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Background Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is the most common congenital fusion anomaly and found in 1 in 400 of the general population (Grainger et al. in Ir Med J 76:315–317, 1983 Jul). Impaired drainage due to anomalous anatomy leads to ureteric obstruction resulting in hydronephrosis and nonfunctioning kidney. Conventionally heminephrectomy is done by open technique; however, in the era of minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic heminephrectomy in HSK has been described. Kidney location, aberrant vasculature and isthmus division are the most common obstacle encountered by the operating surgeon. Here we report our single-center experience in laparoscopic heminephrectomy in four patients with HSK. Methods Retrospective data were analyzed for four cases of laparoscopic heminephrectomy for nonfunctioning moiety in HSK operated between 2012 and 2020. Of these four patients, one case was converted to open approach in view of intra-operative bleeding. Computed tomography urogram (CTU) was done pre-operatively in all patients. Laparoscopic surgery was performed via transperitoneal approach. Results The mean age of the patients was 37 ± 5.38 years. Flank pain was noted in all cases while dysuria seen in two patients and one patient had fever. Mean operative time was 145 ± 26.92 min and estimated blood loss was 85 ± 55 ml. Various techniques for isthmectomy and lower pole resection were used including use of monopolar hook in laparoscopic suite, Ligasure and bipolar scissor in minimal invasive milieu and monopolar cautery in laparoscopic conversion to open procedure. Histopathological examination revealed chronic pyelonephritis in three cases and squamous cell carcinoma of renal pelvis in one case which was converted to open. Conclusions Laparoscopic heminephrectomy in HSK is doable. Preoperative CT urography along with CT angiography may provide important anatomical and vascular information which reduces intra-operative risks of vascular injury or calyceal entry. Vascular control of isthmus and transection of dilated and thinned out lower pole with cauterization of pelvicalyceal mucosa will provide uneventful surgical course.

Background Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) is the most preferred intervention for the management of prostatic malignancy worldwide. Hem-o-Lok clips (HOLC) are widely used for haemostasis and lateral pedicle ligation. These clips are prone to migrate and lodge at the anastomotic junction as well as inside the bladder causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to bladder neck contracture (BNC) or bladder calculi. The objective of this study is to describe the incidence, clinical presentation, management, and outcome of HOLC migration. Methodology Retrospective analysis of the database of Post RALP patients who developed LUTS secondary to HOLC migration was done. Cystoscopy findings, number of procedures required, number of HOLC removed intra-operatively, and follow-up of the patients was reviewed. Results The incidence of HOLC migration requiring intervention was 1.78% (9/505). The mean age of the patient, BMI, Pre-operative Serum PSA were 62.8 years, 27.8 kg/m 2 , and 9.8 ng/mL, respectively. The mean duration of appearance of symptoms due to HOLC migration was 9 months. Two patients presented with Haematuria and 7 presented with LUTS. Seven patients required a single intervention while 2 required up to 6 procedures for recurrent symptoms secondary to recurrent HOLC migration. Conclusion HOLC use in RALP may present with migration and associated complications. HOLC migration is associated with severe BNC and may require multiple endoscopic interventions. Severe dysuria and LUTS not responding to medical management should be treated using an algorithmic approach and there should be a low threshold for performing cystoscopy and intervention in these cases to improve outcomes.

Over the last decade dealing with derivative financial instruments (basically forwards, futures, options and combinations of these), particularly in the Over-The- Counter derivatives market has become a central activity for major wholesale banks and financial institutions. Major new regulatory initiatives are under consideration in various jurisdictions and also adopted in some, as a means for increasing transparency and reducing the various types of risks involved in OTC derivative trading. This paper tries to understand the concept of derivatives as a whole. The main aim of the paper will be to analyze the different types of risks that are involved in OTC derivative trading. It will put forward these risks in a manner so as to enable the reader to get an in depth study of the risks in OTC derivative market through qualitative and quantitative research. As mentioned above, this paper will then focus on the regulatory regimes of three major jurisdictions i.e. India, United States and Europe and will conclude that these regulations are sufficiently able to mitigate these risks in their respective jurisdictions. Lastly, certain measures are recommended for different jurisdictions so as to further increase the ambit of sufficiency in mitigating the risks involved.

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has transformed almost every facet of human society throughout the world. Against an emerging, highly transmissible disease, governments worldwide have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to slow the spread of the virus. Examples of such interventions include community actions, such as school closures or restrictions on mass gatherings, individual actions including mask wearing and self-quarantine, and environmental actions such as cleaning public facilities. We present the Worldwide Non-pharmaceutical Interventions Tracker for COVID-19 (WNTRAC), a comprehensive dataset consisting of over 6,000 NPIs implemented worldwide since the start of the pandemic. WNTRAC covers NPIs implemented across 261 countries and territories, and classifies NPIs into a taxonomy of 16 NPI types. NPIs are automatically extracted daily from Wikipedia articles using natural language processing techniques and then manually validated to ensure accuracy and veracity. We hope that the dataset will prove valuable for policymakers, public health leaders, and researchers in modeling and analysis efforts to control the spread of COVID-19. Measurement(s) Preventive Intervention • Public Health Technology Type(s) natural language processing objective • Artificial Intelligence Sample Characteristic - Environment anthropogenic environment Sample Characteristic - Location Global Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13999484

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a small-vessel vasculitis with a reported incidence rate of 30 cases per million persons per year. It usually presents as a palpable purpuric skin rash on legs, though any part of the body can be affected. LCV rash may have an associated burning sensation or pain and in some cases may involve internal organs. In some cases, LCV rash may present as nodules, recurrent ulcerations or asymptomatic lesions. The diagnosis of LCV is usually made on skin biopsy. Etiological triggers may not be identified in as many as half of the cases. Treatment is usually conservative and includes identification and removal or treatment of the etiological trigger except in cases with internal organ involvement where systemic steroids and immunosuppressant may be necessary. In this article we present a case of Amoxicillin and Clavulanate potassium associated LCV that improved with discontinuation of the offending agent and treatment with systemic corticosteroids..

Recently there has been growing interest in developing smart photovoltaic fabric devices. These devices could be used as a sustainable and ubiquitous power source for wearable and other electronic devices. Three woven photovoltaic fabric structures were constructed with fiber-shaped organic photovoltaic wire from Konarka Technologies, Inc. (Lowell, MA, USA). The organic photovoltaic wire is a flexible, lightweight and wire shaped organic photovoltaic fiber based on bulk hetero-junction nanocomposites. The power conversion characteristics of photovoltaic fabrics developed were thoroughly investigated. It was found that the power conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic fabric depends on the incident light quality; fabric cover factor, swatch size, and fabric weave structure. This study also includes photovoltaic fabric model for understanding the effects of different fabric geometry on power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic fabrics. The model predicts the performance of the photovoltaic fabrics with different shape, size and structures, and it provides design criteria for more efficient photovoltaic fabric device.

Synthesis of advanced ceramic materials with improved microstructure, finding widespread applications as photocatalysts, is a challenge before the chemists. This communication describes a wet chemical method based upon sol-gel technique, which is simple, fast and can be effectively used for the synthesis of doped metal-oxide semiconductors, which constitute a widely used class of photocatalysts. The method has been successfully employed in synthesizing Ti-doped Fe2O3 (haematite), using aqueous solutions of Fe and Ti nitrates as precursor. The key reagent involved here is glycerol (taken in appropriate amount), the intricate chemistry of which helps in simultaneous precipitation of both Fe and Ti at pH slightly above 7, thus avoiding phase separation. The doped Fe2O3 thus synthesized has been characterized, particularly with regard to its potential use in photoelectrochemical cell.