Identification and Characterization of Aluminium Tolerant Bacteria Isolated from Soil Contaminated by Electroplating and Automobile Waste

Due to anthropogenic activities and the advancement of industries, metal contamination is growing globally. Aluminum toxicity is seriously endangering plants, animals, and humans by rapidly rising in soil and water. Even though some fungi can tolerate aluminum, researchers are interested in finding bacteria that are resistant to aluminum. The current state of knowledge on bacteria resistant to aluminum is extremely limited. In the present study, bacterial isolates from soil near a metal electroplating and automobile industry in Punjab, India, were isolated and then screened for high aluminum metal tolerance. The aluminum tolerant bacterial isolate was identified as Cedecea davisae M1, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, using morphological, biochemical, and 16srRNA gene sequence analyses. The spectroscopic results indicate that the strain may tolerate up to 150 ppm of aluminum. Antibiotic resistance of Cedecea davisae M1 was determined using disks on Luria agar plates, and the bacteria were found to be resistant to vancomycin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, and rifampicin. The findings of the study indicated that the strain might be able to remove aluminum toxicity from the environment, which needs to be further explored.

Natural Products and Derivatives Applied for Skin Care: An Updated Review

Abstract:

In contemporary cosmetics, botanicals and natural extracts remain vital components and have been used in formulations since ancient times. However, natural and botanical products can still be highly effective in treating aging skin, even though they are becoming more technological and invasive. Many natural products are being elucidated through biochemical mechanisms of action, correlating with traditional uses of many plants for skin benefits. Different formulations of medicinal and pharmaceutical substances incorporate synthetic molecules and chemicals, which is the principal cause of dermal toxicity. Consumers' awareness about personal health and safety and the desire for safer cosmetics free of harmful chemicals have driven the cosmetics and personal care market toward natural ingredients. The commercialization of natural products derived from herbs and bees is possible. Our purpose is to present a comprehensive and critical review emphasizing the benefits of natural products for skin care, women's purchasing patterns, and updated information about natural products.

Erector spinae plane block for peri-operative analgesia in a patient undergoing surgery for Ewing's sarcoma of the clavicle

The erector spinae plane block is a regional anaesthetic technique originally developed to manage thoracic neuropathic pain. It is popular because of its ease of learning and its applicability in various types of surgeries, providing both cutaneous and visceral analgesia. We report a case of a 30-year-old man who underwent excision of Ewing's sarcoma of the clavicle with brachiocephalic vein repair and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction under general anaesthesia, with bilateral erector spinae plane block, with catheter insertion on the side of the lesion. The operation necessitated peri-operative anticoagulation, and so erector spinae blocks were performed to provide analgesia where epidural insertion was contraindicated. Adequate pain relief was achieved during the entire postoperative stay. The erector spinae plane block is thought to work due to the direct spread and diffusion of local anaesthetic into the posterior rami of spinal nerves located deep to the erector spinae muscles, and anterior spread into paravertebral space with additional effect potentially due to systemic absorption This case highlights the role of the erector spinae plane block in complex clavicular surgery requiring peri-operative anticoagulation, and potentially obviates the need for neuraxial analgesia.

Clinicopathological investigation of nutritional osteodystrophia fibrosa in a flock of young stall-fed goats

Background

Osteodystrophia fibrosa (ODF) is a metabolic disorder affecting the skeletal system, causing progressive loss of calcified bone mass and its replacement with fibrous tissue, which may be a sequel to primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism. This report intends to document the clinicopathological findings of ODF in a flock of young goats fed primarily on a wheat bran-rich diet.

Case description

In a flock of 50 stall-fed goats aged 1 to 2 years, seven were clinically presented with bilateral facial enlargement, leading to dyspnea and difficulty in prehension and mastication. Among the seven clinically affected goats, four died in 2 months.

