Search

Six marine consumable species, namely, Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus), Ghol (Protonibea diacanthus), Rawas (Eleutheronema tetradactylum), Prawns (Dendrobranchiata), Surmai (Scomberomorus guttatus), and Bangda fish (Rastrelliger kanagurta) were collected for assessment of minor and trace element contents. EDXRF methods (using secondary targets and filters) were optimised and validated for quantification of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn Se, As, Br, Cd, Pb, Sr, K, Ca Na, Mg, and Al in these samples. The levels of each target element were found to be comparable to those reported across the globe. The potential health risk evaluated for selected trace and toxic elements showed no adverse impact on human health (Hazard Index < 1) from exposure to these elements through consumption of these marine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a quad-port ultra-wideband multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna with dual-band notch characteristics that is very compact and highly isolated. The compactness and high isolation of this design are achieved by etching a modified Minkowski fractal structure and an inverted L-shaped stub made available by the partial ground plane. Simply by incorporating 'C'- and 'U'-shaped slots in the radiating patch, it is possible to obtain dual-band rejection characteristics that are very suitable for wireless local area network band and X-band downlink satellite communication of 5.0–5.9 GHz and 7.1–7.9 GHz, respectively, in this proposed structure. The entire design is housed in a very compact size of 30 mm × 30 mm. A few key parameters, such as channel capacity loss (CCL), envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG) and total active reflection coefficient (TARC), are examined to ensure that the MIMO system meets its requirements. Furthermore, a mutual coupling value of less than −22 dB and an operating frequency band of 3.1–12 GHz allow the design to be very effective in a multipath channel environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a miniature MIMO antenna with four ports along with a complementary split ring resonator embedded in the ground plane, is presented. The proposed antenna consists of four identical radiating elements each of which has two isosceles triangles and one rectangular slot cut from the basic rectangular patch and placed on the same plane. The isolation of the proposed antenna has been improved by taking 4 L-shaped strips and two rectangular CSRR unit cells on the ground plane between antenna elements. The antenna characteristics, such as return loss (<−10 dB), isolation parameter (>18 dB), peak gain values vary from 0.5to 3.6 dB, the maximum efficiency of 84%, were measured. Further diversity of the MIMO antenna has been measured with reference to ECC<0.02, DG>9.95, TARC< −15 dB, MEG at each port less than 3 dB along with CCL<0.35 bits/s/Hz. The measured impedance bandwidth achieved from 2.8 to 18 GHz encompasses the whole ultra wideband range. The prototype antenna is quite suitable for today's wireless communication devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of plastic, rubber and cellulosic waste from various industries is a challenging task. An engineering scale plasma pyrolysis based incinerator has been commissioned for incineration of combustible waste, including plastic, rubber and cellulose. Operational trials of wastes with simulated composition show a weight reduction factor of more than 18 and volume reduction factor of more than 30. The volume reduction factor is tenfold higher than the compaction process currently practised for rubber and plastic wastes. Representative residual ash samples derived from these runs are subjected to their elemental analysis using EDXRF technique and results are comparable with the published literature. Relative variation of individual elements is attributed to the type of waste and feed composition. Analysis is aided with the calculation of index of geoaccumulation, enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI). From this study, it is evident that S, Cr, Zn, As, Se, Hg and Pb are of concern for environment in residual ash from plasma incineration of combustible waste. The efficacy of the incineration process is evaluated; C, H and O reduction achieved is more than 98% and overall enrichment ratio (ER) for the inorganic elements is more than 4.5. This study highlights the importance of elemental composition for the performance analysis of the plasma based incineration as well as hazards evaluation of constituents in residual ash for its further management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedychium coronarium (Hc) (commonly known as Gulbakawali) leaf extract was used for the stable and sustainable green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Hc-AgNPs), which were biodegradable and non-toxic. Hedychium coronarium leaf extract was used as a reducing agent to stabilize the Hc-AgNPs by converting Ag + to Ag 0 without adding any capping agent. It demonstrated stability for up to six months, and no agglomeration was observed. The Hc-AgNPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and fluorescence spectroscopy analysis. The UV-visible spectrum supported the formation of stable Hc-AgNPs by displaying a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 440 nm. FT-IR spectra showed the functional groups present in the leaf extract of Hedychium coronarium , which was the primary source of secondary metabolites attached to Ag 0 . XRD analysis revealed a distinct 2 θ peak of Hc-AgNPs at 38.15°, indicating a face-centred cubic structure with a crystallite size of 22.6 ± 1 nm at the (111) plane. Moreover, TEM demonstrated the spherical morphology of the Hc-AgNPs with an average particle size of 22.42 ± 1 nm. The photophysical characteristics of the Hc-AgNPs, as highlighted by their UV-vis and fluorescence characteristics, revealed their semiconducting nature with an impressive band gap ( E g ) value of 3.78 eV. Fascinatingly, the fluorescence activity of Hc-AgNPs at 504 nm showed a broad emission band corresponding to the absorption band at 251 nm. We performed the selective colorimetric sensing of Sn 2+ metal ions using Hc-AgNPs, which demonstrated a detection limit of 10 -3 M, suggesting their potential as very good solid biosensors. Interestingly, the Hc-AgNPs showed antifungal activity, which has not been reported before. Specifically, the results showed that the Hc-AgNPs had a higher fungitoxicity effect against Aspergillus flavus (59.58 ± 3.68) than against Fusarium oxysporum (57.93 ± 4.18). The antibacterial activity of the Hc-AgNPs was evaluated against three Gram-negative phytopathogenic bacteria: Xanthomonas oryzae ( X. oryzae ), Ralstonia solanacearum ( R. solanacearum ), and Erwinia carotovora ( E. carotovora ), showing effective inhibition zones of 16.33 ± 0.57, 15.33 ± 0.57, and 14.33 ± 0.57 mm, respectively. These results indicate that the Hc-AgNPs could inhibit these phytopathogenic bacteria with varying degrees of effectiveness in the order of X. oryzae > R. solanacearum > E. carotovora ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of financial interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with a strong female predisposition. pSLE often results in a worse prognosis compared to adult SLE. Studies on pSLE from the Indian subcontinent are scarce., Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical manifestations, laboratory and serological parameters, management, and outcomes of pSLE patients from a premier tertiary care institute in Eastern India., Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, from September 2020 to October 2023. Children aged 1-14 years fulfilling the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria for SLE were included. A detailed history, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations were performed. Data on complications, treatment, and outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics version 21 (IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.)., Results: Out of 114,009 patients (outdoor and indoor), 40 were diagnosed with pSLE, resulting in an incidence of 0.35 per 1000 children. The female-to-male ratio was 7:1. The mean age of presentation was 11.67 ± 2.37 years. Among the predominant symptoms observed, mucocutaneous manifestations were seen in 39 (97.5%), followed by pallor in 36 (90%), and fever in 33 (82.5%). The most common organ system involved was mucocutaneous, observed in 39 (97.5%) patients, followed by hematological in 36 (90%) and renal in 19 (47.5%). Lupus nephritis was observed in 19 (47.5%) patients, with class IV being the most common. Anti-nuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA were positive in 39 (97.5%) and 27 (68%) of children, respectively. Complete remission was achieved in 14 (35%), improvement in 16 (40%), and flare-ups in 3 (7.5%) patients., Conclusion: pSLE is an uncommon but severe autoimmune disease with significant multi-system involvement. Early identification and prompt treatment are crucial to minimizing adverse outcomes. This study provides detailed insights into the clinical and immunological profile of pSLE in Eastern India, underscoring the need for larger multicentric studies with long-term follow-ups., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences issued approval KIIT/KIMS/IEC/215. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Mishra et al.)

Background and objective Malnutrition remains a significant cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) profoundly affects immune development, physiological functions, and metabolic processes, increasing susceptibility to infections. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of acute bacterial infections and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns among SAM children admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Methodology This prospective observational study was conducted at the pediatric department of Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from November 2020 to October 2023. The study included 95 children aged 6-59 months meeting WHO criteria for SAM. Participants underwent comprehensive demographic assessments, clinical evaluations, and relevant laboratory tests, including blood and urine cultures with sensitivity testing. Results The study found that 82.1% of children had weight-for-height below -3 standard deviations, and 84.21% had mid-upper arm circumference below 115 mm, confirming SAM diagnosis. The most prevalent infections were acute gastroenteritis (47.3%), respiratory tract infections (46.3%), bacteremia (27.4%), and urinary tract infections (26.3%). Positive urine cultures were observed in 25 cases (26.3%), predominantly among females (68%).  Escherichia coli (40%) and  Klebsiella pneumoniae (24%) were the most common organisms isolated from urine, with high sensitivity to gentamicin (76%) and meropenem (72%). Blood cultures were positive in 26 cases (27.36%), with Staphylococcus aureus ​​​​​​(30.76%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (23%) being predominant. Blood isolates showed significant sensitivity to vancomycin (73%), meropenem (69.2%), and linezolid (65.3%).  Conclusion Acute gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, bacteremia, and urinary tract infections are prevalent among SAM children.  Staphylococcus aureus was frequently isolated from blood cultures, while  Escherichia coli  were predominant in urine cultures. High sensitivity of urinary isolates to gentamicin and meropenem, and of blood isolates to vancomycin, meropenem, and linezolid, highlights effective antibiotic choices. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored antimicrobial therapy based on local sensitivity patterns to improve clinical outcomes in SAM children., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institutional Ethics Committee, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences issued approval 233. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Sahu et al.)

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare inborn error of immunity characterized by recurrent fungal and bacterial infections due to defective nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity. This case report describes an 11-month-old female who was initially diagnosed with tubercular lymphadenitis and presented with fever and bilateral neck swelling. Despite receiving anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) and intravenous antibiotics, the patient experienced recurrent infections and abscesses, prompting further investigation. Laboratory tests revealed normal immunoglobulin levels but abnormal nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) tests, indicating CGD. Genetic analysis (clinical exome by next-generation sequencing) confirmed a novel NCF2 gene mutation associated with autosomal recessive CGD. This patient was treated with prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals and subsequently underwent successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with CGD, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions such as India, emphasizing the importance of considering primary immunodeficiency disorders in patients with recurrent infections. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including HSCT, can significantly improve patient outcomes. The patient remained infection-free on prophylactic antimicrobials for 1.5 years post-discharge, demonstrating the potential for a favorable prognosis with timely intervention and comprehensive management., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences issued approval Not Applicable. Ethical review and approval was not required for the study on human participants in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Parental written informed consent for the participation in the study was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from the father for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article. . Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Hasa et al.)

Novel metal-like cerium- and zirconium-doped ZnO photocatalysts were prepared herein with various proportions of molar ratios via a cost-effective co-precipitation method. The effects of novel metal doping on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO were studied. Various techniques were used to investigate the structural, morphological, and elemental composition, particle size, optical properties, and catalytic activity of the synthesized photocatalysts. It was found that the crystallite size and particle size of the nano alloy oxides were 15.12 ± 1 and 5 ± 1 nm, respectively, and the surface morphology of the nanoparticles indicated a satisfactory surface area. Among all synthesized nanocomposites, Ce x Zr x Zn x O 5 ( x = 1) [CZ 1 Z 2 -A] exhibited satisfactory photo-oxidation activity against naphthol orange (NO) under sunlight with a rate constant of 57.5 × 10 -3 min -1 . The effects of pH, inorganic salts, dye concentrations, and catalytic dosage on NO degradation were studied. A probable mechanistic pathway for the degradation of NO in the presence of CZ 1 Z 2 -A was proposed, and studies of sacrificial agents indicated that superoxide radical anion (O 2 ˙ - ) was the main accountable active species in NO degradation. In addition, CZ 1 Z 2 -A exhibited excellent recyclability potential, and XRD studies revealed that there was no change in the crystal structure before or after degradation, which indicated its high stability. The intriguing finding was that Ce- and Zr-doped ZnO did not exhibit satisfactory catalytic performance in the photo-oxidation of NO. However, the composite formula of Ce x Zr x Zn x O 5 ( x = 1) with a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio of metal ions offered excellent catalytic activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no financial conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)