Chiral amino acids: evolution in atroposelective C-H activation.

This review covers the journey of chiral amino acids as ligands in atroposelective C-H bond activation/functionalization via transition metal catalysis. Herein, we intend to demonstrate how these chiral amino acids have evolved and flourished in this stimulating field. Unprotected amino acids, mono-N-protected amino acids, and di-N-protected amino acids have been devised for atroposelective C-H activation. In each section, we have briefly discuss the key successes of amino acids in the atroposelective synthesis of biaryls, heterobiaryls, and non-biaryl atropisomers and their advantages in atroposelective C-H activation.

Measurement of mandibular incisive canal diameter using cone beam computed tomography.

Cone beam computed tomography was used for measuring the diameter of a Mandibular incisive canal. The dental practice can now visualize small bone structures with low dose and high spatial resolution due to the introduction of CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography). Therefore, it is of interest to measure the diameter of the MIC (Mandibular Incisive Canal) using the CBCT. Fifty CBCT scans obtained for implant placement preoperative planning were included in the study material. Observers carefully examined the CBCT data to determine the MIC's presence & position. The inner diameter of the MIC was measured by taking the longest distance between the inner cortical borders of the canal which was further analyzed using software CS3D software. The collected data were further subjected to statistical analysis. The average mean of the population was 1.7130±.5178. The average diameter of MIC in males was 1.735±.5406 and in females was 1.6800±.4934. Complications from implant surgery in the anterior mandible may be prevented by utilizing CBCT scans to analyze the smallest diameter of the MIC.

Revolutionizing Leishmaniasis Treatment with Cutting Edge Drug Delivery Systems and Nanovaccines: An Updated Review.

Leishmaniasis, one of the most overlooked tropical diseases, is a life-threatening illness caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani that is prevalent in underdeveloped nations. Over 350 million individuals in more than 90 different nations worldwide are at risk of contracting the disease, which has a current fatality rate of 50 000 mortalities each year. The administration of liposomal Amp B, pentavalent antimonials, and miltefosine are still considered integral components of the chemotherapy regimen. Antileishmanial medications fail to treat leishmaniasis because of their numerous drawbacks. These include inadequate effectiveness, toxicity, undesired side effects, drug resistance, treatment duration, and cost. Consequently, there is a need to overcome the limitations of conventional therapeutics. Nanotechnology has demonstrated promising outcomes in addressing these issues because of its small size and distinctive characteristics, such as enhanced bioavailability, lower toxicity, biodegradability, and targeted drug delivery. This review is an effort to highlight the recent progress in various nanodrug delivery systems (nDDSs) over the past five years for treating leishmaniasis. Although the preclinical outcomes of nDDSs have shown promising treatment for leishmaniasis, further research is needed for their clinical translation. Advancement in three primary priority domains─molecular diagnostics, clinical investigation, and knowledge dissemination and standardization─is imperative to propel the leishmaniasis field toward translational outcomes.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Presenting with Pneumothorax and Diabetes Insipidus.

Secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces occur in patients with known underlying lung disease. Patients with emphysema, bullae, and cystic lesions in the lungs are at high risk of developing pneumothorax. Cystic lung diseases like Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) can present with complications like pneumothorax. Other common presenting features include maculopapular rashes and bone lesions. It can also be associated with endocrinopathies, most commonly central diabetes insipidus (CDI). We here present a case of a 22-year-old male who presented with pneumothorax, polyuria, and polydipsia. He was diagnosed with LCH on transbronchial lung biopsy, associated with CDI, and was treated with thoracoscopy-guided autologous blood patch for persistent air leak and subcutaneous cytarabine.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Oxygen Therapy: A Double-edged Sword.

Oxygen, like all medicines, is a drug which needs moderation. Hypoxia, as well as excess oxygen supplementation, can be harmful in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both the European and the British guidelines recommend a target oxygen saturation of 88-92% in patients with COPD. Hypoxia can result in symptoms, such as restlessness, anxiety, agitation, and headache, while excess oxygen can lead to altered sensorium due to the retention of carbon dioxide (CO2) in patients with COPD. We often come across patients who come with breathlessness and have hypoxia, and the knee-jerk reaction is to start the patient on oxygen support to maintain an oxygen saturation of >95%, and this may result in hypercapnia and type II respiratory failure. Here, we present a descriptive review of the proper application of oxygen therapy in a patient presenting with acute exacerbation of COPD, the rationale behind the target oxygen saturations, and the mechanisms of type II respiratory failure due to hyperoxygenation.

