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Appropriate organization of video databases is essential for pertinent indexing and retrieval of visual information. This paper proposes a new feature called Block Intensity Comparison Code (BICC) for video classification and an unsupervised shot change detection algorithm to detect the shot changes in a video stream using autoassociative neural network (AANN) which makes retrieval problems much simpler. BICC represents the average block intensity difference between blocks of a frame. A novel AANN misclustering rate (AMR) algorithm is used to detect the shot transitions. The experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Cancer is a multifaceted disease characterized by the gradual accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations within cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and invasive behavior. The intricate interplay between environmental factors, such as exposure to carcinogens, and the molecular cascades governing cell growth, differentiation, and survival contributes to cancer's development and progression. This review offers a comprehensive overview of key molecular targets and their roles in cancer development. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are implicated in various cancers due to their role in regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, and cell proliferation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 protects cells from oxidative damage but can also promote tumor cell survival. Cytochrome P450 1B1 metabolizes exogenous and endogenous substances, and its increased expression is observed in several cancers. The constitutive androstane receptor regulates gene expression, and its dysregulation can lead to liver cancer. Transforming growth factor-beta 2 is involved in the development and progression of various cancers by dysregulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Chelation treatment has been investigated for removing heavy metals, while genetically altered immune cells show promise in treating specific cancers. Metal-organic frameworks and fibronectin targeting represent new directions in cancer treatment. While some heavy metals, such as arsenic, chromium, nickel, and cadmium, are known to have carcinogenic properties, others, like zinc, Copper, gold, bismuth, and silver, have many uses that highlight their potential as effective cancer control tactics. There are a variety of heavy metal-based technologies that show potential for improving cancer treatment methods, including targeted drug delivery, improved radiation, and diagnostic tools., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The scarcity of conventional aggregates with tremendous growth in highway construction and the indiscriminate dumping of industrial waste materials in precious landfills has become a huge global concern. This study is aimed at utilizing wastes from various industries, including coalmine overburden (OB) dump, basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag, and fly ash to produce suitable and sustainable cement-treated subbase/base course layers (CBSB/CTB) for flexible pavement construction. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the composition of the blended material considering unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and Poisson's ratio. Results demonstrated that 50% OB dump, 40% slag, 5% fly ash, and 5% cement achieved a 7-day UCS of 4.84 MPa and Poisson's ratio of 0.25, in line with IRC:37-2018 guidelines. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis confirmed the presence of ettringite crystals, calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H), and calcium-aluminosilicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H) gels which are the source of strength development in the blend. Further, a soaked California bearing ratio (CBR) of 136.08% and flexural strength of 2.06 MPa after 7 days and 28 days of curing, respectively, demonstrates the overall strength of the stabilized waste. Approximately 4% weight loss was observed after wet-dry durability tests, indicating exceptional performance of the optimal blend in inclement weather conditions. Furthermore, the environmental impact of the blended material was studied through a leaching study. Fly ash had a high zinc (Zn) level, while BOF slag showed a rich concentration of chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in the acid digestion test. In spite of this, the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) test indicated that the levels of heavy metals that leached from the stabilized material stayed considerably below the permissible limits set forth in Indian Standard, IS:10500 (2012). Finally, cost analysis showed a 51.6% reduction in construction cost with cement-treated industrial wastes instead of granular base/subbase made with conventional aggregates. The study recommends the suitability of the stabilized waste material as an alternate construction material for large-scale field applications, which could encourage the construction of flexible pavements that are environmentally benign, economical, and sustainable., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Orbital tuberculosis is a rare form of extra pulmonary TB and may arise either by hematogenous route or spread directly from the paranasal sinus. We herein report two cases of orbital TB with a vision threatening complication. Case-1 is a 31-year-old female with a headache, a diminution of vision in the right eye, and pain in ocular movement. On examination, there was no proptosis with RAPD present in right eye and tenderness on palpation. CEMRI revealed a diffuse infiltrating lesion at the orbital apex, suggesting of inflammatory pathology. Case-2 is a 40-year-old male with similar complaints in the left eye, CECT showed edema and swelling in the optic nerve and extraocular muscle of the left eye. A detailed investigation was done, and a diagnosis of orbital tuberculosis was made in both patients. They were started on ATT and oral steroids but lost follow-up initially and due to delayed treatment, it led to irreversible vision loss. A long-term follow-up showed resolution of ocular symptoms with occasional headaches., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Starmerella bombicola is a native yeast strain producing sophorolipids as secondary metabolites. This study explores the production, characterization, and biological activities of sophorolipids and investigates the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal properties of sophorolipids produced from oil refinery wastes by the yeast Starmerella bombicola. The present work demonstrated that S. bombicola MTCC 1910 when grown in oil refinery wastes namely palm fatty acid distillates and soy fatty acid distillates enhanced the rate of sophorolipids production drastically in comparison to vegetable oil, sunflower oil used as hydrophobic feedstock. Sophorolipid yields were 18.14, 37.21, and 46.1 g/L with sunflower oil, palm, and soy fatty acid distillates respectively. The crude biosurfactants were characterized using TLC, FTIR, and HPLC revealing to be acetylated sophorolipids containing both the acidic and lactonic isomeric forms. The surface lowering and emulsifying properties of the sophorolipids from refinery wastes were significantly higher than the sunflower oil-derived sophorolipids. Also, all the sophorolipids exhibited strong antibacterial properties (minimum inhibitory concentrations were between 50 and 200 µg mL -1 ) against Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and were validated with morphological analysis by Scanning electron microscopy. All the sophorolipids were potent biofilm inhibitors and eradicators (minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations were between 12.5 to 1000 µg mL -1 ) for all the tested organisms. Furthermore, antifungal activities were also found to exhibit about 16-56% inhibition at 1 mg mL -1 for fungal mycelial growth. Therefore, this endeavour of sophorolipids production using palm and soy fatty acid distillates not only opens up a window for the bioconversion of industrial wastes into productive biosurfactants but also concludes that sophorolipids from oil refinery wastes are potent antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal agents, highlighting their potential in biotechnological and medical applications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Wetland is a suitable habitat for water birds, and it enhances cultural ecosystem services. But the rapid transformation of such habitat, especially in floodplain environments, is an emerging crisis. Wetland reclamation and fragmentation are two major issues leading to poor habitat and landscape. The present paper aimed to explore the spatio-temporal changes in the suitability of wetland bird habitat, wetland landscape pattern, and the connection between them. Two wetlands, including a wetland of national importance, were taken as cases for this study. Time series Landsat and Sentinel images were taken for developing modeling parameters and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) for the years 2016 and 2020. The first transformation of wetland was accounted from the LULC maps of both years. Machine learning algorithm-based spatial models were developed for mapping the poor landscape condition of the existing wetland parts. Finally, semi-subjective analytic hierarchy approach (AHP)-based models were developed for assessing waterbird habitat suitability. Results demarcated more than 48% area belonging primarily to edges and tiny patches of wetlands under a poor state in 2020. Although the total wetland area was reduced between 2016 and 2020, the wetland area found to be highly suitable habitat increased from 25.5 to 59.44% of the total area during that period. The suitability of edge-preferring bird habitat showed a 10% increase. The increasing poverty of the landscape was caused by declining edge-preferring bird habitat suitability. From 1990 to 2020, 27% of wetlands were converted to single-cropped lands, and 5% were converted to multi-cropped agricultural land. Since the study spatially identified the potential suitable area and trend of wetland habitat transformation, this could help policymakers define suitable planning for the restoration and conservation of such promising bird habitat., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Crude oil contamination has been widely recognized as a major environmental issue due to its various adverse effects. The use of inhabitant microorganisms (native to the contaminated sites) to detoxify/remove pollutants owing to their diverse metabolic capabilities is an evolving method for the removal/degradation