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Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the leading obstetric diseases with significant morbidity and mortality in both mother and foetus. The etiology of preeclampsia is unknown. It may result from several reasons with imbalance between angiogenic regulatory factors in maternal circulation as one of the factor. High circulatory levels of Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 (sFlt-1) are detectable several weeks before clinical presentation of preeclampsia. Aim: To determine association of serum levels of sFlt-1 with preeclampsia in second and third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care hospital (Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India), from November 2018 to March 2021. The study participants were divided into two groups i.e, normotensive (group 1) and preeclamptic (group 2). The enrollment of participants was done during second trimester. Serum sFlt-1 concentration was measured in second trimester (24-28 weeks) and in third trimester (beyond 28 weeks) using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) kits. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was done for evaluation of Area Under Curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity using software defined cut-off values. Results: Total 60 participants were there in each group with maternal mean age of 25.8±3.2 years in group 1 and 30.6±5.5 years in group 2 (p-value

Abstract Background Latent fingerprints are the unintentional impressions that are left at crime scenes, which are considered to be highly significant in forensic analysis and authenticity verification. It is an extremely crucial tool used by law enforcement and forensic agencies for the conviction of criminals. However, due to the accidental nature of these impressions, the quality of prints uplifted is generally inferior. Main body In order to improve the overall fingerprint recognition performance, there is an insistent need to design novel methods to improve the reliability and robustness of the existing techniques. Therefore, a systematic review is presented to study the existing methods for latent fingerprint acquisition, enhancement, reconstruction, and matching, along with various benchmark datasets available for research purposes. Conclusion The paper highlights multiple challenges and research gaps using comparative analysis of existing enhancement, reconstruction and matching approaches in order to augment the research in this direction that has become imperative in this digital era.

Abstract The dynamic synergy of genes and pathways in muscles in relation to age affects the muscle characteristics. Investigating the temporal changes in gene expression will help illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying muscle development. Here we report the gene expression changes in skeletal muscles through successive age groups in Bandur, a meat type sheep of India. RNA sequencing data was generated from the longissimus thoracis muscles from four age groups, ranging from lamb to adult. Analysis of 20 highest expressed genes common across the groups revealed muscle protein, phosphorylation, acetylation, metal binding and transport as significant functions. Maximum differentiation was observed after 2.5–3 years on transition from lambs to adult. Transcriptional regulation by the TFAP2 transcription factors, IL-6 signaling and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways were enriched in younger animals. The gene-protein network demarcated key interactive genes involved in muscle development and proliferation that can be used as candidates for future research on improvement of muscle characteristics.

A long-term experiment was conducted at research farm of department of Soil Science, PAU to investigate the impact of rice straw incorporation (0-10 t/ha/yr) and fertilizer N (0-150 kg N/ha) application on wheat yield and Zn fractions after 7 years (2010–17). The treatments were arranged in a split plot design with three replications, N (N0, N90, N120 and N150) in main plots and rice straw (RS0, RS5, RS7. 5 and RS10) in sub-plots. Zinc fractions were significantly increased with graded levels of RS incorporation. The greater part of total-Zn was present in residual form and only a minute part was present in readily available forms, i.e. WS+EX form. Regardless of the treatments, relative preponderance of these Zn fractions was: WS+EX Zn

The growth of agriculture led to indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and unsustainable crop management farming practices which can aggravate harmful impacts on the microbial population and physical and chemical characteristics of soil ecosystem. Based on this fact, the present study was planned to evaluate the effect of long run farming practices on different soil physico-chemical parameters and soil microbial abundance and diversity within different soil depth (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) at Quzhou Experimental Station of China Agricultural University, Hebei, China during October and December, 2016. The effect of farming practices on soil microbial abundance and diversity was studied by phospho-lipid fatty acid (PLFA) and DNA high-throughput sequencing methods. The findings revealed that soil is neutral to slightly alkaline in nature with highest water content under organic farming (ORF) at 0–20 cm and least under conventional farming at 20–40 cm depth. It was found that the ORF significantly increased the contents of total organic carbon (TOC), total carbon (TC), ammonium nitrogen, available nitrogen (AN), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (AP) followed by low input and conventional farming modes in both October and December soil samples. The correlation analysis showed significantly (at p ≤ 0.05 and 0.01) strong positive relationship within different physical and chemical properties of the soil under study. ANOVA and MANOVA analysis indicated significant effect of interaction between soil depth and farming modes on soil parameters. PCA analysis showed the most significant correlation between most of the bacterial types (G + bacteria, G− bacteria, actinomycetes) and soil AP, total available nitrogen, TOC and soil WC. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between microbial phylum groups (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Latescibacteria) and microbial class group (Alphaproteobacteria, Sphingobacteriia, Flavobacteriia) with most of the soil physicochemical properties.