Pattern of Medical Device Adverse Events in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India: An Ambispective Study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the pattern of adverse events caused by medical devices (MDs) is limited in India. We aimed to assess the pattern of MD adverse events (MDAEs) in a tertiary hospital in Northern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted ambispectively at various clinical departments of PGIMER, Chandigarh. We followed the guidelines edged by the Materiovigilance Program of India (MvPI) to conduct this study. The prospective study (PS) was done from January to December 2020, with a concurrent retrospective study (RS) proceeding to 3 years to learn more about the reporting culture, demographics, notification status, risk class of defective devices, and the type of adverse events. RESULTS: We received 224 MDAE in the PS and identified 413 MDAE in the RS. Reporting of adverse events to the national MvPI was negligible in the RS. In the PS, nurses reported the majority of MDAEs (65%), followed by doctors (30%). The occurrence of MDAE was higher in males (PS; 52%, RS; 57%) and age groups between 21 and 30 years (PS; 19.1%, RS; 23.2%) in both studies. MDAEs were frequent in low- to moderate-risk devices (class B: 66%) in the PS, while it was documented only for high-risk devices (class C: 51% and class D: 49%) in the RS. Most of the serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported among moderate to high-risk devices, and an increased frequency of SAE (60.4%) was observed among nonnotified MDs. The overall incidence of near-miss events was 14%. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of MDAEs and reporting of defective devices to regulatory authorities is essential to prevent further incidence. Adverse events caused by MDs are ubiquitous irrespective of their risk classification, notification status, and patient demographic factors. Accelerated reporting of MDAE by all cadre of healthcare professionals is urgently required to safeguard the health of Indians.

Exploring effect of uniform dry ball-milling duration on pasting and rheological properties of pink potato and maize starch mixtures.

This study examined the potential effect of ball milling on maize starch (MS), pink potato starch (PPS), and their blends in various ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) on the pasting and rheological properties. Ball-milling led to changes in the particle size, ranging from 652.9 to 6488 nm, and a decrease in relative crystallinity (RC), as confirmed by XRD. Ball-milling increased amylose concentration in blend with the ratio of 90:10 up to 32.53 %, indicating structural alterations and molecular interactions. FESEM analysis confirms significant changes in the surface and particle sizes and starch gels with honeycomb structures. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed a decrease in the intensity of the 1044 cm-1 and 480 cm-1 bands, respectively, signifying structural changes. Pasting parameters like peak viscosity and gelatinization behavior varied with PPS incorporation. The 80:20 blend had the highest viscosity, demonstrating PPS's capacity for high-viscosity starch paste. Rheological measurements of starch blends exhibited shear-thinning behavior, whereas the viscoelastic properties of the blends are influenced by particle size and the ratio of pink potato starch. Ball-milling treatment affects the granules and causes molecular-level interactions between the particles. This results in unique rheological properties of the starch blends, making them suitable for various applications.

MicroRNA169 integrates multiple factors to modulate plant growth and abiotic stress responses.

MicroRNA169 (miR169) has been implicated in multi-stress regulation in annual species such as Arabidopsis, maize and rice. However, there is a lack of experimental functional and mechanistic studies of miR169 in plants, especially in perennial species, and its impact on plant growth and development remains unexplored. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is a C3 cool-season perennial turfgrass of significant environmental and economic importance. In this study, we generated both miR169 overexpression and knockdown transgenic creeping bentgrass lines. We found that miR169 acts as a positive regulator in abiotic stress responses but is negatively associated with plant growth and development, playing multiple critical roles in the growth and environmental adaptation of creeping bentgrass. These roles include differentiated spatial hormone accumulation patterns associated with growth and stress accommodation, elevated antioxidant activity that alleviates oxidative damage induced by stress, ion-channelling membrane components for maintaining homeostasis under saline conditions, and potential cross-talks with stress-regulating transcription factors such as AsHsfA and AsWRKYs. Our results unravel the role of miR169 in modulating plant development and stress responses in perennial grass species. This underlines the potential of manipulating miR169 to generate crop cultivars with desirable traits to meet diverse agricultural demands.

Exploring aptamers for targeted enrichment of X sperm in bovine: unraveling selective potential.