of petroleum industry contaminants. The present study deals with the exploitation of native resident bacteria from crude oil contaminated site (oil exploration field) for bioremediation procedures. Fifteen (out of forty-four) bioremediation-relevant aerobic bacterial strains, belonging to the genera of Bacillus , Stenotrophomonas , Pseudomonas , Paenibacillus , Rhizobium , Burkholderia, and Franconibacter, isolated from crude oil containing sludge, have been selected for the present bioremediation study. Crude oil bioremediation performance of the selected bacterial consortium was assessed using microcosm-based studies. Stimulation of the microbial consortium with nitrogen or phosphorous led to the degradation of 60-70% of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in 0.25% and 0.5% crude oil experimental sets. CO 2 evolution, indicative of crude oil mineralization, was evident with the highest evolution being 28.6 mg mL -1 . Ecotoxicity of treated crude oil-containing media was assessed using plant seed germination assay, in which most of the 0.25% and 0.5% treated crude oil sets gave positive results thereby suggesting a reduction in crude oil toxicity., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the publication., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Present study attempted to quantify the anthropogenic impact on blue space (BS) and potential ecosystem service value (ESV) and link them. A small urban area of eastern India was taken as a case. To fulfill the purpose, the primary data extracted from the field was used. Firstly, an anthropogenic impact score (AIS) comprising eight components was calculated using rank compositing. ESV was estimated with the help of the Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES) approach of the Ramsar convention. Rank correlation was carried out for linking AIS and ESV. Results show that 70% of BS is characterized by moderate to high levels of anthropo-driven impacts. Landscape, habitat, and pollution were detected as prime vectors behind these impacts. The impacts were higher in the core urban area. Contrarily, the potential ESV was found to be higher in the peripheral BS units. Most of the blue space failed to offer remarkable provisions and cultural services. However, the regulating services were recorded to have better status. The study clearly reported a negative association between AIS and ESV in BS. Conversion of BS, habitat alteration, pollution, and lack of restoration were found to have very prominent negative effects on ESV. Minimizing such anthropogenic impacts could improve the ESV credibility of urban blue spaces., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The review article presents the recent progress in quantum computing and simulation within the field of biological sciences. The article is designed mainly into two portions: quantum computing and quantum simulation. In the first part, significant aspects of quantum computing was illustrated, such as quantum hardware, quantum RAM and big data, modern quantum processors, qubit, superposition effect in quantum computation, quantum interference, quantum entanglement, and quantum logic gates. Simultaneously, in the second part, vital features of the quantum simulation was illustrated, such as the quantum simulator, algorithms used in quantum simulations, and the use of quantum simulation in biological science. Finally, the review provides exceptional views to future researchers about different aspects of quantum simulation in biological science., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Enteral nutrition is the preferred mode of nutrition following esophagectomy. However, the preferred mode of enteral nutrition (feeding jejunostomy (FJ) vs. nasojejunal (NJ) tube) remains contentious. In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), we compared FJ with NJ tube feeding in terms of safety, feasibility, efficacy, and quality-of-life (QOL) parameters in Indian patients undergoing trans-hiatal esophagectomy (THE) for carcinoma esophagus., Materials and Methods: This single-center, two-armed (FJ and NJ tube), non-inferiority RCT was conducted from March 2020 to January 2024. Forty-eight patients underwent THE with posterior-mediastinal-gastric pull-up and were randomized to NJ and FJ arms (24 in each group). The postoperative complications, catheter efficacy, and QOL parameters were compared between the two groups till the 6-week follow-up., Results: In this RCT, we found no significant difference in the occurrence of catheter-related complications, postoperative complication rate, catheter efficacy, and visual analog pain scores between patients with NJ tube and FJ, following THE for esophageal cancer. There was a significantly better self-reported physical domain QOL score noted in the NJ group, both at the time of discharge (44.7 ± 6.2 vs 39.8 + 5.6; p value, 0.005) and at the 6-week follow-up (55.4 ± 5.2 vs 48.6 ± 4.5; p value, < 0.001)., Conclusion: Based on the findings of our RCT, we conclude that both enteral access methods (NJ vs. FJ) exhibit comparable incidences of catheter-related complications. The use of NJ tube is a viable alternative to a surgical FJ, has the benefit of early removal, and saves the distress associated with a tube per abdomen., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Groundwater is an essential source of drinking as well as irrigation water. It has recently become a significant challenge to maintain good and safe drinking water for all living beings. The continuous supply of arsenic detected in groundwater poses a severe health problem and has adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Researchers also identified arsenic contamination globally across various regions. However, a few studies also identified that the groundwater of Patna, Saran, and Vaishali districts of Bihar is intoxicated by arsenic. To assess the toxic level of arsenic in groundwater, samples from various GPS-based pointed locations were collected from the study area using a GARMIN GPS device. The total concentration of arsenic in drinking water (mostly traces of arsenic, level of μg L -1 or less) can be detected only by sophisticated analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, GF-AAS, and HG-AAS. The standard procedures were followed to determine quality attributes in groundwater. Arsenic contamination persists in most areas and exceeds the permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), negatively impacting the health of more than 10 million people in the state. The 90.47% and 85.71% groundwater samples of the study area exceeded the permissible limit of the WHO (0.01 mg L -1 ) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS (0.05 mg L -1 ), respectively. The analyzed data was obtained, and variability was noticed in total arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 7.801 mg L -1 , with a mean value of 0.87 mg L -1 . Similarly, the water quality attribute like total dissolved solids were identified in 14.28% of samples, which crossed 201 to 1026 mg L -1 , with a mean value of 375.33 mg L -1 ., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The anaphase promoting complex (APC or cyclosome) is a major ubiquitin ligase that coordinates mitotic and G1 progression, acting as a major regulator of chromosome segregation. While the human APC contains fourteen subunits, it is yet to be explored in the pathogen Entamoeba histolytica. Our study reveals the existence of a single functional Apc10 homolog in E. histolytica, which acts as a processivity factor of ubiquitin ligase activity in human. A cDNA library generated from HM1:IMSS strain of E. histolytica was screened for interaction partners of EhApc10 in yeast two hybrid study. The novel interactor, a glycolytic enzyme, pyruvate phosphate dikinase (Ppdk) was found to interact with EhApc10 and further validated by in vitro assay. A comprehensive in silico study has emphasized the structural and functional aspects, encompassing physicochemical traits, predictive 3D structure modelling, validation of EhApc10-EhPpdk interaction through molecular docking and simulation. The interplay between a cell cycle protein and a glycolytic enzyme highlights the connection between cellular metabolism and the cell cycle regulatory mechanism. The study serves as the groundwork for future research on the non-mitotic role of APC beyond cell cycle., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system that regulates multiple different forms of synaptic plasticity, including learning and memory. Glutamate transduces its signal by activating ionotropic glutamate receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Group I mGluRs belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Regulation of cell surface expression and trafficking of the glutamate receptors represents an important mechanism that assures proper transmission of information at the synapses. There is growing evidence implicating dysregulated glutamate receptor trafficking in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders. The postsynaptic density (PSD) region consists of many specialized proteins which are assembled beneath the postsynaptic membrane of dendritic spines. Many of these proteins interact with group I mGluRs and have essential roles in group I mGluR-mediated synaptic function and plasticity. This review provides up-to-date information on the molecular determinants regulating cell surface expression and trafficking of group I mGluRs and discusses the role of few of these PSD proteins in these processes. As substantial evidences link mGluR dysfunction and maladaptive functioning of many PSD proteins to the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders, understanding the role of the PSD proteins in group I mGluR trafficking may provide opportunities for the development of novel therapeutics in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates mainly due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression in human cancer, functioning through various mechanisms including as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and indirectly regulating miRNA expression. LncRNAs have been found to have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles in cancer, with the former promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and poor prognosis. Recent research has shown that lncRNAs are expressed in various immune cells and are involved in cancer cell immune escape and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, thus highlighting their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Targeting lncRNAs in cancer or immune cells could enhance the anti-tumor immune response and improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes. However, further