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An arsenic-resistant bacteria (strain PKA 200) was isolated from the Hindon River (Ghaziabad) after analyzing its water sample. Strain PKA 200 belongs to the Pseudomonas genus and can convert harmful arsenite [As (III)] into less harmful arsenate [As(V)]. Strain PKA 200 exhibits a remarkable ability to sense and move towards arsenite. Strain PKA 200 is a promising candidate for studying how bacteria sense and transform arsenic. Here, we report a novel circular plate assay to demonstrate both chemotaxis and biotransformation of arsenite by Pseudomonas sp. PKA 200.

Abstract Background Fatty liver disease (FLD) is the common metabolic disease of liver with high worldwide prevalence. Nonalcoholic FLD may progress to acute hepatitis, chronic liver disease and even into hepatocellular carcinoma. Noninvasive parameters based on diagnostic imaging should be sought as the only diagnostic test available for this condition is liver biopsy. Objectives The objectives of this study are to correlate abdominal adiposity indicators, specifically visceral adipose tissue (VAT) thickness and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thickness, with body mass index (BMI) and fatty liver disease (FLD) grades using ultrasound, and to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the parameter "VAT thickness of 3 cm or above" in detecting hepatic steatosis. Method Total 100 patients were examined by ultrasound to evaluate VAT, SAT and FLD grades. All patients showing findings of steatotic liver were considered as cases and those showing normal liver findings were considered as controls. Correlation coefficient for VAT, SAT, BMI and FLD grades were calculated and p-value was derived. Sensitivity, Specificity, ROC curve and AUC value for parameter “VAT thickness 3 cm or above” was calculated. Results A total of 100 patients were examined including 33 males and 67 females. The mean age of patients was 42.34 ± 12.87 years. Mean VAT thicknesses was 3.69 ± 1.61 cm. The mean SAT thickness was 2.00 ± 0.86 cm. Mean BMI was 25.28 ± 5.13 kg/m2 (Overweight). Positive correlation of VAT and SAT measurements seen with BMI and FLD grades.” VAT thickness 3 cm or above”, to detect FLD has a good diagnostic ability with Sensitivity (95%), Specificity (96%), PPV (95%), NPV (96%) and area of curve value 0.8 to detect FLD. Conclusion The abdominal fat indicators were positively correlated with BMI and FLD grades. The parameter “VAT thickness 3 cm or above” has a good diagnostic efficacy to detect FLD and may be utilized as an alternative to liver biopsy.

Abstract The impact of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on the aggregation behavior of α-lactalbumin (α-LA) was studied at pH 7.4 and 2.0. Turbidity measurements showed a concentration-dependent aggregation of α-LA at pH 2.0 in the presence of SHMP, while no aggregation was observed at pH 7.4. Light scattering (LS) and Thioflavin-T (ThT) data revealed that the aggregation was rapid, following nucleation-independent pathways. In other kinetics experiments such as turbidity and ThT confirmed that SHMP-induced α-LA aggregation was dependent on SHMP concentration rather than incubation time. Once formed, the aggregates remained unchanged for up to five days. Intrinsic fluorescence studies indicated conformational changes in α-LA upon SHMP addition, and dye-binding assays with ThT and Congo Red demonstrated the formation of amyloid-like aggregates. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) data suggested a structural transition from α-helical to β-structures in α-LA in the presence of SHMP at pH 2.0. Molecular docking studies confirmed stronger interactions between α-LA and SHMP at pH 2.0 (ΔG = −6.2 kcal/mol) compared to pH 7.4 (ΔG = −5.3 kcal/mol), driven by electrostatic forces and hydrogen bonding. These results suggest that SHMP induces amyloid-like aggregation of α-LA, particularly at acidic pH.

