (WCO) catalyzed by mesoporous SO42-/KIT-6. The study included WCO extraction, SO42-/KIT-6 catalyst synthesis, hydrocracking, and catalytic characterization. XRD patterns revealed intense peaks in the low-angle region, with shoulder peaks showing an increase in sulphate loading from 10% to 30%. The BET-specific surface area for the pure KIT-6 supports measured at 1003 m2/g, indicative of a well-defined mesoporous structure. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed a two-stage weight loss, attributed to the elimination of hydrated water (about 200 °C) and decomposition of sulphate ions (400-450 °C). SEM analysis highlighted the surface morphology of the active SK-2 catalyst. Hydrocatalytic and catalytic cracking reactions were performed, and about 99.8% conversion was achieved with 20 mL/H H2 flow, whereas higher production of bioliquids was observed at a flow of 15 mL/h. The hydrocracking mechanism was also studied to understand the formation of lower hydrocarbons. GC analyses of simulated distilled gasoline, kerosene, and diesel showed diverse hydrocarbon compositions. For engine testing, non-hydrocracked fuel rose to 28 kW at 3000 rpm and declined to 21 kW at 3500 rpm. Emission analysis revealed decreasing trends in NOX emissions of hydrogen-rich blends, with values of 65 ppm, 54 ppm, and 48 ppm for petrol, NHBL, and HBL, respectively. Similarly, SO2 emissions reduced from petrol to NHBL and HBL at 910 ppm, 800 ppm, and 600 ppm, respectively, suggesting reduced environmental impact. CO emissions exhibited a substantial reduction in NHBL (0.90%) and HBL (0.54%) compared to petrol (2.70%), emphasizing the cleaner combustion characteristics. Our results provide a comprehensive exploration of waste chicken oil hydrocracking, emphasizing catalyst synthesis, fuel characterization, engine performance, and environmental impact, thereby contributing valuable insights to the field of sustainable bioenergy.

Impaired Cardiac AMPK (5'-Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase) and Ca2+-Handling, and Action Potential Duration Heterogeneity in Ibrutinib-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia Vulnerability.

BACKGROUND: We recently demonstrated that acute administration of ibrutinib, a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in chemotherapy for blood malignancies, increases ventricular arrhythmia (VA) vulnerability. A pathway of ibrutinib-induced vulnerability to VA that can be modulated for cardioprotection remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: The effects of ibrutinib on cardiac electrical activity and Ca2+ dynamics were investigated in Langendorff-perfused hearts using optical mapping. We also conducted Western blotting analysis to evaluate the impact of ibrutinib on various regulatory and Ca2+-handling proteins in rat cardiac tissues. Treatment with ibrutinib (10 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks was associated with an increased VA inducibility (72.2%±6.3% versus 38.9±7.0% in controls, P<0.002) and shorter action potential durations during pacing at various frequencies (P<0.05). Ibrutinib also decreased heart rate thresholds for beat-to-beat duration alternans of the cardiac action potential (P<0.05). Significant changes in myocardial Ca2+ transients included lower amplitude alternans ratios (P<0.05), longer times-to-peak (P<0.05), and greater spontaneous intracellular Ca2+ elevations (P<0.01). We also found lower abundance and phosphorylation of myocardial AMPK (5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase), indicating reduced AMPK activity in hearts after ibrutinib treatment. An acute treatment with the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-D-ribofuranoside ameliorated abnormalities in action potential and Ca2+ dynamics, and significantly reduced VA inducibility (37.1%±13.4% versus 72.2%±6.3% in the absence of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-D-ribofuranoside, P<0.05) in hearts from ibrutinib-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: VA vulnerability inflicted by ibrutinib may be mediated in part by an impairment of myocardial AMPK activity. Pharmacological activation of AMPK may be a protective strategy against ibrutinib-induced cardiotoxicity.

Temporal-Coherence Induces Binding of Responses to Sound Sequences in Ferret Auditory Cortex.

Binding the attributes of a sensory source is necessary to perceive it as a unified entity, one that can be attended to and extracted from its surrounding scene. In auditory perception, this is the essence of the cocktail party problem in which a listener segregates one speaker from a mixture of voices, or a musical stream from simultaneous others. It is postulated that coherence of the temporal modulations of a source's features is necessary to bind them. The focus of this study is on the role of temporal-coherence in binding and segregation, and specifically as evidenced by the neural correlates of rapid plasticity that enhance cortical responses among synchronized neurons, while suppressing them among asynchronized ones. In a first experiment, we find that attention to a sound sequence rapidly binds it to other coherent sequences while suppressing nearby incoherent sequences, thus enhancing the contrast between the two groups. In a second experiment, a sequence of synchronized multi-tone complexes, embedded in a cloud of randomly dispersed background of desynchronized tones, perceptually and neurally pops-out after a fraction of a second highlighting the binding among its coherent tones against the incoherent background. These findings demonstrate the role of temporal-coherence in binding and segregation.

Nanomaterials - A promising solution for textile and fossil fuel generated pollutants.

