Forensic Analysis in Wildlife Crime Cases: Microscopy, DNA Profiling and Isotope Analysis

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to the environment and biodiversity. The growing volume of illegal trade in wildlife jeopardizes all the conservation efforts across the globe. Many species have become extinct due to the illegal wildlife trade and many have reached the verge of extinction. According to some estimates, the monetary values of the illegal wildlife trade are estimated to be several billion US dollars. To deal with wildlife crime cases, it becomes imperative to have a sound knowledge of the techniques required in the analysis of wildlife crime exhibits. In this chapter, we have outlined the three frequently used techniques in wildlife forensics viz. microscopy, DNA and isotope analysis for addressing the problems of species and individual identification, and additionally identification of the geographical origin of a wildlife sample. The basic essentials of these techniques have been discussed in this chapter

A randomized double-blind study to evaluate asurgeon-based technique to reduce post-operative pain in minimal gynecological surgery

Background: The study aims to evaluate whether instillation of levo-bupivacaine intraperitoneally decreases post-operative pain after laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries, using VAS pain Scale. Methods: Randomized placebo controlled double blinded study conducted at tertiary care hospital in New Delhi. 90 ASA I & II women scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries. 20 ml 0.5% levo-bupivacaine diluted with 40ml normal saline (total 60ml) intraperitoneally at the end of surgery before closure of ports along with port site infiltration of levo-bupivacaine (3-5 ml) in intervention group and 60 ml normal saline intraperitoneally in control group. Results: Mean pain scores were significantly lower (p<0.01) in the intervention group when compared to the control group for initial 4 hours of the study after that mean pain score was lower in intervention group than control group but it was statistically not significant. The requirement of rescue analgesia was also significantly lesser in intervention group compared to control group. Conclusions: Levo-bupivacaine is an easy, cheap and non-invasive method which provides good analgesia in the immediate postoperative period after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, without adverse effects, especially in the early postoperative period. This improves patients experience and should be made an integral part of all minimal gynaecological endoscopic surgery

Awareness of cord blood collection and the impact on banking

BackgroundUmbilical cord blood (UCB) is an important source of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation especially in minority populations with limited chances of finding a histocompatible volunteer donor in the registry. UCB has the advantages of early availability, successful outcomes despite some histocompatibility mismatch, and low incidence of chronic graftâ versusâ host disease. Public cord blood banks that disseminate UCB products for transplant depend on voluntary donation at participating hospitals and obstetrical providers for collection.ProcedureUsing survey questionnaires, we evaluated attitudes toward UCB donation, the frequency of donation, and provider opinions on UCB collection in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area that caters to minority ethnicities in significant numbers.ResultsOur data suggest that nervousness and lack of information regarding the donation and utility of the product were ubiquitous reasons for not donating. Additionally, irrespective of age or level of education, women relied on healthcare providers for information regarding UCB donation. Providers reported primarily time constraints to discussing UCB donation at prenatal visits (54%). Of the interviewees, 62% donated UCB. Fallout due to refusal or preferring private banking was miniscule.ConclusionsThese results suggest that dedicated personnel focused on disseminating information, obtaining consent, and collecting the UCB product at major hospitals can enrich cord blood banks especially with minority cords. Sustained and focused efforts could improve upon a relatively high wastage rate and ensure a robust supply of UCB products at local public banks.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137506/1/pbc26412_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137506/2/pbc26412.pd