Findings/treatment and outcome

The clinical examination revealed bilateral mandibular enlargement and limb deformities. On radiography, the maxilla and mandible had decreased radiopacity. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from the affected bones showed occasional fibroblasts and individual osteoclasts clusters. On necropsy, the enlarged mandible revealed a meaty consistency. Undecalcified histological sections of the mandible showed severe osteopenia, multiple osteoclasts, Howship's lacunae, and extensive fibroplasia. Dietary corrective measures led to the prevention of ODF in the rest of the flock.

Conclusion

Excessive wheat bran feeding in stallfed goats might have led to calcium and phosphorus imbalance, resulting in nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism and subsequent skeletal deformities. FNAC of the affected bones, gross and histological findings provide a clinicopathological diagnosis of ODF.

A rare case of abdominal cocoon associated with internal hernia in an adult

A transmesenteric internal hernia (TIH) is a protrusion of a viscus through the mesenteric defect. It is secondary to previous gastrointestinal surgery in an adult. Early diagnosis and management are warranted to prevent the strangulation of the bowel in a TIH. Here, we are reporting a case of a 24-year-old gentleman with COVID-positive status who has presented with cough, abdominal cocoon, and features of subacute intestinal obstruction (SAIO) without any previous history of abdominal surgery. A nonoperative trial is given in the management of abdominal cocoon with SAIO. In contrast, delay in surgical intervention in TIH leads to bowel gangrene. Surprisingly even on contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen, TIH was not picked up. We have diagnosed this case intraoperatively with gangrene of the bowel. In an abdominal cocoon without any history suggestive of tuberculosis or previous surgery, or any other condition that leads to an intra-abdominal reaction, an internal hernia should be kept as a differential diagnosis. The delay in diagnosis and surgical intervention is associated with potentially disastrous complications.

Disordered spin gapless semiconducting CoFeCrGa Heusler alloy thin films on Si (100): experiment and theory

Spin gapless semiconductors (SGSs) are an intriguing class of quantum materials that bridge the gap between half-metallic ferromagnets and semiconductors. The presence of a semiconducting bandgap for one spin channel and zero band gap for other spin channels, together with the possibility of four different band structure configurations, makes them one of the most desirable candidates to be used in tunable spin transport based spintronics devices. Here, we have performed various structural, magnetic and transport measurements on an optimized CoFeCrGa (CFCG) Heusler alloy thin film (∼50 nm) grown over a Si(100) substrate using an industry-viable magnetron sputtering technique. The grown film showed B2-ordering under the given set of X-ray diffraction measurement conditions with a saturation magnetization (M_s) of 1.86μ_B per f.u. (at 5 K) and a Curie temperature of ∼595 K. Nearly linearly varying longitudinal resistivity with a negative temperature coefficient was observed. A fitted longitudinal conductivity curve through a "two-carrier model" shows a slight band overlap in the gapless channel for one spin channel and a small energy gap (ΔE) of 167 meV for other spin channels. A negative and linear out-of-plane magnetoresistance response was observed in these films. The temperature dependent anomalous Hall effect measurement gives nearly temperature independent carrier concentration (and/or) mobility with an anomalous Hall conductivity of 91.35 S cm^-1 at 5 K. The first principles calculations have also been performed for bulk and (220) CFCG surfaces to correlate the various structural, electronics and magnetic properties of the optimized CFCG Heusler alloy thin film. The DFT derived results, viz. lattice parameter and M_S exhibit a good match with the experimentally observed results. All these properties collectively imply that the grown film possesses disordered-SGS like behaviour. It is remarkable to note that CFCG films with the (022) surface possess a very high electronic spin polarization of 91%. The results of the study suggest that CFCG is a potential candidate to be used in spintronics-based devices such as spin-injectors.

