Cooperativity between metal centers in homobimetallic PdII-NHC complexes: catalytic potential towards hydrodefluorination.

Among the several unsymmetrical bis-NHC derived distinct homo-bimetallic and mono-NHC supported PdII complexes studied here (1-5), the bimetallic complex 1 was noted to be the most effective catalyst for the challenging hydrodefluorination. The electron richness of the metal centers and the synergistic cooperation between the PdII centers (cooperativity index, ɑ = 8.67) have been recognized to be the deciding factor for its better activity.

A comprehensive survey on techniques to handle face identity threats: challenges and opportunities.

The human face is considered the prime entity in recognizing a person's identity in our society. Henceforth, the importance of face recognition systems is growing higher for many applications. Facial recognition systems are in huge demand, next to fingerprint-based systems. Face-biometric has a highly dominant role in various applications such as border surveillance, forensic investigations, crime detection, access management systems, information security, and many more. Facial recognition systems deliver highly meticulous results in every of these application domains. However, the face identity threats are evenly growing at the same rate and posing severe concerns on the use of face-biometrics. This paper significantly explores all types of face recognition techniques, their accountable challenges, and threats to face-biometric-based identity recognition. This survey paper proposes a novel taxonomy to represent potential face identity threats. These threats are described, considering their impact on the facial recognition system. State-of-the-art approaches available in the literature are discussed here to mitigate the impact of the identified threats. This paper provides a comparative analysis of countermeasure techniques focusing on their performance on different face datasets for each identified threat. This paper also highlights the characteristics of the benchmark face datasets representing unconstrained scenarios. In addition, we also discuss research gaps and future opportunities to tackle the facial identity threats for the information of researchers and readers.

Monitoring social distancing through human detection for preventing/reducing COVID spread.

COVID-19 is a severe epidemic that has put the world in a global crisis. Over 42 Million people are infected, and 1.14 Million deaths are reported worldwide as on Oct 23, 2020. A deeper understanding of the epidemic suggests that a person's negligence can cause widespread harm that would be difficult to negate. Since no vaccine is yet developed, social distancing must be practiced to detain COVID-19 spread. Therefore, we aim to develop a framework that tracks humans for monitoring the social distancing being practiced. To accomplish this objective of social distance monitoring, an algorithm is developed using object detection method. Here, CNN based object detector is explored to detect human presence. The object detector's output is used for calculating distances between each pair of humans detected. This approach of social distancing algorithm will red mark the persons who are getting closer than a permissible limit. Experimental results prove that CNN based object detectors with our proposed social distancing algorithm exhibit promising outcomes for monitoring social distancing in public areas.

Taxonomic and functional annotation of gut bacterial communities of Eisenia foetida and Perionyx excavatus.

Epigeic earthworms can significantly hasten the decomposition of organic matter, which is known to be mediated by gut associated microflora. However, there is scanty information on the abundance and diversity of the gut bacterial flora in different earthworm genera fed with a similar diet, particularly Eisenia foetida and Perionyx excavatus. In this context, 16S rDNA based clonal survey of gut metagenomic DNA was assessed after growth of these two earthworms on lignocellulosic biomass. A set of 67 clonal sequences belonging to E. foetida and 75 to P. excavatus were taxonomically annotated using MG-RAST and RDP pipeline servers. Highest number of sequences were annotated to Proteobacteria (38-44%), followed by unclassified bacteria (14-18%) and Firmicutes (9.3-11%). Comparative analyses revealed significantly higher abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes in the gut of P. excavatus. The functional annotation for the 16S rDNA clonal libraries of both the metagenomes revealed a high abundance of xylan degraders (12.1-24.1%). However, chitin degraders (16.7%), ammonia oxidizers (24.1%) and nitrogen fixers (7.4%) were relatively higher in E. foetida, while in P. excavatus; sulphate reducers and sulphate oxidizers (12.1-29.6%) were more abundant. Lignin degradation was detected in 3.7% clones of E. foetida, while cellulose degraders represented 1.7%. The gut microbiomes showed relative abundance of dehalogenators (17.2-22.2%) and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders (1.7-5.6%), illustrating their role in bioremediation. This study highlights the significance of differences in the inherent microbiome of these two earthworms in shaping the metagenome for effective degradation of different types of biomass under tropical conditions.

