Background Maintaining standards of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) can be a challenge during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Center-specific protocols have been developed and transplant societies propose limiting elective LDLT. We have looked at outcomes of LDLT during the pandemic in an exclusively LDLT center. Methods Patients were grouped into pre-COVID (January 2019-February 2020) (n = 162) and COVID (March 2020-January 2021) (n = 53) cohorts. We looked at patient characteristics, 30-day morbidity, and mortality. Outcomes were also assessed in donors and recipients who underwent surgery after recovery from COVID-19. Results The average number of transplants reduced from 11.5/month to 4.8/month. Fewer patients with MELD > 20 underwent LDLT in the COVID cohort (41.3% versus 24.5%, P = 0.03). Out of nine patients with a positive pretransplant COVID-19 PCR, there were 2 (22.3%) deaths on the waiting list. Seven patients underwent LT after recovery from COVID-19 with one 30-day mortality due to biliary sepsis. Three donors with positive COVID-19 PCR underwent uneventful donation after testing negative for COVID-19. No significant difference in 30-day survival was observed in the pre-COVID and COVID cohorts (93.2% versus 90.6%) (P = 0.3). Out of two recipients who developed COVID-19 pneumonia within 30 days after LT, there was one mortality. The 1-year survival for the entire cohort with a MELD cutoff of 20 was 90% and 84% (P = 0.2). Conclusion Despite comparable outcomes, fewer sick patients might undergo LDLT during the pandemic. Individuals recovered from COVID-19 might be safely considered for donation or transplantation.

Bipolaris sorokiniana is a nectrophic fungal pathogen that causes foliar and root diseases on wheat and barley. Theose diseases are common in all wheat- and barley-growing regions with more severe outbreaks occurring in under warm and humid conditions. areas. The fungus B. sorokiniana can also infect a wide range of grass species in Poaceae and secrete ToxA, an important necrotrophic effector also identified other wheat leaf spotting pathogens. ToxA is an important effector gene that has been identified in several wheat fungal pathogens including B. sorokiniana. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and virulence role of ToxA were investigated in a collection of 278 B. sorokiniana populations isolates that were mainly collected from spring wheat and barley in the Upper Midwest of the United States or other places, including . A total of 278 B. sorokiniana isolates were evaluated including 169 from wheat leaves, 75 from wheat roots, 30 from barley leaves and four from wild quack grass leaves. ToxA was detected present in the isolates from wheat leaves, wheat roots and wild grass leaves, but was absent notfrom isolates collected in those from barley leaves. Prevalence of ToxA in wheat leaf isolates (34.3%) was much higher than that in wheat root isolates (16%). Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of two haplotypes with the majority being BsH2. All ToxA+ isolates produced the functional effector in liquid cultures. Pathogenicity assays revealed that ToxA+ isolates caused significantly more disease on spring wheat lines harboring Tsn1 than their tsn1 mutants, suggesting the ToxA-Tsn1 interaction plays an important role in spot blotch development. This work confirms the presence and importance of ToxA in B. sorokiniana populations from infecting wheat and thus, the need to eliminate breeding of Tsn1 out from spring wheat cultivars can to reduce susceptibility to spot blotch.

Pricing and promotion are two important decisions during the market launch of new consumer electronics products. Nowadays, the pricing and promotion of consumer electronic products are often not made separately but at the same time. This study focuses on the pricing-promotion coordination mechanism of a secondary supply chain of new consumer electronics products (which consists of a manufacturer and a seller). Price and the degree of promotion together affect the demand for products. Manufacturers give sellers a sales target. Manufacturers and sellers set prices and promotions separately, introduce repurchase penalty joint contracts, and establish supply chain profit models to compare and analyze optimal pricing, promotion efforts, and maximum profit of supply chains under different decision-making situations. We prove that the repurchase penalty joint contract can coordinate the supply chain under the assumptions of a single-period game and a multiperiod repeated game. The results show that under the repurchase penalty joint contract, when manufacturers and sellers choose high prices and high promotions at the same time, the supply chain of new consumer electronics products has the largest profit. Finally, numerical experiments are conducted to study the influence of parameters on optimal decision-making and supply chain profits.

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Background: Purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of full length Percutaneous (PCN) versus cut PCN in pediatric population. PCN is performed to establish temporary drainage of obstructed or dilated renal system till definitive management. PCN is well established procedure which is performed under deep sedation, local anesthesia or general anesthesia ultrasound guided or fluoroscopic guided. Methodology: Randomized controlled study carried out in 200 children in the department of urology, Institute of Kidney Disease, Hayatabad Peshawar Pakistan from Jan 2020 to Apr 2022 and analysis was done by using SPSS version 20 to know the efficacy of the cut versus full length PCN in children. Results: This study was carried out over 200 children using cut and full length percutaneous nephrostomy tube, 100 in each group. This study includes 119 males and 81 females of mean age 5.49+ 3.127 years. The cause of obstruction was 61% PUJ obstruction, 55% VUR, 47% obstructed stone and other causes in 37%patients. Effective decompression of hydronephrosis were noted in 89% in cut length vs 82% in full end PCN (p<0.1%). Skin inflammation of 100% with cut end PCN and 20% with full length, 96% of PCN didn’t show any inflammation (p<0.001%). Dislodgment of PCN was noted multiple time in 54%, two times in 38% and 7% in full length PCN where as it is noted two times in 47% and one times in 45% in cut PCN(p<0.001%). PCN exchange was needed multiple times in 51% patients and two times in 39% patients in full length PCN where it was needed two times in 41% and one time in 50% patients in CUT PCN arm (0.001%). Conclusion: This study concludes that cut end PCN is more effective in term of PCN exchange and dislodgement but having more skin inflammation as compared to full length PCN