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The formation of chemical patterns is in general difficult to control due to the random diffusive motions of the reacting chemical species in solution. In this paper, we present a new method using audible sound to control the formation of chemical patterns obtained in blue bottle experiments. The waves generated on the surface of the solution by applying audible sound result in the nonuniform dissolution of atmospheric gases such as oxygen at the nodal and antinodal positions. On the basis of this phenomenon, the shapes of the patterns could be tuned according to the characteristics of the applied sound input, such as frequency and amplitude. This is an easy way for students to follow and control redox-responsive and pH-responsive chemical reactions in solution. The experiments involve chemicals that are mostly nontoxic and are easy to demonstrate since they involve common electronic gadgets (e.g., smartphones, Bluetooth speakers, etc.). These experiments provide interesting demonstration activities as well as a new understanding of utilizing audible sound for controlling chemical reactions.

This paper presents a novel approach to designing beam codebooks for downlink multiuser hybrid multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems, leveraging multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL). The primary objective is to develop an environment-specific beam codebook composed of non-interfering beams, learned by cooperative agents within the MARL framework. Machine learning (ML)-based beam codebook design for downlink communications have been based on channel state information (CSI) feedback or only reference signal received power (RSRP), consisting of an offline training and user clustering phase. In massive MIMO, the full CSI feedback data is of large size and is resource-intensive to process, making it challenging to implement efficiently. RSRP alone for a stand-alone base station is not a good marker of the position of a receiver. Hence, in this work, uplink CSI estimated at the base station along with feedback of RSRP and binary acknowledgment of the accuracy of received data is utilized to design the beamforming codebook at the base station. Simulations using sub-array antenna and ray-tracing channel demonstrate the proposed system’s ability to learn topography-aware beam codebook for arbitrary beams serving multiple user groups simultaneously. The proposed method extends beyond mono-lobe and fixed beam architectures by dynamically adapting arbitrary shaped beams to avoid inter-beam interference, enhancing the overall system performance. This work leverages MARL’s potential in creating efficient beam codebooks for hybrid MIMO systems, paving the way for enhanced multiuser communication in future wireless networks.

Abstract Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) regulate neurotransmitters, and changes in their regulation lead to neurogenerative diseases (NDs). Therefore, MAO inhibitors are used to treat NDs. Ferulic acid, a phenolic compound found in various plant species, has been demonstrated to have a variety of biological functions, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, ten ferulic acid hydrazide derivatives (FA1–FA10) were synthesized, and their ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes was tested. Six candidates demonstrated a more pronounced pattern of inhibitory action against MAO-B than against MAO-A. FA3 had the highest inhibitory efficacy in MAO-B inhibition (IC50 value of 1.88 μM), followed by FA9 (2.08 μM). FA3 has a Ki of 1.92 ± 0.73 μM. A reversibility experiment of MAO-B inhibition by FA3 was conducted using dialysis, and the recovery pattern showed FA3 was a reversible MAO-B inhibitor with a similar recovery to safinamide, a reversible reference inhibitor. These results indicate that FA3 is an effective reversible MAO-B inhibitor. In molecular dynamics and docking, FA3 paired with pi-pi stacking helped stabilize the protein ligand in the active site of MAO-B. According to this study, lead compounds can be used as therapeutic agents to treat neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD).

Leaf volatile oil compositions of five Citrus species viz., Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus limon, Citrus maxima, Citrus medica and Citrus medica * Citrus limon were examined in this study by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionisation Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and percentage volatile compositions were compared. Thirty-eight compounds were identified that account for 90 to 99 % of essential oil composition from Citrus species, respectively. GC–MS profiling of essential oils revealed that Citrus leaf oils were predominantly characterized by limonene (15.76±0.01% to 29.36±0.46%) as one of the major constituents. Monoterpenoids (77.38±0.19% to 98.05±0.05%) are the prominent class of constituents present in the volatile oils of four Citrus plants under study whereas in one species (C. maxima), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38.97±0.21%) were the dominant category. The data from GC analyses were subjected to correlation study to analyse the correlation between the volatile constituents among the selected Citrus species. These essential oils were initially evaluated for their antioxidant capacity and the leaf oils exhibited promising radical scavenging property with an average IC50 value of 29.15±0.01 μg/mL. This study was further designed to evaluate antimicrobial efficacy of five Citrus leaf essential oils against various pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Four examined essential oils gave a comparative antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value against tested bacterial strains ranging from 3.62±0.02mg/mLto 60.0±0.32mg/mL. Citrus leaf oils were found to be more sensitive to Escherichia coli with MIC values ranged between 3.62±0.03 to 10.15±0.02 mg/mL. These essential oils also exhibited strong inhibitory potential against tested fungal strains, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans, with MIC ranging from 3.22±0.02 to 28.17±0.04 mg/mL. Out of the five essential oils screened in this study, four of them have shown significant antimicrobial and antioxidant activities which can be attributed to synergistic potential of major monoterpenoid constituents present in these oils viz., geranial, neral, citronellal, nerol, geraniol, geranyl formate rather than the sesquiterpene dominated essential oil. Based on the findings obtained and conclusions derived, it is evident that the selected Citrus leaf essential oils are promising natural agents to fight free radical damage and antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Rate dispersion is commonly observed when measuring relaxation in complex media such as solution of a protein. Its origin is often associated to molecular heterogeneity in the system. However, interpretation of rate dispersion is not straightforward, and it can be exhibited by both heterogeneous (all molecules are different) and homogeneous (all molecules are identical) systems. Here, we report two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis of intensity fluctuations originating from translational diffusion-lead fluctuations in number of particles simulated in an observation volume resembling fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiment. Translational diffusion of particles representing a protein having two different conformations are simulated. Homogeneous and heterogeneous systems are simulated to have similar one-dimensional (1D) autocorrelation curves with comparable extent of rate dispersion, α ∼ 0.8. Time slices of 2D autocorrelation curves and rate-rate spectra obtained from them clearly demonstrate that similar extent of rate dispersion observed in 1D autocorrelation can originate from both heterogeneous and homogeneous systems. We establish that one-dimensional analysis only reports on the extent of rate dispersion. Two-dimensional analysis reports on the origin of rate dispersion and distinguishes heterogeneous from homogeneous.