This review approach is divided into two scopes to focus the pollution threats. We cover the applications of nanomaterials to curtail the pollution induced by fossil fuel combustion, and textile dye effluents. Toxic emissions released from automobile exhaust that comprise of NOX. SOX and PAHs compile to harsh breathing and respiratory troubles. The effluents generated from the mammoth textile and leather industry is potential threat to beget massive health issues to human life, and environmental problem. Part I projects the broad envisage on role of nano materials in production of alternative biofuels. In addition, green sources for synthesizing nanomaterials are given special importance. Nano catalyst's utilization in bio-derived fuels such as biogas, bio-oil, bioethanol, and biodiesel are catered to this article. Part II cover the current statistics of textile effluent pollution level in India and its steps in confronting the risks of pollution are discussed. A clear picture of the nano techniques in pre-treatment, and the recent nano related trends pursued in industries to eliminate the dyes and chemicals from the discharges is discussed. The substantial aspect of nano catalysis in achieving emission-free fuel and toxic-free effluents and the augmentation in this field is conferred. This review portrays the dependency on nano materials & technology for sustainable future.

Riluzole for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Secondary Analysis of the CSM-PROTECT Trial.

Importance: The modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale is the most common scale used to represent outcomes of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM); however, it lacks consideration for neck pain scores and neglects the multidimensional aspect of recovery after surgery. Objective: To use a global statistical approach that incorporates assessments of multiple outcomes to reassess the efficacy of riluzole in patients undergoing spinal surgery for DCM. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a secondary analysis of prespecified secondary end points within the Efficacy of Riluzole in Surgical Treatment for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM-PROTECT) trial, a multicenter, double-blind, phase 3 randomized clinical trial conducted from January 2012 to May 2017. Adult surgical patients with DCM with moderate to severe myelopathy (mJOA scale score of 8-14) were randomized to receive either riluzole or placebo. The present study was conducted from July to December 2023. Intervention: Riluzole (50 mg twice daily) or placebo for a total of 6 weeks, including 2 weeks prior to surgery and 4 weeks following surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was a difference in clinical improvement from baseline to 1-year follow-up, assessed using a global statistical test (GST). The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Score (SF-36 PCS), arm and neck pain numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score, and Nurick grade were combined into a single summary statistic known as the global treatment effect (GTE). Results: Overall, 290 patients (riluzole group, 141; placebo group, 149; mean [SD] age, 59 [10.1] years; 161 [56%] male) were included. Riluzole showed a significantly higher probability of global improvement compared with placebo at 1-year follow-up (GTE, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00-0.16; P = .02). A similar favorable global response was seen at 35 days and 6 months (GTE for both, 0.07; 95% CI, -0.01 to 0.15; P = .04), although the results were not statistically significant. Riluzole-treated patients had at least a 54% likelihood of achieving better outcomes at 1 year compared with the placebo group. The ASIA motor score and neck and arm pain NRS combination at 1 year provided the best-fit parsimonious model for detecting a benefit of riluzole (GTE, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02-0.16; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of the CSM-PROTECT trial using a global outcome technique, riluzole was associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with DCM. The GST offered probability-based results capable of representing diverse outcome scales and should be considered in future studies assessing spine surgery outcomes.

Preformed Stainless-Steel Crowns: Their Effects on Oral Hygiene Maintenance and Gingival Health - A Prospective Original Research.

The stainless-steel crown (SSC) is a durable restoration and has several indications for use in primary teeth such as following a pulpotomy/pulpectomy, fractured teeth, teeth with developmental defects, or large multi-surface caries lesions where amalgam is likely to fail. Due to its durability and a lifespan like the primary tooth, it could well be the gold standard in restorative care. SSCs protect the crown from fracture, reduce the possibility for leakage, and ensure a biological seal. However, the placement of the SSC should follow a meticulous technique. There are some clinical situations where the SSC may fail, leading to plaque accumulation and gingivitis. This could be secondary to improper crimping of crown margins, which lead to poorly adapted SSC. In some clinical situations, ledge formation under the crown or failure to clean excess cement can contact the gingiva and cause gingival inflammation. This study was carried out on 41 children between the ages of 4 and 10 in Al Qassim region to study the effects of SSCs on gingiva and oral hygiene. The study also aims to establish the correlation between SSC adaptation and post-insertion inflammation. The plaque and gingival index were recorded at 3 months' post SSC insertion. Clinical examination was undertaken, and gingival index (Loe and Silness 1967) and plaque index (Silness and Loe 1967) were used to record gingival health and plaque accumulation, respectively. The result for post-inflammation and SSC adaptation showed that there was no statistically significant difference in post-insertion inflammation and crown adaptation (P value = 0.216). The result for pre-operative inflammation and post-operative inflammation shows that there is no significant difference in post-inflammation and adaptation (P value = 0.47). We found that oral hygiene care had a heightening effect and oral hygiene maintenance plays a key role in preventing gingival inflammation irrespective of the SSC adaptation over short periods of time (3 months).