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Abstract SCARB1 belongs to class B of Scavenger receptors (SRs) that are known to be involved in binding and endocytosis of various pathogens. SRs have emerging role in regulating innate immunity and host–pathogen interactions by acting in co-ordination with Toll-like receptors.Query Little is known about the function of SCARB1 in milk-derived mammary epithelial cells (MECs). This study reports the role of SCARB1 in infection and its potential association in TLR4 signaling on bacterial challenge in Goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). The novelty in the establishment of MEC culture lies in the method that aims to enhance the viability of the cells with intact characteristics upto a higher passage number. We represent MEC culture to be used as a potential infection model for deeper understanding of animal physiology especially around the mammary gland. On E.coli challenge the expression of SCARB1 was significant in induced GMECs at 6 h. Endoribonuclease-esiRNA based silencing of SCARB1 affects the expression of TLR4 and its pathways i.e. MyD88 and TRIF pathways on infection. Knockdown also affected the endocytosis of E.coli in GMECs demonstrating that E.coli uses SCARB1 function to gain entry in cells. Furthermore, we predict 3 unique protein structures of uncharacterized SCARB1 (Capra hircus) protein. Overall, we highlight SCARB1 as a main participant in host defence and its function in antibacterial advances to check mammary gland infections. Video Abstract

Objectives: Underlying medical conditions are critical risk factors for COVID-19 susceptibility and its rapid clinical manifestation. Therefore, the preexisting burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) makes the preparedness for COVID-19 more challenging for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These countries have relied on vaccination campaigns as an effective measure to tackle COVID-19. In this study, we investigated the impact of comorbidities on humoral antibody responses against the specific receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV2. Methods: A total of 1005 patients were selected for the SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subclasses) and total antibody (TAb) tests (IgG and IgM), of which 912 serum samples were ultimately selected based on the specimen cutoff analyte value. Patients with multimorbidity (N = 60) were recruited for follow-up studies from the initial cohort, and their immune response (IgG and TAb) was measured at multiple time points after the second dose of vaccination. Siemens Dimension Vista SARS-CoV-2 IgG (CV2G) and SARS-CoV-2 TAb assay (CV2T) were used to carry out the serology test. Results: Out of a total of 912 participants, vaccinated individuals (N = 711) had detectable antibody responses up to 7–8 months. The synergistic effect of natural infection and vaccine response was also studied. Participants with breakthrough infections (N = 49) mounted a greater antibody response compared to individuals with normal vaccination response (N = 397) and those who were naturally infected before receiving the second dose of vaccine (N = 132). Investigation of the impact of comorbidities revealed that diabetes mellitus (DM) (N = 117) and kidney disease (N = 50) had a significant negative impact on the decline of the humoral antibody response against SARS-CoV-2. IgG and TAb declined more rapidly in diabetic and kidney disease patients compared to the other four comorbid groups. Follow-up studies demonstrated that antibody response rapidly declined within 4 months after receiving the second dose. Conclusion: The generalized immunization schedule for COVID-19 needs to be adjusted for high-risk comorbid groups, and a booster dose must be administered early within 4 months after receiving the second dose.

Goal: The present study aimed to demonstrate the applicability of the fuzzy goal programming to frame the decision support system for the decision-makers to deal with the real-life problem of the agriculture sector namely the apple cultivation planning problem and to obtain an optimum solution. Design / Methodology / Approach: The proposed method occurred within the apple-producing sector in the Kashmir valley of India and included the collection of data through interviews and surveys with various farmers. Also, the results were drawn with the help of LINGO 18.0. Results: The current finding implies that all of the desired objectives have been met, as well as an optimal solution. The proposed model offers a significant approach for designing plans to determine various agricultural activities in a fuzzy decision environment. Finally, the current study conducts a case study in the apple cultivation sector to obtain various competing objectives. Sensitivity analysis was also performed on its preferential weight parameters. Limitations of the investigation: It should be noted that the parameters related to production cost, transportation cost, and cost of material may change over the years. The selling price may also vary according to the quality of apples and over the years. Because of natural factors, the annual production of apples may also vary. Practical implication: The current study shows that using fuzzy goal programming techniques in an apple production process has a huge potential to increase farmers' income. It can be concluded that the current study can help decision-makers to deal with real-life planning issues in the agricultural sector. Future research can also take advantage of other initiation strategies. Originality/Value: The study looks at the applicability of the fuzzy goal programming paradigm in a new field of apple production in the agriculture sector. According to our knowledge, this is the first time the optimization model has been used in the apple cultivation sector.

In the present business environment, rapidly developing technology and the competitive world market pose challenges to the available assets of industries. Hence, industries need to allocate and use available assets at the optimum level. Thus, industrialists must create a good decision plan to guide their performance in the production sector. As a result, the present study applies the Meta-Goal Programming technique to attain several objectives simultaneously in the textile production sector. The importance of this study lies in pursuing different objectives simultaneously, which has been almost ignored till now. The production scheduling problem in a textile firm is used to illustrate the practicability and mathematical validity of the suggested approach. Analysis of the results obtained demonstrates that the solution met all three meta-goals with some original goals being met partially. An analysis of the sensitivity of the approach to the weights of the preferences was conducted. (original abstract)

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the rate of inactive disease in Bangladeshi patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) treated with prednisolone and to identify the characteristics in patients that may guide in choosing induction therapy. Methods: The longitudinal study enrolled active TA patients who received 1 mg/kg/day of prednisolone. Disease activity was assessed by Indian Takayasu Activity Score - C-Reactive Protein (ITAS-CRP) and ITAS2010 at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. The patients who did not achieve inactive disease or again became active during tapering of prednisolone received methotrexate. Results: Among 12 active TA patients, one patient succumbed to death after 15 days. ITAS2010 1 month after steroid showed a significant difference between remission and nonremission patients (P 0.0001). However, five out of 11 (45.45%) patients became inactive. These five patients had onset of symptoms

The study was aimed to record the ocular ultrasonographic changes in the confirmed clinical cases of MCF. The cases were confirmed using hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Ocular ultrasonography was performed using a 10–18 MHz linear transducer (My Lab 40 Vet). Clinical signs observed were corneal oedema, lacrimation, photophobia, corneal oedema and hyperaemia of conjunctiva. In two animals, mild corneal oedema was observed while in four animals each, moderate and severe corneal oedema was recorded. In all the animals, corneal oedema initially appeared at the limbus with subsequent involvement of the entire cornea with varying degree of severity. Hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction was used for confirming the diagnosis. Ocular ultrasonographic examination revealed significant increase in the thickness of the cornea, iris and ciliary body. Anterior uveitis, characterized by thickened iris, exhibiting crust and trough formation covering the major part of the anterior surface of the lens was recorded in nine animals. There was no recovery in any of the case and the animals died within one month of the diagnosis of the MCF. Significant ultrasonographic changes were evident in eyes of animals affected with the malignant catarrhal fever. Ultrasonography may therefore be used for monitoring the ocular changes especially in the anterior segment of the opaque eyes.

Abstract Background Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella Typhimurium) is a zoonotic pathogen responsible for severe intestinal pathology in young chickens. Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) family has been shown to be associated with resistance to intracellular pathogens, including Salmonella Typhimurium. The role of NRAMP proteins in macrophage defence against microbial infection has been ascribed to changes in the metal-ion concentrations inside the bacteria-containing phagosomes. The present study was conducted to investigate tissue-specific (liver, spleen and caecum) expression kinetics of NRAMP gene family (NRAMP1 and NRAMP2) in broilers from day 0 to day 15 after Salmonella Typhimurium challenge concomitant to clinical, blood biochemical and immunological parameters survey. Results Clinical symptoms appeared 4 days post-infection (dpi) in infected birds. Symptoms like progressive weakness, anorexia, diarrhoea and lowering of the head were seen in infected birds one-week post-infection. On postmortem examination, liver showed congestion, haemorrhage and necrotic foci on the surface, while as the spleen, lungs and intestines revealed congestion and haemorrhages. Histopathological alterations were principally found in liver comprising of necrosis, reticular endothelial hyperplasia along with mononuclear cell and heterophilic infiltration. Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, Haemoglobin (Hb) and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) decreased significantly (P