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Bread wheat (T. aestivum) is one of the world’s most widely consumed cereals. Since micronutrient deficiencies are becoming more common among people who primarily depend upon cereal-based diets, a need for better-quality wheat varieties has been felt. An association panel of 154 T. aestivum lines was evaluated for the following quality traits: grain appearance (GA) score, grain hardness (GH), phenol reaction (PR) score, protein percent, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) sedimentation value, and test weight (TWt). In addition, the panel was also phenotyped for grain yield and related traits such as days to heading, days to maturity, plant height, and thousand kernel weight for the year 2017–18 at the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) Ludhiana and Jabalpur sites. We performed a genome-wide association analysis on this panel using 18,351 genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) markers to find marker-trait associations for quality and grain yield-related traits. We detected 55 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker trait associations (MTAs) for quality-related traits on chromosomes 7B (10), 1A (9), 2A (8), 3B (6), 2B (5), 7A (4), and 1B (3), with 3A, 4A, and 6D, having two and the rest, 4B, 5A, 5B, and 1D, having one each. Additionally, 20 SNP MTAs were detected for yield-related traits based on a field experiment conducted in Ludhiana on 7D (4) and 4D (3) chromosomes, while 44 SNP MTAs were reported for Jabalpur on chromosomes 2D (6), 7A (5), 2A (4), and 4A (4). Utilizing these loci in marker-assisted selection will benefit from further validation studies for these loci to improve hexaploid wheat for better yield and grain quality.

Bread wheat germplasm is accessed from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) by Australian wheat breeders and researchers through the CIMMYT Australia ICARDA Germplasm Evaluation (CAIGE) program. The CAIGE program coordinates the selection, importation, quarantine, dissemination, and evaluation of the imported bread wheat germplasm and the management of associated data and information. This paper describes the CAIGE model and assesses both the genetic and economic impacts of these materials on the Australian wheat industry after commercialisation of wheat breeding in the early 21st century and the establishment of CAIGE. The CAIGE concept was validated using data collected and analysed from multi-environment trials between 2017 and 2020. The impact of cultivars with and without CAIGE contribution to pedigree on yield was estimated using production-by-variety statistics. Net gain in yield, estimated as the yield difference between CAIGE and Non-CAIGE varieties, was multiplied by the percentage contribution to pedigree to estimate the additional yield. The CAIGE bread wheat program identified diverse, high-yielding, and disease-resistant germplasm and significantly improved the capture and dissemination of information. The benefit-cost ratio, calculated as the sum of benefits divided by investments, indicated that, for every dollar invested in CAIGE, a further $20 was generated in benefits. The internal rate of return was estimated at 163% and the modified rate at 18%. The benefits of these international materials to Australian wheat breeding remained significant.

Abstract The architectural design of polycyclic/multisubstituted pentafulvenes has demonstrated great potential for the development of electrochromic materials and biologically active motifs. Unfortunately, the enantioselective construction of such distinctive cores with all carbon quaternary chiral centers has remained untouched to date. Herein, we disclose an enantioselective homologating annulation of cyclopent-4-ene-dione with 3-cyano-4-methylcoumarins through L-tert-leucine derived thiourea catalysis, affording a wide range of enantioenriched polycyclic multisubstituted embedded aminopentafulvenes with excellent stereocontrol (up to 99:1 er) and chemical yields up to 87%. A detailed photophysical and cytotoxicity analysis of racemic and chiral homologated adducts unveils the exceptional behavior of chiral adducts over their racemic analogs, highlighting the importance of stereoselectivity of the developed scaffolds. A cellular uptake experiment in a mammalian fibroblast cell line confirmed the potential of developed polycyclic aminopentafulvene cores as a highly promising labeling dye that can be utilized for bioimaging without any adverse effects.

The goal of public breeding programs is to develop and disseminate improved varieties to farmers. This strategy aims at providing farming communities with superior crop varieties than they are growing. However, the strategy rarely considers the needs and preferences of farmers, especially gendered preferences, failing to solve real field problems by addressing the differences and inequalities prevalent in the farming communities. Our research examines how personal, household, agronomic and ecological characteristics of wheat growers in Bihar, India’s eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains, affect women and men’s wheat trait choices. Data were obtained from 1,003 households where both male and female respondents from the same household were interviewed. We accounted for 23 traits of wheat from a careful assessment of production, environment, cooking quality, market demand, and esthetic criteria. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine women’s and men’s trait preferences. The results imply that gender influences the preferences of wheat traits. Some traits are favored by both women and men, however, in other instances, there are striking disparities. For example, men choose wheat varieties that are well adapted to extreme climate conditions, have a higher grain yield, and produce chapati with a superior taste, while women prefer wheat types with superior chapati making quality, higher grain yield, and high market prices. Other socioeconomic, agronomic, cultural, and geolocational factors have a considerable impact on trait preferences. These human dimensions of traits preferred by women and men farmers are important for trait combinations to develop breeding product profiles for certain market segments.

Abstract The pursuit of sustainable agriculture has become imperative in addressing global food security challenges while minimizing environmental impacts. Recent innovations in nanotechnology have given rise to a promising solution: nanofertilizers. Research reveals that these nanofertilizers can significantly enhance nutrient use efficiency, reducing environmental consequences, and advancing the cause of cleaner production. With potential increases of up to 30% in nutrient use efficiency and 20% in crop yields compared to traditional fertilizers, nanofertilizers demonstrate the capability to substitute up to 50% of conventional fertilizers, thereby diminishing their ecological footprint. This review paper explores the emerging trends and advancements in the field of nanofertilizers and their potential to revolutionize modern agriculture. We delve into the fundamental concepts of nanofertilizers, including their unique characteristics and controlled-release mechanisms. We analysed the impact of nanofertilizers on crop productivity, quality, and growth through the lens of research findings and case studies. While acknowledging the substantial potential of nanofertilizers, we also address environmental and safety considerations, emphasizing the importance of responsible deployment. In an era prioritizing environmental concerns, nanofertilizers offer a promising solution to meet growing food demands while protecting ecosystems. Graphical Abstract

Background: Peptic ulcer perforation is a serious complication which affects 2–10% of peptic ulcer patients. Peptic ulcer perforation presents with an overall mortality of 10% although various authors had reported incidence between 1.3% and 20%. Being a life-threatening complication of peptic ulcer disease, it needs special attention with prompt resuscitation and appropriate surgical management if morbidity and mortality are to be contained. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to the comparative study of Graham’s omentopexy versus modified Graham’s omentopexy in duodenal perforation. Materials and Methods: This prospective and single-center study was done in Birsa Munda, GMC Shahdol Madhya Pradesh from 2021 to 2023 for 2 years of periods. A total of 160 patients divided into two groups-Graham’s omentopexy 80 cases group “A” and modified Graham’s omentopexy 80 cases group “B.” Results: One hundred and forty-six (91%) were male and 14 (9%) were female with M:F Ratio 10:1. Most of the patients were 20–78 years of age in both groups. Post-operative leakage was 7.5% and 1.25%, respectively. Mortality rate in Group A (3.75%) and in Group B (1.25%). The overall mortality rate was 7.14%. In this study, average hospital stay was 12.4 days in Group A and 9.0 days in Group B. Conclusion: This study showed that modified Graham’s patch repair is as effective as Graham’s patch repair in terms of the mean operative time period, the timing of oral feed allow, and mean hospital stay timing.

