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Abstract Studies on the neural correlates of navigation in 3D environments are plagued by several issues that need to be solved. For example, experimental studies show markedly different place cell responses in rats and bats, both navigating in 3D environments. In this study, we focus on modelling the spatial cells in rodents in a 3D environment. We propose a deep autoencoder network to model the place and grid cells in a simulated agent navigating in a 3D environment. The input layer to the autoencoder network model is the HD layer, which encodes the agent’s HD in terms of azimuth (θ) and pitch angles (ϕ). The output of this layer is given as input to the Path Integration (PI) layer, which computes displacement in all the preferred directions. The bottleneck layer of the autoencoder model encodes the spatial cell-like responses. Both grid cell and place cell-like responses are observed. The proposed model is verified using two experimental studies with two 3D environments. This model paves the way for a holistic approach using deep neural networks to model spatial cells in 3D navigation.

Ionic liquids (ILs) represent an exciting and promising solution for advancing drug delivery platforms. Their unique properties, including broad chemical diversity, adaptable structures, and exceptional thermal stability, make them ideal candidates for overcoming challenges in transdermal drug delivery. Despite encountering obstacles such as side reactions, impurity effects, biocompatibility concerns, and stability issues, ILs offer substantial potential in enhancing drug solubility, navigating physiological barriers, and improving particle stability. To propel the use of IL-based drug delivery in pharmaceutical innovation, it is imperative to devise new strategies and solvents that can amplify drug effectiveness, facilitate drug delivery to cells at the molecular level, and ensure compatibility with the human body. This review introduces innovative methods to effectively address the challenges associated with transdermal drug delivery, presenting progressive approaches to significantly improve the efficacy of this drug delivery system.

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] is a widely grown pulse with high seed protein content that contributes to food and nutritional security in the Indian subcontinent. The majority of pigeonpea varieties cultivated in India are of medium duration (

In this study, BaO nanorods (NRs) were synthesized with inherent surface defects using the chemical coprecipitation process. The rich oxygen defect BaO NRs exhibited enhanced light sensitivity and effectively interacted with the organic pollutant methylene blue (MB) dye under UV-light illumination for wastewater treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the highly crystalline tetragonal structure of the BaO NRs. Microstructural characteristics were examined using theoretical approaches such as Debye-Scherrer (DS), Williamson-Hall (W-H), and Size-Strain Plot (SSP), revealing an average crystallite size of approximately 30 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed the rod-shaped structure of the BaO nanorods, with particles aligned on top of each other. UV–visible absorption studies demonstrated an increased optical bandgap in the BaO NRs compared to the bulk material. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed the presence of oxygen traps and surface defects, which aided the photodegradation process. The photocatalytic activity of the BaO NRs was assessed by degrading MB dye. We found that a concentration of 150 mg of BaO NRs exhibited the highest degradation efficiency at 85 %.

In the dynamic field of electrochemical biosensors, the demand for facile yet highly sensitive electrode materials is paramount. This study presents an innovative electrochemical biosensor material designed for the detection of biologically crucial molecules-Tryptophan (Trp) and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) utilizing ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Through a successful hydrothermal synthesis, nanosized ZrO2 was employed to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), constituting a novel electrochemical biosensor material. Characterization techniques, including XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, and FT-IR, elucidated the monoclinic crystalline structure, cauliflower-like surface morphology, elemental composition, and chemical state of the prepared NPs. Optical properties were explored using UV–Visible and photoluminescence spectroscopic methods. The electrochemical sensing ability of ZrO2 NPs modified GCE were evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques with meticulous optimization of measurement parameters, revealing a modified GCE shows superior electrocatlytic property towards detection of Trp and BSA molecules as compared to bare GCE due to the large specific surface area of the ZrO2 NPs. The ZrO2 NPs modified GCE exhibited exceptional electrochemical signals, showcasing a linear response within concentration ranges of 1–16 μM for Trp and 1.50–42 nM for BSA. Impressively low detection limits of 0.49 μM and 0.90 nM for Trp and BSA, respectively, were achieved. The electro-oxidation mechanism of Trp were investigated by varying the scan rates and the relation between peak and scan rate revealed that, oxidation process of Trp at ZrO2 NPs modified GCE is an adsorption-controlled process. Further, the effect of interference substance on detection of Trp and BSA were conducted by linear sweep volatmmetry measurements in the absence and presence of interfering compounds, and results endorse that, ZrO2 modified GCE has good selectivity in detection of Trp and BSA. This novel electrochemical sensor demonstrated significant sensitivity, selectivity and a low detection limit, underscoring the potential for ZrO2 NPs in advancing the development of biosensor devices.