Nucleic acid aptamers have been used in the past for the development of diagnostic methods against a number of targets such as bacteria, pesticides, cancer cells etc. In the present study, six rounds of Cell-SELEX were performed on a ssDNA aptamer library against X-enriched sperm cells from Sahiwal breed cattle. Sequencing was used to examine the aptamer sequences that shown affinity for sperm carrying the X chromosome in order to find any possible X-sperm-specific sequences. Out of 35 identified sequences, 14 were selected based on bioinformatics analysis like G-Score and Mfold structures. Further validation of their specificity was done via fluorescence microscopy. The interaction of biotinylated-aptamer with sperm was also determined by visualizing the binding of streptavidin coated magnetic beads on the head region of the sperm under bright field microscopy. Finally, a real-time experiment was designed for the validation of X-sperm enrichment by synthesized aptamer sequences. Among the studied sequences, aptamer 29a exhibited a higher affinity for X sperm compared to Y sperm in a mixed population of sperm cells. By using aptamer sequence 29a, we obtained an enrichment of 70% for X chromosome bearing sperm cells.

Approaches in Managing Resistant Hypertension: A Review.

In India, around 234 million adults (one in three) suffer from hypertension (HTN). An average of 10% of these cases are likely to be resistant hypertension (RH). This load of 23 million patients is expected to expand further with revisions in diagnostic criteria. The treatment and control rates of hypertension in India average around 30% and 15%, respectively. Pharmacological management involves a stepwise approach starting with optimizing the A-C-D (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and thiazide-like diuretics) triple-drug combination, followed by substitution with a thiazide-like diuretic and use of spironolactone as a next step (fourth drug). The subsequent steps are suggestions based on expert input and must be individualized. These include using a ß-blocker as the fifth drug and an α1-blocker or a peripheral vasodilator as a final option when target blood pressure (BP) values are not achieved. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are likely to be helpful in managing RH due to their renal and cardiovascular protection as well as mortality benefits. SGLT2i lowers BP independent of the dosage and concomitant anti-hypertensive medications. Patient education and tools to monitor BP and treatment compliance will improve outcomes with these medications. In addition to therapeutic intervention, a preventive approach for RH mandates a need to identify patients at risk and use appropriate preventive and optimal therapy to prevent uncontrolled hypertension in patients with cardiovascular disorders.

Neuroimaging with Rotterdam Scoring System and long-term outcomes in severe traumatic brain injury patients.

PURPOSE: The Rotterdam Scoring System (RSS) attempts to prognosticate early mortality and early functional outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) based on non-contrast head computed tomography (CT) imaging findings. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between RSS scores and long-term outcomes in patients with severe TBI. METHODS: Consecutively treated patients with severe TBI enrolled between 2008 and 2011, in the prospective, observational, Brain Trauma Research Center database were included. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was used to measure long-term functional outcomes at three, six, 12, and 24 months. GOS scores were categorized into favorable (GOS = 4-5) and unfavorable (GOS = 1-3) outcomes. RSS scores were calculated at the time of image acquisition. RESULTS: Of the 89 patients included, 74 (83.4%) were male, 81 (91.0%) were Caucasian, and the mean age of the cohort was 41.9 ± 18.5 years old. Patients with an RSS score of 3 and lower were more likely to have a favorable outcome with increased survival rates than patients with RSS scores greater than 3. CONCLUSIONS: The RSS score determined on the head CT scan acquired at admission in a cohort of patients with severe TBI correlated with long-term survival and functional outcomes up to two years following injury.

Analyzing Joshimath's sinking: causes, consequences, and future prospects with remote sensing techniques.

