Bifidobacterium longum and B. infantis are pioneer colonizers of the neonatal gut and are widely used as probiotics to support infant growth, development, and disease resistance. However, commercial strains derived largely from high-income countries (HICs) may be suboptimal for infants in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We assembled a global genomic atlas of more than 4,000 genomes from 48 countries, increasing representation from LMICs by 12- to 17-fold. High-resolution phylogenomic and functional analyses support delineating B. longum and B. infantis as distinct species with divergent functions and epidemiological patterns. B. infantis dominates early-life microbiota in LMICs but is rarely detected in HICs. Natural B. infantis strains show extreme biogeographic stratification and predicted adaptations to local plant-glycan-rich diets and breast-milk-derived substrates, including urea and B vitamins. This genomic resource enables genome-guided selection of geographically matched strains to inform more effective probiotics and precision microbiome therapeutics for diverse infant populations.

Background:Foreign body ingestion (FBI) is common in children, with 10%-20% requiring endoscopic intervention and 1% requiring surgery. Despite its frequency, evidence supporting the use of laxatives in FBI is scarce, limited to case reports, case series, and expert opinions. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the feasibility of a larger RCT assessing polyethylene glycol (PEG) versus placebo in pediatric FBI. Methods:Children aged 1-18 years with the FBI were randomized to receive PEG (1 g/kg/day) or aspartame placebo (8 mg/kg/day) until foreign body passage or a maximum of 7 days. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, adherence, acceptability, and tolerability. The primary efficacy outcome (hypothesis-generating) was foreign-body transit time. Results:Among 69 children (71 FBIs), retention was 100%, and adherence was 96%. The acceptability and satisfaction scores were high (4.9/5 and 4.7/5, respectively). No adverse events were reported. The mean FB transit time was shorter in the PEG group than in the placebo (55.8 ± 39.3 vs. 86.8 ± 66.9 h; P = 0.032; Cohen's d ≈ 0.54). The reduction in FB transit time appeared more pronounced in children >10 years (53.7 ± 12.7 vs. 112.8 ± 45.3 h; P < 0.001; Cohen's d ≈ 1.77). Conclusion:A randomized trial of PEG in pediatric FBI is feasible, well accepted, and safe. Preliminary findings suggest PEG may enhance foreign body transit, particularly in older children, supporting the rationale for a larger, adequately powered RCT.

Aim:To identify factors associated with the spontaneous passage of ingested foreign bodies. Methods:A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric surgery center from July 2022 to March 2024. Management followed a standardized protocol, with follow-up period of over 6 months. Results:The study included 139 children with a mean age of 6.9 years, and 53% of them were boys. Blunt objects, mainly coins, were the most frequently ingested (60%). Most children (88%) were asymptomatic, but 9% reported abdominal pain, particularly with sharp object ingestion (P = 0.006). Spontaneous passage occurred in most cases, with a mean transit time of 119 ± 105 h. Sharp objects passed faster than blunt ones (87 ± 60 h vs. 141 ± 122 h; P = 0.01). Delayed passage was associated with larger object diameter, constipation, and significant colon loading on X-ray. The optimal cutoff diameter predicting a transit time over 72 h for blunt objects was 1.75 cm. Nine children required intervention, and no long-term complications were observed. Conclusion:Most ingested foreign bodies pass spontaneously without complications. Sharp objects transit faster than blunt objects, and transit time is influenced by object size, constipation, and colon loading.

The growth of a hexagonal FeTe (α-FeTe) thin layer on three-dimensional topological insulator Bi2Te3 has been systematically investigated by combining scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) with density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. Through post-annealing at 560 K after room-temperature deposition of Fe onto Bi2Te3, α-FeTe has been fabricated with an atomic lattice constant of 4.0 ± 0.1 Å, which is much smaller than the 4.4 ± 0.1 Å of the Te-terminated Bi2Te3 surface. The lattice mismatch and a sufficiently large FeTe-Bi2Te3 distance give rise to a moiré pattern with a periodicity of 6.0 ± 0.1 nm, corresponding to a p(15 × 15) superlattice. On the other hand, an enhanced projected density of states (PDOS) is found at about -0.8 eV and +1.4 eV of α-FeTe/Bi2Te3 in the tunneling spectra. These enhancements, as interpreted from the DFT calculation, arise from the contribution of the 3d out-of-plane orbitals in Fe. DFT calculations also reveal nonzero net magnetization and indicate ferromagnetic (FM) order in the system - contrasting the well-studied bicollinear antiferromagnetism in β-FeTe/Bi2Te3. To summarize, our successful fabrication of α-FeTe/Bi2Te3 provides a distinct platform from β-FeTe/Bi2Te3, enabling an exploration of the interplay between magnetism and interface-induced superconductivity.

