Mathematical Modeling and Review of Pine Wilt Disease

Pine Wilt Disease (PWD), caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, causes significant losses in coniferous forests in eastern Asia, including Japan, China, and South Korea, as well as western Europe, including Portugal. The results of the research papers given at the International Symposium on Pine Wilt Disease (IUFRO Working Party Meeting 4.04.03) in Nanjing, China, in July 2009 are summarized in this article. The basic themes discussed included pine wilt disease (PWD), the pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and other PWN-associated microorganisms that play a significant role in PWD, such as bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas fluorescens). The majority of the papers are based on PWD-PWN research in East Asia and Russia. The following are some of the specific topics covered: 1) fundamental concepts of PWD development, 2) pathogenicity, 3) host-parasite relationships, including histopathology of diseased conifers and the role of toxins from bacteria-nematode ecto-symbionts, 4) PWN life cycle and transmission, 5) B. xylophilus dissemination models, 6) associations (with other nematodes), 7) diagnostics, 8) quarantine and control of the PWN and 9) biocontrol of the PWN

Implantable and Ingestible Antenna Systems: From imagination to realization

Biomedical implantable technologies are life-saving modalities for millions of people globally because of their abilities of wireless remote monitoring, regulating the abnormal functions of internal organs, and early detection of cognitive disorders. Enabling these devices with wireless functionalities, implantable antennas are the crucial front-end component of them. Detailed overviews of the implantable and ingestible antennas, their types, miniaturization techniques, measurement phantoms, biocompatibility issues, and materials are available in the literature. This article comprehensively reviews the design processes, design techniques and methods, types of antennas, electromagnetic (EM) simulators, and radiofrequency (RF) bands used for implantable and ingestible antennas. We briefly discussed the latest advancements in this field and extended their scope beyond conventional implantable applications. Their related issues and challenges are highlighted, and the performance enhancement techniques have been discussed in detail. All the scoped implantable applications have been covered in this review. A standard protocol has been devised to provide a simple and efficient roadmap for the design and realization of the implantable and ingestible antenna for future RF engineers and researchers. This protocol minimizes the errors in simulations and measurements by enhancing the agreement between simulated and measured results and simplifies the process of development of implantable and ingestible antennas. It generalizes the process from idea-to-realization-to-commercialization and provides an easy roadmap for the industry

Prevalence and Genotypic Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus in Peshawar KPK, Pakistan

This present study was planned to obtain an up-to-date picture of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its genotypes distribution in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, as well as of the relationship between HCV genotypes and demographic and clinical parameters, and the risk factors in patients with an HCV subtype. Samples (blood) from 1978 individuals were collected and were tested using a strip-based method called the immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the existence of antibodies against HCV. It was observed that 158 of the 1978 individuals (7.9%) harbored antibodies in their blood against HCV, among which the female percentage (53.2%) was higher than that of the male (46.8%). Among the different age groups, the highest number of incidences of HCV antibodies was found in the age group of 31–40 years (26.6%). ICT positive samples were further screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the existence of active HCV-RNA, and it was found that 6.21% (123) of the total population (1978) tested, was positive, among which the female rate (56.91%) was observed to be higher than that of the male (43.09%). The highest incidence recorded was in the age group of 41–50 years (33.3%). HCV RNA positive individuals were genotyped: genotype 3a (45.5%) was dominant among the other detected genotypes, followed by 1a (11.4%), 3b (4.9%), and 2a (4.1%). It was concluded that the highest prevalence of HCV was found in females, and that the dominant genotype of the screened individuals was 3a genotype

Mapping subnational HIV mortality in six Latin American countries with incomplete vital registration systems