Background: Lack of interest has been cited by many studies as the predominant cause for students undervaluing the subject of Community Medicine. However, there are few valid and reliable tools that could measure this interest. To develop and validate a questionnaire to measure a medical student's interest in the subject of Community Medicine. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at MTMC Jamshedpur. The Community Medicine Interest Questionnaire (CMIQ) was developed in two phases: item generation and item reduction. Items were generated through a review of the literature, focused group discussions, and in-depth interviews. In the item reduction phase, the content and construct validity of the questionnaire were ascertained. Content validity was carried out by a group of experts based on three parameters: the interrater agreement on the representativeness of the item, the interrater agreement on the clarity of the items, and the content validity index. The construct validity was ascertained through pilot testing of 480 responses from undergraduate medical students. Exploratory factor analysis through principal axis factoring and Promax rotation. Results: Twenty-five items were generated. Three of these items were removed following expert validation. Furthermore, three items were removed after pilot testing. The resulting CMIQ consisted of 19 items distributed over three dimensions: feeling, value, and predisposition to reengage toward the subject. The internal consistency of each of the subscales was ascertained. Conclusions: CMIQ is a valid and reliable tool that can be used to measure such interest for providing educational interventions.

Due to massive data traffic, wireless network congestion is inevitable, causing network performance deterioration and data transmission quality reduction. By adjustingthe traffic flow at the source node along the optimal path, Wireless sensor networks strive to evade and overcome congestion. Recently, numerous evolutionary approaches for congestion detection and avoidance have been presented, although they do not improve WSN performance. A hybrid evolutionary approach is attempted to avoid congestion in WSN and improve network performance. We present an optimum cluster-based congestion aware multipath routing protocol (OCC-MP). An improved atom search optimization (IASO) approach for efficient clustering is introduced initially in OCC-MP. Then the HSIPO method is used for decision making, which computes each node's trust degree. The HSIPO algorithm selects the cluster head (CH) from a group of nodes. Then a deep recurrent neural network (DRNN) is used to monitor congestion and provide congestion aware routing. Finally, multiple simulation situations like various node densities andat various simulation rounds supported our proposed OCC-MP techniqueoutperformedcurrent methodologies with respect to energy consumption, throughput, traffic load overflow, delivery ratio, and number of nodes alive.

Objectives: To analyze the clinical and functional outcomes of posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation from tibial attachment. Methods: This observational study was conducted at the orthopedics department of a tertiary care medical college. Forty adult patients with PCL avulsion fractures were included in this study based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Patients were followed up for one year. The Lysholm scale and knee society score were used to assess functional outcomes. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Overall, 34 (75 %) males and 6 (15%) females participated in this study with an M: F ratio of 1:0.17. The mean age of affected patients was 37.3 +/- 7.34 years. Out of 40 patients, 29 (72.50%) patients sustained fractures secondary to road traffic accidents, while 7 (17.50%) had sports-related injuries. There was a highly significant improvement in the Lysholm and Knee Society scores from the time of presentation to the final follow-up (P

Achieving microholes with dimensionally higher accuracy on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy using traditional machining techniques is challenging. Micro-electric discharge drilling (μEDD) has become a prominent machining technique in fabricating microholes. Though there are extensive applications of μEDD in producing microholes in difficult-to-cut materials, the appropriate tool materials and process parameters determine the process characteristics and accuracy. Because of the uneven machining and inadequate debris flushing, the technique is less productive and results in high overcut (OC) and hole taper (HT) for the microholes as well as poor material removal rate (MRR). Additionally, the rate of electrode wear affects hole precision. To address these issues, a rotating tool electrode set-up was used to drill microholes in Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The impact of three distinct electrode materials, copper (Cu), tungsten copper (WCu), and tungsten carbide (WC), as well as various process parameters, was investigated. The μEDD was accomplished by changing input process parameters, viz. voltage (V), capacitance (C) and tool rotation speed (TRS) and using Cu, WCu and WC tool electrodes to examine their influence on the process response variables such as MRR, TWR, OC, and HT. The experiments for each electrode were designed using a Taguchi-based L9 array, and the results were examined using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Capacitance was found to be the most significant electrical parameter in the μEDD of the titanium alloy. At 10,000 pF capacitance, the WCu electrode showed the highest MRR 0.009247 mm3/min, which was 6.11% and 21.92% higher than the Cu and WC electrodes. In contrast, the WCu electrode had the lowest tool wear rate (TWR) of 0.002033 mm3/min, which was 280.61% and 61.61% less than the Cu and WC electrodes, respectively. The WC electrode exhibited more accuracy by reducing the OC and HT compared to the Cu and WCu electrodes. The Cu tool electrode owing to its lower melting point and high thermal conductivity ensued in higher TWR than the WCu and WC electrodes. The used of rotary tool enabled a steady machining and proper flushing of debris. The impact of the tool materials and process variables on the surface quality of manufactured micro-holes was also explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The WCu electrode showed higher carbon deposition on the hole surface than the Cu and WC electrodes.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the primary macronutrients required for crop growth and yield. This nutrient is especially limiting wheat yields in the dry and low fertile agro-ecologies having low N in the root zone soil strata. Moreover, majority of farmers in India and South Asia are small to marginal with meagre capacity to invest in costly nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, there is an immense need to identify lines that use nitrogen efficiently. A set of 50 diverse wheat genotypes consisting of indigenous germplasm lines (05), cultivars released for commercial cultivation (23) and selected elite lines from CIMMYT nurseries (22) were evaluated in an alpha-lattice design with two replications, a six-rowed plot of 2.5m length for 24 agro morphological, physiological and NUE related traits during two consecutive crop seasons in an N-depleted precision field under two different N levels of 50%-N50 (T1) and 100%-N100 (T2) of recommended N, i.e., 100 kg/ha. Analysis of variance revealed significant genetic variation among genotypes for all the traits studied. About 11.36% yield reduction was observed at reduced N levels. Significant correlations among NUE traits and yield component traits were observed which indicated pivotal role of N remobilization to the grain in enhancing yield levels. Among N-insensitive genotypes identified based on their yielding ability at low N levels, UASBW13356, UASBW13358, UASBW13354, UASBW13357 and KRL1-4 showed their inherent genotypic plasticity toward N application. The genotypes with more yield and high to moderate NUtE can be used as parents for the breeding of N efficient genotypes for marginal agro-ecologies. Low N tolerant genotypes identified from the current investigation may be further utilized in the identification of genomic regions responsible for NUE and its deployment in wheat breeding programs. The comprehensive data of 24 traits under different nitrogen levels for diverse genotypes from India and global sources (mainly CIMMYT) should be useful for supporting breeding for NUE and thus will be of great help for small and marginal farmers in India and South Asia.

The landfill is a cheap way of solid waste management in developing countries. The majority of landfills are non-sanitary and work as open garbage dumping sites and pose threats to public and environmental health. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the chemistry and microbiology of landfills is imperative to develop the right policies for landfill management. In the current study, we investigated the chemistry and microbiology of three Indian landfill sites using culture-based and culture-independent molecular approaches. Our data indicate that the nature of landfills varies from site to site in terms of chemistry, pollutants, and pathogens. We also enriched and cultivated three methanogens using an optimized medium and constructed two high-quality draft genomes from enriched microbiomes using metagenome-assembled genome approaches. The phylogenomic study of one draft genome showed the highest 93% sequence similarity with members of Methanomassiliicoccaceae and was always enriched with Acholoplasma and Anaerohalosphaera lusitana. Despite all the efforts, we did not isolate it in pure culture and hypothesized that for the cultivation of some not-yet-cultured methanogen, the presence of other organisms plays an important role, and their syntrophic interaction must be discerned for its successful cultivation in the future. Co-cultivation of amino acid-degrading organisms indicates that their co-culture can assist in boosting the growth of methanogens. In addition, our data indicated that landfill leachate contains a heavy load of pollutants and treatment is a must before discharge in nature or use in irrigation or biofertilizer.