Gadolinium (10 %)-modified bismuth nickel titanate (BNTO) ceramic, was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The as-synthesized ceramic was calcined at a temperature of 900 degrees C. The current work shows the synthesis, structural and dielectric characteristics of (Bi0.9Gd0.1)(Ni0.5Ti0.5)O3 ceramic. Further characteristics were investigated using analytical tools such as X-ray diffraction and a phase-sensitive meter. The surface morphology of the ceramic compound was confirmed through scanning electron microscope analysis. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirms the purity of the sample with an equivalent amount of weight and atomic percentage. The dielectric and impedance properties of ceramic were analyzed by computing the dielectric response over a selected range of frequency and temperature. The P-E loop tracer was used to study the ferroelectric nature of the sample. Based on the enhancement of its electrical properties, this ceramic may be useful for various electronic applications.

Bifidobacterium longum and B. infantis are pioneer colonizers of the neonatal gut, providing critical benefits for infant growth, development, and disease resistance. Despite their widespread use as probiotics, commercial strains derived from industrialized populations, may not be optimal for infants in non-industrialized settings. We constructed a global genomic atlas of over 4,000 genomes from 48 countries, increasing representation from non-industrialized regions by 12- to 17-fold. High-resolution phylogenomic and functional analyses reveal B. longum and B. infantis as distinct species, differing in functions and epidemiological patterns. B. infantis dominates in infants from non-industrialized populations but is largely absent in industrialized regions. Natural B. infantis strains diverge significantly from probiotic strains, showing extreme geographic stratification and adaptations to local diets, including plant-derived glycans, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. This genomic resource paves the way for safer, more effective probiotics and precision microbiome therapeutics through genome-guided selection of geo-specific strains tailored to diverse populations.

Ceramic materials are used in various electronic devices and are promising candidates for future-generation devices. In this regard, the structural, morphological, dielectric, impedance, and magnetic properties of (Bi0.85La0.15)(Fe0.5Ti0.5)O3 compound are investigated. Said compound is synthesized at high temperatures by the traditional solid-state reaction method. A preliminary investigation of structural properties was done using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) at room temperature, showing the material's crystalline nature. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the microstructural image of the material and distribution of the grains. The average grain size was estimated at around 3 mu m. The EDX (energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) analysis shows the presence of all key elements and the composition of the material. Relaxation, transport, and Maxwell-Wagner dielectric dispersion are investigated by accumulating dielectric, impedance, and conductivity spectra across an extensive temperature and frequency range. Material obeys Jonscher power law and follows the correlated barrier hopping (CBH) -type conduction mechanism at high temperatures. A small amount of remanent magnetization, about 16.496 x 10-3 emu/g, was found near a low magnetic field. It also noticed that the material exhibits a negative temperature coefficient response and a high dielectric potential for use in a wide range of new devices like high-frequency capacitors, NTC (Negative temperature coefficient) thermistors, and ecofriendly electronic components.

This communication comprehensively analyses the fundamental crystal structure, microstructure, electrical, and magnetic properties of (Bi0.9Gd0.1)(Fe0.5Ti0.5)O3 eco-friendly material. A conventional solid-state reaction technique was employed for the synthesis of the material. The primary structural examination of the studied material was conducted using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), which revealed the presence of two phases: (i) an orthorhombic phase (A21am space group) and (ii) a cubic phase (I23 space group). The surface of the specimen material, examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), exhibited a dense structure with uniformly distributed grains of various sizes and an average grain size of 2–3 μm. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectra confirmed the appropriate elemental composition of the sample. Correlation has been discovered among the frequency-temperature-based electrical parameters (dielectric, impedance, and electrical conductivity). The synthesized material exhibits a high dielectric constant at room temperature. Impedance spectroscopy methodology, employing an idealized simulated circuit, was utilized to examine the impact of grains and grain boundaries on the capacitive and resistive features. Impedance spectroscopy studies reveal that the material exhibits semiconductor properties, distinguished by a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR). Additionally, the observed relaxation behavior is classified as non-Debye type. The ac conductivity analysis suggests a correlated barrier hopping (CBH) conduction mechanism. The magnetic study shows small ferromagnetic behavior near the low applied field with Mr=0.012 emu/gm. This material may hold potential for applications in new devices based on the various parameters obtained.

