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Menstrual cycle characteristics are regulated hormonally and are integrated at the level of the hypothalamus. Stress can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis. The objective of the study was to analyse the stress levels of women and compare their autonomic tone and menstrual characteristics. A group of 100 apparently healthy, young, female volunteers were included in this pilot cohort study. Subjects were assessed for perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale 14 Item (PSS-14) questionnaire, underwent a heart rate variability (HRV) test on the second, 10th, and 21st days of their menstrual cycle, and their menstrual history was recorded. The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, version 21.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) software. Metric data were expressed in terms of numerical value and analysed as mean ± SD. Paired Student's T-test was used to compare the HRV data of all three days of the menstrual cycle separately, and p value<0.05 was considered significant. Menstrual irregularity was complained of by 13 subjects (Group A), and the rest (87 subjects) reported regular menses (Group B). The perceived stress scores of Group A were significantly higher than Group B (32.53±5.062 vs 28.057±7.618; p=0.044). On second day, Group A had higher median R-R interval (714.38±106 vs 656.84±73.50 ms; p=0.015) and lower average heart rate (85.85±12.07 vs 92.39±9.98 bpm; p=0.034) than Group B, suggesting parasympathetic dominance. On the 10th day, Group A had a higher standard deviation of heart rate (7.09±1.88 vs 5.97±1.71 bpm; p=0.032) and a very low-frequency band (1105.94±984.12 vs 730.49±557.41 μs ; p=0.046) than Group B, indicating parasympathetic dominance in Group A. On the 21st day, Group A had a higher standard deviation of R-R interval (58.19±20.46 vs 44.85±14.55 ms; p=0.004), root mean square standard deviation (55.71±29.84 vs 31.89±15.99 ms; p<0.001), percentage of R-R differing by 50 ms (19.20±19.58 vs 10.87±10.31%; p=0.020), total power (3,440.23±2722.29 vs 2,068.28±1,322.49 μs ; p=0.004), high-frequency band (1,247.57±1173.54 vs 539.06±HPO438.92 μs ; p<0.001), standard deviation ratio of the Poincaré plot (0.53±0.19 vs 0.39±0.16; p=0.003), normalised HF (44.0±12.9 vs 35.4±10.6; p=0.009), and a lower LF/HF ratio (1.43±0.80 vs 2.11±1.16; p=0.043) and normalised LF (53.9±14.4 vs 64.1±11.9; p=0.006) than Group B, suggesting higher parasympathetic tone of Group A than Group B. Analysing these results, it can be concluded that, in apparently healthy young women, menstrual irregularity is a physiological adaptation to combat perceived stress and maintain parasympathetic dominance.

The growing demand for efficient cloud computing solutions has highlighted the need for advanced task-scheduling techniques that minimize execution time and energy consumption. An appropriate fitness function for nature-inspired optimization may lead to improvement in performance. Our research aims to bridge this gap by proposing novel optimization-based task-scheduling techniques using nature-inspired meta-heuristic algorithms. An enhanced initialization approach for particle swarm optimization (PSO) is introduced, and an ellipsoid function as the fitness function to optimize key performance metrics, including makespan, execution time, energy consumption, and degree of imbalance, is applied. Additionally, we explore a genetic approach for further optimization. The proposed algorithms, longest job-based optimization (LJPBO), efficient task scheduling-based optimization (ETSBO), dynamic completion time-based optimization (DCTBO), and dynamic completion time-based genetic algorithm (DCTBGA), are evaluated against existing algorithms using performance measures. The results demonstrate substantial improvements of proposed algorithms LJPBO, ETSBO, DCTBO, and DCTBGA, with respect to MCTPSO with reductions in energy consumption of 50.6901%, 8.9008%, 20.2066%, and 78.0909%, respectively, for 100 VMs and 400 tasks. The experiments were conducted on a Windows machine with an Intel i7-6700 processor running at 3.4 GHz and 8 GB of memory. Further, MinMin PSO task scheduling algorithm is proposed, which achieved the lowest makespan.

The current study investigates the interaction of Gamification, and Instructional Design to enhance the Usability of e-Learning in higher education programs. The study also examines the mediating role of Instructional design. Data were collected from a self-structured questionnaire from the academicians and was analyzed through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results of the study confirmed that gamification is a multi-dimensional construct significantly predicted by elements, game dynamics, motivation, and game mechanics. Further, Instructional design partially mediates the relationship between gamification and usability of e-learning. This research demonstrates that Gamification can enhance the learning environment for e-learning students. This study will also inspire educators and course developers to give due consideration to the instructional design and gamification of an online course. The research findings will motivate educators/instructors/course developers to give equal importance to instructional design and gamification as well as to the content.

The Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is one of the five payloads on board the first Indian multiwavelength astronomical observatory, AstroSat, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation on 2015 September 28. UVIT, designed for simultaneous imaging in the far-ultraviolet (FUV; 1300−1800 Å) and near-ultraviolet (NUV; 2000−3000 Å) channels, has completed 9 yr in orbit in 2024 despite the failure of the NUV channel in 2018. As the FUV optics is subject to possible reduction in sensitivity due to microscopic amounts of contaminants, we used the FUV data acquired by UVIT over the past 9 yr on the open cluster NGC 188 and the white dwarf HZ 4 to study sensitivity variations in the UVIT FUV channel. Our findings indicate no significant reduction in the sensitivity of the FUV channel over the last 9 yr, with no significant episodic variations due to unknown causes.

摘要 目的:我们进行这项研究以确定与1型糖尿病(T1D)中人类白细胞抗原(HLA)‐DR3/DQ2介导的谷氨酸脱羧酶(GAD65)特异性CD4 T细胞激活可能相关的致糖尿病性GAD65肽。 方法:选取与HLA‐DR3/DQ2分子在体外结合强烈的前30个GAD65肽, 分为4个池组。使用这些肽来刺激研究对象的CD4 T细胞, 在16小时PBMC培养中分析CD4 T细胞对干扰素(IFN‐γ), 白介素(IL)‐17, 肿瘤坏死因子‐α(TNF‐α)和IL‐10的激活表达, 使用流式细胞术进行分析。 结果:所有四个GAD65肽池(PP1‐4)都导致CD4 T细胞的IFN‐γ表达明显增加(p=0.003, p<0.0001, p=0.026 和 p=0.002, 分别), 只有池2在T1D患者与健康对照组之间显示出显著的IL‐17表达增加(p<0.0001)。肽间组间比较显示, 在患者中, PP2组与其他组相比, IFN‐γ和IL‐17的表达显著增加, IL‐10的表达显著降低(p<0.0001, p=0.02 和 p=0.04), 但在对照组中没有显示出明显差异。此外, 2号组肽对于HLA‐DRB1 * 03‐DQA1 * 05‐DQB1 * 02 + 患者而言, 导致CD4 T细胞的IFN‐γ和IL‐17表达显著增加(p=0.002), 而IL‐10表达显著降低(p=0.04)。在HLA‐DRB1 * 03‐DQA1 * 05‐DQB1 * 02 +的最近诊断的T1D患者中, CD4 T细胞的IL‐17表达显著增加(p=0.03)。 结论:GAD65肽, 尤其是属于PP2的肽段, 在T1D患者中能够诱导CD4 T细胞表达IFN‐γ和IL‐17细胞因子, 这表明在患者中2号组肽可能通过HLA‐DR3分子递呈给CD4 T细胞, 使免疫平衡朝向炎症表型转变。

Taurine or 2-aminoethanesulfonic has many fundamental biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling. It is essential for cardiovascular function and development and function of the skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. Functions of taurine include osmoregulation; membrane stabilization; modulation of calcium levels; and antioxidation, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antilipid activities. Taurine was first discovered as a component of ox (Bos taurus, from which its name is derived) bile in 1827; it had taken over a century before insights into its physiological functions were made. The present review throws light on the multifactorial properties of taurine and its potential to be used in periodontal therapy.

Background Accurate diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is important for improving the short and long-term outcomes of mothers and babies. There are different criteria to diagnose GDM. ​ Around the world, many use the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. ​ However, in India, a different method called the Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India (DIPSI) criteria is more commonly used. ​ However, there is limited evidence comparing how well these two criteria work in improving pregnancy outcomes for Indian women. ​ This study aims to fill that gap by looking at the pregnancy outcomes of women who are diagnosed with GDM using the IADPSG method but are considered normal by the DIPSI method. ​ Methodology The DECIDE (Diagnostic Evaluation and Comparison of IADPSG and DIPSI criteria for expectant mothers) study is a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study being conducted across seven sites in India, enrolling pregnant women 18 years or older and between 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. Two glucose tests are conducted as part of this study. ​ The first test follows the DIPSI method, which does not require fasting beforehand. ​ The second test follows the IADPSG method, which requires fasting overnight and measures blood glucose levels three times, before drinking a glucose solution, one hour after, and two hours after. ​ The results of the IADPSG test are kept blinded from the treating physician and the participant, unless the woman is found to have very high blood glucose levels (overt diabetes). ​Postdelivery, pregnancy outcomes of both the mothers and their newborns are collected using medical records and lab reports. ​ Discussion This study aims to address the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of two diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes: DIPSI and IADPSG. ​The goal is to determine whether the higher costs and complexity of adopting the IADPSG criteria are justified by better maternal and neonatal outcomes.​ The findings are expected to provide valuable insights that could help shape national guidelines on appropriate diagnostic criteria for GDM that can help in improving the health of mothers and newborns in India.