Introduction With an increase in the number of total joint arthroplasties, the count of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) is also increasing and has become a nightmare for an orthopaedic surgeon. Microbiological diagnosis is important for administering definitive antimicrobial treatment. Negative culture reports hamper patient management and prolonged incubation periods have increased the culture yield but at the risk of culture contamination in conventional microbiology settings. Thus, we aimed to optimize the best incubation time for culture and the aerobic bacterial profile of PJIs. Material and Methods Over a year, samples from clinically suspected PJI patients were collected and processed for culture using standard techniques. The samples were incubated for up to 10 days with daily subculturing on to solid media. The bacterial isolates were identified and antibiotic susceptibility was performed. Results Out of 200 patients, 105 were included in the study and samples were collected in triplicate. In 70 cases culture was positive and 35 were culture negative PJIs. Mean incubation days to culture positivity was 3.6 days with 97.14% culture positivity seen by the seventh day of incubation. Twenty-four percent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and more than 50% extended spectrum β lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were isolated. Discussion Culture positivity in PJIs provides definitive evidence of infection and guides the treatment. Increasing the incubation times can help in maximizing the culture yield, and we found that 97.14% pathogens grew within 7 days of incubation. Prolonging it further would not provide an added advantage especially in a resource-constraint setting.

Introduction: Awake Fiberoptic Intubation (AFOI) is considered as the gold standard technique in patients with predicted and unpredicted difficult airway. It is best performed with the patient awake to maintain spontaneous ventilation. Dexmedetomidine has been successful in several clinical settings including AFOI due to its diverse actions like sedation, analgesia, anxiolysis, cardiovascular stabilising effect and preservation of respiratory function. Aim: To assess the efficacy of using dexmedetomidine intranasally with lidocaine in AFOI in comparison to using lidocaine alone in terms of haemodynamic stability, sedation, ease of intubation, patient’s satisfaction with the procedure and reduction in intraoperative propofol requirement. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical study was conducted on 100 patients of either gender aged between 18 to 60 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II scheduled for elective surgeries under general anaesthesia at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, India from February 2021 to November 2021. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 50 each namely group D (intranasal dexmedetomidine 2 mcg/kg+lidocaine 10%) and group L (intranasal lidocaine 10% alone). Maximum dose of 10% lidocaine was

Abstract Background In the last few decades, considerable attention has been paid to entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents, however little is known about their mode of action and safety. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of Aspergillus flavus in insect Spodoptera litura by analyzing the effect of fungal extract on antioxidant and cellular immune defense. In antioxidant defense, the lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde content) and antioxidant enzymes activities (Catalase, Ascorbate peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase) were examined. In cellular immune defense, effect of A. flavus extract was analyzed on haemocytes using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, mammalian toxicity was analyzed with respect to DNA damage induced in treated rat relative to control by comet assay using different tissues of rat (blood, liver, and kidney). Results Ethyl acetate extract of A. flavus was administrated to the larvae of S.litura using artificial diet method having concentration 1340.84 μg/ml (LC50 of fungus). The effect was observed using haemolymph of insect larvae for different time intervals (24, 48, 72 and 96). In particular, Malondialdehyde content and antioxidant enzymes activities were found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in treated larvae as compared to control. A. flavus ethyl acetate extract also exhibit negative impact on haemocytes having major role in cellular immune defense. Various deformities were observed in different haemocytes like cytoplasmic leakage and surface abnormalities etc. Genotoxicity on rat was assessed using different tissues of rat (blood, liver, and kidney) by comet assay. Non-significant effect of A. flavus extract was found in all the tissues (blood, liver, and kidney). Conclusions Overall the study provides important information regarding the oxidative stress causing potential and immunosuppressant nature of A. flavus against S. litura and its non toxicity to mammals (rat), mammals (rat), suggesting it an environment friendly pest management agent.

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous bacterium capable of colonising and persisting within food production environments (FPEs) for many years, even decades. This ability to colonise, survive and persist within the FPEs can result in food product cross-contamination, including vulnerable products such as ready to eat food items. Various environmental and genetic elements are purported to be involved, with the ability to form biofilms being an important factor. In this study we examined various mechanisms which can influence colonisation in FPEs. The ability of isolates (n = 52) to attach and grow in biofilm was assessed, distinguishing slower biofilm formers from isolates forming biofilm more rapidly. These isolates were further assessed to determine if growth rate, exopolymeric substance production and/or the agr signalling propeptide influenced these dynamics and could promote persistence in conditions reflective of FPE. Despite no strong association with the above factors to a rapid colonisation phenotype, the global transcriptome suggested transport, energy production and metabolism genes were widely upregulated during the initial colonisation stages under nutrient limited conditions. However, the upregulation of the metabolism systems varied between isolates supporting the idea that L. monocytogenes ability to colonise the FPEs is strain-specific.

Introduction: The calcification of sella trucica bridge might be positively associated with canine impaction, the reason being that sella turcica, dental epithelial progenitor cells along with maxilla, palatal, and frontonasal development share a common embryological origin (neural crest cells). Therefore their assessment might provide useful clinical information in predicting palatal canine impaction. Aim: To evaluate the calcification of sella turcica bridging in patients with palatally impacted canine. Materials and method: A total of 21 pretreatment lateral cephalograms of patients with palatally impacted canine and 29 patients with normally erupted canine were selected for the study. Lateral cephalograms of the patients were acquired and landmark were identified and marked. Various Sella values (sella length/interclinoid distance, sella depth, sella diameter) were measured. The values obtained were then subjected to statistical analysis. Result: Suggested that patients with a palatally impacted canine showed smaller interclinoid distance. The frequency of sella bridging was significantly higher in subjects with canine impaction than in controls (P

Background: Electrocardiogram (ECG) plays a vital role in the analysis of heart activity. It can be used to analyze the different heart diseases and mental stress assessment also. Various noises, such as baseline wandering, muscle artifacts and power line interface disturbs the information within the ECG signal. To acquire correct information from ECG signal, these noises should be removed. Methods: In the proposed work, the improved variational mode decomposition (IVMD) method for the removal of noise in ECG signals is used. In the proposed method, the weighted signal amplitude integrated over the timeframe of the ECG signal varies the window size during decomposition. Raw ECG data are extracted from 10 subjects and ECG data are also taken from the MIT BIH database for the proposed method. Results: The performance comparison of traditional variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the proposed technique is also calculated using mean square error, percentage root mean square difference, signal to noise ratio and correlation coefficient. The extracted highest signal to noise ratio (SNR) value of acquired ECG signals using traditional VMD is 42db whereas highest value of signal to noise ratio (SNR) using improved VMD (IVMD) is 83db. Conclusion: The proposed IVMD technique represented better performance than traditional VMD for denoising of ECG signals.

Background: Genioplasty has nowadays become a routine procedure in the correction of dentofacial deformities. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the osseous and soft-tissue stability after advancement genioplasties, stabilized using wire and plate osteosynthesis. Methodology: The study was conducted on ten patients who underwent advanced genioplasty. The patients were divided equally into two groups. In the Group I patients, plates and in Group II, wires were used for stabilization. Lateral cephalograms preoperative and 6 months postoperative were analyzed using Park et al. method of cephalometric analysis. Results: All the ten patients experienced a reliable improvement in esthetics. Although statistically not significant, Group II wire patients have slightly more relapse in the horizontal direction than Group I. The mean ratio of sagittal changes of osseous soft tissue for Group I was 1:0.88 and for Group II wires was 1:0.80. Conclusion: The choice of method of fixation following genioplasty would entirely be based on the merits of the individual cases. The marginal edge of advantage seen in miniplate osteosynthesis when compared to wire osteosynthesis is seen in cases that require larger chin advancements.

