Life-Threatening Clostridial Sepsis in a Postmenopausal Patient with Degenerating Uterine Leiomyoma

Clostridium perfringens is a fulminant infection that affects patients with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Fortunately, C. perfringens-associated sepsis and death in the gynecologic patient is rarely encountered. We report a case of intrauterine C. perfringens presenting as life-threatening sepsis in a postmenopausal patient

Impact of Online Communities on Civic Engagement: An Inclusivity Assessment Using the Civic Engagement Test

With a mean age of 32.4 years and a balanced gender distribution (55% male, 45% female), we present findings based on a diverse participant sample in this data-intensive study evaluating the "Impact of Online Communities on Civic Engagement: An Inclusivity Assessment Using the Civic Engagement Test," demonstrating the inclusivity of these digital spaces. In online communities, users demonstrated active participation, with an average of 45 posts, 60 likes, and 18 comments. Furthermore, a solid grasp of civic concerns was demonstrated by the civic engagement test results (average score of 82), with 40% exhibiting advanced civic knowledge. The results of inclusiveness evaluations showed that various kinds of communities exhibited variable degrees of inclusivity, highlighting the significance of community design in fostering diversity. These observations highlight the transformational power of online networks in promoting knowledgeable civic involvement and stress the significance of inclusion for the advancement of digital civic engagement

Clinical trials and progress with paclitaxel in ovarian cancer

Paclitaxel is a front-line agent for ovarian cancer chemotherapy, along with the platinum agents. Derived from the Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, paclitaxel has covered significant ground from the initial discovery of its antineoplastic properties to clinical applications in many forms of human cancers, including ovarian cancer. Although much has been published about the unique mechanism of action of this agent, several issues remain to be resolved. Finding the appropriate dosage schedule for paclitaxel in chemo-naïve and recurrent ovarian cancer, defining the role of paclitaxel in maintenance chemotherapy, and elucidating the mechanisms of taxane resistance are areas of intense research. Newer forms of taxanes are being manufactured to avoid troublesome adverse effects and to improve clinical efficacy. These issues are reviewed in detail in this paper with an emphasis on clinically relevant evidence-based information

Analysing Urban Social Networks for Civic Participation: Data-Intensive Insights from the Civic Participation Test

This research delves into the dynamics of civic engagement in urban settings. The sample of participants was broad, with ages ranging from 22 to 40 years, nearly equal gender distribution (52% female, 48% male), and a range of educational backgrounds, including postgraduates (35%), bachelor's degree holders (40%), and high school graduates (25%). Numerous chances for participation exist in urban environments, as seen by our examination of data on civic activities. These include voter registration campaigns, town hall meetings, and community clean-up initiatives. In addition, members' responsibilities in these activities varied: 35% attended events, 15% made financial contributions, and 45% actively volunteered. Our results highlight the significance of social networks in urban civic engagement by showing that individuals with a wide range of social connections were more likely to participate in civic activities. The study's findings highlight the complex nature of civic participation in cities and have applications for encouraging diversity and community building in urban environments

An internet of things enabled framework to monitor the lifecycle of Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms

Cordyceps sinensis is an edible mushroom found in high quantities in the regions of the Himalayas and widely considered in traditional systems of medicine. It is a non-toxic remedy mushroom and has a high measure of clinical medical benefits including cancer restraint, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, depression, fatigue, immune disorder, and many infections of the upper respiratory tract. The cultivation of this kind of mushroom is limited to the region of the Sikkim and to cultivate in the other regions of the country, they are need of investigation and prediction of cordyceps sinensis mushroom lifecycle. From the studies, it is concluded that the precision-based agriculture techniques are limitedly explored for the prediction and growth of Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms. In this study, an internet of things (IoT) inspired framework is proposed to predict the lifecycle of Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms and also provide alternate substrate to cultivate Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms in other parts of the country. As a part of lifecycle prediction, a framework is proposed in this study. According to the findings, an IoT sensor-based system with the ideal moisture level of the mushroom rack is required for the growth of Cordyceps sinensis mushrooms

Public Displays in Smart Cities: A User Interaction and Content Impact Analysis with the Public Display Interaction Test

An examination of the data in this extensive research on "Public Displays in Smart Cities" showed that the participant demography was varied, with differing educational backgrounds and city homes. A variety of display kinds and screen sizes, including interactive touch screens and digital billboards up to 120 inches in size, were found in the public display sites that were examined. The statistics on user involvement revealed a range of engagement ratings, with a mean rating of 3.8, and interaction times, with an average of 16 minutes. The content impact research showed that while "Ads" had a lower click-through rate of 2.2%, content kinds including "Weather" and "Local Events" had high rates of 5% and 4%, respectively. These results highlight the dynamic character of public displays in smart cities, highlighting the need of customized content strategies and the possibility to maximize user interaction and information sharing

