Optimizing control of flea beetles through ecological engineering of vegetable agroecosystem in Kashmir

Ecological engineering is a concept of habitat manipulation to reduce dependence on insecticides. It is the intentional involvement of plant communities and insectary plants in managed landscapes influencing natural enemies survival. These natural enemies lead to reduction in pest population in environmentally acceptable production practices. Field experiments were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to evaluate impact of ecological engineering on the flea beetles, P. striolata and A. himensis and their natural enemies on brinjal crop. Three treatments with different plant species were worked out for pest management study. Results showed that Treatment I caused maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (1.11/ 10 plants) which in turn brought maximum mean pest reduction. Treatment II caused second maximum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.92/ 10 plants). Treatment III caused minimum increase in mean number of natural enemies (0.68/ 10 plants). The diversity of predators was documented in different treatments. Simpson’s diversity index, Shannon-Weiner index and Evenness index were found higher in Treatment I followed by Treatment II and Treatment III. The maximum mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (250.52 %) with maximum mean % reduction of target pest (63.46 %) was observed in Treatment I. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (167.44 %) with mean % reduction of target pest (54.41 %) was observed in Treatment II. The mean % increase of natural enemies in main crop over control (20.97%) with mean % reduction of target pest (48.88%) was observed in Treatment III

Diethyl 5-acetamido-3-methyl­thio­phene-2,4-dicarboxyl­ate

The title compound, C13H17NO5S, is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms = 0.055 Å). Its conformation is stabilized by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which both generate S(6) rings. The crystal packing only features van der Waals contacts

Clinical profile and outcome of COVID positive obstetric patients in a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective study

Background: To study clinical profile, maternal and fetal outcome in COVID positive pregnancies.Methods: A retrospective observational study was done at Lalla ded hospital, Kashmir, a tertiary care centre. 70 COVID positive pregnant women who were admitted from May 2020 to January 2021 were included in the study.Results: The incidence of COVID positive patients in our study was 11.47%. 60% of patients in our study belonged to 26-30 years age group. 50% patients were primigravida, 20% were second gravid. Among the study population, 31 (44.3%) patients were term while 22 (31.4%) were preterm. Most patients were asymptomatic (61.4%). Among symptomatic patients, maximum had fever (17.1%) followed by cough (10%) and shortness of breath (4.3%). Associated comorbidity was seen in 33 patients (47.1%). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were seen in majority i.e. 15.7%, followed by anaemia (11.4%), GDM (8.5%) and hypothyroidism (7.1%). Out of total study population of 70, emergency cesarean delivery (LSCS) was done in 29 patients (41.5%). 21 patients delivered vaginally (30%). Two post-LSCS patients were shifted to designated COVID Intensive care unit (ICU). One patient from the study group died. There were total of 50 deliveries, 10 babies had Neonatal ICU admission (20%), Low birth weight in 9 (18%). Low APGAR score was in 6 (12%). There were 2 stillbirths in the study population.Conclusions: COVID presents as milder disease in pregnancy, but it may be severe in those with associated comorbidities. More studies on susceptibility of pregnant women to infection by COVID-19 are required

Interactions of Metal‐Based Engineered Nanoparticles with Plants: An Overview of the State of Current Knowledge, Research Progress, and Prospects

Nanotechnology is a potential technique for increasing agricultural output by producing nano-fertilizers, improving herbicide and pesticide efficacy, regulating soil fertility, managing wastewater, and detecting illnesses. It is also virtuous for industrial food processing since it boosts market value, improves nutritional and sensory properties, enhances safety, and boosts antibacterial protection. Moreover, nanotechnology may also assist farmers in reducing post-harvest losses by prolonging shelf life via the use of nanoparticles. Furthermore, nanoscience develops new ideas that lead to a better understanding of nanoparticles and their mechanisms of action in plants. Plants can grow and develop more effectively when the physiological-biochemical and molecular pathways involving nanoparticles in plants are understood. Scientists have developed a broad range of nanoparticles (NPs) such as Au, Ag, Pt, Fe, Cu, Cd, ZnO, and TiO2. At the same time, nanoscience gives us new ideas and diverts our intentions to attain some suitable mechanism mode for the functions of NPs in plants. The proper functionality of the physical, biological, and cellular mechanisms of NPs requires selected plant species to influence the variation in the different phases of plant growth and development. Although several reviews on engineered nanoparticles have been published in recent years, few have focused on their current applications, transport, interaction, and physio-chemical aspects of metal-based nanoparticles (MBNPs) and carbon-based nanoparticles (CBNPs) with crops. As a result, we evaluated the behaviors of (MBNPs) and (CBNPs) in agricultural systems, including absorption and translocation of MBNPs and CBNPs in crop plants, physiological and biochemical effects of MBNPs on plants, and factors influencing MBNPs and CBNPs\u27 interactions on plants. This review will help glow nanotechnology by promoting scientific study on MBNPs and metal oxides nanoparticles MONPs and understanding the risks and advantages of their association with plants. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Association of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) Thickness with Smoking Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in Pakistani Population