目的:我们进行这项研究以确定与1型糖尿病(T1D)中人类白细胞抗原(HLA)‐DR3/DQ2介导的谷氨酸脱羧酶(GAD65)特异性CD4 T细胞激活可能相关的致糖尿病性GAD65肽。 方法:选取与HLA‐DR3/DQ2分子在体外结合强烈的前30个GAD65肽, 分为4个池组。使用这些肽来刺激研究对象的CD4 T细胞, 在16小时PBMC培养中分析CD4 T细胞对干扰素(IFN‐γ), 白介素(IL)‐17, 肿瘤坏死因子‐α(TNF‐α)和IL‐10的激活表达, 使用流式细胞术进行分析。 结果:所有四个GAD65肽池(PP1‐4)都导致CD4 T细胞的IFN‐γ表达明显增加(p=0.003, p<0.0001, p=0.026 和 p=0.002, 分别), 只有池2在T1D患者与健康对照组之间显示出显著的IL‐17表达增加(p<0.0001)。肽间组间比较显示, 在患者中, PP2组与其他组相比, IFN‐γ和IL‐17的表达显著增加, IL‐10的表达显著降低(p<0.0001, p=0.02 和 p=0.04), 但在对照组中没有显示出明显差异。此外, 2号组肽对于HLA‐DRB1 * 03‐DQA1 * 05‐DQB1 * 02 + 患者而言, 导致CD4 T细胞的IFN‐γ和IL‐17表达显著增加(p=0.002), 而IL‐10表达显著降低(p=0.04)。在HLA‐DRB1 * 03‐DQA1 * 05‐DQB1 * 02 +的最近诊断的T1D患者中, CD4 T细胞的IL‐17表达显著增加(p=0.03)。 结论:GAD65肽, 尤其是属于PP2的肽段, 在T1D患者中能够诱导CD4 T细胞表达IFN‐γ和IL‐17细胞因子, 这表明在患者中2号组肽可能通过HLA‐DR3分子递呈给CD4 T细胞, 使免疫平衡朝向炎症表型转变。

Chin-on- chest deformity is not uncommon sequelae of ankylosing spondylitis. Apart from difficult airway, several other considerations might include co-existing cardio-respiratory embarrassment, osteoporotic bones, and neurological perturbations. We describe the successful anesthetic management of a case of chin-on-chest deformity with no access to midline neck structures and extremely difficult airway posted for corrective spine surgery.

The positive effect of herbal supplements on aging and age-related disorders has led to the evolution of natural curatives for remedial neurodegenerative diseases in humans. The advancement in aging is exceedingly linked to oxidative stress. Enhanced oxidative stress interrupts health of humans in various ways, necessitating to find stress alleviating herbal resources. Currently, minimal scientifically validated health and cognitive booster resources are available. Therefore, we explored the impact of plant extracts in different combinations on oxidative stress, life span and cognition using the multicellular transgenic humanized C. elegans, and further validated the same in Mus musculus, besides testing their safety and toxicity. In our investigations, the final product—the HACBF (healthy ageing cognitive booster formulation) thus developed was found to reduce major aging biomarkers like lipofuscin, protein carbonyl, lipid levels and enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes. Further confirmation was done using transgenic worms and RT-PCR. The cognitive boosting activities analyzed in C. elegans and M. musculus model system were found to be at par with donepezil and L-dopa, the two drugs which are commonly used to treat Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. In the transgenic C. elegans model system, the HACBF exhibited reduced aggregation of misfolded disease proteins α-synuclein and increased the health of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, levels of Acetylcholine and Dopamine contents respectively, the major neurotransmitters responsible for memory, language, learning behavior and movement. Molecular studies clearly indicate that HACBF upregulated major genes responsible for healthy aging and cognitive booster activities in C. elegans and as well as in M. musculus. As such, the present herbal product thus developed may be quite useful for healthy aging and cognitive boosting activities, and more so during this covid-19 pandemic.Graphical abstract