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Let R = k [ x 1 , ... , x n ] be a polynomial ring over a filed k . The edge ideal of a graph G is the monomial ideal, denoted by I G , whose generators correspond to the edges in G. The quotient ring R / I G is called the edge ring of G. In this paper, we study the minimal N - graded free resolution of edge ring R / I C n k of a k-partite n-crown graph C n k . We give a combinatorial formula for the graded Betti numbers in the linear strand of R / I C n k . We also determine the Hilbert series of the edge ring R / I C n k both in terms of i-faces of its independence complex and the graded Betti numbers of its edge ring. We then compare these Hilbert Series and derive a combinatorial formula for other graded Betti numbers of R / I C n k . As a consequence, we also determine the extremal graded Betti number of the edge ring of a k - partite n - crown graph R / I C n k . Moreover, we determine the projective dimension and the Castelnuovo–Mumford regularity of the edge rings of these graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The success of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is impacted by significant pre-surgical attrition rates and poor postoperative follow-up. This study focused on geographic variations in attrition rates and surgical outcomes for MBS practice for which the patient population is drawn from nine Chicago neighborhoods, to examine whether suboptimal weight loss or reduced adherence to the program varied across neighborhoods. Methods: Patients who presented for their initial MBS consultation at the University of Illinois (UI) Health's program between January 2019 and December 2020 were identified from electronic medical records. Demographic and medical information was extracted, along with postoperative weight at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The Chicago area was divided into nine geographic regions. The outcomes of interest were preoperative attrition rate, postoperative compliance to follow-up appointments, and postoperative weight loss for each group and by residential neighborhood. Results: A total of 1202 patients were included in this analysis, of whom 423 (35%) underwent surgery and 780 did not, representing a pre-surgical attrition rate of 64.9%. Age, sex, and race/ethnic distribution varied markedly across geographic regions. Postoperative weight loss varied significantly in neighborhoods with higher proportions of residents from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. Preoperative attrition and postoperative compliance did not differ across geographic regions. Conclusion: Patients' residential neighborhoods may influence weight loss after MBS. Preoperative and postoperative compliance did not vary by residential neighborhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let A (G) and D (G) be the adjacency and distance matrices of a graph G respectively. The adjacency energy or A -energy E A (G) of a graph G is defined as the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of A (G) . Analogously, the D -energy E D (G) is defined to be the sum of the absolute values of the eigenvalues of D (G) . One of the interesting problems on graph energy is to characterize those graphs which are equienergetic with respect to both the adjacency and distance matrices. A weaker problem is to construct the families of graphs which are equienergetic with respect to both the adjacency and distance matrices. In this paper, we find the explicit relations between A -energy and D -energy of certain families of graphs. As a consequence, we provide an answer to the above open problem (Indulal in https://icgc2020.wordpress.com/invitedlectures, 2020; http://www.facweb.iitkgp.ac.in/rkannan/gma.html, 2020) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burden of obesity is increasing worldwide, with severe obesity affecting nearly one in four US adults by 2030. While newer medications for obesity have gained popularity, bariatric surgery remains more effective for weight loss and improvement of obesity-related conditions. Conflicting guidelines from different medical associations have led to uncertainty among clinicians on how to approach obesity. Clinical trials have shown that bariatric surgery leads to greater weight loss and improved outcomes compared to medication alone. However, medication can be a non-surgical option for high-risk patients or as postoperative treatment to prevent weight regain. Further research is needed to determine the optimal approach to treating severe obesity by combining both surgical and medical treatments. [Extracted from the article]

For a simple graph G with n vertices and m edges, let D (G) = diag (d 1 , d 2 , ⋯ , d n) be its diagonal matrix, where d i = deg (v i) , for all i = 1 , 2 , ⋯ , n and A(G) be its adjacency matrix. The matrix Q (G) = D (G) + A (G) is called the signless Laplacian matrix of G. If q 1 , q 2 , ⋯ , q n are the signless Laplacian eigenvalues of Q(G) arranged in a non-increasing order, let S k + (G) = ∑ i = 1 k q i be the sum of the k largest signless Laplacian eigenvalues of G. As the signless Laplacian matrix Q(G) is a positive semi-definite real symmetric matrix, so the spectral invariant S k + (G) actually represents the Ky Fan k-norm of the matrix Q(G). Ashraf et al. (Linear Algebra Appl 438:4539–4546, 2013) conjectured that , for all k = 1 , 2 , ⋯ , n . In this paper, we obtain upper bounds to S k + (G) for some infinite families of graphs. Those structural results and tools are applied to show that the conjecture holds for many classes of graphs, and in particular for graphs with a given clique number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) has made important contributions on the prevalence of and factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among diverse Hispanic/Latino adults in the US. This article summarizes the knowledge gained thus far on major CVD risk factors from this landmark study. Recent Findings: HCHS/SOL demonstrated the sizeable burdens of CVD risk in all major Hispanic/Latino groups in the US, as well as the marked variations in prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity, and smoking by sex and background. It also identified sociodemographic, lifestyle, and sociocultural characteristics associated with risk factors. Summary: HCHS/SOL has yielded an expanding body of literature on characteristics associated with adverse CVD risk factors in this population. Long-term follow-up of this cohort will shed further light on the observed heterogeneity in CVD risk across Hispanic/Latino groups and identify specific risk/protective factors driving these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use and land-cover (LULC) is an important component for sustainable natural resource management, and there are considerable impacts of the rapid anthropogenic LULC changes on environment, ecosystem services, and land surface processes. One of the significant adverse implications of the rapidly changing urban LULC is the increase in the Land Surface Temperature (LST) resulting in the urban heat island effect. In this study, we used a time series of Landsat satellite images from 1992 to 2020 in the Srinagar city of the Kashmir valley, North-western Himalaya, India to understand the linkages between LULC dynamics and LST, derived from the archived images using the Google Earth Engine (GEE). Furthermore, the relationship between LST, urban heat island (UHI), and biophysical indices, i.e., Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), was also analysed. LULC change detection analysis from 1992 to 2020 revealed that the built-up area has increased significantly from 12% in 1992 to 40% in 2020, while the extent of water bodies has decreased from 6% in 1992 to 4% in 2020. The area under plantations has decreased from 26% in 1992 to 17% in 2020, and forests have decreased from 4 to 2% during the same period. Urban sprawl of Srinagar city has resulted in the depletion of natural land covers, modification of natural drainage, and loss of green and blue spaces over the past four decades. The study revealed that the maximum LST in the city has increased by 11°C between 1992 and 2020. During the same period of time, the minimum LST in the city has increased by 5°C, indicating the impact of urbanization on the city environment, which is reflected by the observed changes in various environmental indices. UHI impact in the city is quite evident with the maximum LST at the city centre having increased from 13.03°C in 1992 to 22.01°C in 2020. The findings shall serve as a vital source of knowledge for urban planners and decision-makers in developing sustainable urban environmental management strategies for Srinagar city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slope failure is a major concern along engineered slopes in the dicey Himalayas. It is one of the leading causes of fatalities and socio-economic disturbances in the regions. For hassle-free and safer design along transportation routes, effective geotechnical solutions pertaining to slope stability appraisal are very important for the stakeholders. National Highway-5 (NH-5), an essential route heading towards Shimla, experiences numerous slope instability problems. The present study focuses on stability appraisal along a part of NH-5 from Solan to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh using the Q-slope method and factor of safety (FoS), employing the principles of kinematic analysis. Eleven vulnerable slopes were identified for the detailed geotechnical investigation. Q-slope values of studied slopes range from 0.15 to 3.28, indicating a diversified range of stability. Among the evaluated 11 slopes, six are unstable, two are marginally stable and three are stable. Safe cut slope angle without any requirement of reinforcement measures (β) is also determined for all slopes. Furthermore, Bieniawski's RMR was also applied for estimating various rock mass parameters, including cohesion and angle of internal friction. Such parameters and other geotechnical inputs were used to calculate the factor of safety (FoS) for structurally controlled failures. A correlation between Q-slope values, FoS and orientation factor of Q-slope methods was also attempted herein. This geotechnical appraisal has provided a reasonable insight into slope instability issues along the route. It is suggested to perform such cost-effective and rapid geotechnical evaluations in likewise landslide-prone sections of the Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular postoperative follow-up appointments are critical for assessing the effectiveness of the operation and ensuring adequate nutrition, as well as for prompt identification of any complications. In this study, we aimed to determine compliance to follow-up appointments after bariatric surgery and examine factors associated with compliance. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent bariatric surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago between January 1st 2019 and December 30th 2019. Demographics, socio-economic variables (type of insurance, education, income, distance to hospital), type of consultation (in person vs. telehealth), and type of surgery were ascertained. Follow-up rates at the 3-month, 6-month, 12-month and 24-month visits were 61.9%, 41.2%, 29.6%, and 6.5%, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, White patients (OR 5.13 95% CI 2.03-12.95) and those using telehealth (OR 5.84, 95% CI 3.01 – 11.38) were significantly more likely to be compliant with follow-up. Strategies for improving patient adherence to postoperative follow-up are needed, particularly among persons from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds who also experience both a disparately high burden of severe obesity and poor access to quality care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroactive materials with low costs, simplicity, eco-friendliness, and efficiency are highly desirable for a variety of applications, including energy conversion, energy storage, and non-enzymatic sensing. Through the use of garlic green leaf biomass, active molecules are extracted to enhance NiCo2O4 nanostructure electroactive properties via reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents. A NiCo2O4 nanostructure electroactive material was created using 5 mL, 10 mL, and 15 mL of garlic leaf extract heated hydrothermally. An evaluation of the material's morphology, crystallinity, and surface chemical composition, as well as the application of electrochemical tests aimed at detecting ascorbic acid (AA) without the use of enzymes in phosphate buffer solution with pH of 7.4. Pure NiCo2O4 has the morphology of nanorods which was transformed into thinner nanowires consisting of nanoparticles with the addition of garlic leaves extract. Biosensors without enzymes have the advantages of being easy to make, reproducible, and stable over those with enzymes. NiCo2O4 nanostructures fabricated with garlic leaf extract in a 10 mL volume are being developed as non-enzymatic AA sensors. The AA sensor presented here operates linearly from 0.5 to 8.5 mM with a detection limit of 0.01 mM. It was found that an AA sensor is highly selective, stable, repeatable, and capable of quantifying AA concentrations in various real-life samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a simple connected graph G of order n having distance Laplacian eigenvalues ϱ 1 L ⩾ ϱ 2 L ⩾ ... ϱ n L , the distance Laplacian energy DLE(G) is defined as DLE (G) = ∑ i = 1 n ∣ ϱ i L − 2 W (G) / n ∣ , where W(G) is the Wiener index of G. We obtain a relationship between the Laplacian energy and the distance Laplacian energy for graphs with diameter 2. We obtain lower bounds for the distance Laplacian energy DLE(G) in terms of the order n, the Wiener index W(G), the independence number, the vertex connectivity number and other given parameters. We characterize the extremal graphs attaining these bounds. We show that the complete bipartite graph has the minimum distance Laplacian energy among all connected bipartite graphs and the complete split graph has the minimum distance Laplacian energy among all connected graphs with a given independence number. Further, we obtain the distance Laplacian spectrum of the join of a graph with the union of two other graphs. We show that the graph K k ∇ (K t ∪ K n − k − t) , 1 ⩽ t ⩽ ⌊ n − k 2 ⌋ , has the minimum distance Laplacian energy among all connected graphs with vertex connectivity k. We conclude this paper with a discussion on the trace norm of a matrix and the importance of our results in the theory of the trace norm of the matrix DL(G) − (2W(G)/n)In. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a simple graph with order n and size m. The quantity M 1 (G) = ∑ i = 1 n d v i 2 is called the first Zagreb index of G, where d v i is the degree of vertex v i , for all i = 1 , 2 , ⋯ , n . The signless Laplacian matrix of a graph G is Q (G) = D (G) + A (G) , where A(G) and D(G) denote, respectively, the adjacency and the diagonal matrix of the vertex degrees of G. Let q 1 ≥ q 2 ≥ ⋯ ≥ q n ≥ 0 be the signless Laplacian eigenvalues of G. The largest signless Laplacian eigenvalue q 1 is called the signless Laplacian spectral radius or Q-index of G and is denoted by q(G). Let S k + (G) = ∑ i = 1 k q i and L k (G) = ∑ i = 0 k - 1 q n - i , where 1 ≤ k ≤ n , respectively denote the sum of k largest and smallest signless Laplacian eigenvalues of G. The signless Laplacian energy of G is defined as Q E (G) = ∑ i = 1 n | q i - d ¯ | , where d ¯ = 2 m n is the average vertex degree of G. In this article, we obtain upper bounds for the first Zagreb index M 1 (G) and show that each bound is best possible. Using these bounds, we obtain several upper bounds for the graph invariant S k + (G) and characterize the extremal cases. As a consequence, we find upper bounds for the Q-index and lower bounds for the graph invariant L k (G) in terms of various graph parameters and determine the extremal cases. As an application, we obtain upper bounds for the signless Laplacian energy of a graph and characterize the extremal cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a wireless power transfer system with a range of 3 m operating at 2.4 GHz. The system comprises custom-designed transmitter (TX), and receiver (RX) blocks to establish the power-link and data-link using ESP-32 module to perform a handshaking between TX and RX for efficient beam steering. The TX employs a 1-Dimensional (1D) 4-element microstrip patch antenna array for beam steering in azimuth and achieves the elevation coverage using multiple TX's. Each element in the TX antenna array is fed by a dedicated commerical of-the-shelf (COTS) channel consisting of Power Amplifiers, Phase Shifter ICs, a passive power divider, and a single oscillator. The RX patch antenna is followed by an efficient multi-stage charge-pump rectifier which generates buffered 5 V at 2.5Watts for the backend mobile device charging. The RX device activates the data link, enabling the TX to perform a smart segmented beam steering to determine the optimal beam directivity depending on the mobile device location. The system achieves a beam steering of ± 30 degrees in azimuth and a beam width of 10 degrees at 3 m while exhibiting TX and RX antenna gains of 4.4 dBi and 4 dBi, respectively. At a transmitted power of + 30dBm, the received power at 10 inches is − 5dBm, and the charge pump generates 5 V at its fourth stage, demonstrating the feasibility of a safe and efficient wireless power transfer for indoor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a finite group G, the power graph P (G) is a simple connected graph whose vertex set is the set of elements of G and two distinct vertices x and y are adjacent if and only if xi = y or yj = x, for 2 ≤ i, j ≤ n. In this paper, we obtain the distance Laplacian spectrum of power graphs of finite groups such as cyclic groups, dihedral groups, dicyclic groups, abelian groups and elementary abelian p groups. Moreover, we find the largest and second smallest distance Laplacian eigenvalue of power graphs of such groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article focuses on recent evidence linking rapid eye movement (REM) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (REM-OSA) to neurocognitive dysfunction and mood changes; the proposed mechanisms for increased risk of neurocognitive dysfunction in REM-OSA, and future research prospects. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar records were examined for articles utilizing pre-defined keywords. In this work, we mainly included studies published after 2017; nevertheless, critical studies published prior to 2017 were considered. Results: REM-OSA is an under-recognized stage-related sleep-disordered breathing in which obstructive respiratory events happen chiefly in stage REM. The disorder is commonly seen amongst younger patients and females and has recently been linked to cardiometabolic complications. Although less symptomatic than non-REM-OSA and non-stage-specific OSA, current findings indicate that REM-OSA may have neurocognitive repercussions and mood changes and could be linked to insomnia, increased dreams, and nightmares. Conclusion: Currently available evidence indicates that REM-OSA may present with insomnia and nightmares and could affect cognitive function and mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydraulic conductivity of rock joints is an important parameter controlling fluid flow in various rock engineering applications. The shearing and normal loading have significant effects on hydraulic conductivity of rock joints, the property of which is mainly controlled by hydraulic aperture. Despite the importance of hydro-mechanical behaviour of rock joints, the fundamental micro-scale processes leading to macro-scale observations remain unexplored partly due to difficulties with in situ measurement of hydraulic aperture and its complex relation to roughness and contact area. Therefore, in this study, a series of experiments coupling fluid flow with normal deformability and direct shear are performed on joints with varying controlled roughness at different normal stresses. Along with measuring stress and flow rate, the time-lapse X-ray micro-computed tomography is carried out to explore the evolution of joint aperture and contact area during the experiments. The results of the normal deformability experiments show that the joint conductivity is well correlated to the mean hydraulic aperture of joint profiles. Such correlation, however, is not apparent for the shearing experiment where under high normal stresses, the flow rate decreases continually indicating that damaged asperities hinder the fluid flow. Despite the trend in the average mechanical aperture not following the flow rate in some cases, the trend in the contact area follows the flow rate very closely throughout the shearing process. In addition, the results reveal that despite an increase in contact area with increase in normal stress, it is not physically possible to reach full contact even for the artificially well-mated samples at a high normal stress of 10 MPa. Finally, a new correlation is proposed to relate the hydraulic aperture to joint average mechanical aperture, contact area and roughness. The correlation estimates the experimental flow rates at both normal and shear loading conditions with good accuracy. Highlights: A series of coupled fluid flow—normal deformability and direct shear—experiments are performed on two rock joints with different roughness. The time-lapse X-ray micro-computed tomography is carried out to explore the evolution of joint aperture and contact area during the experiments. A new correlation is proposed to relate the hydraulic aperture to joint average mechanical aperture, contact area and roughness. The proposed correlation estimates the experimental flow rates at both normal and shearing loading conditions with good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent advancement in computer technology, we can extract the picture of the brain as a network. The aim of this study is to constructs large scale individual anatomical brain networks using regional gray matter cortical thickness from individual subject's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, as well as to investigate changes with normal aging in global network organization. The dataset includes 183 healthy subjects sMRI data with an age range from 50 to 80 plus. For all brain networks, we calculated the global network measures and nodal network measures by using network analysis toolkit GRETNA. From global network measurements we calculated small-world measurements and network efficiency measurements, from nodal measurements we calculated node clustering coefficient (CC) and node efficiency at a wide-range of threshold values. All small world measurements showed more clustering at all the given threshold values than random networks and a alike least path length, indicative of that they were "small world". To analyze the effect normal ageing on networks organization, the networks of subjects were categorized into three age groups (50s, 60s, and 70 over). The global and nodal network measurements of each group were statistically analyzed to investigate the significant difference in network organization with in age groups. Results shows that the age has no significance effect in global measurements of brain network. However, by analysis the nodal measures of brain network between age group, network nodes from brain frontal lobe and temporal lobe showed age related significant difference. The results obtained from the proposed study suggest that this network method can deliver a concise network-level picture of brain organization and be used from the outlook of composite networks to investigate inter-individual variability in brain morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D(G) and Tr (G) be, respectively, the distance matrix and the diagonal matrix of the vertex transmissions of a connected graph G. The generalized distance matrix is defined as T α (G) = α Tr (G) + (1 - α) D (G) , where 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 . If ∂ 1 ≥ ∂ 2 ≥ ⋯ ≥ ∂ n are the eigenvalues of T α (G) , the generalized distance spread (or T α -spread) is defined as S T α (G) = ∂ 1 - ∂ n . In this paper, we obtain an upper bound for the smallest generalized distance eigenvalue ∂ n in terms of different graph parameters. In particular, we show that this upper bound is better than the upper bound obtained by Cui et al. (Linear Algebra Appl 563:1–23, 2019). As an application to this upper bound, we obtain a lower bound for the generalized distance spread S T α (G) and discuss some of its consequences. Furthermore, we obtain a lower bound for S T α (G) in terms of the chromatic number χ of the graph G. Also, we discuss the nature of T α -spread S T α (G) under some graph operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let R be a commutative ring with unity, M be a unitary R-module and G a finite abelian group (viewed as a Z -module). The main objective of this paper is to study properties of mod-annihilators of M. For x ∈ M , we study the ideals [ x : M ] = { r ∈ R | r M ⊆ R x } of R corresponding to mod-annihilator of M. We investigate as