Diagnostic suggestion and surgical consideration for Hirschsprung’s disease associated with high anorectal malformation

Object: The objective of this study were to highlight the finding of vasa recta (tortuous) on the colonic wall as a diagnostic clue for suspecting an associated Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) and to draw attention to the importance of preserving the aganglionic rectum plus a retrorectal pull through in these cases.Background: The association of HD with anorectal malformation (ARM) is both diagnostically and surgically challenging.Patients and methods: Records of cases with ARM treated over 15 years were examined. Among these, five children with an associated HD were analyzed with regard to their clinical, radiological, surgical, histopathological findings, and outcome. Relevant literature was also reviewed.Results: HD was present in 1.26% cases of ARM. All were men with high-type ARM. Two groups were identified. In group 1 (two patients), associated HD was suspected after completion of all stages of ARM repair. They reported prolonged postoperative constipation, abdominal distention, and enterocolitis. Moreover, they endured additional surgeries for HD. In group 2 (three patients), HD was suspected at the time of initial colostomy for ARM in two patients on visualizing tortuous (cork screw) vasa recta on the sigmoid colon surface in a region similar to the transition zone in HD. Biopsy from the site confirmed HD. In the third patient, these vessels were visualized on the colostomy loop at the time of laparoscopic pull through for ARM. Preservation of the aganglionic rectum (to function as a fecal reservoir) as well as a retrorectal pull through was done in both groups.Conclusion: Finding prominent corkscrew vessels on the colonic surface could serve as a clinical clue for the presence of HD in cases of ARM. Moreover, preserving the aganglionic rectum and performing a Duhamel pull through helps provide acceptable continence.Keywords: anorectal malformation, Hirschsprung’s disease, rectal reservoir, tortuous vasa rect

Layout optimisation algorithms and reliability assessment of wind farm for microgrid integration:A comprehensive review

Abstract The paper represents a comprehensive review of the wind farm layout and reliability assessment of the wind farm integrated electrical power system. The authors have done a review on the proliferation of renewable energy which raises the uncertainties in the electrical power system. The uncertainties including wind speed and wake effect are important to deal with when an isolated microgrid is considered. The scenario becomes vigilant when the wind farms are integrated with the main grid. Due to uncertainties, the study of reliability evaluation of a wind integrated power system would become significant to analyse the electrical power system behaviour effectively. So, the paper discusses the layout optimisation methods of wind turbines considering the uncertainty parameters, mainly the wake effect. In this regard, the different wake models and optimisation methods based on a single‐objective and multi‐objective functions are reviewed in detail with the proper comparisons. The paper serves as a better illustration of the competency of these optimisation methods on the optimal wind turbine location on a wind farm. Furthermore, the paper extends the view on the reliability and cost assessment, and reliability improvement techniques of the wind integrated power system. This article provides comprehensive information, yields an attractive and subsequent tool for research requirements for the researchers to design the wind farm layout, and assessed the reliability of a wind integrated power system

Evaluation of improved pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) varieties for organoleptic dal quality in India

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajanL.) is an important pulse crop in the Indian diet and one of the most important sources of dietary protein for the population. Organoleptic qualities of pigeon pea dal were tested to draw conclusions on the preferred varieties. Organoleptic qualities such as taste, texture, aroma, tenderness, sweetness and overall acceptance were tested by a trained sensory panel. Available and commercially viable improved varieties were selected for the analysis. All samples were milled and cooked under the same conditions. Results indicated that PUSA ARHAR 16, one of the improved varieties, presents a good potential in terms of agronomic characteristics for farmers and is also well accepted by the sensory panel during the organoleptic evaluation. Generating sound scientific evidence on organoleptic characteristics of pigeon pea is important for the breeders, as they will evaluate which varieties have a commercial potential and are accepted by the consumers

Probiotic Amelioration of Azotemia in 5/6th Nephrectomized Sprague-Dawley Rats

The present study was to test the hypothesis that selected bacteria instilled into the gastrointestinal tract could help in converting nitrogenous wastes accumulated due to renal insufficiency into nontoxic compounds; thereby, ameliorating the biochemical imbalance. Herein we describe a prospective, blinded, placebo-controlled pilot study, using 5/6th nephrectomized Sprague Dawley rat as a chronic renal failure model. The study group consisted of 36 nephrectomized and 7 non-nephrectomized (control) rats. After two-week nephrectomy stabilization, cohorts of six nephrectomized rats were fed casein-based diet plus one of the following regimens: (A) Control, (B) Placebo (casein-based diet without probiotics), (C) Bacillus pasteurii, (D) Sporolac®, (E) Kibow cocktail, (F) CHR Hansen Cocktail, and (G) ECONORMTM. Subsequently, blood (retro-orbital) and urine (collected for measurements of blood urea-nitrogen and creatinine respectively), body weight and bacterial counts (feces) were obtained at regular intervals. The study end-points were to determine if any of the probiotic dietary supplements facilitated, (1) decreased blood concentrations of uremic toxins, (2) altered renal function, and (3) prolonged survival. After 16 weeks of treatment, regimens C and D significantly prolonged the life span of uremic rats, in addition to showing a reduction in blood urea-nitrogen levels, concluding that supplementation of probiotic formulation to uremic rats slows the progression of azotemia, which may correlate with prolonged life span of uremic rats. Derivative trials of probiotic treatment of larger animals and humans will further assess the potential role of probiotic formulations in delaying the onset and clinical severity of clinical illness at different stages of renal failure

Drivers of habitat availability for terrestrial mammals: Unravelling the role of livestock, land conversion and intrinsic traits in the past 50 years