Abstract Topological insulators (TIs) possess exciting nonlinear optical properties due to presence of metallic surface states with the Dirac fermions and are predicted as a promising material for broadspectral phodotection ranging from UV (ultraviolet) to deep IR (infrared) or terahertz range. The recent experimental reports demonstrating nonlinear optical properties are mostly carried out on non-flexible substrates and there is a huge demand for the fabrication of high performing flexible optoelectronic devices using new exotic materials due to their potential applications in wearable devices, communications, sensors, imaging etc. Here first time we integrate the thin films of TIs (Bi2Te3) with the flexible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrate and report the strong light absorption properties in these devices. Owing to small band gap material, evolving bulk and gapless surface state conduction, we observe high responsivity and detectivity at NIR (near infrared) wavelengths (39 A/W, 6.1 × 108 Jones for 1064 nm and 58 A/W, 6.1 × 108 Jones for 1550 nm). TIs based flexible devices show that photocurrent is linearly dependent on the incident laser power and applied bias voltage. Devices also show very fast response and decay times. Thus we believe that the superior optoelectronic properties reported here pave the way for making TIs based flexible optoelectronic devices.

Efficient scheduling of tasks in workflows of cloud or grid applications is a key to achieving better utilization of resources as well as timely completion of the user jobs. Many scientific applications comprise several tasks that are dependent in nature and are specified by workflow graphs. The aim of the cloud meta-scheduler is to schedule the user application tasks (and the applications) so as to optimize the resource utilization and to execute the user applications in minimum amount of time. During the past decade, there have been several attempts to use bio-inspired scheduling algorithms to obtain an optimal or near optimal schedule in order to minimize the overall schedule length and to optimize the use of resources. However, as the number of tasks increases, the solution space comprising different tasks-resource mapping sequences increases exponentially. Hence, there is a need to devise mechanisms to improvise the search strategies of the bio-inspired scheduling algorithms for better scheduling solutions in lesser number of iterations/time. The objective of the research work in this paper is to use bio-inspired bacteria foraging optimization algorithm (BFOA) along with other heuristics algorithms for better search of the scheduling solution space for multiple workflows. The idea is to first find a schedule by the heuristic algorithms such as MaxMin, MinMin, and Myopic, and use these as initial solutions (along with other randomly generated solutions) in the search space to get better solutions using BFOA. The performance of our approach with the existing approaches is compared for quality of the scheduling solutions. The results demonstrate that our hybrid approach (MinMin/Myopic with BFOA) outperforms other approaches.

Abstract Strong acceptor‐weak acceptor system FN‐TPy has been designed and synthesized, which undergoes solvent dependent self‐assembly in mixed aqueous media to generate through space intermolecular charge transfer assemblies. The as‐prepared entropically favoured assemblies of FN‐TPy exhibit excellent photostability and photosensitizing properties in the assembled state to activate aerial oxygen for efficient generation of reactive oxygen species through Type‐I and Type‐II pathways. The FN‐TPy exhibits excellent potential for regulated oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes under mild reaction conditions (visible light irradiation, aqueous media, room temperature) using aerial oxygen as the ‘oxidant’. The present study demonstrates the potential of FN‐TPy assemblies to catalyse controlled oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzoic acid.

Pleural effusion has various aetiologies, mostly located either in the lung parenchyma or in the pleura. Subphrenic causes, leading to exudative pleural effusion are uncommon. Authors hereby, presented a case of a 50-year-old female with recurrent left sided pleural effusion. The effusion was haemorrhagic, exudative with low Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), and no malignant cells on cytology. Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) thorax and upper abdomen showed an incidental splenic haematoma. With conservative treatment, splenic haematoma and adjoining pleural effusion resolved completely. Thus, this case highlights splenic haematoma as a rare but important cause of pleural effusion.