The influence of a 21 kDa Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor from nonhost madras thorn, Pithecellobium dulce, seeds on H. armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

A trypsin inhibitor purified from the seeds of the Manila tamarind, Pithecellobium dulce (PDTI), was studied for its effects on growth parameters and developmental stages of Helicoverpa armigera. PDTI exhibited inhibitory activity against bovine trypsin (∼86%; ∼1.33 ug/ml IC50). The inhibitory activity of PDTI was unaltered over a wide range of temperature, pH, and in the presence of dithiothreitol. Larval midgut proteases were unable to digest PDTI for up to 12 h of incubation. Dixon and Lineweaver-Burk double reciprocal plots analysis revealed a competitive inhibition mechanism and a Ki of ∼3.9 × 10(-8) M. Lethal dose (0.50% w/w) and dosage for weight reduction by 50% (0.25% w/w) were determined. PDTI showed a dose-dependent effect on mean larval weight and a series of nutritional disturbances. In artificial diet at 0.25% w/w PDTI, the efficiency of conversion of ingested food, of digested food, relative growth rate, and growth index declined, whereas approximate digestibility, relative consumption rate, metabolic cost, consumption index, and total developmental period were increased in larvae. This is the first report of antifeedant and antimetabolic activities of PDTI on midgut proteases of H. armigera.

Negative effects of a nonhost proteinase inhibitor of ~19.8 kDa from Madhuca indica seeds on developmental physiology of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner).

An affinity purified trypsin inhibitor from the seed flour extracts of Madhuca indica (MiTI) on denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that MiTI consisted of a single polypeptide chain with molecular mass of ~19.8 kDa. MiTI inhibited the total proteolytic and trypsin-like activities of the midgut proteinases of Helicoverpa armigera larvae by 87.51% and 76.12%, respectively, at concentration of 5 µg/mL with an IC50 of 1.75 µg/mL against trypsin like midgut proteinases. The enzyme kinetic studies demonstrated that MiTI is a competitive inhibitor with a K i value of 4.1 × 10(-10) M for Helicoverpa trypsin like midgut proteinases. In vivo experiments with different concentrations of MiTI in artificial diet (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% w/w) showed an effective downfall in the larval body weight and an increase in larval mortality. The concentration of MiTI in the artificial diet to cause 50% mortality (LD50) of larvae was 1.5% w/w and that to cause reduction in mass of larvae by 50% (ED50) was 1.0% w/w. Nutritional indices observations suggest the toxic and adverse effects of MiTI on the growth and development of H. armigera larvae. The results suggest a strong bioinsecticidal potential of affinity purified MiTI which can be exploited in insect pest management of crop plants.

A Nonhost Peptidase Inhibitor of ~14 kDa from Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Seeds Affects Negatively the Growth and Developmental Physiology of Helicoverpa armigera.

Helicoverpa armigera is one of the major devastating pests of crop plants. In this context a serine peptidase inhibitor purified from the seeds of Butea monosperma was evaluated for its effect on developmental physiology of H. armigera larvae. B. monosperma peptidase inhibitor on 12% denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis exhibited a single protein band of ~14 kDa with or without reduction. In vitro studies towards total gut proteolytic enzymes of H. armigera and bovine trypsin indicated measurable inhibitory activity. B. monosperma peptidase inhibitor dose for 50% mortality and weight reduction by 50% were 0.5% w/w and 0.10% w/w, respectively. The IC50 of B. monosperma peptidase inhibitor against total H. armigera gut proteinases activity was 2.0 µg/mL. The larval feeding assays suggested B. monosperma peptidase inhibitor to be toxic as reflected by its retarded growth and development, consequently affecting fertility and fecundity of pest and prolonging the larval-pupal duration of the insect life cycle of H. armigera. Supplementing B. monosperma peptidase inhibitor in artificial diet at 0.1% w/w, both the efficiencies of conversion of ingested as well as digested food were downregulated, whereas approximate digestibility and metabolic cost were enhanced. The efficacy of Butea monosperma peptidase inhibitor against progressive growth and development of H. armigera suggest its usefulness in insect pest management of food crops.

Kinetic assessment and effect on developmental physiology of a trypsin inhibitor from Eugenia jambolana (Jambul) seeds on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner).

