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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally and the prevention and control of these diseases tend to entail longer and larger social and economic commitments on the part of governments. This systematic review (SR) aims to understand the quantum, diversity, and quality of implementation research (IR) done in the field of CVDs in India with a view to maximizing the utility of the efforts made by the government. The evidence was collated on IR on CVDs in India conducted in the past 20 years (2001–2021) using a SR approach. The SR was drafted using Preferred Reporting Items for SRs and Meta-analyses guidelines. Academic databases (PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct) and nonacademic databases (Google Scholar and ProQuest) were chosen, along with repositories of gray literature. Retrieved articles were screened for titles and abstracts and assessed by two independent reviewers. The articles also underwent a concomitant risk of bias assessment utilizing checklists (STARI, STROBE, CONSORT, etc.,) and a narrative summary was drafted using SwiM guidelines. In the final analysis, 10 articles that fitted the inclusion criteria of IR for CVD in India were included, of which seven were directed at IR on hypertension, and three were related to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Acceptability, adoption, and feasibility were the only attributes of IR that were explored in these studies.

The whole world is now widely using green energy compared to fossil because of the depletion of fossil fuels, the rising temperature of the earth, and changing weather conditions, all these things are becoming a big threat to the life of the earth. This study proposed a stand-alone hybrid renewable energy system using different types of batteries. This model includes photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines, diesel generators, converters, and batteries. Lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries have been compared for the selection of optimal battery based on hybrid renewable energy system and sustainable development requirements. The purpose of this study is to find the optimal configuration, and techno-economic characteristics, using the hybrid optimization of multiple energy resources technique. The results of Lithium-ion and Lead Acid have been compared and it is found that the best configuration is photovoltaic arrays/wind turbines/ diesel generators /Battery/converter with lithium-ion Batteries. The net present cost and cost of energy are found to be 1.64M and 0.144$ respectively, for the selected study location. The carbon dioxide emission for configuration with LI batteries is 107314 kg/year as against the LA batteries which have 351288 kg/year. The results show LI batteries are technically as well as economically better than the LA batteries.

In this research paper, we investigate the variables that impact the behavioural intention of cryptocurrency investors in India. The analysis of the data was done using smart partial least square-structural equation modelling. The study was carried out in India using purposive sampling and included investors who had a fundamental understanding of cryptocurrency. It has been established that factors such as financial literacy, facilitating conditions, social influence, effort expectancy and performance expectancy have a significant influence on the investment behaviour of these individuals. The study looks at how the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model with financial literacy affects the behaviour of cryptocurrency investment.

Presently, most of the reported infections are of a bacterial origin; however, this leads to a limit within the literature and research around infections caused by fungal pathogens, which are now developing resistance to antibiotic medicines. Of the natural antimicrobial agents, honey has been observed with demonstrable and highly exploitable antimicrobial and infection control related to wound healing properties; therefore, it has been incorporated into many standard pharmaceutical formulations. Generally, these products utilize a pure sample of honey as a bioactive ingredient in a product which has been purposely designed for the convenience of application. This article aims to review information available from published reports on various bioactivities of a variety of medical-grade honey products, including manuka and other conventional non-manuka types sourced from different floral types and geographical regions. Additionally, this review highlights the antibiotic activities of various types of honey products tested against pathogenic strains of bacteria, yeast and fungi, and their applications in the formulation of healthcare products.

The food and beverage packaging industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. Particularly the requirement for appropriate packaging materials used for the sale of fermented products is boosted due to the rising acceptance of economical functional foods available to consumers on the shelves of their local supermarkets. The most popular nutraceutical foods with increased sales include natural yogurts, probiotic-rich milk, kefir, and other fermented food and beverage products. These items have mainly been produced from dairy-based or non-dairy raw materials to provide several product options for most consumers, including vegan and lactose-intolerant populations. Therefore, there is a need for an evaluation of the potential developments and prospects that characterize the growth of the food packaging industry in the global market. The article is based on a review of information from published research, encompassing current trends, emerging technologies, challenges, innovations, and sustainability initiatives for food industry packaging.

Introduction: Peripheral nerve blocks have recently proven to be extremely promising in terms of patient satisfaction. In upper limb procedures, rapid and deep anaesthesia can be achieved with supraclavicular ultrasound-guided access to the brachial plexus. To improve the quality of local anaesthesia, adjuvants such as magnesium sulfate and dexmedetomidine have been added to the local anaesthetic. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of magnesium sulfate and dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to ropivacaine in supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Blockade (BPB). Materials and Methods: A prospective randomised double-blind study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesiology from June 2016 to November 2017 ( 1 year and 6 months) at King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 60 patients were divided into two groups using a computer-generated random number for upper limb surgeries (below the mid-humerus) under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Group A (n=30) received ropivacaine 0.5% (30 mL) plus dexmedetomidine 50 μg for the supraclavicular block, and Group B received ropivacaine 0.5% (30 mL) plus magnesium sulfate 150 mg in 1 mL Normal Saline (NS) 0.9% for the same block. A comparison of these two groups was conducted for the time of onset, duration of sensory and motor block, haemodynamic stability, postoperative analgesia, and complications. Statistical analyses such as Student’s t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U-test were used. Results: The mean age of Group A was 28.03±5.86 years and Group B was 31.07±7.06 years. The sensory block and motor block onset were significantly faster among patients of Group A (6.47±1.43 min and 8.50±1.46 min) compared to Group B (9.57±1.22 min and 11.77±1.19 min). The mean duration of analgesia was significantly longer (p

Infectious keratitis is commonly encountered in the ophthalmology emergency department. Streptococcus pneumoniae causing bacterial keratitis is a cause of concern in developing countries, owing to its complication of irreversible corneal scarring. This is a rare case report of a 25-year-old immunocompromised patient who presented to the Ophthalmology Department in a tertiary care hospital in India with complaints of diminution of vision in the left eye with pain, redness and watering, along with a history of vesicular painful rashes involving the left side of the forehead, the tip of the nose and the supraciliary area. Gram-positive lanceolate diplococci and plenty of pus cells were seen on the Gram staining of the corneal abscess scrape. The clinical presentation of the patient led to a provisional clinical diagnosis of secondary bacterial infection in Herpes Zoster Opthalmicus (HZO), corneal abscess with herpetic keratitis. Quellung reaction yielded an 18C serotype of the isolated pneumococci. Prompt treatment was required to prevent rapidly progressive complications.

