A thermo-mechanically loaded rotating FGM cylindrical pressure vessels under parabolic changing properties: An analytical and numerical analysis

This study aims to develop an exact analytical solution for steady-state thermo-mechanical stress in a functionally graded (FG) thick-walled cylindrical vessel. The cylinder is subjected to combined rotational speed and internal pressures while the thermal load is with convective and radiative boundary conditions. The dimensionless governing equations and boundary conditions, represented as a quartic equation, are derived and solved using Ferrari's method. The temperature, displacement, and stress fields across the thick-walled cylindrical vessel are calculated by finding the roots of the quartic equation. In order to investigate the accuracy of the exact analytical solution, a numerical model is constructed based on a standard Galerkin discretization approach of the finite element method (FEM). The analytical solutions and the results obtained through FEM show a high level of agreement. Furthermore, the study analyzes the effects of material parameters on temperature, displacement, and stress fields. Displacement, temperature, and stress fields are presented in the form of dimensionless graphs along the radial direction. For the considered parametric studies, results revealed that parabolic grading is beneficial than conventional grading. This study reveals that for the thermal loading, the maximum temperature, displacement, and tangential stress decrease for the parabolic grading. A similar but lower value of temperature, displacement, and tangential stress is also observed in the case of thermomechanical loading. This study is expected to assist in the assessment of the reliability of load calculations and contribute to the overall durability of pressure vessels. The results obtained from this study can provide valuable insights into thermo-elasticity and the thermo-mechanical behavior of thick-walled cylindrical vessels and can aid in the design and optimization of such systems.

Identification of novel inhibitors against Med15a KIX domain of Candida glabrata

Candida glabrata, the second most common cause of invasive fungal infections, exhibits multi-drug resistance to commonly used antifungal drugs. To counter this resistance, there is a critical need for novel antifungals. This study identifies small molecule inhibitors that target a three-helix bundle KIX domain in the Med15a Mediator subunit of Candida glabrata (CgMed15a KIX). This domain plays a crucial role by interacting with the Pleiotropic Drug Resistance transcription factor Pdr1, a key regulator of the multidrug resistance pathway in Candida glabrata. We performed high throughput computational screening of large chemical datasets against the binding sites of the CgMed15a KIX domain to identify novel inhibitors. We selected six potential candidates with high affinity and confirmed their binding with the CgMed15a KIX domain. A phytochemical compound, Chebulinic acid binds to the CgMed15a KIX domain with a KD value of 0.339 μM and shows significant inhibitory effects on the growth of Candida glabrata. Molecular dynamics simulation studies further revealed the structural stability of the CgMed15a KIX-Chebulinic acid complex. Thus, in conclusion, this study highlights Chebulinic acid as a novel potential antifungal compound against Candida glabrata.

N-acetylglucosamine: a behavioral fate switch in Candida albicans

Candida albicans, a significant commensal fungus in the human gut, causes a wide spectrum of opportunistic infections. In a recent study, Yang et al. revealed the importance of a host-associated gut signal, GlcNAc, in C. albicans and described its significant role towards achieving a successful commensal-virulence trade-off program in the human body.

Etiology of Chronic Abnormal Uterine Bleeding According to the FIGO's PALM-COEIN Classification in Bangladeshi Women of Reproductive Age: A Cross-Sectional Study

Chronic abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is common, but there is a lack of standardized methods for investigating and etiological categorization of AUB. The PALM-COEIN classification system of AUB is getting important to overcome this issue. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2019 at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, to determine the causes of AUB in women of the reproductive age group and categorize the causes of AUB as per the PALM-COEIN classification. A total of 380 women with chronic AUB were evaluated. The distribution of PALM-COEIN causes of AUB were AUB-P (1.8%), AUB-A (9.2%), AUB-L (13.2%), AUB-M (5.8%), AUB-C (1.1%), AUB-O (24.7%), AUB-E (1.6%), AUB-I (6.6%), and AUB-N (36.1%). The participants' mean age was 29.6 (±10.5) years, the majority (78.2%) of them was married, only a few (9.5%) had comorbid diseases, including hypertension (HTN) (1.1%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (5.3%), and hypothyroidism (8.7%). Women in the AUB-M classification had higher age than others; anemia was more prevalent in the AUB-P group, the AUB-O group had the highest TSH levels and hypothyroidism frequency. The PALM-COEIN classification helps ascertain the cause of AUB practically and should be used in routine clinical practices to manage these patients better.