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication

Global, regional, and national progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 for neonatal and child health: all-cause and cause-specific mortality findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 has targeted elimination of preventable child mortality, reduction of neonatal death to less than 12 per 1000 livebirths, and reduction of death of children younger than 5 years to less than 25 per 1000 livebirths, for each country by 2030. To understand current rates, recent trends, and potential trajectories of child mortality for the next decade, we present the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 findings for all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in children younger than 5 years of age, with multiple scenarios for child mortality in 2030 that include the consideration of potential effects of COVID-19, and a novel framework for quantifying optimal child survival. Methods We completed all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality analyses from 204 countries and territories for detailed age groups separately, with aggregated mortality probabilities per 1000 livebirths computed for neonatal mortality rate (NMR) and under-5 mortality rate (USMR). Scenarios for 2030 represent different potential trajectories, notably including potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of improvements preferentially targeting neonatal survival. Optimal child survival metrics were developed by age, sex, and cause of death across all GBD location-years. The first metric is a global optimum and is based on the lowest observed mortality, and the second is a survival potential frontier that is based on stochastic frontier analysis of observed mortality and Healthcare Access and Quality Index. Findings Global U5MR decreased from 71.2 deaths per 1000 livebirths (95% uncertainty interval WI] 68.3-74-0) in 2000 to 37.1 (33.2-41.7) in 2019 while global NMR correspondingly declined more slowly from 28.0 deaths per 1000 live births (26.8-29-5) in 2000 to 17.9 (16.3-19-8) in 2019. In 2019,136 (67%) of 204 countries had a USMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold and 133 (65%) had an NMR at or below the SDG 3.2 threshold, and the reference scenario suggests that by 2030,154 (75%) of all countries could meet the U5MR targets, and 139 (68%) could meet the NMR targets. Deaths of children younger than 5 years totalled 9.65 million (95% UI 9.05-10.30) in 2000 and 5.05 million (4.27-6.02) in 2019, with the neonatal fraction of these deaths increasing from 39% (3.76 million 95% UI 3.53-4.021) in 2000 to 48% (2.42 million; 2.06-2.86) in 2019. NMR and U5MR were generally higher in males than in females, although there was no statistically significant difference at the global level. Neonatal disorders remained the leading cause of death in children younger than 5 years in 2019, followed by lower respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, congenital birth defects, and malaria. The global optimum analysis suggests NMR could be reduced to as low as 0.80 (95% UI 0.71-0.86) deaths per 1000 livebirths and U5MR to 1.44 (95% UI 1-27-1.58) deaths per 1000 livebirths, and in 2019, there were as many as 1.87 million (95% UI 1-35-2.58; 37% 95% UI 32-43]) of 5.05 million more deaths of children younger than 5 years than the survival potential frontier. Interpretation Global child mortality declined by almost half between 2000 and 2019, but progress remains slower in neonates and 65 (32%) of 204 countries, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, are not on track to meet either SDG 3.2 target by 2030. Focused improvements in perinatal and newborn care, continued and expanded delivery of essential interventions such as vaccination and infection prevention, an enhanced focus on equity, continued focus on poverty reduction and education, and investment in strengthening health systems across the development spectrum have the potential to substantially improve USMR. Given the widespread effects of COVID-19, considerable effort will be required to maintain and accelerate progress. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

<span style="font-size: 22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Crystallization kinetics of Fe_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">78</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">B₁_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">3</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Si_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">9</span>}<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> <span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">metallic glass before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation </span></span></span></span></span>

198-205<span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Crystallization kinetics or virgin and irradiated (at three different fluences with high energy heavy ion; Ni11 <span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 5.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">+ <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">or (150 MeV ) specimens of <span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"="">Fe78<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:="" bold"="">B1<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"="">3Si<span style="font-size:16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:="" bold"="">9 <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">glass has been studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) under non-isothermal condition. Only one set or geometry has been used for irradiation at different fluences. It has been found that, the crystallization process is completed in two phases. The DSC data have been analyzed in terms or kinetic parameter, viz. <span style="font-size: 15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">activation energy <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">(Ec), Avrami exponent <span style="font-size:14.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:7.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(n), dimensionality or growth <span style="font-size:13.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:6.5pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">(m ) <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and frequency factor (K0) <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">using two different theoretical models. The lower activation energy in case or second crystallization occurring at higher temperature indicates the <span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 6.0pt;font-family:HiddenHorzOCR;mso-hansi-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:hiddenhorzocr"="">easier <span style="font-size:15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">nucleation of second phase, which is termed Fe<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">2B bet phase. The abnormally high value of Avrami exponent <span style="font-size:15.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">indicates very high nucleation rate during second crystallization.</span

Growth and characterization of transparent conducting nanostructured zinc indium oxide thin films

Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films have been widely used in various applications, such as for transparent electrodes in flat-panel displays, and in solar cells, optoelectronic devices, touch panels and IR reflectors. Among these, tin doped zinc oxide (ZTO) and indium doped zinc oxide (ZIO) have attracted considerable attention. Particularly, IZO thin film is the best candidate for high-quality transparent conducting electrodes in OLEDs and flexible displays. In this work zinc indium oxide (ZIO) thin films were deposited on glass substrate with varying concentration (ZnO:In2O3 — 100:0, 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50 wt.%) at room temperature by flash evaporation technique. These deposited ZIO films were annealed in vacuum to study the thermal stability and to see the effects on the physical properties. The XRF spectra revealed the presence of zinc and indium with varying concentration in ZIO thin films, while the surface composition and oxidation state were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The core level spectra were deconvoluted to see the effect of chemical changes, while the valance band spectra manifest the electronic transitions. The surface morphology studies of the films using atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the formation of nanostructured ZIO thin films. The optical band gap was also found to be decreased for both types of films with increasing concentration of In2O3

<span style="font-size: 22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Crystallization kinetics of Ni_x Ti_{<span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">100-</span>}_{<span style="font-size:22.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">x</span>}<span style="font-size:22.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:15.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> (x=35,40) glasses before and after high energy heavy ion irradiation </span></span>

457-461<span style="font-size: 17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Non-isothermal crystallization process in amorphous alloys Ni35Ti65 <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">and Ni<span style="font-size:13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:6.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">40Ti60 before and after high-energy heavy ion irradiation with 150 MeV Ni+11 <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">ions have been investgated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alloys have been irradiated with fluences varying between 1 ×1011<span style="font-size:12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""=""> and 1 × 10<span style="font-size:12.5pt;mso-bidi-font-size:5.5pt; font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">13 <span style="font-size:17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">ions/ cm-2. <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif""="">DSC traces have been analyzed in terms of activation energy for crystallization, Avrami exponent dimensionality of growth by using four different models viz. Kissinger equation [J Res NBS, 57 (1956) 2 17], Ozawa equation [Bull Chem Soc Jpn , 35 (1956) 881], Matusita equation [J <span style="font-size:17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Mater Sci, 19 (1986) 291] and Gao and Wang equation <span style="font-size:17.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" arial","sans-serif""="">[J <span style="font-size:17.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.5pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">Non-Cryst Solids, <span style="font-size:17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">87 (1980) 129]. No effect of heavy ion irradiation <span style="font-size: 17.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman","serif""="">of above mentioned energy, on the crystallization kinetics has been found. </span

Study of post annealing influence on structural, chemical and electrical properties of ZTO thin films

Zinc–Tin-Oxide (ZTO) thin films were deposited on glass substrate with varying concentrations (ZnO:SnO2; 100:0, 90:10, 70:30 and 50:50 wt.%) at room temperature by flash evaporation technique. These deposited ZTO films were annealed at 450 °C in vacuum. These films were characterized to study the effect of annealing and addition of SnO2 concentration on the structural, chemical and electrical properties. The XRD analysis indicates that crystallization of the ZTO films strongly depends on the concentration of SnO2 and post annealing where annealed films showed polycrystalline nature. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images manifest the surface morphology of these ZTO thin films. The XPS core level spectra of Zn(2p), O(1s) and Sn(3d) have been deconvoluted into their Gaussian component to evaluate the chemical changes, while valence band spectra reveal the electronic structures of these films. A small shift in Zn(2p) and Sn(3d) core level towards higher binding energy and O(1s) core level towards lower binding energy have been observed. The minimum electrical resistivity (ρ ≈ 3.69 × 10−2 Ω-cm), maximum carrier concentration (n ≈ 3.26 × 1019 cm−3) and Hall mobility (μ ≈ 5.2 cm2 v−1 s−1) were obtained for as-prepared ZTO (50:50) film thereafter move towards lowest resistivity (ρ ≈ 1.12 × 10−3 Ω-cm), highest carrier concentration (n ≈ 2.96 × 1020 cm−3) and mobility (μ ≈ 18.8 cm2 v−1 s−1) for annealed ZTO (50:50) thin film