Introduction: Understanding the post-discharge outcomes of COVID-19 patients is essential for informed healthcare planning and support services. This study aimed to assess the physical health status of COVID-19 patients three months after discharge from a tertiary care hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: A descriptive follow-up study design was used, involving 200 COVID-19 discharged patients. Data were collected from healthcare facilities and participants through structured questionnaires and telephonic interviews. The study duration was between November 2020 to April 2021. Results: Persistence of COVID-19-related symptoms was reported by 49 (24.50%) of participants reported at follow-up, while 41 (20.50%) indicated previous symptoms from discharge. Conclusions: After discharge, most of patient returned to normal activities within three months.Persistence of symptoms and test positive rate was less in those patients.

Social insurance has been a pivotal tool in implementing social security. The purpose of the study is to analyze the existing information clusters (areas) in the field of social insurance. Clusters define related and unrelated groups in the field of social insurance. These groups will help streamline and identify areas where little or no research has been conducted to present. To achieve the objective, the study employed a precise and systematic procedure to gather 562 journal articles published in Scopus-indexed journals from 1926–2022. Subsequently, VOSviewer, Science of Science (Sci2), and Gephi were utilized to conduct bibliometric analysis (such as keyword co-occurrence and bibliographic coupling) and network analysis tests (such as citation and co-citation analysis). The results of keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis suggest there are three knowledge clusters: welfare provisions, benefits provided by social insurance, and social insurance operational aspects. Through analysis found top article-based Inequality, social insurance, and redistribution with 408(LC) and 1042(GC) and its page rank value is 0.010574 through prestigious analysis. Additionally, it is also observed that I. Nielsen had made the most substantial contributions as an author, with R. Smyth and C. Nyland following closely in the rankings. Also, observed maximum total link strength with 109 value on social security variable. The study also drawn attention to specific deficiencies, including regional concentration of research, insufficient research in developing and underdeveloped countries, inadequate knowledge sharing among researchers, limited methodological diversity, and a lack of research on the role of social insurance in facilitating society’s recovery from the pandemic.

Dextran is an exopolysaccharide synthesized in reactions catalyzed by enzymes obtained from microbial agents of specific species and strains. Products of dextran polysaccharides with different molecular weights are suitable for diverse pharmaceutical and clinical uses. Dextran solutions have multiple characteristics, including viscosity, solubility, rheological, and thermal properties; hence, dextran has been studied for its commercial applications in several sectors. Certain bacteria can produce extracellular polysaccharide dextran of different molecular weights and configurations. Dextran products of diverse molecular weights have been used in several industries, including medicine, cosmetics, and food. This article aims to provide an overview of the reports on dextran applications in blood transfusion and clinical studies and its biosynthesis. Information has been summarized on enzyme-catalyzed reactions for dextran biosynthesis from sucrose and on the bio-transformation process of high molecular weight dextran molecules to obtain preparations of diverse molecular weights and configurations.

Introduction The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is a major public health concern across the world. Various initiatives have tried to address these with varying degrees of success. Objective The objective is to assess and collate existing evidence in implementation research done in India on three broad domains of NCDs namely, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and mental health (MH) in India. Materials and methods Three systematic review protocols have been drafted to explore and collate extant evidence of implementation research on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and mental health in India, in accordance with the PRISMA-P statement. Academic databases including PubMed, Embase and Science Direct will be searched. Search strategies will be formulated in iterative processes and in accordance with the formats that are specific to the databases that will be searched. In addition, grey literature and non-academic databases will also be explored. Data extracted from the selected studies will be analysed and a narrative summary of the selected articles, using the SWiM (Synthesis without meta-analysis) guidelines will be produced. Intended Outcomes The outputs of these systematic reviews could help in a better understanding of implementation research gaps and also how to address them. Apart from giving insights into how healthcare initiatives for CVDs, diabetes and mental health could be implemented in a better way, the study could also advocate the need to build and consolidate capacity for implementation research in the country.

Background: There is a wide range of effective interventions for the prevention of diabetes, but few of these approaches have been extensively utilized in real-world settings. The objective of this systematic review was to assess and collate existing evidence in implementation research (IR) on prevention, control and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) in India. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses - Protocol (PRISMA-P) guidelines were used to create the protocol for the systematic review. Articles published in the previous 20 years (2001–2020) and published in English language were included in the study. Electronic databases such as MEDLINE (through PubMed gateway), EMBASE, and Science Direct; search engines like Google scholar and ProQuest were systematically searched using separate search protocols for each database. Retrieved articles were screened for titles and abstracts and assessed by two independent reviewers. Using standard checklists, the articles also underwent a risk of bias assessment, and a narrative summary was written using SWiM guidelines. Results: Sixteen studies were included in the review, which included three implementation studies related to screening of diabetes, three studies on the management of diabetes, three studies related to lifestyle interventions, one on behavioral intervention, two on electronic support system-based interventions, and the remaining four studies explored IR in other areas of diabetes. The key attributes of implementation research such as acceptability, feasibility, adoption, economic evaluation measures like cost-effectiveness, operational issues like barriers, and facilitating factors were addressed by most of the studies, in varying extents. Conclusion: Implementation research on diabetes mellitus in India is very limited which underscores the importance of creating awareness about the need of IR and building capacity and skills for conducting IR among various stakeholders.

Water pollution poses a global threat to ecosystems and human health and is driven by the presence of various contaminants in wastewater, including nano- and microplastics. Despite the magnitude of this problem, the majority of global wastewater is released untreated into water bodies. To combat this issue, a multi-strategy approach is needed. This study explores a circular economy-based solution for treating emerging pollutants, particularly wastewater from ophthalmic spectacle lens production. Our approach integrates solid waste materials into polymeric and cement matrices while also utilising wastewater for microalgae cultivation. This innovative strategy focuses on biomass generation and economic valorisation. By adopting a circular economy model, we aim to transform environmental pollutants from wastewater into valuable organic products. A key component of our approach is the utilisation of microalgae, specifically Nannochloropsis sp., known for its high lipid content and resilience. This microalgae species serves as a promising biobased feedstock, supporting the production of innovative biobased products, such as biopolymers, for ophthalmic lens manufacturing. Our interdisciplinary approach combines microalgae technology, analytical chemistry, cement production, and polymer processing to develop a sustainable circular economy model that not only addresses environmental concerns, but also offers economic benefits. This study underscores the potential of harnessing high-value products from waste streams and underscores the importance of circular economy principles in tackling pollution and resource challenges.

The circular bioeconomy has undoubtedly gained global momentum during the last few years. The bioeconomy envisions “3R”, the goal of 3R (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse) is to implement in circular economy preventing excessive and unnecessary wastes. The circular bioeconomy emphasizes the best use of all sorts of available bioresources through the reduction of generated wastes during product formation, recycling of generated wastes, and reuse of valuable by-products and residues. Biotechnology could be useful in utilizing the resources to the optimum and therefore the role of biological agents and bioprocesses is of prime importance. In this review, we highlight the paramount importance of beneficial strains of microorganisms, macro, and microalgae in the bioeconomy. Microorganisms are universally recognized for the notable production of a vast array of secondary metabolites and other functionalities with possible use in various sectors. The application of potential strains in industries and modern agriculture practices could progressively improve the effective yield of food and feed, including fertilization of arid soils, bioconversion of by-products from industrial processes, and agriculture wastes. The valuable properties of specifically selected biological agents typically make them suitable candidates for their efficient contribution to circular bioeconomy without hampering the environment.

Dextran, a microbial metabolite of diverse molecular configurations, can be biosynthesized employing selected strains of characterized species of bacteria. Dextran molecules are secreted as an extracellular polysaccharide in the culture medium of the bacterial fermentation system. This microbially produced polymer of glucose possesses multi-faceted characteristics such as its solubility in different solvents and formation of dextran solutions of needed viscosity. Several preparations can be formulated for the desired thermal and rheological properties. Due to such multifunctional characteristics, dextran with different structural specifications is a desired polysaccharide for clinical, pharmaceutical, and food industry commercial applications. Dextran and its derivative products with various molecular weights, in a range of high and low, have established their uses in drug delivery and in analytical devices using columns packed with polysaccharide gel. Therefore, being a neutral raw material, the resourcefulness of dextran preparations of different molecular weights and linkages in their polymer configuration is important. For this purpose, several studies have been performed to produce this commercially important polysaccharide under optimized bacterial cultivation processes. This article aims to overview recently published research reports on some significant applications of dextran in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Studies conducted under optimized conditions in fermentation processes for the biosynthesis of dextran of diverse molecular configurations, which are responsible for its multifunctional properties, have been summarized. Concise information has been presented in three separate tables for each group of specific bacterial species employed to obtain this extracellular microbial polysaccharide.

Abstract In this study, we utilized an untargeted NMR metabolomics approach to identify the vector response in terms of metabolic profiling after temperature and insecticide exposure in comparison with the control. Clearly, temperature and insecticide exposure cause changes in the underlying metabolism, and the NMR metabolomic profile enables a direct examination of the immediate response of the vector to cope up with these changes. The present study was designed in four parts: A-Aedes aegypti were exposed to 40 °C for one-hour, DDT-4%, malathion-5%, and deltamethrin-0.05% separately and, part B-D; one-hour exposure at 35 °C and 40 °C temperatures followed by one-hour exposure to insecticide. The resultant metabolite profiles were compared with the control. In response to temperature and insecticide exposure, several metabolites and altered pathways were identified. Citrate, maltose, lipids, Nicotinate, Choline, Pyruvate and β-hydroxybutyrate were found as important components of major biological pathways such as tri-carboxylic acid cycle, branched amino acid degradation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, amino acid metabolism, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, nucleotide PRPP pathway, and phospholipid metabolism. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the changes imposed by exposure to temperature and insecticides individually, are reversed with combined exposure, thus negating the impact of each other and posing a threat to the control of Aedes-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever.

Background: During pregnancy, women undergo adaptive changes in different organ systems including the respiratory system by hormonal changes and mechanical pressures. Several previous studies reported the change in pulmonary functions in pregnancy and tribal populations. However, trimester-wise, pulmonary functions in tribal women residing in Jharkhand, India, are not available. Aim: This study aimed to find and compare the pulmonary function test parameters in tribal and non-tribal women in singleton first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional observational study in a tertiary care hospital in Jharkhand, India, with 58 tribal women and 116 age-matched controls. The pulmonary function tests, namely forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF) were measured with a computerized spirometer (Spiro Excel, Medicaid, Punjab, India) and FEV1/FVC was calculated. Results: A total of 58 tribal women with median age 22 (Q1–Q3: 21–25) years and 116 non-tribal women with median age 22 (20–25) (P=0.33) participated in the study. The tribal women showed higher respiratory rate (20 [18–24.5] vs. 16 [15–18] per minute, P

Background & objectives: In India, Kyasanur Forest Disease has been reported from the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra. The relationship between climatic factors and transmission of KFD remains untouched, therefore, the present study was undertaken. Methods: Based on the occurrence of cases, Shivamogga district (Karnataka) and Wayanad district in Kerala and northern Goa (Goa state) were selected for the study. Data on the incidence of KFD and climate factors were collected from concerned authorities. To determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables, spearman’s correlation was calculated for monthly as well as with lag months. Results: KFD cases and temperature (°C) were found significantly correlated up to 1 months’ lag period (p1100-2400mm. Interpretation & conclusion: The analysis of three sites revealed that with the increase in temperature, the intensity of KFD transmission decreases as corroborated by the seasonal fluctuations in Shivamogga, Goa and Wayanad. High precipitation from June to October rovides suitable ecology to tick vector and sets in transmission season from November to May when cumulative precipitation is

Abstract Background Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), known as monkey fever, was for the first time reported in 1957 from the Shivamogga district of Karnataka. But since 2011, it has been spreading to the neighbouring state of Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. The disease is transmitted to humans, monkeys and by the infected bite of ticks Haemaphysalis spinigera. It is known that deforestation and ecological changes are the main reasons for KFD emergence, but the bio-climatic understanding and emerging pathways remain unknown. Methods The present study aims to understand the bio-climatic determinants of distribution of tick vector of KFD in southern India using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. The analysis was done using 34 locations of Haemaphysalis spinigera occurrence and nineteen bio-climatic variables from WorldClim. Climatic variables contribution was assessed using the Jackknife test and mean AUC 0.859, indicating the model performs with very high accuracy. Results Most influential variables affecting the spatial distribution of Haemaphysalis spinigera were the average temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10, contributed 32.5%), average diurnal temperature range (bio2, contributed 21%), precipitation of wettest period (bio13, contributed 17.6%), and annual precipitation (bio12, contributed 11.1%). The highest probability of Haemaphysalis spinigera presence was found when the mean warmest quarter temperature ranged between 25.4 and 30 °C. The risk of availability of the tick increased noticeably when the mean diurnal temperature ranged between 8 and 10 °C. The tick also preferred habitat having an annual mean temperature (bio1) between 23 and 26.2 °C, mean temperature of the driest quarter (bio9) between 20 and 28 °C, and mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio8) between 22.5 and 25 °C. Conclusions The results have established the relationship between bioclimatic variables and KFD tick distribution and mapped the potential areas for KFD in adjacent areas wherein surveillance for the disease is warranted for early preparedness before the occurrence of outbreaks etc. The modelling approach helps link bio-climatic variables with the present and predicted distribution of Haemaphysalis spinigera tick.

Linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) is the optimal channel estimator in the mean square error (MSE) perspective, however, it requires matrix inversion with cubic complexity. In this paper, by exploiting the circulant property of the channel frequency autocorrelation matrix RHH, an efficient LMMSE channel estimation method has been proposed for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) based on fast Fourier transformation (FFT) and circular convolution theorem. Finally, the computer simulation is carried out to compare the proposed LMMSE method with the classical LS and LMMSE methods in terms of performance measure and computational complexity. The simulation results show that the proposed LMMSE estimator achieves exactly same performance as conventional LMMSE estimator with much lower computational complexity.

This article deals with the condition of irregular bowel movements known as diarrhoea, its pathology, symptoms and aetiology. The information has been presented on causes of diarrhoea that include gut infections, food intolerances and allergies to certain ingredients, problems in the gastrointestinal tract like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and, the condition of dysbiosis which occurs due to long-term use of antibiotics, or other medicines, etc. Most cases of diarrhoea can be resolved without needing medical treatment; however, it is still important to avoid dehydration of the body and use some supplements to get necessary nutrients which are lost with frequent bowel movements before they can get absorbed and assimilated in the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic products are reported as natural therapeutic agents, which can reduce the risk of diarrhoea in both adults and children. The intake of dietary fluid supplements in the form of fermented beverages containing probiotic strains could help in diarrhoea control. The patient would achieve benefits with the consumption of these functional beverages in three ways—by regaining lost fluids to the body, supplementing beneficial gut bacteria to restore diversity in gut microbiota, which was disturbed in the condition of diarrhoea as well as regaining a source of quick nutrition to recoup energy.

Honey is a natural substance that has existed alongside humanity since the time of antiquity, acting then as a source of nutrition, as well as a source of medicinal aid for people. Ancient civilizations from multiple nations of the world, from ancient China to ancient Greece and Egypt, utilized the supposed healing properties of honey to treat lacerations and wounds, as well as for internal pathologies such as intestinal disease. At present, honey has entered the modern scientific research program in search of novel antibiotics. In recent research, honey has demonstrated its potential use for static and/or cidal effects on microbial strains which are becoming resistant to chemical antibiotics. Additionally, the use of honey as an agent of treatment for more severe infections, namely blood infections pertaining to septicemia, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2, as well as parasitic infections such as malaria, have also been investigated in recent years. In this article, the literature has been reviewed on some of the therapeutic properties of natural nutraceutical honey, where it has been observed to act as a potential ameliorating agent; reducing the severity of such conditions that may amplify a disease, as well as reducing the progression of the disease and its symptoms.

Certain nutrients cause discomfort, sensitivity reaction, and an intolerance for certain foods or their ingredients when ingested by some consumers. Food reactions and gut inflammation-related problems are increasing worldwide. The primary form of management would be the avoidance of such foods, followed by treatment of their symptoms. Adopting a nutritional–therapeutic approach and establishing practices for the inclusion of functional foods and nutraceuticals in the diet could improve the ecology of gut microbiota and alleviate inflammation in the GIT. For this purpose, specific species of microorganisms characterized as probiotic strains have been studied to produce functional food and fermented beverage products. Commercially sold, such items are labelled as probiotic products, displaying the name/s of strain/s and the viable numbers of them contained in the portion size of the products. The importance of the growth of probiotic functional foods is that they can be consumed as a source of nutrition and their intake helps in the subsistence and recuperation of friendly gut bacteria. Probiotics have been reported for their role in ameliorating the risk of food reactions. Probiotic administration has been implemented for its role as an auxiliary improvement and for the prevention of food sensitivities common among pediatric patients. Probiotic products based on non-dairy substrates have potential as nutraceuticals for lactose intolerant consumers who are allergic to dairy milk products. Therefore, the aim of this article is to review GRAS microbial species characterized as probiotics up to the level of their specific strain’s name and/or number. These have been used to produce nutraceuticals that are sources of beneficial bacteria for easing discomfort and allergic reactions by maintaining an inflammation-free gut.

Endophytes represent microorganisms residing within plant tissues without typically causing any adverse effect to the plants for considerable part of their life cycle and are primarily known for their beneficial role to their host-plant. These microorganisms can in vitro synthesize secondary metabolites similar to metabolites produced in vivo by their host plants. If microorganisms are isolated from certain plants, there is undoubtedly a strong possibility of obtaining beneficial endophytes strains producing host-specific secondary metabolites for their potential applications in sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other industrial sectors. Few products derived from endophytes are being used for cultivating resilient crops and developing non-toxic feeds for livestock. Our better understanding of the complex relationship between endophytes and their host will immensely improve the possibility to explore their unlimited functionalities. Successful production of host-secondary metabolites by endophytes at commercial scale might progressively eliminate our direct dependence on high-valued vulnerable plants, thus paving a viable way for utilizing plant resources in a sustainable way.

Abstract The plant specific TIFY (previously known as ZIM) transcription factor (TF) family plays crucial roles in cross talk between Jasmonic Acid and other phytohormones like gibberellins, salicylic acid, abscisic acid, auxin, and ethylene signaling pathways. Wheat yield is severely affected by rust diseases and many abiotic stresses, where different phytohormone signaling pathways are involved. TIFYs have been studied in many plants yet reports describing their molecular structure and function in wheat are lacking. In the present study, we have identified 23 novel TIFY genes in wheat genome using in silico approaches. The identified proteins were characterized based on their conserved domains and phylogenetically classified into nine subfamilies. Chromosomal localization of the identified TIFY genes showed arbitrary distribution. Forty cis-acting elements including phytohormone, stress and light receptive elements were detected in the upstream regions of TIFY genes. Seventeen wheat microRNAs targeted the identified wheat TIFY genes. Gene ontological studies revealed their major contribution in defense response and phytohormone signaling. Secondary structure of TIFY proteins displayed the characteristic alpha–alpha–beta fold. Synteny analyses indicated all wheat TIFY genes had orthologous sequences in sorghum, rice, maize, barley and Brachypodium indicating presence of similar TIFY domains in monocot plants. Six TIFY genes had been cloned from wheat genomic and cDNA. Sequence characterization revealed similar characteristics as the in silico identified novel TIFY genes. Tertiary structures predicted the active sites in these proteins to play critical roles in DNA binding. Expression profiling of TIFY genes showed their contribution during incompatible and compatible leaf rust infestation. TIFY genes were also highly expressed during the initial hours of phytohormone induced stress. This study furnishes fundamental information on characterization and putative functions of TIFY genes in wheat.

This article includes a general overview of the published research on a topic relevant to biomedical sciences research, pharma-industries and healthcare sector. We have presented a concise information on three enzymes. These biomolecules have been investigated for their biocatalytic activities beneficial in the detection of drugs and their metabolites present in micro-quantities in samples of blood, urine, and other body fluids, such as salicylate hydroxylase, and dihydrofolate reductase. Some enzymes are useful in biotransformation of compounds to convert them in an optically active form, such as lipase. The information presented in this article has been collected from the published studies on their catalytic function, and biosynthesis using selected microorganisms. Several diagnostic assays are currently using enzymes as effective biocatalysts to perform the detection-test. For the marketing and consumer's convenience, pharmaceutical companies have designed biosensors and diagnostic kits by incorporating specific enzymes for rapid tests required in pathology, as well as for the quantification of certain metabolites and chemicals in pathology samples in a shorter time. For such purpose use of enzymes synthesized by selected specific microorganisms is economical.

Kefir is a fermented milk beverage different in consistency and taste from other popular milk-product yogurt. Unlike yogurt prepared using lactic acid bacteria in fermentation, milk is fermented for kefir production using preculture in the form of kefir grains. Therefore, the metabolic activities of a mixed culture, including strains of bacteria and yeast, contribute to the probiotic characteristics in kefir. This article is based on the review of published studies on the functionality and nutraceutical properties of kefir. The therapeutic and dietary properties of kefir beverage and its probiotic strains have been discussed for their several health benefits. Concise selected information mostly from recent reports has been presented for two categories of kefir products: milk used for the production of dairy-based traditional kefir beverages for the lactose-tolerant population, and the plant-sourced substrates used for the production of dairy-free kefir beverages for lactose-intolerant and vegan consumers.

The gut microbiota is composed of several microbial strains with diverse and variable compositions in both healthy and sick people. An undisturbed gut microbiota needs to be sustained in order to perform all physiological, metabolic, and immune functions in a normal way to prevent the development of diseases. This article has reviewed the published information on the issue of disruption of the balance of the gut microbiota. This disruption could be for many reasons, such as microbial infection in the gastrointestinal tract, food poisoning, diarrhoea, chemotherapy, malnutrition, lifestyle, and ageing. If this disruption is not restored to normal, it might cause dysbiosis. Eventually, a gut microbiota interrupted by dysbiosis might initiate several health issues, such as inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, the induction of cancer, and the progression of a variety of diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. This review concluded that biotherapy is a natural way of using probiotic products, whether in form of food, beverages, or supplements, to restore the gut microbiota disrupted by dysbiosis. Metabolites secreted by the ingested probiotics help to relieve gastrointestinal tract inflammation and can avoid the induction of cancer.

This paper presents an algorithm for constructing mixture designs based on orthogonal arrays developed using difference schemes. The algorithm can also be applied to constrained mixture experiments. The algorithm allows the generation of efficient mixture designs for Scheffé canonical polynomials.

The linear minimum mean square error (LMMSE) channel estimation technique is often employed in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems because of its optimal performance in the mean square error (MSE) performance. However, the LMMSE method requires cubic complexity of order O(N 3 p ), where Np is the number of pilot subcarriers. To reduce the computational complexity, a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) based LMMSE method is proposed in this paper for OFDM systems in the frequency selective channel. To validate the proposed method, the closed form mean square error (MSE) expression is also derived. Finally, a computer simulation is carried out to compare the performance of the proposed LMMSE method with the classical LS and LMMSE methods in terms of bit error rate (BER) and computational complexity. Results of the simulation show that the proposed LMMSE method achieves exactly the same performance as the conventional LMMSE method, with much lower computational complexity.

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was a feminist at heart. Contrary to popular perception that he championed the cause of Dalits and dalit women, Babasaheb, as Ambedkar is fondly referred to, worked as a socio-political advocate for Dalit as well as upper caste Indian women concomitantly. In his quest to ensure freedom, equality, and individuality of Indian women, he resorted to the legalized mechanism and proposed sweeping constitutional provisions, famous as the Hindu code Bill, placing women at par with men in matters of inheritance and allowing them freedom to marry outside their caste. Contemplating the predicament and marginalized position of Indian women, he posited that caste and gender are intertwined. To maintain the system of caste, endogamy is a necessary condition that has an immense bearing on women. The imposition of endogamy was made compulsory by the Brahminical hierarchy, which was endorsed by Hindu religious scriptures to ensure women’s sustained subjectivity within the same caste groups or varnas. Ironically, the Bill, in Ambedkar’s own words was ‘killed and died unused and unsung’ following which he resigned from then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet in 1951 but the same bill was passed as four different bills between 1955 and 1956 during Nehru’s second term as prime minister (Elancheran, 2018). Unfortunately, Ambedkar’s contribution to the Indian women’s struggle has not been given its due. This paper attempts to explode the myth of the golden age of Indian womanhood and critiques the role of women reformist organizations in nineteenth century India as well as Ambedkar’s yeoman service to Indian women that has largely remained unacknowledged in public discourse. Key Words: Ambedkar, Hindu Code Bill, Manusmriti, Indian Women, Dalit Women, Indian Feminism, Caste, Patriarchy