A trypsin inhibitor was purified from the seeds of Eugenia jambolana (Jambul) with a fold purification of 14.28 and a yield recovery of 2.8%. Electrophoretic analysis of E. jambolana trypsin inhibitor (EjTI) revealed a molecular weight of approximately 17.4 kDa on 12% denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with or without reduction. EjTI exhibited high stability over a wide range of temperatures (4-80 °C for 30 min) and pH (3.0-10.0) and inhibited trypsin-like activities of the midgut proteinases of fourth instar Helicoverpa armigera larvae by approximately 86%. Feeding assays containing 0.05, 0.15, and 0.45 (% w/w) EjTI on functionally important fourth-instar larvae indicated a dose-dependent downfall in the larval body weight as well as on extent of survival. The nutritional analysis suggests that EjTI exerts toxic effects on H. armigera. Dixon plot analysis revealed competitive inhibition of larval midgut proteinases by EjTI, with an inhibition constant (Ki ) of approximately 3.1 × 10(-9) M. However, inhibitor kinetics using double reciprocal plots for trypsin inhibition demonstrated a mixed inhibition pattern. These observations suggest the potential of E. jambolana trypsin inhibitor protein in insect pest management.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in isolated pancreatic metastasis from lung cancer.

A case is reported of a 50-year-old woman with a history of small-cell lung cancer admitted with pancreatic head lesions, discovered during investigation for obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic ultrasound assisted fine needle aspiration of the pancreatic mass was consistent with small cell carcinoma, presenting as an isolated metastasis from the previously diagnosed lung cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) showed extrinsic compression and a bile duct stricture, requiring sphincterotomy and stent insertion. This case highlights that acute pancreatitis and biliary obstruction can occur as a manifestation of small cell lung cancer metastasizing to the pancreas. EUS is a safe, low risk and rapid diagnostic tool in such cases, and ERCP with stenting offers a safe and effective treatment option.

Risk of bleeding after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement are often on anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy with a potential thromboembolic risk if these medications are discontinued. Data on the safety of peri-procedural use of these drugs is limited. AIMS: To assess the risk and to identify any predictive factors for post-PEG bleeding, and to determine if clopidogrel increases the risk of bleeding following PEG. METHODS: A retrospective chart audit was conducted from January 1, 2002 to June 30, 2011. RESULTS: A total of 1,541 patients underwent PEG placement during this period. Gastrointestinal bleeding after PEG placement occurred in 51 cases (3.3%) and bleeding directly attributed to PEG was noted in six patients (0.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of variables (age, gender, length of hospitalization, indication for PEG, antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications) showed that heparin infusion (P = 0.018) and length of hospitalization (P = 0.029) were statistically significant predictors of bleeding. The mean period for cessation and resumption of clopidogrel with PEG placement were 2.2 and 1.3 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although PEG is classified as a high-risk endoscopic procedure, bleeding with PEG placement was rare, even with use of anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications. In selected patients on heparin infusion undergoing PEG, delaying the procedure, alternative use of low-molecular-weight heparin or close monitoring and frequent assessments should be considered. Clopidogrel did not contribute to an increase in bleeding risk, despite being held for a much shorter peri-procedural period as recommended by expert consensus.

Characteristics of CPOE systems and obstacles to implementation that physicians believe will affect adoption.

BACKGROUND: Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) has the potential to decrease medical errors and improve quality. Our health system plans to implement CPOE in response to the ARRA HITECH Act. OBJECTIVES: To determine (A) physicians' projections of the most important characteristics of a CPOE system that will affect their willingness to adopt CPOE, and (B) the obstacles they foresee in adopting CPOE. METHODS: All members of our health system's physician quality organization were invited to participate in a confidential survey. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-four of 549 (41%) recipients responded to the survey. Respondents ranked "disruption in my work routine" (72%) and "improve efficiency in placing orders" (63%) as the two most important characteristics that would affect their utilization of CPOE. They believed CPOE would enable orders to be placed more efficiently (3.3, sd = 1.2), carried out rapidly (3.4, sd = 0.9), and have fewer errors (3.7, sd = 0.9). The most commonly cited obstacles to CPOE implementation were: Efficiency-Inefficiency (23%), Hardware Availability (12.7%), Computer Restrictions (10.8%), Training (8.8%), Simplicity - Ease of Use (8.5%), and Physician Buy-in (8.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of physicians believed CPOE would lead to a reduction of medical errors and more efficient patient care. However, physicians are highly concerned with how CPOE will affect their own work efficiency.

