Search

Protected cultivation of high-value crops such as tomato, with several health benefits, is gaining global significance. This study explored the influence of aqueous formulations of cyanobacteria- Anabaena laxa (C11), Nostoc carneum (BF2), and Anabaena doliolum (BF4), applied as soil drench at pre-flowering and fruiting stages, on the dynamics of soil and plant attributes important for growth, productivity, and quality of fruits in an indeterminate tomato variety (NS4266) under protected cultivation. Drenching with the BF2 formulation resulted in a significant fold-increase in soil dehydrogenase activity and an increase of 40–45% in soil nitrogen availability; positively impacted glutamine synthetase activity, fruit weight, lycopene content, skin elasticity, in comparison to control. C11 drenching led to a 17% elevation in soil microbial biomass carbon, besides bringing about a 24 and 54% enhancement in available phosphorus and iron content. Additionally, it also enhanced chlorophyll a, b and total pigments by 54–65% over control. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate analysis showcased the distinct effects of cyanobacterial formulations on crop growth and soil fertility, as well as the significant and positive correlations among quality, plant, soil, and yield attributes contributed through cyanobacterial drenching. This investigation highlighted cyanobacterial drench as a promising organic option to augment soil nutrient availability, bolster overall productivity, and enhance fruit quality in tomato grown under protected cultivation. • Influence of cyanobacterial soil drench, in tomato under protected cultivation evaluated. • Nostoc carneum and Anabaena laxa led to improvement in soil, plant, fruit quality parameters. • Principal Component Analysis highlighted distinct effects of cyanobacterial formulations. • Multivariate analyses highlighted positive correlations among plant, soil and fruit quality. • Cyanobacterial drench proved promising as nutrient-enriching and quality enhancing options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Functionalised Polystyrene-Block-Poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-Block-Polystyrene (f-SEBS) is developed and used as binder. • Anionic binders, Fumion and f-SEBS substitutes the expensive Nafion binder in alkaline ZAB. • Hydrophobic filament, hydrophilic branching with ionic conductivity formulates an effective cathodic binder. • Fumion is the most suitable binder for the state-of-art Pt/C catalyst. Zinc-air battery (ZAB) technology is a strong competitor in the automobile sector for powering automotive. Alas, there are a few issues that restrain them from being commercialized. One prominent issue which has not been discoursed thus far in alkaline ZAB is the impact of the type and content of the binder. The present work incorporates a study conducted to get insights on the impact of eleven different polymeric binders in the air electrode of an alkaline zinc-air battery. They include anion and cation conducting polymers, hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers. The galvanostatic polarisation curves reveal a huge variation depending on the type of binder. Fumion ionomer, an anion conducting material, shows the highest current density of about 163 mA cm−2 at 0.6 V owing to the right proportion of hydrophilic-hydrophobic segments and ion-conducting nature. A specific capacity of 770 mA h g−1 was obtained when Fumion was employed as a binder with 1 mg Pt cm−2. Eventually, the upshot of the experiment motivated us to try a home-made less commonly known anionic binder, functionalised-Polystyrene-Block-Poly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-Block-Polystyrene, which performed on par with Nafion™ and Fumion at a practical operating voltage of ∼1.2 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Syringomyelia is a rare but serious complication of tuberculous meningitis. • TB syringomyelia is often refractory to both surgical and medical management. • Surgery does not have significantly better outcomes than medical management. Determinants of tuberculosis (TB) syringomyelia, its management options and outcomes are still under investigation. The aim of this study is to present a case of TB syringomyelia with markedly improved symptoms status-post surgery and to understand the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 33 TB syringomyelia cases reported in the literature. Specifically, we examined the differences between patients who were managed medically and those who underwent surgical intervention. Inclusion criteria for the cases were (1) syringomyelia caused by TB infection rather than co-occurrence of these conditions, (2) management protocol described, and (3) post-treatment outcome described. The median age was 30 years (interquartile range (IQR): 23–40) with 55% males. The median time between TB onset to syringomyelia diagnosis was 2 years. Nineteen patients were surgically treated, 11 were medically treated, and 3 received no treatment. Twenty-one patients showed improvement in at least one prior symptom, but no patient experienced a full recovery. Those that underwent surgical intervention were more likely to have TB meningitis (95% vs. 64%, p < 0.05) upon initial TB presentation and have a greater interval between TB onset and syringomyelia presentation (median of 2.6 vs. 0.33 years, ns). A greater proportion of the surgically managed patients experienced improvement in any symptom (74% vs. 45%, ns). Future case-controlled studies with larger sample sizes are required to validate and further understand the outcomes of surgically-managed TB syringomyelia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Active fraction containing salicylic acid was isolated from Mangifera indica leaf. • Active fraction showed good antioxidant activity in various in vitro assays. • Active fraction had cyto-protective effect against oxidative stress in PBMC model. • Radio-protection of active fraction was via ROS & lipid peroxidation inhibition. Present work was carried out with the objectives to isolate polyphenol-rich fraction from Mangifera indica leaves and its analysis in LC–MS/MS and also to investigate the antioxidant potential and cyto-protective activity of the active fraction against UV radiation-induced oxidative stress in PBMC model. M. indica leaf extracts were prepared using solvents of different polarity (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol) and screened for total phenolic concentration (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Based on screening results, methanol extract with higher TPC (435.37 mg GAE/L or 205.6 mg GAE/100 g leaf mass) and good antioxidant activity was selected for liquid-liquid partitioning with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol sequentially to obtain four different fractions (LF1, LF2, LF3 and LF4). Among the fractions, LF3 showed higher TPC level (1083.51 mg GAE/L), hence it was further purified by column chromatography. Six fractions (CF1–CF6) were obtained from column chromatography, among which fraction CF4 had highest TPC (1359.91 mg GAE/L). Antioxidant potential of the CF4 fraction was comparable to that of standard gallic acid in terms of DPPH radical scavenging (IC-50 = 12.93 vs. 12.30 µg/ml), superoxide radical scavenging (IC-50 = 80.00 vs. 14.91 µg/ml) and hydroxyl radical scavenging (IC-50 = 29.78 vs. 29.78 µg/ml). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) treated with hydrogen peroxide exhibited 75–80% toxicity and when the cells were treated with the CF4 fraction, the toxicity was reduced to 65–75%. Radio-protective activity of active fraction (CF4) was studied in PBMC model and 80% of cytotoxicity was noted in UV irradiated PBMC, which was reduced to 50% by the active fraction. LC–MS/MS analysis of CF4 revealed salicylic acid as the major component and the results of present work indicates salicylic acid from mango leaf could be explored as natural cyto-protective agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an analog-controlled variable gain amplifier (VGA) is proposed that demonstrates high linearity across a wide range of control voltages and low noise for analog front-end receivers. This work presents a dual-tuning technique utilizing diode-connected P-MOS load and pseudo-exponential approximation based source degeneration (DCPL-PESD), which enables simultaneous tuning of different control voltages to achieve the required dB-linear characteristic. The gain is increased by cross-coupling the input transistors of the differential pair. To extend the gain range, three single-stage VGAs are cascaded. The design and implementation of this VGA were carried out using the Cadence Virtuoso tool in 180 nm CMOS technology. Post-layout results indicate that the 3-stage cascaded VGA offers a gain range of 67.5 dB, of which 55 dB is dB-linear. By tuning the control voltage V C , it provides a continuous 18 dB dB-linear gain. The overall VGA consumes 0.232 mA from a 1.8 V power supply, with a power consumption of 417 μ W. The bandwidth of 3-stage VGAs is measured as 46 MHz. The minimum input-referred noise (IRN) of this VGA is 4.158 n V H z. The total area, including the bias circuit and buffer, is 0.0054 mm 2 , and the output 1 dB compression point is −2.83 dBm at the gain of −1 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial consortium that utilizes crude oil as carbon and energy source was isolated from marine sediment collected at a depth of 2100 m. Molecular characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that these isolates as Oceanobacillus sp., Nesiotobacter sp., Ruegeria sp., Photobacterium sp., Enterobacter sp., Haererehalobacter sp., Exiguobacterium sp., Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudoalteromonas sp. Self-immobilized consortium degraded more than 85% of total hydrocarbons after 10 days of incubation with 1% (v/v) of crude oil and 0.05% (v/v) of Tween 80 (non-ionic surfactant) at 28 ± 2 °C. The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus sources separately i.e. 0.1% (v/v) of CO (NH 2) 2 or K 2 HPO 4 enhanced the hydrocarbon utilization percentage. The pathways of microbial degradation of hydrocarbons were confirmed by FTIR, GC–MS, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy analyses. These results demonstrated a novel approach using hydrocarbonoclastic self-immobilized deep sea bacterial consortium for eco-friendly bioremediation. Unlabelled Image • Self-Immobilized hydrocarbonoclastic deep sea bacterial consortium effectively degraded crude oil. • Immobilized cells exhibited enhanced crude oil degradation efficiency with supplementation of nitrogen and phosphorus sources. • As a non-accumulant, the immobilized cells possess promising application in marine oil spill bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A marine strain B. subtilis EB1, isolated from Equator water, showed excellent degradation towards a wide range of hydrocarbons. Degradation studies revealed dense growth with 93 % and 83 % removal of phenanthrene within 72 h at 0.1 and 20 MPa, respectively. The identification of phenanthrene degradation metabolites by GC–MS combined with its whole genome analysis provided the pathway involved in the degradation process. Whole genome sequencing indicated a genome size of 3,983,989 bp with 4331 annotated genes. The genome provided the genetic compartments, which includes monooxygenase, dioxygenase, dehydrogenase, biosurfactant synthesis catabolic genes for the biodegradation of aromatic compounds. Detailed COG and KEGG pathway analysis confirmed the genes involved in the oxygenation reaction of hydrocarbons, piezotolerance, siderophores, chemotaxis and transporter systems which were specific to adaptation for survival in extreme marine habitat. The results of this study will be a key to design an optimal bioremediation strategy for oil contaminated extreme marine environment. [Display omitted] • Marine Bacillus subtilis EB1 showed higher degradation efficiency at both atmospheric and high pressure conditions. • GC-MS analysis confirmed that degradation of phenanthrene followed phthalic acid pathway. • Whole genome analysis revealed the presence of key genes involved in catabolic and adaptation mechanisms. • First report on piezotolerant hydrocarbonoclastic B. subtilis to address the aromatic hydrocarbon pollution in extreme marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural features that contribute to the efficacy of biased agonists targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) towards G proteins or β-arrestin (β-arr) signaling pathways is nebulous, although such knowledge is critical in designing biased ligands. The dynamics of the agonist-GPCR complex is one of the critical factors in determining agonist bias. Angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) is an ideal model system to study the molecular basis of bias since it has multiple β-arr2 and Gq protein biased agonists as well as experimentally solved three dimensional structures. Using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations for the Angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) bound to ten different agonists, we infer that the agonist bound receptor samples conformations with different relative weights, from both the inactive and active state ensembles of the receptor. This concept is perhaps extensible to other class A GPCRs. Such a weighted mixed ensemble recapitulates the inter-residue distance distributions measured for different agonists bound AT1R using DEER experiments. The ratio of the calculated relative strength of the allosteric communication to β-arr2 vs Gq coupling sites scale similarly to the experimentally measured bias factors. Analysis of the inter-residue distance distributions of the activation microswitches involved in class A GPCR activation suggests that β-arr2 biased agonists turn on different combination of microswitches with different relative strengths of activation. We put forth a model that activation microswitches behave like rheostats that tune the relative efficacy of the biased agonists toward the two signaling pathways. Finally, based on our data we propose that the agonist specific residue contacts in the binding site elicit a combinatorial response in the microswitches that in turn differentially modulate the receptor conformation ensembles resulting in differences in coupling to Gq and β-arrestin. [Display omitted] • Agonist bound GPCRs sample a weighted mix of active and inactive conformations. • The weighted mix of active and inactive state MD ensembles recapitulates DEER. • Biased agonists show ligand specific receptor contacts in the binding site. • β-arrestin biased agonists show narrowing of the receptor intracellular surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 3GPP UMTS Long Term Evolution (LTE) requires the calculation of three different feedback values such as Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), Rank Indicator (RI) and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). Our novel method proposes, these three different feedback values are applying to the wireless multihop relaying network for improving the efficiency of the MIMO. To reduce the computational burden for the user equipment, our method decomposes the problem into three separate steps, one of jointly evaluating the PMI and RI based on a mutual information metric and one of choosing the CQI value to achieve a given target Block Error Ratio (BLER) constraint and these feedback values are applying into the Wireless multihop relaying. Wireless multihop relaying can increase the aggregate network data capacity and improve coverage of wireless systems by reducing path loss, mitigating shadowing, and enabling spatial reuse. The influence of estimated channel knowledge on the feedback choice is investigated for BLER, maximum likelihood Estimator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study determined the efficacy of high-resolution ultrasound and color power Doppler as a monitoring tool in the healing of periapical lesions. Five patients with a periapical lesion in the maxillary anterior teeth were chosen for