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Abstract Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) actively repress inflammatory responses and maintain an immune‐excluded tumor phenotype. However, the molecular mechanisms that sustain TEC‐mediated immunosuppression remain largely elusive. Here, we show that autophagy ablation in TECs boosts antitumor immunity by supporting infiltration and effector function of T‐cells, thereby restricting melanoma growth. In melanoma‐bearing mice, loss of TEC autophagy leads to the transcriptional expression of an immunostimulatory/inflammatory TEC phenotype driven by heightened NF‐kB and STING signaling. In line, single‐cell transcriptomic datasets from melanoma patients disclose an enriched InflammatoryHigh/AutophagyLow TEC phenotype in correlation with clinical responses to immunotherapy, and responders exhibit an increased presence of inflamed vessels interfacing with infiltrating CD8+ T‐cells. Mechanistically, STING‐dependent immunity in TECs is not critical for the immunomodulatory effects of autophagy ablation, since NF‐kB‐driven inflammation remains functional in STING/ATG5 double knockout TECs. Hence, our study identifies autophagy as a principal tumor vascular anti‐inflammatory mechanism dampening melanoma antitumor immunity.

Tomato is the second most valuable vegetable crop, and its susceptibility to tropospheric ozone (O3) varies on the cultivar. Eight tomato cultivars with documented O3 sensitivity were reevaluated using ethylenediurea (400 ppm EDU) to determine the effectiveness of EDU in assessing O3 sensitivity under heavily O3-polluted tropical conditions. EDU helped in amending the growth, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and yield characteristics in the tomato cultivars. EDU reduced the lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species content, while enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses differed across cultivars. The cultivar Superbug and Sel-7 (O3 susceptible) performed better by employing more biomass and yield and exhibiting more potent antioxidative defense machinery mainly non-enzymatic antioxidants after EDU treatment. The higher value of total antioxidative potential (TAP) in O3 susceptible cultivars suggested the adaptive resilience through EDU application against O3 stress. EDU application greatly enhanced the photosynthetic rate in O3 susceptible cultivars by increasing the stomatal conductance. Hence, both biophysical and biochemical responses were involved in protection against O3 provided by EDU. Kashi chayan and VRT02 (O3 tolerant) cultivars showed least response to EDU, due to their efficient inherent mechanisms in alleviating O3 stress. Thus, EDU may be used as an efficient biomonitoring tool against O3-sensitive cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological communication system for neurological disorder patients is similar to the Brain Computer Interface in a way that it facilitates the connection to the outside world in real time. The interdisciplinary field of Electroencephalogram based message depiction is gaining importance as it assists the paralysed person to communicate. In the proposed method a novel approach of feature extraction is done by Empirical Mode Decomposition on non- stationary & non-linear kind of EEG signal. EMD helps in the effective time frequency analysis by disintegrating the EEG signal in the form of six Intrinsic Mode Functions with help of the frequency components. In all nine features are extracted from the decomposed IMFs so as to predict the states or messages of the patient. The above computed features are then served to the Deep Neural Network to perform the classification. The performance of suggested method is studied through applying it to the acquired database generated by the designed hardware as well as also in real time message depiction. The maximum classification accuracy 97% for the acquired database & 85% in real time are obtained respectively by comparative analysis. The command messages generated from the proposed system helps the person suffering from neurological disorder to establish the communication link with the outside world in an efficient way. Thus, the proposed novel method shows better performance in real time message depiction purpose as related to other existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an investigation on the detection of one of the essential branched-chain amino acids (AA) named leucine. The detection is done by using two different configurations of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors, such as Probe1 (silver/graphene oxide (GO)/leucine dehydrogenase/leucine) and Probe2 (gold/GO/leucine dehydrogenase/leucine). The transfer matrix method (TMM) is used to analyze the performance of the sensors. The analysis of both the sensor probes is done in the presence of RI ranging from 1.3373 to 1.3425. The detected RI range is considered at two different temperatures of 298.15 K and 308.15 K which corresponds to lower and normal human body temperatures. The results show that the maximum sensitivity of Probe1 and Probe2 is 261.54°/RIU and 192.31°/RIU, respectively, attained at 308.15 K. Additionally, the quality factor, detection accuracy (DA), and full-wave half maximum (FWHM) of Probe1 and Probe2 at 308.15 K are 33.97, 0.04, 7.70, and 119.45, 0.16, 1.63, respectively. Furthermore, the field confinement in metallic layers is studied by using two-dimensional Opti-FDTD software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid rain causes visible symptoms on foliage which can lead to severe economic loss to the growers. In this study, two cultivars of Beta vulgaris L. (Palak, an economically important leafy vegetable) were subjected to simulated acid rain (SAR) of pH 5.6, 5.0, and 4.5 to assess the cultivar-specific physiological, biochemical, growth, and nutritional responses at different growth stages compared to pH 7.0 (control). Higher SAR acidity caused enhanced accretion of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation in both the cultivars but the degree of increase was higher in Anupama compared to Allgreen at the vegetative stage (VS). Both Allgreen and Anupama displayed leaf injury with more severity in Anupama leading to the greater loss of chlorophyll and the plant's photochemical efficiency. Antioxidative enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and non-enzymatic metabolites (total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acids and thiol content) didn't show a significant effect of SAR upto pH 5.6 and thereafter variable responses were observed in both the cultivars at different growth stages. The cytoplasmic pH didn't alter in Allgreen at pH 5.6 whereas decreased significantly in Anupama. The decrease in cytoplasmic pH was more in Anupama compared to Allgreen at pH 5.0 and 4.5. The growth, biomass, and fresh weight of leaves enhanced in Allgreen at VS whereas reduced in Anupama at all growth stages under SAR. The soluble protein, starch and total soluble sugar were more suppressed in Anupama compared to Allgreen under SAR. The present findings demonstrate that SARs of pH < 5.6 induced foliar injury, and disturbed physiological and biochemical traits leading to reductions in the growth, yield, and quality of palak, however, Anupama was severely affected than Allgreen. This research may be utilized to understand the cultivar-specific responses of palak an important leafy vegetable known to be a "Mines of Minerals". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current experiment was designed to evaluate the ramifications of simulated acid rain (SAR) on two pea (Pisum sativum L.) cultivars, Kashi Samridhi (Samridhi) and Kashi Nandini (Nandini), to decipher the intraspecific variations in defence mechanism considering the current scenario of rapid anthropogenic activities leading to increase in rain acidity. The pea cultivars were subjected to SAR of pH 7 (Control), 5.6, 5.0, and 4.5 under field conditions. SAR increased active oxygen species and malondialdehyde content due to increased lipid peroxidation in both cultivars; however, the increment intensity was more remarkable in Samridhi at the later growth stage. Ascorbic acid, thiol, and flavonoids were significantly increased in cultivar Nandini, along with increased peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities. Total phenolics, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase activities were enhanced considerably in Samridhi than in Nandini under SAR treatments. Higher stomatal density and stomatal size in Samridhi prompted greater acidic particles influx which further damaged the chloroplast and mitochondria. The present study concludes that cultivar Nandini is more proficient in inducing defence responses by elevating non-enzymatic antioxidants than Samridhi. Non-enzymatic linked defence mechanisms are more metabolically expensive, leading to less biomass accumulation in Nandini. The study depicted that innate defence responses, particularly the role of non-enzymatic antioxidants, governed the sensitivity level of cultivars towards SAR stress. Further, findings also contribute to bridging the knowledge gap regarding the responses of tropical and subtropical crops to acid rain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) is the next industrial revolution that will leverage human intervention in collaboration with intelligent, logical, and smart machines to attain even more user-preferred and resource-efficient manufacturing and supply chain solutions. The main aim of this article is to study I5.0 technologies in supply chains when these are affected by disruptive phenomena such as those created by wars, climate change or pandemics. A systematic literature review methodology was conducted to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. This study summarises 194 research articles from the period 2009 to 2022 to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. The research findings show a significant gap related to the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent or overcome supply chain disruptions. 194 articles, including journal and review articles, were identified in the literature. The study provides a novel and insightful concept related to I5.0 within the context of supply chain disruptions. The potential applications of I5.0 and Industry 4.0 are elaborately discussed in three areas, namely: (1) disruptions in supply chains due to pandemics; (2) disruptions in supply chains due to war; and (3) disruptions in supply chains due to climate change. Finally, this study highlights research implications and proposes future research avenues that will contribute to further exploring the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent, manage and overcome disruptions in supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinal vessel segmentation has various applications in the biomedical field. This includes early disease detection, biometric authentication using retinal scans, classification and others. Many of these applications rely critically on an accurate and efficient segmentation technique. In the existing literature, a lot of work has been done to improve the accuracy of the segmentation task, but it relies heavily on the amount of data available for training as well as the quality of the images captured. Another gap is observed in terms of the resources used in these heavily trained algorithms. This paper aims to address these gaps by using a resource-efficient unsupervised technique and also increasing the accuracy of retinal vessel segmentation using the Fourier decomposition method (FDM) along with the Gabor transform for image signals. The proposed method has an accuracy of 97.39%, 97.62%, 95.34%, and 96.57% on DRIVE, STARE, CHASE_DB1, and HRF datasets, respectively. The sensitivities were found to be 88.36%, 88.51%, 90.37%, and 79.07%, respectively. A separate section makes a detailed comparison of the proposed method with several well-known methods and an analysis of the efficiency of the proposed method. The proposed method proves to be efficient in terms of time and resource requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gallstone disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder with varying prevalence across regions. This study explores the demographics and lipid profiles of individuals with cholelithiasis, emphasizing the association between metabolic syndrome and gallstone formation. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted, including 100 outpatients with cholelithiasis. Demographic data, lipid profiles, and comorbidities were recorded, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: A higher prevalence of gallstones was recorded in the 20–29 age group and among females. Lipid profiles revealed elevated levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and triglycerides in individuals with metabolic syndrome. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were notably lower in those with metabolic syndrome. Age and gender disparities in metabolic syndrome prevalence were observed, with statistical significance noted in gender-based differences. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels did not significantly differ between individuals with and without metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: The findings indicated elevated lipid profiles, particularly low HDL, are associated with metabolic syndrome in gallstone patients. Further understanding of these associations can aid in preventive strategies and targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney stones and urolithiasis are kidney diseases that have a significant impact on health and well-being, and their incidence is increasing annually owing to factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and geographical location. Accurate identification and volume measurement of kidney stones are critical for determining the appropriate surgical approach, as timely and precise treatment is essential to prevent complications and ensure successful outcomes. Larger stones often require more invasive procedures, and precise volume measurements are essential for effective surgical planning and patient outcomes. This study aimed to compare the ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and measure kidney stone volume via CT-KUB images. CT KUB imaging data were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of AI in identifying the volume of kidney stones. The results were compared with measurements taken by radiologists. Compared with radiologists, the AI had greater accuracy, efficiency, and consistency in measuring kidney stone volume. The AI calculates the volume of kidney stones with an average difference of 80% compared with the volumes calculated by radiologists, highlighting a significant discrepancy that is critical for accurate surgical planning. The results suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) outperforms radiologists' manual calculations in measuring kidney stone volume. By integrating AI with kidney stone detection and treatment, there is potential for greater diagnostic precision and treatment effectiveness, which could ultimately improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glia is pivotal in regulating neuronal stem cell proliferation, functioning, and nervous system homeostasis, significantly influencing neuronal health and disorders. Dysfunction in glial activity is a key factor in the development and progression of brain pathology. However, a deeper understanding of the intricate nature of glial cells and their diverse role in neurological disorders is still required. To this end, we conducted data mining to retrieve literature from PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords: glia, Drosophila, neurodegeneration, and mammals. The retrieved literature was manually screened and used to comprehensively understand and present the different glial types in Drosophila, i.e., perineurial, subperineurial, cortex, astrocyte-like and ensheathing glia, their relevance with mammalian counterparts, mainly microglia and astrocytes, and their potential to reveal complex neuron-glial molecular networks in managing neurodegenerative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical biomedical applications of genomic technologies are extensive and provide possibilities to enhance healthcare covering the span of medical talents. Genome disorder prediction is an important issue in biomedical research. Genome disorders cause multivariate diseases such as