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a public health priority in Latin America. While the burden of HIV is historically concentrated in urban areas and high-risk groups, subnational estimates that cover multiple countries and years are missing. This paucity is partially due to incomplete vital registration (VR) systems and statistical challenges related to estimating mortality rates in areas with low numbers of HIV deaths. In this analysis, we address this gap and provide novel estimates of the HIV mortality rate and the number of HIV deaths by age group, sex, and municipality in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Methods: We performed an ecological study using VR data ranging from 2000 to 2017, dependent on individual country data availability. We modeled HIV mortality using a Bayesian spatially explicit mixed-effects regression model that incorporates prior information on VR completeness. We calibrated our results to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Results: All countries displayed over a 40-fold difference in HIV mortality between municipalities with the highest and lowest age-standardized HIV mortality rate in the last year of study for men, and over a 20-fold difference for women. Despite decreases in national HIV mortality in all countries—apart from Ecuador—across the period of study, we found broad variation in relative changes in HIV mortality at the municipality level and increasing relative inequality over time in all countries. In all six countries included in this analysis, 50% or more HIV deaths were concentrated in fewer than 10% of municipalities in the latest year of study. In addition, national age patterns reflected shifts in mortality to older age groups—the median age group among decedents ranged from 30 to 45 years of age at the municipality level in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico in 2017. Conclusions: Our subnational estimates of HIV mortality revealed significant spatial variation and diverging local trends in HIV mortality over time and by age. This analysis provides a framework for incorporating data and uncertainty from incomplete VR systems and can help guide more geographically precise public health intervention to support HIV-related care and reduce HIV-related deaths

Mathematical Properties of a Novel Graph-Theoretic Irregularity Index with Potential Applicability in QSPR Modeling

Irregularity indices are graph-theoretic parameters designed to quantify the irregularity in a graph. In this paper, we study the practical applicability of irregularity indices in QSPR modeling of the physicochemical and quantum-theoretic properties of compounds. Our comparative testing shows that the recently introduced IRA index has significant priority in applicability over other irregularity indices. In particular, we show that the correlation potential of the IRA index with certain physicochemical and quantum-theoretic properties such as the enthalpy of formation, boiling point, and π-electron energies is significant. Our QSPR modeling suggests that the regression models with the aforementioned characteristics such as strong curve fitting are, in fact, linear. Considering this the motivation, the IRA index was studied further, and we provide analytically explicit expressions of the IRA index for certain graph operations and compositions. We conclude the paper by reporting the conclusions, implications, limitations, and future scope of the current study

Proteogenomics: New Emerging Technology

The term proteogenomics is basically the integration of proteomics with genomics and transcriptomics. Today, proteogenomics is developing on the way to combined understanding about overall cellular functions. At present globally, structure of genes, expression of genes (in the form of mRNA synthesis), synthesis of proteins (translation of mRNA) and post-translational modification (structural modification of proteins) have turn out to be technically practicable and act as a novel viewpoint to molecular procedures. Current research has proved the importance of proteogenomics technology in cancer for studying molecular signature of tumors particularly in human beings, and its treatment and prevention. Proteogenomics is not restricted to oncology but it also plays a vital role in other areas of life sciences and biomedicines and anticipation can make up these areas. Here in this minireview, we will discuss the latest progress made in recent years, challenges and viewpoints about proteogenomics technology

Common variant of GBS and its relation to age group and its gender distribution in our local population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Aim: To establish the most common variant of GBS among patient attending Kuwait teaching hospital. Material and Methods: The data was collected manually through data collection tool specially designed for the study. Our sample size was 103. The sampling technique was non probability convenient sampling. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of study conducted from (Jan-2017--Jan-2021) at Kuwait teaching Hospital, Peshawar, which is part of the comprehensive healthcare network. Results: A total of 103 cases of all age groups and both gender were included in our study. The most common variant was AMSAN (48.5%) followed by AIDP (31.1%). And the frequency of AMAN was 20.4%. The most common affected age group was 14 and younger (44.7%) followed by adults (26 to 65) which was 42.7%. Conclusion: We conclude from this study that, AMSAN is most common variant of GBS. Most commonly affected age group is 14 and younger. The prevalence of GBS is more in male

Challenges and approaches of culturing the unculturable archaea

Since Carl Woese\u27s discovery of archaea as a third domain of life, numerous archaeal species have been discovered, yet archaeal diversity is poorly characterized. Culturing archaea is complicated, but several queries about archaeal cell biology, evolution, physiology, and diversity need to be solved by culturing and culture-dependent techniques. Increasing interest in demand for innovative culturing methods has led to various technological and methodological advances. The current review explains frequent hurdles hindering uncultured archaea isolation and discusses features for more archaeal cultivation. This review also discusses successful strategies and available media for archaeal culturing, which might be helpful for future culturing practices