Efficacy of Nebulized Hypertonic Saline (3%) Versus Normal Saline and Salbutamol in Treating Acute Bronchiolitis in A Tertiary Hospital: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acute bronchiolitis is a viral respiratory illness of infants and young children that occurs in the first two years of life. It is a major cause of hospital admissions in Bangladesh. Management of bronchiolitis is a great challenge for the pediatrician both in the outpatient and inpatient department. Because mainstay of treatment options are usually supportive like cool humidified oxygen, fluids, bronchodilators, epinephrine and corticosteroids. A number of agents have been proposed as adjunctive therapies, but their effects are controversial. Nebulized hypertonic saline (3%) has been reported to have some benefit in recent studies. So the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of nebulized 3% hypertonic saline (HS) with salbutamol and normal saline (0.9%) nebulization in children with acute bronchiolitis. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from November 2015 to October 2016. A total of 100 children aged one month to two years with acute bronchiolitis admitted in the Pediatric wards of MMCH were included in the study and were randomly assigned to either 3% nebulized hypertonic saline (n=50) or to 0.9% nebulized isotonic saline with salbutamol solution (n=50). The main outcome variables were clinical severity score, length of hospital stay, duration of oxygen therapy and oxygen saturation (SpO2). The therapy was repeated three times on every hospitalization day and the outcome was evaluated two times daily (12 hourly) for 60 hours. Mean duration of oxygen therapy in study group was 33.6±21.7 hours and in control group was 36.8±22.5 hours. But their difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The mean clinical severity score and mean oxygen saturation of the entire study patients in both groups decreased and increased respectively during hospital stay. There was significant difference of mean clinical severity score and oxygen saturation between admission and follow up-5 in each group (p<0.001). But their difference between two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Mean duration of hospital stay was 2.91±1.54 days in study group and 3.09±1.85 days in control group. But their difference between two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). So in acute bronchiolitis nebulized hypertonic saline (3%) is as effective as normal saline (0.9%) and salbutamol nebulization.

Post-Acute Covid Neurological Symptoms among Doctors and Nurses in A Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study from Bangladesh

A good number of patients experience post-Covid complications. Doctors and nurses are the front liners who are at greater risk of having this disease. Neurological symptoms are frequent in patients with post-COVID-19 infection. The study aims to observe the post-acute neurological symptoms among doctors and nurses of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh, after they recover from initial infection or among the asymptomatic cases. It was a retrospective observational study among the doctors and nurses who became RT PCR positive from late April to mid-September 2020. A total of 100 subjects were interviewed over the phone for the presence or absence of neurological symptoms four weeks post Covid-19 infection. Total 54 doctors and 46 nurses were evaluated; the male-female ratio was 1:1.77, the mean age was 35.6±7.6 years. Post-acute COVID neurological symptoms (PACNS) were present in 60% of respondents. Fatigue (51%) was the most common symptom, followed by sleep disturbance, headache, myalgia, loss of taste and smell. PACNS were more in symptomatic patients at the initial Covid infection than asymptomatic cases.

