Enhancing Healthcare with EOG: A Novel Approach to Sleep Stage Classification

We introduce an innovative approach to automated sleep stage classification using EOG signals, addressing the discomfort and impracticality associated with EEG data acquisition. In addition, it is important to note that this approach is untapped in the field, highlighting its potential for novel insights and contributions. Our proposed SE-Resnet-Transformer model provides an accurate classification of five distinct sleep stages from raw EOG signal. Extensive validation on publically available databases (SleepEDF-20, SleepEDF-78, and SHHS) reveals noteworthy performance, with macro-F1 scores of 74.72, 70.63, and 69.26, respectively. Our model excels in identifying REM sleep, a crucial aspect of sleep disorder investigations. We also provide insight into the internal mechanisms of our model using techniques such as 1D-GradCAM and t-SNE plots. Our method improves the accessibility of sleep stage classification while decreasing the need for EEG modalities. This development will have promising implications for healthcare and the incorporation of wearable technology into sleep studies, thereby advancing the field's potential for enhanced diagnostics and patient comfort

Cardiopulmonary Outcomes in Covid-19 Patients Discharged From a Tertiary Care Center: A Prospective Study

To determine the cardiopulmonary changes in the survivors of acute COVID-19 infection at 3-6 month and 6-12 month. We followed up 53 patients out of which 28 (52%) had mild COVID-19 and 25 (48%) had severe COVID-19. The first follow-up was between 3 month after diagnosis up to 6 month and second follow-up between 6 and 12 month from the date of diagnosis of acute COVID-19. They were monitored using vital parameters, pulmonary function tests, echocardiography and a chest computed tomography (CT) scan. We found improvement in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) with a median of 52% of predicted and 80% of predicted at the first and second follow-up, respectively. There was improvement in the CTSS in severe group from 22 (18-24) to 12 (10-18; p-0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed increased odds of past severe disease with higher CTSS at follow-up (OR-1.7 [CI 1.14-2.77]

Quality of life of Chronic Kidney Disease patients attending Nephrology OPD of a tertiary care centre in Western Maharashtra

Introduction: Kidney disease is a global public health problem affecting approximately 750 million people worldwide. Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) face bio-psychological stressors affecting their quality of life (QoL). CKD patients with low QoL have shown considerably high mortality. Assessing QoL can help in planning holistic medical care for these patients and improve disease outcomes. The present study has been conducted with the objective to assess QoL in CKD patients. Objective: To assess QoL of CKD patients attending Nephrology OPD of a tertiary care Government centre in Western Maharashtra. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Nephrology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra. Pre-tested Research and Development Corporation 36-item Health Survey Questionnaire was self- administered to CKD patients and QoL scores were calculated. All patients attending Nephrology OPD were included in the study group from July to Oct 2019. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The study included 70 patients with moderate to advanced CKD irrespective of status of treatment being received. Diabetes Mellitus was found to be the most common cause of CKD followed by Hypertension. The mean overall QoL score was 38.9+8.2. The mean Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (29.2+7.8, 95%C.I.: 21.4–37.0 was significantly lower than the mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) score (48.5 + 9.5, 95% C.I.: 39.0-58.0, p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with CKD have lower MCS compared to PCS

Within-species variation of seed traits of dune engineering species across a European climatic gradient

Within-species variation is a key component of biodiversity and linking it to climatic gradients may significantly improve our understanding of ecological processes. High variability can be expected in plant traits, but it is unclear to which extent it varies across populations under different climatic conditions. Here, we investigated seed trait variability and its environmental dependency across a latitudinal gradient of two widely distributed dune-engineering species (Thinopyrum junceum and Calamagrostis arenaria). Seed germination responses against temperature and seed mass were compared within and among six populations exposed to a gradient of temperature and precipitation regimes (Spiekeroog, DE; Bordeaux, FR; Valencia, ES; Cagliari, IT, Rome, IT; Venice, IT). Seed germination showed opposite trends in response to temperature experienced during emergence in both species: with some expectation, in populations exposed to severe winters, seed germination was warm-cued, whereas in populations from warm sites with dry summer, seed germination was cold-cued. In C. arenaria, variability in seed germination responses disappeared once the seed coat was incised. Seed mass from sites with low precipitation was smaller than that from sites with higher precipitation and was better explained by rainfall continentality than by aridity in summer. Within-population variability in seed germination accounted for 5 to 54%, while for seed mass it was lower than 40%. Seed trait variability can be considerable both within- and among-populations even at broad spatial scale. The variability may be hardly predictable since it only partially correlated with the analyzed climatic variables, and with expectation based on the climatic features of the seed site of origin. Considering seed traits variability in the analysis of ecological processes at both within- and among-population levels may help elucidate unclear patterns of species dynamics, thereby contributing to plan adequate measures to counteract biodiversity loss

Biodegradation of Cellulosic Wastes and Deinking of Colored Paper with Isolated Novel Cellulolytic Bacteria

Biofuels are the cheapest source of energy, and the continuous decline of traditional sources of energy with the increasing population leads to looking for alternatives to reduce the consumption of traditional sources of energy. Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic wastes and cellulosic wastes is not a new approach for fuel production but a cheap and accessible way for the production of fuel. Bacillus is one of the major species that can act as a source of diversified enzymes. In this study, it was emphasized on screening and isolation of a novel, characterization, and best catalytic action on both celluloses and proteins in the presence of different carbon and nitrogen sources. It was observed the effective catalytic breakdown of cellulose with the crude enzyme to glucose allowed fur for fermentation with Saccharomyces, ultimately leading to the generation of alcohol. The study aims to isolate the microbes that can produce cellulases and enzymes and could be used for biodegradation to produce ethanol in the reaction. The maximum enzyme activity was achieved at 3.112 UI with optimized pH and temperature, and the maximum conversion of sugars into alcohol was about 70% in the newspaper, cartons, colored paper, and disposable paper cups. An essential observation was the decolorization of the origami craft paper within 24 hours. The study was involved in enhancing the maximum Enzyme activity of cellulases from different cellulosic raw materials. Hence, it was achieved by JCB strain, optimization of pH, temperature, and acids for the biodegradation. The presence of peaks at 3200 and 2900 was a confirmation of ethanol bonds in the biodegradation reaction mixtures