In this study, we aimed to synthesize monodisperse chromium-doped zinc oxide (Cr-ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) through green synthesis for the construction of a highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor for BSA detection. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis absorption, and photoluminescence studies confirmed the structural, chemical, and optical properties of the synthesized NPs. FESEM and EDS analysis revealed a spherical nodular morphology with a cauliflower-shaped structure. Nano-bio interaction studies between Cr-ZnO NPs and BSA were conducted using UV-Vis absorption and PL measurements, indicating fluorescence quenching due to complex formation. The synthesized NPs were utilized as electrode material for an electrochemical sensor, demonstrating sensitivity and selectivity in detecting BSA concentrations within the range of 1.5 nM to 48 nM. The sensor's response was linear, showing a decrease in anodic peak current response from 5.08 µA to 3.48 µA for different BSA concentrations. Remarkably, the optical interaction results mirrored the electrochemical findings, emphasizing the consistency between the two methods. The linear response of the electrochemical sensor, coupled with its optical interactions, suggests the versatility and reliability of the synthesized NPs for biosensing applications. With a simple setup requiring minimal samples, the electrochemical sensor offers an inexpensive, rapid, and sensitive screening method for BSA. These findings underscore the potential of the synthesized NPs as a promising electrochemical surface for biosensors, with implications for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly in the context of cattle-related research.

Background A spinal epidural arachnoid cyst (SEAC) is a rare clinical entity. We performed a systematic review of the literature to obtain information regarding demographics, clinical presentation, treatment modalities, and outcome of SEACs. Methods A literature search was performed by using the databases PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid Medline In-Process. A total of 170 articles were found on literature search. We found 575 cases of SEAC since 1904 for inclusion in the review including three cases which were operated by us. We studied the patient characteristics, clinical features, and management strategies, and evaluated their outcome. Results The average age of presentation was 30 years with a male:female ratio of 1.03:1. They are commonly seen in the thoracic region (42.3%). The length of cyst was more than two vertebral levels in 85.81%. Mean symptom duration was 29 months, with most common presentation being that of compressive myelopathy. A good clinical outcome was present in symptomatic patients who had a shorter symptom duration and underwent complete surgical excision of the SEAC. Age, sex, length of lesion, and presence of dural defect did not have a bearing on the surgical outcome. Conclusion For thoracic compressive myelopathy in a young patient, SEAC should be kept as a differential diagnosis. Surgical complete excision of the cyst with meticulous closure of the dural defect is the standard in management for a good clinical outcome.

Abstract Quantum states of light and matter can be manipulated on the nanoscale to provide a technological resource for aiding the implementation of scalable photonic quantum technologies. Experimental progress relies on the quality and efficiency of the coupling between photons and internal spin states of quantum emitters. Here we demonstrate a nanophotonic waveguide platform with embedded quantum dots (QDs) that enables both Purcell-enhanced emission and strong chiral coupling. The design uses slow-light effects in a glide-plane photonic crystal waveguide with QD tuning to match the emission frequency to the slow-light region. Simulations were used to map the chirality and Purcell enhancement depending on the position of a dipole emitter relative to the air holes. The highest Purcell factors and chirality occur in separate regions, but there is still a significant area where high values of both can be obtained. Based on this, we first demonstrate a record large radiative decay rate of 17 ± 2 ns−1 (60 ± 6 ps lifetime) corresponding to a 20 ± 2 fold Purcell enhancement. This was achieved by electric-field tuning of the QD to the slow-light region and quasi-resonant phonon-side band excitation. We then demonstrate a 5 ± 1 fold Purcell enhancement for a dot with high degree of chiral coupling to waveguide modes, substantially surpassing all previous measurements. Together these demonstrate the excellent prospects for using QDs in scalable implementations of on-chip spin-photonics relying on chiral quantum optics.

Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) have remained an unresolved public health problem in India. In this survey, we have estimated the prevalence of IDD among 6–12 years of school children in rural areas of north Karnataka, India and estimated the prevalence of low iodine content (

Background: Head and neck cancers stands on eighth most prevalent tumor in Oral and Maxillofacial region among which the most frequent malignant tumor is Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Worldwide 880,000 patients suffer with head and neck cancer each year, and around 440,000 die due to it. Every day the number of clinical trials is increasing and many research focuses on improved surgery, radiotherapy and also chemotherapy. The immune system, under normal conditions, functions for the protection of the host against various infectious diseases and tumours. Cell surface proteins known as 'programmed cell death 1' (PD-1) and 'programmed cell death ligand 1' (PD-L1) are essential for the proper functioning of immunological checkpoints. The expression of “PD-L1” positive cells has a direct correlation with poorer prognostic outcome and its correlation is inversed with CD8 +T cells infiltrating tumor. This study focuses on association of “PD-L1' immunoexpression to clinicopathological characteristics and its prognostic importance in Oral Premalignant Disorder (OPMD) and OSCC. Methods: The study included surgical tissue samples from individuals who underwent surgery for OSCC. Cases altogether, including OPMD and OSCC were chosen. Examination of sections stained with “PD-L1” antibody was done under Leica DMLB2 (Leica microscope). Results: The present study showed significant correlation between PD-L1 immunoexpression with the clinicopathological characteristics of OPMD and OSCC cases. Conclusions: The premalignant lesions show the intermediate “PD-L1” expression which lie between the normal or hyperplastic lesions to the OSCC. This shows a condition where there are biological adaptations has been confirmed already which directed towards malignant transformation. So, there is a crucial role of “PD-L1’ in the progression of tumor.

Objective: The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in significant mortality and morbidity. Patients with severe COVID-19 infection experience cytokine storm that makes the treatment approach more challenging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of CytoSorb® therapy in COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU. Patients and Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective study conducted at Sunshine Hospital, Hyderabad, India from January 2020 to November 2020. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 along with signs of sepsis and with a minimum of one organ dysfunction were enrolled in the study. All the patients were treated with CytoSorb® therapy. Clinical and laboratory parameters such as procalcitonin (PCT), serum lactate, interleukin-6 (IL-6), mean arterial pressure (MAP), C-Reactive Protein and the patients’ length of stay in intensive care were measured. Results: A total of 20 patients were enrolled in this study; of these 13 patients (65%) survived. One patient left against medical advice and was thus excluded from the analysis. Post CytoSorb® therapy, a reduction in the levels of PCT, total leucocyte count (TLC), and platelet count in the survivor group was reported. The dosage of norepinephrine decreased by 46% in the survivor group but decreased by 0.8% in the non-survivor group (p= 0.0424 for survivor vs. non survivors). The average number of days spent by all patients in ICU was 9±5.25. Conclusions: The use of CytoSorb® therapy for patients with COVID-19 is a safe and effective treatment option when initiated in a timely manner.

Immunocompromised populations are highly vulnerable to developing life-threatening infections. Strategies to protect patients with weak immune responses are urgently needed. Employing trained immunity, whereby innate leukocytes undergo reprogramming upon exposure to a microbial product and respond more robustly to subsequent infection, is a promising approach. Previously, we demonstrated that the TLR4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) induces trained immunity and confers broad resistance to infection. TLR4 signals through both MyD88- and TRIF-dependent cascades, but the relative contribution of each pathway to induction of trained immunity is unknown. Here, we show that MPLA-induced resistance to Staphylococcus aureus infection is lost in MyD88-KO, but not TRIF-KO, mice. The MyD88-activating agonist CpG (TLR9 agonist), but not TRIF-activating Poly I:C (TLR3 agonist), protects against infection in a macrophage-dependent manner. MPLA- and CpG-induced augmentation of macrophage metabolism and antimicrobial functions is blunted in MyD88-, but not TRIF-KO, macrophages. Augmentation of antimicrobial functions occurs in parallel to metabolic reprogramming and is dependent, in part, on mTOR activation. Splenic macrophages from CpG-treated mice confirmed that TLR/MyD88-induced reprogramming occurs in vivo. TLR/MyD88-triggered metabolic and functional reprogramming was reproduced in human monocyte-derived macrophages. These data show that MyD88-dependent signaling is critical in TLR-mediated trained immunity.

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a measure of an individual's psychosocial, emotional, and physical well-being. Around 1 in 20 children are less than 15 years of age and are living with a moderate-to-severe form of disability. Thus, our study aims to determine the HRQOL of intellectual disabled (ID) children attending a special school in Puducherry and to determine the socio-demographic factors influencing the level of HRQOL. Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 350 ID children attending a selected special school in Puducherry over 1 year. By the universal sampling method, all the caregivers of ID children were recruited and the parent proxy form of Pediatric Quality of life Inventory scale version 4.0 (PedsQL ver 4.0) was used to assess the level of HRQOL of ID children. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 16.0 (SPSS ver. 16.0) and the statistical significance was set at P value

Abstract Background Natural products with targeted bioactivity have gained major attention in the field of cancer research owing to emerging anti‐cancer drug resistance and off target toxicities. Chloroxylon swietenia (Roxb.) DC is recognized as a folklore medicinal plant and has numerous therapeutic benefits in the folklore medicine system, however the anti‐cancer potential of this plant and its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Aims The aim of the study was to investigate the anti‐breast cancer efficacy of C. swietenia leaves methanol extract (CSLME) against MCF‐7 hormone dependent human breast cancer cell line with possible mechanism of action. Methods and results The anti‐breast cancer activity of CSLME against MCF‐7 cells was assessed by evaluating its efficacy toward cytotoxicity, cell migration, colony formation, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, cytoskeleton, angiogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and animal toxicity. The preliminary screening of CSLME against MCF‐7 cells revealed the cytotoxicity (IC50 20 μg/ml), inhibited cell migration, colony formation, and angiogenesis. It was observed that CSLME induces apoptosis by nuclear fragmentation and disruption of cytoskeleton by actin derangement. The results of Annexin V‐FITC assay and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry clearly pointed out the sizable fraction of apoptotic cells, and arrested the cells at G2/M phase of cell cycle. The results of the immunoblotting experiments showed that CSLME activates intrinsic pathway of apoptosis with down regulation of anti‐apoptotic marker like Bcl2, up regulation of pro‐apoptotic markers like Bax & Bad, along with successful cleavage of Caspase‐9 and PARP‐1. Further, western blot analysis revealed the possible down regulation of NF‐κB pathway by CSLME, which may be responsible for anti‐cancer activity in MCF‐7 cells. In vivo animal model studies using NOD‐SCID mice demonstrated impressive anti‐tumor activity with significant reduction in tumor volume of MCF‐7 tumor xenograft. Of note, in‐vivo acute oral toxicity study as per Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 423 revealed the nontoxic nature of CSLME. Conclusion The in vitro and in vivo findings clearly outline the potential of CSLME as inhibitor of growth and proliferation of MCF‐7 cells. Mechanistically, CSLME seems to activate intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, arrest cell cycle, target actin cytoskeleton, inhibit growth, colony formation, migration, and angiogenesis, with down regulation of NF‐κB pathway leading to cell death.

Mucocele is a common salivary gland lesion which most commonly occurs on the lower lip. Several treatment options are available for its elimination with surgery being the most commonly used method. A 49-year-old male presented with a small, round, painless swelling on the left buccal mucosa since 6 months. A clinical diagnosis of oral mucocele on the left buccal mucosa was made. Due to the inaccessibility of the posterior buccal mucosa region, sclerotherapy with sodium tetradecyl sulfate was planned. The patient did not show any obvious reduction in the size of swelling after 1 week of therapy. Therefore, a second injection was planned. After another 1 week, complete resolution of the lesion was seen with no complications. No recurrence of the lesion has been seen after 6 months of therapy. Due to the various drawbacks of surgical management of oral mucocele, sclerotherapy can be an effective alternative.

High synchrotron energy peaked blazar 1ES 1959+650 was studied with the Swift and XMM-Newton satellites in a total of 127 observations during the period 2018 June–2020 December. We extensively studied its flux and spectral variability on intraday and long-term timescales. Discrete correlation function analysis between soft and hard X-ray bands indicates soft as well as hard lags. The results were used to constrain the magnetic field of the emitting region, which was found to be 0.64 ± 0.05 G. On long-term timescales, the distribution of fluxes shows lognormal behavior, which could be attributed to the minijets-in-a-jet model or might be due to the propagation of relativistic shocks down the jet. The spectral energy distribution around the synchrotron peak is well described by the log-parabola model. Spectral parameters like the peak energy E _p , curvature β , and peak luminosity L _p were derived from spectral analysis. Their correlations were studied to constrain the acceleration processes of the emitting particles. E _p shows strong correlation with L _p during the high state of the source, which indicates spectral changes might be caused by the variations of the average electron energy. Low values of the curvature parameter β and a weak correlation between E _p and β indicate the coexistence of stochastic/statistical acceleration of electrons in the emitting region. Implications of other results are also discussed.

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of urea mineral molasses block (UMMB) containing variable levels of urea and bentonite on nutrient utilization and economics of feeding of crossbred calves. Twenty four male crossbred calves were divided into four equal groups following completely randomized design and fed individually for 120 days. In Group 1, 70% of crude protein (CP) requirement was met through feeding of concentrate mixture and remaining CP was supplied through UMMB and ad lib. wheat straw (control). In Groups 2, 3 and 4, the feeding regimen followed was same as that of control except that UMMB was replaced with UMMB-A, UMMB-B, UMMB-C which vary in physical composition (wheat bran, urea, cement and bentonite content). There was no significant difference in feed intake and digestibility of macro-nutrients among the groups. Intake of UMMB was significantly lower in Group 4 as compared to the other groups. The nitrogen and phosphorus intake, excretion and retention was non-significant among the groups. A significant increase in calcium intake in Group 1 was observed. The excretion of calcium through faeces and calcium balance was non-significant among the groups. The feeding cost per kg bodyweight gain (`) was higher in Group 1 followed by 3, 2 and 4, respectively. On basis of present results, it may be concluded that supplementation of UMMB containing 15% urea and 10% cement can replace 30% crude protein of concentrate mixture without any adverse effect on feed intake, digestibility and nutrient utilization of crossbred calves.

Antibiotics are used in the treatment of bacterial diseases in commercial aquaculture. In this study, we the biological responses of Oreochromis niloticus juveniles upon dietary florfenicol (FFC) administration at 15 mg (1×) and 45 mg kg biomass−1 day−1 (3×) for 10 days in terms of feed intake, survival, biomass, hematological, erythro-morphological, serum biochemical, and histopathological aberrations as compared with controls. FFC caused a dose-dependent reduction in feed intake, survival, and biomass, with marked variations in hematology, hematological indices, and erythrocytic cellular and nuclear abnormalities, suggesting its apparent cytotoxic and nucleotoxic effects. The serum biomarkers increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner, except for calcium and chloride, which decreased significantly. The therapeutic dose (1×) group exhibited marked histopathological aberrations, such as renal tubular epithelial degeneration and a widened lumen in the kidney, as well as glycogen-type vacuolation and cytoplasmic degeneration in the liver during the dosing period. The extent of kidney and liver tissue damage was more prominent in the 3× group. The 1× serum biomarker levels became normal, with the exception of alkaline phosphatase, within 3 weeks of suspension of dosing. The recovery of the measured parameters and histopathological and erythro-morphological changes suggested that the therapeutic dietary biological responses induced by FFC are reversible and safe for O. niloticus.