VLBI measurement of the vector baseline between geodetic antennas at Kokee Park Geophysical Observatory, Hawaii

We measured the components of the 31-m-long vector between the two very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) antennas at the Kokee Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO), Hawaii, with approximately 1 mm precision using phase delay observables from dedicated VLBI observations in 2016 and 2018. The two KPGO antennas are the 20 m legacy VLBI antenna and the 12 m VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS) antenna. Independent estimates of the vector between the two antennas were obtained by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) using standard optical surveys in 2015 and 2018. The uncertainties of the latter survey were 0.3 and 0.7 mm in the horizontal and vertical components of the baseline, respectively. We applied corrections to the measured positions for the varying thermal deformation of the antennas on the different days of the VLBI and survey measurements, which can amount to 1 mm, bringing all results to a common reference temperature. The difference between the VLBI and survey results are 0.2 ± 0.4 mm, -1.3 ± 0.4 mm, and 0.8 ± 0.8 mm in the East, North, and Up topocentric components, respectively. We also estimate that the Up component of the baseline may suffer from systematic errors due to gravitational deformation and uncalibrated instrumental delay variations at the 20 m antenna that may reach ± 10 and -2 mm, respectively, resulting in an accuracy uncertainty on the order of 10 mm for the relative heights of the antennas. Furthermore, possible tilting of the 12 m antenna increases the uncertainties in the differences in the horizontal components to 1.0 mm. These results bring into focus the importance of (1) correcting to a common reference temperature the measurements of the reference points of all geodetic instruments within a site, (2) obtaining measurements of the gravitational deformation of all antennas, and (3) monitoring local motions of the geodetic instruments. These results have significant implications for the accuracy of global reference frames that require accurate local ties between geodetic instruments, such as the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF).

407 Incidental Focal Intrahepatic Duct Dilatation (FIDD) – A Finding That Mandates Further Investigation That May Include Liver Resection

Background

The increasing use of imaging has led to incidental findings in the liver. The Western experience of managing focal intrahepatic duct dilatation (FIDD) is not well recorded. We present our experience based on a large prospectively maintained database at a tertiary hepatobiliary surgical unit.

Method

Patients with liver resection for FIDD between January 2003-December 2019 were retrospectively identified from the liver unit database. The demographics, symptomatology, blood test results, imaging, type of liver resection, morbidity, mortality, and histology of resected specimens were recorded.

Results

9 patients had FIDD among 994 liver resections performed (0.9%). 6 patients were asymptomatic, 2 upper abdominal pain and 1 recurrent gram-negative sepsis. Liver function tests were normal in all patients. Two patients had cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), 4 intrahepatic stones, 1 intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct (IPN –B) and 2 benign strictures.

Conclusions

FIDD is rare in the Western population. Most patients are asymptomatic with an incidental finding of FIDD on cross-sectional imaging. Differentiating benign and malignant pathology is difficult warranting liver resection in fit patients to resolve the diagnosis. Liver resection is safe and can be potentially curative in patients with a neoplasm, which can occur in 30% of patients with FIDD.

Starch-lipid interaction alters the molecular structure and ultimate starch bioavailability: A comprehensive review

Starch bioavailability which results in eliciting postprandial glycaemic response, is a trait of great significance and is majorly influenced by the physical interaction among the matrix components governed by their molecular structure as well as dynamics. Among physical interactions limiting starch bioavailability, starch and any guest molecules like lipid interact together to alter the molecular structure into a compact V-type arrangement endorsing the processed crystallinity, thus limiting carbolytic enzymatic digestion and further bioavailability. Considering the importance of starch-lipid dynamics affecting bioavailability, intensive research based on endogenous (internal lipids which are embedded into the food matrix) as well as exogenous (those are added from outside into the food matrix during processing like cooking) lipids have been carried out, endorsing physical interactions at colloidal and microstructural levels. The shared insights on such binary (starch-lipid) interactions revealed the evolution of characterization techniques as well as their role on altering the functional and nutritional value. It is very much vital to have a thorough understanding about the mechanisms on the molecular level to make use of these matrix interactions in the most efficient way, while certain basic questions are still remaining unaddressed. Do starch - lipid complexation affects the ultimate starch bioavailability? If so, then whether such complexation ability depends on amylose - fatty acid/lipid content? Whether the complexation is influenced further by fatty acid type/concentration/chain length or saturation? Further comprehending this, whether the altered bioavailability by binary (starch-lipid) could further be affected by ternary (starch-lipid-protein) and quaternary (starch-lipid-protein-phenolics) interactions are also discussed in this comprehensive review.