Optimization of Multi-Energy Systems for Efficient Power-to-X Conversion

This paper reviews the work in the areas of optimization and efficiency enhancement of multi-energy systems (MES) for power-to-X conversion. The first study delves into the deployment of Power-to-Hydrogen (PtH2) within district-scale MES, emphasizing the role of PtH2 in achieving zero operational CO2 emissions, especially in systems with high renewable energy generation. The study also highlights the significance of heat pump efficiency, battery capital cost, and lifetime in influencing PtH2 implementation. The second investigation focuses on the integration of energy strategies for the transport and building sectors. It introduces a multi-objective optimization model that considers both sectors, aiming to minimize costs and life-cycle emissions. The findings suggest a potential transition from internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles and a shift from gas boilers to heat pumps, leading to substantial emission reductions by 2050. Lastly, the third research explores the potential of power-to-gas (P2G) technology in enhancing the integration of renewable energy. By coordinating P2G with CO2-based electrothermal energy storage (ETES), the study demonstrates a significant improvement in the recovery efficiency of surplus wind power. Collectively, these studies underscore the importance of optimizing MES for sustainable and efficient energy conversion

Automated Smart Crop Protection Utilising IoT: A Comprehensive Review

In the modern agricultural landscape, the surge in demand for organic farming accentuates the imperative of continuous plant health monitoring. This becomes even more paramount when ensuring both the quality and quantity of produce. Crop devastation by wild and domestic animals, coupled with the challenge of maintaining optimal soil conditions, necessitates innovative solutions, particularly in settings where round-the clock human surveillance is not viable. This review delves into an advanced, automated crop protection system, amalgamating the prowess of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) to address these multifaceted issues. The objective of the highlighted research is to craft a remote system capable of ceaseless soil moisture assessment, thereby optimizing plant health and yield. Enhancing the efficiency and longevity of this system, the Exponential Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) event detection algorithm has been incorporated. Furthermore, the system safeguards agricultural territories from intruders and wild animal threats, offering farmers a robust mechanism to prevent substantial financial losses and ensuring they yield healthier, abundant crops

The antiretroviral efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy and plasma nevirapine concentrations in HIV-TB co-infected Indian patients receiving rifampicin based antituberculosis treatment

Abstract Background Rifampicin reduces the plasma concentrations of nevirapine in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infected patients, who are administered these drugs concomitantly. We conducted a prospective interventional study to assess the efficacy of nevirapine-containing highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) when co-administered with rifampicin-containing antituberculosis treatment (ATT) and also measured plasma nevirapine concentrations in patients receiving such a nevirapine-containing HAART regimen. Methods 63 cases included antiretroviral treatment naïve HIV-TB co-infected patients with CD4 counts less than 200 cells/mm3 started on rifampicin-containing ATT followed by nevirapine-containing HAART. In control group we included 51 HIV patients without tuberculosis and on nevirapine-containing HAART. They were assessed for clinical and immunological response at the end of 24 and 48 weeks. Plasma nevirapine concentrations were measured at days 14, 28, 42 and 180 of starting HAART. Results 97 out of 114 (85.1%) patients were alive at the end of 48 weeks. The CD4 cell count showed a mean increase of 108 vs.113 cells/mm3 (p=0.83) at 24 weeks of HAART in cases and controls respectively. Overall, 58.73% patients in cases had viral loads of less than 400 copies/ml at the end of 48 weeks. The mean (± SD) Nevirapine concentrations of cases and control at 14, 28, 42 and 180 days were 2.19 ± 1.49 vs. 3.27 ± 4.95 (p = 0.10), 2.78 ± 1.60 vs. 3.67 ± 3.59 (p = 0.08), 3.06 ± 3.32 vs. 4.04 ± 2.55 (p = 0.10) respectively and 3.04 μg/ml (in cases). Conclusions Good immunological and clinical response can be obtained in HIV-TB co-infected patients receiving rifampicin and nevirapine concomitantly despite somewhat lower nevirapine trough concentrations. This suggests that rifampicin-containing ATT may be co administered in resource limited setting with nevirapine-containing HAART regimen without substantial reduction in antiretroviral effectiveness. Larger sample sized studies and longer follow-up are required to identify populations of individuals where the reduction in nevirapine concentration may result in lower ART response or shorter response duration

Sulforaphane induces cell cycle arrest by protecting RB-E2F-1 complex in epithelial ovarian cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate phytochemical present predominantly in cruciferous vegetables such as brussels sprout and broccoli, is considered a promising chemo-preventive agent against cancer. In-vitro exposure to SFN appears to result in the induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in a variety of tumor types. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to the inhibition of cell cycle progression by SFN are poorly understood in epithelial ovarian cancer cells (EOC). The aim of this study is to understand the signaling mechanisms through which SFN influences the cell growth and proliferation in EOC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SFN at concentrations of 5 - 20 μM induced a dose-dependent suppression of growth in cell lines MDAH 2774 and SkOV-3 with an IC50 of ~8 μM after a 3 day exposure. Combination treatment with chemotherapeutic agent, paclitaxel, resulted in additive growth suppression. SFN at ~8 μM decreased growth by 40% and 20% on day 1 in MDAH 2774 and SkOV-3, respectively. Cells treated with cytotoxic concentrations of SFN have reduced cell migration and increased apoptotic cell death via an increase in Bak/Bcl-2 ratio and cleavage of procaspase-9 and poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP). Gene expression profile analysis of cell cycle regulated proteins demonstrated increased levels of tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB) and decreased levels of E2F-1 transcription factor. SFN treatment resulted in G1 cell cycle arrest through down modulation of RB phosphorylation and by protecting the RB-E2F-1 complex.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SFN induces growth arrest and apoptosis in EOC cells. Inhibition of retinoblastoma (RB) phosphorylation and reduction in levels of free E2F-1 appear to play an important role in EOC growth arrest.</p