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The research suggests an approach that prioritizes customer needs and aims to reduce energy expenses while safeguarding customer privacy. Furthermore, it is recommended that smart homes incorporate a home energy management system to optimize appliance energy consumption. Conversely, the introduction of demand-side management addresses the energy management challenges faced by smart households. The main goal of this approach is to decrease energy usage and electricity costs for customers. Moreover, it enhances user satisfaction while waiting at common intervals. The primary emphasis of this study is on a smart residence furnished with energy management technology and smart home gadgets capable of supplying electricity to the grid. These objectives are considered distinct aspects in the multi-objective optimization issue stemming from this approach. The study utilizes the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) to optimize battery and home appliance scheduling in smart homes with flexible devices. The goal is to reduce the overall cost of microgrid systems through demand-side management implementation. This comparison highlights the superiority of the proposed method in optimizing energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions in a variety of scenarios. By achieving lower energy costs and carbon emissions while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, the proposed method proves to be a highly effective and sustainable solution for energy management in buildings. These simulation results provide strong evidence of the method’s potential to significantly impact energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in real-world applications. Furthermore, the consistent minimization of the discomfort index showcases the method’s ability to prioritize occupant comfort while still achieving significant energy savings and emissions reductions. Overall, the comparison with other algorithms solidifies the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method in addressing the complex challenges of energy management and sustainability in smart homes.

This paper establishes participatory conflict invoked by intersectional standpoints as a critique of the conventional celebratory understanding of participatory communication for social change. The paper is based on an immersive ethnographic study in the state of Uttarakhand, India with women participants in three self-help groups. Our findings acknowledge the presence of inevitable participatory conflict in women groups’ participation due to intersectional standpoints where gender intersects with caste, economic position, and paid work exposure leading to unequal access to communication resources among members. Our study offers a nuanced framework for participatory communication for social change that can contribute to both theory and development communication practice by acknowledging participatory conflict as an integral dimension of collective and individual empowerment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an adaptive thermal comfort field study conducted in the naturally ventilated residential buildings in the composite climate type of India over three main seasons i.e. monsoon, winter, and summer using ASHRAE's class II field measurements protocols. 768 measurements were collated wherein subjective thermal comfort sensation, preference, and acceptance for indoor environment variables were thoroughly explored along with the adaptive actions of the users for four different times during a day. Correlation analysis helped decipher the relationship between subjective votes and thermal comfort evaluation parameters. Thermal environment acceptance during monsoon season and morning time was highest however the same was found lower during summers and afternoons. The middle age group had the lowest acceptance and well-acclimatized non-native participants had a good thermal acceptance. Education also affects thermal acceptance and it decreases with increasing education level. The comfort temperature and adaptive comfort equation were also studied and results were compared with national and international thermal comfort standards. This study predicted a wider thermal comfort range of 12.23–34.45°C and indicated revising TSI, the first thermal comfort index for Indian Subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African fig fly, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is an ecologically diverse pest species that interacts with and feeds on various microbial pathogens including bacteria and yeast found in decomposing fruits. However, the interaction of Z. indianus with its microbial community and microbial pathogens is obscure. To determine the presence of fungal pathogens, we collected wild Z. indianus from the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. Based on molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis, Debaryomyces hansenii (Zopf) Lodder & Kreger‐van Rij (isolate ziha1) was the most commonly observed fungus associated with Z. indianus. Furthermore, we identified two more opportunistic fungal pathogens: Aspergillus flavus Link (isolate zias2), and Pichia kudriavzevii Boidin, Pignal & Besson (isolate zibd3). The interaction of isolated fungi with Z. indianus was evaluated in terms of larval mortality, adult emergence, and fecundity. Debaryomyces hansenii ziha1 resulted in 90% emergence rate for adults, and did not cause significant mortality in the larval stage. In contrast, A. flavus zias2 and P. kudriavzevii zibd3 showed a significant reduction in fecundity and caused 99% and 74% larval mortality of Z. indianus, respectively. In the laboratory oviposition preference assay, mated females of Z. indianus preferred D. hansenii ziha1 supplemented food with a positive oviposition index compared to the uninfected control and compared to food infected with P. kudriavzevii zibd3 or A. flavus zias2. These findings underscore Z. indianus' potential to act as a reservoir for both symbiotic and pathogenic fungal species, some of which may be further harnessed for effective fruit fly pest control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofing technologies have been developed and implemented worldwide as they bring with them thermal, hydrological, and environmental benefits, especially in urbanized areas. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the thermal performance of green roofs over reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structural bases but there is a lacuna of experimental evaluation of the thermal performance of green roofs on sloping galvanized iron (GI) sheet truss type roof structures. In this paper, the thermal performance of a retrofitted extensive green roof is quantified; this is challenging in subtropical climates because of extreme seasonal and diurnal variations. The thermal performance of the green roof system was assessed using a life-size experiment setup followed by a whole-building simulation using Design Builder, which runs on the EnergyPlus simulation engine. Two prototype roofs were analyzed and the performance of the retrofitted extensive green roof was compared with that of a conventional RCC roof solution. To validate the results, two prototype buildings were constructed at a university campus and their thermal and energy performance analyzed for two observation periods, one during a typical summer week and the other during a typical winter week. The extensive retrofitted green roof displayed enhanced thermal and energy performance at a nominal additional cost. The findings of this study can be deployed in the development of a retrofitted extensive green roof module for sloped GI sheet roofs for better thermal performance, and hence reduced energy loads, and meet the sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article provides an overview of various aspects of lunar exploration, including missions to the Moon, collection and analysis of lunar sample data in laboratories, and the processing and analysis of remote sensing data, particularly using radar techniques. Both remote sensing and in-situ methods are critical for advancing our understanding of the lunar surface and its properties. This review article focuses on the identification and quantification of water–ice deposits located in areas such as Permanently shadowed areas (PSRs) and the lunar poles (section " Lunar Poles and PSRs: A Special Environment "). These volatile resources have the potential to serve as valuable sources of fuel for future missions, making it crucial for the lunar community to determine their abundance and distribution. After thoroughly examining lunar samples using high-precision laboratory techniques, many preconceptions were dispelled which is highlighted in the section " Laboratory Investigation of Lunar samples ". But as in-situ observations are difficult to acquire, especially terrestrial bodies samples, remote sensing techniques allow the global understanding of the surface. The article specifically highlights the importance of understanding the electrical characteristics of the lunar surface and how radar inversion can provide valuable information in this regard. The " Conclusion " section of this review article serves as a key takeaway for readers, underscoring the critical role that both in-situ and remote sensing techniques play in advancing our understanding of the Moon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deglaciation has led to the transformation of glaciers into rock glaciers in various mountainous regions worldwide. However, the science of permafrost and rock glaciers remains under‐researched in the Himalayan region. This study presents a detailed inventory, dynamics, and permafrost distribution map for the Jhelum basin in the Kashmir Himalaya. The Permafrost Zonation Map (PZM) is created using a Logistic Regression Model based on topographic and climatic variables. High‐resolution satellite images are used to identify rock glaciers as visual indicators. Active and relic rock glaciers are classified based on surface topography and geomorphology. Results reveal 207 rock glaciers in the Jhelum basin, covering ∼50 km2, with over 100 falling into the active category. The PZM aligns well with the global permafrost zonation index map. Slope, aspect, and elevation of rock glaciers are computed using the ASTER Digital Elevation Model. The average elevations range from 3,700 m to 4,550 m, and the average surface slope ranges from 12° to 26°, with maximum slopes from 25° to 65°. Most rock glaciers are oriented toward the south or southeast. Field investigations confirm that these rock glaciers occur in highly elevated regions with steep slopes. This study provides valuable information on the high areal abundance of permafrost in the Himalayan region and suggests increased risks of thawing permafrost due to climate warming in the future. The findings contribute to the understanding of permafrost and rock glaciers, filling knowledge gaps in the Himalayan context. Plain Language Summary: In this study, we focused on understanding how glaciers turn into rock glaciers and how permafrost is distributed in the Jhelum basin of the Kashmir Himalaya. We found that many glaciers in mountainous regions around the world have transformed into rock glaciers due to deglaciation. However, there is limited research on permafrost and rock glaciers in the Himalayan region. Using satellite images and on‐the‐ground investigations, we created a detailed inventory and map of rock glaciers in the Jhelum basin. We also developed a permafrost distribution map by considering factors like temperature, solar radiation, and slope aspect. This map helps us understand where permafrost is located in the area. Our findings revealed that there are 207 rock glaciers in the Jhelum basin, covering an area of approximately 50 square kilometers. More than 100 of these rock glaciers are active. The map we created aligns well with existing global permafrost maps, showing the accuracy of our approach. This study enhances our knowledge of permafrost and rock glaciers in the Himalayan region, providing important information about their presence and the potential risks associated with thawing permafrost due to climate change. Key Points: Study investigates glacier‐to‐rock glacier transformation in Jhelum basin, Kashmir Himalaya due to deglaciationPresents detailed rock glacier inventory, dynamics, and permafrost distribution map using satellite images and field investigationsHighlights high permafrost abundance in Himalayan region, indicating increased thawing risks with climate warming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green roofs (GRs) are one of the best practices that researchers are promoting due to environmental, social, economic, and ecological benefits. This bibliometric review on GRs performs a comprehensive evaluation where shortlisted studies are categorized into empirical and nonempirical. A review of the nonempirical studies affirms the importance of GRs, and the appraisal of the empirical studies helps understand the performance evaluation methods. The performance of GRs largely depends on the overall assembly configuration, especially the vegetation and substrate layers, along with the site and settings. Such studies are conducted through field and laboratory experiments, simulation modeling, mathematical models, or combination methods. These methods help understand the thermal, hydrological and energy performance, urban heat island (UHI) mitigation, noise reduction, air pollution reduction, sustainability, and retrofitting potentials of GRs. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the performance evaluation methods to understand their association with performance parameters and variables. This will help identify an effective performance evaluation method for an inclusive evaluation of any GR assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing scientific research advancement is indispensable for structuring future goals and rationalizations. We carried out a literature review in the Scopus database using vos-viewer (version 1.6.16.) and Biblioshiny 2.0. The purpose was to analyse data on the use of essential oils with Drosophila species, and observe research trends on this topic. Between 2001 and 2022, 110 articles were published, with the Industrial Crops and Products as the most outstanding journal. The country with the greatest number of publications on the topic in the analysed period was Brazil (n=22), followed by United States (n=15) and the China (n=11). Keywords that stood out the most were essential oil, animals, Drosophila melanogaster, non-human, controlled study, unclassified drug, insecticidal activity and chemical composition. The current paper delineates the scientific information regarding essential oils and Drosophila species all over the world. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric survey which aimed to visualize the scientific progress, spatial distribution of the researches, key word analysis and addresses research gaps associated with the work on essential oils and Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes a case of bilateral cervicogenic headache treated with cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The case is considered to review a longstanding cervicogenic headache and the use of cooled RFA of cervical facet joint as a treatment of choice. In this case, a 50-year-old female patient with intermittent dull aching bilateral headache in occipital, temporal, and cervical region for 20 years was diagnosed with bilateral greater occipital neuralgia. She underwent cooled RFA of unilateral right-sided 3rd occipital nerve (cervical 2/3 facet joint) with minimal or no side effects and 100% pain reduction at 24 h of follow-up. After 4 weeks of follow-up, the patient reported a single incident where she experienced pain that settled with medication and had a lower intensity as compared to that which was experienced before the procedure. Cooled RFA of the cervical facet joint in challenging cases can be a line of treatment to alleviate pain with lower side effects and potential for long-term efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 is continually evolving with the emergence of new variants with increased viral pathogenicity. The emergence of heavily mutated Omicron (B.1.1.529) with spike protein mutations are known to mediate its higher transmissibility and immune escape that has brought newer challenges for global public health to contain SARS-CoV-2 infection. One has to come up with a therapeutic strategy against the virus so as to effectively contain the infection and spread. Natural phytochemicals are being considered a significant source of bioactive compounds possessing an antiviral therapeutic potential. Being a promising anticancer and chemo-preventive agent, Silybin holds a significant potential to be used as a therapeutic. In the present study, molecular docking of Silybin with Omicron spike protein (7QNW) was carried out. Molecular docking results showed greater stability of Silybin in the active site of the Omicron spike protein with suitable binding mode of interactions. The study reveals that Silybin has the potential to block the host ACE2 receptor-viral spike protein binding; thereby inhibiting the viral entry to human cells. Therefore, Silybin may be further developed as a medication with the ability to effectively combat SARS-CoV-2 Omicron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based essential oils are hydrophobic, volatile concentrate extracted from aromatic plants. They are the upcoming alternative and appealing source of antimicrobial compounds, citral (major constituent of lemongrass oil) being one of them, whose antiquorum sensing, in vivo delivery, and insecticidal potential need further exploration. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most prevalent, clinically lethal pathogens, which is resistible toward various treatments because of the inherent resistance acquired by the organism to many classes of drugs (multidrug resistant (MDR)). Moreover, fruit flies have been considered as the vectors of potentially lethal and opportunistic pathogens, including multiantibiotic-resistant microbes. As a result, controlling both the pathogen and its host vector are of utmost importance. The present study focused on the efficacy of essential oil of citral (EOC) and its nanoencapsulated form on quorum sensing inhibition (QSI) of P. aeruginosa PAO1 and its insecticidal activity against Drosophila melanogaster. Chitosan-based citral nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Citral nanoparticles at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) exhibited QSI potential by attenuating biofilm formation (p-value < 0.05), while insecticidal activity of citral tested against D. melanogaster demonstrated toxicity of the EOC at a concentration of 3%–5%. Hence, the results elucidated the prospects of citral nanoparticles in the delivery of citral, which can be applied as a strategy to specifically target clinically lethal pathogens, major insect pests, and associated microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free Space Optics (FSO) is one the most in-demand technology, and is used indoors, on the ground, in space, and even underwater. It is used to broaden communication access to places where bandwidth is insufficient or where difficult topography prevents the use of cable communications. One of the foremost communication challenges that contribute to the degradation of FSO performance is the environmental condition. Hilly regions experience heavy rainfall and have rough terrain which may demean the FSO link communication. In this work, for real-time rain rate analysis of the Meghalaya region two unique rain attenuation models are investigated for monsoon months from the years 2014 to 2020. Considering Marshall and Palmer's model and by employing 8, 16 and 32-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) schemes, radio-over-free space optical (RoFSO) system has been evaluated by varying FSO channel range, power and bit rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free space optics (FSO) is considered as one of the emerging technologies in wireless communication system. In this work, real time data analysis of fog weather condition has been performed for hilly regions of north west region (Nainital, Uttarakhand) and north east region (Imphal, Manipur) of India. Different models have been considered for calculation of fog attenuation considering two specific months (January and February) for six consecutive years from 2016 to 2021. Quality of received signal has been analysed in terms of internal system parameters of an FSO link by incorporating amplitude shift keying, phase shift keying and duobinary return-to-zero modulation techniques at a data rate and transmission wavelength of 40 Gbps and 1550 nm respectively. It has been studied that PSK modulation scheme performs better as compared to other modulation techniques and received signal quality deteriorates below an unacceptable value in case of fog beyond the propagation range of 9000 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parents of children suffering from the Tetralogy of Fallot have to face many challenges in fulfilling the unique care needs of these children. An adequate support system may help these parents to cope well with the hardship. Objective: To explore the support systems of the parents caring for the children suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot. Material and method: A phenomenological study was conducted between October-December 2020 on lived experiences of the parents of children suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot. Using an interview guide, in-depth interviews were conducted among 24 parents till the data saturation was achieved. Colaizzi's steps were used to analyze the data. Result: While exploring the support systems of the parents caring for children suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot, various themes generated were: 1) Spouse support; 2) Family support; 3) Faith and spirituality; 4) Professional support and trust; 5) Support from parents of operated children; 6) Financial support; 7) Informal social support. Conclusion: Rearing and caring for a child suffering from a congenital heart disorder such as TOF is a big challenging task for the parents. Adequate support should be provided to these parents, which can help them to feel supported for successful coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide that is particularly refractory to chemotherapy. Several studies have proposed combination chemotherapy regimen for HCC treatment. However, these therapies are not effective in regressing tumor and prolonging survival of patient's suffering from HCC. Therefore, the development of more effective therapeutic tools and new strategies for the treatment of HCC are urgently needed. Over the last decade much attention has been focused on "bystander effect" as a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of certain human tumors. Interest in this therapeutic approach originated from numerous reports describing the radiation induced bystander effect. However, the knowledge about chemotherapy induced bystander effect is still limited. Hence, chemotherapy induced bystander phenomenon in hepatoma cells was explored by utilizing Mitomycin C (MMC). Results MMC induced bystander killing was observed only in hepatoma cells and it did not occur in cervical cancer cells. MMC induced bystander killing was transferable via medium. It occurred in co-cultured cells indicating the involvement of secreted as well as membrane bound factors. FasL and TRAIL were detected in the conditioned medium from treated cells. In medium transfer experiment, pre-treatment with EDTA (a broad range protease inhibitor) diminished MMC induced bystander killing. Following drug exposure, expression of Fas and TRAIL receptors increased and treatment with neutralizing antibodies against FasL and TRAIL inhibited bystander killing. Conclusion Our results highlight the therapeutic importance of MMC in the treatment of HCC and implicate role of membrane bound and secreted forms of FasL and TRAIL in MMC induced bystander killing.

Infant mortality is known to be one of the most sensitive and commonly used indicators for determining the socio-economic development of a country and therefore indirectly points towards the maternal child health. In this paper a cross-sectional survey of 100 mothers (age 15-49 years) was done to determine the socio-demographic factors affecting them and hence their infants' survival in rural Bundelkhand region of U.P. The paper focused on educational status of mother, her socio-economic status, knowledge on childcare practices, family income and influence of distance of healthcare centres from the place of living. Among all the determinants of infant mortality selected in the model study, education of the mother and the socio-economic status (including sanitation and clean drinking water) of her household played an important role in determining the survival status of the infant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition‐metal free base‐mediated reductive coupling of indole‐3‐tosylhydrazone with thiols/boronic acids to afford biologically important 3‐(phenylthio)methyl/benzyl indole derivatives has been developed. A number of advantages such as low cost, broad substrates scope and operational simplicity make it a potential method for the synthesis of 3‐ phenylthiomethyl/benzyl indole derivatives. Further, six derivatives were selected based on their electronic effects to study the photophysical properties in different solvents. The studied compounds exhibited strong solvatochromic shift and faces solvent dependent polarity in UV‐Visible absorption as well as in fluorescence emission techniques. In addition, one derivative having –CN functionality exhibited most astonishing observation in fluorescence such as significant bathochromic shifting in the emission peak position as well as enhancing the fluorescence quantum yield in CH3CN compared to water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Aanchal. Sharma, Charu. Mahajan, Girija. Rath, Sarita. Mohapatra, Uma. Padhy, Lokesh. Kumar Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a common helminthic infestation in developing countries, may cause acquired epilepsy and neurological morbidities. Acute [...]

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) refurbishes the infected erythrocytes by exporting a myriad of parasite proteins to the host cell. A novel exported protein family 'Plasmodium Helical Interspersed Subtelomeric' (PHIST) has gained attention for its significant roles in parasite biology. Here, we have collected and analysed available information on PHIST members to enhance understanding of their functions, varied localization and structure-function correlation. Functional diversity of PHIST proteins is highlighted by their involvement in PfEMP1 (Pf erythrocyte membrane protein 1) expression, trafficking and switching. This family also contributes to cytoadherence, gametocytogenesis, host cell modification and generation of extracellular vesicles. While the PHIST domain forms the hallmark of this family, existence and functions of additional domains (LyMP, TIGR01639) and the MEC motif underscores its diversity further. Since specific PHIST proteins seem to form pairs with PfEMP1 members, we have used in silico tools to predict such potential partners in Pf. This information and our analysis of structural data on a PHIST member provide important insights into their functioning. This review overall enables readers to view the PHIST family comprehensively, while highlighting key knowledge gaps in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various histopathological variants of oral squamous cell carcinoma, clear cell variant is a rarity. (1) This report is a compilation of two cases which showed the presence of clear cells. The clear cells were of koilocytic type. Although clear cell variant of squamous cell carcinoma is more common in skin, few cases have been found in oral region also. (2) This variant is considered more aggressive than the others, and hence requires more aggressive treatment protocol. Being rare, the percentage of clear cells determines whether it should be considered as a clear cell variant. The literature has been evaluated for similar cases, and discussed about the clear cells and their origin. An effort has also been made to compile the reported cases of clear cell variant of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]