Diversity of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in marine fishes of Bangladesh

AIMS

To determine the occurrence, diversity, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from marine fishes in Bangladesh.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 80 marine fishes were obtained from the local markets and examined for the presence of V. parahaemolyticus. All the isolated V. parahaemolyticus were characterized for the presence of virulence markers, thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) or thermostable direct hemolysin related hemolysin (TRH). Isolates were serotyped and further characterized by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) typing to analyse the genetic diversity. Moreover, biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance patterns were also determined. About 63·75% (51/80) of the tested marine fishes were contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus. From the contaminated fishes, 71 representatives V. parahaemolyticus were isolated and none of them harboured tdh and trh virulence genes. Nine different O-groups and seven different K-types were found by serological analysis and the dominant serotype was O5:KUT. In ERIC-PCR analysis, eight clusters (A-H) were found and the most common pattern was A (46·5%). All of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and 78·9% of isolates were resistant to streptomycin. The highest biofilm formation was found at 37°C compared to 25°C and 4°C.

CONCLUSION

Diverse V. parahaemolyticus are present in marine fishes in the local market of Bangladesh with antibiotic-resistant properties and biofilm formation capacity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The widespread prevalence of diverse V. parahaemolyticus in marine fishes is an issue of serious concern, and it entails careful monitoring to ascertain the safety of seafood consumers.

Exploring the structure of Xe isotopes in A ~ 130 region: Single particle and collective excitations

High and medium spin structures of 130,131Xe have been studied using α-induced fusion-evaporation reaction and the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA) coupled with a digital data acquisition system. Various new band structures and near yrast levels of 131Xe have been established. The multipolarities of the observed transitions have been assigned on the basis of the DCO ratios and the polarization asymmetry measurements. Band structures based on 1-quasi-particle (qp), 3-qp configurations have been observed. A new Magnetic Rotational (MR) band based on 5-qp configuration has also been established in 131Xe. The MR band has been interpreted in terms of shears mechanism with principal axis cranking (SPAC) calculations. Shell Model calculations are carried out to describe the non yrast states of 131Xe above the 11/2− isomer. New excited states have also been identified in 130Xe, produced in the same reaction.

Cytokines and chemokines measured in dried SLA-stimulated whole blood spots for asymptomatic Leishmania infantum and Leishmania donovani infection

Whole blood stimulation with soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA), followed by plasma cytokine and chemokine determination, provides means of detecting subjects with asymptomatic Leishmania infection. This work examines the potential of Protein Saver 903 cards for the storage and transport of SLA-stimulated dried plasma spot samples. Blood was collected from asymptomatic and negative control subjects living in a Leishmania infantum- (Spain) and Leishmania donovani-endemic area (Bangladesh). After SLA-stimulation, three types of sample were prepared: frozen liquid plasma (-20 °C), and plasma dropped onto Protein Saver cards kept at -20 °C (DPS-FZ), and at ambient temperature (DPS-AT). The concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-2, CXCL10, CXCL9, CCL2 and CXCL8 in the thawed liquid plasma (TLP), DPS-FZ and DPS-AT samples were then determined. Strong correlations were seen between the TLP and DPS-FZ/AT samples for all the studied cytokines/chemokines in both the L. infantum and L. donovani areas. Protein Saver 903 cards would therefore appear to allow for the transport of SLA-stimulated plasma samples by courier at ambient temperature. The CXCL10 and CXCL9 detectable in these plasma spots provided robust markers for identifying asymptomatic subjects from both endemic areas. This easy procedure opens up new possibilities for field studies in resource-limited settings, which could help in Leishmania control.