Acute esophageal necrosis: a case series of five patients presenting with "Black esophagus".

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as "Black esophagus", is a rare condition that typically presents as upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. A retrospective chart analysis was conducted at two tertiary care hospitals over a three-year period (2005-2007) using a computerized inpatient database. Out of 9,179 upper endoscopies performed, five patients (0.05% prevalence) were found to have black esophagus. Their mean age was 44 years and the most common presentation was upper gastrointestinal bleeding. All five patients had comorbid conditions, most commonly coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and renal insufficiency. Two patients died, but the cause of death was not related to AEN in either. In conclusion, AEN is usually seen in critically ill elderly patients with multiple comorbid conditions, particularly vascular disease, diabetes mellitus and azotemia.

Cardiac sarcoma presenting as heart failure and diagnosed as recurrent myxoma by echocardiogram.

We report a case of an extremely rare high-grade, undifferentiated cardiac sarcoma. The patient with left atrial myxoma resected 8 months ago presented with pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and subsequently diagnosed to have cardiac sarcoma. Transoesophageal echocardiogram played an important role in diagnosis of left atrial mass. High index of suspicion is required to diagnose left atrial tumour as initially it can present as pneumonia or congestive heart failure and left atrial tumours are not always the myxoma.

Jejunoileal bypass: a surgery of the past and a review of its complications.

Jejunoileal bypass (JIB), popular in the 1960s and 1970s, had remarkable success in achieving weight loss by creating a surgical short bowel syndrome. Our patient had an unusual case of liver disease and provided no history of prior bariatric surgery. Later, it was recognized that he had a JIB in the 1970s, which was also responsible for the gamut of his illnesses. Patients with JIB are often not recognized, as they died of complications, or underwent reversal of their surgery or a liver-kidney transplant. Early identification with prompt reversal, and the recognition and treatment of the life-threatening consequences play a critical role in the management of such patients.

Demographic and work-life study of chief residents: a survey of the program directors in internal medicine residency programs in the United States.

CONTEXT: Chief residents play a crucial role in internal medicine residency programs in administration, academics, team building, and coordination between residents and faculty. The work-life and demographic characteristics of chief residents has not been documented. OBJECTIVE: To delineate the demographics and day-to-day activities of chief residents. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Survey Committee of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) developed a Web-based questionnaire. A link was sent in November 2006 by e-mail to 381 member programs (98%). Data collection ended in April 2007. MEASUREMENTS: Data collected include the number of chief residents per residency, the ratio of chief residents per resident, demographics, and information on salary/benefits, training and mentoring, and work life. RESULTS: The response rate was 62% (N  =  236). There was a mean of 2.5 chief residents per program, and on average there was 1 chief resident for 17.3 residents. Of the chief residents, 40% were women, 38% international medical graduates, and 11% minorities. Community-based programs had a higher percentage of postgraduate year 3 (PGY-3)-level chief residents compared to university-based programs (22% versus 8%; P  =  .02). Mean annual salary was $60 000, and the added value of benefits was $21 000. Chief residents frequently supplement their salaries through moonlighting. The majority of formal training occurs by attending APDIM meetings. Forty-one percent of programs assign academic rank to chief residents. CONCLUSION: Most programs have at least 2 chief residents and expect them to perform administrative functions, such as organizing conferences. Most programs evaluate chief residents regularly in administration, teaching, and clinical skills.

Churg-Strauss syndrome presenting as acute abdomen: are gastrointestinal manifestations an indicator of poor prognosis?

Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare syndrome of vasculitis of the small to medium vessels, characterized by a triad of asthma, eosinophilia and atopic sinusitis. Although asthma is the most common manifestation, it is rarely associated with poor prognosis. Severe gastrointestinal tract manifestations are associated with worse outcomes. Patients with CSS at initial presentation, like our patient, may not meet all four American College of Rheumatology criteria to establish a diagnosis; however, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion to recognize the disease early in its course and treat aggressively, thereby decreasing the mortality and morbidity associated with this disease.