Flavour bounds on the flavon of a minimal and a non-minimal Z2×ZN\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_N symmetry

We investigate flavour bounds on the $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_5$ and $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_9$ flavour symmetries. These flavour symmetries are a minimal and a non-minimal forms of the $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_N$ flavour symmetry, that can provide a simple set-up for the Froggatt-Nielsen mechanism. The $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_5$ and $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_9$ flavour symmetries are capable of explaining the fermionic masses and mixing pattern of the standard model including that of the neutrinos. The bounds on the parameter space of the flavon field of the $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_5$ and $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_9$ flavour symmetries are derived using the current quark and lepton flavour physics data and future projected sensitivities of quark and lepton flavour effects. The strongest bounds on the flavon of the $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_5$ symmetry come from the $D^0 - \bar D^0$ mixing. The bounds on the $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_9$ flavour symmetry are stronger than that of the minimal $\mathcal{Z}_2 \times \mathcal{Z}_5$ symmetry. The ratio $R_{\mu \mu}$ provides rather robust bounds on the flavon parameters in the future phase-\rom{1} and phase-\rom{2} of the LHCb by leaving only a very small region in the allowed parameter space of the models.Comment: 40 pages, 27 figures, accepted version in EPJ

Message queue telemetry transport and lightweight machine-to-machine comparison based on performance efficiency under various scenarios

Internet of things (IoT) is been advancing over a long period of time in many aspects. For data transfer between IoT devices in a wireless sensor network, various IoT protocols are proposed. Among them, the most widely used are constrained application protocol (CoAP) and message queue telemetry transport (MQTT). Overcoming the limitations of CoAP, lightweight machine-to-machine (LwM2M) framework was designed above CoAP. Recent statistics show that LwM2M and MQTT are the widely used, but LwM2M is still less used than MQTT. Our paper is aimed at comparing both MQTT and LwM2M on the basis of performance efficiency, which will be achieved by sending same file through both protocols to the server. Performance efficiency will be calculated in two scenarios, i) when the client makes a connection with the server i.e., while initial connection and ii) while sending data file to server i.e., while data transfer. Both the protocols will be tested on the number of packets sent and the variability of packet size throughout the session. Experimental results indicated that LwM2M outperformed MQTT in both above scenarios by almost 69%. Therefore, we concluded by stating that LwM2M is best choice over MQTT, but MQTT can still be used in some situations if necessary

Performance Analysis of a Compact UHF RFID Ceramic Tag in High-Temperature Environments

In this paper an experimental analysis of the effect of high temperature on the performance of a compact UHF RFID tag is described and discussed. The tag is designed to be integrated into small cavities carved out of metal objects to identify themselves during the entire fabrication and assembly line. Since the UHF RFID tag is applied just after the die casting operations needed to model the metal component, it must be robust to high temperature manufacturing environments and processes. Tests demonstrated a significant chip input impedance variation by increasing the surrounding temperature, with a consequent read-range reduction. However, the considered ceramic tag can be detected at a satisfactory distance of 30 cm when employed with temperatures so high as up to 120 degrees C

PnuT uses a facilitated diffusion mechanism for thiamine uptake

Membrane transporters of the bacterial pyridine nucleotide uptake (Pnu) family mediate the uptake of various B-type vitamins. For example, the PnuT transporters have specificity for vitamin B1 (thiamine). It has been hypothesized that Pnu transporters are facilitators that allow passive transport of the vitamin substrate across the membrane. Metabolic trapping by phosphorylation would then lead to accumulation of the transported substrates in the cytoplasm. However, experimental evidence for such a transport mechanism is lacking. Here, to determine the mechanism of thiamine transport, we purify PnuTSw from Shewanella woodyi and reconstitute it in liposomes to determine substrate binding and transport properties. We show that the electrochemical gradient of thiamine solely determines the direction of transport, consistent with a facilitated diffusion mechanism. Further, PnuTSw can bind and transport thiamine as well as the thiamine analogues pyrithiamine and oxythiamine, but does not recognize the phosphorylated derivatives thiamine monophosphate and thiamine pyrophosphate as substrates, consistent with a metabolic trapping mechanism. Guided by the crystal structure of the homologous nicotinamide riboside transporter PnuC, we perform mutagenesis experiments, which reveal residues involved in substrate binding and gating. The facilitated diffusion mechanism of transport used by PnuTSw contrasts sharply with the active transport mechanisms used by other bacterial thiamine transporters

From a Culture of Unwellness to Sustainable Advocacy: Organizational Responses to Mental Health Risks in the Human Rights Field

This Article presents findings from a qualitative study of how individual human rights advocates perceive well-being and mental health issues within the human rights field, and how human rights organizations in all regions of the world are responding to well-being concerns. The findings are based on an analysis of 110 interviews, which include advocates at 70 human rights organizations from 35 countries and more than three dozen experts; surveys of organizational policies and practices; desk research concerning well-being and mental health; and the experiences of the coauthors working as human rights practitioners with non-governmental organizations (“NGOs”) around the world

Bacterial Etiologies and Antibiotic Sensitivities in Acute and Chronic Dacryocystitis: A Western U.P. Perspective

The current study aimed to assess and compare the bacteriological spectrum of acute and chronic dacryocystitis and the antibiotic susceptibility and resistance of the causative pathogens to commonly used antimicrobials. This was a prospective observational study. Cases of dacryocystitis were categorized as acute or chronic, based on clinical features. Specimens were obtained by sterile cotton swabs from the lower conjunctival fornix and from the puncta by applying pressure over the lacrimal sac area or by performing lacrimal syringing. Specimens were inoculated on appropriate culture media and incubated at 37ºC for 24-48 hours. Bacterial species were identified based on colony morphology and standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing was assessed by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique using Mueller Hinton agar following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Out of 50 patients, 37 (74%) had chronic dacryocystitis and 13 (26%) had acute dacryocystitis. 35 bacterial species were recovered. Gram-positive organisms were the most isolated organisms i.e., 27 out of 35 (77.2%). In chronic dacryocystitis, the predominant bacterial species were Staphylococcus epidermidis (36%). In acute dacryocystitis, the predominant bacterial species were Staphylococcus aureus (40%). Against gram-positive organisms, Vancomycin and Linezolid were most effective (100%). Against gram-negative bacterial species, Amikacin was most effective (100%). High prevalence rate of antibiotic resistance was found, with 40% of the total bacterial species resistant to 5 or more antibiotics. The alarming rate of multi-drug resistance underscores the imperative need for tailored antibiotic strategies and continuous monitoring. Evidence based antibiotic therapy may also help to prevent failures of DCR, progression to chronicity and antibiotic resistance

Fibroblast growth factor/fibroblast growth factor receptor system in angiogenesis.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of heparin-binding growth factors. FGFs exert their pro-angiogenic activity by interacting with various endothelial cell surface receptors, including tyrosine kinase receptors, heparan-sulfate proteoglycans, and integrins. Their activity is modulated by a variety of free and extracellular matrix-associated molecules. Also, the cross-talk among FGFs, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines may play a role in the modulation of blood vessel growth in different pathological conditions, including cancer. Indeed, several experimental evidences point to a role for FGFs in tumor growth and angiogenesis. This review will focus on the relevance of the FGF/FGF receptor system in adult angiogenesis and its contribution to tumor vascularization

The burden of unintentional drowning : global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study