This study employed the solid-state reaction process to synthesize an eco-friendly multifunctional material, Bi (Cd2/5Ti2/5Fe1/5)O3, with cadmium-titanium substitution. The structural, morphological, electrical, ferroelectric, magnetic, and leakage current studies were carried out by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), impedance analyzer, loop-tracer, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and electrometer to investigate the influence of Cd/Ti doping in BiFeO3 simultaneously. The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of orthorhombic phase symmetry with a minor existence of secondary phases. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and FE-SEM analysis were performed to evaluate the quantitative and micro-structural evaluation of the material. The complex impedance approach is also performed to recognize the grain and grain boundary influences with their electrical properties. Furthermore, multifunctional features such as electrical, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic parameters clearly emphasize the suitable substitution of Cd and Ti, which could enhance properties and be considered promising materials for new electronic devices.

Barium zirconium titanate (BZT) has garnered considerable interest due to its tunable dielectric and ferroelectric properties, making it suitable for memory devices and multilayer capacitors. This study investigates the impact of lanthanum (La) doping (2

Herein, we investigate the structural, vibrational, and dielectric properties of Tb0.5Ba0.5CoO3 ceramic, synthesized using the conventional mixed-oxide reaction method. The compound crystallizes in a tetragonal system with the I4/mcm space group. The dielectric constant epsilon '(f) decreases with temperature across all frequency values, likely due to the randomization of induced dipoles caused by thermal vibrations, which reduces the dipole moment. This dipole may be influenced by space charge effects at high temperatures or localized electrons in oxygen vacancies. Dielectric loss behavior shows that tan delta peaks shift to lower frequencies with increasing temperature, indicating a temperature-induced relaxation mechanism. This behavior suggests that relaxation processes occur more rapidly at lower temperatures compared to higher temperatures.

Myxedema is a medical emergency with high mortality rates if not treated aggressively. Here, we present a middle-aged female with complaints of generalized body swelling for one year, shortness of breath, hoarseness of voice, neck swelling, and cough for 20 days. The patient was diagnosed to be having severe hypothyroidism with polyserositis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the neck and thorax revealed extensive soft tissue edema causing airway narrowing, bilateral pleural effusion, moderate pericardial effusion, and features of atypical pneumonia. The patient was started on levothyroxine and antibiotics as per cultures to which she had initially improved; however, she developed ventilator-associated pneumonia leading to sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome followed by refractory type 1 respiratory failure and succumbed.

Background:Nontraumatic brain injury encompasses various pathological processes and medical conditions that result in brain dysfunction and neurological impairment without direct physical trauma. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of intravenous administration of 20% mannitol and 3% hypertonic saline to reduce intracranial pressure in nontraumatic brain injury. Materials and methods:The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed for study selection and data extraction. The search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, including articles published in English from January 2003 to December 2023. Our study included randomized controlled trials, comparative studies, prospective analyses, and retrospective cohort studies. We extracted data on baseline characteristics of patients, intervention details, major outcomes, and complications. Quality assessment was performed using the Jadad scale and the Robvis assessment tool for risk of bias. Results:A total of 14 studies involving 1,536 patients were included in the analysis. Seven studies reported hypertonic saline as more effective in reducing intracranial pressure, while three studies found similar effectiveness for both interventions. Adverse events were reported in only three studies. The studies that reported complication rates ranged from 21 to 79%. A meta-analysis was conducted on five studies, showing varying rates of adverse events associated with mannitol and hypertonic saline. Conclusion:Both hypertonic saline solution and mannitol have been explored as treatment options for decreasing intracranial pressure in nontraumatic brain injuries. While some studies indicate the superiority of hypertonic saline, others report similar effectiveness between the two interventions. How to cite this article:Choudhury A, Ravikant, Bairwa M, Jithesh G, Kumar S, Kumar N. Efficacy of Intravenous 20% Mannitol vs 3% Hypertonic Saline in Reducing Intracranial Pressure in Nontraumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(7):686-695.

The solid-state reaction route created the lead-free dielectric material CaBiLaNbVO9 at a high temperature. The polycrystalline compound belongs to a monoclinic crystal structure having dimensions a = 10.6738 Å, b = 10.4488 Å, c = 7.1793 Å, and V = 798.04 Å3. The grain size is calculated to be 1.1029 µm. The doping of La3+ at the Bi-site and divalent cation Ca2+ substituted at site-A and Nb5+, V5+ in the site-B of ABO3 has considerably modified the structural, dielectric, and electrical conduction mechanism. The study of ac conductivity (frequency-temperature characteristics) shows CBH (correlated barrier hopping) and NSPT (non-overlapping small polaron tunneling) conduction mechanisms. Non-Debye type relaxation has been observed using impedance analysis. The modulus and impedance study have been used to confirm the short-range order of charge carriers. The average transmittance of the compound is about 82–84