Outcome of Pregnancy Related Acute Kidney Injury Observed in a Tertiary Care Hospital

This prospective case control study was carried out in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) from April 2011 to March 2012. The main objective of the study was to determine the short term maternal outcome of pregnancy related Acute Kidney Injury and to identify aetiological factors and to observe clinical features of pregnancy related Acute Kidney Injury. Total 60 pregnant women with AKI were included in the study as sample and equal (60) number of pregnant women with normal renal function was taken as control. Mean ages (±SD) of study and control group were observed 31.6±6.9 years and 25.5±4.7 years respectively. It was observed that most patients were from rural area with low income group. Most women were multiparous and presented in third trimester and postpartum period. Majority of the study subjects did not receive antenatal care at any stage of pregnancy. Fifty (86.7%) of the study subjects were oligo-anuric, forty-nine (81.7%) were edematous and fifty one (85%) were anaemic. Twenty-five (41.7%) patients presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Sepsis (including septic abortion and puerperal sepsis) was responsible for of Pregnancy Related AKI (PR-AKI) in more than two fifths of cases. Haemorrhage (APH & PPH combined) was the next common cause of Pregnancy Related AKI (PR-AKI). Toxemia of Pregnancy was responsible in one fourth of cases. Dialysis (HD & IPD combined) was required for two fifths of the patients. Rest patients were treated conservatively with antibiotics, blood transfusion, maintenance of fluid and electrolytes balance etc. Maternal outcome of Pregnancy related acute kidney injury was considered for the period of patient's hospital staying. 56.6% patients recovered completely, 15.0% patients recovered partially, 6.7% did not recover at the time of hospital discharge; while 21.7% died. So it can be concluded that, pregnancy related acute kidney injury is a critical condition, associated with worse prognosis.

Current Trends of Using Antimicrobials at Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital

This cross-sectional descriptive study was done to analyse the current trends of using antimicrobials in various surgical procedures at Obstetrics and Gynaecology department in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh from July 2014 to June 2015. Among 300 postoperative obstetrics and gynaecological surgery cases, samples were selected as non-random purposive selection method where pattern of using antimicrobials were analysed by SPSS method 20.1 versions. The incidence of antimicrobial resistance is on continued rise with a threat to return to the pre-antibiotic era. This has led to emergence of such bacterial infections which are essentially untreatable by the current armamentarium of available treatment options. Now-a-days variation of choosing antibiotic are quietly accepted in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department as prophylaxis purpose to control life threatening conditions such as postoperative wound infection, septicaemia, urinary tract infection etc. The data analysis revealed that among 300 obstetrical and gynaecological surgeries, Nitroimidazoles (93.33%), Cephalosporins (91%) and Aminoglycosides (59%) group were most commonly used antimicrobials in both obstetrics and gynaecological surgeries. Metronidazole (93.33%), Ceftriaxone (68.66%), Gentamicin (60.33%), Cefuroxime (48%), Flucloxacillin (42%), Cefixime (27%) were the most commonly used antimicrobials at obstetrics and gynaecology department. Combination of Ceftriaxone, Metronidazole and Gentamicin (37.66%), Ceftriaxone and Metronidazole (25.33%), Cefuroxime, Metronidazole and Gentamicin (16%), Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole and Gentamicin (5.33%) were most commonly used antimicrobials postoperatively. Total mean duration of antimicrobial therapy was 10.45 days. Antibiotics are useful in prevention of infection. But indiscriminately use of antibiotics without any guideline may lead to antimicrobial resistance. So, antimicrobial surveillance committee should be formed by hospital authority to know the local using pattern of antibiotics.

Fluoride enrichment in an alluvial aquifer with its subsequent effect on human health in Birbhum district, West Bengal, India

This research work primarily deals with the geochemistry and genesis of fluoride (F^-) in an alluvial aquifer with an emphasis on prevalence of dental and skeletal fluorosis among the endemic population. Hydrogeochemical outcomes reveal that chemical weathering and ion-exchange phenomena are the two dominant processes that make study area groundwater into NaHCO₃ water type. Presence of intercalated zeolite rich sediments (F_Total 412-446 mg/kg) having higher ion-exchange capacity (120-125 meq/100 g) within the aquifer is the source and mobilizing factors of F^- in groundwater respectively. Laboratory experiment further justifies higher desorption potential of aquifer sediments at the groundwater pH of 6.5-7.5. Health survey reveals that out of 235 studied population 60% suffer from dental fluorosis while females >30 years of age became exposed early to osteoporosis disease.