Investigation of physical properties of Si crystallites in W/Si multilayers

The structural inhomogeneities of silicon films embedded within W/Si multilayer mirrors were studied by X-ray reflection, grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the diffuse scattering spectra, evidence of laterally and vertically ordered in-layer inhomogeneities was consistently observed. In particular, specific substructures resonant in nature (named here `ridges') were detected. The properties of the ridges were similar to the roughness determined by quasi-Bragg peaks of scattering, which required a high interlayer correlation of particles. The XPS showed the nanocrystalline nature of the Si particles in the amorphous matrix. The geometric characteristics and in-layer and inter-layer correlations of the nanoparticles were determined. In GISAXS imaging, the unusual splitting of the waists between the Bragg sheets into filament structures was observed, whose physical nature cannot yet be explained.

Severe acute pancreatitis in the early postoperative period due to afferent loop syndrome following gastrectomy for gastric cancer

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is an uncommon complication of gastrojejunostomy. It may be acute or chronic depending on whether symptoms manifest within 7 days of surgery. Rarely acute ALS may give rise to acute pancreatitis. It may present early in the postoperative course and, if diagnosed late, may result in organ failure within 48h. We report a middle-aged woman with carcinoma of the stomach managed by subtotal gastrectomy with Billroth II gastrojejunostomy and Braun jejunojejunostomy. The patient developed vomiting and abdominal pain in the first postoperative day with acute renal shutdown and about 500ml drain output of dirty fluid. On investigation, a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to afferent loop syndrome was made, and the patient was resuscitated in the intensive care unit. However, she showed early signs of organ failure and succumbed to her condition within 6 days of surgery. Since the complication is rare following gastrojejunostomy and often mimics ALS, an early diagnosis becomes difficult. If delay in management happens, premature organ failure may lead to high morbidity and mortality.

Factors influencing treatment outcomes in patients with isoniazid-resistant pulmonary TB

INTRODUCTION: Patients with isoniazid (H, INH) resistant pulmonary TB but undetected rifampicin (R, RIF) resistance are treated with a 6-month regimen of levofloxacin-RIF-ethambutol-pyrazinamide (6LvxREZ) under India´s National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).OBJECTIVE: To describe the profile of and treatment outcomes in patients with pulmonary INH-resistant (INHR) TB initiated on TB treatment, and identify factors associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes (died, failed, treatment changed, lost to follow-up).METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of NTEP database (Ni-kshay) on pulmonary INHR TB patients initiated on treatment with “H mono/poly regimen” (6LvxREZ) between July 2019 and June 2020 with documented treatment outcomes. Proportions with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated and logistic regression analysis was performed.RESULTS: Of the 11,519 patients with pulmonary INHR TB, 9,440 (82%) had treatment success (55.1% cured, 26.9% treatment completed). Unfavourable treatment outcome was observed in 1,901 (16.5%). Male sex, tobacco and alcohol use, HIV reactive status were associated with unfavourable treatment outcome. Patients with katG mutations and resistance to fluoroquinolones were likely to have poor treatment outcomes.CONCLUSION: A levofloxacin-based regimen offers a treatment success rate of 82% in patients with pulmonary INHR TB. Sex-specific strategies, interventions to address smoking and alcohol use, focus on HIV-reactive patients and optimising treatment regimens based on drug susceptibility should be considered for improving treatment outcomes.

Heterogeneity of management practices surrounding operable gallbladder cancer - results of the OMEGA-S international HPB surgical survey

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive, uncommon malignancy, with variation in operative approaches adopted across centres and few large-scale studies to guide practice. We aimed to identify the extent of heterogeneity in GBC internationally to better inform the need for future multicentre studies.

METHODS

A 34-question online survey was disseminated to members of the European-African Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (EAHPBA), American Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (AHPBA) and Asia-Pacific Hepatopancreatobiliary Association (A-PHPBA) regarding practices around diagnostic workup, operative approach, utilization of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies and surveillance strategies.

RESULTS

Two hundred and three surgeons responded from 51 countries. High liver resection volume units (>50 resections/year) organised HPB multidisciplinary team discussion of GBCs more commonly than those with low volumes (p < 0.0001). Management practices exhibited areas of heterogeneity, particularly around operative extent. Contrary to consensus guidelines, anatomical liver resections were favoured over non-anatomical resections for T3 tumours and above, lymphadenectomy extent was lower than recommended, and a minority of respondents still routinely excised the common bile duct or port sites.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest some similarities in the management of GBC internationally, but also specific areas of practice which differed from published guidelines. Transcontinental collaborative studies on GBC are necessary to establish evidence-based practice to minimise variation and optimise outcomes.

Spin Pumping through Different Spin-Orbit Coupling Interfaces in β-W/Interlayer/Co2FeAl Heterostructures

Spin pumping has been considered a powerful tool to manipulate the spin current in a ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic (FM/NM) system, where the NM part exhibits large spin-orbit coupling (SOC). In this work, the spin pumping in β-W/Interlayer (IL)/Co₂FeAl (CFA) heterostructures grown on Si(100) is systematically investigated with different ILs in which SOC strength ranges from weak to strong. We first measure the spin pumping through the enhancement of effective damping in CFA by varying the thickness of β-W. The damping enhancement in the bilayer of β-W/CFA (without IL) is found to be ∼50% larger than the Gilbert damping in a single CFA layer with a spin diffusion length and spin mixing conductance of 2.12 ± 0.27 nm and 13.17 ± 0.34 nm^-2, respectively. Further, the ILs of different SOC strengths such as Al, Mg, Mo, and Ta were inserted at the β-W/CFA interface to probe their impact on damping in β-W/ILs/CFA. The effective damping reduced to 8% and 20% for Al and Mg, respectively, whereas it increased to 66% and 75% with ILs of Mo and Ta, respectively, compared to the β-W/CFA heterostructure. Thus, in the presence of ILs with weak SOC, the spin pumping at the β-W/CFA interface is suppressed, while for the high SOC ILs effective damping increased significantly from its original value of β-W/CFA bilayer using a thin IL. This is further confirmed by performing inverse spin Hall effect measurements. In summary, the transfer of spin angular momentum can be significantly enhanced by choosing a proper ultrathin interface layer. Our study provides a tool to increase the spin current production by inserting an appropriate thin interlayer which is useful in modifying the heterostructure for efficient performance in spintronics devices.

Hypertriton Production in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The study of nuclei and antinuclei production has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate the formation mechanism of loosely bound states in high-energy hadronic collisions. The first measurement of the production of _{Λ}^{3}H in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV is presented in this Letter. Its production yield measured in the rapidity interval -1<y<0 for the 40% highest-multiplicity p-Pb collisions is dN/dy=[6.3±1.8(stat)±1.2(syst)]×10^{-7}. The measurement is compared with the expectations of statistical hadronization and coalescence models, which describe the nucleosynthesis in hadronic collisions. These two models predict very different yields of the hypertriton in charged particle multiplicity environments relevant to small collision systems such as p-Pb, and therefore the measurement of dN/dy is crucial to distinguish between them. The precision of this measurement leads to the exclusion with a significance larger than 6.9σ of some configurations of the statistical hadronization model, thus constraining the theory behind the production of loosely bound states at hadron colliders.

LDL goal as a risk factor target in the post-intervention outpatient cardiology population

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

The relationship between an acute coronary event and cholesterol levels has been immensely researched, specifically the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) component of cholesterol. According to the Canadian guidelines, LDL cholesterol should be below 1.8 mmol/L if the patient has suffered an acute cardiac event. The European guidelines suggests that LDL target concentration should be below 1.4 mmol/L if the patient has had a previous cardiac event. European guidelines also lowered the LDL recommendations to less than 1 mmol/L if the patient has had 2 previous cardiac event in the previous 2 years.

Purpose

Assess the concordance of one Canadian cardiology clinic to the European LDL guidelines in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods

Patients were randomly selected from a single centre outpatient Cardiology practice between January and June 2021. All patients were selected by 1 researcher. The patients selected must have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease by Angiography and undergone intervention in the form of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The blood cholesterol levels were evaluated before and after intervention.

