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Recycling, reusing, and reducing electronic garbage (E-waste) may be the sole methods for managing E-waste in use today. In essence, there is no ideal method of managing E-waste. This process required more labor and resources. E-waste classification is fulfilled using fractional Henry gas optimization-based deep convolutional neural network (FHGO-based deep CNN) is shown in this manuscript. To predict the optimal path the E-waste images are conversed through the energy-aware FHGO routing algorithm. The feature extraction procedure is performed to cut out the features for example the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) feature, local Gabor binary pattern (LGBP) and histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and the pre-processing phase is concluded with a median filter. To supplement the extracted feature size the data augmentation is fulfilled. Moreover, the E-waste classification is done based on deep CNN, which is trained using a FHGO algorithm. FHGO is exhibited by the merging of Henry gas solubility optimization (HGSO) algorithm, fractional calculus (FC). Comparing to the existing approaches like deep learning, tensor flow deep learning, Cuckoo search-based neural network and machine learning the accuracy of the proposed method is 19.49%, 18.05%, 12.77%, and 7.89% privileged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An organic dibenzoylmethane single crystal was grown by slow evaporation method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that dibenzoylmethane crystal has an orthorhombic crystal structure and its unit cell parameters are a = 10.875 (± 0.004) Å, b = 8.769 (± 0.003) Å, c = 24.460 (± 0.009) Å, α = β = γ = 90° and volume = 2335 Å3. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the optimized geometry, vibrational frequencies and electronic properties of the title compound. The fundamental vibrational analysis of the molecule obtained in FTIR spectra are compared with the theoretical results computed by DFT. The results obtained from UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopic transmittance spectra are in good agreement with theoretically obtained values using DFT method. The lower cut off wavelength and large band gap value of 4.48 eV of the crystal ensures its applications for optoelectronic devices. DFT was also used to report HOMO–LUMO bandgap energy, stability of the molecule by investigating NBO analysis, electrophilic and nucleophilic regions were identified using MEP map, topological research ELF and LOL to find bonding zone and weakest interactions in dibenzoylmethane. The atomic charge values of dibenzoylmethane were computed in Mulliken’s population analysis. The thermal stability of the crystal was studied using TG/DTA analysis. The material shows major weight losses of around 90% in the temperature between 79 °C and 270 °C. The fluorescence spectrum indicates that the crystal has emission at 401 nm and 602 nm wavelengths in visible region. The third order nonlinear susceptibility (χ3) = 3.65 × 10–5 esu, nonlinear refractive index (n2) = 6.42 × 10–8 cm2/W and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) = 7.2 × 10–4 cm/W of the grown crystal were determined using Z-scan technique. According to these results the dibenzoylmethane crystal could be suitable for optoelectronic and photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, engineered cementitious composites (ECC) are rapidly replacing ordinary concrete in the building production due to its superior durability and mechanical qualities. Enormous researches have been done on ECC incorporating various fibers, industrial wastes, supplementary cementitious materials and super plasticizers. As far as fiber is concerned, poly vinyl alcohol fiber was widely explored. In this study, attempt has been made to involve alkali resistant glass fiber as a replacement for poly vinyl alcohol fiber. In addition, the high rate related with ECC as a result of the utilization of micro‐sized silica sand has restricted its extensive pertinences. Thus, this study recommends utilization of quarry dust to replace fine silica sand in the ECC at amounts ranging from 0% to 100% in order to establish a green, sustainable and cost‐effective ECC. The flowability and mechanical demeanor of the ECC mixtures in terms of the tensile, compressive and flexural properties were evaluated. It is arrived that 2% of volume fraction would be the optimum dosage by which better mechanical properties can be achieved. As a result of the present research findings, it is found that the quarry dust could be a better substitute for silica sand up to 75% without any compromise in compressive and flexural strengths. To attain higher tensile qualities, however, it might not be appropriate to replace more than 50% of the silica sand with quarry dust. Cost analysis of the ECC mixtures show that using quarry dust as aggregate is both cost‐effective and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs) represent a crucial component of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), enabling vehicles to communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure. Predicting traffic congestion in VANETs is essential for enhancing road safety, optimizing traffic flow, and improving overall transportation efficiency. Traditional machine learning methods have shown promise in this domain; however, they often fall short in handling the complex, high-dimensional data typical of VANETs. To address these challenges, this study employs Extreme Deep Learning Machines (EDRLM), an advanced deep learning technique, for traffic congestion prediction. The EDRLM framework leverages the strengths of deep neural networks and extreme learning machines, offering a robust and scalable solution for processing the dynamic and heterogeneous data in VANETs. By integrating feature extraction, selection, and prediction into a unified model, EDRLM can capture intricate patterns and temporal dependencies within traffic data. The proposed model is trained and validated using realworld VANET datasets, incorporating various traffic parameters such as vehicle speed, density, and inter-vehicular distances. Our experimental results demonstrate that EDRLM outperforms conventional machine learning algorithms in terms of prediction accuracy, computational efficiency, and robustness to noise and missing data. The model's ability to provide timely and precise congestion predictions can facilitate proactive traffic management strategies, including dynamic routing and adaptive traffic signal control, ultimately leading to reduced travel times and enhanced road safety. This study underscores the potential of EDRLM in transforming traffic management in VANETs, paving the way for more intelligent and adaptive ITS solutions. Future research directions include exploring hybrid models combining EDRLM with other advanced machine learning techniques and expanding the framework to accommodate emerging vehicular communication technologies such as 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) are transmittable diseases which are caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome human coronavirus (SARS-CoV). This paper describes the identification of coronavirus disease infections and better treatments based on recent technology. The categorization and projection of COVID-19 from the dataset of the most significant Computed tomography (CT) image features. The CT image databases are collected from the online access Kaggle database. The features are extracted by the CT images with the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) feature extraction techniques. The selected features are then segmented using the Improved Whale Optimization and Moth Flame Optimization (IWOMFO) algorithm. Improved Whale Optimization and Moth Flame Optimization (IWOMFO) algorithm are utilized to calculate the feature selection for image segmentation, which increases the objective function. Accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity, and precision are the various parameters utilized for evaluating performance. The segmented features were classified using Black widow optimization with a faster recurrent neural network (BWOFRCNN) method. The proposed BWOFRCNN classifier achieves a maximum accuracy of about 98.78%, a sensitivity of about 97.58%, and a precision of about 96.95% when compared to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat that requires the development of new treatment concepts. These should not only overcome existing resistance but be designed to slow down the emergence of new resistance mechanisms. Targeted protein degradation, whereby a drug redirects cellular proteolytic machinery towards degrading a specific target, is an emerging concept in drug discovery. We are extending this concept by developing proteolysis targeting chimeras active in bacteria (BacPROTACs) that bind to ClpC1, a component of the mycobacterial protein degradation machinery. The anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) BacPROTACs are derived from cyclomarins which, when dimerized, generate compounds that recruit and degrade ClpC1. The resulting Homo-BacPROTACs reduce levels of endogenous ClpC1 in Mycobacterium smegmatis and display minimum inhibitory concentrations in the low micro- to nanomolar range in mycobacterial strains, including multiple drug-resistant Mtb isolates. The compounds also kill Mtb residing in macrophages. Thus, Homo-BacPROTACs that degrade ClpC1 represent a different strategy for targeting Mtb and overcoming drug resistance. Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat and the development of alternative strategies to overcome it is of high interest. Here, the authors report proteolysis targeting chimeras active in bacteria (BacPROTACs) that bind to ClpC1, a component of the mycobacterial protein degradation machinery, and apply them for targeting a range of mycobacterial strains, including antibiotic-resistant ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken during October, 2020-January, 2021 at Maize Research Centre, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana state, India to identify potential inbred lines and hybrids with early maturity and high yield through combining ability analysis and heterosis. Six lines and four testers were crossed in L×T design to obtain 24 crosses. Evaluation of these crosses and their parents for combining ability revealed significant differences due to lines, testers and their crosses indicating the existence of wider variability among the material used in the study. Maize line MGC 434 (91 days), two testers GP-170 and PFSR-56 (91 days), and one hybrid MGC-445×PFSR-132 (83 days) were identified as early duration genotypes. Four lines MGC-444 (-3.13), MGC-440 (-2.71), MGC-439 (-1.96) and MGC-445 (-0.46) with significant negative GCA effects were identified as best general combiners for early maturity. Eight hybrids, MGC-439×BML-14 (-4.99), MGC-445×PFSR-56 (-4.65), MGC-461×PFSR-56 (-3.65), MGC-445×PFSR-132 (-3.60), MGC-434×BML-14 (-2.32), MGC-439×GP-170 (-2.10), MGC-440×PFSR-56 (-2.07) and MGC-440×GP-170 (-1.01) with significant negative SCA effects were considered as best cross combinations with early maturity. The inbred parents and cross combinations with early maturity identified in the study can be utilized for development of hybrids suitable to drought prone environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a major worldwide health problem due to its high incidence and mortality rates. The liver often becomes a site for metastasis from various primary locations, benefiting from its abundant blood supply. Distinguishing liver metastatic tumours from HCC can pose a diagnostic challenge, significantly impacting prognosis and treatment decisions. Aim: To differentiate between HCC, Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the liver using Hep par-1, Cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK19, and CK20 as immunohistochemical markers. The manual Tissue Microarray (TMA) technique was employed for present study. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Pathology at Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, spanning a three-year duration from July 2012 to June 2015. A total of 60 cases diagnosed histologically with HCC, ICC, and metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the liver were included. The manual TMA technique was used to create recipient blocks, and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of Hep par-1, CK7, CK19 and CK20. The sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), and Negative Predictive Values (NPV) of these markers in HCC, ICC, and metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the liver were analysed and tabulated using statistical software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: The study included a total of 60 cases, with 40 (66.7%) males and 20 (33.3%) females, ranging in age from 27 to 73 years with a mean age of 51.3 years. Among the cases, there were 30 (50%) cases of HCC, 14 (23%) cases of ICC, and 16 (27%) cases of metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the liver. The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV of Hep par-1 in distinguishing HCC from ICC and metastatic deposits were 80%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. The NPV of Hep par-1 in distinguishing HCC from ICC and metastatic deposits was 70% and 72%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CK7 in distinguishing ICC from HCC were 3.3%, 50%, 6.3%, and 34.1%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CK19 in distinguishing HCC from ICC and metastatic deposits were 0%, 50%, 0%, and 33.3%. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of CK20 in distinguishing HCC from ICC and metastatic deposits were 0%, 53.3%, 0%, and 34.8%, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was found that a panel of markers including Hep par-1, CK7, CK19 and CK20 can differentiate between HCC, ICC, and metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma in the liver. This differentiation is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment for patients by understanding the exact behaviour of the tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the intricate interplay between two prevalent chronic conditions, diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease, reveals a bidirectional relationship. Recent evidence underscores the pivotal influence of the microbiome, particularly the gut and oral microbiome, in shaping the pathogenesis of both diabetes and periodontal disease. The present comprehensive review aimed to elucidate the current understanding of how these microbial communities contribute to the development and progression of diabetes, especially when compounded by periodontal disease. However, emerging evidence suggests a complex bidirectional relationship between these two conditions. The microbiome’s involvement in these conditions unfolds through multifaceted mechanisms, with microbial dysbiosis influencing systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and periodontal tissue degradation. The authors explored the dynamic crosstalk between the gut and oral microbiome, shedding light on how alterations in these microbial ecosystems may exacerbate the interconnected manifestations of diabetes and periodontal disease. Furthermore, present review unraveled the potential therapeutic implications for targeted interventions. By dissecting the microbiome-driven pathways, authors identified the promising avenues for precision medicine and tailored therapies. This exploration opens new vistas for developing strategies that leverage the microbiome to mitigate the impact of diabetes with periodontal disease. As the authors navigated this complex terrain, the manuscript underscores the urgency of a holistic understanding and targeted modulation of the microbiome to revolutionise treatment paradigms for these intertwined chronic conditions. The present manuscript aimed to review the current understanding of the role of the gut and oral microbiome in the development and progression of diabetes with periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Horses mount a huge stress response to anesthesia when compared to other animals, hence are risky candidates for anesthesia. Inhalant anesthetic agents offer more control to anesthetic depth and facilitate rapid recovery, hence are considered to be safer than intravenous agents for surgical procedures requiring more than an hour, however, newer drug combinations are being explored to minimize the undesired consequences and dose rate of inhalant agents. The present study explored the safety of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and lidocaine constant rate infusion alone or as a combination along with Isoflurane for safer anesthesia in horses. Methods: The study was conducted on 28 horses divided into S, D, DK and DKL groups having 7 animals in each. Xylazine (1 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg) were given intravenously for premedication. Ketamine (2 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) were used for induction and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane. Normal saline (1000 ml/hour), Dexmedetomidine (2 µg/kg/hr), Dexmedetomidine and ketamine (2 µg/kg/hr and 2 mg/kg/hr) and Dexmedetomidine, ketamine and lidocaine (2 µg/kg/hr, 2 mg/kg/hr and 2 mg/kg/h) were given as CRI in groups S, D, DK and DKL, respectively. Thiopentone sodium (250 mg bolus, 5%) was given as a fast intravenous bolus whenever required. Anesthetic efficacy was evaluated based on clinical, haemato-biochemical, hemodynamic, and endocrine variables. Result: A significant decline in mean arterial pressure was noticed in group DKL but changes in CVP and SpO2 in different groups were non-significant. Higher Blood glucose and low Insulin levels were seen in group DK during 45-60 min. Constant rate infusions of Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine and Lidocaine alone or in combination produced a significant sparing effect on Isoflurane and thiopentone while they improved peri-operative quality of anesthesia in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehabilitation systems are devices for rehabilitating the wounded limbs of patients in place of therapies. Innovative needs for new technological applications in areas like healthcare care and rehabilitation have arisen as a result of changes in global population patterns. Recent advancements in robotics for upper-limb rehabilitations have produced a slew of data demonstrating its use as a supplement to traditional physiotherapies. One main attraction of these technologies is their ability to install in-house rehabilitation tools that allow individuals to take control of their therapies more regularly using these technologies. Specialized user interfaces provide patient benefits with workout feedback as well as inputs from healthcare practitioners. These specialized interfaces allow healthcare professionals to view involved patients' exercise routine performance charts. The product includes mechanical parts, sensors and motor drives, databases, and interactive interfaces. The mechanical design of these devices uses 3DPs (3 Dimensional Printing) on key components and implementation controls are obtained by DSPIC30F4011 and stepper motors. Healthcare professionals and patients interface using windows-based apps developed in C# with Visual Studio while patient performance data is stored in SQL (Structured Query Language) Databases and services are completely managed database services that can be deployed in cloud-native applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with multifactorial pathomechanisms affecting not only motor neurons but also glia. Both astrocytes and microglia get activated and contribute significantly to neurodegeneration. The role of oligodendroglia in such a situation remains obscure, especially in the sporadic form of ALS (SALS), which contributes to 90% of cases. Here, we have investigated the role of oligodendroglia in SALS pathophysiology using a human oligodendroglial cell line, MO3.13, by exposing the cells to cerebrospinal fluid from SALS patients (ALS-CSF; 10% v/v for 48 h). ALS-CSF significantly reduced the viability of MO3.13 cells and down-regulated the expression of oligodendroglia-specific proteins, namely, CNPase and Olig2. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of the observed oligodendroglial changes on motor neurons, NSC-34 motor neuronal cells were co-cultured/supplemented with conditioned/spent medium of MO3.13 cells upon exposure to ALS-CSF. Live cell imaging experiments revealed protection to NSC-34 cells against ALS-CSF toxicity upon co-culture with MO3.13 cells. This was evidenced by the absence of neuronal cytoplasmic vacuolation and beading of neurites, which instead resulted in better neuronal differentiation. Enhanced lactate levels and increased expression of its transporter, MCT-1, with sustained expression of trophic factors, namely, GDNF and BDNF, by MO3.13 cells hint towards metabolic and trophic support provided by the surviving oligodendroglia. Similar metabolic changes were seen in the lumbar spinal cord oligodendroglia of rat neonates intrathecally injected with ALS-CSF. The findings indicate that oligodendroglia are indeed rescuer to the degenerating motor neurons when the astrocytes and microglia turn topsy-turvy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major aim of this research is to identify the AML early from the morphological images. The proposed approach detects AML through four major stages, namely pre-processing, segmentation, feature extraction and classification. The pre-processing stage is employed for image enhancement. The segmentation process is utilized for segmenting the nucleus as well as the cell mask. When the human is affected by AML, the nucleus shape is asymmetrical, and texture is altered. The features achieved by the feature extraction process are given as the input of the classifier. The classification is attained by using the hybrid convolutional bidirectional LSTM-based recurrent neural network network. Although there are several optimisation algorithms proposed to solve different segmentation problems in the literature, to achieve the classified result more optimal, the slime mould optimisation algorithm is utilised. The data sets to detect AML were collected from Munich University Hospital. The experimental investigation is conducted, and from the experimental outcomes, it is examined that the proposed AML detection has obtained a sensitivity of 95.12%, a specificity of 93.72%, an accuracy of 97.95%, a precision of 94.64%, Matthews correlation coefficient of 98.2% and recall of 95.78%. This indicates that the proposed technique outperforms other state-of-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospitals generate a significant amount of highly hazardous medical waste. Waste collectors were now responsible for the majority of waste separation. Currently, hazardous medical waste, including substrate materials, syringes, and other items were separated manually, causing serious problems. Automatic waste separation is proposed for the separation of biowaste produced in hospitals. When waste disposal is identified, the treadmill is moved by an external motor. These wastes would be sent to the Sensing and Classification Units. The source image is captured, preprocessed, median filtered, contrast adjusted, and then classified in five steps. After the steps, the outcome would be assessed using the characteristics collected from the Grey Ordered Model (GOM) and transferred to the trash after the separation procedure. To determine the level of waste in dustbins, an infrared sensor, a moisture sensor, a pressure sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of types of irrigation and organic mulches on growth of mulberry at Department of Sericulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore during Kharif 2021. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (FRCBD) with fourteen treatment combinations and three replications. Main plots include two different types of irrigation viz., Surface drip irrigation- I1 and Subsurface drip irrigation- I1 at 15-20 cm depth both at 0.75 Cumulative Pan Evaporation (CPE) and Organic mulches (M1 -Mulching with glyricidia leaves, M2 - Mulching with pongamia leaves, M3 - Mulching with neem leaves, M4 -Live mulch with cowpea, M5 - Live mulch with horsegram and M6 - Live mulch with dhaincha and M7 -control without mulch, observations were recorded at 30, 45 and 60 Days After Pruning (DAP). The results of the experiment revealed that the subsurface drip irrigation at 0.75 CPE recorded highest shoot length (79.14, 111.38 and 143.33cm, respectively), number of shoots plant-1 (15.32, 19.69 and 27.43 no. respectively), number of leaves plant-1 (141.72, 252.02 and 350.96 no. respectively) and leaf area (115.45, 165.31 and 115.45 cm² respectively). Among mulches live mulch with cowpea showed highest shoot height (90.53, 118.78 and 149.82 cm respectively), number of shoots plant-1 (16.10, 21.20 and 25.30 no. respectively), number of leaves plant-1 (146.05, 259.81 and 360.96 no. respectively) and leaf area about 119.25, 170.09 and 246.54 cm2 respectively. However, effect of irrigation methods and different mulches differed non-significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthodontic mini-implants or transient anchorage devices can be used to shift difficult teeth. There is substantial evidence showing the effectiveness of Temporary Anchorage Devices (TAD) and their anchorage requirements. However, there are also reports of failures and complications like soft tissue inflammation, tissue overgrowth, peri-implantitis and mini-implant fracture. The present case report of 22 years old female patient, discusses a rare occurrence of tissue overgrowth over the mini-implant on right buccal mucosa in relation to 45, 46 regions. A 1.3×9 mm stainless steel mini-implant was used as an interim anchorage device. The tissue overgrowth was attributed to soft tissue inflammation around the mini-implant. Under adequate anaesthesia, the tissue was removed using a laser, and the mini-implant was retrieved using tissue forceps. After achieving hemostasis, simple interrupted sutures were placed. It is recommended to administer antibiotics, analgesics, and along with postoperative instructions. When used correctly, mini-screws are valuable tools that enhance the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment. However, there is a scarcity of case studies discussing the complications and side-effects of mini-implants. Clinicians should carefully evaluate both general and unique side-effects and complications at the insertion site. This case report demonstrates the successful removal of an orthodontic mini-implant following diode laser ablation of hyperplastic tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India to understand the histopathological mechanisms of initial interaction of Puccinia arachidis with six groundnut genotypes. Fully expanded quadrifoliate leaves were inoculated with P. arachidis using the detached leaf assay. Five-mm leaf discs were cut at 6 hours after inoculation (hai) and each day until 5 days after inoculation (dai) and examined for histopathological interactions. Germination of urediniospores was detected during 6–8 hai and continued until 24 hai. There were no differences in pre-penetration and penetration among all the six genotypes. Differences in post-penetration were observed among the genotypes during 3–5 dai. In genotypes TMV 2 and K 6, extensive hyphal colonization was observed in the intercellular spaces of mesophyll cells by 4–5 dai indicating compatible interaction and susceptibility to rust disease. Sparse hyphal growth and corresponding mesophyll cell death at 3–5 dai in genotypes ICGV 171015 and ICGV 13229 indicated defense response by the host and moderate resistance. In genotypes ICG 11426 and GPBD 4, complete arrest of hyphal growth by 4–5 dai due to extensive mesophyll necrosis suggested incompatible interaction and resistance to rust. This is the first documentation of the histopathological description of the initial infection strategies of P. arachidis in the selected groundnut genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger millet is a staple food and fodder crop mainly in African and Indian countries. It is cultivated mostly as rainfed crop. Finger millet is known for drought tolerance, the grain yield has been reported to decrease up to 100 per cent depending on the intensity and duration of stress (during rainy season). Over the last decade, yield improvement has plateaued, hence, trait-specific selection is preferred for crop improvement. Identification of yield-contributing traits and selection of pre-breeding lines for such traits are important for breeding programmes. One of the approaches for trait selection is correlation analysis and partitioning of the correlation coefficients into direct and indirect effects on grain yield. Therefore, to identify traits associated with grain yield and their effects on grain yield, a field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2016 under well-watered (WW) and drought stress (DS) conditions using 181 accessions. Analysis of variance revealed that the phenotypic variations observed for most of the traits were true genotypic expression and there was no block effect under both WW and DS conditions. The results revealed that both the direction and magnitude of correlations and path coefficients differed between WW and DS conditions. Correlation and path analysis revealed that among the physiological traits, leaf width and specific leaf weight were prominent in determining grain yield. Among the agronomic traits, mean ear weight, followed by productive tillers per hill, was the most influential trait for grain yield in finger millet. Hence, selection can be made for mean ear weight, followed by productive tillers, in addition to higher leaf width and specific leaf weight under both WW and DS conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication level in lakes and reservoirs depends on both internal and external phosphorus (P) load. Characterization of sediment P fractionation and identifying the P pollution sources are important for assessing the bio-availability of P and the dominant P source, for effectively controlling the water pollution. For determining the availability and sources of sediment P and eutrophication status, spatio-temporal variation in different P fractionation of sediment of hyper-eutrophic Krishnagiri reservoir, Tamil Nadu, India, was investigated. Sediment average total P (TP) content ranged from 4.62 to 5.64 g/kg. Main phosphorus form was the inorganic P (IP), and it makes up to 73.4–87.7% of TP. Among the different P fraction, viz. calcium bound (Ca-P), iron bound (Fe–P), aluminium bound (Al-P), exchangeable (Ex-P) and Organic-P (Org-P), Ca-P was the dominating fraction in both IP and TP. Trend of IP fraction was as follows: Ca-P > Fe–P > Al-P > Ex-P in pre-monsoon season, Fe–P > Ca-P > Al-P > Ex-P in monsoon and Ca-P > Al-P > Fe–P > Ex-P in post-monsoon. Overall the trend was as follows Ca-P > Fe–P > Al-P > Org-P > Ex-P. Bio-available-P (BAP) fractions ranged from 35.2 to 64.0% of TP, indicating its comparative higher value. Pearson's correlation matrix revealed that there was strong correlation among the different P fractions. Factor analysis indicates that different fractions of P were the dominating factor than the other sediment parameters. The observed variation in sediment P fractionation indicate the differences in source and characterization of P which is very helpful for implementation of effective management practices in controlling pollution that arises due to phosphorus in this hyper-eutrophic reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the hematological structure of leukocytes or white blood corpuscles is often very complex in medical practices. The higher mortality rate associated with the number of new cases of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is increased day by day due to improper treatment and delay in diagnosis. Recently, the hematological experts used microscopic analysis of peripheral blood smears to diagnose hematological disorders. Nevertheless, these kinds of detection processes are more time-consuming, complex, and costly with inaccurate results. Hence, we proposed a Fractional Black Widow-based Neural Network (FBW-NN) for the detection of AML. The Adaptive Fuzzy Entropy (AFE) Model has been introduced to segment the AML region. AFE is the amalgamation of both the active contour-based model and the fuzzy C-mean clustering method. The statistical and image-level features are extracted after the segmentation process. Subsequently, the Fractional Black Widow Optimization is formulated to enhance the performance of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). A Fractional Black Widow-based Neural Network is proposed to detect the AML. The proposed work is implemented in the MATLAB platform with different performance metrics. Experimentally, the proposed method accomplishes better detection rates than other state-of-the-art methods such as pre-trained DCNN, Naive Bayes, CNN, and CSC-ACNN. When compared to these methods, the proposed FBW-NN yields 96.56% accuracy, 97.81% specificity, 96.90% sensitivity, 97.20% precision, and 97.90% recall results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of ZnO NPs with biological systems is becoming a growing field, especially in plant extracts nanotechnology. Biological reducing agents have been interpreted worldwide to lessen the impact of toxic chemicals applied in development of nanoparticles. In present research, work deals with green synthesis & characterization of ZnO NPs via Psidium guajava leaf extract, also to evaluate their antibacterial action against some selected bacteria. The preparation of ZnO NPs was attained via sol–gel assisted microwave irradiation process. The XRD pattern confirms the hexagonal phase of ZnO and crystalline size to be ~ 15.8 nm. FTIR analysis depicts the bio functional groups present in the surface of the ZnO nanoparticles, SEM predicts the size and morphology of the sample, and it shows rod-shaped surface. Then, the EDAX results showed the purity & elemental stoichiometry of the ZnO nanoparticles. Also, the UV was performed to investigate the optical nature of the prepared ZnO nanoparticles. Also, the antibacterial activity results revealed significantly inhibited both types of bacteria in higher concentrations. This study also suggests that green synthesized ZnO nanoparticles can an excellent antibacterial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in pigs is often associated with subclinical infections leading to poor weight gain and reduced market value. One of the most significant risks is pigs being the host for many zoonotic parasites and thereby threatening human health. Despite the epidemiological data being available from different states of the country, records from Andhra Pradesh are scanty. Hence, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free range pigs of Proddatur municipality Andhra Pradesh, India. Methods: About 142 fecal samples were collected from free range pigs slaughtered in four localities of Proddatur municipality over a period of six months. The fecal samples were later subjected for parasitological examination and the tissue pieces of intestines collected from the slaughtered animals with the embedded parasites and those with pathological changes were subjected to histological staining procedure for identification. Result: Fecal examination revealed 80.98% (115/142) positivity for parasitic ova or occysts. About eleven species of parasites were identified; of them nine were helminths (83.8%) and two were protozoan (10.5%) parasites. Infection with Ascarops spp. (28.2%) and Fasciolopsis buski (17.6%) was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher. The tissue sections of the intestines with pathological lesions revealed embedded parasites in intestinal mucosa infiltrated with eosinophils and mononuclear cells. The higher prevalence of GI parasites in slaughtered pigs in Proddatur region rises concern towards the impact on the health of pigs and as well as pork consumers suggesting a strategic control for GI parasites in pig farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was made to evaluate the efficacy of Pseudomonas fluorescens strains, fungicides and non-conventional chemicals against Botryotinia ricini, causing grey mold disease in castor, under in vitro conditions. Among the 40 strains isolated from rhizosphere soil samples of different crops across the State of Telangana, India, only eight strains inhibited the growth of B. ricini under dual culture technique, of which strains Pf 21 (90.56%), Pf 23 (88.89%), Pf 34 (86.11%) and Pf 36 (84.17%) were the most effective. Among the seven chemicals (four fungicides and three non-conventional chemicals) tested for their efficacy, carbendazim followed by propiconazole had significant antagonistic effect against B. ricini. Exposure of healthy castor capsules to B. ricini and P. fluorescens for different time periods revealed that strains Pf 34 and Pf 36 were effective in completely inhibiting the growth of B. ricini and hence these two strains have been identified as effective biocontrol agents, on par with carbendazim, which offer scope for sustainable and integrated disease management of grey mold disease in castor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater has a significant role in determining the ecological environment, public health and socio-economic development. This study analyzed the spatio-temporal variation in surface water quality of the tropical reservoir Mettur, India, to determine whether its water is suitable for human consumption and aquatic ecosystem. Thus, 21 water quality parameters were monitored seasonally (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon) at nine sampling sites covering riverine, transitional and lacustrine zones of the reservoir during 2018. The study revealed spatial variation, which was due to input from industrial and domestic wastewater in the lacustrine zone of the reservoir. However, temporal variability often exceeded spatial variability. The factor analysis indicates that basin geology, anthropogenic stress and agricultural applications simultaneously act vital roles in deciding the reservoir water quality. Based on similarity of water quality parameters, cluster analysis grouped all the nine sampling sites into three clusters of high, moderate and less polluted sites. Correlation analysis also indicated that multiple sources influence the reservoir water quality during all the seasons. Based on BIS and WHO values, the calculated water quality index (134–158) indicates that water of the reservoir is not fit for human consumption, while the trophic state of this reservoir is moderately-eutrophic to eutrophic. However, with precaution, this aquatic body seems to be suitable for aquatic life and fish growth. The overall water quality deterioration of this reservoir indicates a strong need for development of a regular monitoring system for implementation of an effective management system to safeguard human and environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present fast growing rapidly changing global society, attaining good health has become a challenge for all age groups. Now a day's consumption of food made from the leaves has increased and few are considered as wastes, but they are actually beneficial for health. The study was conducted to utilize mulberry leaves in different form through value-addition, thus reducing the wastage and providing inexpensive, healthy product. Mulberry leaves contain a good amount of high protein, vitamin C, beta-carotene and calcium. It can be easily grown in different parts of India and hence can help to meet the recommended dietary allowance of various micronutrients and improve the health status of vulnerable groups. Four variations of mulberry leaves masala biscuits were developed using mulberry leaves in different proportions viz., 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 per cent in preparation of Chapathi mix with other commonly used ingredients. The acceptability of four variations of developed mulberry leaves powder were studied by evaluating different organoleptic characteristics by 21 semi trained panel members. Mulberry leaves powder chutney with proportion of 5 per cent secured highest acceptability scores and the same is subjected for nutrient and cost analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vivax malaria is associated with significant morbidity and economic loss, and constitutes the bulk of malaria cases in large parts of Asia and South America as well as recent case reports in Africa. The widespread prevalence of vivax is a challenge to global malaria elimination programmes. Vivax malaria control is particularly challenged by existence of dormant liver stage forms that are difficult to treat and are responsible for multiple relapses, growing drug resistance to the asexual blood stages and host-genetic factors that preclude use of specific drugs like primaquine capable of targeting Plasmodium vivax liver stages. Despite an obligatory liver-stage in the Plasmodium life cycle, both the difficulty in obtaining P. vivax sporozoites and the limited availability of robust host cell models permissive to P. vivax infection are responsible for the limited knowledge of hypnozoite formation biology and relapse mechanisms, as well as the limited capability to do drug screening. Although India accounts for about half of vivax malaria cases world-wide, very little is known about the vivax liver stage forms in the context of Indian clinical isolates. Methods: To address this, methods were established to obtain infective P. vivax sporozoites from an endemic region in India and multiple assay platforms set up to detect and characterize vivax liver stage forms. Different hepatoma cell lines, including the widely used HCO4 cells, primary human hepatocytes as well as hepatocytes obtained from iPSC's generated from vivax patients and healthy donors were tested for infectivity with P. vivax sporozoites. Results: Both large and small forms of vivax liver stage are detected in these assays, although the infectivity obtained in these platforms are low. Conclusions: This study provides a proof of concept for detecting liver stage P. vivax and provide the first characterization of P. vivax liver stage forms from an endemic region in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress is an association of physiological and psychological reactions of a person confronted to a change of situation he cannot face. The relationship between stress and any disease is explained by hormonal modifications and behavioural changes induced by the stress. Research has suggested that stress and depression are two factors that play a role in the development and progression of periodontal disease. It is not clear, however, whether these factors lead to periodontal disease through physiological or behavioural changes, or by some combination of the two. The purpose of the present review article is to explore the associations between psychological factors, psycho immunologic variables, behaviour, and clinical measures of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized medicine in Periodontics is considered as a new paradigm shift of future health care. It is considered to provide great help in identification of etiological factors, evaluating the host risk in clinical and genetic point of view and prediction of response of to treatment. It of great support in development of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approach in a personalized way. As an overview we throw light on the advantages of personalized periodontal medicine over the usual conventional symptoms- oriented disease diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to discuss clinical decision-making and treatment strategies in the management of periodontal patients. Both benefits and risks or treating periodontally compromised teeth/dentitions in combination or not with implant placement are accounted for. Also the benefits and risks of using implants to cost-effectively improve the prognosis for the mobile natural tooth or tooth-supported fixed partial dentures are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work reports on the relatively higher saturation magnetization values of Fe/Fe3O4 nanocomposites. For example, the nanocomposites of Fe obtained after milling for 10 h with 5, 10 and 15 wt% of Fe3O4 had displayed saturation magnetization values of 210, 238 and 216 Am2 kg–1, respectively, in contrast to 218 Am2 kg–1 of bulk Fe. Similarly, the maximum magnetization values for the nanocomposites after 20 and 30 h of milling were 215 and 190 Am2 kg–1 for the sample containing 5 and 15 wt% of Fe3O4, respectively. The values of HC and Mr suggest that nanocomposites exhibit soft ferromagnetic behaviour. The ball milling also reduced the crystallite and particle size of Fe from microndimension to nanometres. This was confirmed from X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The crystallite size of pure Fe decreased to 35, 20 and 19 nm, respectively, for the samples having 5, 10 and 15 wt% of Fe3O4 after 10 h of milling. The crystallite size decreased further with increased milling time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clupeids support world’s largest marine fishery and dominant pelagic group landing from Indian waters. Even though landings of marine sector increased, the quantity of fish landing is dwindled and fluctuating and capture fish production is dependent on one of the natural biological factors “reproduction”. To increase the production potential of marine fisheries, studies on breeding seasonality with reproductive biology of fish is an essential precursor for eco-friendly rational exploitation and sustainable management of fisheries. The present study focuses on some of the important reproductive biology aspects of Anodontostoma chacunda along the Mangalore coast for the first time. Six maturity stages were classified based on macroscopic appearance. Gonado-Somatic Index (GSI) indicated protracted spawning which extended from September (2013) to April (2014) with evidence of ova diameter studies as a prolonged spawner. The size at first maturity of A. chacunda was estimated at 139 mm (TL) and 141 mm (TL) for male and female, respectively. The overall male-female sex ratio of 1:1.04 was skewed towards female in A. chacunda and differed among months and size classes. Fecundity of A. chacunda ranged between 2,97,457 to 11,44,871 eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypocalcemia occurs as a manifestation of nutritional deficiency of calcium and vitamin D. Deficiency of calcium in the diet has been identified as a leading cause of nutritional rickets. Infants less than 6 months are reliant on mothers for their daily calcium requirements. Calcium has a wide range of biological functions in both the ionized form as well as the bound complexes. It also plays an important role in skeletal mineralization. Aim of the study: To rule out the prevalence of hypocalcemia in the mothers of the infants and to establish if there was an association between the infant and maternal serum calcium. Materials and methods: Totally 50 children who were admitted in pediatric ward between Ages 1 Months to 6 months were assessed. A standard questionnaire was administered and venous blood samples collected from the mother-infant pairs. The samples were analyzed for calcium and albumin and corrected calcium levels calculated. Results: A total of 93 mother-infant pairs were screened. 94(78.3%) of these gave samples which were analyzed. The mean age of the infants sampled was 3.5 months. The mean age of the mothers was 27.2 years with a standard deviation of 5.8 years. 78 (83%) infants were born at term and 16 infants (17%) were born preterm. 58 of 93 infants (62.4%) were exclusively breastfeeding whereas 35 of 93 infants (37.6%) were breastfeeding but not exclusive. Prevalence of hypocalcemia was 34% in the infants with 95% CI of 29.4-45%. Prevalence of hypocalcemia in the mothers of the infants was 39.4% with a 95% CI of 29.8. There was no statistically significant association between hypocalcemia in the mother and infants. OR 1.4 (95% CI 0.6-3.4) and P= 0.447. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of hypocalcemia in breastfeeding infants as well as in lactating women. However, there is no significant association between maternal and infant hypocalcemia. The recorded prevalence values .from the general population is quite high and were found to be due to dietary deficiency of both calcium and vitamin D. The values are much higher than those obtained during our study. The study population is ideal as it has taken into account the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fisheries sector plays a vital role in the food, nutritional and livelihood security of people, especially in the rural regions of India. Reservoirs, the man made impoundments built on rivers/streams obstructing the surface flow, form an important resource for the fish production besides holding up economic growth through various cultural and ecological services. India has enormous reservoir resources to the tune of 3.42 million ha (19,386 numbers). The distribution of reservoirs is quite uneven and most of the reservoirs are located in the southern and central Indian states. In the last few decades, India has made tremendous progress in reservoir fisheries and overall management strategies have been considerably innovated. The average annual fish productivity realized from reservoirs was very low (small: 49.9, medium: 12.3 and large: 11.4 kg ha−1yr−1) against the annual potential yield of 100, 75, and 50 kg ha−1yr−1. The fish yield from Indian reservoirs has enhanced through fingerling stocking and adoption of improved management practices and the average productivity increased to 33, 94, and 174 kg ha−1yr−1 from large, medium, and small reservoirs respectively. The production potential has been re-casted to a level of 100, 200, and 500 kg ha−1yr−1 from large, medium and small reservoirs, respectively. The increase in fish productivity is about one third of the present production potential and there exists scope for developing effective and sustainable strategies for further enhancing the fish yield. The present review synthesizes the updated information available on Indian reservoirs and the developments during the last decade with reference to fisheries, biodiversity, potential, threats, and recommends strategies for sustainable management of the reservoir fisheries in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several biomedical and psychosocial problems lead to poor quality of life in the elderly. Major depression is known to affect 1 out of 100 individuals above 65 years of age. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of depression among the elderly population in an urban area and the factors associated with depression. Methodology: A cross-sectional community-based study on 216 elderly individuals was undertaken over a period of two months from 1st June 2016 to 31st July 2016. Results and Discussion: Prevalence of depression was found to be 41%. Age, financial dependency, marital status, type of family and feeling of neglect showed association with depression. Conclusion: Prevalence of elderly depression is high in the study area. Identified risk factors have to be addressed to prevent depression among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmotic dehydration is a simultaneous mass transfer process which mainly promotes the flow of water molecules from the food to osmo-active solution and some migration of solutes from the solution into the food, thus maintaining good organoleptic and functional properties in the finished product. This paper presents mechanism of osmotic dehydration and recent developments regarding the factors affecting osmotic dehydration process viz., pretreatment factors (blanching, coating, ultrasound treatment, high pressure processing, pulsed electric field effect, etc.), product-related factors and osmotic solution related factors (temperature of osmotic solution, concentration of osmotic agent, type of osmotic agent, agitation/stirring process during osmotic process, osmotic solution and food mass ratio). The details on mathematical modeling of mass transfer during osmotic dehydration of foods and benefits of osmotic dehydration which includes energy saving methods and quality of final product are reviewed. Practical Application Osmosis is a physical phenomenon that has been extensively studied in various disciplines of science and engineering. Osmotic dehydration has diverse applications in fruits and vegetables. Thus it can be used to decrease the post harvest losses. Being a simple process, it facilitates processing of fruits and vegetables with retention of initial fruit characteristics viz., colour, aroma, texture and nutritional composition. Since no preservative was used, it does not adversely affect the human body. This process could be used on small scale for development of self-entrepreneurs and home scale industries. The mathematical models can be used for understanding the mass transfer phenomenon during the process. The economic interest relates to the reduced energy consumption as compared to conventional drying. This review serves to provide an updated status on osmotic dehydration and its research gap which is useful for academics, research purpose and processing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One dimensional terbium oxide (TbO) nanotubes have been synthesized by using surfactant free precipitation method and investigated its non-enzymatic electrochemical detection for hydrogen peroxide (HO). The structural analysis and x-ray diffraction data confirmed the formation of cubic phase TbO in the synthesized TbO nanotubes. The optical property of the synthesized product was investigated by ultraviolet spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) studies. The PL spectrum of TbO nanotubes exhibited a strong green luminescence corresponding to D → F transition of Tb ions. The non-enzymatic hydrogen peroxide (HO) sensing of TbO nanotubes/carbon paper modified electrodes in 1 M KCl electrolyte was carried out using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric ( i- t) analysis. The enhanced electrocatalytic behavior was observed for TbO nanotubes with an excellent sensitivity of 875 μA mM cm, linear ranges of 0.5-5 mM and a low detection limit of 5 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease which is define das Inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. It causes progressively destructive change leads to loss of alveolar bone and periodontal ligament. An extension of inflammation from gingiva into the alveolar bone and periodontal ligament. Periodontal disease is bacterial host interface disease. One such factor which is thought to be of host modulating is RANK/RANKL system. This review is about the periodontal panorama about the system which might be therapeutic modulation of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to identify metabolic differences and hormonal profiles in jasmine flower (Jasminum sambac) and to investigate the possibility that experimental promotion of retardation of the senescence of jasmine flower may mediated by abscisic acid (ABA) and phenolic content. Determinations of ABA and phenols were made in flower senescing under different conditions using two different packaging materials such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) of 200 gauge micron thickness with no ventilation. Pre-treatment of 4 % boric acid for jasmine flowers was selected. Abscisic acid levels in petals also increased during senescence 91.27 pmol g-1, but much less in boric acid-treated jasmine flower 34.16 pmol g-1. However, the lowest content of total phenolics was measured in buds and partially opened flowers 50.90 μg/g but highest in fully opened 61.80 μg/g on the fourth day of storage, respectively. It was concluded that boric acid prevented the early rise in ethylene production and considerably improved jasmine flower shelf-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuO thin films were deposited onto glass substrates using Chemical bath deposition technique by varying the pH of the solution. Structural, optical and electrical properties of the synthesized films were studied as a function of the solution pH. X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and Hall effect measurements were used to explore the structure, morphology, optical and electrical properties of the films, respectively. All the films have exhibited orthorhombic structure with preferential orientation along the (111) plane. X-ray line profile analysis has been carried out to determine the microstructural parameters such as crystallite size, RMS microstrain, dislocation density and stacking fault probability. Morphological studies have revealed that the uniformity of the film surface, and the average particle size was found to increase with solution pH. Optical parameters such as band gap, refractive index, extinction coefficient, real and imaginary dielectric constants and optical conductivity have been estimated from optical absorption measurements. Carrier concentration and mobility of charge carriers estimated from the Hall measurement were found to be 7.43 × 10 cm and 11.84 cm V s respectively for CuO films prepared at solution pH 11.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]