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The use of machine learning (ML) models have become a crucial factor in the growing field of healthcare, ushering in a new era of medical research and diagnosis. This study rigorously reviews research publications published in reputable journals during the last five years. The pace and dynamic nature of machine learning in the healthcare domains demonstrated by the arduous criteria, which are used to sort through these articles. Disease-centric analysis uncovered a wide range of deep learning and machine learning models which are designed to address particular medical problems. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), one of the most complex deep learning architectures, coexist with more conventional statistical models like logistic regression and support vector machines. CNNs are particularly prominent when it comes to disorders that need picture processing, which highlights the significant influence of deep learning in deciphering complex medical patterns. The popularity of ensemble methods, such as Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost, indicates that their ability to combine predictive capability and strengthen model resilience is well acknowledged. Hybrid techniques, which integrate the advantages of many models, provide novel approaches to tackle distinct healthcare problems. This research also sheds light on a nuanced approach for model selection, wherein deep learning models performs well with huge datasets and image analysis, while statistical and ensemble models provides better results with numerical and categorical data. The adaptability needed in healthcare analytics is shown by hybrid models, which frequently combine standard models for classification with deep learning for feature extraction. The present review can endow problems related to ML in healthcare domain, possible solutions, potential directions and some knowledge to the researchers working in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mangrove ecosystem is a sensitive and highly productive ecosystem in the sea-land transition zone. Mangroves are almost saturated with marine ecosystems and provide ecological services and the organisms of the mangrove ecosystem are adapted to the dynamic conditions of the intertidal zone. For global sustainability, anthropogenic activities that destroy mangrove ecosystems must be reduced, and effective management is needed to mitigate these threats to improve mangrove health and ecosystem services. Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), which include growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) such as Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Arthrobacter, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Bacillus, Burkholderia, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Flavobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium, plant growth promoting actinobacteria (PGPA) Actinophytocola, Nocardiopsis, Pseudonocardia, and Streptomyces, plant growth promoting fungi (PGPF) Aspergillus, Fusarium, Gliocladium, Humicola, Penicillium, Phoma, and Trichoderma and plant growth promoting cyanobacteria (PGPC) like Anabaena, Aphanothece, Calothrix, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, Nostoc, and Oscillatoria help the mangrove plants to acquire nutrients, produce growth-promoting substances, and resist stress. In addition, PGPMs promote nutrient cycling, leaf litter degradation, organic and inorganic pollutant remediation, pathogen inhibition, and enhance soil stabilization. The biofilm formed by PGPMs increases physical, chemical, and biological stress resistance, and the associated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) stabilize the soil. This complex and highly structured microbial community is essential to plant and soil health. The primary goal of this review is to explore the ecological interactions between microbes, mangrove plants, and the intertidal environment, focusing on implementing PGPM-based strategies to sustain mangrove ecosystems. Additionally, this review explores how PGPMs enhance plant and soil health, mitigate stress in mangrove vegetation, and improve ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mitochondria, the detoxification of molar excess H2S as polysulfide proceeded via an oxidation process promoted by Cu/Zn containing superoxide dismutase (SOD1) enzyme, which has been very recently reported as the alternative enzyme for cytosolic H2S oxidation. Herein, we present Ni(II) complexes bearing the terminal SH group as a synthetic functional analogue for the sulfide oxidase function of SOD1. Synthesis, crystal structure and complete spectroscopic characterization of two sets of complexes, [NiLOMe/tBu(PPh3)] (2OMe/tBu) and tetraethyl salt of [NiLOMe/tBu(SH)]−1 (3OMe/tBu), were described (LOMe = (E)-2-methoxy-6-(((2-sulfidophenyl)imino)methyl)phenolate and LtBu = (E)-2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(((2-sulfidophenyl)imino)methyl)phenolate). Under anaerobic conditions, 3OMe/tBu responded to a catalytic sulfur atom transfer (SAT) reaction with PPh3 to produce SPPh3. The SAT reaction was analyzed using detailed studies of 1H and 31P NMR spectra. Finally, the SAT reactivity pattern was compared with the same in the native enzyme of SOD1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many studies have proclaimed the potential benefits of blockchain technology for supply chain traceability, there are very few examples of successfully scaled blockchain traceability solutions. Here, we examine the challenges in adopting blockchain-based traceability solutions using the case of a complex globally fragmented industry—the fragrance sector. Fragrances are used in a vast number of products. Leading brands make substantial claims about the origin, production methods, certifications and environmental and social sustainability of the fragrances in their products. We categorize the types of traceability-related claims made and examine the potential use of blockchain to support them. The industry exemplifies the challenges in ensuring supply chain traceability in globally dispersed supply chains. The research highlights the potential of blockchain-based traceability solutions but identifies four major challenges—bringing together supply chain partners for a blockchain initiative, disclosing and sharing more information than is common in buyer-supplier relationships, ensuring information encoded on a blockchain provides an accurate record of a product's journey through the supply chain and involving parties such as regulatory and industry bodies in blockchain initiatives. The challenges identified are reflected in supply chains that are fragmented and globally dispersed, showing why the uptake of blockchain-based traceability has been limited in such sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain tumor classification (BTC) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are very important for the early detection of brain tumors (BTs). It makes a substantial contribution to improving the accuracy of medical evaluations and treatment approaches, which eventually results in better patient outcomes. Neural networks (NNs) techniques, like deep learning (DL), machine learning (ML), and transfer learning (TL) have recently shown promise as tools for automating and enhancing procedures for BTC. This review critically evaluates the present research on NN-based techniques for BTC, emphasising its advantages, disadvantages, and potential for future development. The variability and variety of physical features of tumors make it difficult to classify BTs. Conventional diagnostic procedures often lack the accuracy necessary for correct classification, which may result in therapy delays and subpar patient care. The primary aim of this research is to assess the efficacy of current neural network approaches in addressing the challenges associated with identifying and classifying the various forms of brain tumors. Additionally, we want to compare these techniques in order to determine the most effective approach. We comprehensively examine several NN designs after conducting an extensive literature study. According to our study findings, neural network techniques consistently demonstrate superior performance in the classification of brain tumours when compared to conventional methodologies often used in the field. Future prospects lie in the development of novel architectures, the inclusion of data from multiple sources, and incorporation of explainable AI techniques. By addressing these challenges, NN can pave the way for more accurate, efficient, and personalized BTC, ultimately contributing to better clinical outcomes and advancing our understanding of brain pathology. The results of this research will perform as a benefit starting point for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that impart several hazardous effects on the environment. Extracellular enzymes released by filamentous fungi are well-known participants in the degradation of such organic pollutants. The present study aims to determine the interaction of pyrene with Lac1 protein, coding for the extracellular laccase enzyme from Trichoderma sp. CNSC-2. Lac1 sequence analysis revealed the stable and acidic nature of the laccase enzyme. The dominance of random coils (54.8%) and extended strands (28.3%) in secondary structure defined protein flexibility. 