Abstract Background Dengue is rapidly expanding climate-sensitive mosquito-borne disease worldwide. Outbreaks of dengue occur in various parts of India as well but there is no tool to provide early warning. The current study was, therefore, undertaken to find out the link between El Niño, precipitation, and dengue cases, which could help in early preparedness for control of dengue. Methods Data on Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) was extracted from CPC-IRI (USA) while the data on monthly rainfall was procured from India Meteorological Department. Data on annual dengue cases was taken from the website of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP). Correlation analysis was used to analyse the relationship between seasonal positive ONI, rainfall index and dengue case index based on past 20 years’ state-level data. The dengue case index representing ‘relative deviation from mean’ was correlated to the 3 months average ONI. The computed r values of dengue case index and positive ONI were further interpreted using generated spatial correlation map. The short-term prediction of dengue probability map has been prepared based on phase-wise (El Niño, La Niña, and Neutral) 20 years averaged ONI. Results A high correlation between positive ONI and dengue incidence was found, particularly in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Daman and Diu. The states like Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, and Andhra Pradesh shown negative correlation between summer El Niño and dengue incidence. Two - three month lag was found between monthly ‘rainfall index’ and dengue cases at local-scale analysis. Conclusion The generated map signifies the spatial correlation between positive ONI and dengue case index, indicating positive correlation in the central part, while negative correlation in some coastal, northern, and north-eastern part of India. The findings offer a tool for early preparedness for undertaking intervention measures against dengue by the national programme at state level. For further improvement of results, study at micro-scale district level for finding month-wise association with Indian Ocean Dipole and local weather variables is desired for better explanation of dengue outbreaks in the states with ‘no association’.

Background: Malaria outbreaks due to Plasmodium falciparum have been reported from various parts of India. Rainfall is considered as one of the major determinants for malaria outbreaks, however, an estimate of rainfall threshold for malaria is not known. Owing to the vast geographic area, the present study was planned to determine the amount of rainfall required for malaria outbreaks and the lag period between outbreak and rainfall in different Indian climatic regions. Methods: Simple statistical methods of overall mean and moving mean (case/mean ratio, CMR) were used to identify the districts with P. falciparum malaria outbreak due to rainfall and the amount of rainfall required for outbreaks. Of 120 districts reporting P. falciparum malaria outbreaks, 99 districts having substantially low number of cases (70 to >600 mm in different districts. The month of outbreak varied with the climatic zones viz. arid, semi-arid, humid and per-humid districts. In humid and per-humid districts, outbreaks occurred during monsoon period whereas in arid and semi-arid regions outbreaks occurred during the post monsoon period. The lag period varied from 1-3 months; long lag period was observed in arid, semi-arid region, while short lag period in humid and per-humid regions. Conclusion: Malaria outbreaks can occur in post monsoon in arid and semi-arid region whereas in summer/monsoon in humid and per-humid regions. The lag period between rainfall and outbreak differs from one month with short lag (humid and per-humid) to long lag (arid and semi-arid). Based on the determined threshold of rainfall, the findings would be helpful in forewarning of imminent outbreak of malaria for the timely preparedness of malaria outbreaks not only in 21 studied districts, but also in several other districts of different climatic regions of India.

A 22-year-old female was admitted with fever,disorientation and sudden decrease of vision in the emergency. Her evaluation showed tachycardia of 100/min and blood pressure of 90/70 with severe pallor. Her fundus examination showed findings of massive preretinal haemorrhage and Roth spots primarily restricted to the posterior pole. The ophthalmologist's findings were strongly suspicious of retinopathy associated with Haemoglobinopathies, blood tests revealed her to have a hemoglobin of 1.8 gm/dL and other reports suggestive of severe B12 and Folate deficiency. She also had systemic findings of gross anemia. After ruling out other causes of anemia she was finally diagnosed as a case of Megaloblastic anemia with decreased vision and retinopathy as a very noteworthy feature. She was treated with blood transfusions and B12 and Folate supplementation which showed a prompt response in the resolution of haemorrhages and once stable was discharged home.

Antibiotic therapy through short-term or repeated long-term prescriptions can have several damaging effects on the normal microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in microbiota could be multiple including decreased diversity of species in gut microbiota, changed metabolic activity, and the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant strains. Antibiotic-induced gut dysbiosis in turn can induce antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and recurrent infections caused by Clostridioides difficile. There is also evidence that the use of different chemical classes of antibiotics for the treatment of a variety of ailments can lead to several health issues including gastrointestinal, immunologic, and neurocognitive conditions. This review discusses gut dysbiosis, its symptoms and one important cause, which is antibiotic therapy for the induction of gut dysbiosis. Since the maintenance of good gut health is important for the well-being and functioning of physiological and cognitive activities through the normal gut-microbiota–brain relationship, the condition of dysbiosis is not desirable. Specific therapies are prescribed by medical practitioners for the cure of a variety of ailments, and, if the prescription of antibiotics becomes unavoidable, there is a possibility of the onset of gut dysbiosis as the side or after effects. Therefore, the restoration of imbalanced gut microbiota to its balanced condition becomes necessary. A healthy relationship between gut microbiota and the brain can be achieved with the introduction of probiotic strains into the gut in a practical and consumer-friendly way, such as consumption of food and beverages prepared with the use of characterised probiotic species, fermented foods as the potential biotics, or synbiotic supplements.

The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the literature on generation z employees at workplace. The literature though sporadic, has garnered increasing interest from both academicians as well as management practitioners. Using co-word analysis, a qualitative research method, nineteen peer-reviewed articles published during the years 2000 and 2019 were analyzed. This analysis extracts five major themes: Generation Z characteristics, Workforce expectations, prevenient generation characteristics, Inter-generational dynamics, and Workplace transformation. Potential research directions that lie at the intersection of these research themes are presented as a conclusion for future research.

Most fermented foods are dairy-based products; however, foods prepared using non-dairy-based materials such as grains, cereals, vegetables, and fruits can meet the dietary requirements of consumers following different food practices, including vegans and consumers that have dietary issues with dairy-based products. Traditional food fermentations have been conducted by the functioning of bacterial and yeast cultures using the inoculum of uncharacterized microorganisms isolated from naturally fermenting foods. However, pure viable strains of microorganisms characterized as probiotic cultures have the potential for their application in the fermentation process. Such fermented foods can be labeled as probiotic products, displaying the names of strains and their viable number contained in the portion size of that specific product. The significance of the development of probiotic functional food is that they can be used as a source of nutrition; in addition, their consumption helps in the recovery of healthy gut microbiota. In a fermented food, two components—the fermented substrate and the microorganism(s)—are in a synergistic relationship and contribute to healthy gut microbiota. The intake of probiotic foods for sustainability of a healthy gut can manipulate the functioning of gut–brain axis. The aim of this article is to present a review of published research conducted with specific strains characterized as probiotics, which have been studied to perform the fermentation growing on the matrices of non-dairy-based substrates.

In recent decades, the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics on the surface of the planet have caused several long-term climatic and health risks. Plastic materials, specifically microplastics (MPs; sizes < 5 mm), have gained significant interest in the global scientific fraternity due to their bioaccumulation, non-biodegradability, and ecotoxicological effects on living organisms. This study explains how microplastics are generated, transported, and disposed of in the environment based on their sources and physicochemical properties. Additionally, the study also examines the impact of COVID-19 on global plastic waste production. The physical and chemical techniques such as SEM-EDX, PLM, FTIR, Raman, TG-DSC, and GC-MS that are employed for the quantification and identification of MPs are discussed. This paper provides insight into conventional and advanced methods applied for microplastic removal from aquatic systems. The finding of this review helps to gain a deeper understanding of research on the toxicity of microplastics on humans, aquatic organisms, and soil ecosystems. Further, the efforts and measures that have been enforced globally to combat MP waste have been highlighted and need to be explored to reduce its potential risk in the future.

The environment inside Canadian prairie greenhouses differs from greenhouses built in other northern latitude locations in terms of lighting, temperature, humidity, and photoperiod. Since the performance of biocontrol agents depends upon several interactive environmental variables, their effectiveness to control pests in a particular crop growing under certain climatic conditions does not directly translate to another crop or location. So, we analyzed research trials assessing the efficacy and compatibility of various biocontrol agents (Amblyseius cucumeris, Amblyseius cucumeris, Phytoseiulus persimilis, Encarsia formosa, Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi, and Steinernema feltiae) on key pests (Western flower thrips, two-spotted spider mites, greenhouse whiteflies, and aphids) of spring bedding plants grown in a commercial floricultural greenhouse. Were analyzed several compatible combinations of biocontrol agents and observed a significant reduction in pest densities and plant damage symptoms as compared to untreated control plants. The results demonstrate that P. persimilis controlled two-spotted spider mites successfully in calibrachoa crop. The combination of Amblyseius cucumeris and S. feltiae resulted in significantly better control of Western flower thrips than the use of Amblyseius cucumeris alone in sweet potato vine plants. The application of E. formosa and Amblyseius cucumeris individually reduced greenhouse whiteflies on calibrachoa plants as compared to control, but their combination performed better resulting in a significantly lower number of whiteflies on plants. Another combination of Aphidius colemani and Aphidius ervi controlled green peach aphids and foxglove aphids effectively on the pansy crop. The biocontrol agents were effective for managing a variety of pests in a commercial greenhouse setting.

Pure viable strains of microorganisms identified and characterised as probiotic cultures are used in the fermentation process to prepare functional beverages. The fermented probiotic products can be consumed as a source of nutrition and also for the maintenance of healthy gut microbiota. The functional beverages contain the substrates used for the preparation of product with a specific culture or a mixture of known strains used to perform the fermentation, hence these drinks can be considered as a healthy formulation of synbiotic products. If a beverage is prepared using agriculturally sourced materials, the fermented substrates with their oligosaccharides and fiber content act as prebiotics. Both the components (probiotic strain/s and prebiotic substrate) exist in a synergistic relationship in the product and contribute to several benefits for nutrition and gut health. The preparation of such probiotic beverages has been studied using non-dairy-based materials, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and cassava, a staple diet source in many regions. The consumption of beverages prepared with the use of probiotics, which contain active microbial cells and their metabolites, contributes to the functional properties of beverages. In addition, the non-dairy probiotic products can be used by consumers of all groups and food cultures, including vegans and vegetarians, and particularly consumers with allergies to dairy-based products. The aim of this article is to present a review of published research highlighting specific probiotic strains, which have the potential to enhance sustainability of healthy GIT microbiota, used in the fermentation process for the preparation of non-dairy beverages.

The generalized Pareto model plays an important role in modelling extreme events. Hosking and Wallis (1987) discussed the parameter and quantile estimation for generalized Pareto distribution. Optimal experimental designs are used to accurately estimate the unknown parameters of the model. In this paper, locally D-, A- and E-optimal designs with two and three support points having equal and unequal weights for homoscedastic generalized Pareto regression model are obtained numerically. It is also proved that these designs are minimally supported. The results are illustrated through Norwegian fire insurance claim data.

Phospholipids (PLs) are amphiphilic molecules that are in charge of controlling what goes in or out of the cell, keeping up the structure and numerous associated functions. These primary molecules are not only the integral part but also a vastly diverse group of molecules present in microorganisms, plants, and animals. PLs provide rigidity, signal transduction, energy to cells. PLs such as lecithins are molecules of future food, medicine and cosmetic industry. PLs are used in fat and oil refining and these are also used as carriers in drug and drug delivery system. Of course, challenges are there in the assay of phospholipids because of their availability of hydrophobic and hydrophilic components in the same environment. This review is mainly focused to unveil the function, characteristics, features and applications of PLs in various fields.

Depleting fuel resources and global warming potential of fossil fuel raise a concern over its sustainability. Among the four strategically important alternative fuel sources viz. biofuels, hydrogen (H2), natural gas and syngas (synthesis gas), hydrogen emerges as a superior fuel. For the reasons, that hydrogen gas is renewable, free from greenhouse gases emission and liberates large amount of energy per unit weight during combustion, and it also gets converted into electricity by fuel cell easily. The utilization of biohydrogen as an energy source could be able to provide environmental safety as it does not liberate GHGs during combustion. The biohydrogen production could be economical with the latest developments and society will be benefitted with pollution control, which is added into environment during the combustion of other energy sources. The present review discusses various aspects with conclusions that considering social, economic and environmental benefits, biohydrogen energy could be considered as a sustainable source of future clean energy.

Background & objectives: Climate change is an emerging issue particularly in the context of vector-borne diseases. A study was undertaken in Nainital and Almora districts of Uttarakhand to provide evidences of changing climatic conditions, abundance of vectors, and knocking of malaria in hilly areas. Material and methods: Longitudinal data on temperature and relative humidity were procured from Tussar Silk Centre, Bhimtal, India as well as generated using HOBO device. Monthly density of malaria vectors, their positivity for sporozoite proteins of malaria parasite and fever surveys were conducted as per the standard procedures from 2010 to 2013. Epidemiological data were procured from the State Programme Officer of Uttarakhand state. Results: It was found that the temperature has increased since 1990 resulting in extension in windows of malaria transmission, temporal distribution as well as man hour density of Anopheles culicifacies and An. fluviatilis in hilly districts of Uttarakhand state. Both the vectors were found in high density up to a maximum man hour density of 110 (An. culicifacies) and 69 (An. fluviatilis) as compared to 32 and 33, respectively during 1998. The field collected vector species were also found positive for sporozoite proteins of malaria parasites in the month of October and November. Evidence of occurrence of malaria cases was also found in areas hitherto free from malaria. Interpretation & conclusion: The findings reveal that Himalayan region needs attention to strengthen surveillance for malaria to identify emerging new foci of malaria transmission in view of climate change. Health education to communities about preventive measures to contain breeding of vectors and seeking timely treatment should be imparted so as to achieve the goal of malaria elimination in category-1 in the first instance.

Pure and viable strains of microorganisms identified and characterized as probiotic strains are used in the fermentation process to prepare probiotic food and beverages. These products are sources of nutrition and help in the maintenance of gut microflora. The intake of food products prepared with the use of probiotic microorganisms and containing their metabolites and whole microbial cells can be considered as a natural formulation of synbiotic products with prebiotic substrates and culture. Other than through the intake of fermented food and beverages, probiotic microorganisms can be taken through a supplement, which is a complementary form prepared by combining separate sources of prebiotic substrates and specific probiotic cultures. Whether a fermented solid food or beverage, both the components in the product are in a synergistic relationship and contribute to several health benefits at a lower cost. The aim of this article is to review the relevant literature and present the outcomes of recent studies which have been conducted to explore the clinical potential of probiotic strains and their effect on psychological conditions. Studies have shown the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain, and their interaction through signaling. The studies have concluded that the gut–brain axis can be manipulated with the intake of probiotic foods or synbiotic supplements containing specific probiotic strains accompanied with their complementary prebiotics for the enhanced sustainability of healthy GIT microflora.

Biological, social, and psychological practices greatly affect the dietary intake of people; as a result, health-related complexities occur. Functional food and supplements have become popular due to their nutraceutical benefits, which make different choices of fermented food and beverages available to people. This review describes the characteristics of probiotics, prebiotics, post- and paraprobiotics, and their role in nutrition and in the sustainability of health. Currently, several synbiotic supplements have attracted consumers in the nutraceutical market to offer a number of health benefits, which are complementary mixtures of selected characterized probiotic cultures and prebiotic substrates. Traditional fermented foods consumed in different cultures are different than probiotics and symbiotic preparations, though these could be considered potential biotics in nutrition. Fermented foods are part of a staple diet in several countries and are cost-effective due to their preparation using seasonal raw materials available from local agriculture practices. Intake of all biotics discussed in this article is intended to improve the population of beneficial microbiota in the gut, which has proved important for the microbiome–gut–brain axis, influencing the activity of vagus nerve.

Introduction: The study of clinical anatomy is inseparable from cadaveric dissection. However, scarcity of cadavers is observed all over the world. So, body donation is propounded and is a major source of cadavers worldwide. However, nowadays, there is a scarcity of cadavers for the body dissection in the medical course & also due to the rise in the number of medical institutions in Nepal. This research aimed to find out the knowledge of medical and nursing students at a medical college regarding human body and organ donation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 medical and nursing students in a tertiary care hospital of Kathmandu valley. After obtaining ethical approval, a semistructured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: Most of the respondents, 360 (90%) knew that organs could be donated from living donors as well as cadavers. A majority of the respondents 374 (93.5%) said that bodies could be donated for educational and learning purposes. The eyes were the most commonly donated organ. One hundred seventy five (43.5%) of the respondents were motivated to donate their bodies or organs. Self-motivation followed by motivation through media by celebrities, family members, and faculties were seen among the participants. Conclusions: We need a proper voluntary body donation act to facilitate medical teaching with the proper motivation of people for this generous gift to further the knowledge and expand the field of medical science.

The recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), raised global health and economic concerns. Phylogenetically, SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to SARS-CoV, and both encode the enzyme main protease (Mpro/3CLpro), which can be a potential target inhibiting viral replication. Through this work, we have compiled the structural aspects of Mpro conformational changes, with molecular modeling and 1-μs MD simulations. Long-scale MD simulation resolves the mechanism role of crucial amino acids involved in protein stability, followed by ensemble docking which provides potential compounds from the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) database. These lead compounds directly interact with active site residues (His41, Gly143, and Cys145) of Mpro, which plays a crucial role in the enzymatic activity. Through the binding mode analysis in the S1, S1′, S2, and S4 binding subsites, screened compounds may be functional for the distortion of the oxyanion hole in the reaction mechanism, and it may lead to the inhibition of Mpro in SARS-CoV-2. The hit compounds are naturally occurring compounds; they provide a sustainable and readily available option for medical treatment in humans infected by SARS-CoV-2. Henceforth, extensive analysis through molecular modeling approaches explained that the proposed molecules might be promising SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors for the inhibition of COVID-19, subjected to experimental validation.

The gut microbiota is composed of several microbial strains, with diverse and variable combinations in healthy and sick persons, changing at different stages of life. A healthy balance between host and gut microorganisms must be maintained in order to perform the normal physiological, metabolic, and immune functions and prevent disease development. Disturbances in the balance of the gut microbiota by diverse reasons initiate several health issues and promote the progression of certain diseases. This review is based on published research and reports that describe the role of probiotic microorganisms in the sustainability of health and the alleviation of certain diseases. Information is presented on the GRAS strains that are used as probiotics in the food industry for the production of fermented milk, yogurt, fermented food, functional foods, and probiotic drinks. To maintain a healthy microbiota, probiotic supplements in the form of freeze-dried live cells of probiotic strains are also available in different forms to consumers. The health benefits of lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms and their role in the control of certain diseases such as gut inflammation, diabetes, and bowel cancer and in the safeguarding of the gut epithelial permeability from the invasion of pathogens are discussed.