The Himalayas are highly susceptible to various natural disasters, such as the tectonically induced land deformation, earthquakes, landslides, and extreme climatic events. Recently, the Joshimath town witnessed a significantly large land subsidence activity. The phenomenon resulted in the development of large cracks in roads and in over 868 civil structures, posing a significant risk to inhabitants and infrastructure of the area. This study uses a time-series synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry-based PSInSAR approach to monitor land deformation utilizing multi-temporal Sentinel-1 datasets. The line of sight (LOS) land deformation velocity for the Joshimath region, calculated for the year 2022-2023 using a PSInSAR-based approach, varies from - 89.326 to + 94.46 mm/year. The + ve sign indicates the LOS velocity/displacement away from the SAR sensor, whereas - ve sign signifies the earth's movement towards the SAR sensor in the direction of LOS. In addition, the study investigates feature tracking land displacement analysis using multi-temporal high-resolution Planet datasets. The result of this analysis is consistent with the PSInSAR results. The study also estimated the land deformation for the periods 2016-2017, 2018-2019, and 2020-2021 separately. Our results show that the Joshimath region experienced the highest land deformation during the year 2022-2023. During this period, the maximum land subsidence was observed in the north-western part of the town. The maximum LOS land deformation velocity + 60.45 mm/year to + 94.46 mm/year (2022-2023), occurred around Singhdwar, whereas the north and central region of the Joshimath town experienced moderate to high subsidence of the order of + 10.45 mm/year to + 60.45 mm/year (2022-2023), whereas the south-west part experienced an expansion of the order of 84.65 mm/year to - 13.13 mm/year (2022-2023). Towards the south-east, the town experienced rapid land subsidence, - 13.13 mm/year to - 5 mm/year (2022-2023). The study analyzes the causative factors of the observed land deformation in the region. Furthermore, this work assesses the ground conditions of the Joshimath region using UAV datasets acquired in the most critically affected areas such as Singhdhaar, Hotel Mountain View, Malhari Hotel, and Manoharbagh. Finally, the study provides recommendations and future prospects for the development policies that need to be adopted in the critical Himalayan regions susceptible to land deformation. The study suggests that land deformation in the region is primarily attributed to uncontrolled anthropogenic activities, infrastructural development, along with inadequate drainage systems.

Clinical characteristics of non-sleepy obstructive sleep apnea patients: a study in a tertiary care sleep clinic in India.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) encompasses a diverse population, manifesting with or without symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness. There is contention surrounding the significance of non-sleepy OSA within clinical contexts and whether routine treatment is warranted. This study aims to evaluate epidemiological and clinical distinctions between sleepy and non-sleepy OSA patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on consecutive patients undergoing polysomnography for OSA assessment at tertiary care hospitals between 2018 and 2023. For 176 of 250 patients, complete polysomnography records with OSA diagnoses were available. Non-sleepy OSA was defined when a patient had an Epworth sleepiness scale score <10 and polysomnography demonstrated an apnea hypopnea index ≥5/hour. Non-sleepy OSA patients were matched with sleepy OSA patients in terms of age and gender distribution (mean age 51.24±13.25 years versus 50.9±10.87 years, male 70.4% versus 73.3%). The sensitivity of STOP-BANG≥3 for the non-sleepy OSA group was 87.7%, 89.3%, and 95.2% for any OSA severity, moderate to severe OSA, and severe OSA, respectively, while the corresponding sensitivity for the sleepy OSA group was 96.5%, 98.6%, and 100% for any OSA severity, moderate to severe OSA, and severe OSA, respectively. A novel symptom scoring tool, HASSUN (hypertension, nocturnal apneas, snoring, sleep disturbance, unrefreshing sleep, and nocturia), demonstrated a sensitivity of over 90% for all severity categories of OSA in both non-sleepy and sleepy OSA groups. The prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities did not significantly differ between non-sleepy and sleepy OSA patients. The physiological parameters, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and bicarbonate at baseline, were comparable between the two groups. To conclude, non-sleepy OSA patients are less obese, exhibit fewer symptoms, and have less severe OSA in comparison to sleepy OSA. Non-sleepy OSA patients display a similar likelihood of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities compared to sleepy OSA patients. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular metabolic comorbidities in non-sleepy OSA patients. The proposed HASSUN scoring tool for non-sleepy OSA screening necessitates validation in future studies.

Can Artificial Intelligence Mitigate Missed Diagnoses by Generating Differential Diagnoses for Neurosurgeons?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgery emphasizes the criticality of accurate differential diagnoses, with diagnostic delays posing significant health and economic challenges. As large language models (LLMs) emerge as transformative tools in healthcare, this study seeks to elucidate their role in assisting neurosurgeons with the differential diagnosis process, especially during preliminary consultations. METHODS: This study employed 3 chat-based LLMs, ChatGPT (versions 3.5 and 4.0), Perplexity AI, and Bard AI, to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy. Each LLM was prompted using clinical vignettes, and their responses were recorded to generate differential diagnoses for 20 common and uncommon neurosurgical disorders. Disease-specific prompts were crafted using Dynamed, a clinical reference tool. The accuracy of the LLMs was determined based on their ability to identify the target disease within their top differential diagnoses correctly. RESULTS: For the initial differential, ChatGPT 3.5 achieved an accuracy of 52.63%, while ChatGPT 4.0 performed slightly better at 53.68%. Perplexity AI and Bard AI demonstrated 40.00% and 29.47% accuracy, respectively. As the number of considered differentials increased from 2 to 5, ChatGPT 3.5 reached its peak accuracy of 77.89% for the top 5 differentials. Bard AI and Perplexity AI had varied performances, with Bard AI improving in the top 5 differentials at 62.11%. On a disease-specific note, the LLMs excelled in diagnosing conditions like epilepsy and cervical spine stenosis but faced challenges with more complex diseases such as Moyamoya disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: LLMs showcase the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and decrease the incidence of missed diagnoses in neurosurgery.

Seasonal variation of HbA1c levels in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Background: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) serves as a pivotal marker for long-term glycemic control. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) established its relevance, yet gaps exist in understanding potential seasonal variations in HbA1c levels among diabetic patients. The study highlights the need to explore potential seasonal variations in HbA1c levels and their impact on diabetic patients. Materials and methods: This is an observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital from January to December 2019, the study analyzed HbA1c levels in 8138 patients. Blood samples were collected using Potassium EDTA-containing vials and processed with an automated analyzer. Seasonal variations were explored using time series analysis. Results: Mean HbA1c levels peaked during the monsoon (June to September) and were lowest in autumn (October to November). Subgroup analysis revealed differences in patients with HbA1c values below and above 6.5 %. Those with controlled blood sugar showed higher levels in winter (December to February) and monsoon (June to September), while patients with HbA1c values ≥ 6.5 % exhibited significantly lower levels in monsoon (June to September) and autumn (October to November) compared to summer (March to May). Conclusion: In contrast to global trends, Indian patients demonstrated distinct seasonal variations in HbA1c levels. The highest levels during the monsoon (June to September) may be linked to reduced outdoor activity and dietary changes. The study emphasizes the need for tailored diabetes management considering seasonal influences. Further extensive, longitudinal studies across diverse Indian regions are recommended to comprehensively grasp the impact of seasonal changes on diabetes outcomes.

Impact of environmental pollutants on pediatric brain tumor incidence in New Jersey.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between environmental contaminants and brain tumor incidence in adults has been thoroughly explored but research into how these contaminants affect pediatric brain tumor (PBT) incidence has not been explored. Children, typically having more limited geographical movement and thus more consistent environmental contaminant exposure, might offer more reliable insights into which environmental contaminants affect the incidence of brain tumors. The present study is the first to focus on exploring whether a possible association exists between the incidence of PBTs and exposure to environmental pollutants in New Jersey (NJ). METHODS: Linear regressions were run between PBT incidence and the concentration of air quality pollutants such as Ozone (O3), Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), Particulate Matter 10 (PM10), and Carbon Monoxide (CO). Similarly, linear regressions were run between PBT incidence and Elevated Blood Lead Levels (BLL). RESULTS: The study observed a significant positive relationship between O3 and PBT incidence (ß = 0.34, p = 0.028). However, the relationship between PBT incidence, and environmental pollutants such as CO (ß = 0.0047, p = 0.098), PM2.5 (ß = -0.2624, p = 0.74), and PM10 (ß = -0.7353, p = 0.073) were found to be nonsignificant. For elevated BLL, nonsignificant relationships with PBT incidence were observed at 10-14 µg/dL (ß = -39.38, p = 0.30), 15-19 µg/dL (ß = -67.00, p = 0.21), and 20-44 µg/dL (ß = -201.98, p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a possible impact of O3 on the incidence of PBTs in NJ. In contrast to the significant links found in prior studies of adult brain tumors, the associations between PBT occurrence and particulate matter were not significant. These findings highlight the importance of further investigating how environmental factors, especially O3, relate to PBTs.

1O2 mediated synthesis of carbonyl substituted quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones in visible light: 4CzIPN as a reusable photocatalyst.

A mild and eco-friendly method for the construction of carbonyl-containing quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones has been developed in the presence of O2, photocatalyzed by reusable 4CzIPN in visible light. The method is transition-metal free, cost-effective, sustainable and gives the products in moderate to high yields.

Thoracoscopic blood patch instillation for persistent air leak in pneumothorax: a case series and systematic review.

Persistent air leaks in patients with pneumothorax can lead to significant morbidity. If a patient with persistent air leak is medically unfit for thoracic surgery, medical pleurodesis via chest tube or thoracoscopy is either an option. Thoracoscopy offers the advantage of visualizing the site of the air leak and enabling direct instillation of the pleurodesis agent or glue at that location. Autologous blood patch instillation via chest tube has been reported to be a cheap and very effective technique for the management of persistent air leaks. However, thoracoscopic blood patch instillation has not been reported in the literature. We report two cases of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in which patients had persistent air leaks for more than seven days and were subjected to thoracoscopy to locate the site of the leak. In the same sitting, 50 mL of autologous blood patch was instilled directly at the leak site. Post-procedure, the air leak subsided in both patients, and the chest tube was removed with complete lung expansion. We also conducted a systematic review of the use of medical thoracoscopic interventions for treating persistent air leaks.

Peptidome Profiling of Bubalus bubalis Urine and Assessment of Its Antimicrobial Activity against Mastitis-Causing Pathogens.

Urinary proteins have been studied quite exhaustively in the past, however, the small sized peptides have remained neglected for a long time in dairy cattle. These peptides are the products of systemic protein turnover, which are excreted out of the body and hence can serve as an important biomarker for various pathophysiologies. These peptides in other species of bovine have been reported to possess several bioactive properties. To investigate the urinary peptides in buffalo and simultaneously their bioactivities, we generated a peptidome profile from the urine of Murrah Buffaloes (n = 10). Urine samples were processed using <10 kDa MWCO filter and filtrate obtained was used for peptide extraction using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE). The nLC-MS/MS of the aqueous phase from ten animals resulted in the identification of 8165 peptides originating from 6041 parent proteins. We further analyzed these peptide sequences to identify bioactive peptides and classify them into anti-cancerous, anti-hypertensive, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory groups with a special emphasis on antimicrobial properties. With this in mind, we simultaneously conducted experiments to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of urinary aqueous extract on three pathogenic bacterial strains: S. aureus, E. coli, and S. agalactiae. The urinary peptides observed in the study are the result of the activity of possibly 76 proteases. The GO of these proteases showed the significant enrichment of the antibacterial peptide production. The total urinary peptide showed antimicrobial activity against the aforementioned pathogenic bacterial strains with no significant inhibitory effects against a buffalo mammary epithelial cell line. Just like our previous study in cows, the present study suggests the prime role of the antimicrobial peptides in the maintenance of the sterility of the urinary tract in buffalo by virtue of their amino acid composition.

Preliminary Evidence for Global Properties in Human Listeners During Natural Auditory Scene Perception.

Theories of auditory and visual scene analysis suggest the perception of scenes relies on the identification and segregation of objects within it, resembling a detail-oriented processing style. However, a more global process may occur while analyzing scenes, which has been evidenced in the visual domain. It is our understanding that a similar line of research has not been explored in the auditory domain; therefore, we evaluated the contributions of high-level global and low-level acoustic information to auditory scene perception. An additional aim was to increase the field's ecological validity by using and making available a new collection of high-quality auditory scenes. Participants rated scenes on 8 global properties (e.g., open vs. enclosed) and an acoustic analysis evaluated which low-level features predicted the ratings. We submitted the acoustic measures and average ratings of the global properties to separate exploratory factor analyses (EFAs). The EFA of the acoustic measures revealed a seven-factor structure explaining 57% of the variance in the data, while the EFA of the global property measures revealed a two-factor structure explaining 64% of the variance in the data. Regression analyses revealed each global property was predicted by at least one acoustic variable (R2 = 0.33-0.87). These findings were extended using deep neural network models where we examined correlations between human ratings of global properties and deep embeddings of two computational models: an object-based model and a scene-based model. The results support that participants' ratings are more strongly explained by a global analysis of the scene setting, though the relationship between scene perception and auditory perception is multifaceted, with differing correlation patterns evident between the two models. Taken together, our results provide evidence for the ability to perceive auditory scenes from a global perspective. Some of the acoustic measures predicted ratings of global scene perception, suggesting representations of auditory objects may be transformed through many stages of processing in the ventral auditory stream, similar to what has been proposed in the ventral visual stream. These findings and the open availability of our scene collection will make future studies on perception, attention, and memory for natural auditory scenes possible.