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The AgNPs@cellulose–PEVA hybrid catalyst presented excellent catalytic efficacy for the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction, facilitating the selective formation of CS bonds.

This work is focused on the development of an efficient and green protocol for the one-pot multicomponent synthesis of a series of 4H-pyran derivatives. Herein, a protein–peptide conjugate (SS1–Cyt. c) is synthesized and characterized using Circular Dichroism (CD), UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, and docking studies. The whole assembly is used as an efficient catalytic system by incorporating a derivatized dipeptide molecule in the hydrophobic cavities of the protein Cytochrome c (Cyt. c) that leads to the activation of Hydrogen Bond Donating (HBD) units of a urea derivative of a dipeptide (SS1). The HBD units tend to show non-covalent interactions with the reactant species responsible for triggering the occurrence of an organic transformation. Also, the stability and binding interactions of SS1–Cyt. c with the multicomponent reactants involved in the organic transformation are studied in detail using MD-simulation studies. It is a metal-free catalyst and provides higher yield in relatively short reaction times. As per green chemistry principles, the catalyst has provided us ideal Eco-scale and E factor scores of 79 and 0.089, respectively.

Organic nanoparticles (N1) were prepared by dispersing thiophene-conjugated rhodamine derivative 1 in a buffer solution (10 mM TRIS, pH 7.4, containing 1% DMSO, v/v). N1 selectively recognized Al3+ ions through the “OFF-ON” switching mechanism of the spirolactam ring in rhodamine. The resulting N1·Al3+ complex recognized the biologically important molecule adenosine monophosphate (AMP) through a cation displacement process with a detection limit of 2 nM. N1 was capable of determining the concentration of Al3+ ions in environmental and biological samples. Portable test strips of N1 were prepared for the recognition of Al3+ ions and AMP for practical uses. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the N1·Al3+ complex facilitated real-time monitoring of AMP concentration in the hydrolysis of ATP and ADP.

The risk of contracting HBV by health care workers (HCW) is four-times greater than that of general adult population. Studies have demonstrated that vaccine-induced protection persists at least 11 years. High risk groups such as HCWs should be monitored and receive a booster vaccination if their anti-HBsAb levels decrease below 10 mIU/mL. In view of the above this study was undertaken to assess the HBV vaccination of the HCWs and their immunological response. Seventy-two HCWs of the Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India, were recruited and blood sample was drawn for serological tests (HBSAg, anti-HCV, anti-HBsAb, anti-HBeAb, and anti-HBcAb). Anti-HBs titers of >10 mIU/mL were considered protective. Thirty-four (47.3%) of the participants were completely vaccinated with three doses. 25 (73.5%) of the participants with complete vaccination had protective anti-HBsAb levels as against 8 (53.3%) of those with incomplete vaccination and 9 (39.1%) of those who were not vaccinated at all. One of our participants was acutely infected while 29 participants were susceptible to infection at the time of the study. All HCWs should receive three doses of the vaccine and be monitored for their immune status after every five years. Boosters should be administered to those who become susceptible.

In machining of parts, surface quality is one of the most specified customer requirements. Major indication of surface quality on machined parts is surface roughness. There are various machining parameters which have an effect on the surface roughness, but these effects have not been adequately quantified. In order for manufacturers to maximize their gains from utilizing finish hard turning, accurate predictive models for surface roughness and tool wear must be constructed. This paper utilizes response surface methodology (RSM) for modeling to predict surface roughness and tool wear for variety of cutting conditions in finish hard turning. The experimental data obtained from performed experiments in finish turning of hardened AISI H-11 steel have been utilized. Decrease in feed rate and increase in cutting speed resulted in significant increase in surface quality. However, increase in cutting speed also produced relatively higher tool wear. Also depth of cut did not significantly affect the tool wear and surface roughness.

Hard turning is used in the manufacturing industry as an economic alternative to grinding, but the reliability of hard turning processes is often unpredictable. The main factors affecting the reliability of hard turning are surface integrity and tool wear. In the present study, an attempt has been made to investigate the effect of cutting parameters on surface roughness, tool wear, and residual stress distribution in hard turning. This article brings out the comprehensive analysis of the effects of cutting parameters on surface roughness, residual stress, and tool wear.

Context: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most devastating human pathogen. The organism has a differential ability to spread and cause outbreak of infections. Characterization of these strains is important to control the spread of infection in the hospitals as well as in the community. Aim: To identify the currently existing phage groups of Staphylococcus aureus, their prevalence and resistance to antibiotics. Materials and Methods: Study was undertaken on 252 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical samples. Strains were phage typed and their resistance to antibiotics was determined following standard microbiological procedures. Statistical Analysis: Chi square test was used to compare the antibiotic susceptibility between methicillin resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strains. Results: Prevalence of MRSA and MSSA strains was found to be 29.36% and 70.65% respectively. Of these 17.56% of MRSA and 40.44% of MSSA strains were community acquired. All the MSSA strains belonging to phage type 81 from the community were sensitive to all the antibiotics tested including clindamycin and were resistant to penicillin. Forty five percent strains of phage group III and 39% of non-typable MRSA strains from the hospital were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Conclusion: The study revealed that predominant phage group amongst MRSA strains was phage group III and amongst MSSA from the community was phage group NA (phage type 81). MSSA strains isolated from the community differed significantly from hospital strains in their phage type and antibiotic susceptibility. A good correlation was observed between community acquired strains of phage type 81 and sensitivity to gentamycin and clindamycin.

Limited data on acute phase C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection exist. The relationship of CRP with HIV was assessed in 119 HIV-positive patients and correlated with CD4 counts and mortality at 1 y. CRP was negatively correlated with CD4 counts with levels of CRP being highest in the group with CD4 counts below 200 cells/microL. It was an indicator of mortality and hence may serve as a useful and inexpensive predictor of HIV disease progression.

The HIV pandemic has had a profound impact on the health and economic conditions of individuals, and people living with HIV/AIDS are faced with the task of maintaining optimal health status despite an increasing insult to their immune status. The aim of the present study was to study the profile of direct walk-in and referred patients attending the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) of a tertiary care hospital, which may provide important clues to understanding the epidemiology of the disease in a particular region. The study included all the attendees of the ICTC referred from the hospital or direct walk-in from January 2007 to December 2007. Three rapid HIV tests were used and the samples showing positive results in all the three tests were declared HIV positive. The results were analysed to correlate between HIV positivity, age, sex, route of transmission and direct walk-in/referred patients. A low proportion of ICTC attendees (27%) in our study were direct walk-ins. As regards HIV positivity, 312 (8.3%) out of 2440 males and 164 (4.3%) out of 1315 females were HIV positive. Among the referred HIV-positive patients 162 were males and 62 females, whereas among the direct walk-in HIV-positive patients, 150 were males and 102 females. Integrated counselling and testing is now seen as a key entry point for HIV prevention. In addition to scaling up ICTC services, it is also important to raise awareness by aggressive health education programmes and integration of ICTC into various community organizations.

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical, immunological and virological status of newly diagnosed AIDS cases and to monitor their clinical and immunological response to HAART after a minimum period of three months. Forty three drug naive AIDS patients were enrolled. The most common presenting complaints were weight loss (74.4%), cough (72.1%) and diarrhoea (67.4%). Mean baseline CD4 cell count was 112 ± 60 cells/μL and mean baseline plasma viral load of 31 patients studied was 192,686 copies/mL. Baseline plasma viral load was higher among patients with lower baseline CD4 cell count. During follow-up, 80.8% patients showed clinical improvement, while a CD4 cell count increased by ≥50 cells/μL in 84.6% cases. Mean CD4 cell count increased from 126 ± 16.6 cells/μL at baseline to 278 ± 196.7 cells/μL.