Results

101 patients were randomly selected for this study. Data encompassed 83 males and 18 females ages 43 to 88. Before the intervention, 15 patients had an LDL level below 1.4 mmol/L, 29 patients had an LDL level below 1.8 mmol/L. After the intervention, the number of patients with LDL &lt;1.4 mmol/L was 50 and LDL&lt;1.8 was 85. This population was divided by risk factors and the LDL levels were compared before and after intervention. 9 patients were known to be smokers, their LDL levels were on average 2.73 mmol/L before intervention and 1.3 mmol/L after intervention. 31 patients were known diabetic, their LDL levels were on average 2.15 mmol/L before intervention and 1.43 mmol/L after intervention. 69 patients had hypertension, their LDL levels were 2.36 mmol/L before intervention and 1.46 mmol/L after intervention. Of the 30 patient who had a positive family history, the LDL on average was 2.39 mmol/L before intervention and 1.84 mmol/L after intervention. Positive family history was contingent on having an immediate female relative with age &lt;65 or immediate male relative with age &lt;55 having had a cardiac event or coronary intervention.

Conclusions

The number of individuals on appropriate cholesterol medications after intervention increased thereby reducing the LDL concentration. The data shows that in a sample of the typical Canadian population, 84% of patients were adequately managed after a coronary artery intervention according to the Canadian guidelines. According to the UK guidelines, only 29.5% are being adequately managed. The North American guidelines will likely incorporate the new LDL targets into upcoming revisions and therefore more aggressive risk factor management will be required to meet the new target goals.

Polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] Hyperons along the Beam Direction in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The polarization of the Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam (z) direction, P_{z}, has been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The main contribution to P_{z} comes from elliptic flow-induced vorticity and can be characterized by the second Fourier sine coefficient P_{z,s2}=⟨P_{z}sin(2φ-2Ψ_{2})⟩, where φ is the hyperon azimuthal emission angle and Ψ_{2} is the elliptic flow plane angle. We report the measurement of P_{z,s2} for different collision centralities and in the 30%-50% centrality interval as a function of the hyperon transverse momentum and rapidity. The P_{z,s2} is positive similarly as measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV, with somewhat smaller amplitude in the semicentral collisions. This is the first experimental evidence of a nonzero hyperon P_{z} in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The comparison of the measured P_{z,s2} with the hydrodynamic model calculations shows sensitivity to the competing contributions from thermal and the recently found shear-induced vorticity, as well as to whether the polarization is acquired at the quark-gluon plasma or the hadronic phase.

Analytical study of flow instability behaviour in a boiling two-phase natural circulation loop under low quality conditions

Analytical investigations have been carried out to study the flow instability behaviour in a boiling two-phase natural circulation loop under low quality conditions. For this purpose, the computer code TINFLO-S has been developed. The code solves the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy and equation of state for homogeneous equilibrium two-phase flow using linear analytical technique. The results of the code have been validated with the experimental data of the loop for both the steady state and stability. The study reveals that the stability behaviour of low quality flow oscillations is different from that of the high quality flow oscillations. The instability reduces with increase in power and throttling at the inlet of the heater. The instability first increases and then reduces with increase in pressure at any subcooling. The effects of diameter of riser pipe, heater and the height of the riser on this instability are also investigated.

Measurement of the Groomed Jet Radius and Momentum Splitting Fraction in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector. The soft drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, z_{g}, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, θ_{g}. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-k_{T} algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the θ_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark-gluon plasma. No significant modification of the z_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark-gluon plasma.

Measurement of Prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. This is the first measurement of Σ_{c}^{0,++} production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross section ratios Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}/D^{0} and Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} are calculated in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) intervals 2<p_{T}<12 and 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. Values significantly larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the Σ_{c}. The feed-down contribution to Λ_{c}^{+} production from Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} is also reported and is found to be larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronization mechanisms implemented in the models.