Fluid mechanics in circulating tumour cells: Role in metastasis and treatment strategies

Cancer patients have a shorter life expectancy because of metastasis, which is the dynamic chain of events that leads to the spread of tumour cells to distant places inside the body. Cancer's development, spread, metastasis, and treatment all involve fluid mechanics in some way. Cancer cells and their associated components take advantage of the body's many fluid systems as a means of dissemination throughout the body and colonisation of distant organs. Cancerous tissues rely on the blood supply for oxygen and nutrition, metastasis to other organs, and medication delivery. Cancer cells' ability to travel from the main tumour, extravasate, and seed metastases can be enhanced by exploiting the flow mechanics of the blood and lymphatic circulatory systems. Cancer cell survival in the circulation and the regulation of organotropic seeding patterns are affected by flow rates, channel size, and shear stress. Therefore, cancer cells not only use these fluids as a mode of transport throughout the body, but also as a fertile ground to seed distant metastases by taking advantage of the fundamental physical forces among these fluids. Metastasis, tumor growth, &amp; nanoparticle-mediated medication delivery is all under the control of multiscale flow-structure interaction processes, whereas an increase in interstitial pressure is caused by the tumour vasculature's irregularity and leakiness. This Review discusses the role that fluids play in metastasis, including the forces and stresses that are utilised by circulating tumour cells &amp; tumour-associated factors. Given the intriguing concerns raised by the role of physiological fluids and their mechanics in the biology of the metastatic cascade, gaining insight into this process may reveal a novel strategy for intercepting cancer cells on their route

Fire Behavior and Modeling of Short RC Columns in Pure Axial Compression: Role of Volume, Configuration, and Spacing of Lateral Reinforcement

This paper studies the role of volume, spacing, and configuration of lateral reinforcement on the axial load resisting capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) columns at elevated temperatures. Short RC columns were tested under combined thermal and compressive loading conditions. Columns with different confinement reinforcement volumes, two different lateral reinforcement configurations, and three different lateral reinforcement spacing values were tested as a part of this study. The test results indicate that lateral reinforcement passing through the core of the column is more effective than rectangular lateral reinforcement placed at the perimeter in improving the fire performance of RC columns. Two different numerical approaches, namely, finite element-based approach in combination with a concrete plasticity model and fiber-based sectional analysis approach along with concrete confinement models available in the literature were used to simulate the axial compression behavior of RC columns at elevated temperatures. It was established that some of the popular confinement models developed for ambient temperature conditions could also be used to model the confinement effect at elevated temperatures. Further, a parametric study was conducted to study the role of lateral reinforcement on a broader set of column parameters. It was established that the confinement effect is generally more pronounced at elevated temperatures than at room temperature. © 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers

Depth-Wise Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties, Micro-nutrients Status, and Bacterial Population under Quercus leucotrichophora and Shorea robusta Forest of Chakrata and Thano Region of Uttarakhand

Forest trees have an appreciable demand for nutrients as they have longer rotation than crops and this is easily replenished by the constant release of nutrients resulting from weathering under favorable conditions in the soils developed from parent material rich in nutrient-bearing minerals. A study was undertaken to assess the chemical properties, micro-nutrient status, and bacterial population; two sites were taken for the collection of soil samples: the oak forest of Chakrata and the Sal forest of Thano. Soils were drawn at three depths viz. 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm. All soil parameters examined at three depths viz. 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm, 60-90 cm. Oak (Quercus Leucotrichophora) forests have higher microbial activity than Sal forests. The soil in both the studied areas was rich in nutrients, where, the maximum mean standard deviation values of pH (6.85), soil organic carbon (5.9 %), available nitrogen (0.04 %) reported in the Oak forest of Chakrata, and available phosphorus were almost similar in both forest regions. Oak forests have higher organic carbon, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability compared to Sal forests. However, it is concluded that, for better conditions of these forests for soil and carbon-storing potential, the forest needs good management practices, especially in community forest areas to avoid illegal felling, impact of fire, and over-exploitation of fuel and fodder. Good management practices would help mitigate the impact of climate change and sustainable outcomes of the resources for the community's benefit

A Brief Overview of Bacteriocins and their Potential Applications against Phytopathogenic Bacteria

Gram-negative phytopathogens severely harm a number of economically significant crop plants. The effectivity of traditional approaches, such as the breeding and introduction of resistant cultivars, is limited by the lack of available sources of genetic resistance. Bacteriocins are small proteinaceous antibiotics produced by bacteria to kill closely related bacteria. Utilization of narrow-spectrum protein antibiotics as biocontrol agents is an effective strategy to shrink losses imposed due to specific bacterial phytopathogens. Several colicin-like bacteriocins have been found to be active against phytopathogenic bacteria. Bacteriocins frequently affect closely related bacterial strains, making them useful as targeted, low-side-effect,&nbsp;narrow-spectrum&nbsp;antibiotics. Even though using bacteriocins to control plant diseases is a promising strategy, minimal information is there regarding the abundance and functions of these chemicals against pathogenic bacteria and their natural enemies. This review is concerned with the efficient control of economically significant plant pathogenic bacteria using these potent and selective antimicrobial agents