3D homology modeling followed by validation revealed a high-quality model with 94.8% residues in the favored zone of Ramachandran plot. Molecular docking study with pyrene displayed a significant binding affinity of −7.82 kcal mol−1 with the amino acid residues at the active binding site of Lac1, indicating a strong role in pyrene binding. Trichoderma sp. CNSC-2 achieved 69.42 ± 0.4% of pyrene removal efficiency at 100 mg l−1 pyrene concentration on day 12 of incubation. Laccase activity during pyrene degradation simultaneously increased, and the highest activity was observed on day 6 of incubation. Enzyme production was found to be optimum at pH 6 (p < 0.001) and 30°C temperature (p < 0.0001). FTIR analysis showed deviation in the amide bands of laccase in the presence of pyrene, and additional peaks coinciding with pyrene metabolites were observed. The decrease in intensity of laccase due to quenching by pyrene interaction was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. Thus, this study suggested a strong binding affinity of pyrene to the laccase active site implying the potential role of laccase enzyme from Trichoderma sp. CNSC-2 in pyrene degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the impact of dark energy in cosmological scenarios by exploiting f (R ̄ , T ̄) gravity within the framework of a nonstandard theory, called K-essence theory, where R ̄ represents the Ricci scalar and T ̄ denotes the trace of the energy–momentum tensor associated with the K-essence geometry. The Dirac–Born–Infeld (DBI) nonstandard Lagrangian has been employed to generate the emergent gravity metric ( G ̄ μ ν) associated with the K-essence. This metric is distinct from the usual gravitational metric (g μ ν). It has been shown that under a flat Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) background gravitational metric, the modified field equations and the Friedmann equations of the f (R ̄ , T ̄) gravity are distinct from the usual ones. In order to get the equation of state (EoS) parameter ω , we have solved the Friedmann equations by taking into account the function f (R ̄ , T ̄) ≡ f (R ̄) + λ T ̄ , where λ represents a parameter within the model. We have found a relationship between ω and time for different kinds of f (R ̄) by treating the kinetic energy of the K-essence scalar field ( ϕ ̇ 2 ) as the dark energy density which fluctuates with time. Surprisingly, this result meets the condition of the restriction on ϕ ̇ 2 . By presenting graphical representations of the EoS parameter with time, we show that our model is consistent with the data of SNIa + BAO + H (z) within a certain temporal interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sometimes unusual redox chemistry and modulation of enzyme activity Cu‐proteins can be encountered by the presence of a trace amount of Cu−Tris interaction (Tris‐(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane) during vitro studies. Herein, we addressed a redox chemistry of CuII−Tris with variable stoichiometric ratios in the presence of ascorbic acid (H2A) and O2. The redox chemistry of Bs3 (Cu : Tris; 1 : 3) with H2A/O2 was passed through several intermediates with progress on time yielding initially yellow precipitate, (Yp3), then green solution, (Gs3) and finally cyan solution (Cs3). The UV‐Vis spectra of Bs3, Gs3 and Cs3 displayed peaks at 640, 690 and 710 nm respectively suggesting CuII. The redox potential of CuII/CuI in Bs3, Gs3 and Cs3 were −0.18 V, −0.15 V and −0.19 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) respectively. The EPR spectrum of Bs3 showed an axial signal with g∥,⊥=2.483/2.105&A∥=160×10−4 cm−1 whereas Gs3 and Cs3 showed rhombic signal with g1,2,3=2.302/2.063/2.018&A∥=177×10−4 cm−1 and g1,2,3=2.274/2.064/2.016&A∥=164×10−4 cm−1 respectively suggesting a distorted tetragonal geometry. ESI−MS data indicated the probable composition of Bs2‐Bs5, Gs3 and Cs3 in solution. Integration of all spectroscopies data demonstrated the probable composition and redox mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surge of digital legal documents has significantly expanded their usage. This has resulted in the sheer number of papers being used by various members of the judiciary, as well as by advocates and judicial officers. It can be incredibly challenging to keep up with all of them. Over four crore cases are still pending in Indian courts, and manually reviewing them can be a tedious and time-consuming process\cite{r1}. As machine learning has advanced, various text summarization models have been created to help legal professionals manage their documents. Due to the lack of publicly accessible datasets, it is difficult to fine-tune domain-independent models for Indian legal systems. The methodology proposed in this paper seeks to improve the overall performance of these models, and it also explores Indian legal documents' summarization techniques. In addition, this research also provides a study of the several summarization methods in-depth that have been on Indian legal documents, including PEGASUS, Bidirectional Auto- Regressive transformers (BART), TextRank, and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). Through the process of extractive and abstract summarization, BART and PEGASUS will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the text normalization process. The outcomes of the text normalization process are evaluated by experts using the ROUGE metrics and multiple parameters. It shows that the proposed approach can work well in legal texts that have domain-independent frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of radiology, especially ultrasonography, is widely prevalent in obstetric care worldwide. Ultrasonography studies during pregnancy are used to identify fetal abnormalities that may impact the health of the fetus as well as that of the child post-delivery. Aims: To determine the normal values of fetal Myocardial Performance Index (MPI) and lay down its importance in the cardiac workup of foetuses. Materials and Methods: This is a Hospital based observational Prospective Study. It's conducted from 1st April 2021 to 30th September, 2022 at Department of Radio-diagnosis in collaboration with Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Burdwan Medical College and Hospital. 115 patients were include in this study. Result: Among 115 mothers, 53.9% were primi-gravida, 33.9% were 2nd gravida and rest 12.2% were 3rd gravida, 57.4% undergo Normal vaginal delivery, 17.4% undergo vaginal delivery with induction and 25.2% undergo caesarean section and among 115 babies 82.6% had normal birth weight rest 17.4% were low birth weight babies. Conclusion: We conclude that myocardial performance index is a better predictor of adverse perinatal outcome than an abnormal IVCT or IVRT. Best results are obtained when MPI is used, rather than IVCT, IVRT and ET separately. In our study MPI had the highest sensitivity of 88.8% in predicting adverse fetal outcomes and 92.3% in predicting perinatal mortality. If the MPI ratio is normal, the fetus is unlikely to have major adverse outcome. This information would be reassuring to parents and referring obstetricians and in addition the fetus would not require intensive surveillance. Doppler patterns follow a longitudinal trend with early changes in the E/A ratio with advancing gestational ages. Fetal heart rate shows a declining trend with increasing gestational age. There was no statistically significant correlation between gestational age with MPI, ICT, IRT and ET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We showed solvent‐ and concentration‐triggered chiral tuning of the fibrous assemblies of two novel glycoconjugates Z‐P(Gly)‐Glu and Z‐F(4‐N)‐Glu made by chemical attachment of Cbz‐protected [short as Z)] non‐proteinogenic amino acids L‐phenylglycine [short as P(Gly)] and 4‐Nitro‐L‐phenylalanine [short as F(4‐N)] with D‐glucosamine [short as Glu]. Both biomimetic gelators can form self‐healing and shape‐persistent gels with a very low critical gelator concentration in water as well as in various organic solvents, indicating they are ambidextrous supergelators. Detailed spectroscopic studies suggested β‐sheet secondary structure formation during anisotropic self‐aggregation of the gelators which resulted in the formation of hierarchical left‐handed helical fibers in acetone with an interlayer spacing of 2.4 nm. After the physical characterization of the gels, serum protein interaction with the gelators was assessed, indicating they may be ideal for biomedical applications. Further, both gelators are benign, non‐immunogenic, non‐allergenic, and non‐toxic in nature, which was confirmed by performing the blood parameters and liver function tests on Wister rats. Streptomycin‐loaded hydrogels showed efficacious antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo as well. Finally, cell attachment and biocompatibility of the hydrogels were demonstrated which opens a newer avenue for promising biomedical and therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning (ML) has been used for classification of heart diseases for almost a decade, although understanding of the internal working of the black boxes, i.e., non-interpretable models, remain a demanding problem. Another major challenge in such ML models is the curse of dimensionality leading to resource intensive classification using the comprehensive set of feature vector (CFV). This study focuses on dimensionality reduction using explainable artificial intelligence, without negotiating on accuracy for heart disease classification. Four explainable ML models, using SHAP, were used for classification which reflected the feature contributions (FC) and feature weights (FW) for each feature in the CFV for generating the final results. FC and FW were taken into account in generating the reduced dimensional feature subset (FS). The findings of the study are as follows: (a) XGBoost classifies heart diseases best with explanations, with an increase in 2% in model accuracy over existing best proposals, (b) explainable classification using FS exhibits better accuracy than most of the literary proposals, and (c) with the increase in explainability, accuracy can be preserved using XGBoost classifier for classifying heart diseases, and (d) the top four features responsible for diagnosis of heart disease have been exhibited which have common occurrences in all the explanations reflected by the five explainable techniques used on XGBoost classifier based on feature contributions. To the best of our knowledge, this is first attempt to explain XGBoost classification for diagnosis of heart diseases using five explainable techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision livestock farming (PLF) utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) to continuously monitor, control, and enhance the productivity, reproduction, health, welfare, and environmental impact of livestock. Technological advancements have facilitated the seamless flow of information from animals to humans, enabling practical decision-making processes concerning health, reproduction management, and calving surveillance. With the increasing population of livestock per farm, it has become impractical for farmers to individually track every animal within these large groups. Historically, cattle management decisions heavily relied on human observation, judgment, and experience. However, it is impossible for a single individual to gather reliable audio-visual monitoring data round the clock. Presently, dairy cows exhibit subtler indicators of estrus, resulting in a substantial chance of missing an estrus cycle. Furthermore, calving complications sometimes go unnoticed on farms, resulting in a higher number of culled cattle. In addition, an increasing number of crossbred cows experience delayed return to estrus after calving due to low body condition scores (BCS). The decline in BCS during the dry period is associated with a reduced likelihood of pregnancy following the first and second postpartum inseminations. Precision technologies enable the monitoring and tracking of an individual cow's physiological behavior and reproductive parameters, thereby optimizing management practices and farm performance. Despite the exploration of various technologies, there are still some common challenges that need to be addressed, including battery lifespan, transmission range, specificity and sensitivity, storage capacity, and economic affordability. Nonetheless, the demand for these tools from farmers and researchers is growing, and the implementation of PLF in grazing systems can yield positive outcomes in terms of animal reproductive welfare and labor optimization. This review primarily focuses on the different aspects of reproduction management in dairy using sensors, automated cameras, and various computer software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of soil and natural water bodies driven by increased organic pollutants remains a universal concern. Naturally, organic pollutants contain carcinogenic and toxic properties threatening all known life forms. The conventional physical and chemical methods employed to remove these organic pollutants ironically produce toxic and non-ecofriendly end-products. Whereas microbial-based degradation of organic pollutants provides an edge, they are usually cost-effective and take an eco-friendly approach towards remediation. Bacterial species, including Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Burkholderia, and Xanthomonas, have the unique genetic makeup to metabolically degrade toxic pollutants, conferring their survival in toxic environments. Several catabolic genes, such as alkB, xylE, catA, and nahAc, that encode enzymes and allow bacteria to degrade organic pollutants have been identified, characterized, and even engineered for better efficacy. Aerobic and anaerobic processes are followed by bacteria to metabolize aliphatic saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons such as alkanes, cycloalkanes, aldehydes, and ethers. Bacteria use a variety of degrading pathways, including catechol, protocatechuate, gentisate, benzoate, and biphenyl, to remove aromatic organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides from the environment. A better understanding of the principle, mechanisms, and genetics would be beneficial for improving the metabolic efficacy of bacteria to such ends. With a focus on comprehending the mechanisms involved in various catabolic pathways and the genetics of the biotransformation of these xenobiotic compounds, the present review offers insight into the various sources and types of known organic pollutants and their toxic effects on health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and foldable paper‐based thermoelectric generators (PTEGs) have drawn industrial attention due to the wide applications in heat energy harvesting and sensing. Herein, optimization of the output performances of flexible and hybrid inorganic–organic PTEGs fabricated on stationery paper substrates from poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and graphite as p‐type and n‐type materials, respectively, is presented. By choosing simplistic processes such as polyethyleneimine (PEI)‐treated graphite pencil traces and brush‐painted PEDOT:PSS films, robust and sustainable PTEG devices are fabricated. It is first time shown that different qualities of stationery papers can have significant impact on the output performance of PTEGs, attributed to their variance in substrate roughness. Thus, output powers of ≈1.93 and ≈0.68 nW for ΔT = 70 K are obtained for TE generators prepared from emery and office paper legs (four‐pair assembled on Kapton), respectively, suggesting emery paper to have significant better performance. Transient flexibility and fatigue of each device type are also tested where emery paper–based PTEG appears to be more robust. A detail comparison of the device performances on the different types of paper substrates are exclusively presented experimentally and thereafter computationally validated by COMSOL modeling to predictably control and enhance the output performance of reported PTEGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid-tolerant bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Acidobacterium capsulatum, Escherichia coli, and Propionibacterium acidipropionici have developed several survival mechanisms to sustain themselves in various acid stress conditions. Some bacteria survive by minor changes in the environmental pH. In contrast, few others adapt different acid tolerance mechanisms, including amino acid decarboxylase acid resistance systems, mainly glutamate-dependent acid resistance (GDAR) and arginine-dependent acid resistance (ADAR) systems. The cellular mechanisms of acid tolerance include cell membrane alteration in Acidithiobacillus thioxidans, proton elimination by F1–F0–ATPase in Streptococcus pyogenes, biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cytoplasmic urease activity in Streptococcus mutans, synthesis of the protective cloud of ammonia, and protection or repair of macromolecules in Bacillus caldontenax. Apart from cellular mechanisms, there are several acid-tolerant genes such as gadA, gadB, adiA, adiC, cadA, cadB, cadC, speF, and potE that help the bacteria to tolerate the acidic environment. This acid tolerance behavior provides new and broad prospects for different industrial applications and the bioremediation of environmental pollutants. The development of engineered strains with acid-tolerant genes may improve the efficiency of the transgenic bacteria in the treatment of acidic industrial effluents. Key points: • Bacteria tolerate the acidic stress by methylating unsaturated phospholipid tail • The activity of decarboxylase systems for acid tolerance depends on pH • Genetic manipulation of acid-tolerant genes improves acid tolerance by the bacteria [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine ecosystem is a rich energy reservoir supporting diverse lifeforms. Filamentous fungi colonize various substrates of marine ecosystems in the form of saprotrophs, parasites and symbionts. Recent advancements in molecular methods unravelled diverse fungal communities dominating marine ecosystems, the majority of which belonged to genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Cladosporium and Fusarium of phylum Ascomycota. Prolonged exposure to hostile environments evolved marine fungi with adaptive mechanisms to tolerate high hygroscopic pressure, salinity, and temperatures. Besides, fungal symbiotic associations and biofilm formation over sessile substrate provide additional stability by facilitating nutritional balance and defence mechanisms. The synthesis of novel metabolites and extracellular enzymes shows the potential application in decomposition, mineralization, biomass production and nutrient cycling within marine ecosystems. Extracellular matrix (ECM) embedding fungal biofilm acts as a protective barrier against the hazardous effect of environmental pollutants. Coordinated expression of several catabolic genes such as lcc, LiP, MnP, CYP and enzymes regulate the degradation pathway of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorines, phthalates, and pharmaceuticals. Further, the presence of metal-chelating metallothionein (MT) gene, and dense mycelial mat within biofilm regulate biosorption and biotransformation of inorganic pollutants. The present article extensively comprehends the diversity and distribution of filamentous fungi associated with different parts of the marine ecosystem. Moreover, the role of filamentous fungi in pollutant remediation and application of gene-editing methods in developing genetically modified strains for enhanced remediation has been briefly discussed in the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate how the Raychaudhuri equation behaves in the k‐essence geometry. As far as we are concerned, both the early and current epochs of the universe are relevant to the k‐essence theory. Here, we have studied the k‐essence geometry using the Dirac‐Born‐Infeld (DBI) variety of non‐standard action. The corresponding k‐essence emergent spacetime is not conformally equivalent to the usual gravitational metric. We assume that the background gravitational metric is of the Friedmann‐Lemaitre‐Robertson‐Walker (FLRW) type in this case. We have found that both the conditional singular and non‐singular cosmological models of the universe through the modified Raychaudhuri equation are possible where we have used the spacetime as the flat k‐essence emergent FLRW‐type. We have also addressed the Focusing theorem and conditional caustic universe construction. These conditional effects are caused by the additional interactions that arise as a result of the coupling that exists between gravity and the k‐essence scalar field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free ZnTiO3 hexagonal nanocrystals prepared by a facile hydrothermal-based synthesis process exhibit stable ferroelectricity and a high-temperature dielectric anomaly at ~ 728 K. The Curie temperature (Tc) is associated with a probable ferroelectric (FE) to paraelectric transition from LiNbO3 type to ilmenite phase. Direct ferroelectric measurements confirm stable and highly saturated polarization (Ps) up to 723 K, with a Ps ~ 14.6 µC/cm2 at a low coercive field of 2.3 kV/cm. Subsequently, simple, flexible piezoelectric nano (composite) generator is fabricated from ferroelectric nanocrystals with PDMS, and for 40 wt.% nanocrystals loading in the PDMS–nanomaterial composite, the device delivered an open-circuit peak voltage (Vp) of ~ 6.1 V and a short-circuit peak current (Ip) of ~ 66 nA at room temperature, when subjected to a periodic impact at 4 Hz and 15N. A steady power density of ~ 95 µW/cm3 at 1MΩ load is delivered by a single, robust piezo device, stable up to 120 °C that exhibits excellent fatigue performance, and commendable sensitivity of ~ 0.33 ± 0.02 VN−1(33 mVkPa−1) upon repeated periodic impact. The work provides a pathway towards low-cost hydrothermal-based synthesis of lead-free titanate nanomaterials with emerging ferroelectricity and understanding their structure–property relationships for exploring piezoelectric energy harvesting potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the civil infrastructure, the structures made up of tubular sections played an important role due to an economic point of view, lower self-weight, and stability against functional loads. The periodical maintenance or inspection of the structure is mandatory nowadays to achieve the potential utilization of the structural system. In this study, an experimental, numerical, and analytical study is carried out to investigate the structural fault and its severity in a tubular rectangular beam made up of structural steel. Modal parameters are extracted with the help of a dynamic data logger (B&K) by exciting an impact hammer on model structure and extracting a data with a set of unidirectional accelerometers. First, two displacement mode shapes are extracted using obtained modal parameters. The modal parameters are expected to contain environmental noise during experimentation, so, de-noising is must to obtain noise-free data. Artificial neural network training is utilized to reduce the noise from experimental modal parameters. Using the modified modal parameters, the mode shape curvature is obtained, and so-called modified mode shape curvature (MMSC) is used to calculate the curvature damage index. The curvature damage index is appropriate to investigate multiple fault locations with different fault levels in tubular rectangular beam structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sets of maleonitrile-tethered, N-atom-donor tridentate ligands which are configurationally isomeric, 2-((E)-(aryl-methylene)amino)-3-((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)maleonitrile (HL1-Ar) and 2-((aryl-methyl)amino)-3-((E)-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)amino)maleonitrile (HL2-Ar) have been synthesized and fully characterized (where the aryl groups are 4-methoxyphenyl (HL1-OMe/HL2-OMe), 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl (HL1-CF3/HL2-CF3) and 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (HL1-Mes/HL2-Mes)). The competitive role of the ligand's electronic effect and the type of metal ion were explored on the reactivity of Co(II) and Ni(II) metal ions with differently electronically tuned ligands. An Ni(II) metal ion was found to be effective towards the irreversible transformation of HL1-Ar to HL2-Ar (for all substitutions on the aryl group) where the simultaneous oxidation of amine and reduction of imine take place within a single conjugated maleonitrile-tethered ligand. Whereas, Co(II) interacted differently with each member of HL1-Ar. With the presence of an electron-donating group (EDG), a methyl group (at ortho and para positions) in the phenyl ring of HL1-Mes, Co(II) could selectively perform the ligand transformation. On the other hand, HL1-CF3 and HL1-OMe (with the presence of less EDG in the phenyl ring in comparison to HL1-Mes) did not respond to the amine–imine interconversion process. The isolated Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes were fully characterized using crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and the correlation of spectral data changes with the different electronic environments of the ligands was well explained. The redox instability of Co(II) complexes with HL2-Ar towards aerobic oxidation was studied using spectro-electrochemical analysis. Finally, a mechanism for the amine–imine interconversion process was proposed based on experimentally identified intermediates as well as DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical needle insertion is generally used in the current advanced surgery process, particularly in the area of biopsy, MIS or minimally invasive surgery, brachytherapy, etc. During the needle insertion performance into the soft tissue, one of the most important issues is the tissue deformation that affects the needle engagement inside the tissue material. We have presented an energy-based insertion model, and the conical shape of deformed tissue is assumed. The tests are performed on PVA gel samples, and the model is analyzed to determine the tissue deformation volume during needle insertion into soft tissue. The procedures for evaluating the puncture force which creates the deformation of the contact point. With the help of the needle insertion experimental investigation, a geometric model of tissue deformation phenomenon and insertion force was investigated. The active needle-soft tissue contacts are studied, and with the help of the energy-based insertion model, the different factors like strain energy, potential, and dissipated energies are investigated. The tests are completed on the tissue mimic PVA gel samples, and the results show the volume and area of tissue deformation; at the time of initial needle insertion, the maximum tissue deformation arises and during the needle movement in the post-perforation stage, the deformation gradually decreases as the more peripheral work is altered into the vicious and degenerate energies. The maximum insertion force was noticed in 14° bevel angle needle tip and at 3 mm/s needle insertion speed, the volume of tissue deformation was maximum. The maximum deformation of the issue arises at the initial perforate position, and the distortion reduces along with the raises of the needle movement during the post-insertion period as the needle insertion work is converted into vicious and dissolute energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger has gained significant industrial and ecological value due to its great potential in enzymatic activities. The present study reports the complete genome sequence of A. niger BSC-1 which was isolated from Indian Sundarban mangrove ecosystem. The study revealed that the genome of A. niger BSC-1 was 35.1 Mbp assembled in 40 scaffolds with 49.2% GC content. A total of 10,709 genes were reported out of which 10,535 genes were predicted for encoding the proteins. BUSCO assessment showed 98.6% of genome completeness indicating high quality genome sequencing. The genome sequencing of A. niger BSC-1 revealed the presence of rodA and exgA genes for initial adhesion to surface and Ags genes for matrix formation, during biofilm growth. OrthoVenn2 analysis revealed that A.niger BSC-1 shared 9552 gene clusters with the reference strain A. niger CBS554.65. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis unveiled the role of Ags1 and P-type ATPase in fungal biofilm formation and chromium (Cr) resistance, respectively. During biofilm growth the expression of Ags1 significantly (P < 0.0001; two-way ANOVA followed by Sidak's multiple comparisons test) increased with respect to planktonic culture revealing the possible involvement of Ags1 in biofilm matrix formation. Expression of P-type ATPase gene was significantly upregulated (P < 0.0001; one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's multiple comparisons test) with the increasing chromium concentration in the fungal culture. Besides, several other genes encoding metalloprotease, copper and zinc binding proteins, and NADH-dependent oxidoreductase were also found in the genome of A. niger BSC-1. These proteins are also involved in heavy metal tolerance and nanofabrication indicating that this filamentous fungus A. niger BSC-1 could be potentially utilized for chromium detoxification through biofilm or nanobiremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surgical needle insertion process is widely applied in medical interference. During the insertion process, the inhomogeneity and denseness of the soft tissues make it tough to detect the essential tissue damage, a rupture occurs that contains huge forces and material deformations. This study is very important, as all the above-mentioned factors are very significant for modern invasive surgery so that the success rate of the surgery can increase and the patient recovers smoothly. This investigation intends to perform minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures and reduce the living tissue damage while performing the biopsy, PCNL, etc. A fracture mechanics method was analyzed to create a needle insertion model which can estimate the needle insertion force during inset in tissue-like PVA gel. The force model was calculated by needle insertion experimentally, and also estimated the needle tip geometry, and diameter influences the fracture toughness. Validate exp. results with simulation results and other papers. It is observed that needle diameter has a significant effect on fracture toughness, whereas the insertion velocity has a slight impact on the fracture toughness. During the rotational needle insertion process, the winds-up of the gel occurs and the diameter of the hole was increasing with increased rpm. Maximum insertion force was noticed in the 27 G needle at 5 mm/s. The interaction function will be less at the maximum fracture development region. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is becoming a subject of concern in medical science as it is a serious health problem in developing countries. Carcinoma cervix is primarily staged clinically as per FIGO guideline with minimal permissible usage of diagnostic modalities, even though it has several pitfalls. As we consider the importance of tumor size measurement, we must take into account that, although a necessary step in the evaluation of patients with cervical cancer, physical examination is not a very accurate assessment of tumor size. MRI offers the best imaging tool to determine tumor size, as well as vaginal involvement and parametrial involvement. In patients with cervical cancer, pretreatment MRI provides higher spatial soft tissue resolution which can define pelvic tumor extent, including a more accurate assessment of tumor size, parametrial invasion, pelvic sidewall invasion, and adjacent pelvic organ invasion. We wanted to determine and compare the role of magnetic resonance imaging in pre and post chemotherapy irradiated patents in locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 50 patients diagnosed as a case of locally advanced Cervical carcinoma in the Radiotherapy Department of Burdwan Medical College were included in the study. The present study was aimed to evaluate the use of pre and post chemoradiotherapy MRI for advanced cervical cancer for assessing alteration of tumor volume, lymph nodal assessment and metastasis status in accurate way. Results: In this study we evaluated pre chemo radiotherapy patients and the agreement between clinical stage (FIGO Classification) and MRI by using Kaplan-Meir Survival Curve showed significant agreement between these two (p value = <0.0001). Correlation of response rate in post chemo radiotherapy patients using clinical methods and MRI was evaluated by Kaplan-Meir Survival Curve and it showed there was a positive correlation but this was not statistically significant (p value = 0.15). Conclusions: MRI is more accurate in determining tumour location, tumour size, depth of stromal invasion and extension into lower uterine segment it can modify treatment options and may provide clinically important prognostic information not available from current FIGO staging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication reports synergistic H-bonding and charge-transfer (CT) interaction-promoted alternating supramolecular copolymerization of amide-functionalized pyrene (Py) and naphthalene-diimide (NDI) building blocks and the emergence of ferroelectricity with saturation polarization ∼3.2 μC cm−2, Curie temperature ∼304 K, and coercive field ∼8.5 kV cm−1 at 100 Hz. The Py or NDI molecules on their own do not exhibit any ferroelectric hysteresis, indicating an essential role of both CT-interaction and H-bonding in ferroelectricity. Computational studies provide insight into the origin of the polarization and the importance of the NDI/Py ratio. This study, showing room temperature ferroelectricity in purely organic systems, is of high relevance for flexible electronics and sensors. It opens up new opportunities for soft FE-materials with ample scope for further structural optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms are assemblages of bacteria embedded within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) attached to a substratum. The process of biofilm formation is a complex phenomenon regulated by the intracellular and intercellular signaling systems. Various secondary messenger molecules such as cyclic dimeric guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (c-di-GMP), cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic dimeric adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (c-di-AMP) are involved in complex signaling networks to regulate biofilm development in several bacteria. Moreover, the cell to cell communication system known as Quorum Sensing (QS) also regulates biofilm formation via diverse mechanisms in various bacterial species. Bacteria often switch to the biofilm lifestyle in the presence of toxic pollutants to improve their survivability. Bacteria within a biofilm possess several advantages with regard to the degradation of harmful pollutants, such as increased protection within the biofilm to resist the toxic pollutants, synthesis of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that helps in the sequestration of pollutants, elevated catabolic gene expression within the biofilm microenvironment, higher cell density possessing a large pool of genetic resources, adhesion ability to a wide range of substrata, and metabolic heterogeneity. Therefore, a comprehensive account of the various factors regulating biofilm development would provide valuable insights to modulate biofilm formation for improved bioremediation practices. This review summarizes the complex regulatory networks that influence biofilm development in bacteria, with a major focus on the applications of bacterial biofilms for environmental restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wraparound channels in Torus network-on-chip (NoC) help in reducing overall hop counts traversed by traffic. However, the cyclic paths created by the wraparound channel make Torus NoC deadlock prone. The Turn model and channel dependency graph (CDG) are two classical approaches used for detecting and avoiding deadlock in NoC. In this work, we propose an Arc model for avoiding deadlock in Torus NoC. The Arc model is an extension to the Turn model and is useful for deadlock avoidance in Torus. Directional dependency graph (DDG) is also presented in this work by combining both the Turn model and CDG for detecting deadlock in Torus NoC. DDG is a simpler approach for identifying deadlock scenarios, formulating deadlock avoidance, and showing deadlock freedom while using the Arc model along with a set of Turns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are among the world's most productive ecosystems and a part of the "blue carbon" sink. They act as a connection between the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, providing habitat to countless organisms. Among these, microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, archaea, fungi, phytoplankton, and protozoa) play a crucial role in this ecosystem. Microbial cycling of major nutrients (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur) helps maintain the high productivity of this ecosystem. However, mangrove ecosystems are being disturbed by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere. Both the anthropogenic and natural factors contribute to the upsurge of greenhouse gas concentration, resulting in global warming. Changing climate due to global warming and the increasing rate of human interferences such as pollution and deforestation are significant concerns for the mangrove ecosystem. Mangroves are susceptible to such environmental perturbations. Global warming, human interventions, and its consequences are destroying the ecosystem, and the dreadful impacts are experienced worldwide. Therefore, the conservation of mangrove ecosystems is necessary for protecting them from the changing environment—a step toward preserving the globe for better living. This review highlights the importance of mangroves and their microbial components on a global scale and the degree of vulnerability of the ecosystems toward anthropic and climate change factors. The future scenario of the mangrove ecosystem and the resilience of plants and microbes have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the existence of multiple damage locations is identified successfully by using the modified mode shape curvature technique in a cantilever beam. The noisy frequency response of the beam is extracted for varying damage depths at two various positions by using Bruel and Kjaer instrument. As experimentally obtained displacement mode shape data cannot reflect clear damage location in the structure due to the presence of noise, in the present work, the data have been trained through artificial neural network to obtain improved results to localize the damage locations. Numerically and experimentally obtained displacement modes are utilized as input for ANN, and the trained data are used to produce mode shape curvature. The trained data sets are then utilized to produce the mode shapes curvatures for all the damage cases using central difference approximation. Damage severity and locations are then identified by analyzing the absolute mode shape curvature difference for various damage scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to estimate the unemployment rates during the first three months of lockdown due to COVID-19, considering the decline in LFPR to be involuntary and workers with zero income to be unemployed. An attempt has also been made to understand the proportion of individuals impoverished during the same period by estimating the proportion of labour force with zero income, with income below Rs.100 per day and that below Rs.200 per day across gender, caste categories, religious groups and states (separately for rural and urban areas), using the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) unit level data of 2019-20. Our results have been very striking with actual unemployment rate increasing from 8.7% before lockdown to 22.5% during lockdown; the increase being higher in urban areas and among women. Income decline had also occurred more among SCs and STs relative to other groups. The paper concludes with the policy suggestion of a universal "employment of last resort". programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary electrophoresis-based analysis does not reflect the exact allele number variation at the STR loci due to the non-availability of the data on sequence variation in the repeat region and the SNPs in flanking regions. Herein, this study reports the length-based and sequence-based allelic data of 138 central Indian individuals at 31 autosomal STR loci by NGS. The sequence data at each allele was compared to the reference hg19 sequence. The length-based allelic results were found in concordance with the CE-based results. 20 out of 31 autosomal STR loci showed an increase in the number of alleles by the presence of sequence variation and/or SNPs in the flanking regions. The highest gain in the heterozygosity and allele numbers was observed in D5S2800, D1S1656, D16S539, D5S818, and vWA. rs25768 (A/G) at D5S818 was found to be the most frequent SNP in the studied population. Allele no. 15 of D3S1358, allele no. 19 of D2S1338, and allele no. 22 of D12S391 showed 5 isoalleles each with the same size and with different intervening sequences. Length-based determination of the alleles showed Penta E to be the most useful marker in the central Indian population among 31 STRs studied; however, sequence-based analysis advocated D2S1338 to be the most useful marker in terms of various forensic parameters. Population genetics analysis showed a shared genetic ancestry of the studied population with other Indian populations. This first-ever study to the best of our knowledge on sequence-based STR analysis in the central Indian population is expected to prove the use of NGS in forensic case-work and in forensic DNA laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was carried out with the objectives to study the effects of antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GSH) on cryopreservation of Black Bengal buck semen. Semen ejaculates (n = 60) were collected from eight bucks by artificial vagina method and diluted with Tris citrate egg yolk glycerol extender. To study the effect of antioxidants, SOD was added @ 0, 100, and 150 IU/ml; CAT was added @ 0, 200, and 400 IU/ml while GSH was added @ 0, 1, and 2 mM of diluted semen. Semen samples were equilibrated and vapor frozen in liquid nitrogen. Semen samples were evaluated after 48 h of storage for post thaw in vitro characters such as motility, viability, functional membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity. Semen extenders supplemented with SOD @ 100 and 150 IU/ml and GSH @ 1 and 2 mM had a higher (p < 0.01) number of motile cells, viable cells, HOST reacted cells, and acrosome intact cells than their respective controls. Further, semen extenders added with catalase @ 200 and 400 IU/ml had more (p < 0.05) number of viable, HOST reacted cells and significantly higher (p < 0.01) acrosome intact sperm cells than its control group. It can be concluded that supplementation of antioxidants SOD, GSH, and CAT had a beneficial effect on cryopreservation of Black Bengal buck semen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though microvariant alleles are widely reported in global populations, they are not well characterised to date. To study the prevalence and characterisation of size and sequence-based microvariant alleles Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was used to sequence microvariant alleles at nine autosomal STR markers in 138 samples. After sequencing 31 STR markers using Precision ID GlobalFilerTM NGS STR panel v2, only nine markers, i.e. D12S391, D19S433, D1S1656, D21S11, D2S441, D7S820, FGA, Penta D, and TH01 showed the prevalence of microvariant alleles. Occurrence of microvariant alleles was positively correlated with Total Possible Alleles (p < 0.005), Power of Discrimination (p < 0.01), Polymorphic Information Content (p < 0.01), and Power of Exclusion (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with the Matching Probability (p < 0.01). The average allele frequency of the microvariant alleles was found to be significantly less than the allele frequency value of the complete alleles (p = 0.88). Further, sequencing of these microvariant alleles reveals the deletion of nucleotides from the start, end, or middle of the repeat unit is responsible for the generation of a microvariant allele. Prevalence of microvariant alleles is rare in nature and is limited to 9 STR loci out of 31 STR loci tested in the central Indian population. The occurrence of microvariant alleles in a locus increases its forensic and paternity application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine environment is a dynamic habitat for survival of many microbes with unique metabolic potential. Biofilm formation benefits the marine bacteria to thrive and persist even in hostile environments. Besides, biofilm formation ability of bacteria enhances the efficiency of bioremediation of organic pollutants. In the present study, biofilm forming and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (phenanthrene and pyrene) degrading bacteria were isolated and taxonomic identification was carried out by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolates were able to grow on multiple aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, biphenyl, anthracene and naphthalene. The potential isolates were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolates were identified and belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Paenibacillus, Alcaligenes, Sporosarcina and Lysinibacillus. Proteobacteria were found to be leading bacterial group at the pollutant sites. 75% of the isolates screened were able to establish biofilm and grow on either of aromatic hydrocarbon. This study shows the dominance of biofilm forming bacteria with ability to grow on multiple organic compounds in the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation in bacteria is strongly affected by the nature of substrata. Different substrata such as glass, polystyrene, steel, ceramic, and rubber were used to assess the biofilm forming ability of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PFL‐P1 using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The bacterium formed dense biofilms with varied aggregation on different substrata. SEM study revealed small rod‐shaped cells with diverse arrangements within the biofilms on all the substrata under study. The AFM study revealed the highest roughness of 545 nm on the ceramic substratum. The biofilms formed on ceramic substratum were characterized with maximum roughness (742 nm), maximum peak height (1,480 nm), and maximum arithmetic mean height (611 nm), significantly higher than all the other substrata (p <.05). AFM studies confirmed that P. aeruginosa PFL‐P1 exhibited biofilm heterogeneity on all the substrata. The CLSM study indicated a higher fraction of nucleic acids to α‐polysaccharides ratio in the biofilms. COMSTAT analysis revealed the highest biofilm biomass of ~18 μm3/μm2 on the ceramic substratum. The maximum biofilm thickness of ~50 μm in the native state on the ceramic substratum was significantly higher than glass (p =.0015), polystyrene (p =.0001), steel (p =.0035), and rubber substrata (p =.0001). The higher surface roughness of ceramic substratum is accountable for more area for colonization, as evident from higher biomass and thickness of the biofilm. This study provides insight into the substratum properties, which modulate the biofilm forming ability in bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm forming and heavy metal resistant marine bacterial strain Pseudomonas chengduensis PPSS-4 was isolated from the contaminated marine sediment of Paradip Port, Odisha, India. The strain showed biofilm formation up to 100 mg/L of multi-metal [Pb(II), Cr(VI), and Cd(II)] supplementation in the culture medium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed aggregation of rod-shaped cells in the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix of biofilm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) exhibited a higher nucleic acid to the α-polysaccharide ratio in the biofilm, and the observed thickness was ~21 µm. The metal uptake potential of biofilm culture was higher than planktonic culture both in single and multi-metal solutions. FESEM-EDS analysis revealed the sequestration of multi-metals by bacterial cells and biofilm-EPS. FTIR analysis of bacterial EPS further ensured the interaction of functional groups such as –OH, –NH, and P=O with the metal ions. The maximum removal of Pb, Cr, and Cd by the bacterial biomass was observed at 37°C within 4 h of contact time at pH 6, and 4% salinity for Pb and Cr, and 6% salinity for Cd. The present study revealed that the marine bacterium P. chengduensis PPSS-4 can remove multi-metals, and this bacterium could be efficiently utilized for the remediation of heavy metals in the contaminated environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global incidence of cancer and cancer‐related mortality is expected to rise in recent years despite advancements in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. Increasing evidences of decrypting molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression have commanded the tremendous development of synthetic anticancer drugs. With limitations in the current conventional cancer therapeutic approaches, the non‐nutritive dietary phytochemicals have emerged as potent modulators of apoptosis and autophagy associated key signaling pathways in various cancer cells. The dynamic regulation of apoptosis and autophagy by phytochemicals in cancer are identified as promising therapeutic candidates with minimal cytotoxicity and enhanced biological activity. Dietary phytochemicals and their synthetic analogs have exhibited potency in the modulation of apoptosis and autophagy in several cancer cells as individuals or in combination with pre‐existing FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved anticancer drugs. In the current generation of medical science, developing precision and personalized medicine and their consumption as food supplements will hold high prevalence in cancer therapeutics. Hence understating the impact of dietary phytochemicals on human health and their molecular mechanism will thrive a new horizon in cancer therapeutics. Hence, this review has emphasized the role of apoptotic/autophagy modulating dietary phytochemicals in cancer therapy, their preclinical and clinical applications and the future direction of enhanced nano‐formulation for better clinical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll‐interacting protein (Tollip) is a critical regulator of TOLL‐ like receptor (TLR)‐signaling pathway. It is predominantly associated with TLR2 and TLR4 during acute inflammatory conditions and inhibits the TLR‐mediated nuclear factor‐kappa activation by suppressing the autophosphorylation of interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase and its kinase activity. This article describes the Tollip of Labeo rohita (LrTollip), a highly valuable freshwater fish from the Indian subcontinent. The full‐length LrTollip complementary DNA (1412 nucleotides) encodes a 276‐amino acid (aa) protein, depicting a highly conserved target of the Myb1 (Tom1)‐binding domain (TBD; 1–53 aa), conserved core domain 2 (C2; 54–151 aa), and coupling of ubiquitin to endoplasmic reticulum degradation (CUE; 231–273 aa) domains of mouse and human counterparts. The key amino acids exerting the critical functions of Tollip, such as phospholipids recognition and ubiquitination, are present in the C2 and CUE domains of LrTollip, respectively. LrTollip is widely expressed in the kidneys, gills, spleen, liver, and blood, and among these tested tissues, the highest expression is observed in blood. In response to TLR ligands and NOD‐like receptor (NLR) ligands stimulations and Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, and Bacillus subtilis infections, LrTollip gene expression is induced in various organs/tissues with remarkable difference in their kinetics. These data together suggest the important role of LrTollip in TLR‐ and NLR‐signal transduction pathways and immune‐related diseases in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This pilot cross-sectional study focused on biological monitoring of the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) urinary metabolites trans, trans-muconic acid (tt-MA), s-phenyl mercapturic acid (SPMA), hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid (MA), and methylhippuric acid (MHA) and measured the effects of workplace BTEX exposure on pulmonary function of workers engaged in footwear manufacturing. Materials and Methods: Urinary metabolites tt-MA, SPMA, HA, MA, and MHA concentration in urine samples of study participants (N = 35) were analyzed by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Pulmonary function parameters were measured by spirometer and peak flow meter. Demographic information and work exposure information of study participants were collected by questionnaire interview. Results: In exposed workers, concentration of urinary SPMA, tt-MA, and HA was significantly higher (P < 0.01, in all) than the control group. Reduction in both force expiratory volume in 1 s (Forced expiratory volume in one second) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were inversely associated (P < 0.01) with growing years of age among all workers. Inverse association was measured between urinary tt-MA and decline in forced vital capacity and PEFR (P < 0.05, for each) in workers. Based on the questionnaire interview, workers were not found to be aware of workplace exposure hazards. Conclusions: Exposure biomarkers of benzene (tt-MA and SPMA) and toluene (HA) were significantly higher in workers than the control group. Study results evident the presence of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene in footwear workers. Deterioration in FEV1 and PEFR were also measured among all workers with growing years of age. The sample size was small in the present study, so further research required to confirm our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reported about the ultraviolet (UV) radiation effect on the resonance frequency response of a AT-cut piezoelectric quartz crystal. A large resonance frequency upshift was observed when the quartz crystal was irradiated by UV light of 355-nm wavelength using a Q-switched pulsed Nd:YVO4 UV laser. The dynamic frequency response behavior was systematically investigated by illuminating the quartz crystal with UV light in which the UV intensity was varied with time in staircase- and linear pulse-shaped patterns. From the experimental analysis, we measured the limit of detection and the sensitivity of the quartz crystal, which are about 0.5 mW/cm2 and 0.706 Hz/(mW/cm2), respectively. For a constant UV irradiation, a moderate response (<10 s) and recovery (<10 s) times were achieved during the on and off cycles of the UV light. The short-term repeatability and maximum operating limit of AT-cut quartz crystal were also further studied upon exposure to UV light with different intensities. In this work, we not only demonstrate the impact of UV irradiation on quartz crystal but also discuss the mechanism of upshift in resonance frequency upon exposure to UV light. This study shows the applicability of quartz crystal for the detection of UV light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine bacterium Pseudomonas furukawaii PPS-19 isolated from the oil-polluted site of Paradip port, Odisha, India, was found to form a strong biofilm in 2% (v/v) crude oil. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) revealed biofilm components along with multi-layered dense biofilm of rod-shaped cells with 64.7 µm thickness. Scanning electron micrographs showed similar biofilm architecture covered with a gluey matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the presence of 2% (v/v) crude oil. The architecture of purified EPS was also studied through FESEM that exposed its porous and three-dimensional flakes-like structure. The structural characterization by FTIR revealed that EPS was composed of primary alkane, amines, halide, hydroxyl groups, uronic acid, and saccharides. The XRD profile exhibited an amorphous phase of the EPS with a crystallinity index of 0.336. The EPS showed three-step thermal decomposition and thermal stability up to 600 °C, as confirmed by TGA and DSC thermogram. EPS produced by marine bacterium P. furukawaii PPS-19 could act as bioemulsifier and showed the highest emulsifying activity of 66.23% on petrol. The emulsifying ability of the EPS was superior to the commercial polymer xanthan. The emulsion also showed high stability with time and temperature exposure. The marine bacterium P. furukawaii PPS-19 and the EPS complex showed 89.52% degradation of crude oil within 5 days. These properties demonstrated the potential of biofilm-forming marine bacterium as bioemulsifier for its application in the bioremediation of oil-polluted sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we report the synthesis techniques of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in open air atmosphere by pulse laser ablation (PLA) method using solid ZnO polycrystalline palette followed by fabrication of formaldehyde (HCHO) sensor. The crystalline phase and morphology of the obtained ZnO NPs were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), respectively. The XRD patterns showed that the NPs were polycrystalline structure with good crystallinity. The FESEM images revealed that the NPs were spherical in shape and loosely agglomerated. The average diameter of the NPs was in the range of 30–43 nm. Moreover, the ZnO NPs-based sensor exhibited excellent formaldehyde sensing performance at a temperature of 350 °C. The sensor exhibited a gas response of about 5.2 toward 300 ppm formaldehyde with 25 s response and 12 s recovery time. Furthermore, the ZnO NPs-based sensor exhibited excellent reliability and reproducibility to formaldehyde. On the other hand, the sensor showed high sensitivity of about 0.2% ppm −1 to formaldehyde with a 50 ppm lower detection limit. In addition, the sensor showed an excellent linear relationship (R2 = 0.7948) between the response and the concentration of formaldehyde in the range of 50–400 ppm. This work demonstrates that PLA in open air is a rapid and cost-effective method for synthesizing metal oxide NPs for gas-sensing applications without the need for wet chemical routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries have developed their core set of STR loci for forensic application and database generation, which India lacks. To assess the usefulness of various combinations of autosomal STR marker sets for their superior use in the central Indian population for forensic and paternity applications. 19 STR marker sets were analysed on 200 central Indian populations and 20 paternity cases to assess their usefulness. Two marker sets each comprising 19 STR markers are found to be superior to 20 expanded CODIS loci in the studied population. These marker sets also showed their effectiveness in 20 paternity cases having CPI values of 7.62 × 1011 and 7.16 × 1011. Three non-CODIS STR markers Penta E, Penta D, and SE33 showed amplification in 50 challenging samples with >0.80 heterozygosity. Population-specific STR marker sets are useful in forensic and paternity applications, as well as database generation, and it is envisioned that Penta E, Penta D, and SE33 markers will be included in the list of core STR loci in the central Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber latex wastewater contains high level of inorganic anions such as nitrate and phosphate which are more prevalent as groundwater contaminant. The applicability of biofilm forming bacterial isolates to treat rubber latex wastewater was investigated. Microscopic analyses (CLSM and SEM) evaluated that the major component of biofilm other than bacterial cell is EPS matrix. EPS was found to contain higher proportion of lipids and polysaccharide which are required for attachment and absorption of nutrients. ATR‐FTIR and 1H NMR revealed the functional groups present in EPS. Rhodococcus rhodochrous CTI‐14 showed robust biofilm followed by Cellulosimicrobium sp. CTB‐10. Out of six bacterial consortia tested, consortium‐D efficiently removed 95% NO3-–N and 75% PO43-. Taguchi method revealed the optimum parameters to remove the nutrients. The consortium‐D optimally reduced nitrate and phosphate at pH 7 at 37°C. Consortium‐D composed of Cellulosimicrobium sp. CTB‐10, Aeromonas veronii OS‐01, Lysinibacillus sphaericus RTA‐01 and Rhodococcus rhodochrous CTI‐14 was found to be the most efficient bacterial consortium to treat rubber latex wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, an ultrafast direct laser patterning technique to fabricate a low-cost microsensor and its application for formaldehyde detection are reported. The patterns of microheater and interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) were realized using laser micromachining techniques by ablation of gold thin film on alumina substrate. The thin film of gold microheater showed good stability up to 300 °C with a fast response time of 80 s and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) was calculated as 1.37 × 10−3/°C. Moreover, gold microheater exhibited long-term reliability under self-heating mode with a negligible resistance drift < 0.5% over a period of 330 h at 250 °C through consuming low power with a heating efficiency of 0.23 °C/mW. Thermal imaging camera revealed the uniform temperature distribution with negligible heat gradient profile over the whole microsensor platform. To state-of-the-art gas sensing application of this coplanar sensing platform, a nanostructured SnO2 was deposited on IDE, which exhibited high sensitivity (13.96% ppm−1) to formaldehyde even to detect sub-ppm concentrations with fast response (32 s) and recovery kinetics (72 s). Moreover, the microsensor was also used on-site rapid screening for the detection and quantification of formaldehyde concentration in formalin-treated fish sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of post-mortem time interval (PMI) is a key parameter in the forensic investigation which poses a huge challenge to the medico-legal experts. The succession of microbes within different parts of the human body after death has shown huge potential in the determination of PMI. Human body harbors trillions of microorganisms as commensals. With the death of an individual when biological functions are stopped, these microorganisms behave contrarily along with the invasion of degrading microbes from the environment. Human cadaver becomes a rich source of nutrients due to autolysis of cells, which attracts various invading microorganisms as well as macroorganisms. At different stages of degradation, the succession of microorganisms differs significantly which can be explored for accurate PMI estimation. With the advent of microbial genomics technique and reduction in the cost of DNA sequencing, thanatomicrobiome and epinecrotic community analysis have gained huge attention in PMI estimation. The article summarizes different sources of microorganisms in a human cadaver, their succession pattern, and analytical techniques for application in the field of microbial forensics. Key points: • Thanatomicrobiome and epinecrotic microbiome develop in postmortem human body. • Lack of metabolic, immune, neuroendocrine systems facilitate microbial succession. • Analysis of postmortem microbial communities predicts accurate PMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]