Introduction and evolution of dengue virus type 2 in Pakistan: a phylogeographic analysis

Discrete Bayes Factors from SPREAD. Locations are denoted with two letter codes (Additional file 5: Table S3). The upper half of the matrix shows the mean (standard deviation) for the discrete Bayes Factor calculated for the 12 discrete trait models. The lower half of the matrix shows how many times a linkage had a Bayes Factor greater than 3.0. (XLSX 9 kb

Drivers of Supply Chain Performance Enhancing Organizational Output: An Exploratory Study for Manufacturing Sector

Purpose - The Purpose of this study is to explore the drivers of supply chain performance and give a framework that how organizations can manage these drivers for their survival. This paper is written especially for the students of business management to enhance their knowledge about supply chain practices. Methodology - The paper contains qualitative approach. In first phase the authors reviewed literature about the drivers of supply chain performance. In second phase the data from internationally published articles were collected and suggest a framework to manage the drivers of supply chain performance. Findings - The whole study concluded that there are six drivers of supply chain performance in literature that need to be managed to enhance organizational performance. These drivers are; Facilities, Inventory, Transportation, Information, Sourcing and pricing. These drivers are closely related with each other and have a greater impact on organizational performance. Organizations need to find a situation where both efficiency and responsiveness in supply chain practices are at average level to enhance their performance. This average level can only be achieved through better management of drivers of supply chain performance. Paper Limitation - The paper is limited by the fact that it focuses only manufacturing sector. Originality/value - This paper provides a collective framework for managing all drivers of supply chain performance. Keywords - Drivers of supply chain performance, Efficiency, Responsiveness, Supply chain management, Supply chain performance Paper Type - Research pape

A Bio-Inspired Global Finite Time Tracking Control of Four-Rotor Test Bench System

A bio-inspired global finite time control using global fast-terminal sliding mode controller and radial basis function network is presented in this article, to address the attitude tracking control problem of the three degree-of-freedom four-rotor hover system. The proposed controller provides convergence of system states in a pre-determined finite time and estimates the unmodeled dynamics of the four-rotor system. Dynamic model of the four-rotor system is derived with Newton’s force equations. The unknown dynamics of four-rotor systems are estimated using Radial basis function. The bio-inspired global fast terminal sliding mode controller is proposed to provide chattering free finite time error convergence and to provide optimal tracking of the attitude angles while being subjected to unknown dynamics. The global stability proof of the designed controller is provided on the basis of Lyapunov stability theorem. The proposed controller is validated by (i) conducting an experiment through implementing it on the laboratory-based hover system, and (ii) through simulations. Performance of the proposed control scheme is also compared with classical and intelligent controllers. The performance comparison exhibits that the designed controller has quick transient response and improved chattering free steady state performance. The proposed bio-inspired global fast terminal sliding mode controller offers improved estimation and better tracking performance than the traditional controllers. In addition, the proposed controller is computationally cost effective and can be implanted on multirotor unmanned air vehicles with limited computational processing capabilities

Prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection among hepatitis b virus surface antigen positive patients circulating in the largest province of pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection is well known to induce a spectrum of acute and chronic liver diseases which further advance to cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis D virus super-infection among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive individuals in the highly populated province of Pakistan which is not well known.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sera samples were subjected to HBsAg and anti-HDV screening and finally anti-HDV and HBsAg positive coinfected samples were used for HDV active RNA confirmation using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of total 200 HBsAg positive samples by rapid device, 96 (48%) were also found reactive for HBsAg using enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Out of these HBsAg ELISA positive samples, 80 (88.8%) were anti-HDV ELISA positive which were then subjected to PCR. The amplification results further confirmed 24 (30%) samples to be HDV RNA positive. HDV super-infection was more common in male patients than female patients (81% VS 19%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The current study shows a high prevalence rate of HDV-HBV co-infection in Pakistan that tends to increase over time.</p

Long-term Outcome After Nonvascularized Rectus Fascia Transplantation in Solid Organ Transplantation: A Global Multicenter IIRTA Survey

BackgroundAbdominal wall (AW) closure after solid organ transplantation (SOT) is challenging in case of loss of abdominal domain and/or large-for-size grafts. Primary closure is crucial to avoid open abdomen-associated morbidity and mortality. Several techniques have been developed to address this challenge, including nonvascularized rectus fascia transplantation (NVRF Tx). Long-term outcome is missing.MethodsWe designed a multicenter survey to analyze the worldwide experience after NVRF Tx. International Intestinal Rehabilitation And Transplantation Association members were invited to participate to a questionnaire. The survey included all NVRF Tx performed after SOT. Questions were classified into pre-, intra-, and postoperative data.ResultsOf the 29 responding centers, 8 performed NVRF Tx, comprising 98 patients in total. Thirty-two patients underwent multivisceral Tx (33.3%), 27 isolated intestinal Tx (28.1%), 21 combined liver-intestinal Tx (21.9%), 8 liver Tx (8.3%), 8 other SOT (8.3%), and 2 (2.0%) not reported. Thirty NVRF (30.9%) were from third-party donors. Thirty patients (31.3%) had surgical site infections. Seventy-one (74.0%) patients had reoperations, of them 18 (26.1%) patients had NVRF removal. Median follow-up time was 31 mo (10.0-63.5). Seventeen patients presented with bulging of the AW (18.7%), 5 with herniation (5.9%). No NVRF graft rejection was reported.ConclusionsThis survey reports long-term outcome after NVRF Tx, with herniation in a limited number of patients, no suspicion of clinical rejection and no additional infection and mortality. NVRF Tx has proven to be a useful option, belonging to the standard armamentarium for AW closure after SOT

Cholangiocyte organoids can repair bile ducts after transplantation in the human liver.

Organoid technology holds great promise for regenerative medicine but has not yet been applied to humans. We address this challenge using cholangiocyte organoids in the context of cholangiopathies, which represent a key reason for liver transplantation. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we show that primary human cholangiocytes display transcriptional diversity that is lost in organoid culture. However, cholangiocyte organoids remain plastic and resume their in vivo signatures when transplanted back in the biliary tree. We then utilize a model of cell engraftment in human livers undergoing ex vivo normothermic perfusion to demonstrate that this property allows extrahepatic organoids to repair human intrahepatic ducts after transplantation. Our results provide proof of principle that cholangiocyte organoids can be used to repair human biliary epithelium

Intestinal transplantation in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

In patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), large desmoid tumors can develop all over the body. However, the most frequent presentation is as large intra-abdominal masses, usually located in the mesentery of the small bowel. From there, they tend to grow and invade both the abdominal wall and/or the retroperitoneal structures. This can cause life-threatening complications such as recurrent abdominal sepsis with fistulation and damage to vital organs. In selected patients, the only option may be radical resection and replacement by intestinal transplantation (ITx). We aimed to review all the current literature on ITx for FAP-related desmoids and provide an update from the largest single-center experience (2007–2024). All patients undergoing ITx for FAP-related desmoid were included. Between 2007 and 2024, 166 ITx was performed in 158 patients at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK. Of these, 20 (12%) were for desmoid associated with FAP (10 modified multivisceral transplants, 8 isolated ITx and 2 liver-containing grafts). The five-year all-cause patient survival was 92%, median follow-up was 4.3 years. As the patients presented with very advanced disease, many technical challenges were faced such as: extensive ureteric involvement, abdominal wall fistulation, management of previously formed ileo-anal pouches and extra-abdominal recurrences. Graft selection was another evolving issue, as foregut resection- versus sparing techniques require careful preoperative risk stratification due to increased long-term cancer risk in FAP patients. For certain patients with advanced FAP/desmoid disease, ITx can allow for a radical resection with excellent survival and functional outcomes. However, there is a high degree of initial morbidity associated with the operation and patients should be appropriately counselled. Graft selection and degree of native organ resection requires a careful balanced discussion