Mining International Political Norms from the GDELT Database

Researchers have long been interested in the role that norms can play in governing agent actions in multi-agent systems. Much work has been done on formalising normative concepts from human society and adapting them for the government of open software systems, and on the simulation of normative processes in human and artificial societies. However, there has been comparatively little work on applying normative MAS mechanisms to understanding the norms in human society. This work investigates this issue in the context of international politics. Using the GDELT dataset, containing machine-encoded records of international events extracted from news reports, we extracted bilateral sequences of inter-country events and applied a Bayesian norm mining mechanism to identify norms that best explained the observed behaviour. A statistical evaluation showed that the normative model fitted the data significantly better than a probabilistic discrete event model.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, pre-print for International Workshop on Coordination, Organizations, Institutions, Norms and Ethics for Governance of Multi-Agent Systems (COINE), co-located with AAMAS 202

Patterns of urban foraging in Bengaluru city

Urban foraging is widely prevalent globally, and can provide foragers benefits like additional income and nutritional supplements. However, urban foraging is largely understudied and we have little information on types of species foraged, patterns of foraging, socio-economic profile of foragers, and impact of urbanization on foraging. In this study, we aimed to identify patterns of urban foraging in one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Bengaluru in India. Our specific objectives were to identify a) the foragers b) species foraged and foraging sites c) impact of urbanization on foraging and d) the barriers to foraging. We collected our information through semi-structured interviews with residents from four sites selected across a gradient of urbanization. Sixteen per cent of the respondents reported that they foraged, most of who were women (97%) belonging to socially (90%) and economically (81%) disadvantaged groups. Seventy-six species were foraged across the four sites for food (76%), medicine (26%), and cultural practices (18%). Foraging occurred in unused land (32%), parks (32%), farmlands (12%), native villages (12%), nearby woodlands (9%) and home gardens (3%). We found significant differences in foragers along a gradient of urbanization (chi square = 34.56, p = 1.5 × 10-7, df = 3) with most foragers at the least urbanized site (40% of the respondents) and least foragers at the most urbanized site (2% of the respondents). Lack of knowledge of foraged species (66%) and lack of access (55%) were the biggest barriers to foraging. Our study demonstrates that foraging occurs in a metropolis like Bengaluru with foragers generally belonging to lower socio-economic backgrounds, who are most vulnerable to changes due to urbanization. Redesigning urban environments to create green spaces for forgeable species to flourish, that are made accessible to marginalized communities, is essential for their nutritional and cultural well-being

Nanotechnology Synergised Immunoengineering for Cancer

Novel strategies modulating the immune system yielded enhanced anticancer responses and improved cancer survival. Nevertheless, the success rate of immunotherapy in cancer treatment has been below expectation(s) due to unpredictable efficacy and off-target effects from systemic dosing of immunotherapeutic. As a result, there is an unmet clinical need for improving conventional immunotherapy. Nanotechnology offers several new strategies, multimodality, and multiplex biological targeting advantage to overcome many of these challenges. These efforts enable programming the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, delivery of immunomodulatory agents/co-delivery of compounds to prime at the tumor sites for improved therapeutic benefits. This review provides an overview of the design and clinical principles of biomaterials driven nanotechnology and their potential use in personalized nanomedicines, vaccines, localized tumor modulation, and delivery strategies for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we also summarize the latest highlights and recent advances in combinatorial therapies avail in the treatment of cold and complicated tumors. It also presents key steps and parameters implemented for clinical success. Finally, we analyse, discuss, and provide clinical perspectives on the integrated opportunities of nanotechnology and immunology to achieve synergistic and durable responses in cancer treatment

Molecular surveillance of Dengue Virus (DENV) and its co-infection with Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) among febrile patients: A comparative study from South Delhi, India

Dengue and Chikungunya are two major arboviral infections transmitted worldwide by the mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. India suffers enormously with both Dengue and Chikungunya as they pose a great public health challenge. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence of Dengue Virus (DENV), Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) and DENV/CHIKV co-infection (by Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)/Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), their clinical features, DENV serotypes and CHIKV specific Immunoglobulin G (IgG) within a 7 years gap in the Delhi population. The study sample included clinically suspected febrile patients (?7 days) sera collected during 2017-2018 (n=87) and during 2008-2010 (n=623) from Delhi. Captured ELISA was performed for CHIKV IgG screening and nested PCR was done for DENV serotyping. The percentage prevalence for DENV was significantly higher than CHIKV with 41.38% (n=87) and 16.1% (n=87), respectively; interestingly, DENV/CHIKV co-infection was detected in 10.34% (n=9/87) cases during 2017-2018. Similarly, a high DENV prevalence was observed during 2008-2010 with the prevalence rate of 38.3% (69/180),  34.65% (35/101) and 47.07% (161/342), respectively. DENV 1 and DENV 3 were dominant serotype during 2008-2010 and 2017-2018 respectively. We have noticed a high prevalence (36.67%, 22/60) of the CHIKV IgG antibody in the 2017-2018 samples. Joint pain was more preferential to CHIKV mono-infection and DENV/CHIKV co-infection compared to DENV mono-infection. The present study highlights the need for active surveillance simultaneously for both DENV and CHIKV and to evaluate the role of CHIKV/DENV co-infections in disease severity in the endemic regions.