when [x : M] is an essential ideal of R. We prove that the arbitrary intersection of essential ideals represented by mod-annihilators is an essential ideal. We observe that [x : M] is injective if and only if R is non-singular and the radical of R/[x : M] is zero. Moreover, if essential socle of M is non-zero, then we show that [x : M] is the intersection of maximal ideals and [ x : M ] 2 = [ x : M ] . Finally, we discuss the correspondence of essential ideals of R and vertices of the annihilating graphs realized by M over R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of data on the feeding habits of sparid fishes from the north Arabian Sea is very scarce. In the present study, a total of 1,148 sparid fishes were collected from July 2012 to June 2013 ranging from 75 to 100 fish specimens on monthly basis. The diet of three sparid species was determined based on feeding intensity or vacuity index (%VI), numerical abundance (%Cn), and frequency of occurrence (%Co) of each dietary group by examining stomachs of 475 specimens of Argyrops spinifer, 169 of Sparidentex hasta, and 504 of Rhabdosargus niger. The overall highest vacuity index (59.76%) was found for S. hasta, followed by A. spinifer (51.37%) and R. niger (40%), whereas seasonal and size variation among the three species were also noted. The diet contents of these species consisted of sixteen major groups: teleost, brachyuran, penaeids, stomatopods, palinurids, anomurans, gastropods, pelecypods, nudibranch, echinoderms, cephalopods, cirripeds, amphipods, isopods, polychaetes, and marine algae. The percent index of relative importance (%IRI) was used to explain each dietary group consumed by A. spinifer, S. hasta, and R. niger. One-way ANOSIM (analysis of similarities) result shows that the examined sparid species are somewhat identical in consumption of major diet groups (R=0.81; p= 0.007). A pairwise ANOSIM value of 0.192 between A. spinifer and S. hasta is found closer than A. spinifer and R. niger (0.093) whereas S. hasta and R. niger (0.102) showed closer diet contents with A. spinifer and R. niger (0.093). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a graph with vertex set { v 1 , v 2 , ... , v n } and let d i denote the degree of vertex v i . The geometric–arithmetic matrix GA (G) of G is indexed by the vertices of G, whose (i, j) -th entry is 2 d i d j d i + d j if the vertices i and j are adjacent and 0 otherwise. The multi-set of eigenvalues of GA (G) is known as the geometric–arithmetic spectrum of G. In this article, we obtain geometric–arithmetic spectra of various families of graphs and characterize the connected graphs with two and three distinct GA eigenvalues. We obtain several upper and lower bounds for the geometric arithmetic energy and characterize the graphs attaining such bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteine-rich receptor-like-kinases (CRKs), a transmembrane subfamily of receptor-like kinase, play crucial roles in plant adaptation. As such cotton is the major source of fiber for the textile industry, but environmental stresses are limiting its growth and production. Here, we have performed a deep computational analysis of CRKs in five Gossypium species, including G. arboreum (60 genes), G. raimondii (74 genes), G. herbaceum (65 genes), G. hirsutum (118 genes), and G. barbadense (120 genes). All identified CRKs were classified into 11 major classes and 43 subclasses with the finding of several novel CRK-associated domains including ALMT, FUSC_2, Cript, FYVE, and Pkinase. Of these, DUF26_DUF26_Pkinase_Tyr was common and had elevated expression under different biotic and abiotic stresses. Moreover, the 35 land plants comparison identified several new CRKs domain-architectures. Likewise, several SNPs and InDels were observed in CLCuD resistant G. hirsutum. The miRNA target side prediction and their expression profiling in different tissues predicted miR172 as a major CRK regulating miR. The expression profiling of CRKs identified multiple clusters with co-expression under certain stress conditions. The expression analysis under CLCuD highlighted the role of GhCRK057, GhCRK059, GhCRK058, and GhCRK081 in resistant accession. Overall, these results provided primary data for future potential functional analysis as well as a reference study for other agronomically important crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D be a simple connected digraph with n vertices and m arcs and let W (D) = (D , ω) be the weighted digraph corresponding to D , where the weights are taken from the set of non-zero real numbers. In this paper, we define the skew Laplacian matrix S L (W (D)) and skew Laplacian energy S L E (W (D)) of a weighted digraph W (D) , which is defined as the sum of the absolute values of the skew Laplacian eigenvalues, that is, S L E (W (D)) = ∑ i = 1 n | ρ i | , where ρ 1 , ρ 2 , ... , ρ n are the skew Laplacian eigenvalues of W (D) . We show the existence of the real skew Laplacian eigenvalues of a weighted digraph when the weighted digraph has an independent set such that all the vertices in the independent set have the same out-neighbors and in-neighbors. We obtain a Koolen type upper bound for S L E (W (D)) . Further, for a connected weighted digraph W (D) , we obtain bounds for S L E (W (D)) , in terms of different digraph parameters associated with the digraph structure D . We characterize the extremal weighted digraphs attaining these bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterostructure of graphene and ZnO nanorods is attractive as a tin oxide-free electron transport layer for a broad variety of excitonic photovoltaic technologies. This work focuses on the effect of electrodeposition variables on morphology and performance of vertically aligned zinc oxide nanorods (ZVNRs) on graphene. This in situ growth technique has potential for fabrication of a wide variety of graphene heterostructures under mild synthesis conditions to prevent graphene damage. Large area graphene was grown by chemical vapor deposition, stacked up to four atomic layers, and transferred to glass. ZVNRs were electrodeposited on the graphene-coated glass and the topography was controlled by changing the electrodeposition parameters of the time, temperature, stirring, and seeding layers. The mechanisms controlling the cathodic electrodeposition of nanocrystals on graphene were studied by scanning electron microscopy of the ZVNRs topography. The effect of the topography of the ZVNRs on the electron generation and transport was studied for photoanode application in reference dye-sensitized solar cells. The charge transfer resistance and kinetics of the materials as photoanodes were measured with the techniques of linear sweep voltammetry, open circuit voltage decay, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The optimization of ZnO growth resulted in an increase of the surface-to-volume ratio of the electrode from 10 to 250 mm−1, 60-fold increase of electron lifetime and ten-fold increase in power output. The results of this study provide fundamental understanding for designing electrodeposition processes of the hybrid ZVNR/graphene material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar industries produce vast quantity of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) waste which is used as raw material by biorefineries; however, the resulted pretreated waste or fermented residues remain unaddressed. Keeping sustainable utilization in view, recycling of pretreated SCB through composting was conducted for an eco-friendly waste management approach. This study was designed to recycle and evaluate biodegradation of different types of chemically pretreated and fermented SCB that were used as bulking agent under composting condition while untreated SCB set as control. After 112 days, composts were considered mature at 23–29 °C with pH 7.1–7.3 and 30–35% moisture content. Gravimetric analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy suggested that pretreated and untreated composted SCB showed significant cellulose reduction and delignification, respectively. Black gram seeds (Vigna mungo) were selected for phytotoxic test that showed germination index using compost extract > 80%, significantly higher than composted cattle manure and chemical fertilizer. Water holding capacity (WHC) of compost was highest in the case of fermented SCB suggesting the formation of better textured compost. Taken together, composting of chemically pretreated and fermented SCB resulted in improved biodegradation of lignocellulosic waste with better WHC and no phytotoxicity. The results may lead towards the establishment of a zero-waste sugarcane bagasse biorefinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a simple graph G with order n and size m having Laplacian eigenvalues μ 1 , μ 2 , ⋯ , μ n - 1 , μ n = 0 , let S k (G) = ∑ i = 1 k μ i , be the sum of k largest Laplacian eigenvalues of G. We obtain upper bounds for the sum of k largest Laplacian eigenvalues of two large families of graphs. As a consequence, we prove Brouwer’s Conjecture for large number of graphs which belong to these families of graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 pandemic has significantly challenged the healthcare delivery across the world. Surgery departments across the country responded to this challenge by halting all non-emergency procedures. This delay in diagnosis and management of surgical disease could result in significant mortality and morbidity among the most vulnerable population-the children. In this manuscript, we discuss the measures adopted as well as the challenges faced by the pediatric surgery department at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi (AKUH), Pakistan, which is a private, not-for-profit entity and providing optimum surgical care to the patients. We also underscore the need for global strategies for tackling such crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a connected graph with n vertices, m edges and having distance signless Laplacian eigenvalues ρ1≥ ρ2 ≥ ... ≥ ρn≥ 0. For any real number α ≠ 0, let m α (G) = ∑ i = 1 n ρ i α be the sum of αth powers of the distance signless Laplacian eigenvalues of the graph G. In this paper, we obtain various bounds for the graph invariant mα(G), which connects it with different parameters associated to the structure of the graph G. We also obtain various bounds for the quantity DEL(G), the distance signless Laplacian-energy-like invariant of the graph G. These bounds improve some previously known bounds. We also pose some extremal problems about DEL(G). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matters (PMs) are considered as one of the air pollutants generally associated with poor air quality in both outdoor and indoor environments. The composition, distribution and size of these particles hazardously affect the human health causing cardiovascular health problems, lung dysfunction, respiratory problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lungs cancer. Classification models developed by analyzing mass concentration time series data of atmospheric particulate matter can be used for the prediction of air quality and for issuing warnings to protect the health of the public. In this study, mass concentration time series data of both outdoor and indoor particulates matters PM2.5 (aerodynamics size up to 2.5 μ) and PM10.0 (aerodynamics size up to 10.0 μ) were acquired using Haz-Dust EPAM-5000 from six different locations of the Muzaffarabad city, Azad Kashmir. The linear and nonlinear approaches were used to extract mass concentration time series features of the indoor and outdoor atmospheric particulates. These features were given as an input to the robust machine learning classifiers. The support vector machine (SVM) kernels, ensemble classifiers, decision tree and K-nearest neighbors (KNN) are used to classify the indoor and outdoor particulate matter time series. The performance was estimated in terms of area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, true negative rate, true positive rate, negative predictive value and positive predictive value. The highest accuracy (95.8%) was obtained using cubic and coarse Gaussian SVM along with the cosine and cubic KNN, while the highest AUC, i.e., 1.00, is obtained using fine Gaussian and cubic SVM as well as with the cubic and weighted KNN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a commutative ring R with non-zero zero-divisor set Z ∗ (R) , the zero-divisor graph of R is Γ (R) with vertex set Z ∗ (R) , where two distinct vertices x and y are adjacent if and only if x y = 0 . The zero-divisor graph structure of Z p n is described. We determine the clique number, degree of the vertices, size, metric dimension, upper dimension, automorphism group, Wiener index of the associated zero-divisor graph of Z p n . Further, we provide a partition of the vertex set of Γ (Z p n) into distance similar equivalence classes and we show that in this graph the upper dimension equals the metric dimension. Also, we discuss similar properties of the compressed zero-divisor graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined associations of central family (i.e., children, parents, in-laws) social network size with healthy lifestyle factors (i.e., favorable body mass index, physical activity, diet, alcohol use, smoking). Using data on 15,511 Hispanics/Latinos 18–74 years old from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, multivariable adjusted survey logistic regression was used to compute associations of social network size with healthy lifestyle factors. A one-unit higher total of central family size was associated with lower odds of healthy body mass index (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.86–0.93) and having all five healthy lifestyle factors (OR 0.90; 95% CI 0.85–0.96). Findings suggest familial structural social support may contribute to healthy lifestyle factors and differ based on the type of relationship among Hispanics/Latinos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, Surgical Neurology International published a protocol for the GEMINI procedure, the world's first human head transplant surgery. With the assumption that head transplants are possible in the future, we introduce a legal thought experiment that calls the current criteria of death under the United States UDDA into question. Utilizing case law and examples of contemporary medical interventions, we analyze how neurological and circulatory systems can be reversed and challenge the UDDA criteria of death. We favor the definition of death that includes the irreversibility of the brain and brainstem, but recommend the Uniform Law Commission strike irreversible respiratory and circulatory functions as indicators of death. We also recommend that a congressional bill should be proposed for the definition of death, allowing Article Six to supersede the current legal landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure morphologies have been characterized by high resolution laboratory X-ray computed tomography in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Carbon and Silicon Carbide (C/C-SiC) ceramic composites fabricated by Gaseous Silicon Infiltration (GSI) from C/C preforms of three different architectures: 3D stitched cloth fabric; 3D orthogonal woven fabric; and needled short-cut felt. Each composites' microstructure was influenced by the structure of the C/C preform. By incorporating tomography with gravimetric analysis, the 3D distribution of the SiC was visualized, showing a connected SiC network in the needled short-cut felt, and more heterogeneous SiC formation on the surfaces of the fiber bundles in the stitched and woven fabrics. The needled short-cut felt provided the largest contact surface for the GSI reaction and generated ~56% volume fraction of SiC, which is almost twice and three times that achieved in the stitched and woven fabrics respectively. Differences in the open and closed pore distributions were also measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry and tomography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer primarily used in the production of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins. Bisphenol F (BPF) is apparently the main BPA replacement that is used increasingly. BPF has been detected in canned food, thermal paper receipts, and soft drinks. In the present experiment, we did both in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluate the effect of low and high-dose BPF exposures on testosterone concentration, oxidative stress, and antioxidants activity in reproductive tissues of male rats. Methods: Adult (80–90 days old) male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 36) obtained from the rodent colony of Animal Sciences Department of Quaid-i-Azam University. The direct effects of BPF on the antioxidant enzymes and testosterone secretion were measured in vitro and in vivo studies. In an in vivo experiment, adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 42) were exposed to different concentrations of bisphenol F (1, 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg/d) for 28 days. Various biochemical parameters were analyzed including the level of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). Moreover, sperm motility, daily sperm production (DSP), comet assay, and histological analysis were performed. Results: In vitro study showed that BPF exposure significantly (p < 0.05) induced oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., ROS and LPO, while it did not change antioxidant enzyme and testicular testosterone concentration. Whereas, an in vivo study revealed that BPF induced dose-dependent effect and high-dose (100 mg/kg) exposure of BPF significantly reduced tissue protein (p < 0.05) content, CAT (p < 0.001), SOD (p < 0.05), and POD (p < 0.05) levels while significantly (p < 0.05) augmented ROS and lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, BPF reduces testosterone, LH, and FSH secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Significant (p < 0.001) reduction in plasma and intra-testicular testosterone, LH, and FSH was noticed at 100 mg/kg BFP dose. High-dose exposure reduces spermatogenesis. Conclusion: BPF showed an antagonistic effect on male reproductive hormones and induce alterations in testicular morphology. Increased oxidative stress and decreased testicular antioxidant status might be the underlying mechanism of BFP-induced testicular toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finfish composition and seasonal abundance was studied in the world largest arid mangrove ecosystem of the Indus Delta, Pakistan. Sampling was done from February 2010 to July 2011 in a narrow creek with thick mangrove forest and in a wide creek with sporadic patches of mangrove forest along its banks. The sampling revealed 84 fish species, corresponding to 2,274 individuals in 60 genera and 29 families, weighing a total of 217 kg. A minimum of 8 species were recorded in December 2010 while a maximum of 32 species were recorded in April 2010 (average 21 ± 5.8). The most speciose families were the Mugilidae (9) followed bythe Sciaenidae (8) and the Ariidae (7), the remaining 26 families being represented by 1-5 species. The average sizes of 28 dominant species in the collection ranged from 76.9 to 284.6 mm (SL), consisting mostly of juveniles. Relative abundance (%) and relative biomass (%) of species was between 0.04 and 9.1 and 0.01-12.14, respectively. The Pearson correlation of 0.52 (r2 0.27) was observed among the environmental parameters and found significant between temperature and dissolved oxygen (p < 0.03). The canonical correspondence analysis showed strong relationships of different salinity and temperature ranges with the diversity and biomass composition. The species occurrence frequency was 69% in the wide creek and 31% in the narrow creek. We conclude that the Indus Delta is a highly productive zone in terms of fish diversity, providing ideal habitat for a nursery rather than a fishing ground and propose it to be a marine protected area (MPA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uplifted reefs due to being important palaeoclimate archives and a rich source of information on past physical and geochemical changes globally have become the centre of marine research. The uplifted fossil Quaternary coral communities of Jiwani and Gwadar are perfect places to study the palaeoclimatic and geological changes that have shaped the Balochistan coast. Studies on the palaeodiversity of corals along the Makran coast of Pakistan are lacking. In the present study, the samples collected using line intercept method from four uplifted sites (Balochistan coast: one at Gwadar and three at Jiwani) were analysed. The relative distribution and diversity of scleractinian fossil corals was determined, and the factors responsible for coral decline along Pakistan coast were compared with modern coral distribution and diversity. A total of 48 fossil coral species were recorded in nine families and 22 genera. High coral diversity was recorded in the uplifted landward sites of Jiwani and Gwadar headland. Terraces close to the shore at Jiwani had lower diversity. The corals seem to be Quaternary: most likely Pleistocene to Holocene. The modern fauna lacks many species recorded in the fossil community, thus suggesting a faunal turnover in diversity and redistribution of coral fauna which may be linked with past geological events and increasing anthropogenic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, considerable attention has been paid to drug exploration from natural sources for treating memory loss, a major manifestation of various neurodegenerative diseases. Increasing evidences implicate brain serotonin metabolism in learning and memory, supporting the notion that targeting 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) and its receptors would be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive disorders. In the present study, behavioral and neurochemical effects were examined following administration of Sargassum swartzii extracts in albino Wistar rats. Increase in spatial working memory and recognition memory was exhibited by the seaweed-treated rats as compared to controls. Plasma tryptophan, brain 5-HT, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were measured using HPLC-ECD, and a significant increase in brain 5-HT metabolism was observed in the seaweed-treated rats. The increase in memory functions following repeated administration of S. swartzii extracts is suggested to be due to the increased serotonergic neurotransmission in the brain of seaweed-treated rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Device-free indoor localization (DFIL) system can locate the position of human body in the indoor environment by observing the changes in the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of the wireless local area network (WLAN). The accuracy of a DFIL system is depreciated, as the change in the indoor environment due to furniture and other infrastructure movement. This paper investigates the development of testbed of the WLAN network for measuring the RSSI in various indoor environment, as the initial step for designing the fingerprinting-based algorithms for WLAN network. The database of RSSI fingerprint is created initially and then a fingerprint-based algorithm is developed for locating the position of a human body in the indoor environment. The localization algorithm tests the minimum distance in the RSSI values related to the different test points in the indoor environment. This work further demonstrates that how the fingerprints of RSSI are collected and which network configurations generate the most reliable RSSI measurement. For the first phase of designing the testbed, the configurations of different equipment and various tools are elaborated in the indoor environment. For the second phase the RSSI is measured in different propagation indoor environment. The extensive experiments were performed that allow quantification of how changes in an environment affect accuracy. Thus, it is demonstrated that each link offers a viable approach to developing a more robust system for device-free localization that is less susceptible to changes in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cost-effective, one-pot synthesis approach is reported to fabricate Rhodamine 6G (R6G) silica hybrid xerogels. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is used as a non-ionic surfactant to homogeneously trap the dye in silica matrix. Presence of R6G in silica matrix is confirmed through Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) studies. Hybrids containing larger amount of PVA are found to exhibit better thermal stability than the hybrids with lesser PVA content. Optical properties of the hybrids are analyzed via UV-visible spectroscopy, and it is discovered that hybrids containing larger amounts of PVA do not form aggregates. Uniform distribution of fluorophores in silica matrix helps to minimize formation of J-aggregates in the hybrids, therefore making them ideal candidates for use in dye lasers. The resultant hybrids can be ascribed as stable multicomponent systems that exhibit excellent monodispersity and brightness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]