cancer, dementia, diabetes, Leigh syndrome, etc. Existing machine and deep learning-based methods were introduced to forecast genome disorders. However, the genome prediction outcomes were not sufficient. To address this issue, propose a new method called Quadratic Feynman Polynomial Interpolated and Vector Nearest Centroid-based (QFPI-VNC) for acutely predicting the genome disorder with improved sensitivity and specificity. First, we utilized medical data about children from a public genomes dataset and applied it to Linear Quadratic and Feynman Kac Genome filtering to obtain computationally efficient filtered results. Next, the results are fed to the Concordance Correlated Polynomial Interpolation with the purpose of extracting genome wide data in an accurate manner. Finally, the features extracted are fused and fed to the Support Vector and Nearest Centroid model for genome disorder prediction. Experimental investigations of the proposed method employing the genome dataset confirm that the performance of the proposed method is prospective and in the scope of acceptance with relative to state-of-the-art methods in terms of convergence speed, recognition rate, sensitivity, and specificity. Results suggest that the QFPI-VNC method produces the best performance with a higher genome disease detection rate by 14%, accuracy by 11%, sensitivity by 14% specificity by 12%, and lesser convergence speed by 29% than compared to state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional approaches to the human cochlear nerve have been impeded by its bony encasement deep inside the skull base. We present an innovative, minimally invasive, therapeutic pathway for direct access to the nerve to deliver novel regenerative therapies. Neuroanatomical studies on 10 cadaveric human temporal bones were undertaken to identify a potentially safe therapeutic pathway to the cochlear nerve. Simulations based on three-dimensional delineation of anatomical structures obtained from synchrotron phase-contrast imaging were analyzed. This enabled the identification of an approach to the nerve in the fundus of the internal auditory meatus by trephining the medial modiolar wall of the cochlea via the round window for a median depth of 1.48 mm (range 1.21–1.91 mm). The anatomical access was validated on 9 additional human temporal bones using radio-opaque markers and contrast injection with micro-computed tomography surveillance. We thus created an effective conduit for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the cochlear nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) is an image-based metric applied to assess the choroid in disease but poorly explored in natural aging. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed a single eye of 309 healthy individuals from 20 to 70 + years, and quantified spatial topography of total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA) and CVI (LA: TCA) in cluster and standard retinal templates using a semi-automated approach. CVI was found to be greatest in the central vs. periphery (CVIcentral 67.08% [66.85–67.73] vs. CVIperiphery65.68% [65.32–66.01], p < 0.01). In this study, CVI also showed no significant change with age or physiological factors. Area parameters demonstrated greater magnitude in the central versus periphery but with a superior bias: TCAsuperior 0.227mm2 [0.223–0.233] vs. TCAinferior 0.207mm2 [0.201–0.213], p < 0.01.They also showed a linear decline with age (TCA:-0.00112 to -0.00169 mm2/year; LA: -0.00074 to -0.00112 mm2/year; SA: -0.00039 to -0.00056 mm2/year, p < 0.0001), with a higher rate of decline inferiorly (p < 0.001). This study demonstrates that CVI exhibits specific spatial differences across macula, independent of age. It further establishes a comprehensive, normative database of CVI and other choroidal angioarchitecture metrics which is a valuable resource for distinguishing pathological changes from normal age-related variations in future assessments of choroid-involving diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theories have been widely proposed and tested for impacts of soil nitrogen (N) on phytochemical defenses. Among the hundreds of distinct cardenolide toxins produced by milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), few contain N, yet these appear to be the most toxic against specialist herbivores. Because N- and non-N-cardenolides coexist in milkweed leaves and likely have distinct biosynthesis, they present an opportunity to address hypotheses about drivers of toxin expression. We tested effects of soil N and herbivore-damage on cardenolide profiles of two milkweed species differing in life-history strategies (Asclepias syriaca and A. curassavica), and the toxicity of their leaves. In particular leaf extracts were tested against the target enzymes (Na+/K+-ATPase extracted from neural tissue) from both monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) as well as less cardenolide-resistant queen butterflies, D. gilippus. Increasing soil N enhanced biomass of Asclepias syriaca but had weak effects on cardenolides, including causing a significant reduction in the N-cardenolide labriformin; feeding by monarch caterpillars strongly induced N-cardenolides (labriformin), its precursors, and total cardenolides. Conversely, soil N had little impact on A. curassavica biomass, but was the primary driver of increasing N-cardenolides (voruscharin, uscharin and their precursors); caterpillar induction was weak. Butterfly enzyme assays revealed damage-induced cardenolides substantially increased toxicity of both milkweeds to both butterflies, swamping out effects of soil N on cardenolide concentration and composition. Although these two milkweed species differentially responded to soil N with allocation to growth and specific cardenolides, leaf toxicity to butterfly Na+/K+-ATPases was primarily driven by herbivore-induced defense. Thus, both biotic and abiotic factors shape the composition of phytochemical defense expression, and their relative importance may be dictated by plant life-history differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy and sustainable growth are closely linked as they both aim to reconcile economic development with environmental considerations. The circular economy provides a framework and set of principles for achieving sustainable growth. By adopting circular practices, such as resource efficiency, recycling, and product life extension, economic activities can become more sustainable and contribute to long-term growth. In today's world, consumers have high expectations for companies to be accountable for the environmental and social impact of their products and services. The implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in manufacturing can contribute to sustainable growth by enhancing quality, reducing waste, and increasing efficiency. This study proposes a novel methodological framework to establish a comprehensive association between Juran's ten quality principles using a mixed-method sequential approach with an integrated Machine Learning Group Decision-Making (MLGDM) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM)-DEMATEL approach. The framework involves using the MLGDM approach to select the optimal number of experts to develop contextual relationships among the principles. This framework is designed to address the challenge of determining the appropriate number of experts to involve in the decision-making process. Involving too few experts can limit the generalizability of the results, while having too many experts can lead to a high degree of inconsistency and make it challenging to reach a consensus. The MLGDM portion of our framework provides a systematic approach to overcome this challenge and helps supply chain managers and academicians implement quality practices in their organizations. Moreover, although several studies have explored the implementation of TQM practices, there is still a lack of a systematic framework that can fully incorporate Juran's quality principles. To fill this gap, the ISM-DEMATEL approach was then used to explore the causal relationships between these principles. Practitioners from the industry were asked to identify contextual associations among variables, which facilitated a better understanding of these principles. Our results suggest that "Build awareness," "Set goals for improvement," and "Provide training" are strategic requirements for successful TQM implementation, while "Carry out projects to solve problems," "Organize to reach the goals," and "Keep score" are tactical requirements. Furthermore, "Communicate results," "Report progress," "Give recognition," and "Maintain momentum" are operational necessities for TQM implementation. The present study represents a significant step forward in giving a new direction to Juran's ten quality principles and providing a holistic picture to decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In correlation-based processing, sparse arrays offer the capacity to resolve a greater number of uncorrelated sources than physical sensors due to the considerable breadth of their difference coarrays, originating from variations in the locations of elements. Consequently, there is significant interest in devising sparse arrays with sizable difference coarrays and expanding the analysis to encompass additional array characteristics like symmetry, resilience, and cost-effective engineering. We present a scalable and systematic methodology for designing large sparse arrays. Considering several attributes and factors, we can address Fractal arrays that were used for low-side lobe antenna array designing and have very low degrees of freedom; hence, sparsity is introduced to design a hole-free difference coarray which not only increases the number of degrees of freedom in fractal arrays but also aids in better beamforming applications and enhanced DoA results due to regularization in coarrays. We develop an innovative sparse fractal array to enhance the accuracy of DoA estimation for predicting a maximum number of uncorrelated sources with a minimum possible actual sensors. First, the 1D sparse fractal array is constructed and then it is extended to a 2D sparse fractal array for both azimuth and elevation angle estimation. Comprehensive robustness analysis is conducted on the proposed sparse fractal array, encompassing one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) configurations, in response to sensor failures. RMSE analysis shows that the proposed 1D and 2D arrays possess the minimum error when used for direction estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lead-free Ni–B–W (ENB-W) coating deposited by electroless method was investigated in present work. Heat-treated ENB-W coating (450 °C for 3 h) were exposed to tribological tests within a range of parameters, including load (10–50 N), speed (0.5–1.5 m/s), and distance (400–1000 m). Prior to tests, coated specimens before and after heat-treated condition were characterized. The typical globular morphology and crystalline nature was seen. The hardness, scratch hardness and first critical load of failure improved in heat treated condition. To optimize wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF), an approach has been introduced, i.e., integration of an artificial neural network (ANN) with a genetic algorithm (GA). The ANN model yielded a mean absolute percentage error of 8.4421% for predicting wear rate and 2.4138% for predicting COF. Pareto front analysis identified the optimal operating conditions as load of 34.2099 N, speed of 0.5006 m/s, and distance of 726.7243 m, resulting in both a minimum wear rate of 0.1003 × 10−8 g N−1 m−1 and a COF of 0.2099. In addition to optimization, the study also involved the characterization of the wear mechanisms of the coatings to gain a deeper understanding of their tribological behaviour. Different wear mechanisms were seen at different range of the parameters. The wear rate and COF did not vary significantly with sliding distance except at 10 N load. In fact, the wear rate was lower at 30 N and 50 N compared to 10 N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, magnetism was developed in diamagnetic ZnO through co-doping of both nickel and cobalt with composition CoxNi0.1-xZn0.9O (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1). A systematic investigation was conducted to examine the impact of co-doping in ZnO on its microstructural, morphological, and magnetic properties. All the samples exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure and the crystallite size increases with Co and Ni paired-doped ZnO particles. The structure exhibited a uniform distribution of spherical grains, which were consistent in shape. The elemental color-mapping and EDX analysis provide conclusive evidence of Zn, O, Ni and Co elements. Raman spectra detect the distinctive band of the wurtzite crystal structure, as well as the combined vibration modes of Ni and Co in the doped samples. The vibrating sample magnetometer studies confirmed the transition of ZnO from diamagnetic to ferromagnetic, as a result of different doping concentrations in the studied samples. The dynamic magnetization measurements were investigated by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy. Various parameters like magnetization, gyromagnetic ratio, Gilbert damping, extrinsic linewidth was derived from field-sweep FMR data. The structural and magnetic results were further validated theoretically by first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. DFT analysis show that localised spin moments from 3d electrons of Co2+ and Ni2+ ions are principally responsible for the stable long-range magnetic ordering in co-doped ZnO particles. Hence, the development of room temperature ferromagnetism in transparent ZnO can have immense applications in spintronics based quantum computing, and phase-change magnetic memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the color feature of the image pixels, color image segmentation assumes that; distinct clusters of homogenous colors in the image correspond to significant objects in the image. Therefore, each cluster designates a group of pixels with comparable color characteristics. The present research work proposes a novel Modified kernel-based Fuzzy C Means Clustering (MKFCMC) method for color image segmentation using three stages: Pre-processing, Feature extraction, and Segmentation. In the pre-processing stage, the input image is filtered using Weiner Filtering model. The next stage is feature extraction in which shape index histogram-based features, improved local gradient pattern-based features, and color features are extracted. Finally, segmentation is done by the Modified Kernel Fuzzy C means (MKFCM) algorithm. In this MKFCM-based segmentation process, the optimal centroid selection is carried out using optimization algorithm named Self Improved Snake Optimization algorithm. Finally, a performance comparison is made between the proposed MKFCMC model and the standard state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, F1-score and other metrics, thereby establishing the superiority of proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a brand-new, four-dimensional hyperchaotic system and provides a full analysis of its dynamical characteristics. Time series, phase portraits, Poincaré maps, bifurcation diagrams, estimating the Lyapunov exponents, and determining the Kaplan–Yorke dimension are all used to examine the system. Additionally, the system's equilibrium points are located and their stability is explored. Through the use of active, adaptive, and sliding-mode control approaches, we have also synchronized the newly introduced system. The Lyapunov stability theory and Vaidyanathan's theorem are the foundations upon which the controllers are built to guarantee synchronization between the systems. Finally, MATLAB-based numerical simulations are used to verify the theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of isolated laparoscopic extra-vesical ureteric reimplantation (I-LEVUR) for upper moiety ectopic ureter in patients with non-refluxing lower moiety ureter and avoid reimplanting normal lower moiety orifice. Methods: Between 2013 and 2024, 12 patients (8 females, 4 males) with ectopic ureter associated with a duplex system underwent I-LEVUR. Preoperative assessment included ultrasonography, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and magnetic resonance urography (MRU)/retrograde pyelogram (RGP). The procedure involved laparoscopic extravesical approach dissecting only the ectopic ureter in lower most part, preserving vascularity, and performing an isolated reimplantation without manipulating lower moiety ureter. Results: Twelve patients, with a median age of 2.8 years, underwent I-LEVUR. The mean operative time was 127.5 min. No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative follow-up (median: 78.5 months) showed no cases of ureteral obstruction or significant complications. Urinary continence improved in all patients. Two patients developed mild vesicoureteral reflux, managed conservatively, and one patient had minor urine leak which resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: I-LEVUR is a viable and effective alternative to traditional en bloc reimplantation for upper moiety ectopic ureter. It preserves the normal ureteric orifice, reduces surgical trauma, and offers excellent outcomes in terms of renal function and urinary continence. Further studies with larger cohorts, control group of common sheath reimplantation, randomization, robust statistical validation and longer follow-up are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for discovery of adulteration in edible oil is proposed based on concept of refractive index and electronic sensors. The research work focusses on two distinct methodologies like employing datasets and implementing a fumigation technique that integrates real-time hardware for testing Edible oil Impurities. In the first method, the dataset taken into consideration contains spectral data collected using Advanced ATR-MIR Spectroscopy for pure oil and various levels of adulteration with Vegetable oil. Each and every edible oil has a certain value of refractive index. When such oils are contemned in a change adding adulterants, the value of its refractive indices also changes. This value of refractive index serves as a feature for testing the oil and helps us in detecting the adulteration. If Oil is adulterated with vegetable oils, the refractive index will be lower and with animal fats, the refractive index will be higher than that of pure Oil. While in Fumigation Method a hardware module is develop in which adulterated & pure oil samples are heated at 40–50 °C for 4.66 min and the volatiles that are generated by varying gas concentrations are forcefully passed through to the MEMS Gas Sensor-MISC-2714 and Multichannel Gas sensor. The conductance of the sensors changes according to the gases sensed by the sensors contributes to features extraction. The conductance value serves as a feature for the classifier to determine whether the sample is highly, moderately, or lowly contaminated. Thus, in proposed methods we use different algorithms based on machine learning like KNN, Random Forest, CATBOOST and XGBOOST to accurately reveal the adulteration. Amongst all the applied algorithm Random Forest (RF) Classifier & XGBOOST algorithm outperform well and gives 100% accuracy. The proposed work is used for identifying food adulteration in edible food products which helps us to feed Society with high-quality food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects a significant majority of cancer patients, with up to 80% experiencing this severe and dose-limiting side effect while undergoing anti-cancer treatment. CIPN can be induced by a variety of drugs commonly employed in the management of both solid tumors and hematologic cancers. The inadequacies in comprehending the pharmacological interventions associated with CIPN and the subsequent signaling pathways have significantly contributed to the disappointing outcomes of several drugs in clinical trials. Recent investigations in pain research have demonstrated a growing inclination toward addressing neuro-inflammation as a strategy for managing chronic pain conditions. Notably, toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) has emerged as a key player in immune system activation and is undergoing extensive research. In this review, we emphasize the potential role of TLR-4 in neuropathic pain, highlighting its promise as a target for CIPN treatment. Furthermore, we explore and analyse the intricate interplay between TLR-4, diverse immune cells, downstream pathways, and receptors within the context of CIPN. A comprehensive exploration of these interactions provides valuable insights into the central role of TLR-4 in CIPN development, paving the way for potential ground-breaking therapeutic approaches to alleviate this debilitating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent progress in deep learning has significantly impacted materials science, leading to accelerated material discovery and innovation. ElemNet, a deep neural network model that predicts formation energy from elemental compositions, exemplifies the application of deep learning techniques in this field. However, the "black-box" nature of deep learning models often raises concerns about their interpretability and reliability. In this study, we propose XElemNet to explore the interpretability of ElemNet by applying a series of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques, focusing on post-hoc analysis and model transparency. The experiments with artificial binary datasets reveal ElemNet's effectiveness in predicting convex hulls of element-pair systems across periodic table groups, indicating its capability to effectively discern elemental interactions in most cases. Additionally, feature importance analysis within ElemNet highlights alignment with chemical properties of elements such as reactivity and electronegativity. XElemNet provides insights into the strengths and limitations of ElemNet and offers a potential pathway for explaining other deep learning models in materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). It was reported that obesity -associated inflammation correlates with insulin resistance and increased risk of EAC. The objective of the study is to investigate the role of obesity associated inflammatory mediators in the development of EAC. Methods: We included 23 obese and nonobese patients with EAC or with or without Barrett's esophagus (BE) after IRB approval. We collected 23 normal, 10 BE, and 19 EAC tissue samples from endoscopy or esophagectomy. The samples were analyzed for the expression levels of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors, PKC-δ, cIAP2, FLIP, IGF-1, Akt, NF-kB and Ki67 by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. We compared the expression levels between normal, BE, and EAC tissue using Students' t-test between two groups. Results: Our results showed decreased gene and protein expression of pro-apoptotic factors (bad, bak and bax) and increased expression of anti-apoptotic factors (bcl-2, Bcl-xL) in BE and EAC compared to normal tissues. There was increased gene and protein expression of PKC-δ, cIAP2, FLIP, NF-kB, IGF-1, Akt, and Ki67 in BE and EAC samples compared to normal esophagus. Further, an increased folds changes in mRNA expression of proapoptotic factors, antiapoptotic factors, PKC-δ, IGF-1, Akt, and Ki-67 was associated with obesity. Conclusion: Patients with EAC had increased expression of cIAP2 and FLIP, and PKC-δ which is associated with inhibition of apoptosis and possible progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regained interest in using the externally applied magnetic field (MF) to engineer properties in the solid state has opened a new lane and expanded the existing paradigm to control the microstructure and improve the performance of materials. One area to explore is the enhancement in corrosion resistance of an intricately shaped component for structural applications. This work evaluated the corrosion resistance of paramagnetic Ti alloy, Ti–6Al–4V, treated in a static MF of 2 T. To investigate the magnetically induced microstructural evolution in terms of α-phase fraction and dislocation density and its effect on corrosion behavior, the material was studied in three conditions: as-received (hot rolled) plate, 5% cold-rolled, and 5% cold-rolled + annealed. Experiments involved performing corrosion tests and evaluating phases and dislocation density via X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. A decrease in dislocation density was observed for magnetic exposure of 2 T for all conditions, with a drastic decrease of ~ 38.5% for the cold-rolled sample. An evident improvement in corrosion resistance of magnetically treated paramagnetic alloy as a result of the negative magneto-plasticity effect paves new pathways for tailoring the properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multidomain peptides (MDPs) are amino acid sequences that self-assemble to form supramolecular hydrogels under physiological conditions that have shown promise for a number of biomedical applications. K2(SL)6K2 ("K2"), a widely studied MDP, has demonstrated the ability to enhance the humoral immune response to co-delivered antigen. Herein, we sought to explore the in vitro and in vivo properties of a peptide with the same sequence but opposite chirality (D-K2) since peptides composed of D-amino acids are resistant to protease degradation and potentially more immunostimulatory than their canonical counterparts. Methods: K2 and D-K2 hydrogels were characterized and evaluated in vitro using circular dichroism, rheology, cryo-electron microscopy, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching studies. In vivo experiments in SKH-1 mice were conducted to evaluate both ovalbumin release from the hydrogels and hydrogel degradation. The injection site of the hydrogels was analyzed using histology and humoral immunity was assessed by ELISA. Results: In vitro, the enantiomeric hydrogels exhibited similar rheological properties, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments demonstrated that the diffusion of ovalbumin (OVA), a model antigen, was similar within both hydrogels. In vivo, K2 and D-K2 peptide hydrogels had similar OVA release rates, both releasing 89% of the antigen within 8 days. Both hydrogels elicited a similar antigen-specific humoral immune response. However, the in vivo degradation of the D-K2 hydrogel progressed significantly slower than K2. After 4 weeks in vivo, only 23 ± 7% of the K2 hydrogel remained at the injection site compared to 94 ± 7% of the D-K2 hydrogel, likely due to their different protease susceptibilities. Conclusion: Taken together, these data suggest that peptide chirality can be a useful tool for increasing hydrogel residence time for biomedical applications that would benefit from long persistence times and that, if an antigen releases over a sufficiently short period, release can be largely independent of degradation rate, though slower-diffusing payloads may exhibit degradation rate dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-voltage and high-frequency stresses comprising of AC and DC components are encountered across the surge arresters at various nodes in HVDC stations. There is a need to generate these stresses to evaluate surge arresters employed at different locations in the HVDC networks. In the present work, an attempt is made to develop complex waveforms using a novel single-stage DC–AC converter. The presented switched-mode converter is based on a coupled inductor which gives an extra degree of freedom to obtain a higher gain with the modulation in the duty ratio. Fixing the turns ratio of the coupled inductor, the duty ratio is appropriately modulated to generate the complex waveform of high frequency and high amplitude. The proposed converter offers a single-stage solution for DC–AC inversion using pulse width modulation, with fewer components, higher power density, and the ability to generate a frequency of 600 Hz. The detailed converter and controller design analysis is discussed in the present investigation. The breakdown operation of the surge arrester demands a massive short-circuit current from the source side, which may be difficult to obtain if a high-gain amplifier is used without proper protection. The presented switched-mode converter-based approach rectifies the issue of the short-circuit current during the insulator breakdown. A simulation study is performed to validate the circuit for both positive and negative buck-boost regions. Further, a hardware setup is developed to verify the generation of high-frequency and high-voltage complex waveforms. The developed converter could be widely used for insulation evaluation and condition monitoring of various high-voltage equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aptamer-based electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin type A (SEA) is presented. The truncated aptamer AptSEA1.4 used in this work was screened using computational techniques, which reduced the cost of the SELEX screening process. The aptamer-SEA interactions were confirmed by employing circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Afterwards, for developing an electrochemical aptasensor, a fabricated GNR/FTO aptasensor was prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and square wave voltammetry (SWV). A detailed investigation of aptamer and SEA interaction in the presence of various experimental conditions was also conducted through SWV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The aptamer exhibits a strong affinity for SEA, with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 19.93 nM. The aptasensor is sensitive, with a lower limit of detection of 12.44 pg mL−1. It has good stability, repeatability, and specificity and has displayed highly specific and sensitive detection SEA in spiked packaged mixed fruit juice and milk, with a recovery of 95–110%. The aptasensor has high promise for detecting SEA in other food items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharyngitis is a disorder commonly reported in ENT OPDs. The most common cause of Pharyngitis in India is Group A streptococcus, with prevalence rates of 13% in children aged 5–15%. It can also be attributed to various other bacterial, viral and fungal agents. Oral gargles are increasingly being used as a safe, effective, and non-invasive method for management. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Octenidine gargles in cases of Acute Pharyngitis. The present study is a prospective double blinded randomised study done in a tertiary care hospital in Sitapur, UP between 1st January, 2022 to 30th June, 2022. Patients with acute pharyngitis were randomised into two groups- Octenidine and Placebo group and subsequently, the efficacy of octenidine was studied. The octenidine gargle group reported better improvement acute pharyngitis symptoms and a significantly shorter time to symptom resolution. The study suggests that Octenidine gargles are an effective treatment option for Acute Pharyngitis, providing significant symptom relief and a shorter time to resolution when compared to warm saline gargles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymus is a paired organ which develops during the sixth week of fetal life, attains maximum size by three years and involutes in adult life. Anatomically it is situated in superior mediastinum. Thymus can be present at ectopic sites like neck, skull base, middle ear, submandibular gland and tonsil. Ectopic Cervical Thymus (ECT) is very rare in adults and can present as a solid mass, cyst or thymoma. ECT occurs due to failure of descent during embryonic development. ECT can mimic any pathologic mass, metastatic deposit or lymph node enlargement. We report a case of ECT discovered incidentally in an adult during histopathological examination of thyroid carcinoma. In addition, we described the role of immunohistochemistry markers to confirm the various thymic components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antihistamines has always remained the mainstay drug treatment for Allergic Rhinitis (AR). Bilastine is a novel, non-sedative antihistamine with a super-selective H1 receptor antagonist property. Both bilastine and fexofenadine are second generation antihistamine drugs commonly used to manage AR and Chronic Urticaria (CU). Autologous Skin Serum Test (ASST) is a practical test for histamine release in CU. These tests have been studied in AR patients with limited data studies. Methods: 114 patients diagnosed with perennial AR were recruited and divided into two groups of 57 each. One group was started Bilastine 20 mg once a day and other group, fexofenadine 180 mg once a day. Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) was calculated at presentation and two weeks of antihistamine therapy. ASST was hypothesized to be the test for AR and performed at the time of presentation and at two weeks follow-up. Intergroup and Intragroup assessment of TNSS, ASST and its variables were done using unpaired and paired t test respectively. Results: Patients showed reduction in symptoms of AR with both antihistamines. A significant improvement of sneezing and rhinorrhoea was seen in Fexofenadine group as compared to Bilastine group. TNSS showed statistically significant improvement in both the groups. ASST had statistically significant reduction in both the groups. Conclusions: Both Bilastine and fexofenadine were found to be effective in reduction of symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Bilastine was found to be more effective in overall as well as sneezing and rhinorrhoea noted two weeks after therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection of the scrotum and its contents is the most common cause of acute scrotum. Imaging plays an important role in evaluating disease extent, severity and its complications. Sonography is the modality of choice for imaging the acute scrotum. This pictorial review discusses the varied clinical and imaging features of scrotal infections and their complications, with correlative CT, when available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to study the feasibility and usefulness of trained Radiologist Assistants in a busy emergency teleradiology practice. Method: This is a retrospective study over a 21-month period (January 2021 to September 2022). The study analysed archived data from 247118 peer review studies performed by Radiologist Assistants (RAs) out of a total case volume of 828526 and evaluated the rate of discrepancies, the study types commonly noted to have discrepancies, and the severity of errors. These missed findings were brought to the attention of the radiologists for approval and further decision-making. Results: Peer review by RAs was performed on 30% (n = 247118) of the total volume 828526 studies reported, and yielded additional findings including but not limited to fractures (218; 23%), hemorrhage,(94; 10%) pulmonary thromboembolism, (n = 104; 11%), Calculus (n = 75; 8%) lesion (n = 66; 5%), appendicitis(n = 50; 4%) and others. These were brought to the attention of the radiologist, who agreed in 97% (1279 out of 1318) of cases, and communicated the same to the referring facility, with an addended report. Conclusion: Trained RAs can provide value to the peer review program of a busy teleradiology practice and decrease errors. This may be useful to meet the ongoing radiologist shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first measurement of the multiplicity dependence of intra-jet properties of leading charged-particle jets in proton–proton (pp) collisions is reported. The mean charged-particle multiplicity and jet fragmentation distributions are measured in minimum-bias and high-multiplicity pp collisions at center-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV using the ALICE detector. Jets are reconstructed from charged particles produced in the midrapidity region ( | η | < 0.9 ) using the sequential recombination anti- k T algorithm with jet resolution parameters R = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 for the transverse momentum ( p T ) interval 5–110 GeV/c. The high-multiplicity events are selected by the forward V0 scintillator detectors. The mean charged-particle multiplicity inside the leading jet cone rises monotonically with increasing jet p T in qualitative agreement with previous measurements at lower energies. The distributions of jet fragmentation function variables z ch and ξ ch are measured for different jet- p T intervals. Jet- p T independent fragmentation of leading jets is observed for wider jets except at high- and low- z ch values. The observed "hump-backed plateau" structure in the ξ ch distribution indicates suppression of low- p T particles. In high-multiplicity events, an enhancement of the fragmentation probability of low- z ch particles accompanied by a suppression of high- z ch particles is observed compared to minimum-bias events. This behavior becomes more prominent for low- p T jets with larger jet radius. The results are compared with predictions of QCD-inspired event generators, PYTHIA 8 with Monash 2013 tune and EPOS LHC. It is found that PYTHIA 8 qualitatively reproduces the jet modification in high-multiplicity events except at high jet p T . These measurements provide important constraints to models of jet fragmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research endeavored to provide an analysis of the barriers related to the agri-food supply chain in the context of the Indian agro-industry. The methodology used is based on an Interpretive Structural Modeling with a Matrix of Cross Impacts-Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) technique. There is a need for specificity in defining Agro-food supply chain barriers before they can be eliminated. Therefore, the goal of this study is to look at the factors which are emerging as constraints to the growth of the agri-food supply chain. The findings show that transparency and traceability, inadequate infrastructure, difficulty in implementing government schemes, and inadequate risk management measures constitute important barriers to agri-food supply chains. This study provides an understanding of supply-chain barriers related to the agro-food industry. Managers/owners of agricultural enterprises can use the findings of this study to more easily identify the prominent barriers which affect agri-food supply chains. Furthermore, this study can be used as a guide to deal with the supply chain problems facing agri-enterprises in the face of high demand for agri-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fracture liaison service is a systems-level multidisciplinary approach designed to reduce subsequent fracture risk in patients who recently sustained fragility fractures. It is estimated that one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 years old have osteoporosis. Nonetheless, only 9 to 20% of patients who sustain an initial fragility fracture eventually receive any osteoporosis treatment. With the aim of preventing subsequent fractures, a fracture liaison service (FLS) works through identifying patients presenting with fragility fractures to the hospital and providing them with easier access to osteoporosis care through referrals for bone health and fracture risk assessment and recommendation or initiation of osteoporosis treatment. Currently, there are four major types of FLS models ranging from services that only identify at-risk patients and inform and educate the patient but take no further part in communicating their findings to other stakeholders in patients' care, to services that identify, investigate, and initiate treatment at the other end of the spectrum. In this article, we review the benefits, challenges, and outcomes of FLS in the American healthcare system with further exploration of the roles each member of the multidisciplinary team can play in improving patients' bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity of curry leaves is of interest because oxidative stress is implicated in a variety of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. By scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, antioxidants can help protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of these diseases. Overall, in-silico studies suggest that curry leaves and their bioactive compounds have potent antioxidant activity. The objective of the study was to assess the antioxidant activity of the bioactive molecules from Murraya koenigii and anticipate the toxicity by in-silico research. iGEMDOCK software was used to assess the antioxidant activity. ProTox II software was used to conduct the toxicity investigations. Osthol (− 81.4863, − 81.9046 kcal/mol), mukoenineA (− 81.0417, − 78.9941 kcal/mol), murrayone(− 80.0731, − 78.9453 kcal/mol), kaempferol (− 97.0774, − 89.3534 kcal/mol), and apigenin (− 89.5291, − 108.704 kcal/mol) were found to have the highest binding energies with SOD and GPx proteins, respectively, when compared with standard (ascorbic acid; − 81.132, − 98.917 kcal/mol). All the mentioned compounds have low levels of hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity. The bioactive molecules