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While conducting field trial of 82 genotypes of bottle gourd at Delhi during 2020–2021, a particular genotype, IC-0262269 was found to be affected by chlorotic curly stunt disease (CCSD). The affected plants were severely stunted and bearing very small chlorotic and crinkle leaves. The disease incidence in the said genotype was as high as 80% among different replicated trial blocks. The application of PCR using a generic primers specific to begomoviruses, as well as species-specific PCR diagnostics to six tomato-infecting begomoviruses: tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (ToLCPalV), tomato leaf curl Joydebpur virus (ToLCJoV), tomato leaf curl Gujrat virus (ToLCGuV), tomato leaf curl Bangalore virus (ToLCBV), and chilli leaf curl virus (ChiLCV) showed that, only ToLCPalV could be detected in the genotype IC-0262269. Following, rolling circle amplification, cloning and sequencing of full-length DNA-A and DNA-B genome of an isolate BoG1-ND from the genotype IC-0262269 revealed association of ToLCPalV with the disease. The successful agro-infection of the cloned genome of BoG1-ND (DNA-A and DNA-B) in the plants of Nicotiana benthamiana and bottle gourd demonstrated that ToLCPalV is the causal begomovirus of CCSD. The study provides the first evidence of the natural occurrence of ToLCPalV in bottle gourd crop and also showed that the bottle gourd genotype IC-0262269 is super-susceptible to ToLCPalV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent developments characterizing the pathophysiological basis of infection in the Coronavirus disease - 19 (COVID-19) have stirred great interest in studying this disease outside the purview of respiratory involvement and especially focusing on the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The present study involving a large cohort of COVID-19-infected patients reports on the characteristics of GI manifestations in patients infected with COVID-19 as well as the predictive role in their association with disease severity and adverse outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital in northern India. Descriptive analysis of GI symptoms was carried out followed by predictive analysis assessing COVID-19 severity and with the primary endpoint of 28-day in-hospital all-cause mortality. Results: Of 3842 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 2113 (55%) were symptomatic. GI symptoms were present in 163 (7.1%) patients. Common GI symptoms were diarrhea 65 (3.1%), anorexia 61 (2.9%) and vomiting 37 (1.8%). Mild and moderate-to-severe disease was seen in 1725 (81.6%) and 388 (18.4%) patients, respectively. Logistic regression showed greater odds of moderate-to-severe disease in patients with any GI symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 1.849, 95% CI 1.289–2.651 [p = 0.001]) and anorexia in particular (OR 2.797, 95% CI 1.647–4.753 [p = 0.001]); however, on multivariable-analysis, this association lost its significance. A total of 172 patients succumbed to illness. In the Cox proportional hazards model for mortality, patients with any GI symptom (HR 2.184, 95 CI 1.439–3.317 [p < 0.001]) and anorexia (HR 3.556, 95% CI 2.155–5.870 [p < 0.001]) had higher risk. In multi-variable analysis after adjustment to age, sex, oxygen saturation and comorbidities, the presence of any GI symptom was a significant predictor of mortality (hazard ratio adjusted [HRadj] 1.758, 95% CI 1.147–2.694 [p = 0.010]). Conclusion: GI symptoms were common among patients infected with COVID-19. The presence of any GI symptom was a significant predictor of the risk of mortality after adjustment to respiratory failure, age, sex and pre-existing comorbidities. The clinical and pathophysiological basis of these associations has been explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV, genus Tobamovirus) is a widely occurring tobamovirus in cucurbits. The genome of CGMMV has been used previously for the expression of foreign genes in the plant. High throughput delivery and high viral titer are important requirements of foreign protein expression in plant through virus genome-based vector, in this study, Agrobacterium containing infectious construct of CGMMV was infiltrated through syringe, vacuum and high-speed spray to N. benthamiana, cucumber and bottle gourd leaves. The success rate of systemic infection of CGMMV agro-construct through all three methods was higher (80–100%) in N. benthamiana compared to the cucurbits (40–73.3%). To determine the high-throughput delivery of CGMMV in the plant system, four delivery methods viz. rubbing, syringe infiltration, vacuum infiltration and high-speed spray using the progeny virus derived through CGMMV agro-construct were compared in the three different plant species. Based on the rate of systemic infection and time required to perform delivery by different methods, vacuum infiltration was found most efficient for the high-throughput delivery of CGMMV. The quantification of CGMMV through qPCR revealed that CGMMV load varied considerably in leaf and fruit tissues depending with the time of infection. Immediately after expression of symptoms, a high load of CGMMV (~ 1 µg/100 mg of tissues) was noticed in young leaves of N. benthamiana and cucumber. In bottle gourd leaves, the CGMMV load was far low compared to N. benthamiana and cucumber plants. In the fruit tissues of cucumber and bottle gourd higher virus load was observed in mature fruit but not in immature fruit. The findings of the present study will serve as an important base line information to produce foreign protein through CGMMV genome-vector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on green coffee beans (Coffea arabica) drying kinetics in a tray dryer within the range of 50–60 °C. The kinetic parameters were estimated using several theoretical, semi-empirical models in which the semi-empirical model was well fitted with the experimental data and the two-parameter model and least error in Logarithmic model with the observation of kinetic parameter (k) increases with temperature. Arrhenius equation was used to find the activation energy (Ea) as 40.413 kJ/mol and the effective diffusivity coefficient also varied from 1.0833 × 10–9 to 6.1862 × 10–9 m2/s. The surface heat and mass transfer coefficients (h and hm (average)) were found to be 14.14 W/m2 K and 0.0344 m/s. Thermodynamic properties such as enthalpy (ΔH), entropy (ΔS) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) were 37.5293 kJ/mol, − 0.211 kJ/mol K and 106.931 kJ/mol. The parameters such as specific moisture extraction rate (SMER), moisture extraction rate (MER) and specific energy consumption (SEC) were estimated as 0.001659 kg/kWh, 0.0033195 kg/h and 602.5 kWh/kg and the observed results are higher as compared to other literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since water hyacinth (WH) spreads quickly and adversely affects the development of both animals and plants by robbing water bodies of their nutrients and oxygen, WH is widely regarded as a noxious weed around the world. Therefore, turning this undesirable weed into valuable chemicals and fuels aids in developing countries' ability to sustain themselves. Hence, the present work aims to optimize average biogas production (ABP), cumulative methane yield (CMY), and methane concentration (MC) during biomethanation of WH using cow dung. The investigations were conducted in a semi-batch digester at various pH (6–8), temperature (30–50 °C) and cow dung dosage (0.0143–0.0429 m3/m3 WH slurry). The central composite design (CCD) of response surface method was used to optimize the pH, temperature, and cow dung dosage. The effects of studied process parameters on the ABP, CMY and MC were significant. The predicted and experimental responses showed goodness of quadratic fit. The optimum ABP of 0.058 m3/kg WH, CMY of 0.055 m3/kg WH, and MC of 83.38% were achieved at the pH, temperature and cow dung dosage of 7.2, 47.5 °C and 0.0428 m3/m3 WH slurry. In addition, anaerobic biodegradability was found to be between 14.7 and 72.6% in all tests. Hence, Eichhornia crassipes could be a potential substrate to produce maximum biogas using cow dung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current experimental study involves the synthesis and characterization of nanochitosan/sodium alginate composite (NC/Na-Alg) and utilized for the adsorptive removal of naphthalene from its aqueous solution. The NC/Na-Alg was primarily characterized using electron microscopy, Fourier transform spectrometer and X-ray diffractometer analysis. The operating process conditions such as pH, time, initial concentration, composite dosage and temperature were investigated on percentage degradation. The isotherm pattern and kinetic follow-up were fitted well with Freundlich mechanism and pseudo-second order, respectively, and the adsorption equilibrium capacity was estimated to be 55 mg/g. The thermodynamic analysis of adsorption revealed the physical and exothermic process. The column experiments produced optimum values at bed height, inlet flow rate of solution and initial naphthalene concentration of 150 mm, 10 mL/min and 50 mg/L, respectively. Also, the current study exhibited that the application of deacetylation method for NC/Na-Alg synthesis could be a productive approach for competing sequestration of naphthalene in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals adsorption by adsorbents prepared from natural materials is a low-cost effective method for their removal from aqueous environments. This study aims to assess the applicability of orange zest biochar to adsorb divalent copper (cupric chloride) from its aqueous solution by maximizing the adsorption capacity using feed-forward back-propagation neural network (FFBPNN)–Box–Behnken design (BBD) modelling. BBD modelling predicted the maximum of 99.61% copper removal at an initial concentration of copper, adsorbent dosage and temperature of 100 ppm, 192.5 mg per 100 mL of feed solution and 38 °C. The results showed the best fit between experimental, BBD and FFBPNN predicted values. Langmuir isotherm fitted well with the experimental data than Freundlich model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 116.28 mg/g. Also, adsorption kinetic data followed the Lagergren's pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Thus, the obtained results conclude that the orange zest biochar was found to be one of the potential adsorbents for the removal of divalent copper from its aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first of its kind synthesis of CeO2/La2O3 nanocomposites that are with integrated mesoporous TiO2 monoliths, with well-defined structural and surface properties, to act as visible-light responsive photocatalysts. The structural features of the photocatalyst materials are defined using HR-TEM, p-XRD, FE-SEM, SAED, EDAX, XPS, PLS, TGA, IR, UV–Vis–DRS and BET/BJH analyses. The stoichiometric infusion of CeO2/La2O3 nanocomposites with the monolithic TiO2 network reduces the bandgap energy from 3.26 to 2.52 eV, thus promoting excellent visible-light photocatalysis. To evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency of the proposed photoactive materials, two antimicrobial drugs namely, moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin are selected as target pollutants. It is observed that the uniform and continuous porous monolithic network ensures easy transport of pollutant molecules to the photoactive sites, thereby felicitating their faster dissipation. The influence of various physico-chemical parameters has been studied by photolysis and photocatalysis procedures, and the extent of drug degradation is quantitatively analysed by using a robust HPLC-DAD method. The photocatalysis results reveal that the monolithic photocatalyst can serve efficiently for environmental remediation applications, with excellent reusability character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a facile route for the synthesis of worm-like mesoporous Fe 2 O 3 -doped TiO 2 monolithic composites through a direct template sol–gel method, for the photocatalytic degradation of textile dye (acid blue 113) pollutants. The monolith surface morphology and structural properties have been characterized using p-XRD, HR-SEM–EDAX, HR-TEM–SAED, TGA, UV–Vis–DRS, PLS, FTIR, XPS and BET analyses. The stoichiometric doping of Fe 2 O 3 unleashes visible light photocatalytic activity through a red shift in the light absorption character of TiO 2 , thereby narrowing the energy band gap, and an eventual increase in e - / h + separation centres. The monolithic photocatalyst exhibits better properties in terms of surface area, pore volume and diameter. The physico-chemical parameters, such as solution pH, dopant stoichiometry, catalyst quantity, dye concentration, photo-sensitizers and light intensity have been optimized to enhance the photocatalysis efficiency. The photocatalyst exhibits complete dye mineralization within 0.5 h, and also reusable for five continuous cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Reconstruction has evolved long way from primary closure to flaps. As time evolved, better understanding of vascularity of flap has led to the development of innovative reconstructive techniques. These flaps can be raised from various parts of the body for reconstruction and have shown least donor site morbidity. We use one such peroneal artery perforator flap for tongue reconstruction with advantage of thin pliable flap, minimal donor site morbidity and hidden scar. Materials and Methods: Our patient 57yrs old lady underwent wide local excision with selective neck dissection. Perforators are marked about 10 and 15 cm inferiorly from the fibular head using hand held Doppler. Leg is positioned in such a way to give better exposure during dissection of the flap and flap is harvested under a tourniquet with pressure kept 350 mm Hg. The perforator is kept at the eccentric location, so as to gain length of the pedicle. Skin incison is placed over the peroneal muscle and deepened unto the deep facia, then the dissection is continued over the muscle and the perforator arising from the lateral septum. The proximal perforator about 10 cm from the fibular head is a constant perforator and bigger one, which is traced up to the peroneal vessel. We could get a 6 cm of pedicle length. Finally the flap is islanded on this perforator and the pedicle is ligated and flap harvested. Anastamosis was done to the ipsilateral side to facial vessels. The donor site is closed primarily and in the upper half one can harvest 5 cm width flap without requiring a skin graft along with a length of 8 to 12 cm. Discussion: Various local and free flap has been used for reconstruction of partial tongue defects with its obvious donor site problems, like less pliable skin and not so adequate tissue from local flaps and sacrificing a important artery as in radial forearm flap serves as the work horse in reconstruction of partial tongue defects, Concept of super microsurgery was popularized by Japanese in 1980s and the concept of angiosome proposed by Taylor paved the way for development of new flaps. True perforator flaps are those where the source vessel is left undisturbed and overlying skin flap is raised. Yoshimura proposed cutaneous flap could be raised from peroneal artery (Br J Plast Surg 42:715-718, 1989). Wolff et al. (Plast Reconstr Surg 113:107-113, 2004) first used perforator based peroneal artery flap for oral reconstruction. Location of perforators vary, hence pre operative localisation can be done by ultrasound doppler, CT angio or MR angiography. Disadvantages over radial flap include varying anatomic location of perforators, need for imaging and difficult dissection of delicate vessels through muscles and hence a learning curve. Our patient had an arterial thrombus within few hours post-operatively which was successfully salvaged with immediate re-exploration and re-anastomosis of artery. Post-operative healing was uneventful and donor site was closed primarily without the need for graft. Conclusions: Perforator peroneal flap serves as a useful armamentarium for reconstruction of moderate size defects of tongue, buccal mucosa and floor of mouth with advantages of thin pliable flap, minimal donor site morbidity and hidden scar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The title compound 1-benzhydryl-4-(toluene-4-sulfonyl)-piperazine was synthesized and the structure was investigated by X-ray crystallography. The title compound, C24H26N2O2S crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal class in the space group P21/c with cell parameters a = 13.5800(10) Å, b = 8.9630(7) Å, c = 18.9040(10) Å, β = 106.851(3)°, Z = 4 and V = 2202.1(3) Å3. The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to R 1 = 0.0468 for 3174 observed reflections I > 2σ(I). The structure reveals that the piperazine ring is in a chair conformation. The geometry around the S atom is a distorted tetrahedron. Graphical Abstract  The title compound 1-benzhydryl-4-(toluene-4-sulfonyl)-piperazine was synthesized and the structure was investigated by X-ray crystallography. The title compound, C24H26N2O2S crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal class in the space group P21/c with cell parameters a = 13.5800(10) Å, b = 8.9630(7) Å, c = 18.9040(10) Å, β = 106.851(3)°, Z = 4 and V = 2202.1(3) Å3. The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to R 1 = 0.0468 for 3174 observed reflections I > 2σ(I). The structure reveals that the piperazine ring is in a chair conformation. The geometry around the S atom is a distorted tetrahedron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  A novel unsymmetrical dihydropyridine, possessing carboxymethyl and carbomethoxy groups at C(3) and C(5), respectively, has been produced using a modified Hantzsch synthesis, under solvent free conditions, in a domestic microwave oven. The product obtained was characterized by spectroscopic techniques and finally confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The title compound C17H18N2O5 crystallizes in the monoclinic system in the space group P21/c with cell parameters a = 12.860(2) Å, b = 7.4950(6) Å, c = 16.734(3) Å, β = 94.436(3)°, Z = 4 and V = 1608.1(4) Å3. The 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in the structure is in a flattened boat conformation. The molecule possesses a chiral center at C4. The 3-nitrophenyl ring is nearly orthogonal to the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring. The carbonyl groups at C3 and C5 are oriented in −antiperiplanar and 댩뢩閩 conformations, respectively. The structure exhibits both inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the type N–H···O and C–H···O. Index Abstract  A novel unsymmetrical dihydropyridine, possessing carboxymethyl and carbomethoxy groups at C(3) and C(5) respectively, has been produced using a modified Hantzsch synthesis, under solvent free conditions, in a domestic microwave oven. The product obtained was characterized by spectroscipic techniques and finally confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The title compound C17H18N2O5 crystallizes in the monoclinic system in the space group P21/c with cell parameters a  =  12.860(2) Å, b  =  7.4950(6) Å, c  =  16.734(3) Å, β = 94.436(3)°, Z = 4 and V = 1608.1(4) Å3. The 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in the structure is in a flattened boat conformation. The molecule possesses a chiral center at C(4). The 3-nitrophenyl ring is nearly orthogonal to the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring. The carbonyl groups at C(3) and C(5) are oriented in −antiperiplanar and 댩뢩閩 conformations respectively. The structure exhibits both inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the type N–H···O and C–H···O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  A novel 1-benzhydryl piperazine derivative 1-benzhydryl-4-(2-nitro-benzenesulfonyl)-piperazine was synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution of 1-benzhydryl piperazine with 2-nitro-benzenesulfonyl chloride. The product obtained was characterized spectroscopically and finally confirmed by X-ray diffraction study. The title compound, C23H23N3O4S crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a = 13.1120(9) Å, b = 21.4990(9) Å, c = 16.655(1) Å, β = 111.352(2)°, Z = 8, and V = 4372.7(4) Å. The structure reveals that the piperazine ring is in a chair conformation. The geometry around the S atom is distorted tetrahedral. There is a large discrepancy in the bond angles around the piperazine N atoms. The structure is stablized by C–H···O type intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  2,6-Dimethyl-5-(phenylcarbamoyl)-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-2-carboxylate was synthesized in two steps and was characterized spectroscopically and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal class in the spacegroup P21/c with cell parameters a = 10.5960(6) Å, b = 10.2450(7) Å, c = 19.5790(11) Å, β = 107.448(3)° and Z = 4. The 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in the structure adopts a flattened boat conformation. Graphical Abstract  2,6-Dimethyl-5-(phenylcarbamoyl)-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-2-carboxylate was synthesized in two steps and was characterized spectroscopically and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal class in the spacegroup P21/c with cell parameters a = 10.5960(6) Å, b = 10.2450(7) Å, c = 19.5790(11) Å, β = 107.448(3)° and Z = 4. The 1,4-dihydropyridine ring in the structure adopts a flattened boat conformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic decomposition of CH4 for the production of pure H2 is carried out over Ni supported on hydroxyapatite [Ca5(PO4)3(OH)] catalysts at 650 °C and atmospheric pressure. CH4 decomposition activity is decreased with time on stream and finally deactivated completely. The physicochemical properties of the fresh catalysts are characterized by XRD, DTA/TG, TPR and SEM techniques along with CHNS analyses of the used samples. It is found that the 30 wt% Ni/HAp displayed higher H2 production rates over the other Ni loadings, which is correlated with Ni metal surface area measured by O2 pulse chemisorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  [2-(4-Chlorobenzoyloxy)-5-methylphenyl]-(4-methylphenyl)methanone was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. The molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with cell parameters a = 13.7530(19) �, b = 10.0560(19) �, c = 13.469(3) �, β = 100.630(7)� and Z = 4. There is a large discrepancy between the carbonyl group bond lengths of ketone and the ester. The structure exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the type C–H���O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Tert-butyl 2-((phenylthio)carbonyl)pyrrolidine-1-carboxylate, was synthesized by using iso-butoxycarbonyl chloride (i-BuOCOCl) via mixed anhydride method. The obtained product was characterized spectroscopically and finally confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The title compound C16 H21 N O3 S crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with the cell parameters a = 6.0250(7) �, b = 8.2820(13) �, c = 8.7700(14) �, α = 102.352(4)�, β = 102.993(11)�, γ = 90.279(8)�, V = 415.89(10) �3 and Z = 1. The proline ring in the structure is in a envelope conformation. The structure exhibits intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the type C–H...O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  2-amino-3-ethoxycarbonyl-4-(4′-methoxy Phenyl)-4H-pyrano-[3,2-c]-chromene-6-methyl-5-one was synthesized by the two-component reaction of 6-methyl-4-hydroxy coumarin with 4′-methoxy-2-cyano cinnamate, which was synthesized by Knoevenagel reaction with 88% yield. The compound obtained was characterized by spectroscopic techniques and confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies. The crystallographic data analysis reveals that the title compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group $$P\overline{1}$$ with cell parameters a = 7.7750(8) �, b = 9.0310(6) �, c = 15.6120(17) �, α = 77.249(7)�, β = 115.860(3)�, γ = 70.139(7)�, V = 1,003.0(16) �3 for Z = 4. The structure has been solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.0552 for 3,164 observed reflections with I > 2 σ(I). The pyran ring is in a flattened boat conformation. The carbonyl group is oriented in a -synperiplanar(cis) conformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  1-Benzhydryl-4-phenylmethane sulfonyl piperazine was synthesized from 1-benzhydryl piperazine with phenylmethane sulfonyl chloride. The product obtained was characterized by 1H NMR, MS and IR techniques and finally confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The title compound C24H26N2O2S, M r   =   406.53, crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal class in the space group Pbca with unit cell parameters a  =  11.1240(10)�, b  =   9.4940(15)�, c  =  40.239(4)�, Z  =  8 and V = 4249.7(9)�3. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R 1=0.0561 for 2,445 reflections with [I > 2 σ(I)]. The piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation. The sulfonyl moiety is in a distorted tetrahedral configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive compound 2-(4-methyl-2′-bip-henyl)-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, F.W. 282.09 was synthesized, characterized by spectroscopic techniques and confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The title compound crystallizes in monoclinic class under the space group P21/c with cell parameters, a=11.273(3) Å, b=17.245(1) Å, c=7.413(1) Å, β=97.742(5)° and Z=4. The structure exhibits inter-molecular hydrogen bonding of the type N–H···S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]