Background: Smoking has multisystem effects on human body due to hypoxia and systemic inflammation, which it produces. This contributory effect is observed in ocular tissues as well. The aim of the study was to evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy individuals with a history of smoking, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Patients healthy eyes n=300 were examined. Two groups were made; Group A with history of smoking (n=50) and Group B with no history of smoking (n=250). Subjects with a history of diabetes, hypertension, raised intra ocular pressure (IOP >21 mmHg), any neurological disease or family history of glaucoma were excluded from the study. Independent t-test was used to assess the thickness variation with smoking status. ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in both groups. p value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was found to be 96.44 ± 9.32 μm in Group A eyes. It was found to be significantly increased (p=0.02) in Group B 99.54 ± 9.32 μm. The mean RNFL thickness 93.52 ± 8.60 μm in smokers with history of more than 10 years was found decreased compared to the thickness 98.66 ± 3.96 μm in those with history of smoking less than 10 years. Conclusion: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) was found to be decreased in subjects with positive history of smoking. This difference signifies that smoking is associated with ocular pathologies. Future protocols may be included in screening for RNFL thickness in smokers for early detection and prevention of optical diseases. Keywords: Smoking; Retina; Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL); Retinal Damage; Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

Harnessing Soil Potential: Innovation in Strategic Tillage and Management - New Perspectives

The sustainability of the environment and the productivity of agriculture are both critically dependent on soil. Maximizing agricultural yields while reducing agriculture’s negative environmental effects is becoming more and more important as the world’s population continues to expand. Innovating tillage and management techniques to harness the potential of the soil is a topic that is explored in this chapter. The first section of the chapter describes the difficulties that contemporary agriculture faces, such as soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and water shortages. The part new technology has played in managing soil. Making educated management decisions is made easier by using precision agricultural technology like soil sensors, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS). These technologies provide useful insights into soil variability. It emphasizes how crucial it is to implement sustainable soil management techniques in order to guarantee long-term agricultural output and ecological harmony. The chapter’s conclusion emphasizes the need of maximizing soil potential through creative methods of tactical tillage and management. Agricultural systems may raise crop yield, lessen their environmental effect, and become more resilient to climate change by using sustainable soil practises, assuring a more sustainable and food-secure future