This work evaluated an anaerobic sequencing batch membrane bioreactor (AnSBR-MBR) equipped with waste-based ceramic membranes for treating low-strength real drain wastewater. Two feeding regimes, viz. settled feed (Phase 1) and mixed feed (Phase 2) were compared. The biological performance (chemical oxygen demand (COD) and phosphate (PO43-) removal) and filtration performance (total suspended solids (TSS) removal and membrane fouling) were investigated. The reactor characteristics in terms of solids content, sludge settling behaviour, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were also assessed. In Phase 1, the settled feed (with the absence of particulate organic matter) resulted in low volatile suspended solids (VSS; 0.23 ± 0.15 g/L), causing low COD removal (28.38 ± 8.14%). In the mixed feed regime in Phase 2, VSS increased (1.82 ± 0.60 g/L) due to the organic content in the particulate matter, which gave microorganisms additional food, resulting in increased COD removal (47.42 ± 2.81%); this phase was also characterised by lower membrane fouling because of the lower EPS content. Marginally higher TSS removal was obtained as well in Phase 2 (96.72 ± 3.26%) than in Phase 1 (90.48 ± 8.14%). This work demonstrates that AnSBR-MBR performance is superior with mixed drain wastewater containing suspended solids and thus pre-settling is not recommended. HIGHLIGHTS Feeding strategies are important in the anaerobic treatment of dilute drain wastewater.; Mixed wastewater containing organic particulate matter is recommended as an influent.; Mixed wastewater resulted in higher COD removal and lower membrane fouling.; Waste-based ceramic membranes were successfully field tested.;

This study aims to assess the level of sustainability in vegetable-based agrifood production systems in Benin and to propose actions to enhance sustainability, food safety, and year-round production in the vegetable production systems. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 200 vegetable farmers in contrasting agroecological areas (with areas of extensive production of staples and intensive production of vegetables), using the “Indicateur de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles” (IDEA) framework (an on-farm sustainability index). Most of the surveyed vegetable farmers produced a wide range of crops, including leafy vegetables (amaranth, African eggplant, and African basil) and peppers, grown by more than 50% of the farmers. The average scores achieved by the vegetable farms regarding three dimensions of sustainability—ecological, social, and economic—were 35, 41, and 63, respectively, out of a maximum score of 100. All three sustainability dimensions of the vegetable farms were, on average, at a low level and improvements were needed for them to reach an acceptable standard. The vegetable farms located in the south of Benin had, on average, a higher sustainability score than those in the north: around 50% of vegetable farms in the south had a medium score, while the sustainability level of almost 75% of vegetable farms in the north was low. Interventions seeking to improve the sustainability of vegetable farms in Benin should focus on the promotion and adoption of eco-responsible practices that improve on-farm biodiversity, water conservation, and the effective allocation and management of land and labor, to mitigate the environmental impacts of vegetable production.

Virtual Reality (VR) revolutionises education, offering a uniquely immersive and engaging learning experience. It fosters personalised learning, ignites creativity, and enhances understanding through interactive 3D models. These models transport students into a virtual world, facilitating better comprehension and memory retention. VR also addresses crucial educational challenges, such as catering to students with special needs and enabling remote learning. Nevertheless, VR also faces challenges like high initial investment and, hence, has limited adoption in education. Thus, to overcome this challenge, Additive Manufacturing (AM) is identified as an emerging technology that complements VR in education. VR provides a digital model, whereas AM provides 3D physical models, enhancing understanding in students. These technologies reduce paperwork, promote a sustainable environment, and facilitate students to learn from their homes, reducing their travelling requirements. This paper highlights that using these technologies in education contributes to achieving many United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.This is a review-based research, where a scoping review has been presented, with articles and research papers from the relevant sources collected and analysed to address the well identified research objectives. It also compares traditional and VR-based teaching-learning, provides a broad classification for the different education segments targetable through VR, the economic impact of VR on education, and significant applications and advantages of VR in education. We also propose using AM as a cost-effective enabler for VR in education, facilitating sustainability by achieving many of the SDG goals. Further, limitations and VR's implications in academia are presented to show a way forward.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy of the central nervous system (CNS) that remains incurable despite the multitude of improvements in cancer therapeutics. The conventional chemo and radiotherapy post-surgery have only been able to improve the prognosis slightly; however, the development of resistance and/or tumor recurrence is almost inevitable. There is a pressing need for adjuvant molecular therapies that can successfully and efficiently block tumor progression. During the last few decades, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as key players in regulating various hallmarks of cancer including that of GBM. The levels of many ncRNAs are dysregulated in cancer, and ectopic modulation of their levels by delivering antagonists or overexpression constructs could serve as an attractive option for cancer therapy. The therapeutic potential of several types of ncRNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, has been validated in both in vitro and in vivo models of GBM. However, the delivery of these RNA-based therapeutics is highly challenging, especially to the tumors of the brain as the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses as a major obstacle, among others. Also, since RNA is extremely fragile in nature, careful considerations must be met while designing a delivery agent. In this review we have shed light on how ncRNA therapy can overcome the limitations of its predecessor conventional therapy with an emphasis on smart nanomaterials that can aide in the safe and targeted delivery of nucleic acids to treat GBM. Additionally, critical gaps that currently exist for successful transition from viral to non-viral vector delivery systems have been identified. Finally, we have provided a perspective on the future directions, potential pathways, and target areas for achieving rapid clinical translation of, RNA-based macromolecular therapy to advance the effective treatment of GBM and other related diseases.

Lean 4.0, a fusion of lean manufacturing and digital technologies, is a powerful tool for implementing Industry 4.0. Its widespread use across sectors is driven by its ability to eliminate waste, reduce errors, boost revenue, and enhance customer care and efficiency. In the healthcare sector, this fourth lean revolution is particularly beneficial, as it helps to curb wastage and enhance efficiency, leading to more effective outcomes. Lean 4.0, a globally recognized best practice for industrial organisations, has proven its worth in enhancing performance and competitiveness. Its success has led to its adoption not only in manufacturing but also in non-manufacturing sectors such as Healthcare, finance, telecommunications, construction, and logistics. Its ease of use and effectiveness make it a superior alternative to traditional medical waste management techniques. Relevant papers on Lean 4.0 for Healthcare in the current literature are identified and studied to evaluate the impact of Lean 4.0 principles in Healthcare. This review-based research studies Lean 4.0 technologies and their needs in Healthcare. It discusses sustainable support for the healthcare sphere through Lean 4.0. Paper briefs several modalities of Lean 4.0 for the healthcare domain. Finally, the paper identifies and discusses the significant applications of Lean 4.0 in Healthcare. Lean 4.0 is essential to lowering errors that lead to medical mistakes since this business deals with life-or-death situations. Healthcare institutions need to reduce their overall waste reduction. With Lean 4.0, staff members working in quality management, clinical operations, consulting, and patient experience can progress into leadership roles in the healthcare sector. Lean 4.0 technologies can reduce waste production, including employing reusable medical equipment or cutting down on packaging waste. The possible difficulty of integrating digital technologies with healthcare systems and practices is Lean 4.0's limitations for the healthcare industry. Healthcare institutions can use refillable syringes and other disposable items to reduce waste rather than disposable plastic syringes. In future, healthcare institutions may save costs and lessen their environmental effect by minimising trash by using lean 4.0 technologies.

Aspherical surfaces, with their varying curvature, minimize aberrations and enhance clarity, making them essential in optics, aerospace, medical devices, and telecommunications. However, manufacturing these surfaces is challenging because of systematic errors in CNC equipment, tool wear, measurement inaccuracies, and environmental disturbances. These issues necessitate precise error compensation to achieve the desired surface shape. Traditional methods for spherical optics are inadequate for aspherical components, making accurate surface shape error detection and compensation crucial. This study integrates advanced metrology with optimized material removal functions in the grinding and polishing processes. By combining numerical control technology, computer technology, and data analysis, we developed CAM software (version 1) tailored for aspherical surfaces. This software uses a compensation correction algorithm to process error data and generate NC programs for machining. Our approach automates and digitizes the grinding and polishing process, improving efficiency and surface accuracy. This advancement enables high-precision mass production of rotationally symmetrical aspherical optical components, addressing existing manufacturing challenges and enhancing optical system performance.

The digital economy refers to the economic activities that emerge from connecting individuals, businesses, devices, data, and operations through digital technology. It includes online transactions across multiple sectors and technologies, such as the Internet, mobile technology, big data, and information and communications technology. The digital economy differs from a traditional economy because it relies on digital technology, online transactions, and its transformative effect on traditional industries Digital innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality, Blockchain, and autonomous vehicles all play a part in creating a digital economy. For this study, various papers on ”Digital Economy” and ”Industry 4.0” are identified from Scopus, Google Scholar and other research platforms and further studied briefly. This review paper has been developed after studying the digital economy and its needs in the Industry 4.0 Environment. The defining trends, key enablers, features and challenges associated with the digital economy towards Industry 4.0 are discussed briefly. Finally, the paper identifies and discusses the significant requirements of Industry 4.0 fulfilled through the digital economy. Today, customers are becoming aware of goods and services online and are turning to the industry for long-term solutions by deploying digital technologies. The digital economy is built on hyper connectivity, the growing interconnectedness of individuals, organisations, and machines due to the Internet, mobile technologies, and the IoT. Industry 4.0 technologies are automation, data exchange, cloud computing, robotics, big data, AI, the IoT, and other technological trends are all part of the industrial sector’s digital transformation, which aims to achieve industrial objectives and intelligent manufacturing practices that engage with customers, emerging technologies, and innovation. The economy is becoming more digital, changing how products and services are provided and consumed. A new road map is being provided by Industry 4.0 services to help many industries adapt their conventional methods and support the new revolution. In the digital economy, scaled-up, integrated ecosystems that leverage software platforms to generate value, build resilience, and stimulate innovation via networked goods, assets, people, and processes rapidly replace old, linear value chains with partner participation.

Metal nanoparticles have been tested for therapeutic and imaging applications in pre-clinical models of cancer, but fears of toxicity have limited their translation. An emerging concept in nanomedicine is to exploit the inherent drug-like properties of unmodified nanomaterials for cancer therapy. To be useful clinically, there must be a window between the toxicity of the nanomaterial to cancer and toxicity to normal cells. This necessitates identification of specific vulnerabilities in cancers that can be targeted using nanomaterials without inducing off-target toxicity. Previous studies point to proteotoxic stress as a driver of silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) toxicity. Two key cell stress responses involved in mitigating proteotoxicity are the heat shock response (HSR) and the integrated stress response (ISR). Here, we examine the role that these stress responses play in AgNP-induced cytotoxicity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and immortalized mammary epithelial cells. Furthermore, we investigate HSR and ISR inhibitors as potential drug partners to increase the anti-cancer efficacy of AgNPs without increasing off-target toxicity. We showed that AgNPs did not strongly induce the HSR at a transcriptional level, but instead decreased expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) at the protein level, possibly due to degradation in AgNP-treated TNBC cells. We further showed that the HSR inhibitor, KRIBB11, synergized with AgNPs in TNBC cells, but also increased off-target toxicity in immortalized mammary epithelial cells. In contrast, we found that salubrinal, a drug that can sustain pro-death ISR signaling, enhanced AgNP-induced cell death in TNBC cells without increasing toxicity in immortalized mammary epithelial cells. Subsequent co-culture studies demonstrated that AgNPs in combination with salubrinal selectively eliminated TNBCs without affecting immortalized mammary epithelial cells grown in the same well. Our findings provide additional support for proteotoxic stress as a mechanism by which AgNPs selectively kill TNBCs and will help guide future efforts to identify drug partners that would be beneficial for use with AgNPs for cancer therapy.

Calcineurin B-like (CBL)-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) play a crucial role in the complex molecular systems of plants, acting as coordinators in different plant development processes, manage hormone signaling, and respond to environmental stress. Despite their well-established importance in various physiological process, the CIPK gene family in banana has remained an unexplored, creating a knowledge gap that this research aims to address. Through comprehensive analysis, we identified and characterized 34 CIPK genes in the banana genome. Structural diversity analysis revealed distinct clades characterized by homologs with varying intron-rich and intron-poor members. Particularly, evolutionary conservation was observed in intron-less members. Exploring conserved motifs and physicochemical properties provided insights into the detailed structure of specific homologs. Subcellular localization predictions indicated that most CIPK proteins primarily reside in the cytoplasm and nucleus, indicating their involvement in essential cellular activities. The predicted chromosomal distribution pattern suggests that the CIPK gene family largely expanded through segmental duplications in the banana genome. The phylogenetic analysis has uncovered two monophyletic clades for intron-less and intron-containing homologs, providing insights into two separate evolutionary history and expansion of the CIPK gene family. The clustering pattern in the phylogeny suggest that sequence of CIPKs members in the different genomes are largely conserved during course of evolution after evolution of higher plants. However, a few members having diverse sequences that these homologs are evolving with higher rate of evolution. Diverse physiological roles of banana CIPKs members are further supported by the presence of numerous cis-acting elements associated with growth, development, hormone responsiveness, and stress, with certain MaCIPK promoters exhibiting multiple hormone-sensitive elements. The protein-protein interaction network sheds light on the functional associations between MaCIPKs and MaCBLs, highlighting specific clusters of interactions. 3D protein structure predictions provide additional insights, revealing variations among the MaCIPK proteins. Real-time expression analysis across various tissues and developmental stages emphasizes the significant roles played by CIPKs in plant development. Under stress conditions, 16 in leaves and 22 in root MaCIPK gene transcript levels were up –regulated in response to drought and cold stress. These insights into the dynamic expression and functional roles of CIPK genes provide valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying banana's resilience to stress, with direct implications for the development of stress-resistant banana varieties. Overall this research offers promising prospects for enhancing global food security by ensuring the sustainability of banana production in the face of changing environmental conditions.

Polyphenols, as secondary metabolites ubiquitous in plant sources, have emerged as pivotal bioactive compounds with far-reaching implications for human health. Plant polyphenols exhibit direct or indirect associations with biomolecules capable of modulating diverse physiological pathways. Due to their inherent abundance and structural diversity, polyphenols have garnered substantial attention from both the scientific and clinical communities. The review begins by providing an in-depth analysis of the chemical intricacies of polyphenols, shedding light on their structural diversity and the implications of such diversity on their biological activities. Subsequently, an exploration of the dietary origins of polyphenols elucidates the natural plant-based sources that contribute to their global availability. The discussion extends to the bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols within the human body, unraveling the complex journey from ingestion to systemic effects. A central focus of the review is dedicated to unravelling the antioxidant effects of polyphenols, highlighting their role in combating oxidative stress and associated health conditions. The comprehensive analysis encompasses their impact on diverse health concerns such as hypertension, allergies, aging, and chronic diseases like heart stroke and diabetes. Insights into the global beneficial effects of polyphenols further underscore their potential as preventive and therapeutic agents. This review article critically examines the multifaceted aspects of dietary polyphenols, encompassing their chemistry, dietary origins, bioavailability/metabolism dynamics, and profound antioxidant effects. The synthesis of information presented herein aims to provide a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and health enthusiasts, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between polyphenols and human health.

Weeds are the most severe and widespread biological constraint on agricultural production systems and cause damage to cropped and non-cropped lands. They reduce crop yield and degrade the quality of the produce, besides raising the cost of production. The intensification of agriculture in the Green Revolution era attracted chemical fertilizers and dwarf varieties coupled with mono-cropping and irrigation practices, which enhanced crop-associated weeds and the widespread use of herbicides for easy control. Pesticides may kill many organisms, both target and non-target species, in the environment, causing an imbalance in the ecosystem. Despite the significant increase in productivity, the environmental repercussions of industrial agriculture, characterized by the use of high-yielding crop varieties and the extensive application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, have prompted a quest for more sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. One potential alternative lies in innovative approaches that draw upon ecological insights gleaned from studying natural ecosystems. These approaches aim to create “ecologically intensive” agro-ecosystems. Developing ecologically intensive agro-ecosystems necessitates a deep understanding of the biological dynamics within ecosystems and the integration of traditional agricultural knowledge held by local farmers. Considering the potentiality of appropriate weed management technologies to substantially improve crop productivity, there is an opportunity for the development, popularization, and adoption of effective, economical, and eco-friendly weed management technologies.