this study. A preoperative ultrasound with color power Doppler was done to analyze the features of the periapical lesion. These patients were then treated by nonsurgical endodontics and followed up on a regular basis. A 6-month postoperative ultrasound and Doppler study of the same lesion was done to observe the healing of the lesion compared with the preoperative images. The ultrasound with Doppler gave inferences of bone healing in all the lesions. This study demonstrates the application of ultrasound and color power Doppler as a viable and nonhazardous tool for monitoring the healing of periapical lesions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Lignin extracted from sawdust biomass by alkali fractionation method. • Structure, total phenol content and antioxidant characteristics of lignin were analyzed. • Industrial level model was developed for the simulation of lignin fractionation process. • Economic and sensitivity of lignin fractionation process were analyzed. The present work was focused on the investigation of lignin isolation from saw industry biomass (sawdust (SD)) using alkali solution, and to perform economic analysis for 2000 kg/batch hypothetical plant using techno-economic analysis. The isolated lignin was fractionated using organic solvent to obtain purified lignin. FTIR and 1H NMR analysis were performed to examine the structural characteristics of lignin. Lignin nanoparticles (LN) showed higher total phenolic content (TPC) (244.1 ± 2 µg of GAE per mg) and antioxidant activity (63.2 ± 1.7%) compared with crude lignin (CL), ethanol fractionated lignin (EL), and acetone fractionated lignin (AL). SuperPro designer was exposed to design and simulated 2000 kg/batch of sawdust fractionation process. The techno-economic analysis estimated that the lignin production cost is about $ 487,000 per year, and the annual revenue could be $ 1,850,000 per year. The techno-economic analysis and sensitivity analysis could be useful for the industrial level sawdust fractionation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on phytosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using the aqueous leaf extracts of Gomphrena globosa (G. globosa) and Gomphrena serrata (G. serrata) for the first time. The prepared CuONPs were characterized by UV–Visible spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The synthesized NPs showed an average particle size of 345 and 380 nm with two different geometries of rods and spheres. These phytosynthesized CuONPs showed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, E. coli, P. aeruginosa , and in vitro cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of the CuONPs was evaluated against crystal violet dye using the sunlight irradiation method, wherein 84–96% of dye degradation was recorded. The results suggest that the synthesized CuONPs are novel, eco-friendly and cost-effective, which can be further applied for pharmaceutical applications and bioremediation. [Display omitted] • The two plant species of same genera synthesize two structurally different nanoparticles. • The biosynthesized nanoparticles have high thermal stability.. • On comparison with rod-shaped nanoparticles, spherical shaped nanoparticles have high anti-oxidant, photocatalytic and anti-cancer activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Furfural has been produced in 53% isolated yield from d -xylose within an aqueous HCl-1,2-dichloroethane biphasic reaction mixture using benzyltributylammonium chloride (BTBAC) as a phase transfer catalyst. The use of BTBAC noticeably improved the yield of furfural compared to that in the control reaction. The reaction was optimized on the reaction temperature, duration, concentration of HCl, and the loading of BTBAC. Furfural and 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF) have also been coproduced from a mixture of pentose and hexose sugars. Under optimized conditions (100 °C, 3 h, 20.2% HCl, 10 wt% BTBAC), CMF and furfural were isolated in 17% and 53% yield, respectively, from a mixture of glucose and xylose. In addition, levulinic acid was isolated from the aqueous layer in 31% yield. Image 1 • Furfural was produced in good isolated yield from xylose using benzyltributylammonium chloride (BTBAC) as a phase transfer catalyst. • Dehydration of xyose in aqueous HCl (6 M) and 1,2-dichloroethane mixture provided 53% yield of furfural (100 °C, 3 h). • The use of phase transfer catalyst noticeably improved the yield of furfural when compared to the control reaction. • Furfural and 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF) were coproduced starting from a mixture of xylose and a hexose carbohydrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the Aspergillus flavus were screened to produce multienzyme containing amylase and protease using starch agar and skimmed milk agar plate assay. The fungus was cultivated by solid state fermentation using wheat bran as substrate. The parameters such as pH, temperature, incubation time, and moisture content were optimized. The maximum production was achieved by amylase with a yield of 55 U/mL and followed by protease yielding to 37 U/mL at 70% moisture (Room temperature), pH of 9.5, at 28 °C and 96 h of incubation. Application studies were carried out for dehairing and extraction of lanolin, using sheep wool. Results suggested that use of multienzyme substantially replaces the usage of chemicals and will be considered as a suitable bio-agent in the current scenario on green process technology development. Display Omitted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Agonist binding in the extracellular region of the G protein-coupled adenosine A2A receptor increases its affinity to the G proteins in the intracellular region, and vice versa. The structural basis for this effect is not evident from the crystal structures of A 2A R in various conformational states since it stems from the receptor dynamics. Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations on four different conformational states of the adenosine A 2A receptor, we observed that the agonists show decreased ligand mobility, lower entropy of the extracellular loops in the active-intermediate state compared with the inactive state. In contrast, the entropy of the intracellular region increases to prime the receptor for coupling the G protein. Coupling of the G protein to A 2A R shrinks the agonist binding site, making tighter receptor agonist contacts with an increase in the strength of allosteric communication compared with the active-intermediate state. These insights provide a strong basis for structure-based ligand design studies. Graphical Abstract Highlights • GPCR conformation dynamics reveals the forward and backward allosteric mechanism • Agonist binding increases the entropy in the intracellular region of the GPCR • G protein binding shrinks the receptor-ligand contacts in the extracellular region • Increased allostery between G protein and agonist in the GPCR-G protein complex Lee et al. show that allosteric communication between the agonist binding site and G protein coupling site in GPCRs leads to enhanced agonist affinity. The agonist binding site shrinks dynamically when the G protein is bound to the receptor. Understanding GPCR allostery provides newer strategies to design selective ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective therapies for acute pain management in trigeminal neuralgia (TN) are limited. We aimed to investigate the role of steroids in TN patients experiencing acute pain flares. We retrospectively reviewed patients presenting to the emergency department of a tertiary care institution between 2014 and 2020 for acute TN pain flares. Patients were divided into those who received steroids versus those who did not. Presenting characteristics, admission and surgical intervention rates, Barrow Neurological Institute pain scores, pain recurrence rates, and surgical intervention within 6 months of discharge were obtained for each patient. Our cohort comprised 151 patients, of whom 40 (26.5%) received steroids before admission and/or discharge. These patients were less likely to undergo surgical intervention to treat acute pain (P = 0.023). Specifically, patients receiving steroids were less likely to undergo combined glycerin and radiofrequency rhizotomy compared with patients not receiving steroids (P = 0.012). Frequency and dosage of opioid administration did not differ between groups. The steroids group demonstrated a lower average Barrow Neurological Institute pain score on discharge compared with the no steroids group (P = 0.013). Patients receiving steroids for acute pain management were less likely to undergo surgical intervention within 6 months of discharge than patients who did not receive steroids (P = 0.033). Steroid administration in patients with acute TN pain flares may reduce the likelihood of surgical intervention both during admission and within 6 months of discharge. Future prospective studies should examine the efficacy of steroids as an adjunctive medication in acute TN pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In January 2019, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health detected increased HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs in Cabell County. Responding to HIV clusters and outbreaks is 1 of the 4 pillars of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative and requires activities from the Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent pillars. This article describes the design and implementation of a comprehensive response, featuring interventions from all pillars.Methods: This study used West Virginia Bureau for Public Health data to identify HIV diagnoses during January 1, 2018-October 9, 2019 among (1) people who inject drugs linked to Cabell County, (2) their sex or injecting partners, or (3) others with an HIV sequence linked to Cabell County people who inject drugs. Surveillance data, including HIV-1 polymerase sequences, were analyzed to estimate the transmission rate and timing of infections using molecular clock phylogenetic analysis. Federal, state, and local partners designed and implemented a comprehensive response during January 2019-October 2019.Results: Of 82 people identified in the outbreak, most were male (60%), were White (91%), and reported unstable housing (80%). In a large molecular cluster containing 56 of 60 (93%) available sequences, 93% of inferred transmissions occurred after January 1, 2018. HIV testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, and syringe services were rapidly expanded, leading to improved linkage to HIV care and viral suppression.Conclusions: Evidence of rapid transmission in this outbreak galvanized robust collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, leading to critical improvements in HIV prevention and care services. HIV outbreak response requires increased coordination and creativity to improve service delivery to people affected by rapid HIV transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Respond pillar of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, which consists of activities also known as cluster and outbreak detection and response, offers a framework to guide tailored implementation of proven HIV prevention strategies where transmission is occurring most rapidly. Cluster and outbreak response involves understanding the networks in which rapid transmission is occurring; linking people in the network to essential services; and identifying and addressing gaps in programs and services such as testing, HIV and other medical care, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and syringe services programs. This article reviews the experience gained through 30 HIV cluster and outbreak responses in North America during 2000-2020 to describe approaches for implementing these core response strategies. Numerous jurisdictions that have implemented these response strategies have demonstrated success in improving outcomes related to HIV care and viral suppression, testing, use of prevention services, and reductions in transmission or new diagnoses. Efforts to address important gaps in service delivery revealed by cluster and outbreak detection and response can strengthen prevention efforts broadly through multidisciplinary, multisector collaboration. In this way, the Respond pillar embodies the collaborative, data-guided approach that is critical to the overall success of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is aimed at evaluating the protective role of l -theanine on aroclor 1254-induced oxidative stress in rat brain. Intraperitoneal administration of Aroclor 1254 (2 mg/kg b.wt. for 30 days) caused oxidative stress in rat brain and also caused neurobehavioral changes. Oxidative stress was assessed by determining the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), protein carbonyl content, and changes in activities of creatine kinase (CK), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and ATPases in the hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex of control and experimental rats. Histopathological results showed that PCB caused neuronal loss in all three regions. PCB upregulated the mRNA expressions of inflammatory cytokines. Oral administration of l -theanine (200 mg/kg b.wt.) increased the status of antioxidants, decreased the levels of LPO, nitric oxide (NO) and increased the activities of CK, AchE and ATPases. l -Theanine restored normal architecture of brain regions and downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, l -theanine shows a protective role against PCBs-induced oxidative damage in rat brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thin film Co 3 O 4 and WO 3 nanostructures fabricated using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) varying pulsed repetition rates for thin film energy storage device assembly. • Very first time, we fabricated Co 3 O 4 || WO 3 solid-state thin film HSC device combinations have investigated. • The novel aspect of Co 3 O 4 || WO 3 TFHSC device delivered a supreme volumetric capacitance of 141.9 f cm−3also the device reached the voltage window 1.6 V. • The TFHSC device showed excellent round trip efficiency of 97% even after 27,000 cycles with the capacitance retention of 91%. • The solid-state TFHSC device exhibited maximum specific energy density of ∼ 12.62 mWh cm−3 at a specific power density of 1.27 W cm−3. • Practical viability test was proved by illuminating of LED and running of DC fan by series combination TFHSC devices. Flexible thin-film storage devices have attracted significant devotion owing to their diminutive nature. Flexible thin-film electrode fabrication, Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) plays a crucial role because of its tuneable nanostructures, well-regulated chemical composites, and fine thin film thickness controller. Herein, we tuned thin film Co 3 O 4 nanostructures using PLD varying pulsed repetition rates of 2 Hz, 5 Hz, and 8 Hz, for thin energy storage device fabrications. Furthermore, we have grown WO 3 thin films nanostructures through PLD for suitable negatrode in thin-film Hybrid Supercapacitor (HSC) devices. Here we fabricated solid-state TFHSC devices such as Co 3 O 4 || WO 3 consuming semi-solid gel electrolyte PVA-KOH. At foremost novel aspect of the Co 3 O 4 || WO 3 TFHSC device delivered a supreme volumetric capacitance of 141.9 F cm−3. Also, the device reached the voltage window of 1.6 V. Further, the TFHSC device delivered a determined volumetric specific energy density of 12.62 mWh cm−3 at a volumetric power density of 1.27 W cm−3. The HSC device achieved notable stability performances in cycle life 27,000 with an appropriate coulombic efficiency of above 97% along with remarkable capacitance retentions of 91%. More importantly, the TFHSC are a good approach to building portable energy systems for wearable microelectronics and bio-medical applications. Pulsed Lased Deposition (PLD) as an irreplaceable tool designed for fabrication of in situ tuned Nanostructures intended for eco-friendly, leakage free flexible miniaturized portable TFHSC devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]