The global decline of terrestrial species is largely due to the degradation, loss and fragmentation of their habitats. The conversion of natural ecosystems for cropland, rangeland, forest products and human infrastructure are the primary causes of habitat deterioration. Due to the paucity of data on the past distribution of species and the scarcity of fine-scale habitat conversion maps, however, accurate assessment of the recent effects of habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation on the range of mammals has been near impossible. We aim to assess the proportions of available habitat within the lost and retained parts of mammals' distribution ranges, and to identify the drivers of habitat availability. We produced distribution maps for 475 terrestrial mammals for the range they occupied 50 years ago and compared them to current range maps. We then calculated the differences in the percentage of 'area of habitat' (habitat available to a species within its range) between the lost and retained range areas. Finally, we ran generalized linear mixed models to identify which variables were more influential in determining habitat availability in the lost and retained parts of the distribution ranges. We found that 59% of species had a lower proportion of available habitat in the lost range compared to the retained range, thus hypothesizing that habitat loss could have contributed to range declines. The most important factors negatively affecting habitat availability were the conversion of land to rangeland and high density of livestock. Significant intrinsic traits were those related to reproductive timing and output, habitat breadth and medium body size. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts caused by human activities on the habitats of mammals, and offer evidence indicating which species have the potential to reoccupy portions of their former range if other threats cease to occur.This study investigates the impact of habitat degradation on terrestrial mammal species. By comparing historic and current distribution maps for 475 species, we found that 59% of them have less available habitat in their lost ranges, suggesting habitat loss contributed to range declines. Factors like land conversion to rangeland and high livestock density negatively affected habitat availability. Intrinsic traits such as reproductive timing, habitat breadth and medium body size also played a role. The study underscores the need for conservation efforts to mitigate human-induced habitat threats and identifies species that could potentially reclaim lost range if threats are addressed.imag

Conceptualizing and measuring distance in international business research:Recurring questions and best practice guidelines

Distance is a central concept in international business research, yet there is debate about the construct as well as its operationalization. In this editorial, we address three of the most important recurring questions posed by authors, editors, and reviewers by examining the theory, methods, and data of distance research. We discuss (1) how to theorize on distance, and (2) what method and (3) what data to use when constructing a distance index. We develop practical recommendations grounded in theory, illustrating and supporting them by calculating cross-country distance indices for all available country pairs and two of the most used distance indices: cultural and institutional. We show that, whereas a specific method to calculate distance may matter to some extent, the choice for a specific cultural or institutional framework to measure cultural or institutional distance has a major impact on country-pair distances. Overall, this editorial highlights the importance of matching data and method to the theoretical argument.</p

Drivers of habitat availability for terrestrial mammals : unravelling the role of livestock, land conversion and intrinsic traits in the past 50 years

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo. 8362601, reference number 8362601.The global decline of terrestrial species is largely due to the degradation, loss and fragmentation of their habitats. The conversion of natural ecosystems for cropland, rangeland, forest products and human infrastructure are the primary causes of habitat deterioration. Due to the paucity of data on the past distribution of species and the scarcity of fine-scale habitat conversion maps, however, accurate assessment of the recent effects of habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation on the range of mammals has been near impossible. We aim to assess the proportions of available habitat within the lost and retained parts of mammals' distribution ranges, and to identify the drivers of habitat availability. We produced distribution maps for 475 terrestrial mammals for the range they occupied 50 years ago and compared them to current range maps. We then calculated the differences in the percentage of ‘area of habitat’ (habitat available to a species within its range) between the lost and retained range areas. Finally, we ran generalized linear mixed models to identify which variables were more influential in determining habitat availability in the lost and retained parts of the distribution ranges. We found that 59% of species had a lower proportion of available habitat in the lost range compared to the retained range, thus hypothesizing that habitat loss could have contributed to range declines. The most important factors negatively affecting habitat availability were the conversion of land to rangeland and high density of livestock. Significant intrinsic traits were those related to reproductive timing and output, habitat breadth and medium body size. Our findings emphasize the importance of implementing conservation strategies to mitigate the impacts caused by human activities on the habitats of mammals, and offer evidence indicating which species have the potential to reoccupy portions of their former range if other threats cease to occur.European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme; Northumbria University; ANID; Government of Equatorial Guinea; Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial; Bioko Biodiversity Protection Project; ExxonMobil Foundation; Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc.; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.http://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/gcbam2024Mammal Research InstituteSDG-15:Life on lan

Breast cancer management pathways during the COVID-19 pandemic: outcomes from the UK ‘Alert Level 4’ phase of the B-MaP-C study

Abstract: Background: The B-MaP-C study aimed to determine alterations to breast cancer (BC) management during the peak transmission period of the UK COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact of these treatment decisions. Methods: This was a national cohort study of patients with early BC undergoing multidisciplinary team (MDT)-guided treatment recommendations during the pandemic, designated ‘standard’ or ‘COVID-altered’, in the preoperative, operative and post-operative setting. Findings: Of 3776 patients (from 64 UK units) in the study, 2246 (59%) had ‘COVID-altered’ management. ‘Bridging’ endocrine therapy was used (n = 951) where theatre capacity was reduced. There was increasing access to COVID-19 low-risk theatres during the study period (59%). In line with national guidance, immediate breast reconstruction was avoided (n = 299). Where adjuvant chemotherapy was omitted (n = 81), the median benefit was only 3% (IQR 2–9%) using ‘NHS Predict’. There was the rapid adoption of new evidence-based hypofractionated radiotherapy (n = 781, from 46 units). Only 14 patients (1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during their treatment journey. Conclusions: The majority of ‘COVID-altered’ management decisions were largely in line with pre-COVID evidence-based guidelines, implying that breast cancer survival outcomes are unlikely to be negatively impacted by the pandemic. However, in this study, the potential impact of delays to BC presentation or diagnosis remains unknown