research is required to fully understand the functional roles of lncRNAs in cancer and the immune system and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in human cancers, with a focus on their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. By exploring the intricate mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated regulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and immune evasion, we provide insights into the diverse therapeutic applications of these molecules., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Major countries like the USA, European Union, UK, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and China have taken significant initiatives to develop quantum computation infrastructure. India has also taken several steps to join the quantum computation family. The Indian government has taken several initiatives to build the nation's infrastructure on quantum computation and participate in the global quantum landscape. The Indian government has created a roadmap in this direction. The significant steps are: firstly, noteworthy budget allocation (1.12 billion USD in 2020 and 734 million USD for the National Quantum Mission in 2023); secondly, 21 quantum hubs are being developed throughout the country; thirdly, 4 quantum research parks have been created and finally, Department of Science and Technology (DST) has initiated QuEST (Quantum Enabled Science and Technology) programme during 2017-18. The article also discusses other effective strategies and moves by the Indian government, like different ambitious national missions on quantum science and technology to create the country's ecosystem. In that direction, the article addresses the opportunities and challenges of quantum science and technology for India. However, the Indian government should encourage quantum computation research more for the country's development. Finally, the information provided here depicts an overall view of India's quantum computation landscape., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Previously, the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded while listening to repetition of a Sanskrit monosyllable (i.e., OM) was not significantly different from the EEG recorded during control periods. In the present study, fifteen adult volunteers from northern India (all male, average age 25.0 ± 4.9 years) were assessed using monopolar scalp EEG recordings before, during and after (i) silent repetition of a monosyllable (OM), (ii) silent repetition of 'one' and (iii) quiet rest. In (i), (ii) and (iii) breathing was not consciously modified. The participants had an average of five years' experience of focused meditation (dharana), involving awareness directed to the breath. Participants had no prior experience of silent repetition of either 'OM' or 'one'. They were Indian Hindus for whom OM has special spiritual significance, whereas 'one' does not. The sessions were on separate days in random order. The absolute and relative energy of theta waves in the EEG recorded at Pz-A2 increased significantly during repetition of OM compared to the preceding state. There were no changes during silent repetition of 'one' or during quiet rest. Increased energy in the theta band while awake reflects a state of relaxation devoid of effort. Hence, during silent repetition of OM alone there were changes suggestive of effortless relaxation., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest in relation to this study. Ethical Approval The study protocol was approved by the institutional ethical committee (Approval Number: YRD-017/027). All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional committee., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The present study aimed to explore the linkage between wetland health, provisioning service value (PsV) and livelihood vulnerability of the dependent fishermen community taking examples from the Moribund deltaic wetlands of India. Wetland health including hydrological strength, habitat state, and the water quality of the wetland was assessed using a random forest (RF) and XGBoosing machine learning approach, and the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) was computed using balanced weighted approach. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression, correlation matrix, and rank correlation matrix were done to make the relationship between wetland health and LVI. Wetland health was found poor (28.38%) in the isolated, smaller, and peripheral parts of the wetland with agricultural and built-up area proximity. Hydrological strength (with r 2 of 0.67) was found as the most dominant health determinant followed by habitat state (with r 2 of 0.62). OLS reported that in most of the cases, the standard regression residual is low (0.5 to - 0.5) which indicates that there is a strong relation between wetland health and LVI. KDE plot and correlation matrix also figured out the same. From the field survey, it was found that the wetlands with good habitat health are promising for providing more provisioning services like fish which in turn supports the livelihood of the dependent communities. The findings of this study have a deeper insight into livelihood management through wetland management. Hence, it would inspire policymakers and stakeholders to conserve wetlands not only for the sake of ecology but also for society., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on Oreochromis mossambicus, a freshwater fish species. Probit analysis was used to determine the lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of BAC for different exposure periods (24, 48, 72, and 96 h). The viability of fish exposed to BAC was assessed using the general threshold survival models (GUTS) and confirmed with relevant datasets to evaluate model accuracy. Experimental groups of fish were exposed to BAC concentrations equivalent to 10% and 20% of the 96-h LC 50 for 45 days. The study revealed significant alterations in various parameters during sublethal BAC exposure. These effects included decreased specific growth rate (SGR), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Ht) value, plasma protein, and albumin levels, as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in both gills and liver. Additionally, an increase in gastrosomatic index (GSI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), plasma glucose and creatinine concentrations, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymatic activities, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed in the exposed fish's gills and liver. Furthermore, the study found that glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels initially increased and then decreased in both gills and liver after exposure to BAC. Correlation matrix analysis, multivariate multiple regression (MMR), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), integrated biomarker response (IBR), and biomarker response index (BRI) were utilized to assess the impact of BAC on fish, highlighting significant effects on multiple biomarkers in O. mossambicus following surfactant exposure. Thus, the study provides valuable insights into the toxic effects of BAC on this fish species, emphasizing the importance of monitoring such pollutants in aquatic environments., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Biomass, an organic matter, has gained worldwide attention due to the overconsumption of fossil fuels. Biomass has emerged as a new alternative resource with implications for efficient energy production, environmental benefits and socio-economic impacts. According to the World Bioenergy Association, biomass has accounted for 14% of the energy supply in 2016 and is expected to provide 44% of the energy demand by 2030. This literary endeavour comprises insights into past developments, including biomass types, characterization methods and conversion technologies. This review article aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of agriculture biomass utilization and its significance in achieving sustainable development goals by analysing the latest research findings. Moreover, the emerging role of biosensors in optimizing biomass utilization and monitoring environmental impacts has been documented. The scope embraces the vast realm of bioenergy production, environmental mitigation and the generation of valuable by-products. In conclusion, portraying biomass conversion technologies as the transition towards cleaner, renewable energy, the potential benefits and challenges extend beyond energy production, encompassing effective agricultural residue management and the creation of valuable by-products. This review will guide the researchers and stakeholders towards a deeper understanding of the transformative potential embedded in biomass conversion processes for a sustainable and cleaner energy future., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Periodontal disease is a multifactorial pathogenic condition involving microbial infection, inflammation, and various systemic complications. Here, a systematic and comprehensive review discussing key-points such as the pros and cons of conventional methods, new advancements, challenges, patents and products, and future prospects is presented. A systematic review process was adopted here by using the following keywords: periodontal diseases, pathogenesis, models, patents, challenges, recent developments, and 3-D printing scaffolds. Search engines used were "google scholar", "web of science", "scopus", and "pubmed", along with textbooks published over the last few decades. A thorough study of the published data rendered an accurate and deep understanding of periodontal diseases, the gap of research so far, and future opportunities. Formulation scientists and doctors need to be interconnected for a better understanding of the disease to prescribe a quality product. Moreover, prime challenges (such as a lack of a vital testing model, scarcity of clinical and preclinical data, products allowing for high drug access to deeper tissue regions for prolonged residence, lack of an international monitoring body, lack of 4D or time controlled scaffolds, and lack of successful AI based tools) exist that must be addressed for designing new quality products. Generally, several products have been commercialized to treat periodontal diseases with certain limitations. Various strategic approaches have been attempted to target certain delivery regions, maximize residence time, improve efficacy, and reduce toxicity. Conclusively, the current review summarizes valuable information for researchers and healthcare professional to treat a wide range of periodontal diseases., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists.)

Energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables is instrumental in mitigating climate change. Low-income countries have a higher share of renewable energy in their total energy consumption than rich countries (WDI, 2023). Thus, it is imperative to examine the role of energy transition in affecting relative CO 2 emissions between rich and poor sections of the societies across income groups of the countries. In this context, our study contributes by constructing the carbon inequality models with renewable and non-renewable energy consumption as prime explanatory variables separately for 114 countries over a data period 1990-2019. The models are estimated individually for high-middle-low-income countries by controlling for foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth, and innovations. Starting with preliminary econometric operations, we employ the dynamic simulated panel autoregressive distributed lag approach and Driscoll-Kraay standard error regression for empirical investigation. We find that energy transition reduces carbon inequality globally. Innovation has a negative impact, economic growth has a positive impact on carbon inequality, and FDI has an asymmetric impact based on the income level of the countries. The crucial global policy implications are discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We investigated the polymorphisms/mutations in synaptonemal complex central element protein 1 (SYCE1) and CDC25A mRNA-binding protein (BOLL) to test whether they increase the risk of azoospermia among Bengali-speaking men from West Bengal, India. Sanger's dideoxy sequencing was used to genotype 140 azoospermic individuals who tested negative for Y chromosome microdeletion and 120 healthy controls. In both cases and controls, qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression summary of SYCE1 and BOLL. The perceived harmful consequences of identified mutations were inferred using in silico analysis. Suitable statistical approaches were used to conduct the association study. We found SYCE1 177insT (ON245141), 10650T > G (ON257012), 10093insT (ON257013), 10653insG (ON292504), rs10857748A > G, rs10857749G > A, and rs10857750T > A and BOLL 7708T > A (ON245141insT), rs72918816T > C, and rs700655C > T variants with the prevalence of azoospermia. Data from qRT-PCR and in silico studies projected that the variations would either disrupt the transcript's natural splice junctions or cause probable damage to the structure of the genes' proteins. SYCE1 gene variants [177insT (ON245141), 10650T > G (ON257012), 10093insT (ON257013), 10653insG (ON292504), rs10857748A > G, rs10857749G > A, rs10857750T > A] and BOLL gene variants [7708T > A (ON245141insT), rs72918816T > C, rs700655C > T] reduce the expression of respective gene in testicular tissue among azoospermic male as revealed from qRT-PCR result. These genetic variations could be utilized as screening tools for male infertility to determine the best course of treatment in routine ART practise., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae causing severe infection resulting in morbidity and mortality have become a global health concern. K. pneumoniae with sequence type ST147 is an international high-risk clonal lineage, genomic studies have been done on K. pneumoniae ST147 isolated from clinical origin but genomic data for environmental K. pneumoniae ST147 is very scarce. Herein, K. pneumoniae IITR008, an extensively drug resistant and potentially hypervirulent bacterium, was isolated from Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three rivers where religious congregations are organized. Phenotypic, genomic and comparative genomic analysis of strain IITR008 was performed. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling revealed resistance to 9 different classes of antibiotics including ß-lactams, ß-lactam combination agents, carbapenem, aminoglycoside, macrolide, quinolones, cephams, phenicol, and folate pathway antagonists and was found to be susceptible to only tetracycline. The strain IITR008 possesses hypervirulence genes namely, iutA and iroN in addition to numerous virulence factors coding for adherence, regulation, iron uptake, secretion system and toxin. Both the IITR008 chromosome and plasmid pIITR008&#95;75 possess a plethora of clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) including bla CTX-M-15 , bla TEM-1 , and bla SHV - 11 , corroborating the phenotypic resistance. Comparative genomic analysis with other ST147 K. pneumoniae provided insights on the phylogenetic clustering of IITR008 with a clinical strain isolated from a patient in Czech with recent travel history in India and other clinical strains isolated from India and Pakistan. According to the 'One Health' perspective, surveillance of antibiotic resistance in the environment is crucial to impede its accelerated development in diverse ecological niches., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The present study aimed to measure wetland inundation inconsistency level (IIL) at a spatial scale to appraise the potential serviceability in the Mayurakshi river basin of Eastern India. Inconsistency was used for measuring both wetland water presence area and proxy water depth based on historical satellite images from 1988 to 2022. Applying inconsistency assessment, it was tried to assess how water appearance at a pixel is inconsistent and how average proxy water depth is inconsistent to attain. Four manmade and natural floodplain wetland complexes were taken for this. The study revealed about 51-53% and 59-86% manmade and natural wetland losses respectively and the IIL was also found significantly higher (30-50%) in the cases of natural wetlands in pre and post-monsoon seasons. The scenario is worse in pre-monsoon season in the natural wetlands. Inconsistency of water depth anomaly (IWDA) was also significantly increased almost in the same trend. Discharge control through hydro-engineering structures like dams, barrages, and embankments; river and wetland connecting tie channel loss; and loss of groundwater support are some crucial reasons behind the hydrological inconsistency of wetlands. Growing loss and IIL are caused for concerned economic and ecological adversity. So, the findings would be very useful for taking necessary planning for wetland management and restoration., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Modern biological science is trying to solve the fundamental complex problems of molecular biology, which include protein folding, drug discovery, simulation of macromolecular structure, genome assembly, and many more. Currently, quantum computing (QC), a rapidly emerging technology exploiting quantum mechanical phenomena, has developed to address current significant physical, chemical, biological issues, and complex questions. The present review discusses quantum computing technology and its status in solving molecular biology problems, especially in the next-generation computational biology scenario. First, the article explained the basic concept of quantum computing, the functioning of quantum systems where information is stored as qubits, and data storage capacity using quantum gates. Second, the review discussed quantum computing components, such as quantum hardware, quantum processors, and quantum annealing. At the same time, article also discussed quantum algorithms, such as the grover search algorithm and discrete and factorization algorithms. Furthermore, the article discussed the different applications of quantum computing to understand the next-generation biological problems, such as simulation and modeling of biological macromolecules, computational biology problems, data analysis in bioinformatics, protein folding, molecular biology problems, modeling of gene regulatory networks, drug discovery and development, mechano-biology, and RNA folding. Finally, the article represented different probable prospects of quantum computing in molecular biology., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In our groundbreaking exploration, we meticulously delve into the relationship between environmental policy stringency, international trade dynamics, and financial openness within the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) spanning from 1996 to 2021. With a focus on critical variables such as economic growth and technological innovation, our empirical findings challenge conventional wisdom. Surprisingly, we found that those stringent environmental policies, when standing alone, do not invariably lead to reduce CO 2 emissions. Equally interesting is our startling discovery that the anticipated moderating influence of environmental policy stringency, catalyzed by trade and foreign direct investment, on the well-being of our environment does not materialize; contrarily, both trade and foreign direct investment moderating channels exhibit unanticipated positive correlations with CO 2 emissions. These revelations provoke us with the presence of a "pollution haven" phenomenon within the BRICS economies. Furthermore, our investigation reveals that, when examined individually, trade and foreign direct investment also appear to contribute to elevated emission levels. These findings provide a resolute solution to our research quandary, underlining the indispensable requirement for cutting-edge and robust environmental policies. These policies must possess the prowess to effectively counteract the adverse environmental consequences stemming from the amalgamation of global trade and financial integration. In doing so, they shall propel BRICS nations toward a future firmly grounded in principles of sustainability and ecological integrity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

ChatGPT has quickly popularized since its release in November 2022. Currently, large language models (LLMs) and ChatGPT have been applied in various domains of medical science, including in cardiology, nephrology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, and radiology. Researchers are exploring the potential of LLMs and ChatGPT for clinicians and surgeons in every domain. This study discusses how ChatGPT can help orthopedic clinicians and surgeons perform various medical tasks. LLMs and ChatGPT can help the patient community by providing suggestions and diagnostic guidelines. In this study, the use of LLMs and ChatGPT to enhance and expand the field of orthopedics, including orthopedic education, surgery, and research, is explored. Present LLMs have several shortcomings, which are discussed herein. However, next-generation and future domain-specific LLMs are expected to be more potent and transform patients' quality of life., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In this article, binary oxide ZnCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed on reduced graphene oxide surface by simple reflux condensation method. The physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposite were computed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The average size of ZnCo 2 O 4 NPs is found to be about 9 nm. The synthesized nanocomposite was found to be an extremely efficient catalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to produce 4-aminophenol (4-AP) and it is exhibited that about 98% 4-nitrophenol can be reduced in only 20 min. The nanocomposite behaves as supercapacitor due to possessing the specific capacitance value up to 609 F/g and excellent capacitance retention over 1000 cycles. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis has been conducted to evaluate surface area and pore size of the synthesized material. The antimicrobial activity of this nanocomposite was performed against bacterial strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and it is noticed to be a good antimicrobial agent against different bacterial strains., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Indiscriminate use of oxytetracycline is linked to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes, posing a serious threat to human health and ecosystem balance. This article reports the adsorptive elimination of oxytetracycline (OTC) from aqueous solution using a newly developed MnO 2 -modified pine-cone biochar (MnO 2 /PCBC). The MnO 2 /PCBC was characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, CHNS analyzer, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N 2 adsorption analyzer. Batch adsorption experiments, designed using the central composite design framework of response surface methodology, were conducted to investigate the influence of process variables on the adsorption of OTC onto MnO 2 /PCBC. The optimized conditions for achieving maximum removal (88.1%) were found to be at pH 8, MnO 2 /PCBC dose 0.44 g/L, initial OTC concentration 200 mg/L, and temperature 303 K. The adsorption process follows Langmuir (R 2 =0.95) and Freundlich (R 2 =0.95) isotherms and pseudo-second-order (R 2 =0.99) adsorption kinetics. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic (ΔH 0 = 33.04 kJ/mol) and spontaneous in nature (ΔG 0 from -1.33 kJ/mol at 283 K to -5.65 kJ/mol at 313 K). The synthesized MnO 2 /PCBC could be recycled and reused for OTC removal with a percentage removal of around 80% after fifth cycle. The results indicate an effective removal of oxytetracycline with only 0.44 g/L MnO 2 /PCBC with maximum adsorption capacity of 357.14 mg/g which demonstrates improved performance in comparison to many adsorbents reported in literature. This implies that MnO 2 /PCBC offers potential to be developed into a cost-effective technique for antibiotic removal from water., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Buildings on hills behave dynamically, very different from buildings on flatlands. Due to irregularity in horizontal and vertical planes, they inhibit non-uniform mass and stiffness distribution and are subjected to torsional forces. Studies in various Indian cities in hilly terrains have highlighted serious concerns about existing construction practices. Lack of adequate planning and design has resulted in haphazard development in hilly regions. This state-of-the-art review investigates the factors that influence the structural performance of buildings on slopes while explaining reasons that have caused enormous damages and even collapse of hill buildings in the recent earthquake events. The work discusses building configurations, comparison of various vital building regulations, the major problems encountered in building stocks and associated structural deficiencies on hill slopes. The significance of intensification of earthquake-related losses due to soil amplification has been well documented in the past. Insights from experimental and numerical studies focusing on impacts of topographical and geological factors on damage amplification of hillside buildings are fetched, the results of which are in good corroboration with the findings of post-earthquake surveys and reviews. This study establishes that a higher slope gradient necessitates more slope cutting than a lower slope gradient to get the same building footprint, and many times, this value exceeds the permissible height of slope cutting given in existing building byelaws. Such excessive slope cutting makes the slope weak and unstable. Recommendations and solutions to help enhance structural resilience, reduce disproportionate damages and mitigate failure of hill buildings have been delineated., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Research on investigating spatial resolution effect on image-based wetland mapping was done, and reported finer resolution is more appropriate. But is Sentinel image more effective than Landsat image for delineating ox-bow lake, a cut-off channel of a river, and for mapping inundation frequency? Inundation frequency means regularly, water appears in a pixel. In order to obtain these answers, the present study used frequently used spectral indices like normalized difference water index (NDWI), modified NDWI (MNDWI), re-modified NDWI (RmNDWI) and ensemble vegetation inclusive aggregated water index (ViAWI). For obtaining inundation consistency character, the water presence frequency (WPF) approach was adopted. A set of accuracy matrices was applied for validating the resolution effect. Results revealed that among the used indices, MNDWI was found suitable for ox-bow lake mapping. But this index is not able to map vegetated part of the ox-bow lakes. This problem was resolved using ensemble ViAWI. Inundation frequency analysis exhibited that about 70% of the area is consistent with water presence and therefore is hydro-ecologically and economically viable, and no such major differences were recorded between Sentinel and Landsat images. The study further revealed that finer resolution Sentinel images are more effective in ox-bow lake mapping and characterising inundation frequency, but they were not significantly better. Accuracy difference between them was found at the very minimum. Therefore, the study recommended that in a Sentinel image sparse condition, Landsat images could alternatively be used without much accuracy departure, particularly on those water bodies where water appearance is not highly erratic., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study examines the role of environmental degradation in macroeconomic instability for a balanced panel sample of 22 emerging market economies from 1996 to 2019. Governance is included in the macroeconomic instability function as a moderating factor. Besides, bank credit and government spending are also included in the estimated function as control variables. The long-run results from using the PMG-ARDL method show that environmental degradation and bank credit induce macroeconomic instability, whereas governance and government spending reduce it. Interestingly, environmental degradation creates greater macroeconomic instability than the bank credit. We also find that governance being a moderating factor weakens the adverse impact of environmental degradation on macroeconomic instability. These findings are robust to the FGLS technique, suggesting that governments in emerging economies should prioritize environmental degradation and governance in mitigating climate change and ensuring macroeconomic stability in the long run., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The ambient air, a significant hazard to human health in most Indian cities, including Rourkela, is something we are strangely neglecting in the age of industrialization and urbanization. High levels of particulate matter released from various anthropogenic sources over the past decade have had a significant negative impact on the city. The COVID-19 lockdown situation brings understanding and realization towards the improvement of air quality and its subsequent effects. The present study investigates the impact of the COVID-19-related lockdown on the spatiotemporal variation of the ambient air quality in Rourkela City with a tropical climatic setup. The concentration and distribution of various pollutants are well explained by the wind rose and Pearson correlation. There is considerable spatiotemporal variation in the city's ambient air quality, as determined by a two-way ANOVA test comparing sampling sites and months. During the COVID-19 lockdown phases, the air quality of Rourkela witnessed an improvement in annual AQI ranging from 12.64 to 26.85% across the city. However, the air quality in the city deteriorated by 13.76-65.79% after the revocation of COVID-19 restrictions. The paired sample T-test justified that the air quality of Rourkela was significantly healthier in 2020 compared to both 2019 and 2021. Spatial interpolation reveals that the ambient air quality of Rourkela ranged from satisfactory to moderate categories throughout the entire study period. 31.93% area of the city has experienced an improvement in AQI from the Moderate to the satisfying category from 2019 to 2020, whereas about 68.78% area of the city has witnessed a decline in AQI from satisfactory to moderate category from 2020 to 2021., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Self-disclosure, referring to the ability to communicate and share intimate personal feelings, has strong face validity for many young people as a way of improving anxiety and depression outcomes. The current review aimed to generate the first comprehensive evidence synthesis of self-disclosure interventions involving young people aged 14-24 years who are either disclosers or recipients of personal information about living with anxiety and/or depression. A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative data was combined with new insights from an adolescents and young adults lived-experience panel (n = 7) with the intention to combine rigorous systematic review methods and experiential knowledge. Six studies of variable quality were included in this review, five were quantitative and one was qualitative. Findings suggest that self-disclosure may be effective at reducing symptoms for adolescents and young adults with established depression; effects were not apparent when delivered as early prevention. No evidence for impacts on anxiety was found. The potential for negative effects like bullying or harassment was identified. Findings were limited by a small number of studies; low representation of peer-reviewed studies from low-or middle-income countries; and varied interventions in terms of format, participants' context, and nature of delivery. Self-disclosure may be of value in the context of interventions intended explicitly to reduce depression for those already showing symptoms. Delivery by non-specialists (such as peers and teachers) in addition to mental health professionals can help build capacity in community health systems. Self-disclosure may also be helpful at reducing stigma and stimulating help-seeking at earlier stages of mental health problems., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Context: Molecular dynamics-based investigation has been carried out to simulate the nano-indentation loading in crystalline Al-amorphous Al 90 Sm 10 metallic glass (MG) with an aim to investigate the effect orientation of crystalline-amorphous (C/A) interface orientation on the nano-indentation behavior of the C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate for varying indenter speeds. Post-analysis techniques like adaptive-common neighbor analysis (a-CNA), atomic strain, dislocation extraction algorithm (DXA), and Voronoi polyhedral analysis (VP) have been employed to capture the structural evolution during simulated nano-indentation loading. C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated perpendicular to the indenter exhibits the presence of elastic regime followed by plastic curve, whereas load versus depth curve behaves plastically since the beginning in case of C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated parallel to the indenter. The dislocation density growth is slower in case of C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated perpendicular to the indenter attributed to the sinking of dislocations into MG counterpart of the nanolaminate, thereby triggering shear transformation zone activation. Whereas, the dislocation generation is delayed in case of C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated parallel to the indenter by virtue of amorphous Al 90 Sm 10 MG coating on crystalline Al but is extensive and rapid. The disintegration of ICO-like structures and mixed clusters and growth of crystal-like clusters is discernible in C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated perpendicular to the indenter. On the other hand, the VP population exhibits cyclic variation in C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate with C/A interface orientated parallel to the indenter. A transformation pathway of VPs has been mapped out for C/A Al-Al 90 Sm 10 nanolaminate under nano-indentation loading., Methods: The simulations have been carried out by employing Molecular Dynamics using the Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) platform. Post-analysis techniques like adaptive-common neighbor analysis (a-CNA), atomic strain, dislocation extraction algorithm (DXA), and Voronoi polyhedral analysis (VP) have been employed to capture the structural evolution during simulated nano-indentation loading., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Abiotic stresses have become a major challenge in recent years due to their pervasive nature and shocking impacts on plant growth, development, and quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in plant response to different abiotic stresses. Thus, identification of specific abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs holds immense importance in crop breeding programmes to develop cultivars resistant to abiotic stresses. In this study, we developed a machine learning-based computational model for prediction of miRNAs associated with four specific abiotic stresses such as cold, drought, heat and salt. The pseudo K-tuple nucleotide compositional features of Kmer size 1 to 5 were used to represent miRNAs in numeric form. Feature selection strategy was employed to select important features. With the selected feature sets, support vector machine (SVM) achieved the highest cross-validation accuracy in all four abiotic stress conditions. The highest cross-validated prediction accuracies in terms of area under precision-recall curve were found to be 90.15, 90.09, 87.71, and 89.25% for cold, drought, heat and salt respectively. Overall prediction accuracies for the independent dataset were respectively observed 84.57, 80.62, 80.38 and 82.78%, for the abiotic stresses. The SVM was also seen to outperform different deep learning models for prediction of abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs. To implement our method with ease, an online prediction server "ASmiR" has been established at https://iasri-sg.icar.gov.in/asmir/ . The proposed computational model and the developed prediction tool are believed to supplement the existing effort for identification of specific abiotic stress-responsive miRNAs in plants., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study presents the ecological consequences of the blue space conversion and its qualitative degradation in the English Bazar Municipality (EBM) and its surrounding area. The primary blue spaces of the area, the marshy wetland called Chatra and Mohananda river, are the most affected due to urban activities like built-up expansion and sewage and wastewater discharge. Built-up development encroached more than 300 m within wetland territory and caused a 0.57 km 2 conversion of wetland area. It is also evident within the bed of the Mohananda river. Agriculture also caused the conversion of the blue space. As a result, the wetland's ecosystem service value (ESV) was reduced by 12.7%, along with a reduction of cultural services by 27.86%. The massive pouring of sewage and wastewater caused hyper-eutrophication in almost the entire wetland area. The trophic state index (TSI) value increased significantly in the last 10 years, causing high growth and areal expansion of water hyacinth. The expanding settlements and agricultural land that captured the river channel face inundation vulnerability during peak discharge. Extreme danger level discharge causes floods in the extensive municipality area. The areal encroachment, water extraction, sewage and wastewater discharge, and water quality deterioration caused severe hydro-ecological degradation of the river. Since blue space is critically essential for urban environmental health, these ecological consequences can cause a crisis for urban wellbeing. Therefore, the anthropogenic adversities towards the urban blue space must be restricted, and the blue space's ecological sustenance must be paid enough attention., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Flow modification pursuing dams is widely found. Some works also focused on its impact on floodplain wetland hydrology. However, how this change can pose an impact on habitat conditions, ecological conditions, and trophic state is also a matter of investigation. The very least attention has been paid to this so far. Therefore, the present study focused on these, taking the dam-induced Lower Tangon river basin of India and Bangladesh as a case. The degree of flow alteration in the river was presented in a heat map. Multi-parametric machine learning (ML) approaches were applied to model hydrological instability and habitat condition. The ecological consequences like evaluating eco-deficit using flow duration curve (FDC) approach, trophic state using trophic state index (TSI), fish habitat zone using image-based hydrological parameters, etc. were measured. The study exhibited that after damming, the degree of river flow modification was about 41%. Consequently, the wetland hydrological instability and habitat conditions were degraded. In the post-dam period, > 50% of wetland area was lost, and hydrological instability was enhanced considerably over wider parts of the wetland. Habitat conditions of the existing wetland also witnessed fragility (poor and very poor areas increased by about 22.23 and 9.34%). As a result of this, adverse ecological responses were found. For instance, the eco-deficit area was increased by 36.19%, a good proportion (100%) of wetlands was witnessed the transformation of TSI from oligotrophic to mesotrophic state, and optimum fish habitat area was declined. The ecological strength map integrating all the cause-effect model parameters showed that good ecological strength was reduced from 49 to 2% in the post-dam. The result of the study would be very useful for wetland restoration for ecological and human well-being., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The present study has attempted to address the issue of sensitivity of different clusters of factors towards gully erosion in the Mayurakshi river basin. Firstly, the gully erosion susceptibility of the basin area has been mapped by integrating using 18 parameters divided into four factor-cluster, viz. erodibility, erosivity, resistance, and topographical cluster, with the help of four machine learning (ML) models such as random forest (RF), gradient boost (GBM), extreme gradient boost (XGB), and support vector machine (SVM). Results show that almost 20% and 25% of the upper catchment of the basin belongs to extreme and high gully erosion susceptibility. Among the applied algorithms, RF is appeared as the best performing model. The spatial association of factor cluster-based models with the final susceptibility model is found the highest for the erosivity cluster, followed by the erodibility cluster. From the sensitivity analysis, it becomes clear that geology and soil texture are dominant contributing factors to gully erosion susceptibility. The geological formation of unclassified granite gneiss and geomorphological formation of denudational origin pediment-pediplain complex is dominant over the entire upper catchment of the basin, and therefore, can be considered regional factors of importance. Since the study has figured out the different grades of susceptible areas with dominant factors and factor cluster, it would be useful for devising planning for gully erosion check measures. From economic particularly food security purpose, it is very essential since it is concerned with precious soil loss and negative effects on agriculture., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Streamflow rate changes due to damming are hydro-ecologically sensitive in present and future times. Very less studies have done an investigation of the damming effect on the streamflow along with future forecasting, which can be the solution for the existing problems. Therefore, this study aims to use the Pettitt test as well as standard normal homogeneity test (SNHT) to discover trends in streamflow with the future situation in the Punarbhaba River in Indo-Bangladesh from 1978 to 2017. Trend was spotted using Mann-Kendall test, Spearman's rank correlation approach, innovative trend analysis, and a linear regression model. The current work additionally uses advanced machine learning techniques like random forest (RF) to estimate flow regimes using historical time series data. 1992 appears to be a yard mark in this continuum of time series datasets, indicating a significant transformation in the streamflow regime. The MK test as well as Spearman's rho was used to find a significant negative trend for the average (-0.57), maximum (-0.62), and minimum (-0.48) flow regimes. The consistency of the flow regime has been losing consistency, and the variability of flow regime has increased from 2.1 to 6.7% of the average water level, 1.5 to 6.5% of the maximum streamflow, and 3.1 to 5.8% of the minimum streamflow in the post-change point phase. The forecast trend using random forest for streamflow up to 2030 are negative for all four seasons with a flow volume likely to be reduced by 0.67% to-5.23%. Annual and monthly streamflows revealed very negative tendencies, according to the conclusions of unique trend analysis. Flow declination of this magnitude impacts downstream habitat and environment. According to future estimates, the seasonal flow will decrease. Furthermore, the outcome of this research will give a wealth of data for river management and other places with comparable environment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

In the present study, investigating the effect of ballistic penetration of spherical projectiles on a monocrystalline magnesium specimen is performed using embedded atom method (EAM) potential in molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The dynamic investigations of structural evolution based on common neighbor analyses and Wigner-Seitz defect analysis are carried out for the varying depths of penetration and velocities of the projectile (v = 2 km s -1 , 6 km s -1 , and 10 km s -1 ). It is found that the extent of amorphization in the specimen is more in the case of higher depth and lower projectile velocity. Voronoi cluster analyses are also done to identify cluster distribution and their transformation during ballistic penetration, which is accompanied by atomic strain and displacement vector evaluation to give light to the effect of shear strain and displacement of atoms respectively. According to Voronoi cluster analysis, Voronoi polyhedra having < 0, 4, 4, 6 > and < 0, 6, 0, 8 > clusters exhibit a higher population during hypervelocity projectile penetration. The findings have potential applications in hypervelocity applications such as defense and space technologies., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The present study attempts to delineate wetlands in the lower Tangon river basin in the Barind flood plain region using spectral water body extraction indices. The main objectives of this present study are simulating and predicting wetland areas using the advanced artificial neural network-based cellular automata (ANN-CA) model and water depth using statistical (adaptive exponential smoothing) as well as advanced machine learning algorithms such as Bagging, Random Subspace, Random Forest, Support vector machine, etc. The result shows that RmNDWI and NDWI are the representative wetland delineating indices. NDWI map was used for water depth prediction. Regarding the prediction of wetland areas, a remarkable decline is likely to be identified in the upcoming two decades. The small wetland patches away from the master stream are expected to dry out during the predicted period, where the major wetland patches nearer to the master stream with greater water depth are rather sustainable, but their depth of water is predicted to be reduced in the next decades. All models show satisfactory performance for wetland depth mapping, but the random subspace model was identified as the best-suited water depth predicting method with an acceptable prediction accuracy (root mean square error <0.34 in all the years) and the machine learning models explored better result than adaptive exponential smoothing. This recent study will be very helpful for the policymakers for managing wetland landscape as well as the natural environment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Mucormycosis is a life threatening, opportunistic infection often seen in individuals with a weak immune system. With an upsurge of cases of Covid-19, a drastic increase in cases of Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis is being witnessed at present. This article has been written with the purpose of understanding the factors responsible for it and the challenges it brings along for the Indian health-care system at present. Possible solutions for dealing with these problems have also been included in the manuscript. Google, PubMed and ENT Cochrane databases were searched without a time limit using key words like "Mucormycosis", "Rhino-cerebral-mucormycosis" in conjunction with "COVID-19" and "SARS CoV-2". We found 34 articles to be relevant and hence included them to write this review. Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis is being seen due to coming together of the three entities-the agent, host and environment that constitute the epidemiological triad for this disease in India. Responsible factors are uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, overzealous use of steroids and antibiotics and other environment related issues. The solutions for these problems lie in spreading awareness about prevention of these practices along with early diagnosis and treatment of mucormycosis. To deal effectively with this situation, particularly when there is an existing overload on otolaryngologists and the rest of the health-care system, a multipronged and multilevel collaborative approach is the need of the hour. With effective Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines promoting a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and treatment, we can surely overcome this situation., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Otolaryngologists of India 2021.)