To assess parental stress in newborns undergoing surgical care. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at a tertiary center. The study included all parents of newborns requiring surgery, admitted between July 2023 and June 2024. The overall stress score among the study population was 3.3 ± 1. Approximately 90

Nowadays, there have been much consideration to develop eco-friendly advanced materials, which have many applications in the field of multiferroics, sensors, actuators, magnetically modulated transducer devices, etc. Hence, the preparation of lead-free based multifunctional materials has now become of great interest to re-searchers. The present study reports the synthesis and study of structural, dielectric, and multiferroics characteristics of (Bi0.8Nd0.2)(Fe0.5Ti0.5)O3 material. The compound was synthesized using a conventional solid-state reaction method (calcination at 950 degrees C). The X-ray diffraction analysis of the compound confirms the single-phase formation with orthorhombic symmetry. The surface morphology of the material has been examined by the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) method, which shows uniform grain distribution in the microstructural image. Grains were to be found of different sizes with few voids. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) shows the purity of the sample with an equivalent amount of weight and atomic percentage. Dielectric and impedance analysis have been investigated in a wide range of frequencies and temperatures. Frequency-dependent ac-conductivity obeys Jonscher's universal power law. The P-E loop tracer was used to study the ferroelectric nature of the sample. Magnetic field-dependent magnetization is measured at room temperature by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The current study provides efficient, eco-friendly, and interesting results for further application purposes.

Background Scleral buckling is typically implemented to repair rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRD) in young patients. Therefore, there is limited data on post-pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) cataract formation in this cohort. We report the rates and risk factors of cataract progression after PPV for RRD repair in young eyes. Methods Retrospective single-center cohort study. Medical records of patients between the ages of 15 to 45 undergoing PPV for uncomplicated RRD between 2014 and 2020 were reviewed. Results Twenty-eight eyes from 26 patients met inclusion criteria. Cataracts developed in 20/28 (71%) eyes after PPV. After PPV, nuclear sclerotic cataract (NSC) rates were higher in patients above 35 (65%) compared to below 35 years (18%) ( p = 0.024). Cataracts developed more frequently after macula-off RRDs (88%) compared to macula-on RRDs (50%) ( p = 0.044) with NSC more common in macula-off detachments ( p = 0.020). At postoperative month 2, all eyes with C 3 F 8 gas developed cataracts compared to 59% of eyes with no gas ( p = 0.040). Conclusions Cataract formation was common and frequent after PPV. After PPV, young eyes and macula-on detachments developed cataracts less frequently than older eyes and macula-off detachments. If appropriate, a shorter acting gas tamponade should be considered in young eyes to minimize cataract formation.

Microbial communities at the airway mucosal barrier are conserved and highly ordered, in likelihood reflecting co-evolution with human host factors. Freed of selection to digest nutrients, the airway microbiome underpins cognate management of mucosal immunity and pathogen resistance. We show here the initial results of systematic culture and whole-genome sequencing of the thoracic airway bacteria, identifying 52 novel species amongst 126 organisms that constitute 75% of commensals typically present in heathy individuals. Clinically relevant genes encode antimicrobial synthesis, adhesion and biofilm formation, immune modulation, iron utilisation, nitrous oxide (NO) metabolism and sphingolipid signalling. Using whole-genome content we identify dysbiotic features that may influence asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We match isolate gene content to transcripts and metabolites expressed late in airway epithelial differentiation, identifying pathways to sustain host interactions with microbiota. Our results provide a systematic basis for decrypting interactions between commensals, pathogens, and mucosa in lung diseases of global significance.

The Nd and Ti doped bismuth ferrite compound (Bi0.85Nd0.15)(Fe0.5Ti0.5)O-3 has been synthesized through a solid state reaction method. Its various properties, such as structural, dielectric and ferroelectric features were thoroughly investigated. The XRD analysis confirms the phase formation with monoclinic symmetry of the compound. The field effect scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) micrograph/image shows the surface morphology and uniformly distributed grains over its surface. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) suggests the presence of all ingredients with appropriate purity (constituent elements are in well ratios of their atomic and weight percentage). Investigation of impedance and dielectric data was carried out in an extensive range of temperature and frequency. Prepared material data expose a significant improvement in the electrical and dielectric characteristics. Frequency dependent ac-conductivity diagram/plot of present material obeys Jonscher's universal power law. The PE loop tracer study confirms the ferroelectric nature of the material. Present study offers several interesting features of the material for further device applications.