Abstract Memristors for neuromorphic computing have gained prominence over the years for implementing synapses and neurons due to their nano-scale footprint and reduced complexity. Several demonstrations show two-dimensional (2D) materials as a promising platform for the realization of transparent, flexible, ultra-thin memristive synapses. However, unsupervised learning in a spiking neural network (SNN) facilitated by linearity and symmetry in synaptic weight update has not been explored thoroughly using the 2D materials platform. Here, we demonstrate that graphene/MoS2/SiOx/Ni synapses exhibit ideal linearity and symmetry when subjected to identical input pulses, which is essential for their role in online training of neural networks. The linearity in weight update holds for a range of pulse width, amplitude and number of applied pulses. Our work illustrates that the mechanism of switching in MoS2-based synapses is through conductive filaments governed by Poole-Frenkel emission. We demonstrate that the graphene/MoS2/SiOx/Ni synapses, when integrated with a MoS2-based leaky integrate-and-fire neuron, can control the spiking of the neuron efficiently. This work establishes 2D MoS2 as a viable platform for all-memristive SNNs.

G-quadruplex-forming nucleic acids have evolved to have applications in biology, drug design, sensing, and nanotechnology, to name a few. Together with the structural understanding, several attempts have been made to discover and design new classes of chemical agents that target these structures in the hope of using them as future therapeutics. Here, we report the binding of aminoglycosides, in particular neomycin, to parallel G-quadruplexes that exist as G-quadruplex monomers, dimers, or compounds that have the propensity to form dimeric G-quadruplex structures. Using a combination of calorimetric and spectroscopic studies, we show that neomycin binds to the parallel G-quadruplex with affinities in the range of Ka ∼ 105–108 M-1, which depends on the base composition, ability to form dimeric G-quadruplex structures, salt, and pH of the buffer used. At pH 7.0, the binding of neomycin was found to be electrostatically driven potentially through the formation of ion pairs formed with the quadruplex. Lowering the pH resulted in neomycin’s association constants in the range of Ka ∼ 106–107 M-1 in a salt dependent manner. Circular dichroism (CD) studies showed that neomycin’s binding does not cause a change in the parallel conformation of the G-quadruplex, yet some binding-induced changes in the intensity of the CD signals were seen. A comparative binding study of neomycin and paromomycin using d(UG4T) showed paromomycin binding to be much weaker than neomycin, highlighting the importance of ring I in the recognition process. In toto, our results expanded the binding landscape of aminoglycosides where parallel G-quadruplexes have been discovered as one of the high-affinity sites. These results may offer a new understanding of some of the undesirable functions of aminoglycosides and help in the design of aminoglycoside-based G-quadruplex binders of high affinity.

Euphorbia spp., are the widely distributed and traditionally used herbal plants due to their diverse biological activities. The aim of this study was comparative extraction of secondary metabolites with different solvents like acetone, ethanol, methanol and water and assessment of their biological activities from Euphorbia hirta L. Plant extracts from dried powder were prepared in different solvents. Phytochemicals like: phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins were estimated using standard assays. GC-FID studies were conducted to find out the presence of various bioactive compounds. Fingerprint analysis using UV, FT-IR and fluorescent spectroscopy was also conducted. Antioxidant activities using various assays, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of extracts were evaluated. Fingerprint analysis using, UV-, FT-IR and fluorescent spectroscopy specified the occurrence of adequate level of polyphenolics in all solvent extracts. Amongst all solvents acetone gave higher yield of polyphenolics in-toto. GC-FID analysis of acetone extracts depicted the presence of bioactive compounds like major 1-naphthalenepropanol. All extracts depicted enough level of antioxidant activities viz: DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, iron chelating and lipid peroxidation, but in a solvent dependent manner. Adequate anti-diabetic activity and anti-inflammatory activities were also observed in extracts. The results specified that by using suitable solvents bioactive compounds from Euphorbia species can be extracted and used as therapeutic agents having potential biological activities.

