A study on community detection in multilayer networks

Studying complex networks is essential for a better understanding of network science. Many studies have been done on single-layer networks in complex networks. After the advancement and widespread usage of the internet and social media networks, performing community detection in multilayer networks becomes essential to reach more people and work with different personalities on different platforms. Motivated by this observation, this paper has studied types of networks, metrics, measures, and community detection using deep learning-based models in multilayer networks. This survey can play a significant role in analyzing and understanding multilayer networks.

Assessing lodging damage of jute crop due to super cyclone Amphan using multi-temporal Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data over parts of West Bengal, India

The present study is a maiden attempt to assess jute crop lodging due to super cyclone Amphan (20 May 2020) by synergistic use of Sentinel-2 (optical) and Sentinel-1 (SAR) data over part of West Bengal, India. Pre-event Sentinel-2 data (9 April, 14 May) along with the ground information were used to map the jute crop of the affected districts with accuracy of 85%. The cross-polarized backscatter (σ⁰_VH) of Sentinel-1 was found to be sensitive to the sudden change in the canopy structure due to lodging and partial flooding. [Formula: see text](σ⁰_{VH_22 May} - σ⁰_{VH_16 May}) indicating post-event damage was > 2.5 dB over the affected jute crop and [Formula: see text] (σ⁰_{VH_22 May} - σ⁰_{VH_28 May}) representing post-event recovery showed > 1.5 dB for recovered crop, depending on the crop vigor/height. Decision matrix was prepared combining [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for NDVI-based crop vigor strata (low, medium, and high) to classify the area into affected, marginally affected and normal. Overall accuracy of the classified map was found to be 84.12% with kappa coefficient of 0.74. Nearly, 12.5% of the jute area, i.e., 38,119 ha was found to be either affected or marginally affected due to Amphan and distributed in the southern part of Murshidabad, north-eastern Nadia, northern 24 Paraganas (N), and middle region of Hooghli district. Geospatial map of block-wise affected jute area was prepared to facilitate informed decision making. The study demonstrated an operational methodology for assessing crop lodging due to natural calamities to support relief management and crop insurance.

Preoperative and intraoperative factors predictive of complications and stricture recurrence following multiple urethroplasty techniques

Objectives

To investigate factors predictive of postoperative recurrence and complications in patients undergoing urethroplasty for stricture repair at a single center.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 108 men who underwent urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease (USD) at a single center from 2016 to 2020. Demographic data, comorbidities, stricture history including etiology and prior treatments, patient‐reported symptoms, and outcomes data were collected for analysis. Data were analyzed in aggregate, then, stratified by type of urethroplasty performed. Descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, and intergroup comparisons were completed using STATA, with an alpha value of 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%.

Results

The median age of our patients was 58 years (interquartile range: 42‐69; range: 29‐83), with a median stricture length of 2.0 cm (interquartile range: 1.0‐4.5; range: 0.5‐10). The most common stricture etiology was iatrogenic (n = 33, 31%) and the most common urethroplasty was anterior anastomotic urethroplasty (n = 38, 35%), followed by buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty (n = 35, 32%). Twenty‐four patients (22%) had stricture recurrence. Within the aggregate data, recurrence was significantly predicted by obesity (BMI > 30) (Odds Ratio [OR] 3.2, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.06‐10), and the presence of postoperative complications (OR 6.3, CI: 1.9‐21). The presence of any postoperative complications within 90 days was significantly predicted by stricture length ≥ 5 cm (OR 3.5, CI 1.09‐12) and recurrence (OR 6.0, CI 1.7‐21).

Conclusion

Despite serving as the most definitive treatment for urethral stricture management, stricture recurrence and postoperative complications are not uncommon after urethroplasty. Obesity and stricture length negatively impact outcomes while a penile stricture location is associated with a lower recurrence rate, though this is not statistically significant.

Associations of total and free 25OHD and 1,25(OH)2D with serum markers of inflammation in older men

Vitamin D is hypothesized to suppress inflammation. We tested total and free vitamin D metabolites and their association with inflammatory markers. Interleukin-6 levels were lower with higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and free 25OHD associations mirrored those of 25OHD. However, associations for the two metabolites diverged for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) soluble receptors.