A good number of researchers investigated the impact of flow modification on hydrological, ecological, and geomorphological conditions in a river. A few works also focused on hydrological modification on wetland with some parameters but as far the knowledge is concerned, linking river flow modification to wetland hydrological and morphological transformation following an integrated modeling approach is often lacking. The current study aimed to explore the degree of hydrological alteration in the river and its effect on downstream riparian wetlands by adopting advanced modeling approaches. After damming, maximally 67 to 95% hydrological alteration was recorded for maximum, minimum, and average discharges. Wavelet transformation analysis figured out a strong power spectrum after 2012 (damming year). Due to attenuation of flow, the active inundation area was reduced by 66.2%. After damming, 524.03 km 2 (48.9% of total pre-dam wetland) was completely obliterated. Hydrological strength (HS) modeling also reported areas under high HS declined by 14% after post-dam condition. Wetland hydrological security state (WSS) and HS matrix, a new approach, are used to explore wetland characteristics of inundation connectivity and hydrological security state. WSS was defined based on lateral hydrological connectivity. HS under critical and stress WWS zones deteriorated in the post-dam period. The morphological transformation was also well recognized showing an increase in area under the patch, edge, and a decrease in the area under the large core area. All these findings established a clear linkage between river flow modification and wetland transformation, and they provided a good clue for managing wetlands., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

India is affected strongly by the Coronavirus and within a short period, it becomes the second-highest country based on the infected case. Earlier, there was an indication of the impact of pollution on COVID-19 transmission from a few studies with early COVID-19 data. The study of the effect of pollution on COVID-19 in Indian metropolitan cities is ideal due to the high level of pollution and COVID-19 transmission in these cities. We study the impact of different air pollutants on the spread of coronavirus in different cities in India. A correlation is studied with daily confirmed COVID-19 cases with a daily mean of ozone, particle matter (PM) in size ≤ 10 μ m, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide of different cities. It is found that particulate matter concentration decreases during the nationwide lockdown period and the air quality index improves for different Indian regions. A correlation between the daily confirmed cases with particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 both) is observed. The air quality index also shows a positive correlation with the daily confirmed cases for most of the metropolitan Indian cities. The correlation study also indicates that different air pollutants may have a role in the spread of the virus., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The present work deals with a detailed study of India's Damodar river basin's pollution profile (groundwater, surface water, industrial water, and mine water). The present paper aims to create a large data bank comprising the latest (2019; through water sampling and analysis) and historical (1980-2018; through literature survey) data on heavy metal loads (HML) and other hydrochemical parameters in water bodies of the Damodar basin (at 99 sampling locations). Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were applied to determine the possible sources of the HML in the groundwater and surface water. Anthropogenic inputs from industrial effluents and mining activities were identified as the sources of the HML. The degree of HML exposure (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, As, Co, Cd, Hg, Cr, Ni, and Cu) was considered for computing the heavy metal pollution indices (HMPI). Associated potential health risk to the local population was also studied. Most HMPIs (vary within 50-9000) appeared to cross the critical value (~ 100). According to the results of noncarcinogenic risk, most hazard indices (varied within 0.01-116.34) surpassed the allowable limit (~ 1), demonstrating detrimental health effects on adults and children. Ni, Cd, As, and Cr showed very high cancer indices (varied within 9.5 × 10 -5 -1.76 × 10 -1 ) that could be considered as high risk (≫ 1 × 10 -4 , allowable limit) for cancer via ingestion and dermal pathways. A carcinogenic risk assessment map of the basin was also prepared for the first time. Durgapur and Burnpur-Asansol cities have been identified as the most vulnerable areas. The authors also compared the water quality parameters of the Damodar river with other highly polluted and major rivers of India. The authors recommended (i) strict regulation and efficient management of HML monitoring, (ii) initiating public awareness programme about Damodar's pollution, and (iii) a detailed medical survey to understand the impact of water pollution on the population., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Unregulated use of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and monocrotophos (MCP) in agriculture casts adverse effects on non-target freshwater mollusc, Pila globosa and humans. Levels of CPF and MCP were assessed in the paddy field from the edible foot tissue of apple snail (Pila globosa) exposed to low (1.5 ml l -1 water) and high (2.5 ml l -1 water) agricultural doses for 48 h to determine human health risk associated with consumption of tissue. CPF and MCP were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and analysed by QuEChERS method using GC-MS/MS. For low and high concentrations of CPF exposure, the pesticide residue levels in the paddy field water ranged from 4.43 to 1.08 and 5.13 to 1.53 µg l -1 , respectively, whereas, for low and high concentrations of MCP exposure, the residue levels in water ranged from 16.43 to 5.78 and 31.41 to 9. 27 µg l -1 , respectively, for 3-48 h. In the foot tissue, residues ranged from 4.36 to 15.54 µg kg -1 for low-dose CPF, 7.1 to 18.05 µg kg -1 for high-dose CPF and from 5.28 to 12.3 µg kg -1 and 8.94 to 18.21 µg kg -1 for low and high dose of MCP, respectively, during 3 to 48 h of exposure. Pesticides in the tissue were lower than the recommended maximum residue limits. Estimated health risk for adults and children revealed that the estimated daily intake values did not exceed the threshold values of acceptable daily intake. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effects were less than the safe value of 1.0 and 1 × 10 -6 , respectively, suggesting that CPF and MCP residues from ingestion of apple snail posed low risks to both children and adults. This preliminary result suggests regular monitoring of pesticides residues in Pila globosa collected from the paddy field of India., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Patulin (PAT) is a natural contaminant of fruits (primarily apples) and their products. Significantly, high levels of contamination have been found in fruit juices all over the world. Several in vitro studies have demonstrated PAT's ability to alter intestinal structure and function. However, in real life, the probability of low dose long-term exposure to PAT to humans is significantly higher through contaminated food items. Thus, in the present study, we have exposed normal intestinal cells to non-toxic levels of PAT for 16 weeks and observed that PAT had the ability to cause cancer-like properties in normal intestinal epithelial cells after chronic exposure. Here, our results showed that chronic exposure to low doses of PAT caused enhanced proliferation, migration and invasion ability, and the capability to grow in soft agar (anchorage independence). Moreover, an in vivo study showed the appearance of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACFs) in PAT-exposed Wistar rats, which are well, establish markers for early colon cancer. Furthermore, as these neoplastic changes are consequences of alterations at the molecular level, here, we combined next-generation RNA sequencing with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis to investigate the possible underlying mechanisms involved in PAT-induced neoplastic changes., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)