Bike sharing systems have become a sustainable alternative to motorized private transport in urban areas. However, users often face high costs and availability issues due to the operational effort required to redistribute bicycles between stations. For addressing those issues, the AuRa (Autonomes Rad, Eng. Autonomous Bicycle) project introduces a new mobility offer in terms of an on-demand, shared-use, self-driving cargo bikes service (OSABS) that enables automated redistribution. Within the project, we develop different order management and rebalancing strategies and validate them using simulation models. One prerequisite for this is sound demand scenarios. However, due to the novelty of OSABS, there is currently no information about its utilization. Consequently, the objective of this study was to develop an approach for defining OSABS demand scenarios in a temporally and spatially disaggregated manner as an input for simulation models. Therefore, we first derived city-wide usage potentials of OSABS from a survey on mobility needs. We then spatially and temporally disaggregated the determined usage likelihood using travel demand matrices and usage patterns from a conventional bike-sharing system, respectively. Finally, we performed cluster analyses on the resulting annual demand to summarize sections of the yearly profile into representative units and thus reduce the simulation effort. As we applied this approach as a case study to the city of Magdeburg, Germany, we could show that our methodology enables the determination of reasonable OSABS demand scenarios from scratch. Furthermore, we were able to show that annual usage patterns of (conventional) bike sharing systems can be modeled by using demand data for only eight representative weeks.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with a mutation in the PRKN (Parkin RBR E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase). PRKN functions as maintaining dopamine (DA) neuronal homeostasis and homeostasis dysfunction, which play an important role in early PD onset. The main objective behind this work is to identify PRKN deleterious single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) by computational analysis and implement molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) to study the structural and functional properties of native and mutant proteins. We found A46T, I23T, C212Y, D243N, E28G, G359D, P37L, Q34R, R256C, R275W, R366W, and R402C as the most delirious and disease-linked by using different bioinformatics tools such as ANNOVAR (SIFT & POLYPHEN2) annotation, SNPs & GO, PROVEAN, and I-Mutant3.0. To understand protein functionality and atomic arrangement in 3-D space, the comparative modeling of native and mutant PRKN protein (A46T, I23T, C212Y, D243N, E28G, G359D, P37L, Q34R, R256C, R275W, R366W, and R402C) was performed with standalone MODELLER 9.15 program. Finally, MDS analysis was done by using the GROMACS 5.1.5 comprehensive package to study the structural stability and dynamic perturbations in native and mutant PRKN proteins. MDS analysis shows more flexibility in native structures in comparison to mutant structures. Mutant structures show structural perturbation and result in loss of PRKN protein function. The findings of this study might assist wet-lab studies to create effective pharmacological treatments against PD targeting PRKN.

Methionine adenosyl transferases (MATs) catalyze the synthesis of the biological methyl donor adenosylmethionine (SAM). Dysregulation of MATs has been associated with carcinogenesis in humans. We previously found that downregulation of the MAT1A gene enriches the protein-associated translation process and worsens liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) prognosis. We also discovered that subcellular localization of the MAT2A protein has independently prognostic relevance in breast cancer patients. The present study aimed to examined the clinical relevance of MAT2A translocation in human LIHC. Essential methionine cycle gene expressions in TCGA LIHC datasets were analyzed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2). The protein expression pattern of MAT2A was determined in the tissue array of our own LIHC cohort (n = 261) using immuno-histochemistry, and the prognostic relevance of MAT2A protein’s subcellular localization expression was examined using Kaplan–Meier survival curves. LIHC patients with higher MAT2A mRNA expression had a worse survival rate (p = 0.0083). MAT2A protein immunoreactivity was observed in both cytoplasm and nucleus fractions in the tissue array. Tumor tissues had elevated MAT2A protein expression in both cytoplasm and nucleus compared to their adjacent normal tissues. A higher cytoplasmic to nuclear MAT2A protein expression ratio (C/N) was found in female LIHC patients compared to that of male patients (p = 0.047). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that a lower MAT2A C/N correlated with poor overall survival in female LIHC patients (10-year survival rate: 29.2% vs. 68.8%, C/N ≤ 1.0 vs. C/N > 1.0, log-rank p = 0.004). Moreover, we found that specificity protein 1 (SP1) may have a potential interaction with nuclear MAT2A protein, using protein–protein interaction; this we found using the GeneMANIA algorithm. We explored the possible protective effects of the estrogen axis in LIHC using the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and found evidence supporting a possible protective effect of estrogen-related protein ESSRG in LIHC. The localization of SP1 and MAT2 appeared to be inversely associated with ESRRG expression in LIHC. The present study demonstrated the translocation of MAT2A and its prognostic relevance in female LIHC patients. Our findings suggest the potential of estrogen in SP1 regulation and localization of MAT2A, as therapeutic modalities against in female LIHC patients.

Eucalyptus globules is an widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been widely used as folk medicine, and folk cosmetic owing to its antioxidant values. Despite its importance, phytochemical and pharmacological studies remain infancy. This study was aimed at extraction of essential oil by steam-distillation and evaluation of bioactive components, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities along with analysis by UV-VIS, FT-IR and Fluorescent techniques. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to confirm the presence of polyphenols. Different antioxidant activities like DPPH., ABTS.+, .OH, superoxide, nitric oxide and reducing power of the essential oil. Essential oil was analyzed by UV-VIS, FT-IR and Fluorescent techniques. In vitro antimicrobial activity was also monitored. FT-IR fingerprint qualitative analysis was performed using commercial standards. Considerable amount of flavonoids were detected in essential oil. Oil exhibited considerable scavenging activities of ABTS.+, .OH, superoxide, nitric oxide and reducing power. UV-VIS, FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of polyphenolics in essential oil. Fluorescent spectroscopy revealed the presence of fluorophores in essential oil. FPLC and FT-IR fingerprint analysis revealed the presence of bioactive constituents like rutin, tannic acid, vanillic acid and ascorbic acid in the essential oil. A strong anti-inflammatory activity of oil was observed using fluorescent spectroscopy. An appreciable in vitro antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria like Acetobacter aceti and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected. The data provides the scientific support to the use of essential oil from Eucalyptus globules as a potent herbal source of bioactive compounds possessing natural antioxidant activities in food and pharmaceutical industries.

The aim of this study is to investigate the electrochemical corrosion behavior of Al-Si automotive alloys with different levels of Si doping in 0.1 M NaCl solution at room temperature. The study was performed by electrochemical method, using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The condition of surfaces was characterized by both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Both the EIS and Tafel analyses revealed that the corrosion resistance was improved with the addition of Si up to the eutectic point due to the formation of protective oxide films. The higher Si added alloys showed lower values of current density, while the corrosion potential was shifted to a more positive direction. For higher Si added alloys, a higher amount of Mg2Si was formed as precipitates, which tend to form oxides such as SiO2 and MgO, further protecting the surfaces from corrosion. It can be observed from the micrographs that the scratches from polishing are removed after corrosion. Additionally, the SEM images reveal that corroded surfaces appear to have pits that are less noticeable in alloys with a greater Si content, suggesting thus the formation of a protective layer of oxides.

Real-time breath analysis by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a promising method to noninvasively retrieve relevant biochemical information. In this work, we conducted a head-to-head comparison of two ionization techniques: Secondary electrospray ionization (SESI) and plasma ionization (PI), for the analysis of exhaled breath. Two commercially available SESI and PI sources were coupled to the same HRMS device to analyze breath of two healthy individuals in a longitudinal study. We analyzed 58 breath specimens in both platforms, leading to 2,209 and 2,296 features detected by SESI-HRMS and by PI-HRMS, respectively. 60% of all the mass spectral features were detected in both platforms. However, remarkable differences were noted in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), whereby the median (interquartile range, IQR) S/N ratio for SESI-HRMS was 115 (IQR = 408), whereas for PI-HRMS it was 5 (IQR = 5). Differences in the mass spectral profiles for the same samples make the inter-comparability of both techniques problematic. Overall, we conclude that both techniques are excellent for real-time breath analysis because of the very rich mass spectral fingerprints. However, further work is needed to fully understand the exact metabolic insights one can gather using each of these platforms.

Traditional herbal medicines have been consumed in Nepal and other parts of the eastern hemisphere since ancient times. Many of these plants reportedly have been effective against ailments as well. This study aims to analyze the phytochemical constituents from the extracts of ten such plants and evaluate their antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, and antioxidant properties. In addition, the study aims to study the correlation of cytotoxicity and antioxidant activities with the total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin contents. The plants investigated were Oroxylum indicum, Kalanchoe pinnata, Phragmites vallatoria, Ehretia acuminata, Cirsium wallichii, Ampelocissus tomentosa, Dichrocephala integrifolia, Boenninghausenia albiflora, Cynoglossum zeylanicum, and Clerodendrum serratum. Phytochemical analyses were performed to evaluate secondary metabolites, such as glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, alkaloids, and fats. The total phenolic contents of the extracts ranged from 14.94 to 229.89 mg GAE/g, the total flavonoid contents varied from 66.67 to 900 mg QE/g, and the total tannin contents were 42 to 168 mg GAE/g. The results of the antioxidant studies showed that the highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by the extract of A. tomentosa (IC50 = 7.89 µg/mL) followed by E. acuminata (IC50 = 24.82 µg/mL) and C. serratum (IC50 = 32.91 µg/mL). The extracts from P. vallatoria and A. tomentosa exhibited substantial antimicrobial activity. The extracts of A. tomentosa and B. albiflora showed lethality against brine shrimp with LC50 values of 33.11 µg/mL.

Protein synthesis is tightly regulated by both gene-specific and global mechanisms to match the metabolic and proliferative demands of the cell. While the regulation of global protein synthesis in response to mitogen or stress signals is relatively well understood in multiple experimental systems, how different cell types fine-tune their basal protein synthesis rate is not known. In a previous study, we showed that resting B and T lymphocytes exhibit dramatic differences in their metabolic profile, with implications for their post-activation function. Here, we show that resting B cells, despite being quiescent, exhibit increased protein synthesis in vivo as well as ex vivo. The increased protein synthesis in B cells is driven by mTORC1, which exhibits an intermediate level of activation in these cells when compared with resting T cells and activated B cells. A comparative analysis of the transcriptome and translatome of these cells indicates that the genes encoding the MHC Class II molecules and their chaperone CD74 are highly translated in B cells. These data suggest that the translatome of B cells shows enrichment for genes associated with antigen processing and presentation. Even though the B cells exhibit higher mTORC1 levels, they prevent the translational activation of TOP mRNAs, which are mostly constituted by ribosomal proteins and other translation factors, by upregulating 4EBP1 levels. This mechanism may keep the protein synthesis machinery under check while enabling higher levels of translation in B cells.

Fruit size is an important fruit quality trait that influences the production and commodity values of loquats (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). The Small Auxin Upregulated RNA (SAUR) gene family has proven to play a vital role in the fruit development of many plant species. However, it has not been comprehensively studied in a genome-wide manner in loquats, and its role in regulating fruit size remains unknown. In this study, we identified 95 EjSAUR genes in the loquat genome. Tandem duplication and segmental duplication contributed to the expansion of this gene family in loquats. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the SAURs from Arabidopsis, rice, and loquat into nine clusters. By analyzing the transcriptome profiles in different tissues and at different fruit developmental stages and comparing two sister lines with contrasting fruit sizes, as well as by functional predictions, a candidate gene (EjSAUR22) highly expressed in expanding fruits was selected for further functional investigation. A combination of Indoleacetic acid (IAA) treatment and virus-induced gene silencing revealed that EjSAUR22 was not only responsive to auxin, but also played a role in regulating cell size and fruit expansion. The findings from our study provide a solid foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling fruit size in loquats, and also provide potential targets for manipulation of fruit size to accelerate loquat breeding.

Predicting the stress levels of working professionals is one of the most time-consuming and difficult research topics of current day. As a result, estimating working professionals’ stress levels is critical in order to assist them in growing and developing professionally. Numerous machine learning and deep learning algorithms have been developed for this purpose in previous papers. They do, however, have some disadvantages, including increased design complexity, a high rate of misclassification, a high rate of errors, and decreased efficiency. To address these concerns, the purpose of this research is to forecast the stress levels of working professionals using a sophisticated deep learning model called the Deep Recurrent Neural Network (DRNN). The model proposed here comprises dataset preparation, feature extraction, optimal feature selection, and classification using DRNNs. Preprocessing the original dataset removes duplicate attributes and fills in missing values.

Grain legumes are a key food source for ensuring global food security and sustaining agriculture. However, grain legume production is challenged by growing disease incidence due to global climate change. Ascochyta blight (AB) is a major disease, causing substantial yield losses in grain legumes worldwide. Harnessing the untapped reserve of global grain legume germplasm, landraces, and crop wild relatives (CWRs) could help minimize yield losses caused by AB infection in grain legumes. Several genetic determinants controlling AB resistance in various grain legumes have been identified following classical genetic and conventional breeding approaches. However, the advent of molecular markers, biparental quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies, genomic resources developed from various genome sequence assemblies, and whole-genome resequencing of global germplasm has revealed AB-resistant gene(s)/QTL/genomic regions/haplotypes on various linkage groups. These genomics resources allow plant breeders to embrace genomics-assisted selection for developing/transferring AB-resistant genomic regions to elite cultivars with great precision. Likewise, advances in functional genomics, especially transcriptomics and proteomics, have assisted in discovering possible candidate gene(s) and proteins and the underlying molecular mechanisms of AB resistance in various grain legumes. We discuss how emerging cutting-edge next-generation breeding tools, such as rapid generation advancement, field-based high-throughput phenotyping tools, genomic selection, and CRISPR/Cas9, could be used for fast-tracking AB-resistant grain legumes to meet the increasing demand for grain legume-based protein diets and thus ensuring global food security.

G-quadruplexes have been characterized as structures of vital importance in the cellular functioning of several life forms. They have subsequently been established to serve as a therapeutic target of several diseases including cancer, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. In this paper, we report the binding of aminosugar-intercalator conjugates with a well-studied anti-parallel G-quadruplex derived from Oxytricha Nova G-quadruplex DNA. Of the four neomycin-intercalator conjugates studied with varying surface areas, BQQ-neomycin conjugate displayed the best binding to this DNA G-quadruplex structure with an association constant of Ka = (1.01 ±0.03) × 107 M−1 which is nearly 100-fold higher than the binding of neomycin to this quadruplex. The binding of BQQ-neomycin displays a binding stoichiometry of 1:1 indicating the presence of a single and unique binding site for this G-quadruplex. In contrast, the BQQ-neomycin displays very weak binding to the bacterial A-site rRNA sequence showing that BQQ-does not enhance the neomycin binding to its natural target, the bacterial rRNA A-site. The BQQ-neomycin conjugate is prone to aggregation even at low micromolar concentrations (4 μM) leading to some ambiguities in the analysis of thermal denaturation profiles. Circular dichroism experiments showed that binding of BQQ-neomycin conjugate causes some structural changes in the quadruplex while still maintaining the overall anti-parallel structure. Finally, the molecular docking experiments suggest that molecular surface plays an important role in the recognition of a second site on the G-quadruplex. Overall, these results show that molecules with more than one binding moieties can be made to specifically recognize G-quadruplexes with high affinities. The dual binding molecules comprise of quadruplex groove binding and intercalator units, and the molecular surface of the intercalator plays an important part in enhancing binding interaction to the G-quadruplex structure.

A new series of mixed ligand complexes of Cd(II) and Mo(V) were successfully synthesized by refluxing the mixture solution of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC.HCl) with an aqueous and alcoholic solution of metal (M = Cd(II) and Mo(V)) salts and an alcoholic solution of salicylaldehyde (Sal). The complexes were characterized by modern analytical and spectral methods such as elemental microanalysis, pH, conductivity, surface tension, viscosity, melting point, and spectral methods such as FT-IR, NMR, electronic absorption, SEM, and mass spectrometry. Conductivity measurements of the complexes revealed their electrolytic nature. The kinetic and thermal stabilities were investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis techniques. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters such as E∗, ΔH∗, ΔS∗, and ΔG∗ were calculated from TG curves using the Coats–Redfern method. Geometry optimization of the proposed structure of the complexes was achieved by running MM2 calculations in a Gaussian-supported CS ChemOffice 3D Pro.12.0 version software. The final optimized geometrical energies for respective Cd-OTC/Sal and Mo-OTC/Sal complexes were found to be 923.1740 and 899.3184 kcal/mol. The electronic absorption spectral study revealed a tetrahedral geometry for the Cd-OTC/Sal complex and octahedral geometry for the Mo-OTC/Sal complex. The antibacterial sensitivity of the complexes was evaluated against three bacterial pathogens such as S. aureus, E. coli, and P. mirabilis using the modified Kirby–Bauer paper disc diffusion method. The antibacterial study revealed significant growth inhibitory action of the complexes.

Hydrogels from biopolymers are readily synthesized, can possess various characteristics for different applications, and have been widely used in biomedicine to help with patient treatments and outcomes. Polysaccharides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids can be produced into hydrogels, each for unique purposes depending on their qualities. Examples of polypeptide hydrogels include collagen, gelatin, and elastin, and polysaccharide hydrogels include alginate, cellulose, and glycosaminoglycan. Many different theories have been formulated to research hydrogels, which include Flory-Rehner theory, Rubber Elasticity Theory, and the calculation of porosity and pore size. All these theories take into consideration enthalpy, entropy, and other thermodynamic variables so that the structure and pore sizes of hydrogels can be formulated. Hydrogels can be fabricated in a straightforward process using a homogeneous mixture of different chemicals, depending on the intended purpose of the gel. Different types of hydrogels exist which include pH-sensitive gels, thermogels, electro-sensitive gels, and light-sensitive gels and each has its unique biomedical applications including structural capabilities, regenerative repair, or drug delivery. Major biopolymer-based hydrogels used for cell delivery include encapsulated skeletal muscle cells, osteochondral muscle cells, and stem cells being delivered to desired locations for tissue regeneration. Some examples of hydrogels used for drug and biomolecule delivery include insulin encapsulated hydrogels and hydrogels that encompass cancer drugs for desired controlled release. This review summarizes these newly developed biopolymer-based hydrogel materials that have been mainly made since 2015 and have shown to work and present more avenues for advanced medical applications.

Fluorescence-based single molecule techniques provide important tools towards understanding the molecular mechanism of complex neurodegenerative diseases. This requires efficient covalent attachment of fluorophores. Here we create a series of cysteine mutants (S8C, Y10C, S26C, V40C, and A42C) of Aβ42, involved in Alzheimer’s disease, based on exposed positions in the fibril structure and label them with the Alexa-fluorophores using maleimide chemistry. Direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy imaging shows that all the labelled mutants form fibrils that can be detected by virtue of Alexa fluorescence. Aggregation assays and cryo-electron micrographs establish that the careful choice of labelling position minimizes the perturbation of the aggregation process and fibril structure. Peptides labelled at the N-terminal region, S8C and Y10C, form fibrils independently and with wild-type. Peptides labelled at the fibril core surface, S26C, V40C and A42C, form fibrils only in mixture with wild-type peptide. This can be understood on the basis of a recent fibril model, in which S26, V40 and A42 are surface exposed in two out of four monomers per fibril plane. We provide a palette of fluorescently labelled Aβ42 peptides that can be used to gain understanding of the complex mechanisms of Aβ42 self-assembly and help to develop a more targeted approach to cure the disease.

Invasive fungal infections require a long treatment schedule; however, treatment has become more cumbersome due to the development of resistance. Most antifungal moieties show systemic toxicity upon oral administration, leading to delivery of antifungal moieties via a topical route. Eberconazole (EBZ) is a BCS class II drug that has poor solubility and high permeability. It is a broad-spectrum imidazole derivative, which acts as a both fungicidal and fungistatic drug by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis. Various topical creams of EBZ are available in the market, but the lack of a proper dosing schedule and rapid removal lead to poor bioavailability. Niosomes are vesicular carriers that can entrap both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Niosomal formulations have been prepared using Span20 (nonionic surfactant) and cholesterol by thin-film hydration (TFH) technique. During preformulation studies, the purity of EBZ was ascertained using FT-IR and melting point studies, while the standard calibration curve was prepared using UV-visible spectroscopy. The prepared niosomal formulations were characterized for their morphology, entrapment efficiency, particle size, and zeta potential. The formulation has shown 86 ± 0.85% entrapment efficiency, while the noisome appeared in a ring-like structure during its microscopic evaluation. Further evaluations of in vitro and in vivo release studies will be performed in the future for its efficacy and antifungal activity.

In the present work, we synthesized fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) through solvothermal treatment of Buchnania lanzan leaf extract at 160 °C for 4 h in an oven. Here, Buchnania lanzan leaves served as a renewable source of carbon. The obtained blackish brown CD solution was centrifuged, and the supernatant was filtered through a syringe filter (0.22 µm). Further, the CD solution was dried in a vacuum oven to obtain a powder. The synthesized CDs were characterized by different techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), zeta potential and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-prepared CD solution was found to be brownish colored in daylight while exhibiting green fluorescence under UV light. The UV–visible absorption spectrum displayed characteristic shoulder peaks of CDs at 257 nm and at 356 nm. In the fluorescence spectra, excitation-dependent emission behavior of the CDs was seen, which is one of the distinct characteristics of CDs. The negative zeta potential and characteristic peaks in FTIR suggested the presence of carbonyl, amine and hydroxyl functional groups on the CD surface. The XRD spectrum exhibited a broad peak at 2θ=19°, suggesting the amorphous nature of the CDs, similar to what has been reported in earlier works. As we synthesized surface-functionalized fluorescent carbon dots from a renewable and abundant precursor, this method can be highly useful in the large-scale synthesis of carbon dots with reduced costs and will find potential applications in the fields of drug delivery, bioimaging, etc.

Transformation electromagnetics/optics (TE/TO) has been shown to be a useful technique in designing electromagnetic devices with very unique properties. Here, the concepts of transformation optics for single elements is extended to an array of “pinwheel” shaped elements for the first time. Through full-wave finite element analysis (FEA), it is shown that a transformed “pinwheel” linear array can be designed to operate identically to a uniformly spaced linear dipole array. Thus, the “pinwheel” antenna array will maintain all the advantages of array processing of a simple dipole antenna array. The proposed method has applications in structurally integrated and conformal phased arrays for wireless communications, radars, and sensing where structural and mechanical constrains do not align with antenna performance.

The EBI2 receptor regulates the immune system and is expressed in various immune cells including B and T lymphocytes. It is also expressed in astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) where it regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine release, cell migration and protects from chemically induced demyelination. Its signaling and expression are implicated in various diseases including multiple sclerosis, where its expression is increased in infiltrating immune cells in the white matter lesions. Here, for the first time, the EBI2 protein in the CNS cells in the human brain was examined. The function of the receptor in MO3.13 oligodendrocytes, as well as its role in remyelination in organotypic cerebellar slices, were investigated. Human brain sections were co-stained for EBI2 receptor and various markers of CNS-specific cells and the human oligodendrocyte cell line MO3.13 was used to investigate changes in EBI2 expression and cellular migration. Organotypic cerebellar slices prepared from wild-type and cholesterol 25-hydroxylase knock-out mice were used to study remyelination following lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-induced demyelination. The data showed that EBI2 receptor is present in OPCs but not in myelinating oligodendrocytes in the human brain and that EBI2 expression is temporarily upregulated in maturing MO3.13 oligodendrocytes. Moreover, we show that migration of MO3.13 cells is directly regulated by EBI2 and that its signaling is necessary for remyelination in cerebellar slices post-LPC-induced demyelination. The work reported here provides new information on the expression and role of EBI2 in oligodendrocytes and myelination and provides new tools for modulation of oligodendrocyte biology and therapeutic approaches for demyelinating diseases.

The study deals with the application of Google Earth Engine (GEE), Landsat data and ensemble-learning methods (ELMs) to map land cover (LC) change over a decade in the Kaski district of Nepal. As Nepal has experienced extensive changes due to natural and anthropogenic activities, monitoring such changes are crucial for understanding relationships and interactions between social and natural phenomena and to promote better decision-making. The main novelty lies in applying the XGBoost classifier for LC mapping over Nepal and monitoring the decadal changes of LC using ELMs. To map the LC change, a yearly cloud-free composite Landsat image was selected for the year 2010 and 2020. Combining the annual normalized difference vegetation index, normalized difference built-up index and modified normalized difference water index, with elevation and slope data from shuttle radar topography mission, supervised classification was performed using a random forest and extreme gradient boosting ELMs. Post classification change detection, validation and accuracy assessment were executed after the preparation of the LC maps. Three evaluation indices, namely overall accuracy (OA), Kappa coefficient, and F1 score from confusion matrix reports, were calculated for all the points used for validation purposes. We have obtained an OA of 0.8792 and 0.875 for RF and 0.8926 and 0.8603 for XGBoost at the 95% confidence level for 2010 and 2020 LC maps, which are better for mountainous terrain. The applied methodology could be significant in utilizing the big earth observation data and overcoming the traditional computational challenges using GEE. In addition, the quantification of changes over time would be helpful for decision-makers to understand current environmental dynamics in the study area.

The paper proposes a novel process integration for biodiesel blend in the Membrane assisted Reactive Divided Wall Distillation (MRDW) column. Biodiesel is a green fuel and grade of biodiesel blend is B20 (%) which consist of 20% biodiesel and rest 80% commercial diesel. Instead of commercial diesel, Tertiary Amyl Ethyl Ether (TAEE) was used as an environment friendly fuel for blending biodiesel. Biodiesel and TAEE were synthesized in a pilot scale reactive distillation column. Dual reactive distillation and MRDW were simulated using aspen plus. B20 (%) limit calculation was performed using feed flow rates of both TAEE and biodiesel. MRDW was compared with dual reactive distillation column and it was observed that MRDW is comparatively cost effective and suitable in terms of improved heat integration and flow pattern.

In the present study, silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) were simultaneously determined in water samples of fresh water canal receiving untreated effluents from an industrial area, of Sindh Pakistan. The analytes in the water sample were determined by CPE using ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) as a complexing agent and then entrapped in non-ionic surfactant, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114). The surfactant rich phase was diluted with acidic ethanol prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The variables affecting the complexation and extraction steps such as pH of sample solution, concentration of oxine and Triton X-114, equilibration temperature and time period for shaking were investigated in detail. The validation of the procedure was carried out by analysis of a certified reference sample of water (CRM1634e). Reliability of the proposed method was also checked by the standard addition method in a real sample at three concentration levels of all metals. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration of 10 mL sample solutions, allowed preconcentration factor of 20-fold. The lower limit of detection obtained for Ag, Cd, Ni, Co and Pb was 0.42, 0.48, 0.92, 0.62, and 1.42 μg L−1, respectively. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to waste and fresh water samples for simultaneous determination of different metals. The concentration of Ag, Cd, Ni, Co and Pb has shown a decreased trend from 46.5–6.96, 23.0–8.92, 30.2–12.8, 14.2–4.45 and 15.3–5.32 μg L−1, respectively from initial entrance of waste water along the downstream of canal.

Calcium silicate-based bioactive glass has received significant attention for use in various biomedical applications due to its excellent bioactivity and biocompatibility. However, the bioactivity of calcium silicate nanoparticle-incorporated bioactive dental sealer is not much explored. Herein, three commercially available bioactive root canal sealers (Endoseal MTA (EDS), Well-Root ST (WST), and Nishika Canal Sealer BG (NBG)) were compared with a resin-based control sealer (AH Plus (AHP)) in terms of physical, chemical, and biological properties. EDS and NBG showed 200 to 400 nm and 100 to 200 nm nanoparticle incorporation in the SEM image, respectively, and WST and NBG showed mineral deposition in Hank’s balanced salt solution after 28 days. The flowability and film thickness of all products met the ISO 3107 standard. Water contact angle, linear dimensional changes, and calcium and silicate ion release were significantly different among groups. All bioactive root canal sealers released calcium ions, while NBG released ~10 times more silicon ions than the other bioactive root canal sealers. Under the cytocompatible extraction range, NBG showed prominent cytocompatibility, osteogenecity, and angiogenecity compared to other sealers in vitro. These results indicate that calcium silicate nanoparticle incorporation in dental sealers could be a potential strategy for dental periapical tissue regeneration.

Nanomaterials can enhance interactions with stem cells for tissue regeneration. This study aimed to investigate the biological effects of tricalcium silicate nanoparticle-containing cement (Biodentine™) during or after setting on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) to mimic clinically relevant situations in which materials are adapted. Specimens were divided into four groups depending on the start of extraction time (during (3, 6 and 12 min) or after setting (24 h)) and extracted in culture medium for 24 h for further physicochemical and biological analysis. After cell viability in serially diluted extracts was evaluated, odontogenic differentiation on SHED was evaluated by ARS staining using nontoxic conditions. A physicochemical analysis of extracts or specimens indicated different Ca ion content, pH, and surface chemistry among groups, supporting the possibility of different biological functionalities depending on the extraction starting conditions. Compared to the ‘after setting’ group, all ‘during setting’ groups showed cytotoxicity on SHED. The during setting groups induced more odontogenic differentiation at the nontoxic concentrations compared to the control. Thus, under clinically simulated extract conditions at nontoxic concentrations, Biodentine™ seemed to be a promising odontoblast differentiating biomaterial that is helpful for dental tissue regeneration. In addition, to simulate clinical situations when nanoparticle-containing cement is adjusted, biological effects during setting need to be considered.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterised by hypertension with proteinuria after 20 weeks of pregnancy in previously normotensive and non-proteinuric patients which may progress to seizures (eclampsia) and maternal and foetal death if emergency delivery is not performed. Environmental and nutritional factors may play a role in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia. Pregnant women in the developing countries consume diets with lesser amounts of essential minerals and vitamins. Among all, there exists an alteration in Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) metabolism during pregnancy which could be a potential factor causing pre-eclampsia. Aim: The present study was conducted to assess, compare and correlate serum total Ca, Mg and uric acid level in preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital based comparative cross-sectional study which was conducted from March 2016 to February 2017. Serum Ca, Mg and uric acid as estimated by Cobas c311 Auto analyser. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Mean Serum Ca and Mg was significantly lower in PE compared to normotensive pregnant women (8.69±1.59 mg/dL and 1.91±0.36 mg/dL versus 10.13±0.66 mg/dL and 2.08±0.12 mg/dL).Serum Uric acid and creatinine was raised in PE compared to the control women respectively. Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrates lower levels of serum total Ca and Mg in pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. Serum total Ca level was found decreasing with the severity of pre-eclampsia, though the finding was statistically insignificant.