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Chasing Soppu

Bas saaru and massoppu- These curries made of mixed greens, are staples in homes of Bengaluru residents. But these greens are not always bought in the market. They are also gathered from sidewalks, little strips of soil beside the road, from drains, and around lakes. The act of gathering such edible plant species from private or public spaces in the city is called urban foraging, and it is a common practice across the globe. In Bengaluru, it is mainly middle-aged or older women from low-income backgrounds who forage. These women are vital knowledge holders and experts on the local wild plants around them. They know what parts of the plants are used for food, medicine, or cultural uses, and which is the best season to forage. They also have delicious recipes, of curries, chutneys, pickles that have been passed down through the generations. Sadly, as the city has developed and urbanised these foragers are losing access to the spaces where these greens were found. Yet, so many people still forage for wild plants across the city. It is a dying art, one which needs to be repopularised. Chasing Soppu is a guide to wild edible plants of Bengaluru. In this book we provide an introduction to 53 forageable species in the city. For each, we provide a guide for identification. We also share a collection of local recipes, shared by women foragers we spoke to, which can be used to cook these plants. In addition, we share some home remedies as well

Chloroquine Protects Human Corneal Epithelial Cells from Desiccation Stress Induced Inflammation without Altering the Autophagy Flux

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial ocular surface disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Inflammation has been associated with dry eye and anti-inflammatory drugs are now being targeted as the alternate therapeutic approach for dry eye condition. In this study, we have explored the anti-inflammatory and autophagy modulating effect of chloroquine (CQ) in human corneal epithelial and human corneal fibroblasts cells exposed to desiccation stress, (an in-vitro model for DED). Gene and protein expression profiling of inflammatory and autophagy related molecular factors were analyzed in HCE-T and primary HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress with and without CQ treatment. HCE-T and HCF cells exposed to desiccation stress exhibited increased levels of activated p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-9, and IL-6. Further, treatment with CQ decreased the levels of active p65, TNF-α, MCP-1, and MMP-9 in cells underdesiccation stress. Increased levels of LC3B and LAMP1 markers in HCE-T cells exposed to desiccation stress suggest activation of autophagy and the addition of CQ did not alter these levels. Changes in the phosphorylation levels of MAPKinase and mTOR pathway proteins were found in HCE-T cells under desiccation stress with or without CQ treatment. Taken together, the data suggests that HCE-T cells under desiccation stress showed NFκB mediated inflammation, which was rescued through the anti-inflammatory effect of CQ without altering the autophagy flux. Therefore, CQ may be used as an alternate therapeutic management for dry eye condition

Perioperative Outcomes of Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Superobese

BACKGROUND: The robotic platform is often used for bariatric surgery in superobese patients (body mass index \u3e/= 50 kg/m(2)) with the assumption that it offers a technical advantage. This study aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy (RSG) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in superobese patients. METHODS: The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program database was queried for superobese patients undergoing nonrevisional RSG and LSG from 2015 through 2017. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to compare outcomes in RSG and LSG. RESULTS: A total of 61,493 patients (4685 RSG and 56,808 LSG) were identified. Patients were similar in terms of age (RSG 42.3 +/- 11.8 versus LSG 42.4 +/- 11.7 y; P = 0.60) and body mass index (RSG 56.8 +/- 6.9 versus LSG 56.9 +/- 7.1 kg/m(2); P = 0.17). The RSG group had a longer operative time (102.4 +/- 46.0 versus 74.7 +/- 37.5 min; P \u3c 0.01) and length of stay (1.79 +/- 1.78 versus 1.66 +/- 1.51 d; P \u3c 0.01). Overall morbidity (RSG 3.5% versus LSG 3.7%; P = 0.54) and mortality (RSG 0.1% versus LSG 0.1%; P = 0.73) were similar between the two groups. After adjustment, RSG represented an independent risk factor for organ-space surgical site infection (adjusted odds ratio 2.70; 95% confidence interval 1.54-4.73; P \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Use of RSG in superobese patients infers higher risk for organ-space surgical site infection and is associated with prolonged operative time and length of stay. This questions the role of robotics in superobese patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy