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Diabetes mellitus is considered as the most important public health threat which has affected millions of people around the globe of all gender, ages, ethnic groups and race. Homoeopathy being a system of holistic approach, there are remedies based on the individualizing characteristic symptoms. In homoeopathic system Galega officinalis mother tincture is one among the antihyperglycemic medicine. Aqueous and ethanolic extract of Galega officinalis showed a hypoglycaemic effect in our research study. Thirty clinically diagnosed cases of T2DM were taken for the study. Most of the patients have got relief both symptomatically and diagnostically Hence, this study shows that Galega officinalis mother tincture is effective in treating type II Diabetes mellitus [1].

Aluminum scraps are a common kind of recyclable material that are used in the manufacturing of a broad variety of lightweight and high-strength goods all over the globe. In order to further strengthen the toughness of these alloys, reinforcement is also used. This investigation makes use of a variety of aluminium scrap as the primary material, reinforcing it with zinc (Zn) at several concentrations, including 0 percent, 0.25 percent, 0.50 percent, 0.75 percent, 1 percent, and 1.25 percent, respectively. The design of experiments used to improve process parameters is put to use in order to investigate the wear of these composites (Taguchi technique). The investigation on wear was carried out using sliding velocities of 2 and 4 metres per second, a sliding distance that was held constant at 90 millimetres, and a weight that varied from to (10N, 20N). In this particular instance, the sliding distance served as an important part of the total three. According to the findings of the microstructure study, the samples included zinc particles, which showed decreased wear. According to the results of the corrosion test, zinc also serves a role that protects against the effects of corrosion. Aluminum alloy is the material that gets recycled the most all around the world.

The earliest publication related to mushroom poisoning dates back to 1837. To date, bibliometric analysis related to the field of mushroom poisoning has not been published. This study aimed to assess the most significant publications in this field as well as the associated trends and important drivers in the research related to mushroom poisoning. The Scopus database was screened to identify relevant publications on mushroom poisoning. A total of 985 publications with a minimum of five citations were identified and analyzed. Pearson's correlation demonstrated an insignificant weak negative correlation (Pearson's correlation of -0.020, P0.01) between the number of years since publication and the number of citation counts of a paper. Bradford's law of scattering revealed that one-third of publications were published in 31 core journals, with Clinical Toxicology topping the list (41 papers). VOSviewer was used to generate a network visualization based on country. The United States was the largest contributor of publications on mushroom poisoning, contributing 19.6% of 985. China is an emerging leader in publications on mushroom poisoning research since 2011, with the most recent average publication year of 2011.18. A term map was also created to visualize the co-occurrence of key terms, whereby Amanita phalloides-related research appeared to be the most frequently published topic in this field. In conclusion, the results of this bibliometric study shed light on the status of mushroom poisoning research and can guide investigators on current research trends for high-impact knowledge contribution in the field.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) alters immune responses and given the rising prevalence of DM in tuberculosis (TB) endemic countries; hyperglycemia can be a potential risk factor for active TB development. However, the impact of hyperglycemia on TB-specific innate immune response in terms of macrophage functions remains poorly addressed. We assessed macrophage effector functions in uncontrolled DM patients with or without TB infection (PTB+DM and DM), non-diabetic TB patients (PTB), and non-diabetic-uninfected controls. Phagocytic capacity against BCG and surface expression of different pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) (CD11b, CD14, CD206, MARCO, and TLR-2) were measured via flow cytometry. Effector molecules (ROS and NO) required for bacterial killing were assessed via DCFDA and Griess reaction respectively. A systematic dysregulation in phagocytic capacity with concurrent alterations in the expression pattern of key PRRs (CD11b, MARCO, and CD206) was observed in PTB+DM. These altered PRR expressions were associated with decreased phagocytic capacity of macrophages. Similarly, ROS was aberrantly higher while NO was lower in PTB+DM. These altered macrophage functions were positively correlated with increasing disease severity. Our results highlight several key patterns of immune dysregulation against TB infection under hyperglycemic conditions and highlight a negative impact of hyperglycemia with etiology and progression of TB.

The objective of this paper is to finds the lower and upper bounds of Nordhaus-Gaddum inequalities of fuzzy chromatic number for anti-fuzzy graph. This paper analyzes the chromatic index of complementary anti fuzzy graphs in some cases. A theorem is proved for anti-fuzzy graph to be k-critical. Examples are provided to derive the vertex coloring of these graphs.

Abstract: Different modes of gene regulation, such as histone modification, transcription factor binding, DNA methylation, and microRNA (miRNA) expression, are critical for the spatiotemporal expression of genes in developing orofacial tissues. Aberrant regulation in any of these modes may contribute to orofacial defects. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been shown to alter miRNA expression, and are thus emerging as novel contributors to gene regulation. Some of these appear to function as ‘miRNA sponges’, thereby diminishing the availability of these miRNAs to inhibit the expression of target genes. Such ncRNAs are also termed competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Here, we examine emerging data that shed light on how lncRNAs and circRNAs may alter miRNA regulation, thus affecting orofacial development and potentially contributing to orofacial clefting.

Helminthic infections are among the most common infection in human affecting large population of the world.As per WHO only few drugs are frequently used in the treatment of these parasite infection.in present study ethanol and methanol extract of ananas comosus leaves were investigated for their antihelminthic activity against pheretima posthuma. The four concentration ( 10,20,30,50 mg/ml) of each extraxt was studied. These experiment involved in the determination time of paralysis and time of death of the worms.the gradual increase in a dose exhibited, a gradual increase in the activity .Methanol extract displayed significant antihelminthic activity at the highest concentration 50mg/ml. Insilico studies have revealed Ltryptophan a natural ligand as the good binding energy score of -97.124 with target protein 1sa0 as compared with that of standard drug albendazole. Keywords: Antihelminthic , Ananas comosus, Methanol, pheretima posthuma ,molecular docking , ADMET profile.

Several specimens of putative Lentinus pilososquamulosus (including the type specimen) and Le. martianoffianus from Siberia and the Russian Far East associated with different hosts and collected during the past two decades were studied. Morphological examination of the studied specimens showed a close similarity to specimens of Lignomyces vetlinianus, a species originally described from Central Europe, but later discovered in European Russia, the Caucasus (Abkhazia), and the Urals. Cultures of Li. vetlinianus were characterized by growth and morphology, and their adaptation to various temperatures was evaluated. Growth rate of the strains at 25 °C varied between 1.2 and 3.1 mm/day; the majority of them could survive freezing at −20 °C and grew at temperature ranging from 5 to 35 °C. Comparative culture characters, mating compatibility, and ITS sequencing revealed that the specimens earlier identified as Le. pilososquamulosus or Far East Russian Le. martianoffianus (misapplied name) were identical to Li. vetlinianus. It was shown that the distribution area of Li. vetlinianus extends from Central Europe to the South (Caucasus) and through Western Siberia to the Russian Far East. Since several attempts of Le. pilososquamulosus holotype sequencing were unsuccessful, an epitype of this taxon, represented by a successfully sequenced old topotype specimen, was proposed. Le. pilososquamulosus is considered as synonym of Li. vetlinianus, following the principle of priority. A molecular study of true Le. martianoffianus (type specimen) supported its conspecificity with Panus lecomtei.

The employees working in the government sector retire from the service once they cross the age of superannuation and generally remain as the elderly population in society with the privilege of availing benefits of social security such as provident fund, gratuity and pension. There is a tendency among the people in our society that economic privileges of the retired elderly community enjoy better social support, enhanced psychological wellbeing and greater quality of life rather than a common elder who is not a retired pensioner from government service. Many studies have been conducted among the elderly population but very few among retired pensioners. Apart from the economic privileges, the retired pensioners also remain as generic elders. This study attempts to examine the possible relationships between social support, psychological well-being and the quality of life of pensioners. The study included 150 retired pensioners from a pensioner’s association in Madurai by using descriptive research design and self-structured tool. The results reveal that there exists a strong positive relationship among social support, psychological well-being and quality of life of retired pensioners. The developed model, which examined the relationship and influence among perceived social support, psychological well-being and quality of life, resulted in a good fit model. The study also disproves the notion that economic variables such as a monthly pension, employment engagement activities after retirement and secondary income sources apart from the pension are not the contributing factors of quality of life of the retired pensioner.

Tungsten doped ZnO films were coated on stainless steel flexible meshes using spray pyrolysis technique and the effect of W doping concentration (1, 3, 5 and 7 wt%) on the photocatalytic activity was studied against two dyes viz. methylene blue and rhodamine B under sun light. The X-ray diffraction study shows that the lattice modifications are favourable for better photocatalytic activity at 3 wt% of W doping. The band gap estimated by DRS study shows that the coated material has the minimum band gap at this W doping level. The PL and FTIR studies also support the discussions on the effect of W doping on the photocatalytic activity. The SEM study reveals that the morphology also plays a favourable role for obtaining better photocatalysis results. The generation of species (super oxide anions) which plays a predominant role in the photocatalytic activity and the underlying mechanism are explained in detail with the help of quenching test. From the study on the effect of pH, it is found that pH 10 is the most suitable among the tested values for achieving the best photocatalytic efficiency.

Logging and forest conversion are occurring at alarming rates in tropical forests. These disturbances alter soil microbial community structure and functions. While direct links between changes in soil properties, such as pH and microbial community structure are well established, the indirect effects of logging and forest conversion on soil microbial community structure and functions are poorly understood. We used a space-for-time substitution to investigate the changes in soil microbial diversity and functions across a forest recovery gradient in the tropical montane forests of northern Borneo. We used surface (top 5 cm) soil to assess soil physicochemical and microbial (next-generation DNA sequencing) properties, and standardized litterbags (Tea Bag Index) to assess litter decomposition and stabilization. Our results show that bacterial and fungal diversity increases with recovery time and reaches pre-disturbance levels between 60- and 80-years post-disturbance. Litter decomposition rate constants increased linearly with increasing bacterial and fungal diversity. Litter stabilization also increased linearly with fungal diversity, but was highest at intermediate levels of bacterial diversity. Our results provide insights on the effects of forest logging and conversion on soils and highlight the tight coupling between soil microbial diversity and soil functions in tropical montane forests.

Microbes such as the White Spot Syndrome Virus account for severe losses in the shrimp farming industry globally. This review examines the literature on the mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activities. All of the available data published on this subject were collected from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and a library search from 1968 to 2022. Out of about 286 plant species, 119 exhibited antimicrobial effects, and a total of 114 antimicrobial natural products have been identified including 12 with MIC values below 1 µg/mL. Most of these plants are medicinal. The mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific yield secondary metabolites with the potential to mitigate infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture.

Borneo is a biodiversity and ecotourism hotspot, yet one of its least-studied ecosystems is their limestone caves. Not many studies have been conducted on the role fungi play in tropical cave ecosystems, and no fungal surveys have been conducted in the caves of Sabah, Malaysia. Here, we assess the mycofloral diversity on bat and arthropod cadavers in one of the most popular ecotourism destinations of northern Borneo, Gomantong caves. Opportunistic sampling of cadavers within the Semud Hitam chamber of Gomantong cave yielded nine dead arthropods and four dead bats. Twenty-four culturable fungi were isolated, of which 14 morphological taxonomic units (MTU) were observed. Twelve of the 14 MTUs underwent molecular characterization of the ITS gene region to confirm identification. All fungi were Ascomycetes except for one Basidiomycete isolate. Aspergillus spp. had the highest occurrence (45.8%), followed by Penicillium spp. (25.0%), and Fusarium sp. (12.5%). Ceratobasidium sp., Diaporthe sp., Pestalotiopsis sp., and Xylaria feejeensis were isolated once each. No more than one fungal taxon was isolated from each arthropod cadaver, and not all arthropods yielded culturable fungi. Bat cadavers yielded 14 out of 24 isolates (58.3%), with the highest occurrence of the fungi sampled from their skin. Our results corroborate that bats and arthropods play a role in fungal dispersion and introduction in the cave because their exteriors are likely to harbor fungi they are exposed to in the environment. We also conclude that cadavers are important substrates for fungal growth and proliferation, perpetuating the role of fungi as important decomposers in caves. This study provides a baseline of information of the mycobiome of Bornean caves for future bioprospecting and potential biotechnological applications.

Oxidative stress has been known as a key factor of many disorders affecting human beings. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack vital biomolecules, weakening their functioning, thus exacerbating diseases. To attenuate oxidative stress-associated diseases a novel approaches of antioxidant therapies have been anticipated. Antioxidants have the potential to inhibit the propagation and formation of ROS. Dillenia suffruticosa is a medicinal plant, used by the local people for the treatment of various ailments. The study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical screening, antioxidative activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of methanol extract, fractions and essential oil of D. suffruticosa. Furthermore, the analysis of phytochemicals was done using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GCMS). The result showed the existence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, phytosterol, saponins, tannins, triterpenoids and steroids in the methanol extract and fractions of D. suffruticosa. The butanol fraction and methanol extract showed high phenolic (379.00 ± 9.25 and 277.00 ± 3.50 mg/g) and flavonoid values (74.44 ± 2.18 and 34.83 ± 0.71 mg/g) as compared to ethyl acetate, n-hexane and chloroform fractions. The scavenging capacity of butanol fraction and methanol extract was also higher than other fractions. GCMS analysis indicated the presences of various compounds in methanol extract, fractions and essential oil including methyl glycolate, lauryl acetate, phenol, 2,4-bis (1,1-dimethylethyl), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, methyl stearate, phenol, benzyl alcohol, 3-hexen-1-ol, acetate and phytol. Thus, methanol extract, fractions and essential oil of D. suffruticosa leaves mainly contain vital phytochemical and shows good antioxidant activity.

This review identifies terpenes isolated from the medicinal Angiosperms of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial and/or antifungal activities and analyses their distribution, molecular mass, solubility, and modes of action. All data in this review were compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and library searches from 1968 to 2022. About 300 antibacterial and/or antifungal terpenes were identified during this period. Terpenes with a MIC ≤ 2 µg/mL are mostly amphiphilic and active against Gram-positive bacteria, with a molecular mass ranging from about 150 to 550 g/mol, and a polar surface area around 20 Ų. Carvacrol, celastrol, cuminol, dysoxyhainic acid I, ent-1β,14β-diacetoxy-7α-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one, ergosterol-5,8-endoperoxide, geranylgeraniol, gossypol, 16α-hydroxy-cleroda-3,13 (14)Z-diene-15,16-olide, 7-hydroxycadalene, 17-hydroxyjolkinolide B, (20R)-3β-hydroxy-24,25,26,27-tetranor-5α cycloartan-23,21-olide, mansonone F, (+)-6,6′-methoxygossypol, polygodial, pristimerin, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol are chemical frameworks that could be candidates for the further development of lead antibacterial or antifungal drugs.

Objective Normal development of the embryonic orofacial region requires precise spatiotemporal coordination between numerous genes. MicroRNAs represent small, single-stranded, non-coding molecules that regulate gene expression. This study examines the role of microRNA-22 (miR-22) in murine orofacial ontogeny. Methods Spatiotemporal and differential expression of miR-22 (mmu-miR-22-3p) within the developing secondary palate was determined by in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. Bioinformatic approaches were used to predict potential mRNA targets of miR-22 and analyze their association with cellular functions indispensable for normal orofacial ontogeny. An in vitro palate organ culture system was used to assess the role of miR-22 in secondary palate development. Results There was a progressive increase in miR-22 expression from GD12.5 to GD14.5 in palatal processes. On GD12.5 and GD13.5, miR-22 was expressed in the future oral, nasal, and medial edge epithelia. On GD14.5, miR-22 expression was observed in the residual midline epithelial seam (MES), the nasal epithelium and the mesenchyme, but not in the oral epithelium. Inhibition of miR-22 activity in palate organ cultures resulted in failure of MES removal. Bioinformatic analyses revealed potential mRNA targets of miR-22 that may play significant roles in regulating apoptosis, migration, and/or convergence/extrusion, developmental processes that modulate MES removal during palatogenesis. Conclusions Results from the current study suggest a key role for miR-22 in the removal of the MES during palatogenesis and that miR-22 may represent a potential contributor to the etiology of cleft palate.

Objective Coronaviruses (CoVs) are natural commensals of bats. Two subgenera, namely Sarbecoviruses and Merbecoviruses have a high zoonotic potential and have been associated with three separate spillover events in the past 2 decades, making surveillance of bat-CoVs crucial for the prevention of the next epidemic. The study was aimed to elucidate the presence of coronavirus in fresh bat guano sampled from Wind Cave Nature Reserve (WCNR) in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Samples collected were placed into viral transport medium, transported on ice within the collection day, and preserved at − 80 °C. Nucleic acid was extracted using the column method and screened using consensus PCR primers targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. Amplicons were sequenced bidirectionally using the Sanger method. Phylogenetic tree with maximum-likelihood bootstrap and Bayesian posterior probability were constructed. Results CoV-RNA was detected in ten specimens (47.6%, n = 21). Six alphacoronavirus and four betacoronaviruses were identified. The bat-CoVs can be phylogenetically grouped into four novel clades which are closely related to Decacovirus-1 and Decacovirus-2, Sarbecovirus, and an unclassified CoV. CoVs lineages unique to the Island of Borneo were discovered in Sarawak, Malaysia, with one of them closely related to Sarbecovirus. All of them are distant from currently known human coronaviruses.

Peltigera serusiauxii is proposed here as a new species from Papua New Guinea and Sabah, northern Borneo (Malaysia). The species belongs to the polydactyloid clade of section Polydactylon. Because of its large thalli with a glabrous upper surface, this species was previously identified as P. dolichorhiza, but it differs by its polydactylon-type lower surface and the high amount of dolichorrhizin. It appears to be a strict specialist in its association with Nostoc phylogroup IX throughout its known distribution. This is one of many undescribed species remaining to be formally described within the genus Peltigera, especially in Asia and Australasia.

Interaction between fungi and insects such as ants, beetles, wasps and termites inhabiting dead pine trees has significant ecological implication in the forest as they can decompose wood debris and add nutrients to the soil; however, only scarce information is available regarding the interaction between wood-decaying fungi and ants. We investigated wood-decaying fungi co-occurring with ants in dead pine trees of South Korea. A total of 57 pairs of wood-decaying fungi and ants were collected from 11 localities. 30 species of wood-decaying fungi and 14 species of ants were identified based on morphology and molecular analysis. Fungal species belonging to Trichaptum, Xylodon, Hyphodontia, and Ceriporia were dominant and co-occurred with common ant species of Lasius, Camponotus, Pristomyrmex, and Crematogaster across most of the sampling sites. This study provides a new baseline in unravelling the complex interaction between wood-decaying fungi and ants in forest ecosystems.

Early identification and treatment of active tuberculosis disease among high risk household contacts could limit new transmission and better clinical outcome, thus decreasing TB burden. Host iron homeostasis is an important yet underevaluated factor in pathophysiology of tuberculosis (TB). One such protein is hepcidin which internalizes ferroportin (membrane iron transporter), thus inhibiting iron export from macrophages which is utilised by bacteria leading to disease severity. Iron homeostasis markers were evaluated in 50 pulmonary tuberculosis patients (PTB) and their household contacts to assess their utility as biomarkers for TB development. Altered iron homeostasis with significantly lower haemoglobin levels despite optimum serum iron levels was observed in PTB compared to household contacts and healthy controls pointing towards anaemia of inflammation. Higher serum hepcidin with lower ferroportin expression and hence higher ferritin levels was seen in PTB compared to both household contacts and healthy controls due to IL-6 induced hepcidin production in TB. Transferrin levels were found to be significantly lower in PTB and household contacts as compared to healthy controls owing to higher ferritin levels in PTB group. Upon infection, regulation of iron absorption is disturbed via increased hepcidin levels leading to ferroportin internalization and thus inhibition of iron export from macrophages which may lead to favourable M.tb. survival and multiplication leading to tuberculosis. Some of these markers could be assessed for early identification and treatment of active tuberculosis among high risk household contacts limiting new transmission and better clinical outcome, thus decreasing TB burden.

Auricularia cornea, or wood ear mushroom (WEM), is an edible macrofungus that is popular as a delicacy and for various biological activities. This study aims to determine the nutrient composition, in vitro antioxidant activities and the effect on postprandial blood glucose in human subjects after consuming instant noodles incorporated with 5% WEM powder. The proximate composition of WEM powder was 9.76% moisture, 2.40% ash, 7.52% protein, 0.15% fat, 37.96% crude fibre, 42.21% carbohydrate, and a total dietary fibre was 69.43%. Meanwhile, the proximate composition of 5% WEM noodles was 10.21% moisture, 2.87% ash, 11.37% protein, 0.16% fat, 5.68% crude fibre and 68.96% carbohydrates, while the total dietary fibre was 13.30%. The mineral content of WEM powder in decreasing order: potassium > calcium > magnesium > sodium > iron > zinc > manganese > copper > selenium > chromium. The incorporation of 5% WEM powder significantly (p < 0.05) reduced carbohydrates and increased the ash, crude fibre and total dietary fibre, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of the instant noodles. Furthermore, the incorporation of 5% WEM significantly increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc content. The addition of WEM powder reduced the postprandial glycaemic response and produced a moderate glycaemic index (GI). In conclusion, the incorporation with WEM powder could be an effective way of developing nutritious and low GI instant noodles, thus, improving nutrient intake and human health.

Background: Neural tube (NT) morphogenesis is reliant on the proper temporospatial expression of numerous genes and synchronized crosstalk between diverse signaling cascades and gene regulatory networks governing key cellular processes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a group of small non-coding regulatory RNAs, execute defining roles in directing key canonical pathways during embryogenesis. Objective: In order to comprehend the mechanistic underpinnings of miRNA regulation of NT morphogenesis, we have identified in the current study various miRNAs and their target mRNAs associated with BMP signaling during critical stages of neurulation. Methods: We previously demonstrated the expression of several miRNAs during the critical stages of neurulation (gestational days (GD) 8.5, 9.0, and 9.5) employing high-sensitivity, high-coverage microarrays. In the present study, bioinformatic analyses were used to identify miRNAs differentially expressed (DE) in the embryonic NT that target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) associated with the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway. RNAs extracted from the developing NT were hybridized to both miRNA and mRNA arrays to evaluate miRNA-mRNA interactions. Results: Bioinformatic analysis identified several DE miRNAs that targeted mRNAs encoding members of (and proteins associated with) the BMP signaling pathway – a signaling cascade central to normal NT development. Conclusion: Identification of the miRNAs and their mRNA targets associated with BMP signaling facilitates a better understanding of the crucial epigenetic mechanisms underlying normal NT development as well as the pathogenesis of NT defects. The current study supports the notion that miRNAs function as key regulators of neural tube morphogenesis via modulation of the BMP signaling cascade. Altered expression of these miRNAs during neurulation may therefore result in NT defects.

Modern leather industries are focused on producing high quality leather products for sustaining the market competitiveness. However, various leather defects are introduced during various stages of manufacturing process such as material handling, tanning and dyeing. Manual inspection of leather surfaces is subjective and inconsistent in nature; hence machine vision systems have been widely adopted for the automated inspection of leather defects. It is necessary develop suitable image processing algorithms for localize leather defects such as folding marks, growth marks, grain off, loose grain, and pinhole due to the ambiguous texture pattern and tiny nature in the localized regions of the leather. This paper presents deep learning neural network-based approach for automatic localization and classification of leather defects using a machine vision system. In this work, popular convolutional neural networks are trained using leather images of different leather defects and a class activation mapping technique is followed to locate the region of interest for the class of leather defect. Convolution neural networks such as Google net, Squeeze-net, RestNet are found to provide better accuracy of classification as compared with the state-of-the-art neural network architectures and the results are presented. Graphical Abstract

BackgroundThe rising prevalence of Diabetes mellitus (DM) in high TB endemic countries has the potential to adversely affect sustainability of TB control since DM can lead to alterations in both innate and adaptive immune response constituting as a risk factor for development of active tuberculosis (TB). The impact of hyperglycemia on TB specific innate immune response in terms of macrophage functions remains poorly addressed.Material and methodsMacrophage effector functions in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with and without PTB infection as well as non-diabetic-uninfected controls (fifty individuals in each group) were assessed. Phagocytic capacity against BCG and surface expression of PRRs (CD11b, CD14, CD206, MARCO and TLR2) were measured via flow cytometry. Effector molecules (ROS and NO) were assessed via DCFDA and Griess reaction respectively.ResultsA systematic dysregulation in phagocytic capacity with concurrent alterations in expression pattern of key PRRs (CD11b, MARCO and CD206) and effector molecules (ROS and NO) was observed in diabetic individuals with PTB. These altered macrophage functions were positively correlated with increase in disease severity in diabetic individuals.ConclusionOur results highlight several key patterns of immune dysregulation against M.Tb under hyperglycemic conditions. A significant reduction in macrophage effector functions in infected diabetic individuals which further correlated with increase in disease severity reveals a negative impact of hyperglycemia with aetiology and pathological progression of TB.

Anaesthesia is frequently administered through Monitored Anaesthesia Care utilising various combinations of anaesthetic drugs for moderately unpleasant operations like D and C. The hunt for improved drug combinations was ongoing, nevertheless, and it takes into account the pharmacological properties of the individual drugs. In this regard, anaesthesiologists all over the world are quite fond of the combination of Ketamine and Propofol, which was also known as KETOFOL. Recently, especially in situations involving MRI sedation, the combination of ketamine and dexmedetomidine (DEXKET) has gained popularity. In this study we compare both the combinations. Objectives: The primary objective was to estimate the recovery times from using either combinations and duration of analgesia. Secondarily we would also compare the hemodynamic profile, side-effect profile of the two combinations. Methods: Observational study with 60 patients posted for elective D and C. According to standard institutional protocols they were either administered KETOFOL or DEXKET depending on anaesthesia providers choice. Ketofol group received Ketamine 1mg/kg and Propofol 1mg/kg and with boluses of ketamine 0.25mg/kg to maintain depth of anaesthesia. DEXKET group received Dexmedetomidine intravenously 1μg/kg over a period of 10 minutes followed by ketamine 1mg/kg. Any further requirement will be boluses of Ketamine 0.25mg/kg to maintain adequate depth. Results: The Recovery time in post operative period was statistically significant with the KD group (mean 22.77 minutes) compared to KP group (mean 17.8 minutes). Total duration of analgesia was also longer in KD group (250 minutes vs 220 minutes in KP group). It was seen that the hemodynamic variables (HR, SBP, DBP) were consistently higher in the KD group compared to the KP group. There was a significant difference in SBP, DBP, MAP in intraoperative period between KP and KD group till 4hr in the post operative period. Conclusion: We conclude that combination of Dexmedetomidine and Ketamine has longer recovery times and duration of analgesia compared to Ketofol. It provides good hemodynamic stability. Side effect like post operative nausea vomiting are not significant.

Soft corals are widely distributed across the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, with Sarcophyton being one of the most abundant genera. To date, there have been 50 species of identified Sarcophyton. These soft corals host a diverse range of marine fungi, which produce chemically diverse, bioactive secondary metabolites as part of their symbiotic nature with the soft coral hosts. The most prolific groups of compounds are terpenoids and indole alkaloids. Annually, there are more bio-active compounds being isolated and characterised. Thus, the importance of the metabolite compilation is very much important for future reference. This paper compiles the diversity of Sarcophyton species and metabolites produced by their associated marine fungi, as well as the bioactivity of these identified compounds. A total of 88 metabolites of structural diversity are highlighted, indicating the huge potential these symbiotic relationships hold for future research.

Logging and forest conversion are occurring at alarming rates in the tropical forests. These disturbances alter soil chemistry and microbial diversity, and disrupt carbon cycling through shifts in litter decomposition. Direct links between microbial diversity and soil properties such as pH are well established; however, the indirect impacts of logging and forest conversion on microbial diversity and litter decomposition are poorly understood. We investigated how soil properties and soil functions change across a forest recovery gradient in the tropical montane forests of Malaysian Borneo. We used surface (top 5 cm) soil to assess soil physicochemical properties, next-generation DNA sequencing to assess soil microbial diversity, and standardized litterbags to assess litter decomposition and stabilization. Our results show that soils of the older forests harbored significantly greater microbial diversity, decomposed litter faster, and stabilized greater amounts of litter than soils of the younger forests and converted sites. These results suggest that logging and forest conversion significantly affect soil microbial diversity and can have lasting effects on carbon cycling in tropical montane forests.

Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & Hyde is one of the largest edible mushrooms which can be found either in groups or solitary and in soil and buried woods, but seldom in grassland. It has been recorded in Southeast Asia, Australasia, and China by either its common names or local names. Previously known as Lentinus/Panus giganteus, its unique physical characteristics and the utilization of molecular tools have since anchored its taxonomical position in the Pleurotus genus. A sawdust-based substrate coupled with soil casing method is described as a standard cultivation procedure for P. giganteus. The basidiocarp of P. giganteus is found to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polysaccharides. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts of P. giganteus have been studied in vitro for its antioxidative, antifungal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, and neurite outgrowth capabilities. The review covers the optimum cultivation methods of P. giganteus, as well as its various biological activities and medicinal properties that have been studied by different approaches. Available data in regards to the chemical compounds present in P. giganteus are also compiled for future references. Overall, both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown significant bioactivity comparable to other recognized Pleurotoid mushrooms.

During a material deformation process, part of the mechanical energy is dissipated as heat due to thermodynamically irreversible processes occurring at the microscale of the material. In particular, part of the plastic deformation energy is transformed into heat and is referred to as ‘intrinsic dissipation’ as it is intrinsic to the material behaviour. The intrinsic dissipation is a heat source that is sensitive to microstructural states which can be used to identify different microstructural regions resulting from material processing such as welding. To determine the heat source in a full-field manner, it is necessary to use an infrared camera to measure any temperature rise in a specimen undergoing elastic cyclic loading. Unlike the intrinsic dissipative heat source, the temperature change is sensitive to thermal exchanges with the surroundings. Hence, the thermomechanical heat diffusion equation is used to determine the full-field dissipative heat from the thermographic temperature measurement by implementing an image processing procedure based on least squares fitting enabled by specially devised experimental approach. The procedure is verified by deriving both the thermoelastic and dissipative heat sources from a ‘hole-in-plate’ specimen manufactured from 316L stainless steel, that is, a specimen with a known stress distribution. The approach is then applied to a 316L laser welded specimen, and it is demonstrated that the different microstructures resulting from the welding process can be identified with the procedure. The heterogeneous microstructure is confirmed using micrographs and further verified by the different stress–strain behaviour obtained for each microstructural region using digital image correlation (DIC).

Three species currently addressed to Protohydnum (Auriculariales) are studied with morphological and DNA methods. The genus Protohydnum is retained for the type species only, P. cartilagineum, recently re-collected in Brazil. The European species, P. piceicola, is not congeneric with P. cartilagineum and, therefore, placed in its own genus, Hyalodon, gen. nov. Another Hyalodon species, H. antui, is described from East Asia. The third member of Protohydnum sensu lato, P. sclerodontium from South-East Asia, is transferred to Elmerina.

Abstract: It is estimated that 2-4% of live births will have a birth defect (BD). The availability of bi-omarkers for the prenatal detection of BDs will facilitate early risk assessment, prompt medical interven-tion and ameliorating disease severity. miRNA expression levels are often found to be altered in many diseases. There is, thus, a growing interest in determining whether miRNAs, particularly extracellular miRNAs, can predict, diagnose, or monitor BDs. These miRNAs, typically encapsulated in exosomes, are released by cells (including those of the fetus and placenta) into the extracellular milieu, such as blood, urine, saliva and cerebrospinal fluid, thereby enabling interaction with target cells. Exosomal miRNAs are stable, protected from degradation, and retain functionality. The observation that placental and fetal miRNAs can be detected in maternal serum, provides a strong rationale for adopting miRNAs as non-invasive prenatal biomarkers for BDs. In this mini-review, we examine the current state of research in-volving the use of miRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for BD.

Type-2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex metabolic disease. A case-control study was conducted with 218 T2DM and 214 controls to evaluate the T2DM risk of rs5219 polymorphism in the south Indian population. The analysis of allelic and genotype data showed a significant association of rs5219 polymorphism towards an increased risk of T2DM compared to controls with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.52, confidence interval (CI) (0.96-6.64) and p-value 0.046. The functional influence of rs5219 was tested which showed a significant correlation with HbA1c and serum uric acid levels. Although our results confirm rs5219 is a potential contributor to T2DM, several inconclusive results were noticed across the literature. Hence, the meta-analysis was performed by combining the results of case-control study with previous literature to confirm the rs5219 association with T2DM across various populations. Our meta-analysis revealed a significant risk association of rs5219 in T2DM under five genetic models. In summary, our analysis suggests, rs5219 polymorphism plays a significant role in T2DM susceptibility. Further, studies need to be conducted to determine the influence of rs5219 on the other characteristics of T2DM.

The present study is aimed to enhance the photocatalytic dye degradation efficiency of ZnO thin film by suitably adding copper + graphitic carbon nitride (Cu + g-C3N4). The thin films were deposited on flexible stainless steel substrates using nebulizer spray method. The prepared samples were subjected to XRD, PL, FTIR, DRS, SEM, HRTEM, EDAX and XPS studies to analyze how the addition of Cu + g-C3N4 changes the structural, optical and surface morphological properties of ZnO films which in turn influences its photocatalytic ability. The band gap values were found to be reduced from 3.29 to 2.83 and 2.53 after adding Cu and Cu + g-C3N4, respectively. To evaluate the role of active species, quenching experiments have been done. The mineralization of dye molecules was confirmed by chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. The present study addresses the mechanism behind the enhancement of photocatalytic dye degradation against Methylene Blue (MB) dye with authentic support from the characterization studies and relevant literature. The experimental results are verified using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

In this paper we use image inpainting technique in a color image. Inpainting is a technique in which, a missing area or pixels are replaced by adequate neighbouring pixels so that the resultant image obtained will look as no defect is there. In this paper we have removed an object from the color image and the vacant pixels are filled with the help of the surrounding neighbouring pixels. Two techniques are used here for removing and inpainting an object from the still color image, lattice boltzmann and exemplar method. These techniques were selected as Exemplar method of inpainting was used in many algorithms and have given a good result and lattice Boltzmann was usually used in experiments conducted in fluid dynamics. As motion of pixels can be compared to motion of fluids, lattice boltzmann method gives a better match for filling in the regions. Different variables for the inpainted image was calculated for both the methods. The signal to noise ratio and self-similarity index of the image is calculated for both inpainting techniques. According to the signal to noise ratio and the time taken for inpainting, it is found that lattice Boltzmann method of inpainting gives a better inpainted result..

Examining pre-diabetes and diabetes rates using glycated haemoglobin (HbAEpidemiological study of HbA1c measurements in individuals ≥18 years receiving a blood test (1) in the hospital setting of the ED at Blacktown/Mt Druitt hospital (1/06/2016 to 31/05/2018) and (2) in primary care involving Bridgeview Medical Practice (BVMP) (1/03/2017 to 01/02/2018) as well as other general practices (June 2018 only).Totals of 55,568 individuals from ED and 5911 individuals from GP. The prevalence of diabetes in tested individuals was 17.3% (n = 9704) in ED and 17.4% (n = 1027) in GP. The prevalence of pre-diabetes in ED was 30.2% (n = 16,854) and 26.6% (n = 1576) in GP. Regression controlling for age, season, and gender revealed a weekly increase of 1.1% in odds for diabetes and 1.5% for pre-diabetes (p 0.001), in line with the yearly absolute increase of 1% in rate for both tested and coded hospital patients. In BVMP the rate of diabetes rose by 22% during the testing period from 8.9% to 11%.There exists a high burden of diabetes both in hospitals and general practice. Testing in ED and general practice revealed similarly high burdens of diabetes across different areas of the healthcare system. In the appropriate hospital and primary care setting, HbA1c can be used to identify individuals with diabetes that may benefit from targeted intervention.

Climate change and the major threat it poses to the environment and human lives is the major challenge the world faces today. To overcome this challenge, it is recommended that future automobiles have zero carbon exhaust emissions. Even though battery electric vehicles reduce carbon emissions relative to combustion engines, a carbon footprint still remains in the overall ecosystem unless the battery is powered by renewable energy sources. The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is an alternate source for automotive mobility which, similar to battery electric vehicles, has zero carbon emissions from its exhaust pipe. Moreover, the typical system level efficiency of a PEMFC is higher than an equivalent internal combustion powertrain. This review article covers the background history, working principles, challenges and applications of PEMFCs for automotive transportation and power generation in industries. Since the performance of a PEMFC is greatly influenced by the design of the anode and cathode flow channels, an in-depth review has been carried out on different types of flow channel designs. This review reveals the importance of flow channel design with respect to uniform gas (reactant) distribution, membrane proton conductivity, water flooding and thermal management. An exhaustive study has been carried out on different types of flow channels, such as parallel, serpentine, interdigitated and bio-inspired, with respect to their performance and applications.

Environmental and genetic factors contribute significantly to the etiology of orofacial clefting, which is one of the most common of human congenital craniofacial malformations. Current biological thought now recognizes that epigenetics represents a fundamental contributing process in embryogenesis. Indeed, many of the mechanisms whereby environmental insults affect key pathways crucial for proper embryonic growth and development are increasingly thought to be mediated via the epigenome. Epigenetic regulators, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), play vital roles in the ontogeny of the orofacial region. Evidence for this comes from conditional knockouts of Dicer or DGCR8, genes encoding key enzymes in the miRNA biosynthetic machinery, in neural crest cells. Such knockouts result in a range of craniofacial/orofacial anomalies, including cleft palate and cleft lip. Epigenetic pathways may thus represent key vehicles in the regulation, and misregulation, of gene expression during normal and abnormal orofacial embryogenesis. Significant strides have been made in the last decade in identifying miRNAs and their target genes involved in lip and palate morphogenesis. Such morphogenetic processes include apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). While some of the miRNA-target gene interactions have been functionally validated, many exhibit causal relationships that await functional confirmation. A plethora of genes associated with cleft palate/cleft lip have now been identified that provides a veritable treasure trove of information that could be harnessed to identify novel miRNA candidates for further analysis. In this review, we summarize studies identifying miRNAs involved in various aspects of lip and palate morphogenesis and whose aberrant expression may result in orofacial clefts.

The agricultural sector generates approximately 1300 million tonnes of waste annually, where up to 50% comprising of raw material are discarded without treatment. Economic development and rising living standards have increased the quantity and complexity of waste generated resulting in environmental, health and economic issues. This calls for a greener waste management system such as valorization or recovery of waste into products. For successful implementation, social acceptance is an essential component with involvement of all local stakeholders including community to learn and understand the process and objective of the implementation. The agricultural waste product manufacturing industry is expected to increase with the growing demand for organic food. Thus, proper livestock and crop waste management is vital for environmental protection. It will be essential to successfully convert waste into a sustainable product that is reusable and circulated in the system in line with the green concept of circular economy. This review identifies the commercially produced crops by-product that have been considered for valorization and implemented green extraction for recovery. We highlight the importance of social acceptance and the economic value to agricultural waste recycling. Successful implementation of these technologies will overcome current waste management problems, reduce environmental impacts of landfills, and sustainability issue for farm owners.

Macrofungi survey was carried out from 21st to 26th of August, 2017 during the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) Scientific Expedition at Batu Timbang Area, Imbak Canyon, Sabah. The purpose of the study was to survey the diversity of mushroom forming-fungi or macrofungi because such study and information is poorly documented and limited in Malaysia. In this scientific expedition, we obtained a total of 106 species from 13 different families within Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The most dominant family found was Polyporaceae with 25 species were collected, 23% of the total samples collected. We identified four different species of edible mushrooms and two deadly poisonous mushrooms. About 47% unidentified group will be subjected for DNA analysis. Apart from that, we characterized some of the polypore till genus or species level. The most interesting species from this study area were Earliella scabrosa and Panus similis that were recorded to have a medicinal properties. A glowing mushroom, Mycena illuminans is a new record for the Imbak Canyon region. Diversity of the ectomycorrhizal mushrooms which are specific to dipterocarp trees in Batu Timbang should be explored. Endemic and IUCN red listed species like Buglossoporus sp. found in the study area should be preserved for DNA. Future studies are needed in order to conserve the hidden knowledge of undescribed groups of mushroom from this region.

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-cpc-10.1177_10556656211054004 for Spatiotemporal Expression and Functional Analysis of miRNA-22 in the Developing Secondary Palate by Partha Mukhopadhyay, Irina Smolenkova and Ratnam S. Seelan, M. Michele Pisano, Robert M. Greene in The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal

Pneumonia is a life-threatening infectious lung disease in humans. It causes the air sacs of the lungs to be filled up with fluid or pus. This ranges from mild to severe, based on the type of germ causing the infection. There are various causes for pneumonia. One of the major causes include bacteria like Streptococcus and viruses like influenza, corona virus and so on. The treatment for bacterial pneumonia varies from viral pneumonia. So, identifying the type of pneumonia is essential to provide a better treatment. According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia is responsible for one out of every three deaths in India. The early detection of pneumonia is essential to provide the treatment in the right time. The diagnosis of chest X-rays needs expert radiotherapists for evaluation. Even after the detection, it is a challenge for the doctors to classify pneumonia accurately. The system aims in classifying pneumonia from chest X-ray images thereby helps to save time and to increase accuracy in prediction. Deep Learning algorithms have been effective in analyzing medical images and has gained much attention for disease classification. This paper presents Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architecture to extract features from the image and classify them using the extracted features. A pre-trained Xception model along with data augmentation techniques is employed to classify the chest x-ray images as bacterial or viral pneumonia with better accuracy. This helps the doctors to provide timely assistance to the patients.

Supplemental material, sj-pptx-5-cpc-10.1177_10556656211054004 for Spatiotemporal Expression and Functional Analysis of miRNA-22 in the Developing Secondary Palate by Partha Mukhopadhyay, Irina Smolenkova and Ratnam S. Seelan, M. Michele Pisano, Robert M. Greene in The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal