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Background In an era of targeted therapies, patients with cancer in resource-constraint countries continue to struggle to find affordable care. Methods The present study is a multicenter prospective single-arm study. Patients with expected delay in surgery, unresectable or metastatic cancers, and patients not suitable for surgery or conventional chemotherapy were included. Oral methotrexate 15 mg/m2 once a week and oral celecoxib 200 mg twice daily was used for metronomic therapy. Results At 8 weeks, a clinically complete response was seen in 2.5%, partial response in 46.6%, stable disease in 39.8%, and disease progression in 11%. Size less than 4 cm, alveolobuccal subsite, and well-differentiated histology were significantly associated with no disease progression. Conclusion Constraint-adapted approach of using methotrexate and celecoxib is economical with good compliance, minimal toxicity, and good efficacy. It is feasible for use in diverse settings. Individualized selection of patients based on response predictors may maximize metronomic therapy's benefit.

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) scan utilizes 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG), based on the principle of higher glycolytic activity and reduced glucose-6-phosphatase levels in cancer cells. This imaging modality is usually advised in the metastatic evaluation of stage III breast cancer patients. The correlation of maximum standard uptake values of primary lesion with different pathological and molecular markers has not been studied extensively.Retrospective analysis of the data was performed from our prospectively maintained breast cancer database. All the patients who had undergone 18-FDG PET-CT scan at initial evaluation for staging between June 2017 and April 2020 were included in the study. One-way ANOVA test or Student's t-test as appropriate was performed to assess the difference of means in maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) of the primary lesion and axillary nodes with clinical stage, histological grade, molecular subtype. Bonferroni post hoc test was also applied.Out of 388 patients in the breast cancer database, 45 patients met inclusion criteria. There was a significant correlation of molecular subtype (p = 0.029) with SUVmax of the primary lesion. Higher primary SUVmax was associated with higher T stage (p = 0.01) and higher histological grade (p = 0.06). In each molecular subtype, there was an increase in mean SUVmax of the primary lesion with increasing histological grade and vice versa.SUVmax of the primary lesion in breast cancer patients reflects tumor biology. Higher SUVmax can predict patients with triple-negative breast cancers and higher grades in primary tumors. However, further large-scale validatory studies are essential.

In Indian semi-arid tropics (SATs), low water and crop productivity in Vertisols and associated soils are mainly due to poor land management and erratic and low rainfall occurrence. This study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 at the ICRISAT in India to test the effect of broad bed furrows (BBF) as land water management against conventional flatbed planting for improving soil water content (SWC) and water and crop productivity of three cropping systems: sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.) and maize (Zea mays)–groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as sequential and pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] + pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] as intercropping, grown under different nutrients management involving macronutrients (N, P, and K) only and combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The results stated that the SWC in BBF was higher over flatbed by 9.35–10.44% in 0- to 0.3-m, 4.56–9.30% in 0.3- to 0.6-m and 3.85–5.26% in 0.6- to 1.05-m soil depths during the cropping season. Moreover, depletion of the soil water through plant uptake was higher in BBF than in flatbed. Among the cropping systems, sorghum–chickpea was the best in bringing highest system equivalent yield and water productivity with the combined application of macro- and micronutrients. The BBF minimized water stress at critical crop growth stages leading to increase crop yield and water productivity in SATs. Thus, BBF along with the application of macro- and micronutrients could be an adaptation strategy to mitigate erratic rainfall due to climate change in SATs.

Liver failure is a critical disease for which regenerative therapies are still being explored. The major limitation in the use of a clinical grade, viable cell-based therapy approach is the scarce availability of sufficient number of in-vitro differentiated hepatocyte-like cells (HLC) that can induce regeneration and ameliorate liver injury. Here, we report for the first time an approach to engineer HLCs using sera of hyperbilirubin patients that act as a reservoir of differentiation factor. Utilizing our humanized approach, mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) derived from umbilical cord tissue were transdifferentiated into HLC using patient-derived serum along with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). We studied the effects of serum on the proliferation, cell cycle analysis, and apoptosis of hMSC by various differentiation combinations. We optimized the hepatic transdifferentiation ability of hMSC with hyperbilirubin serum treatment for a period of 7 days. Assessment of HLC functionalities was shown by quantifying the HLC spent medium for albumin and urea secretions. Transplantation of HLC in an acute liver injury (ALI) rat model showed an effective improvement in the liver function and histological changes in the liver. The results of this study suggest that hMSC-derived HLC using humanized hepatogenic serum holds a promising potential for cell transplantation, as an efficient therapy modality for liver failure in humans.

Time delay estimation (TDE) is an active research area due to its importance in a wide range of applications, such as target detection and transmitter identification. At present, the majority of the radar systems are using multistatic architecture because of its improved detection and tracking performance. In multistatic radar systems, where more than one transmitter and receivers are deployed, it is a challenging task to separate multiple echoes at the receiver to estimate the required parameters and identify the number of transmitters. The delay estimation process becomes more complicated when closely spaced multiple targets are involved in the detection process. In this study, various issues associated with conventional matched filtering‐based target detection techniques are investigated in terms of nonlinear time‐frequency representation with ambiguity function and cross‐ambiguity functions. The problems of delay estimation and cross‐range resolution are analyzed through simulations in a multistatic radar system.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health emergency and affected the resources in both the public and private health sectors significantly. The present study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on the services by the department in the first 3 months since the first COVID case in the region. Methods The study period was from 16 March to 15 June 2020. We queried the database for data on site of the tumor, diagnosis, stage, tumor board decisions and planning, surgical procedures, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up details. The change in tumor board decision and actual treatment taken by the patient were all recorded, taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Among the 1567 patient contacts, 1306 were out-patient visits and 261 teleconsultations. Fifty-four patients underwent surgery from the 87 admitted to the hospital. Ten preoperative patients and two postoperative patients were tested for COVID and reported to be negative. Conclusions The dilemma of providing cancer surgery services to the patients in this pandemic has been global. Strict measures and guidelines can help to overcome the COVID pandemic time, keeping in mind the locoregional logistics.

Conformations of disulfide and diselenide were compared in (Boc-Cys/Sec-NHMe)2 and (Boc-Cys/Sec-OMe)2 using X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Conformations of disulfide/diselenide in polypeptides are defined based on the sign of side chain torsion angle χ3 (-CH2 -S/Se-S/Se-CH2 -); negative indicates left-handed and positive indicates right-handed orientation. In the crystals of (Boc-Cys-OMe)2 and (Boc-Sec-OMe)2 , the disulfide exhibits a left-handed and the diselenide a right-handed orientation. Characterization of cystine and selenocystine derivatives in solution using 1 H-NMR, natural abundant 77 Se NMR, 2D-ROESY, and chemical shift analysis coupled to DMSO titration has indicated the symmetrical nature and antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about the disulfide/diselenide bridges. Structural calculations of cystine and selenocystine derivatives using DFT further support the antiparallel orientation of Cys/Sec residues about disulfide/diselenide. The far-ultraviolet (UV) region CD spectra of cystine and selenocystine derivatives have exhibited the negative Cotton effect (CE) for disulfide and positive for diselenide confirming the difference in the conformational preference of disulfide and diselenide. In the previously reported polymorphic structure of (Boc-Sec-OMe)2 , the diselenide has right-handed orientation. In the X-ray structures of disulfide and diselenide analogues of Escherichia coli protein encoded by curli specific gene C (CgsC) retrieved from Protein Databank (PDB), disulfide has left-handed and the diselenide right-handed orientation. The current report provides the evidence for the local conformational difference between a disulfide and a diselenide group under unconstrained conditions, which may be useful for the rational replacement of disulfide by diselenide in polypeptide chains.

Supramolecular gels prepared from low-molecular-weight gelators have been extensively explored. However, the exploitation of discrete or polymeric metal complexes as gelators is a relatively recent trend. The synthesis of self-assembled coordination complexes from palladium(II) and selected ligands is well established, but the potential of these complexes as gelators is a less explored treasure. Herein we focus on the gelation abilities of some self-assembled palladium(II) complexes and the resulting unique properties. First, discrete complexes with PdL, PdL2 , Pd2 L, Pd2 L2 , Pd2 L4 , and Pd3 L6 compositions are discussed. Second, gelation behavior promoted by coordination-polymer-like gelators formed in situ is explored. These gel samples have been employed in catalysis and the uptake of organic and dye molecules from the solution and gas phases. It is concluded that untapped unique properties can be realized by further exploration of designer palladium(II) complexes.

A pentanuclear coordination complex assembled from any palladium(II) component and non-chelating ligands is hitherto unreported. The pentanuclear complex [Pd5(L1)5(L2)5](BF4)10, 1 reported here was prepared by the spontaneous complexation of [Pd(DMSO)4](BF4)2 with the non-chelating bidentate ligands 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene) diisonicotinate, L1 and 4,4′-bipyridine, L2 in a one-pot method at room temperature. The planar polycyclic complex 1 with outer diameters of ≈3 nm is termed as a “molecular star” owing to its resemblance with a pentagram shape. Interim paths leading to the star were also probed to decipher related dynamics of the system.

The present work describes synthesis and photophysical studies of a class of fluorophores containing biologically relevant 1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran scaffold. Ligand-free palladium nanoparticles have been utilized for domino synthesis of 1-arylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans from 2-iodobenzyl alcohol and terminal arylacetylenes under mild reaction conditions. Reaction of terminal alkylacetylenes with 2-iodobenzyl alcohol however, provided only the Sonogashira products (2-(alk-1-ynyl)phenyl)methanols. The 1-arylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives showed structured fluorescence spectra in non-polar cyclohexane, originated from a locally excited state and structureless emission in polar acetonitrile involving intramolecular charge transfer process. The vibronic structures in the locally excited emission were confined to the ring C=C stretching of the dyes. A detailed structure-property relationship of the 1-arylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran dyes is presented in this study.

A trivalent rare-earth ion (Sm3+ )-doped LiNa3 P2 O7 (LNPO) phosphor was synthesized using a conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction route. A predominant orthorhombic phase of LNPO was observed in all X-ray diffraction patterns. The surface states of the LNPO:Sm phosphor were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under 401 nm excitation, the Sm-doped LNPO phosphors showed sharp emission peaks at 563, 600 and 647 nm that are related to the f-f transition of Sm3+ ions. The optimum concentration of Sm3+ (9 mol%) produced Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates, color rendering index and correlated color temperature of (0.564, 0.434), 42 and 1843 K, respectively.

Bis(pyridin-3-ylmethyl) pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (L) possessing one internal and two terminal pyridine moieties displayed differential coordination ability when combined with suitable PdII components. The compound L acted as a bidentate chelating ligand to form mononuclear complexes when combined with cis-[Pd(tmeda)(NO3)2] or Pd(NO3)2 in calculated ratios. The combination of Pd(NO3)2 with L in a ratio of 3:4, however, afforded the trinuclear “double-decker” cage [(NO3)2⊂Pd3(L)4](NO3)4, in which L acts as a nonchelating tridentate ligand and the counter anion (i.e., NO3–) acts as template. The encapsulated NO3– can be replaced by F–, Cl–, or Br– but not by I–. The F–-encapsulated cage could not be isolated due to its reactivity, whereas the Cl– or Br– encapsulated cages could be isolated. Although anionic guests such as NO3–, Cl–, or Br– stabilized the cages, the presence of excess Cl– or Br– (not NO3–) facilitated decomplexation reactions releasing the ligand. The complexation of Pd(Y)2 (Y = BF4–, PF6–, CF3SO3–, or ClO4–) with L afforded the corresponding mononuclear complexes under appropriate conditions. However, these counter anions could not act as templates for the construction of double-decker cages.