Background Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related mortality globally. Unintentional drowning (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes W65-74 and ICD9 E910) is one of the 30 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive causes of injury-related mortality in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. This study's objective is to describe unintentional drowning using GBD estimates from 1990 to 2017. Methods Unintentional drowning from GBD 2017 was estimated for cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs), age, sex, country, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, and trends from 1990 to 2017. GBD 2017 used standard GBD methods for estimating mortality from drowning. Results Globally, unintentional drowning mortality decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531 956 (uncertainty interval (UI): 484 107 to 572 854) to 295 210 (284 493 to 306 187) deaths. Global age-standardised mortality rates decreased 57.4%, from 9.3 (8.5 to 10.0) in 1990 to 4.0 (3.8 to 4.1) per 100 000 per annum in 2017. Unintentional drowning-associated mortality was generally higher in children, males and in low-SDI to middle-SDI countries. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh accounted for 51.2% of all drowning deaths in 2017. Oceania was the region with the highest rate of age-standardised YLLs in 2017, with 45 434 (40 850 to 50 539) YLLs per 100 000 across both sexes. Conclusions There has been a decline in global drowning rates. This study shows that the decline was not consistent across countries. The results reinforce the need for continued and improved policy, prevention and research efforts, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.Peer reviewe

The burden of unintentional drowning: Global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study

__Background:__ Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related mortality globally. Unintentional drowning (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes W65-74 and ICD9 E910) is one of the 30 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive causes of injury-related mortality in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. This study's objective is to describe unintentional drowning using GBD estimates from 1990 to 2017. __Methods:__ Unintentional drowning from GBD 2017 was estimated for cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs), age, sex, country, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, and trends from 1990 to 2017. GBD 2017 used standard GBD methods for estimating mortality from drowning. __Results:__ Globally, unintentional drowning mortality decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531 956 (uncertainty interval (UI): 484 107 to 572 854) to 295 210 (284 493 to 306 187) deaths. Global age-standardised mortality rates decreased 57.4%, from 9.3 (8.5 to 10.0) in 1990 to 4.0 (3.8 to 4.1) per 100 000 per annum in 2017. Unintentional drowning-associated mortality was generally higher in children, males and in low-SDI to middle-SDI countries. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh accounted for 51.2% of all drowning deaths in 2017. Oceania was the region with the highest rate of age-standardised YLLs in 2017, with 45 434 (40 850 to 50 539) YLLs per 100 000 across both sexes. __Conclusions:__ There has been a decline in global drowning rates. This study shows that the decline was not consistent across countries. The results reinforce the need for continued and improved policy, prevention and research efforts, with a focus on low-and middle-income countries

Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Ending the global tobacco epidemic is a defining challenge in global health. Timely and comprehensive estimates of the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden are needed to guide tobacco control efforts nationally and globally. Methods We estimated the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. We modelled multiple smoking-related indicators from 3625 nationally representative surveys. We completed systematic reviews and did Bayesian meta-regressions for 36 causally linked health outcomes to estimate non-linear dose-response risk curves for current and former smokers. We used a direct estimation approach to estimate attributable burden, providing more comprehensive estimates of the health effects of smoking than previously available. Findings Globally in 2019, 1.14 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1.13-1.16) individuals were current smokers, who consumed 7.41 trillion (7.11-7.74) cigarette-equivalents of tobacco in 2019. Although prevalence of smoking had decreased significantly since 1990 among both males (27.5% [26. 5-28.5] reduction) and females (37.7% [35.4-39.9] reduction) aged 15 years and older, population growth has led to a significant increase in the total number of smokers from 0.99 billion (0.98-1.00) in 1990. Globally in 2019, smoking tobacco use accounted for 7.69 million (7.16-8.20) deaths and 200 million (185-214) disability-adjusted life-years, and was the leading risk factor for death among males (20.2% [19.3-21.1] of male deaths). 6.68 million [86.9%] of 7.69 million deaths attributable to smoking tobacco use were among current smokers. Interpretation In the absence of intervention, the annual toll of 7.69 million deaths and 200 million disability-adjusted life-years attributable to smoking will increase over the coming decades. Substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of smoking tobacco use has been observed in countries from all regions and at all stages of development, but a large implementation gap remains for tobacco control. Countries have a dear and urgent opportunity to pass strong, evidence-based policies to accelerate reductions in the prevalence of smoking and reap massive health benefits for their citizens. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe