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Escherichia coli is one of the major pathogens causing mastitis in lactating mammals. We hypothesized that E. coli from the gut and mammary glands may have similar genomic characteristics in the causation of mastitis. To test this hypothesis, we used whole genome sequencing to analyze two multidrug resistant E. coli strains isolated from mammary tissue (G2M6U) and fecal sample (G6M1F) of experimentally induced mastitis mice. Both strains showed resistance to multiple (>7) antibiotics such as oxacillin, aztreonam, nalidixic acid, streptomycin, gentamicin, cefoxitin, ampicillin, tetracycline, azithromycin and nitrofurantoin. The genome of E. coli G2M6U had 59 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and 159 virulence factor genes (VFGs), while the E. coli G6M1F genome possessed 77 ARGs and 178 VFGs. Both strains were found to be genetically related to many E. coli strains causing mastitis and enteric diseases originating from different hosts and regions. The G6M1F had several unique ARGs (e.g., Qnr S1, sul 2, tet A, tet R, emr K, bla TEM-1/105, and aph (6)-Id, aph (3″)-Ib) conferring resistance to certain antibiotics, whereas G2M6U had a unique heat-stable enterotoxin gene ( ast A) and 7192 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Furthermore, there were 43 and 111 unique genes identified in G2M6U and G6M1F genomes, respectively. These results indicate distinct differences in the genomic characteristics of E. coli strain G2M6U and G6M1F that might have important implications in the pathophysiology of mammalian mastitis, and treatment strategies for mastitis in dairy animals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Enzymatic processing has been a suitable bio-based sustainable application for the textile industry, mitigates the use of harsh chemicals, and minimises environmental impact. Among these enzymes, cellulase enzymes have been extensively used for biopolishing applications. This study introduces an eco-friendly biopolishing of cotton fabric that has been developed by using enzymes extracted from wasted sugarcane bagasse waste in an aqueous medium. Various extraction conditions were explored, and experiments were conducted under diverse time, pH, and temperature settings. The qualitative BUTEXDCE2022C01 testing method was used to assess the biopolishing effects, resulting in a considerable reduction in fabric weight (up to 5.26%) and strength (up to 10.54%). The optimum biopolishing condition was identified to be 1 h at pH 4.8, 55 °C from the fermented solution on day three, indicating the presence of acid cellulase enzyme. The viability of cellulase enzymes has been verified through comparative analysis with commercial samples that had undergone enzyme-biopolishing. Extracted and filtered enzymes exhibited pH stability at room temperature and proved equally effective as industrial enzymes. As textile industries pursue eco-friendly solutions, extracting cellulase from wasted sugarcane bagasse could be a sustainable and alternative option, which also can be sourced locally. Therefore, these findings have wider implications for sustainable enzyme extraction methods and contributions to environmental conservation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Vaccine booster dose (VBD) provides a potential therapeutic alliance in preventing breakthrough infection and new variant's arrival while preserving long-lasting host immunity. This study aimed to analyze COVID-19 VBD willingness and identified the key determinants of VBD acceptance among the general people of Bangladesh. This survey-based study applied a quantitative research paradigm. A validated, anonymous, and multi-item questionnaire was adopted through a theoretical review of pertinent literature on the topic. Data were collected between August 2022─October 2022, and sampling was done randomly. A total of 704 individuals were invited via face-to-face interview approach; however, 13.8 % of them declined to give consent, which resulted in the participation of 607 potential respondents. The main outcome measure was COVID-19 VBD acceptance willingness. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to rationalize the study's objectives. The pooled COVID-19 booster vaccine acceptance rate was 70.0 % (95 % confidence Interval [CI]: 67─73) among Bangladeshi people. An analysis of binary logistic regression revealed that, out of 14 potential factors, "efficacy", "repeated immunity", "communication", and "trust" showed highly significant positive association (adjusted odds ratio [aOR ] = 2.151 95 % CI: 1.391─ 3.508, aOR = 2.033 95 % CI: 1.299─ 3.181, and aOR = 2.552 95 % CI: 1.557─4.183 respectively, p<0.01 ), and "equal safety", "risk-benefit ratio" and "community protection" had significant positive association (aOR = 1.739 95 % CI: 1.070─2.825, aOR = 1.712 95 % CI: 1.116─2.627, and aOR = 1.628 95 % CI: 1.395─0.998, p<0.05) with VBD acceptance . However, post-vaccination "side effects" showed significant negative (aOR = 0.393 95 % CI: 0.237─0.674, p<0.01 ) associations with VBD acceptance. The odds of accepting the COVID-19 vaccine booster was found 1.26, and it was found insignificant ( p>0.05) in the Chi-squared test. Bangladeshi people expressed a moderately high level response to COVID-19 VBD acceptance. A positive attitude towards the COVID-19 VBD is an outcome of this study, regardless of the circumstances, as far as safety, efficacy, perceived health benefits, communication, trust, and community resistance are concerned. Post-vaccination side effects fear was the primary reason for booster dose skepticism as well as a barrier to administering booster shots. The confidence in COVID-19 VBD will be boosted when mass people are effectively communicated and vaccine's data become more available publicly., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The Omicron, the latest variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first detected in November 2021 in Botswana, South Africa. Compared to other variants of SARS-CoV-2, the Omicron is the most highly mutated, with 50 mutations throughout the genome, most of which are in the spike (S) protein. These mutations may help the Omicron to evade host immunity against the vaccine. Epidemiological studies suggest that Omicron is highly infectious and spreads rapidly, but causes significantly less severe disease than the wild-type strain and the other variants of SARS-CoV-2. With the increased transmissibility and a higher rate of re-infection, Omicron has now become a dominant variant worldwide and is predicted to be able to evade vaccine-induced immunity. Several clinical studies using plasma samples from individuals receiving two doses of US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA)-approved COVID-19 vaccines have shown reduced humoral immune response against Omicron infection, but T cell-mediated immunity was well preserved. In fact, T cell-mediated immunity protects against severe disease, and thus the disease caused by Omicron remains mild. In this review, I surveyed the current status of Omicron variant mutations and mechanisms of immune response in the context of immune escape from COVID-19 vaccines. I also discuss the potential implications of therapeutic opportunities that are independent of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron. A better understanding of vaccine-induced immune responses and variant-independent therapeutic interventions that include potent antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-cytokine activities may pave the way to reducing Omicron-related COVID-19 complications, severity, and mortality. Collectively, these insights point to potential research gaps and will aid in the development of new-generation COVID-19 vaccines and antiviral drugs to combat Omicron, its sublineages, or upcoming new variants of SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author.)

In mode division multiplexing (MDM) optical system, the mode filter has become an inseparable part to reduce modal crosstalk and transmit the desired modes unabatedly. As filtering out lower-order mode is difficult, here we propose a reconfigurable structure of a higher-order mode pass filter consisting of two tunable mode converters and a directional coupler (DC) in a three-mode planar waveguide platform. By switching the working states of the mode converters, the structure can also be used as a fundamental mode (TE 0 ) pass filter and hence dynamic output signals can be achieved. For the second-order mode (TE 2 ) transmission, the simulated excess loss is ∼0.61 dB at 1.550 μm and the extinction ratio remains ≥24 dB (power ratio of TE 0 & TE 2 Launch) and ≥25 dB (power ratio of TE 1 & TE 2 Launch) at the entire C-band (1.530-1.565 μm). The device has negligible polarization dependence and hence the TM polarization exhibits similar results., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

We examine the relationship between financial sector development and the shadow economy in Indonesia from 1980 to 2020. We estimate the size of Indonesia's shadow economy using the "Modified Cash to Deposits Ratio" approach. We then construct a long-term model using the size of Indonesia's shadow economy as the dependent variable. We set financial sector development as the main independent variable in our model. We use per capita real gross domestic product, the misery index, and foreign direct investment as control variables in our model. We find that financial sector development and the size of Indonesia's shadow economy have a nonlinear relationship that shows an inverted U-shape curve. The size of the shadow economy expands at the early stages of financial sector development to a turning point and decreases when financial sector development increases further. We also find that foreign direct investment curtails Indonesia's shadow economy. Additionally, increases in income expand Indonesia's shadow economy while misery index shows ambiguous results. We suggest the Indonesian authorities widen access for micro, small, and medium firms to the credit markets and enhance existing programs to reduce poverty and narrow the income gap in the country. These efforts help to narrow the size of Indonesia's shadow economy., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Herbal remedies have been used in many cultures for decades to treat illnesses. These medicinal plants have been found to contain various phytochemical compounds that can help to cure mild to severe illnesses. The inadequacies of conventional medicines and their unusual side effects sparked a determined search for alternative natural therapeutic agents. Another reason for this hunt could be the availability and fewer side effects of natural products. T. arjuna is widely used in traditional medicine to alleviate various diseases like relieving pain, ameliorating diabetes, mitigating inflammation, and back-pedaling of depression. In this study, the ethanolic extract of T. arjuna possesses a promising effect on the animal model (p < 0.05/p < 0.01) as an antihyperglycemic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant agent, but in a dose-dependent manner. The lower dose of T. arjuna was found to be capable of reversing the disturbed physiological state at a significant level (p < 0.05). However, a higher dose of T. arjuna exerts better therapeutic effects for those diseases. This animal study aims to evaluate the anti-diabetic, anti-depressant, and anti-inflammatory properties of T. arjuna compared to conventional marketed drugs. We will perform an in-silico study for active constituents of T. arjuna against their proposed targets and look for the molecular cascade on their claimed pharmacological properties. This study shows that different doses of T. arjuna bark extracts give similar therapeutic responses compared with established marketed drugs in managing hyperglycemia, stress-induced depression, and inflammation. Besides, our docking study reveals that flavonoids and triterpenoid active constituents of T. arjuna play an important role in its usefulness. This study, therefore, scientifically confirmed the traditional use of this medicinal plant in the management of several diseased conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Palm grass ( Curculigo recurvata ) is an ethnomedicinally important herb reported to have significant medicinal values. The present study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant and anxiolytic activities of a methanol extract of C. recurvata rhizome (Me-RCR) through different approaches. The antidepressant and anxiolytic properties of Me-RCR were assessed by using elevated plus maze (EPM), hole-board (HBT), tail suspension (TST), and forced swimming (FST) tests in Swiss Albino mice. The in-depth antioxidative potential of Me-RCR was also evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing power capacity, total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol, and antioxidant content analysis. Computational investigations were performed using computer-aided methods for screening the anxiolytic, antidepressant, and antioxidative activities of the selected lead molecules. Treatment with Me-RCR (200 and 400 mg/kg, b.w.) notably increased the number of open arm entries and the time spent in the EPM test. In the HBT, Me-RCR exhibited significant anxiolytic activity at a dose of 200 mg/kg, whereas similar activity was observed at 400 mg/kg in the EPM test. Me-RCR significantly decreased the immobility time in a dose-dependent manner in both TST and FST. The IC 50 for DPPH and reducing power capacity assay were found to be 18.56 and 193 μg/mL, respectively. Promising outcomes were noted for the determination of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, and antioxidant capacity. In the case of computer-aided studies, nyasicoside showed promising binding energy for antidepressant and anxiolytic activities, whereas isocurculigine demonstrated promising effects as an antioxidant. Overall, these findings suggest that Me-RCR could be a favourable therapeutic candidate for the treatment of mental and psychiatric disorders, as well as a good source of antioxidants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cotton leaf curl Multan virus (CLCuMuV) belonging to begomoviruses (Family Geminiviridae ) can infect cotton and many other agricultural crops. Betasatellite associated with CLCuMuV i.e., cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMuB) is a small circular single-stranded deoxyribose nucleic acid (ssDNA) molecule that is essential for CLCuMuV to induce disease symptoms. Betasatellite molecule contains a ßC1 gene encoding for a pathogenicity determinant multifunctional protein, which extensively interacts with host plant machinery to cause virus infection. In this study the interaction of ßC1 with selected plant flavonoids has been studied. The study was focused on sequence analysis, three-dimensional structural modeling and docking analysis of ßC1 protein of CLCuMuB. Sequence analysis and physicochemical properties showed that ßC1 is negatively charged protein having more hydrophilic regions and is not very stable. Three-dimensional model of this protein revealed three helical, four beta pleated sheets and four coiled regions. The score of docking experiments using flavonoids as ligand indicated that plant flavonoids robinetinidol-(4alpha,8)-gallocatechin, quercetin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside, swertianolin, 3',4',5-trihydroxy-3-methoxyflavon-7-olate, agathisflavone, catiguanin B, 3',4',5,6-tetrahydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, quercetin-7-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1->6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside], prunin 6″-O-gallate and luteolin 7-O-beta-D-glucosiduronic acid have strong binding with active site of ßC1 protein. The results obtained from this study clearly indicate that flavonoids are involved in defense against the virus infection, as these molecules binds to the active site of ßC1 protein. This information might be interesting to study plant defense mechanism based on the special compounds produced by the plants.