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Future trends in disease burden and drivers of health are of great interest to policy makers and the public at large. This information can be used for policy and long-term health investment, planning, and prioritisation. We have expanded and improved upon previous forecasts produced as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) and provide a reference forecast (the most likely future), and alternative scenarios assessing disease burden trajectories if selected sets of risk factors were eliminated from current levels by 2050. Methods: Using forecasts of major drivers of health such as the Socio-demographic Index (SDI; a composite measure of lag-distributed income per capita, mean years of education, and total fertility under 25 years of age) and the full set of risk factor exposures captured by GBD, we provide cause-specific forecasts of mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) by age and sex from 2022 to 2050 for 204 countries and territories, 21 GBD regions, seven super-regions, and the world. All analyses were done at the cause-specific level so that only risk factors deemed causal by the GBD comparative risk assessment influenced future trajectories of mortality for each disease. Cause-specific mortality was modelled using mixed-effects models with SDI and time as the main covariates, and the combined impact of causal risk factors as an offset in the model. At the all-cause mortality level, we captured unexplained variation by modelling residuals with an autoregressive integrated moving average model with drift attenuation. These all-cause forecasts constrained the cause-specific forecasts at successively deeper levels of the GBD cause hierarchy using cascading mortality models, thus ensuring a robust estimate of cause-specific mortality. For non-fatal measures (eg, low back pain), incidence and prevalence were forecasted from mixed-effects models with SDI as the main covariate, and YLDs were computed from the resulting prevalence forecasts and average disability weights from GBD. Alternative future scenarios were constructed by replacing appropriate reference trajectories for risk factors with hypothetical trajectories of gradual elimination of risk factor exposure from current levels to 2050. The scenarios were constructed from various sets of risk factors: environmental risks (Safer Environment scenario), risks associated with communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs; Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination scenario), risks associated with major non-communicable diseases (NCDs; Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario), and the combined effects of these three scenarios. Using the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways climate scenarios SSP2-4.5 as reference and SSP1-1.9 as an optimistic alternative in the Safer Environment scenario, we accounted for climate change impact on health by using the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change temperature forecasts and published trajectories of ambient air pollution for the same two scenarios. Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy were computed using standard methods. The forecasting framework includes computing the age-sex-specific future population for each location and separately for each scenario. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for each individual future estimate were derived from the 2·5th and 97·5th percentiles of distributions generated from propagating 500 draws through the multistage computational pipeline. Findings: In the reference scenario forecast, global and super-regional life expectancy increased from 2022 to 2050, but improvement was at a slower pace than in the three decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (beginning in 2020). Gains in future life expectancy were forecasted to be greatest in super-regions with comparatively low life expectancies (such as sub-Saharan Africa) compared with super-regions with higher life expectancies (such as the high-income super-region), leading to a trend towards convergence in life expectancy across locations between now and 2050. At the super-region level, forecasted healthy life expectancy patterns were similar to those of life expectancies. Forecasts for the reference scenario found that health will improve in the coming decades, with all-cause age-standardised DALY rates decreasing in every GBD super-region. The total DALY burden measured in counts, however, will increase in every super-region, largely a function of population ageing and growth. We also forecasted that both DALY counts and age-standardised DALY rates will continue to shift from CMNNs to NCDs, with the most pronounced shifts occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (60·1% [95% UI 56·8–63·1] of DALYs were from CMNNs in 2022 compared with 35·8% [31·0–45·0] in 2050) and south Asia (31·7% [29·2–34·1] to 15·5% [13·7–17·5]). This shift is reflected in the leading global causes of DALYs, with the top four causes in 2050 being ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared with 2022, with ischaemic heart disease, neonatal disorders, stroke, and lower respiratory infections at the top. The global proportion of DALYs due to YLDs likewise increased from 33·8% (27·4–40·3) to 41·1% (33·9–48·1) from 2022 to 2050, demonstrating an important shift in overall disease burden towards morbidity and away from premature death. The largest shift of this kind was forecasted for sub-Saharan Africa, from 20·1% (15·6–25·3) of DALYs due to YLDs in 2022 to 35·6% (26·5–43·0) in 2050. In the assessment of alternative future scenarios, the combined effects of the scenarios (Safer Environment, Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination, and Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenarios) demonstrated an important decrease in the global burden of DALYs in 2050 of 15·4% (13·5–17·5) compared with the reference scenario, with decreases across super-regions ranging from 10·4% (9·7–11·3) in the high-income super-region to 23·9% (20·7–27·3) in north Africa and the Middle East. The Safer Environment scenario had its largest decrease in sub-Saharan Africa (5·2% [3·5–6·8]), the Improved Behavioural and Metabolic Risks scenario in north Africa and the Middle East (23·2% [20·2–26·5]), and the Improved Nutrition and Vaccination scenario in sub-Saharan Africa (2·0% [–0·6 to 3·6]). Interpretation: Globally, life expectancy and age-standardised disease burden were forecasted to improve between 2022 and 2050, with the majority of the burden continuing to shift from CMNNs to NCDs. That said, continued progress on reducing the CMNN disease burden will be dependent on maintaining investment in and policy emphasis on CMNN disease prevention and treatment. Mostly due to growth and ageing of populations, the number of deaths and DALYs due to all causes combined will generally increase. By constructing alternative future scenarios wherein certain risk exposures are eliminated by 2050, we have shown that opportunities exist to substantially improve health outcomes in the future through concerted efforts to prevent exposure to well established risk factors and to expand access to key health interventions

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions