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Today is the era of paperless office and governance. It comes with numerous advantages like increased productivity and efficiency, pervasiveness, storage optimization, robustness and eco-friendliness. Hence there is a need of converting paper documents into machine editable form. This leads to development of OCR (Optical Character Recognition). OCR is a technique to convert, mechanically or electronically an image, photo or scanned document of a handwritten text (HCR-Handwritten Character Recognition) or printed text (PCR- Printed Character Recognition) into digital text. HCR is a form of OCR that is specifically designed to recognize the handwritten text whereas PCR focuses on recognition of printed text. HCR is more challenging as compared to PCR due to diversity in human writing styles, size, curve, strokes and thickness of characters. Based on data acquisition mode, the OCR can either be online or offline. Offline recognition is performed in two ways: handwritten and printed [1]. In offline mode, the characters are on paper and captured using scanner or high-resolution camera whereas in online mode the pixel values of characters are captured by movement of cursor, pen or stylus. The HCR systems are readily available for foreign languages and many of the Indian languages like Bangla, Devanagari and Gurumukhi but for Gujarati language the HCR development is still in its infancy stage. This study focuses on development of an artificial intelligence based offline HCR system for Gujarati language. Important contribution of this study is data collection, of size 10,000 images from 250 number of people, of different age groups, of different professions. This paper describes a supervised classifier approach based on CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks) and MLP (Multi-Layer Perceptron) for recognition of handwritten Gujarati characters. A success rate of 97.21% is obtained using CNN and 64.48% using MLP. Lot of work has been done at character level, but very few has been done at word level recognition. Major focus of this study was on creating a continuous workflow for image to text conversion at word level.

Antibiotics, the primary drugs used to cure bacterial diseases, are increasingly becoming ineffective due to the emergence of multiple drug resistance (MDR) leading to recurrence of previously sensitive pathogens. Human gut microbiome (GM), known to play an important role in various physiological processes, consists of pool of diverse microbes. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics during the life span of an individual may lead to development of resistant microbes e.g. Vibrio, Acinetobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Clostridia, etc. in the human GM. Transmission of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) between pathogenic and commensal bacteria occurs more frequently in microbiome communities wherein bacteria communicate and exchange cellular constituents both among themselves and with the host. Additionally, co-factors like 'early vs. late' exposure, type of antibiotics and duration of treatment modulate the adverse effects of antibiotics on GM maturation. Furthermore, factors like mode of birth, ethnicity, malnutrition, demography, diet, lifestyle, etc., which influence GM composition, can also indirectly alter the host response to antibiotics. Currently, advanced 'omics' and culturomics approaches are revealing novel avenues to study the interplay between antibiotics and the microbiome and to identify resistant genes in these bacterial communities. Here, we discuss the recent developments that have given insights into the effects of antibiotics on the homeostatic balance of the gut microbiome and thus on human health.

In the present work the electrical properties of polycrystalline 0.9(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)–0.1(BiFeO3) and Bi0.8M0.2FeO3-modified Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3, (where M = Ca, Sr, and Ba) lead-free ceramics were investigated through impedance spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction analyses indicate the incorporation of alkaline earth metal ions at A-site of perovskite type ceramics revealing the conservation of crystal structure (rhombohedral structure with R3c space group) in the synthesized compositions. The substitution of alkaline earth metal ions at the A-site in perovskite-structured ceramics led to an enlargement of unit cell. The appearance of depressed semicircle arcs in Nyquist plots suggests non-Debye nature of relaxation occurring in studied samples. An equivalent circuit model comprising of parallel combination of resistance and constant phase element was used for the simulation of Nyquist plots. The mismatching of peaks in the combined spectroscopic plots of Z″ and M″ versus frequency also confirms the occurrence of non-Debye relaxation in BBFO sample. The ac conductivity studies show that the conduction mechanism changes from correlated barrier hopping model (CBH) to overlapping large polaron tunneling, when alkaline metal ions are substituted in place of Bi3+ ions. Activation energy values calculated from conductivity data suggest the presence of oxygen vacancies. The dielectric, impedance and conductivity behaviors are significantly influenced by the distortion of Ti/Fe O6 octahedron.

Theileria are tick-borne apicomplexan parasites, which mainly infect ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The present study was directed to investigate the serological methods for the diagnosis of theileriosis in crossbred cattle. Blood samples (n = 176) were collected from the regional cattle populations of Bihar state situated at the Gangetic plains of India. Microscopic examination of blood smears from the cattle revealed the presence of tick-borne infectious organisms (Theileria and Anaplasma) in the region. PCR-based detection of Tams1 (Theileria annulata merozoite surface antigen) gene and the sequencing of 18S rRNA amplicon from the blood samples confirmed T. annulata as the primary causative agent of theileriosis in cattle of the Bihar region. Similarly, the amplification of the msp5 gene confirmed Anaplasma marginale infection. For the large-scale epidemiological investigation, sporozoite and macroschizont (spm2) partial gene from T. annulata was cloned in pET-28a (+) vector and overexpressed in E. coli BL21 cells. Overexpressed recombinant-Spm2 (43 kDa) was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and was used for immunodetection of theileriosis in cattle serum samples. Sequence analysis of the cloned partial spm2 gene in this study showed multiple SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in T. annulata. Recombinant-Spm2 antigen was explicitly recognised by the immunoglobulins (IgG) of the cattle naturally infected with Theileria. Further, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using partial r-Spm2 antigen that exhibited high sensitivity (100 %) and specificity (90.9 %). Thus, this study suggests that partial r-Spm2 can be used as a diagnostic antigen for seroepidemiological studies of T. annulata infection in crossbred cattle.

Polycrystalline samples of composition (Na0.5Bi0.5)0.95−xBa0.05CaxTiO3 (x = 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1) were synthesized with the purpose of fabricating ceramics having morphotropic phase boundary by well known solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction along with Rietveld-refinement showed a gradual change in crystal structure from rhombohedral to orthorhombic with increasing Ca doping in the host-matrix compound. The effect of Ca substitution on the electrical properties was studied by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range 303 K 723 K. The dielectric properties of the synthesized ceramics were characterized by a strong temperature and frequency dependence. Complex impedance analysis distinguished the grain, grain boundary and electrode contribution and suggested that the systems are undergoing a polydispersive Non-Debye type relaxation. The equivalent circuit model was used to find a correlation between the response of real system and discrete electrical components. Combined study of imaginary part of electric impedance and modulus as a function of frequency was taken as additional evidence of electrical heterogeneous microstructure of the polycrystalline ceramics as explained by the Nyquist plots. The ac conductivity variation with frequency and temperature was investigated, which showed qualitative similarities as that of dielectric spectra. The dc conductivity was measured by extrapolating the conductivity spectra at different temperatures to the zero frequency values, from which thermal activation energies

A novel phthalimide derivative, 2-{4-[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]phenyl}-1H–isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione (TMPID) containing an isoindole moiety was synthesized by the cyclisation of 2-({4-[(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]phenyl}carbamoyl)benzoic acid (TMPCB). The absorbance and fluorescence spectra of the derivative were recorded in fifteen different solvents to investigate their solvatochromic behaviour and dipole moments. Different solvent correlation methods, like the Bilot–Kawski, Lippert–Mataga, Bakhshiev, Kawski–Chamma–Viallet and Reichardt methods were employed to estimate the singlet excited and ground state dipole moments. Using multiple regression analysis, solute-solvent, specific and non-specific interactions were analyzed by means of Kamlet-Abboud-Taft and Catalan parameters. Computational studies were performed using time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) in order to calculate ground state dipole moment, atomic charges and frontier molecular orbital energies in solvent phase. Experimental and computational studies indicate that the singlet excited state dipole moment of TMPID is greater than the ground state dipole moment. The chemical stability of the derivative was determined by means of chemical hardness (η) using HOMO–LUMO energies. From TD-DFT computational analysis, reactive centres in the molecule were evaluated based on molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) 3D plots.

A new Schiff base, (4-(benzylideneamino)benzyl)oxazolidin-2-one has been synthesised from 4-(4-aminobenzyl)oxazolidin-2-one and salicylaldehyde by a simple condensation reaction. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of (E)-4-(4-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino) benzyl)oxazolidin-2-one (HBOA) revealed that there is a 1-D, slipped, face-to-face motif with off-set, head-to-tail stacked columns. Detailed studies on photophysical properties of the synthesised compound in solutions indicate their potential applications in the field of organic light emitting devices and nonlinear optical materials. Absorption and fluorescence study of HBOA has been conducted in a series of solvents with increasing polarity at room temperature. Ground and excited state dipole moments have been determined experimentally by using Lippert–Mataga polarity function, Bakhshiev solvent polarity parameter, Kawskii–Chamma–Viallet solvent polarity parameter and Richardt׳s microscopic solvent polarity parameter. Due to the considerable π-electron density redistribution, the excited state dipole moment was found to be larger than that of the ground state. The ground state dipole moment value was determined by quantum chemical method which was used to estimate excited state dipole moment through solvatochromic correlations. Kamlet–Taft and Catalan methods were used to get the information of both non-specific solute–solvent interactions and hydrogen bonding interactions. TD-DFT (B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)) has been used for the determination of HOMO–LUMO energies. Mulliken charges and Molecular electrostatic potential were also evaluated from DFT calculations.

An investigation of absorption and fluorescence behaviour of 6-amino-3-methyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitrile (NDPPC) at room temperature was carried out using a series of twelve organic solvents with different polarities. Ground and excited state dipole moments were determined experimentally by using Lippert–Mataga polarity function, Bakhshiev solvent polarity parameter, Kawski-Chamma-Viallet solvent polarity parameter, Reichardt's microscopic solvent polarity parameter, Kamlet-Abboud-Taft multiple linear regression and Catalan dipolar polarizibility approach. Due to considerable π- electron density redistribution, the value of excited state dipole moment was found to be greater than that of the ground state. The ground state dipole moment value was determined by quantum chemical method which was used to estimate excited state dipole moment using solvatochromic correlations. Both non-specific solute-solvent interactions and hydrogen bonding interactions were investigated by using Kamlet-Abboud-Taft and Catalan method. TD-DFT (B3LYP/6-311G (d,p)) was used for the determination of HOMO-LUMO energies.

We herein presented the investigation on the structural, electrical and magnetic properties of (1−x)(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)–x(Bi0.8Sr0.2FeO3) polycrystalline ceramic samples, with x=0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7. These samples were prepared by conventional solid state reaction method and the crystalline phase of prepared ceramics was identified with the help of X-ray diffraction pattern. Rietveld analysis of the obtained XRD data confirmed that all the synthesized samples adopt the rhombohedral crystal structure with R3c space group. Impedance spectroscopic measurements were performed on all the compositions in the frequency range 10 Hz–5 MHz to probe the electrical microstructure of polycrystalline (1−x)(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)–x(Bi0.8Sr0.2FeO3) ceramics, which changes significantly as a function of x (content of BSFO). A significant increase in dielectric constant has been observed with increase in BSFO concentration, which was attributed to enhancement of oxygen vacancies. Detailed study of impedance complex plane plots revealed the presence of non-Debye type relaxation for all the prepared systems and enabled us to separate the contribution from grains and grain boundaries. Equivalent circuit model (RgCPEg)(RgbCPEgb)(ReCPEe) was employed to explain the impedance data for all the prepared samples. The activation energies obtained from electric modulus as well as dc conductivity increase with increase in BSFO content, which approaches the value 1 eV and indicates an Arrehenius type thermally activated process. Remnant magnetization (Mr) and coercive field (Hc) are found to be increase with BSFO concentration.

(Na0.5Bi0.5)1−xBaxTiO3 (x = 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15) ceramics abbreviated as (NBBT1, NBBT2 and NBBT3) are fabricated by conventional ceramic fabrication technique. The analysis of X-ray diffraction pattern of the prepared ceramic performed by Rietveld refinement indicate that crystal structure is rhombohedral for NBBT1, tetragonal for NBBT3 and a phase boundary occurs for NBBT2. Impedance spectroscopy has been employed to study the electrical properties of these ceramics in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 5 MHz and in a temperature range of 303 K–723 K. Frequency and temperature dependent electrical data is analyzed in the framework of conductivity, impedance and electric modulus formalisms. Conductivity spectrum obeys double power law for NBBT1, which is evidenced from two different dispersion regions. While for NBBT2 and NBBT3 only single power law is observed. Relaxation frequency for impedance is found to increase with temperature and obeys Arrhenius relationship with activation energy ≈0.764, 0.527 and 0.471 eV for NBBT1, NBBT2 and NBBT3 respectively. Variation of dielectric constant and tanδ with frequency at different temperatures was analyzed with the help of Maxwell–Wagner and Koop's phenomenogical theory. The presence of peaks in plots showing frequency dependence of tanδ for NBBT2 and NBBT3 indicates relaxor behavior of these compositions.

Much information is available on the role of nitric oxide (NO) in osteoarthritis (OA). However, its role has not been studied in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced model of osteoarthritic pain. The present study was undertaken in rats to investigate the effect of iNOS inhibitor S-methylisothiourea (SMT) in MIA-induced osteoathritic pain and disease progression in rats. Osteoarthritis was produced by single intra-articular injection of the MIA in the right knee joint on day 0. Treatment groups were orally gavazed with different doses of SMT (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and etoricoxib (10 mg/kg) daily for 21 days. On days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21, pain was measured and histopathology of right knee joint was done on day 21. SMT produced analgesia in a dose-dependent manner as shown by mechanical, heat hyperalgesia, knee vocalization, knee squeeze test, and spontaneous motor activity test. SMT reduced NO production in synovial fluid. Histopathological findings indicated that SMT reduced disease progression as evident from complete cartilage formation in rats treated with SMT at 30 mg/kg. In conclusion, the results indicate that SMT attenuates the MIA-induced pain and histopathological changes in the knee joint. The antinociceptive and antiarthritic effects of SMT were mediated by inhibiting cartilage damage and suppression of NO in synovial fluid. It is suggested that SMT has potential as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of osteoarthritis.