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D is hypothesized to suppress inflammation, and circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and inflammatory markers are inversely correlated. However, total serum 25OHD may not be the best indicator of biologically active vitamin D.

METHODS

We tested serum total 25OHD, total 1,25(OH)2D, vitamin D binding protein (DBP), and estimated free 25OHD and free 1,25(OH)2D associations with inflammatory markers serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α and their soluble receptors, interleukin-10 (IL-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP) as continuous outcomes and the presence of ≥2 inflammatory markers in the highest quartile as a dichotomous outcome, in a random subcohort of 679 men in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study.

RESULTS

IL-6 was lower in men with higher 25OHD (-0.23 μg/mL per standard deviation (SD) increase in 25OHD, 95 % confidence intervals (CI) -0.07 to -0.38 μg/mL) and with higher 1,25(OH)2D (-0.20 μg/mL, 95 % CI -0.0004 to -0.39 μg/mL); free D associations were slightly stronger. 25OHD and DBP, but not 1,25(OH)2D, were independently associated with IL-6. TNF-α soluble receptors were inversely associated with 1,25(OH)2D but positively associated with 25OHD, and each had independent effects. The strongest association with ≥2 inflammatory markers in the highest quartile was for free 1,25(OH)2D (odds ratios (OR) 0.70, 95 % CI 0.54 to 0.89 per SD increase in free 1,25(OH)2D).

CONCLUSIONS

Associations of 1,25(OH)2D and free 25OHD with IL-6 mirrored those of 25OHD, suggesting that 1,25(OH)2D and free D do not improve upon 25OHD in population-based IL-6 studies. However, associations for the two metabolites diverged for TNF-α soluble receptor, warranting examination of both metabolites in studies of TNF-α and its antagonists.

Minimal Apical Enlargement for Penetration of Irrigants to the Apical Third of Root Canal System: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine minimal apical enlargement for irrigant penetration into apical third of root canal system using scanning electron microscope (SEM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Distobuccal canals of 40 freshly extracted human maxillary first molar teeth were instrumented using crown-down technique. The teeth were divided into four test groups according to size of their master apical file (MAF) (#20, #25, #30, #35 0.06% taper), and two control groups. After final irrigation, removal of debris and smear layer from the apical third of root canals was determined under a SEM. Data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.

RESULTS

Smear layer removal in apical third for MAF size #30 was comparable with that of the control group (size #40).

CONCLUSION

Minimal apical enlargement for penetration of irrigants to the apical third of root canal system is #30 size.

An unusual complication of a common gynaecological procedure

A case of bilateral, but more of massive right sided transudative pleural effusion associated with bilateral ureteric trauma following laparoscopy for endometriosis is reported. The diagnosis of urinothorax was confirmed by demonstrating a pleural fluid to serum creatinine ratio of greater than one. Management of ureteric injury by insertion of Double J (DJ) stents on both sides resulted in resolution of the pleural effusion.

Characterization of indoor bioaerosols from a hospital ward in a tropical setting

OBJECTIVES

Study was conducted to assess whether temporal variation exists in airborne microbial concentrations of a hospital ward (west-Chennai, India) using active and passive methods, and characterise the microorganisms.

METHODS

Air samples (duplicates) were collected simultaneously using exposed-plate, impingement (BioSampler) and filtration (personal sampling filter cassette loaded with gelatin filter) methods over different periods of the year. Bacterial plates were incubated at 37°C and observed for growth after 48h; fungal plates were incubated at 25°C and 37°C and observed upto 7 days. Microorganisms were identified using standard microbiological procedures.

RESULTS

Microbial loads were found to vary with the sampling method. Concentrations of bacteria were higher (exposed-plate: 45-150 CFU/plate; impingement: 1.12E+03-1.6856E+05 CFU/m(3); filtration: 3.788E+03-1.91111E+05 CFU/m(3)) than fungi (exposed-plate: 0-13 CFU/plate; impingement: 0-3.547E+03 CFU/m(3); filtration: 0-1.515E+04 CFU/ m(3)). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Micrococci were the predominant Gram-positive cocci in active and passive samples. Enterobacter and Pseudomonas were the predominant Gram-negative bacilli. Among fungi, Aspergillus niger was isolated throughout the year. There was no significant temporal variation in airborne microbial loads irrespective of methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposed-plate method was found to capture microorganisms efficiently with little variation in duplicate samples, suggesting its use in hospitals for preliminary assessment of indoor air quality and determine pathogenic microorganisms due to particle fall-out.

An association of Alternaria alternata and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis

Rare molds are increasingly emerging as a cause of deep and invasive fungal infections. We report here a rare case of cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis of the lower limbs due to Alternaria alternata associated with extra-ungual localization of Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. Diagnosis was made based on repeated, direct, microscopic mycological and histological examinations. The study revealed hyphae and fungal cells in a granulomatous dermal infiltrate. Identification of the molds was based on macroscopic appearance on culture of samples from the lesions on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and microscopic appearance on Lactophenol cotton blue following slide culture.

Superantigens - concepts, clinical disease and therapy

The term superantigen was introduced in microbiology and immunology only a decade ago. The unique feature of superantigen is that it bypasses the antigen processing mechanism and specifically binds to TCR v segment and forms a trimolecular complex along with major histocompatibility complex class II. Since its discovery, several studies have been carried out to unravel the properties of superantigens. They are implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases of bacterial, viral and fungal origin. They are also known to play a role in autoimmune diseases. Therapy for these superantigens is being worked upon. Studies have shown that intravenous gamma globulin containing specific antibodies to these superantigens inhibits the activation of T-Cells and also the cytokine production by them resulting in dramatic recovery from superantigen mediated diseases. The use of superantigen in the therapy of cancer is being explored.

Role of surface swab, core swab and fine needle aspiration in isolating the core bacteria in inflammed tonsils

The microbial flora of 75 patients with chronic tonsillitis were sudied to identify the commonest organism causing chronic tonsillitis and to compare surface swab, fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core swab in isolating the pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant isolate from surface core swab FNA and surface swab. In our study the correlation between surface swab with core swab was 47.9% and between surface swab with FNA 57.3%. The correlation between FNA with core swab of 69.3% showed that FNA for culture was superior to surface swab in predicting the core culture. Hence FNA of the tonsil has more advantage over the routinely performed surface swab in representing the core pathogen. Thus the rationale of treating chronic tonsillitis medically should be based on the knowledge of the common core pathogen.

Increase in plasma IL-10 levels and rapid loss of CD4+ T cells among HIV-infected individuals in south India

Increased levels of immune activation among HIV patients from developing countries are believed to accelerate and/or enhance the shift to a Th2 cytokine environment, which in turn may result in a more rapid progression to AIDS. In support of this hypothesis, we present data from a cohort of 35 HIV+ individuals in southern India. Among asymptomatic individuals in this cohort, a dramatic increase in plasma interleukin (IL)-10 coincided with rapid decrease in CD4 counts and progression to AIDS. Serum IL-10 levels were significantly higher after 6 months of follow up (P=0.01), while CD4 counts declined at a rate of 280 cells/ul per year, roughly 3 times the rate of decline reported for HIV+ asymptomatic subjects in developed countries. Changes in serum IL-10 levels and CD4 counts fell short of statistically significant correlation (P=0.1). Among AIDS patients in this cohort, the mean period from diagnosis of AIDS to death was <5 months and is in agreement with an earlier report of rapid progression in India.

Epidemiological features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in southern India

AIDS was diagnosed in 187 men and 24 women (M:F = 8:1) from April 1987 till December 1994 at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore. The doubling time of the occurrence of AIDS cases was 14 months; during 1987-90 there were an average of 5.7 cases per year; in 1991-93 there were 28 per year; in 1994 there were 104 cases. The mean age of patients was 33 yr for men and 31 for women. Among men, the primary mode of infection was heterosexual contact with female commercial sex workers. Among women, the most common source of infection was their husbands. There were 4 bisexuals and one homosexual subject who might have acquired infection by having sex with other men. There were 135 subjects from urban and 76 from rural communities. Most subjects belonged to the lower socio-economic classes. These data show that HIV infection had been very widespread in this region, both urban and rural.