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Emotion recognition from Electroencephalography (EEG) is proved to be a good choice as it cannot be mimicked like speech signals or facial expressions. EEG signals of emotions are not unique and it varies from person to person as each one has different emotional responses to the same stimuli. Thus EEG signals are subject dependent and proved to be effective for subject dependent emotion recognition. However, subject independent emotion recognition plays an important role in situations like emotion recognition from paralyzed or burnt face, where EEG of emotions of the subjects before the incidents are not available to build the emotion recognition model. Hence there is a need to identify common EEG patterns corresponds to each emotion independent of the subjects. In this paper, a subject independent emotion recognition technique is proposed from EEG signals using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) as a feature extraction technique and Deep Neural Network as the classifier. The performance evaluation of the proposed method with the benchmark DEAP dataset shows that the combination of VMD and Deep Neural Network performs better compared to the state of the art techniques in subject-independent emotion recognition from EEG.

Curcumin has ignited global interest as an elite drugable molecule, owing to its time-honoured pharmacological activities against diverse human ailments. Limited natural accessibility and poor oral bioavailability caused major hurdles in the curcumin-based drug development process. We report the first successful testimony of curcumin and its glucoside synthesis in Atropa belladonna hairy roots (HR) through metabolic engineering. Re-routing the inherent biosynthetic precursors of the phenylpropanoid pathway of A. belladonna by heterologous expression of key curcumin biosynthetic pathway genes (i.e., Diketide-CoA synthase-DCS and Curcumin synthase-CURS3) and glucosyltransferase gene (CaUGT2) resulted in the production of curcumin and its glucoside in HR clones. Under shake-flask cultivation, the PGD2-HR1clone bearing DCS/ CURS3 genes showed the maximum curcumin yield (180.62 ± 4.7 μg/g DW), while the highest content of curcumin monoglucoside (32.63 ± 2.27 μg/g DW) along with curcumin (67.89 ± 2.56 μg/g DW) were noted in the PGD3-HR3 clone co-expressing DCS/CURS3 and CaUGT2 genes. Bioreactor up-scaling showed yield improvements in the PGD2-HR1 (2.3 fold curcumin) and the PGD3-HR3 clone (0.9 and 1.65 folds of curcumin-monoglucoside and curcumin respectively). These findings proved the advantageous use of HR cultures as the production source for curcumin and its glucoside, which remained unexplored so far.

The study aimed to explore factors contributing to job dissatisfaction among frontend retail employees in India. It broadly contributes to the problem of talent retention and employee turnover which is one of the biggest challenges of the Indian retail industry. The study adopted mixed-method approach to inductively identify the contextual factors leading to job dissatisfaction. Qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory approach followed by a survey based quantitative study, using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to validate the qualitative findings. Qualitative study revealed seven factors-customer aggression, abusive supervision, perceived job image, perceived unethical climate, lack of autonomy, work exhaustion and inter-role conflicts contributing to job dissatisfaction. Findings of quantitative study showed all factors except lack of autonomy were significantly related to job dissatisfaction. Theoretical contributions, managerial implication, limitations, and scope for future work are discussed.

The utilization of advanced imaging modalities play an important role in the detection and differentiation of benign and malignant hepatic lesions. Imaging characteristics of hepatic tumors can sometimes be atypical, often leading to diagnostic challenges. Recent technical improvements in contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have helped to better characterize hepatic lesions. For example, contrast agents used in US can now better delineate liver lesions, while the ability to reliably produce multiplanar and 3-D reconstructions through the use of MDCT provides an additional advantage in the context of therapeutic decision making for patients with hepatic lesions. In addition, modern MR that includes the use of biliary excreted contrast material, various post-processing techniques like multiplanar reformation (MPR), as well as volume rendering (VR) allow detailed evaluation of the biliary tract, hepatic vasculature, and better characterization of hepatic tumors. As the imaging technologies available continue to evolve and advance, understanding how to effectively utilize these modalities is key to clinical practice. We herein provide a review of the various hepatic oncologic imaging modalities with a focus on how advancements and novel techniques within the different fields may be utilized in the diagnosis, treatment and management of different benign and malignant hepatic lesions.

AIM To evaluate the association between single time-point quantitative liver and spleen volumes in patients with PSC and transplant-free survival, independent of Mayo risk score. MATERIALS AND METHODS This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study included 165 PSC patients in a hospital. Total (T), and lobar (right [R], left [L], and caudate [C]) liver volumes and spleen volume (S) were measured. Adverse outcome was identified as being on liver transplantation list, transplantation or death (outcome 1), and transplantation or death (outcome 2). Cox-regression was performed to assess the predictive value of volumetric parameters to predict transplant-free survival with and without Mayo risk score. Stratified analysis by Mayo risk score categories was performed to assess the discriminative value of volumes in the model. Prediction models were developed dependent of Mayo score, based on patients demographics, lab values and volumetric measures for both defined outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves were depicted for different liver and spleen volumes. P value

Biotransformation of artemisinin (1) with the selected hairy root clones of three medicinally important plants, i.e., Atropa belladonna, Hyoscyamus muticus and Ocimum basilicum, yielded two biotransformed products, which were identified as 3-α-hydroxy-1-deoxyartemisinin (2) and 4-hydroxy-9,10-dimethyloctahydrofuro-(3,2-i)-isochromen-11(4H)-one (3). Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis (NMR/MS) and X-ray crystallography. The relative transformation efficiencies of the tested hairy root clones differed concerning individual bioconversion reactions. Consequently, the HR clones of H. muticus and A. belladonna accomplished the highest conversion of (1) to (2) and (3) respectively, while that of O. basilicum imparted an intermediate response. In-silico and in-vitro bioactivity analysis of the derivatives revealed promising anti-plasmodial activity profile in tandem with notable TNF level lowering potential of compound (2), indicating thereby its prospective therapeutic merit in ameliorating the severity of malarial infection.

Curcuma amada Roxb. (family Zingiberaceae ), is gaining global attention as potential source of new drug molecule(s) as it is credited with compounds having remarkable pharmacological properties. Recognizing the risk of loss of genetic variability of C. amada in response to imprudent exploitation of the natural resources coupled with unsystematic cultivation practices, preservation of its genetic resources has attracted the current research attention. The present study exploited the multifarious properties of Luffa sponge (i.e. sound physical strength, stability in texture/shape over wide pH range and repeated autoclaving, cost effective availability, etc.) as a novel matrix for synthetic seed conservation. In this study, we have evaluated the consequences of the presence of two fungicides, namely – bavistin and rosebengal, in the gel matrix as well as in the Luffa sponge for conservation of contamination free germplasm of C. amada . A maximum of 50% and 75% regrowth could be recorded amongst rosebengal and bavistin containing synthetic seeds respectively after 4 weeks of plating on plant growth regulator-free MS medium. Further growth of the encapsulated microshoots was significantly impeded by the presence of rosebengal within the synthetic seeds. On the contrary, the bavistin containing synthetic seeds demonstrated five times better regeneration ability to contamination-free shoots. A total of 78% survival was achieved upon transfer of these healthy plantlets to glass-house. RAPD fingerprinting revealed 84.62% genetic similarity between randomly selected synthetic seed derived plantlets. This report strengthened the vital conservation approach of C . amada using inexpensive Luffa sponge as storage matrix and bavistin for eradication of contaminations.