Background Hospitalizations and surgical procedures are unpleasant for both children and their parents. Therefore, postoperative pain assessments and management are less commonly performed in younger children than in adults. Purpose To evaluate the effect of nonpharmacological interventions on postoperative pain and anxiety in children. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 160 children were randomly allocated to experimental (n=80) and control (n=80) groups. The children in the experimental group received age-appropriate distraction interventions for 3 postoperative days along with standard care. Children in the control group received standard care only. Each child was assessed for pain using EVENDOL pain scale, while their anxiety was measured using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale. The Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results The children in the experimental group showed significantly decreased pain, anxiety, and physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation) compared to those in the control group. Significant intergroup differences were noted in the mean and standard deviation values of the pain, anxiety, and physiological parameters. Conclusion The distraction interventions provided by nurses reduced the pain and anxiety levels and improved the postoperative recovery among children.

Abstract An investigation was carried out to evaluate the impact of pretreatments viz. wax coating, hot water dipping, and fungicide treatment on quality characteristics of kinnow. In the present study, a trial was conducted to extend the shelf life of kinnow fruits by maintaining the initial quality characteristics with three wax-to-water dilution ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3), hot water dipping at 56 °C with varying time (40, 60, 80 s) along with fungicide treatment at various concentration (150, 200, 250 ppm). Both treated and untreated (experimental control) samples were kept at refrigerated conditions (5–8 °C) and 90–95% RH for 60 days. The effect of the storage period on quality parameters was recorded regarding weight loss, TSS, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, and total color difference (TCD). The process parameters i.e. wax dilution, hot water dipping time, and fungicide concentration were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Optimized process parameters were 1:2.66 waxing dilution, 80 s hot water dipping time, and 250 ppm fungicide concentration. It could be concluded from the results that a combination of wax coating, hot water dipping, and fungicide treatment can help to prolong the storage period of kinnow up to 60 days with retained quality, as compared to 30 days in untreated control kinnow fruits when stored at 5–8 °C and 90–95% relative humidity.

Abstract Crop protection is heavily dependent on the use of chemical pesticides that are not only toxic but also detrimental to the environment. To minimize the chemical approaches of crop protection, this study investigates a natural protease inhibitor PCPI (Pleiogynium cerasiferum protease inhibitor) extracted from the seeds of Pleiogynium cerasiferum as a viable bioresource with biopesticidal properties. PCPI demonstrated inhibitory activity of 92% against bovine trypsin and 89% against Helicoverpa armigera's midgut proteolytic enzymes. Characterization of PCPI revealed a 24 kDa protein with critical inhibitory concentrations of 1.53 µg/ml for H. armigera midgut proteases and 1.31 µg/ml for bovine trypsin. At the concentration of 0.5% (w/w) of PCPI, the deformities in pupae were ~ 82%, adult insects ~ 87%, and egg-laying as well as egg hatching capacity dropped by ~ 81% and 17% respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA), complemented by hierarchical clustering, was applied to assess the nuanced effects of PCPI across the pest's lifecycle. The analysis identified deformities in pupae, adult, adult emergence, and notably, egg laying reduction as variables most responsive to PCPI concentrations. Hierarchical clustering analysis corroborated these PCA findings indicating a concentrated influence on developmental stages and reproduction metrics, signifying the multifaceted impact of PCPI. These insights affirm PCPI's promise as a cornerstone of eco-friendly pest management strategies.

Abstract Background Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is a rare inherited disorder of metabolism, which manifests early in life in classical forms. Recurrent illness and exertion aggravate neurotoxicity. This case highlights MSUD diagnosed in association with COVID-19 complications from Nepal. Case presentation We present a case of a 4-month-old child with a biochemical diagnosis of flared-up MSUD. Initially presenting with chief complaints of fever, noisy breathing, chest retraction, cough along with lethargy and poor feeding since the first week of life, the child also had developmental delay with feeble neck holding and absent social smile. The child was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and admitted in the Intensive Care Unit, requiring mechanical ventilation for 12 days. Despite the clinical resolution of pneumonia, the child had multiple episodes of generalized seizures and was sickly and frail. An incessant peculiar odor emanating from the child led to strong suspicion of metabolic disorder. Qualitative screening for amino acids (FeCl3 and 2,4-dinitrophenylhdrazine/DNPH) in urine and further gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed increased branched-chain amino acids(valine, leucine, and isoleucine). With dietary restrictions, the child was doing well. However, unfortunately, after 10 days of discharge, the child succumbed to death. Conclusions This case highlights the outpouring of hidden metabolic disorders with the onset of new diseases. It could have been detected and managed earlier with expedited neonatal screening and proper intervention.

Abstract Human motion classification is gaining more interest among researchers, and it is significant in various applications. Human motion classification and assessment play a significant role in health science and security. Technology-based human motion evaluation deploys motion sensors and infrared cameras for capturing essential portions of human motion and key facial elements. Nevertheless, the prime concern is providing effectual monitoring sensors amidst several stages with less privacy. To overcome this issue, we have developed a human motion categorization system called Deep Kronecker LeNet (DKLeNet), which uses a hybrid network.The system design of impulse radio Ultra-Wide Band (IR-UWB) through-wall radar (TWR) is devised, and the UWB radar acquires the signal. The acquired signal is passed through the gridding phase, and then the feature extraction unit is executed. A new module DKLeNet, which is tuned by Spotted Grey Wolf Optimizer (SGWO), wherein the layers of these networks are modified by applying the Fuzzy concept. In this model, the enhanced technique DKLeNet is unified by Deep Kronecker Network (DKN) and LeNet as well as the optimization modules SGWO is devised by Spotted Hyena Optimizer (SHO) and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The classified output of human motion is based on human walking, standing still, and empty. The analytic measures of DKLeNet_SGWO are Accuracy, True positive rate (TPR), True Negative rate (TNR), and Mean squared error (MSE) observed as 95.8%, 95.0%, 95.2%, and 38.5%, as well as the computational time observed less value in both training and testing data when compared to other modules with 4.099 min and 3.012 s.

Polyanion-based materials are considered one of the most attractive and promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their good stability, safety, cost-effectiveness, suitable voltages, and minimal environmental impact. However, these materials suffer from poor rate capability and low-temperature performance owing to limited electronic and ionic conductivity, which restricts their practical applicability. Recent developments, such as coating material particles with carbon or a conductive polymer, crystal deformation through the doping of foreign metal ions, and the production of nanostructured materials, have significantly enhanced the electrochemical performances of these materials. The successful applications of polyanion-based materials, especially in lithium-ion batteries, have been extensively reported. This comprehensive review discusses the current progress in crystal deformation in polyanion-based cathode materials, including phosphates, fluorophosphates, pyrophosphates, borates, silicates, sulfates, fluorosilicates, and oxalates. Therefore, this review provides detailed discussions on their synthesis strategies, electrochemical performance, and the doping of various ions.

Background: The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines may have raised public concerns about their safety and side effects in the United States (US). This study aimed to assess trends in online searches related to the safety and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines in the US from 2021-2022. Methods: Google COVID-19 Vaccination Search Insights was used to analyze searches about COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects in the US from January 4, 2021, to November 21, 2022 (98 weeks). Data were scaled from 0 (low interest) to 100 (high interest) as a fixed scaling factor called scaled normalized interest (SNI) to indicate relative search interest over time and by location. A joinpoint regression analysis was used to determine the search trends during the study period. Results: Analysis included 709 counties across 38 US states. Searches of COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects peaked in April 2021 in the District of Columbia (SNI: 35.8), Massachusetts (29.7), New Hampshire (27.4), Connecticut (27.3), and Maine (26.7), then decreased significantly by an average monthly percentage change (AMPC) of -16.6% (95% CI -19.9 to -13.3) until July 2022. Overall AMPC from January 2021 to November 2022 was -8.9% (95% CI -16.2 to -0.9; P