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Six new complexes (1–6), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(FA)Cl] (1), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(PA)Cl] (2), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(SA)Cl] (3), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(FA)PPh3]Cl (4), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(PA)PPh3]Cl (5), [Ru(η6‐p‐cymene)(SA)PPh3]Cl(6), [HFA = ferulic acid, HPA = p‐coumaric acid, HSA = sinapinic acid], were synthesized and well characterized by various spectroscopic, analytical techniques and computational studies. Amongst these six complexes, complexes 4, 5, and 6 were found to be selectively cytotoxic toward melanoma (A375) cell lines and were non‐cytotoxic toward non‐cancerous cell lines (HEK 293 T). Further investigation on the probable bio‐molecular interaction mechanisms revealed that all the complexes show strong groove binding interactions with the DNA, however, complexes 3, 4 and 3, 6 show strong interaction with BSA and HSA, respectively. Through Hoechst staining it can be elucidated that complexes 4–6 cause characteristic apoptotic nuclear changes in the cells indicating apoptosis as the cell death mechanism caused by complexes 4–6. To further confirm the cell death mechanism, protein expression analysis was done through western blotting, which showed a decrease in anti‐apoptotic protein (Bcl‐xL) expression and increased pro‐apoptotic protein (PARP) expression, which confirms the cell death by apoptosis. Using DCFDA staining, we observed that complexes 4, 5, and 6 produced more ROS in the cells, which also might be the cause of cell death by the complexes. Along with that the complexes show enhanced anti‐migratory abilities depicted through wound healing assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganga River hosts a metapopulation of endangered aquatic species. This study uses a hydrodynamic model (HEC‐RAS) to assess the habitat suitability of the Ganga River dolphins (GRDs) in a small reach (7.5 km) of the Ganga River at the upstream of Narora barrage in varying flow. We use Lidar points clouds to generate topography, Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), and differential GPS (DGPS) to measure channel bathymetry and streamwise water surface slope. Further, the water level data from satellite altimeter is used to calibrate the model and discharge measured in field to validate the model output. We found that in the high flow period, the required flow depth for dolphin habitat is available throughout in the study reach. However, in the lean flow, the required flow depth and velocity are available only in some patches. The methodology developed here would be very useful in monitoring hydraulic habitat suitability of aquatic species in ungauged rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite is a significant environmental pollutant present in industrial waste water, food additives, detergents, and physiological systems. Therefore, an effective electrochemical sensor is essential for nitrite determination. Accordingly in this work, graphene oxide (GO) is functionalized with 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (GO‐APTMS) and 3‐mercaptopropyltrimehtoxysilane (GO‐MPTS). Further, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were grown on GO‐MPTS (GO‐MPTS/AgNPs) and GO‐APTMS (GO‐APTMS/AgNPs). GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GO‐MPTS/AgNPs are characterized by different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), UV‐vis and powder X‐ray diffraction(p‐XRD), transmission electron microscopy(TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDAX). The nanocomposites, GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GO‐MPTS/AgNPs are immobilized on glassy carbon (GC) electrode and abbreviated as GC/GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GC/GO‐MPTS/AgNPs, respectively. It exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of NO2−. It shows the broad calibration range from 0.1 μM to 1 mM. The detection limit for NO2− is 90 nM and 80 nM for GC/GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GC/GO‐MPTS/AgNPs, respectively. GC/GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GC/GO‐MPTS/AgNPs exhibit sensitivity of 0.26 μA μM−1cm−2 and 0.46 μA μM−1 cm−2, respectively for NO2− determination. The modified electrode, GC/GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GC/GO‐MPTS/AgNPs exhibit a wide calibration range, low detection limit, high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability for NO2− determination. Real sample analysis of tomato ketchup was performed at GC/GO‐APTMS/AgNPs and GC/GO‐MPTS/AgNPs with reliable recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The samples with A‐site cation ordering Ba1−x/2Ti1−xNbxO3 (BTN) with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.010 were synthesized via the conventional ceramic route by calcining at 1200°C and sintered at 1350°C. The preliminary study of the phase of prepared samples was determined through X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Rietveld refinement analysis indicates the tetragonal phase in BTN0 sample, whereas the doped samples exhibit a combination of tetragonal and cubic phases. Presence of Raman band at 308 cm−1 suggests the presence of tetragonal in all samples. The dielectric constant was observed to be 1500 (BTN0), 3000 (BTN5) and 1680 (BTN10) while tangent loss found 0.6 (BTN0), 0.04 (BTN5) and 0.07 (BTN10). All the sample shows same Curie temperature (120°C) due to Ba‐site cation ordering in the sample. Ferroelectric nature in all samples was also confirmed by modified Curie‐Weis law. Based on the current studies, the present materials can be explored as a potential candidate for ferroelectric‐memory devices, dielectric capacitor and energy harvesting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of atmospheric cold plasma on locust bean gum (LBG) rheology using a multi‐pin configuration. LBG undergoes plasma treatment at 30 kV for durations of 10, 20, and 30 min. Evaluation of color attributes and total color difference revealed enhancements in LBG post‐plasma treatment. The linear viscoelastic region, determined at a 0.5% strain, demonstrated improved storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) concerning frequency compared to the control. Additionally, viscosity and shear stress displayed an inverse relationship with increasing shear rate, indicating the pseudoplastic nature of LBG samples. Consistent trends in G′ and G″ values of treated LBG were observed across three temperature stages, except for the 30 kV and 10 min. Infrared spectra analysis of plasma‐treated LBG samples indicated the preservation of most polysaccharide groups, with no significant peak alterations. Overall, cold plasma treatment modifies LBG rheology, making it suitable for diverse food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kodo millet's popularity grows due to its diverse applications and health benefits, primarily as a starch source for industries like food processing, requiring modifications to overcome raw starch limitations. In this study, raw kodo starch underwent treatment with cold plasma, varying in voltage (10, 20, and 30 kV) and duration (10, 20, and 30 min). The treated samples were designated as S1 to S9. The results showed that the modified starch exhibited significantly higher G' and G" values compared to the control sample. Three different models were attempted to describe the flow behavior, with the most suitable model selected. This analysis led to an increase in yield stress from 86.55 to 217.98 Pa and an increase in the flow index from 0.31 to 0.56 for the modified starch. This understanding of the rheological characteristics of modified starch can be invaluable for innovating new products, blending novel ingredients, and optimizing manufacturing processes. Practical applications: Kodo millet has gained significant popularity in recent times owing to its high fiber content and low glycemic index. In this research, starch extracted from kodo millet underwent plasma treatment, resulting in a modified starch with enhanced functional properties. The study focused on exploring the rheological properties of this treated starch, and the findings revealed notable improvements in dynamic rheological parameters, including the storage modulus, loss modulus, and viscosity of the starch, all of which increased due to the plasma treatment. The enhanced viscosity makes kodo millet starch particularly suitable for a wide range of food applications. This modified starch finds practical use in the preparation of porridges, soups, and as a reliable filling agent in various food products. This emerging technology has captured the attention of food manufacturers in the grain processing sector, offering a means to elevate the quality and desirability of new food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental academics provide a fulfilling career path to educate the next generation of oral health professionals. The number of dentists choosing a career in dental academics is declining and existing faculty are opting for other career options. As the number of dental schools increase across the US, a critical shortage of educators may be evidenced. In dentistry, innovative approaches to develop academic faculty are not keeping pace with the growing needs of dental faculty, who are challenged to establish a fulfilling work‐life balance. This work reviews existing methods that other health professions implement to develop faculty for successful career growth. This review highlights factors and related cofactors that influence career development among dental faculty. Recommendations are presented as potential solutions based on the assessment of similar experiences published by related academic healthcare professions. Dental academia must increase attention to faculty needs and awareness by conducting institutional‐specific studies to address these issues with customizable solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal mining industries influence hydro‐geological parameters, which affect the aquifer recharge in the coal mining areas. This research aimed to evaluate the impact of various hydro‐geological parameters on fluctuation of groundwater level in the study area. The various hydro‐geological parameters such as soil, geology, drainage pattern, elevation and slope have been considered to accomplish the objective. A comparative analysis was performed by comparing the groundwater level fluctuation (WLF) map with the GIS‐based various hydro‐geological parameter maps to assess the combined influence of different hydro‐geological parameters on groundwater level fluctuation. A total of eighty‐six (86) dug‐wells were chosen to monitor the level of the groundwater for around ten blocks of Singrauli coalfield, and these wells were examined during the months of dry and wet seasons for 2016. Based on the comparative analysis between the WLF map and thematic maps of various hydro‐geological parameters, it has been found that WLF in the south‐western and some portions of the north‐eastern showed moderate to a higher value. This may be because most of the non‐hilly areas come under gentle to moderate slope category, with lower elevation in the area forming the suitable hydro‐geological condition for recharging groundwater. It was observed that the northwest, south‐east and central part of the study area showed lower WLF, which may be due to the presence of overburden dump, presence of higher elevation and steep slope. Thus, the combined effect of slope, elevation, geology, drainage and mining activities on the WLF in the study region is moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NMR spectroscopy and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) are both commonly used to detect large numbers of metabolites and lipids in metabolomic and lipidomic studies. We have demonstrated a new workflow, highlighting the benefits of both techniques to obtain metabolomic and lipidomic data, which has realized for the first time the combination of these two complementary and powerful technologies. NMR spectroscopy is frequently used to obtain quantitative metabolite information from cells and tissues. Lipid detection is also possible with NMR spectroscopy, with changes being visible across entire classes of molecules. Meanwhile, MALDI MSI provides relative measures of metabolite and lipid concentrations, mapping spatial information of many specific metabolite and lipid molecules across cells or tissues. We have used these two complementary techniques in combination to obtain metabolomic and lipidomic measurements from triple‐negative human breast cancer cells and tumor xenograft models. We have emphasized critical experimental procedures that ensured the success of achieving NMR spectroscopy and MALDI MSI in a combined workflow from the same sample. Our data show that several phospholipid metabolite species were differentially distributed in viable and necrotic regions of breast tumor xenografts. This study emphasizes the power of combined NMR spectroscopy–MALDI imaging to advance metabolomic and lipidomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ganga River ecosystem is under severe anthropogenic stress. Flow regulations through structural barriers alter the geomorphic and hydraulic geometry of riverine habitats. Determining the ecological health of river habitats under the contemporary modification is detrimental to its restoration and management. This study evaluates reach averaged hydraulic habitat of the endangered Ganga River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in a stretch between Bijnor and Narora barrages. We consider an optimal minimum flow depth as the determining factor of habitat suitability. Field measurement of the hydraulic geometry and flow characteristics show that the optimal flow depth is available in the study reach during the monsoon period, while in the pre‐monsoon, the minimum depth is present only in the reach upstream to Narora barrage. We use a geomorphic instream flow tool (GIFT) and satellite altimeter water level data to simulate reach averaged hydraulic habitat in varying flow conditions in area upstream of Narora barrage. We observe that to maintain the minimum flow depth which supports the dolphin habitat in the study reach, an optimal discharge of about >280 m3s−1 is essential. Furthermore, we develop a water‐level (altimeter) and discharge (simulated from GIFT) rating curve for the study reach. It can be used to get a first‐order estimate of discharge for a given water level or vice versa. This study indicates that the altimetry datasets are good precursors for estimating averaged hydraulic habitat of rivers in the data‐scarce regions. The application of altimeter data can be a boon in the effective management of river habitat health over a reach scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Delay tolerant network (DTN) has attracted significant attention of the researchers due to its capability of delivering the message even in the situation where network connectivity is irregular. Irregular networks result in non‐delivery of data to user at right time, and the same is not possible with traditional algorithms due to requirement of end‐to‐end connectivity between nodes. DTN uses story–carry–forward technique to deliver a message in the environment of disconnection. Hence, for message transmission from source node to destination node, a relay node or forwarder node is required. The efficiency of the network is mainly dependent on the selection of forwarder node. Hence, forwarder node selection is very crucial in DTNs. The objective of this paper is to propose an efficient relay node selection technique integrated with fuzzy logic, based on four properties of node, namely, number of encounters, residual energy, buffer capacity, and speed so that performance metrics of the network can be improve. Proposed method uses fuzzy logic to decide which node should be selected as relay node in multi hop strategy. The study of simulation results indicate that proposed algorithm improves performance of the network with regards to delivery ratio, delay, hop count, and throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying of Chlorella minutissima slurry was carried out in a single rotary drum dryer at varied drum surface temperature and rotational speed to achieve higher lipid yield for biodiesel conversion. Residual moisture content and lipid yield of the corresponding drum speed and drum surface temperature were mapped. Application of the machine learning tool classified the range of residual moisture content to be <10% (wet biomass) for high lipid recovery with an accuracy of 97%. Based on the drying time, lipid recovery, and energy consumption, drying at 80°C drum surface temperature with 0.3 rpm resulted ˃90% lipid recovery as compared to the bone‐dried biomass. The energy consumption of 7.328 kWh for 1 kg of dried biomass was recorded with profound reduction in drying time as compared to oven and tray drying of algal slurry. The fatty acid methyl ester profile of C. minutissima biodiesel constituted higher proportion of saturated fatty acids followed by monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Various fuel characteristics, namely, viscosity, density, free glycerin, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides, copper strip corrosion, flash point, cetane index, iodine value, calorific value, acid value, saponification value, phosphorous, sulfur, water, and ash contents were analyzed, and showed values within the specified limits of national and international biodiesel standards. Thus, considering the drying time, energy consumption, and lipid recovery with suitable fuel properties, the drum dryer could be recommended for drying the microalgal slurry for large‐scale operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two (series and parallel versions) quasi Z source inverter (qZSI)-based multioutput series-parallel topologies capable of supplying multiple three-phase AC and single boost DC outputs simultaneously are presented. The proposed parallel version topology can supply n number of AC outputs along with one boost DC with constant voltage and variable current. Similarly, the series version topology can give n number of AC including one boost DC output with constant current and variable voltage. The outputs of the proposed topologies can feed directly to DC/AC microgrids and multiple residential loads simultaneously without using any extra adapter/regulator and thereby avoiding local power conversion to meet the load demand. A hybrid pulse width modulation technique with constant frequency is used to operate the proposed topologies. The performance of the proposed topologies is verified by developing the prototypes of 2.18 kW (for parallel version) and 2.02 kW (for series version) for two three-phase AC outputs and one boost DC output. The developed prototypes show measured efficiency of 90.01% for the parallel and 89.95% for the series version topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is the main source of water for drinking, industrial, and irrigation uses for most nations. Groundwater quality deterioration occurs due to urban, agricultural, mining, and industrial expansions. This research deals with the assessment of groundwater quality index, correlation, clustering analysis, and major ions chemistry around Jampali opencast coal mine of Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh, India, where groundwater is the main source of drinking water. A total of 28 groundwater samples were collected from the different stations in the month of April 2019 and 11 physicochemical parameters were examined. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that cation abundance follows the order Na+ > K+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ in the groundwater, while anion abundance follows the order Cl− > NO3− > SO42− > F−. A strong positive correlation is observed between TDS–EC, TDS–Mg2+, TDS–Na+, TDS–Cl−, TDS–SO42− (r = 0.999, 0.871, 0.872, 0.846, and 0.801) and EC–Mg2+, EC–Na+, EC–Cl−, EC–SO42− (r = 0.871, 0.873, 0.846, 0.802). The two clusters demonstrate a blended genesis connected to anthropogenic and geogenic measures. Based on calculated water quality index (WQI) values, groundwater falls under two classes: excellent and good water. WQI values of the study region depict that 85.72% of samples come under the excellent category and 14.28% in the good category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is a devastating global plant fungal disease particularly in tomatoes leading to serious economic losses. The aim of this study was to determine an in silico effective antifungal metabolite against two important FOL proteins. An in silico ligand–protein interaction was carried out by genome mining and molecular docking of the best ligand‐producing strains of bacteria using AutoDock and antiSMASH tools. The secondary metabolites obtained from different bacteria selected for biocontrol agents (BCA) were docked against SIX and TOM proteins. The selected compounds were docked in the active site of both proteins while random starting positions, torsion angles were established for all ligands. Based on the protein–ligand interactions, the best inhibitor of SIX and TOM protein was xanthobaccine A from Lysobacter sp. strain SB‐K88. On the other hand, the best BCAs compound was heat‐stable antifungal factor obtained from L. enzymogenes, viginiafactin (Pseudomonas sp. QS1027), massetolide A (P. fluorescenss 5101), bicorlnutin A1 and A2 (Xenorhabdus budapestensis) which showed similarity scores viz., 1.25 (with domain NRP, Polyketide), 1.09 (NRP domain), 1.06(NRP domain), 1.00 (NRP domain). The results of our findings suggest Lysobacter sp. as a good biocontrol agent with active biosynthetic gene clusters and as a suitable substitute for agrochemicals. The output of this study will be useful in future management of F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici with other plant pathogen and help in crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this work copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are prepared from precursor CuSO4.5H2O using plant leaves extract (PEE) of Eranthemum pulchellum(E. pulchellum).The synthesized CuONPs are characterized by ultraviolet visible (UV‐vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). CuONPs are distorted spherical in shape, with the sizes ranging from 5 to 17 nm. PEE and CuONPs are coated on glassy carbon (GC) electrode and abbreviated as GC/PEE and GC/CuONPs, respectively. The modified electrodes GC/PEE and GC/CuONPs are characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. The modified electrode GC/CuONPs exhibits good electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). GC/CuONPs also shows excellent operational stability up to 1000 CV cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted from July 1, 2020 to September 25, 2020 in a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) hospital in Delhi, India to provide evidence for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus in atmospheric air and surfaces of the hospital wards. Swabs from hospital surfaces (patient's bed, ward floor, and nursing stations area) and suspended particulate matter in ambient air were collected by a portable air sampler from the medicine ward, intensive care unit, and emergency ward admitting COVID‐19 patients. By performing reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for E‐gene and RdRp gene, SARS‐CoV‐2 virus was detected from hospital surfaces and particulate matters from the ambient air of various wards collected at 1 and 3‐m distance from active COVID‐19 patients. The presence of the virus in the air beyond a 1‐m distance from the patients and surfaces of the hospital indicates that the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus has the potential to be transmitted by airborne and surface routes from COVID‐19 patients to health‐care workers working in COVID‐19 dedicated hospital. This warrants that precautions against airborne and surface transmission of COVID‐19 in the community should be taken when markets, industries, educational institutions, and so on, reopen for normal activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intrinsic property of the heart is an ability to rapidly and coordinately adjust flux through metabolic pathways in response to physiologic stimuli (termed metabolic flexibility). Cardiac metabolism also fluctuates across the 24‐hours day, in association with diurnal sleep‐wake and fasting‐feeding cycles. Although loss of metabolic flexibility has been proposed to play a causal role in the pathogenesis of cardiac disease, it is currently unknown whether day‐night variations in cardiac metabolism are altered during disease states. Here, we tested the hypothesis that diet‐induced obesity disrupts cardiac “diurnal metabolic flexibility”, which is normalized by time‐of‐day‐restricted feeding. Chronic high fat feeding (20‐wk)‐induced obesity in mice, abolished diurnal rhythms in whole body metabolic flexibility, and increased markers of adverse cardiac remodeling (hypertrophy, fibrosis, and steatosis). RNAseq analysis revealed that 24‐hours rhythms in the cardiac transcriptome were dramatically altered during obesity; only 22% of rhythmic transcripts in control hearts were unaffected by obesity. However, day‐night differences in cardiac substrate oxidation were essentially identical in control and high fat fed mice. In contrast, day‐night differences in both cardiac triglyceride synthesis and lipidome were abolished during obesity. Next, a subset of obese mice (induced by 18‐wks ad libitum high fat feeding) were allowed access to the high fat diet only during the 12‐hours dark (active) phase, for a 2‐wk period. Dark phase restricted feeding partially restored whole body metabolic flexibility, as well as day‐night differences in cardiac triglyceride synthesis and lipidome. Moreover, this intervention partially reversed adverse cardiac remodeling in obese mice. Collectively, these studies reveal diurnal metabolic inflexibility of the heart during obesity specifically for nonoxidative lipid metabolism (but not for substrate oxidation), and that restricting food intake to the active period partially reverses obesity‐induced cardiac lipid metabolism abnormalities and adverse remodeling of the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Understanding the motivators and obstacles behind pursuing advanced dental education is essential in planning pedagogy, mentorship programs, and curricula that support dental students to achieve their future career goals. Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate factors influencing dental student's choice to pursue a postgraduate specialization at University of New England College of Dental Medicine with a focus on student personality. Factors examined include demographics, religious affiliations, prior education, dental experiences, expected debt, past career choices, beliefs about the process of specialization, and personality types. Method: A total of 232 dental students (91.6% response rate) completed a self‐administered questionnaire. About 21.6% of dental students intended to pursue a dental specialty while 38.8% wanted to pursue a nondental Masters' program. Approximately one‐third of dental students were interested in practicing as general dentists or pursuing additional training in general dentistry. Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry were the top choices for dental specialization. Results: Being younger, having a dentist family member, nonwhite ethnicity, and having Extraverted and Sensing personality were found to be significant predictors of dental students' intention to pursue advanced dental education. Having a unique talent or skills, past exposure to dental treatments, family/peer expectations, geographic location of the residency program and its proximity to the family were the most identified factors while considering residency program. Conclusion: Results in this study are consistent with previous literature and bring attention to the importance of understanding students' personality in teaching methodologies, mentorship and determining their future goals. The findings allow dental institutions to better prepare their predoctoral candidate for residency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two‐port planar dual circularly polarised microstrip patch antenna is presented. The designed antenna has two groups of patches, each for transmission and reception. In one such group, only the central patch with truncated opposite corners is probe‐fed whereas the surrounding patches act as parasitic patches for bandwidth and gain enhancement. A defected ground structure (DGS) consisting 4 units of complementary square spiral resonators is used to enhance the port‐to‐port isolation as well as the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. Based on the measured data of the fabricated prototype, the antenna is seen to have an impedance bandwidth of 900 MHz with the centre frequency of f0=6.40GHz. Moreover, the AR bandwidth is measured to be 600 MHz at fAR=6.36GHz, whereas the peak gain within this band is found to be ranging from 6.8 to 7.9 dBic. It is also noted that the AR bandwidth lies entirely within the impedance bandwidth and the cross‐polarisation discrimination is 20 dB in the boresight direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine habitats are degrading at an alarming rate due to anthropogenic interventions. Construction of large dams and barrages on the Ganga River has severely fragmented the riverine habitat of dolphins. This study examines the impact of structural barriers on the habitat of the Ganga River dolphin (Platanista gangetica) in a reach between Bijnor and Narora barrage in the middle Ganga and at the Farakka barrage in the lower Ganga Plain. We use time‐series remote sensing images and flow discharge data to assess the morphological and ecological impact in the proximity of these barrages. Our result suggests that after the construction of Bijnor barrage in 1985, the total bar area of the Ganga River has reduced from 150 to 45 km2, but the channel width has remained unchanged during the period between 1980 and 2010. A time‐series analysis of the discharge shows a slightly declining trend after the year 1982. However, this observed trend is not adequate to explain the habitat degradation of the Ganga River dolphins. Further width of the Ganga River in the downstream of the Farakka barrage has reduced from 4 to 1 km, and the total bar area has increased from about 5 to 35 km2 during the period between 1965 and 1980. Also during this period, the pre‐monsoon discharge of the Ganga River has reduced by one‐third in the downstream of Farakka barrage. This study concludes that the loss of dolphins in the downstream reaches of the Farakka barrage could be associated with the change in hydraulic geometry, flow characteristics, and loss of longitudinal and lateral connectivity. Conversely, the impoundments of water upstream of the Narora barrage have maintained the suitable habitat conditions for the dolphins to thrive. This has resulted in a reported growth in the dolphin population during the years 1993–2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, two 3-φ quasi-Z source inverters (qZSIs) with multiple ac outputs are proposed. The proposed topologies are developed from qZSI to obtain parallel mode and series mode 3-φ multi-output inverters. In parallel mode, the topology yields n-number of parallel ac outputs with different voltages and currents for different load conditions. For series mode, topology yields n-number of series ac outputs with same voltages and same load currents. Unlike voltage source derived multi-output inverters, the proposed inverters have all inherent properties of qZSI, like shoot-through protection and both buck–boost operations. For generating switching signals in these inverters, sinusoidal pulse width modulation with constant frequency shoot-through scheme is used. The proposed topologies fulfil more than one load demand at a time without any extra adaptor or regulator. The proposed inverters can be used for simultaneous multiple dc/ac power conversion for three-phase microgrid applications and three-phase residential loads. In this work, the proposed topologies with closed-loop control have been implemented for two inverter units, which is capable of supplying two ac outputs simultaneously. The mathematical modelling of the proposed topologies is carried out for performance analysis. The experimental results of 240 W lab prototypes have been presented to validate the proposed three-phase multi-output qZSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using farm‐level data from dairy farmers in India's Bihar state and the two‐stage residual inclusion method, this study investigates the impact of the adoption of food safety measures (FSMs) on milk yield and profitability of smallholder dairy farms. This study reveals that herd size and experience in dairy farming have a significant effect on the number of FSMs smallholders adopt. An additional FSM increases milk yield by about 1% and profitability by about 2.3%. An extra year of education increases yield and profits by about 3.8% and 4.9%, respectively. The government could design and incentivize policies that help increase herd size and promote better housing conditions for animals, thus promoting the uptake of FSMs and increased milk yield and profitability. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q16, Q18]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite film of nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) and bentonite (Bt) clay (abbreviated as NiHCF−Bt) is synthesized by an in situ electrochemical method. For this synthesis, nickel ions are immobilized on Bt clay by an ion‐exchange process, equilibrating Bt clay with nickel nitrate. On a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the nickel ion‐exchanged Bt clay (Ni2+−Bt) is coated to get the modified electrode which is represented as GCE/Ni2+−Bt. The NiHCF−Bt composite film is prepared on the GCE surface using the GCE/Ni2+−Bt and scanning the electrode potentials between −0.10 to 1.00 V continuously in an aqueous solution containing potassium hexacyanoferrate and potassium chloride. This NiHCF−Bt modified GCE (GCE/NiHCF−Bt) exhibits redox peaks due to the oxidation and reduction of the central metal ion, Fe2+. The electro‐generated Fe3+ present in the GCE/NiHCF−Bt, electrocatalytically oxidizes a range of drugs like acetaminophen (AC), dopamine (DA), and tyrosine (TY) at decreased overpotentials with high current. This property is advantageously used for the precise quantification of AC, DA, and TY. Sensitivity, limit of detection, and linear calibration range for the determination of AC are found to be 0.20 μA μM−1 cm−2, 1.5 μM, and 25.0–1000.0 μM, respectively. Further, the amount of AC present in pharmaceutical products is satisfactorily quantified which demonstrated the use of the NiHCF−Bt composite film in electroanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D materials, owing to their nearly atomic thickness, have emerged as promising candidates across a broad spectrum of next‐generation devices and systems. In the post‐graphene era, molybdenum‐based dichalcogenides (MoX2, where X = S, Se, Te), possessing a graphene‐like structure, represent one of the most promising subsets among 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) due to their extensively researched and distinctive electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. Further with their distinct properties of different phases (2H, 1T) make it attractive for both fundamental and applied research. It finds diverse applications, spanning from optoelectronics to catalysis and sensor development. In this review article, the unique crystal structural properties of MoX2 are highlighted and their different synthesis methods, incorporating recent advancements in synthesis approaches discussed. Subsequently the recent development of MoX2 nanocomposite based on carbon, metal, metal oxide and various polymer discussed. Finally, the key challenges impeding the advancement of sensing applications and propose avenues for future development, drawing upon the current progress in 2D MoX2 and their nanocomposites also find mention in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were immobilized on glassy carbon (GC) electrode by drop casting The resulting modified electrode (represented as GC/SWCNTs) efficiently oxidizes acetaminophen (AC), dopamine (DA) and pyridoxine (PY) by decreasing the respective oxidation potentials and increasing peak currents in comparison to bare GC electrode. The extent of lowering of overpotentials is in the order of AC>PY>DA, in agreement with the order of decrease in the HOMO‐LUMO energy gap (ΔE) of these analytes, as determined from Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. DFT calculations further reveal that due to the interaction of the analytes on the SWCNT(10,10) there is a negative charge density transfer (higher probability of electron transfer, lower ΔE value) to the frontier molecular orbitals of the analytes, which eases their oxidation. Since AC, DA and PY oxidize distinctly at distinct potential values, the present SWCNTs modified electrodes could be used to simultaneously determine them. Cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and amperometry techniques are utilized to understand the electrochemical characteristics of the analytes (AC, DA and PY) and subsequent sensing of them at the GC/SWCNTs electrode. The electrode is then applied to the determination of AC as a case study. Sensitivity, detection limit and linear calibration range for the AC are found to be 7.9 μA μM−1 cm−2, 1.1 μM and 2.0–100.0 μM, respectively. The increased electroactive surface area of the GC/SWCNTs increases the oxidation peak currents and hence increases the sensitivity of the determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MnO2 nanorods incorporated MCM‐41 nanocomposite (MnO2@MCM‐41) is synthesized and employed as an electrode modifier for individual as well as simultaneous detection of purine bases, guanine (GU) and adenine (AD). For this purpose MnO2 nanorods are encapsulated within MCM‐41 by simple one pot synthetic approach. FT‐IR, UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical methods are employed to characterize the nanocomposite and other materials. The electrochemical attributes of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with the MnO2@MCM‐41 (represented as GCE/MnO2@MCM‐41) towards the determination of GU and AD is studied in detail. Upon incorporation of MnO2 nanorods on MCM‐41, noticeable upsurge in anodic peak current with a decline in peak potential is observed for both GU and AD oxidations in cyclic voltammetry studies. Individual as well as simultaneous determination of GU and AD are performed using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique which offered a linear range of 100 nM to 100 μM for GU and AD with respective limit of detections, 44 and 66 nM. The practical applicability of the GCE/MnO2@MCM‐41 for real world samples analysis is satisfactorily demonstrated with certain DNA samples by DPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Successful synthesis of gold nanoparticles incorporated in a zinc‐based metal‐organic framework (Au@Zn‐MOF) is reported in this paper. The synthesis of Au@Zn‐MOF is confirmed by UV‐Vis, FT‐IR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The Au@Zn‐MOF catalyst demonstrates electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The relative catalytic performance of Au@Zn‐MOF towards ORR and HER has been studied under acidic condition. ORR proceeds via a two electron and two proton mechanism with hydrogen peroxide as the end product, while HER follows the Volmer mechanism i. e., adsorption of H+ on the catalyst's active sites. Au@Zn‐MOF exhibits an ORR onset potential of 0.45 V (vs. RHE) with two different Tafel slopes, −93 and −103.6 mV in acidic solution. Further, an excellent catalytic activity is observed for HER with an onset potential of 0.02 V (vs. RHE) and a Tafel slope of 87 mV in N2 saturated 0.1 M HClO4 solution. However, in O2 saturated 0.1 M HClO4 solution, a HER onset potential of 0.04 V (vs. RHE) is observed with two different Tafel slopes, 610 and 220 mV. The value of Tafel slopes in the presence of O2 advocates the diminution of the ORR activity because of the HER. Thus, Tafel slope values of HER and ORR suggest that protons and O2 compete to reach the electrode surface for getting reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare workers have a high risk of developing hand eczema. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and severity of dermatologist‐determined hand eczema among healthcare workers, carry out patch testing, and correlate the findings with impairment in quality of life (QoL) and demographic and vocational factors. Methods: Seven hundred and ten healthcare workers (279 nurses, 246 cleaners, and 185 nursing auxiliaries) were screened for the presence of hand eczema. Severity of eczema was calculated with the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI), and QoL was measured with the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Individuals with hand eczema were also patch tested. Results: The point and 1‐year prevalences of hand eczema were 7.2% and 18.9%, respectively. Hand eczema was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis. The mean HECSI score was 9.39; it was significantly higher in patients with atopic dermatitis and those with recurrent hand eczema. The mean DLQI score was 5.37. Cleaning staff had significantly greater impairment in QoL. HECSI and DLQI scores were positively correlated. Patch testing showed that thiuram mix, antibiotics and cleansers as sensitizers were over‐represented in healthcare workers as compared with controls. Conclusions: Hand eczema was particularly common in hospital cleaners and staff with atopic dermatitis. Further studies are needed to address the burden of occupational hand eczema and develop guidelines for its management at a national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridyl‐2,6‐bis(3‐allylsalicylaldehyde) hydrazone (PYAL) forms nanoaggregates (nPYAL) in THF:water (10:90,v/v) with enhanced emission. The nanoagregates display selective and reversible detection of Cu2+ ions with concomitant changes in their morphology and sizes. The detection of Cu2+ ions in human melanoma MDA MB 435 s cell lines using nPYAL has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have recently attracted intense research attention because of their applications in the development of highly active and cost-effective electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and in the fields of drug delivery, energy storage, for example. In this work, we report a cheap and simple route for the synthesis of nickel-iron LDH (Ni−Fe LDH) using an iron-based metal−organic framework, Fe-MIL-88 as a template. The prepared Ni−Fe LDH is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Ni−Fe LDH is found to be highly active and stable for water oxidation in alkaline solution as compared to commercial Pt/C. The concept of using a metal−organic framework as a structure-directing agent to synthesize Ni−Fe LDH and the use of the material for the oxygen evolution reaction is explored for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: p16 overexpression and wild-type p53 expression are associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) in cervical and oropharyngeal cancer. Role of HPV-related carcinogenesis in the etiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still vague in Indian population. We aimed to explore the expression pattern of p16 and p53 in HPV-positive and HPV-negative OSCC to elicit differences, if any. Further their effect on survival of patients was studied.Methods: Thirty-one consecutive HPV-positive as well as 31 age and sex-matched HPV-negative OSCC cases from a case series of 369 histologically diagnosed cases of OSCC were included in this study. HPV was detected by two methods, viz. real-time PCR and conventional PCR in biopsy samples. p16 and p53 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and p16 mRNA expression was quantified with real-time PCR using SYBR Green assay.Results: p16 was expressed in six (19.4%) HPV-positive and in four (12.9%) HPV-negative cases. Overall mutant-type p53 expression in 62 OSCC cases was 54.8%. Out of ten p16-positive cases, eight expressed mutant-type p53 and only two cases expressed wild-type p53. Risk factors including oral tobacco consumption and alcohol were present in all these ten p16-positive cases. Survival of patients was not affected by HPV, p16 and p53 status.Conclusion: Presence of mutant-type p53 and exposure to tobacco-related risk factors in both HPV-positive and negative cases suggest existence of p53-related carcinogenesis in HPV-positive cases in Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series-fed dual circularly polarised planar slot antenna array is presented. The radiating slots of the antenna are located on the ground plane and are excited by means of a ring-shaped microstrip line comprising of rectangular sections. A metallic reflector lies underneath the feed network separated by an air-layer to augment the gain of the antenna. The parameters of a fabricated prototype are measured for validation. Based on the measured data, the antenna is found to have an impedance bandwidth of 1189 MHz which is 18.46% of the centre frequency f0 = 6.45 GHz. Also, the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth is 880 MHz centred at fAR = 6.54 GHz. The inter-port isolation ranges from 25 to 45 dB and the gain ranges from 8.2 to 9.5 dBic within the AR band. The antenna exhibits beam scanning capability and is therefore suitable for various applications like satellite communication, radiometry and polarimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass productivity and cellular lipid content are two major components that influence the ultimate lipid productivity from algal biomass. In this report, a nitrate feeding strategy was developed taking three green microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus, Chlorella vulgaris, and C. minutissima, to achieve higher lipid productivity under single phase cultivation. Four different strategies, i.e. nitrate-sufficient, nitrate-deficient, biphasic nitrate-deficient and low-dose sequential nitrate feeding, were examined. The biphasic nitrate-deficient approach depicted the maximum lipid productivity. To bring this biphasic approach to a single phase, sequential limited nitrate feeding strategy was examined. This showed nitrate supplementation with a 1/100th dose of standard N 11 medium at an interval of 3 days resulted in a significant rise in lipid productivity. The biodiesel samples also demonstrated the predominance of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters. This study, therefore, suggests that with appropriate standardization, the usual biphasic approach can be brought down to a single phase, thereby reducing the overall cost of microalgal biomass production for biodiesel purpose. Moreover, this strategy is user-friendly, and would reduce the nitrate requirements for large-scale cultivation, thus, would result in cost-effective and eco-friendly biodiesel production from microalgae. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 222-231, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble graphitic hollow carbon nanorods (wsCNRs) are exploited for their light-driven photochemical activities under outdoor sunlight. wsCNRs were synthesized by a simple pyrolysis method from castor seed oil, without using any metal catalyst or template. wsCNRs exhibited the light-induced photochemical degradation of methylene blue used as a model pollutant by the generation of singlet oxygen species. Herein, we described a possible degradation mechanism of methylene blue under the irradiation of visible photons via the singlet oxygen-superoxide anion pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed at developing cellulose acetate asymmetric membrane capsules (AMCs) of acyclovir for its controlled delivery at the absorption site. The AMCs were prepared by phase inversion technique using wet process. A 23 full factorial design assessed the effect of independent variables (level(s) of polymer, pore former, and osmogen) on the cumulative drug release from AMCs. The buoyant optimized formulation F7 (low level of cellulose acetate; high levels of both glycerol and sodiumlauryl sulphate) displayed maximum drug release of 97.88 ± 0.77% in 8 h that was independent of variation in agitational intensity and intentional defect on the cellulose acetate AMC. The in vitro data best fitted zero-order kinetics (r2 = 0.9898). SEM micrograph of the transverse section confirmed the asymmetric nature of the cellulose acetate capsular membrane. Statistical analysis by Design Expert software indicated no interaction between the independent variables confirming the efficiency of the design in estimating the effects of variables on drug release.The optimized formulation F7 (desirability = 0.871) displayed sustenance of drug release over the drug packed in AMC in pure state proving the superiority of osmotically active formulation. Conclusively the AMCs have potential for controlled release of acyclovir at its absorption site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an important sexually transmitted diseases (STD) causing pathogen worldwide. Due to absence of an affordable diagnostic assay, routine screening of gonococcal infection becomes impossible in developing countries where infection rates are maximum. Treatment is given on the basis of symptoms alone which leads to spread of infection. Thus, development of a rapid, sensitive, specific, and PCR based visual diagnostic assay suitable for developing countries, required for better disease management, is aimed at in present study. Endocervical swabs were collected from patients visiting gynecology department of various hospitals in Delhi. In-house PCR based assay was developed and modified to visual assay using molecular beacon for end-point detection. It was evaluated against Roche AMPLICOR NG kit and rmp gene. Specificity of beacon was confirmed by competition experiments. Diagnostic test was 98.21% specific and 99.59% sensitive whereas negative and positive predicted value were 99.40% and 98.78%, respectively. We also observed that twice the concentration (2X) of premix was stable at 4°C for 4 months and dry swab samples gave concordant results with that of wet swabs. These features make the test best suitable for routine diagnosis of genital infections in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelets contribute to 95% of circulating amyloid precursor protein in the body and have widely been employed as a "peripheral" model of neurons in Alzheimer's disease. We sought to analyze the effects of amyloid ß (Aß) on platelets and to understand the underlying molecular mechanism. The Aß active fragment containing amino acid sequence 25-35 (Aß25_35; 10-20 |xM) was found to induce strong aggregation of human platelets, granule release, and integrin activation, similar to that elicited by physiological agonists. Platelets exposed to 25_35 retracted fibrin clot and displayed augmented adhesion to collagen under arterial shear, reflective of a switch to prothrombotic phenotype. Exposure of platelets to Aß peptide (20 ĮJIM) resulted in a 4.2- and 2.3-fold increase in phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) and MLC phosphatase, respectively, which was reversed by Y27632, an inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase (ROCK). 25_35- induced platelet aggregation and clot retraction were also significantly attenuated by Y27632. Consistent with these findings, 25_35 elicited a significant rise in the level of RhoA-GTP in platelets. Platelets pretreated with reverse-sequenced Aß fragment (Aß35_25) and untreated resting platelets served as controls. We conclude that Aß induces cellular activation through RhoA-dependent modulation of actomyosin, and hence, RhoA could be a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition metal complex, oxovanadium(IV) salen (where salen represents N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine) is immobilized on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes and utilized for electrocatalytic oxidation of cysteine. In presence of oxovanadium(IV) salen, increased oxidation current is observed due to the effective oxidation of cysteine by the electrogenerated oxovanadium(V) salen species. The oxidation current linearly varies with the concentration of cysteine from 0.1 to 1.0 mM. The modified electrode has good sensitivity and low limit of detection. These properties make the oxovanadium(IV) salen as an effective electrocatalyst for the determination of cysteine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Lupeol-based chalcones have been synthesized aiming to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of parent compound, the novel compounds were evaluated for their antidyslipidemic activity in triton-WR 1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats. Among the ten synthesized chalcones, the most active K4, K8, and K9 reversed the plasma levels of TC by (24, 25, 27 %), phospholipid by (25, 26, 25 %) and triacylglycerol by (27, 24, 24 %) respectively. In addition, the compounds showed significant in vitro antioxidant activity. The lipid lowering activity of these compounds were mediated through lipoprotein lipase activation (12-21 %) and enhanced post-heparin lipolytic activity (15-16 %). The compounds also displayed noteworthy inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl reductase activity (in vitro). The in vitro effect of the most active compounds on MDI-induced adipogenesis using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at 10 and 20 μM concentrations showed significant inhibition (20-32 %) of adipogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious microvascular complications and among the leading causes of end stage renal disease. Persistently increasing albuminuria has been considered to be the central hallmark of nephropathy. However, albuminuria can indicate kidney damage for clinicians; it is not a specific biomarker for prediction of diabetic kidney disease prior to the onset of this devastating complication, and in fact all individuals with microalbuminuria do not progress to overt nephropathy. Controlled glycemia is unable to prevent nephropathy in all diabetic individuals indicating the role of other factors in progression of diabetic kidney disease. There are numerous cellular and molecular defects persisting prior to appearance of clinical symptoms. So, there is an urgent need to look for easy, novel, and accurate way to detect diabetic kidney disease prior to its beginning or at the infancy stage so that its progression can be slowed or arrested. It is now accepted that initiation and progression of diabetic kidney disease are a result of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Environmental signals can alter the intracellular pathways by chromatin modifiers and regulate gene expression patterns leading to diabetes and its complications. In the present review, we have discussed a possible link between aberrant DNA methylation and altered gene expression in diabetic kidney disease. Drugs targeting to reverse epigenetic alteration can retard or stop the development of this devastating disease, just by breaking the chain of events occurring prior to the development of this microvascular complication in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]