of Murraya koenigii have a potent antioxidant effect and low level of toxicity that gives valuable insight for optimizing lead molecules to combat free radical generation or oxidation.Article Highlights: Identification of promising bioactive molecule with potent antioxidant properties from Murraya koenigii. Evaluation of toxicity profiles of the identified compound, ensuring its potential safety for therapeutic applications Bioactive compound exhibited low levels of hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Application of advanced computational methods, demonstrating their value as a robust tool for in-silico assessment and profiling [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image caption generation is among the most rapidly growing research areas that combine image processing methodologies with natural language processing (NLP) technique(s). The effectiveness of the combination of image processing and NLP techniques can revolutionaries the areas of content creation, media analysis, and accessibility. The study proposed a novel model to generate automatic image captions by consuming visual and linguistic features. Visual image features are extracted by applying Convolutional Neural Network and linguistic features by Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to generate text. Microsoft Common Objects in Context dataset with over 330,000 images having corresponding captions is used to train the proposed model. A comprehensive evaluation of various models, including VGGNet + LSTM, ResNet + LSTM, GoogleNet + LSTM, VGGNet + RNN, AlexNet + RNN, and AlexNet + LSTM, was conducted based on different batch sizes and learning rates. The assessment was performed using metrics such as BLEU-2 Score, METEOR Score, ROUGE-L Score, and CIDEr. The proposed method demonstrated competitive performance, suggesting its potential for further exploration and refinement. These findings underscore the importance of careful parameter tuning and model selection in image captioning tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PRESTO was established in 2022 and is a concerted effort by leading European experts in the field of P2XRs and extracellular ATP to promote and advance the transition to the clinic of P2XR-targeting therapies. Following the inaugural meeting in Ferrara which set the foundations of the action and generated interest from many groups and institutes, the second meeting covered the preclinical and clinical aspects of P2XRs as a common route in different diseases, recognising the multidisciplinary and collaborative approach required for a number of medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study the effect of nano particle mixing in base refrigerant of R-152 is evaluated. Now a days two biggest environmental issues confronting the world are global warming and ozone depletion. The increasing national and international concern about global warming, as well as the importance placed on the study of this research work has been prompted by energy conservation. Hydro floro carbon is a kind of greenhouse gas that is used in air conditioning and refrigeration and it majorly contribute in global warming issue which is why it is needed to be strictly ban. In this study, we use nano particles mixed with the base refrigerant. Since we know that performance of VCRS is highly depends upon the type of refrigerant used. It is highly recommended to use a refrigerant with good thermo physical properties as they enhance the transfer of heat & increase performance for the system. Nano additives enhance the cross-sectional area of heat transfer which results in better output of the refrigeration system. Different types of metal oxide nano particles are used to compare the performance by various researchers along with carbon nano tubes. Finer the diameter of the particles less is the problem of clogging and chocking arises. Experimentation work is carried out by using different concentration of nano particles to analyze their impact on the system. The efficiency and exergy analysis of alternative refrigerants (hydrocarbon and nano refrigerants) were also investigated. Evaporating temperature, condensing temperature, and refrigerant mass along with varying nano particles concentration are the factors investigated in the refrigeration method. A Computerized refrigeration cycle test rig has been used for these experiments. Trial runs are used to determine the operating ranges of all the chosen parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repurposing drugs offers several advantages, including reduced time and cost compared to developing new drugs from scratch. It leverages existing knowledge about drug safety, dosage, and pharmacokinetics, expediting the process of clinical trials and regulatory approval. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a semi-synthetic and active metabolite of all artemisinin molecules and is FDA-approved for the treatment of malaria. Apart from having anti-malarial properties, DHA also possesses anticancer properties. However, its pharmacological actions are limited by toxicity and solubility problems. To overcome these challenges and enhance its anticancer effectiveness, we designed an exosomal formulation of DHA. We isolated exosomes from bovine milk using differential ultracentrifugation and loaded DHA using sonication. Scanning and transition electron microscopy revealed a size of roughly 100 nm, with a spherical shape. Furthermore, in pH 7.4 and 5.5, the exosomes exhibited burst release followed by sustained release. Multiple in vitro cell culture tests demonstrated that Exo-DHA exhibited enhanced anticancer activity, including cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of colony formation. Additional evidence supporting Exo-DHA's anti-migration ability came from transwell migration and scratch assays. Based on these results, it was concluded that the anticancer efficacy of DHA was improved when loaded into bovine milk-derived exosomes. While the in vitro results are encouraging, more in vivo testing in suitable animal models and biochemical marker analysis are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pectin from Taiwan Citrus depressa Hayata's peels (CDH pectin) and sodium alginate (Na alginate) were mixed in neutral acidity to produce microhydrogel beads or microspheres. The potential use of the microspheres such as encapsulation materials for quercetin and nobiletin, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity, toxic elements absorption ability, and thermal characteristics were explored. Results: Different ratios of CDH pectin and Na alginate produced microspheres of varying sizes and shapes. The highest yield (47.59%) with the broadest diameter was obtained at a Na alginate—CDH pectin ratio of 2:1, while the smallest yield was obtained from Na alginate—CDH pectin ratio of 1:3 (24.13%). Increasing the amount of Na alginate resulted in more spherical microspheres, higher heavy metals (cobalt and nickel) removal rates, yet a lower swelling ratio. A high pectin concentration also increased the encapsulation efficiency of quercetin and nobiletin, reaching 91.5% and 86.74%, respectively. Quercetin and nobiletin release analysis (in vitro) showed a slow release of drugs from the microspheres. Less than 20% quercetin and nobiletin were released from the microspheres in SGF (simulated gastric fluid) pH 1.2 solution after 2 h and more than 40% of the encapsulated drug was released in SIF (simulated intestinal fluid) pH 6.8 after 4 h. The strong DPPH scavenging activity of quercetin (99%) was not hindered by encapsulation materials. ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry) analysis demonstrated that the biopolymer can absorb cobalt and nickel from water. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) result showed that the combination of CDH pectin and Na alginate produced a biopolymer that exhibited a weight loss of only 1.86–4.33% at 100 °C. Conclusions: These findings suggest that microspheres produced from CDH pectin cross-linked with sodium alginate had potential in nobiletin and quercetin encapsulation. Moreover, the polymer could absorb heavy metals and exhibit an important characteristic for hot food and beverage packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]