Introduction: Script concordance test (SCT) is an innovativetool to teach and assess the clinical reasoning skills of medicalstudents. It is the key aspect of clinical competency that enablesthe medical graduates to progress from novice to practicinggeneral practitioner. SCT was used the first time in pharmacologyto inculcate clinic reasoning skills in medical students by focusingon the topic of pharmacotherapy.Methods: A SCT with a total of 18 questions, with 15 questionshaving 3 items each, one having four items and two questionshaving two items each was administered to 170 second yearundergraduate medical students in the subject of pharmacologyto assess the clinical reasoning skills. It was an interventionalstudy conducted using convenience sampling technique with asample size of 170. Aggregate scoring method was used to dothe scoring obtained from the answers given by 10 expert-panelmembers in the field of pharmacology, which were used as ananswer key to do the final scoring of the students. Descriptivestatistics were computed using Students t test. SCT conductincluded a small-group feedback session to the students post-SCT. A feedback questionnaire was administered to the studentsone week after the feedback session. Reliability of the SCT andfeedback questionnaire was checked by calculating Cronbachalpha through Siegle reliability calculator. Content validity of thetest as well as feedback questionnaire was done by the panel ofexperts included in the study. Results: Though the mean score of the students (27.68±4.59) wassignificantly lower than the expert panel (40.91±3.52), studentswere highly satisfied as they expressed that SCT enhanced theirperceived clinical reasoning skills (median value=5) and criticalthinking (median value=4). The Cronbach alpha for the test was0.76. The students were also highly satisfied with the feedbackgiven by the teachers after the SCT (median value=4).Conclusion: SCT enhances critical thinking and clinical reasoningskills of the students, as reported by them. With the conductof feedback session post-SCT, it can be used as assessment forlearning tool and can be well used in a para-clinical subject ofpharmacology.

The present study examines hedging effectiveness of futures contracts in India by using variance reduction approach and risk-return approach by applying eight econometric models. It is observed that OLS hedge ratio generates highest hedging effectiveness using variance reduction approach, whereas Naïve hedge ratio generates highest hedging effectiveness using risk-return approach. Overall, it is observed that time-invariant hedging model generates superior hedging effectiveness as compared to time-variant hedging model.

Abstract Background In the last few decades, considerable attention has been paid to fungal endophytes as biocontrol agents, however little is known about their mode of action. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of an endophytic fungus Schizophyllum commune by analyzing activities of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes as well as morphology of haemocytes using Spodoptera litura as a model. Results Ethyl acetate extract of S. commune was fed to the larvae of S. litura using the artificial diet having 276.54 μg/ml (LC50 of fungus) concentration for different time durations. Exposed groups revealed significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in the activities of various enzymes viz. Catalase, Ascorbate peroxidase, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione-S-Transferase. Furthermore, haemocytes showed various deformities like breakage in the cell membrane, cytoplasmic leakage and appearance of strumae in the treated larvae. A drastic reduction in the percentage of normal haemocytes was recorded in the treated groups with respect to control. Conclusion The study provides important information regarding the oxidative stress causing and immunosuppressant potential of S. commune against S. litura and its considerable potential for incorporation in pest management programs.

Accurate wind speed (WS) modelling is crucial for optimal utilization of wind energy. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) techniques, generally used for WS modelling are not only less cost-effective but also poor in predicting in shorter time horizon. Novel WS prediction models based on the multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD), random forest (RF) and Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) were constructed in this paper better accuracy in WS prediction. Particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) was employed to optimize the parameters of the hybridized MEMD model with RF (MEMD-PSO-RF) and KRR (MEMD-PSO-KRR) models. Obtained results were compared to those of the standalone RF and KRR models. The proposed methodology is applied for monthly WS prediction at meteorological stations of Iraq, Baghdad (Station1) and Mosul (Station2) for the period 1977-2013. Results showed higher accuracy of MEMD-PSO-RF model in predicting WS at both stations with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.972 and r = 0.971 during testing phase at Station1 and Station2, respectively. The MEMD-PSO-KRR was found as the second most accurate model followed by Standalone RF and KRR, but all showed a competitive performance to the MEMD-PSO-RF model. The outcomes of this work indicated that the MEMD-PSO-RF model has a remarkable performance in predicting WS and can be considered for practical applications.

Background: Anesthesia for upper limb surgeries may include general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, or combination of both. Compared with general anesthesia, brachial plexus regional anesthesia technique is preferred for upper limb surgeries. Aims and Objectives: A comparative study of supraclavicular block, interscalene block, and combination of supraclavicular and low interscalene blocks using 0.5% ropivacaine and dexmedetomidine as adjuvant by nerve stimulation technique in upper limb surgery in terms of the onset of sensory and motor block and duration of sensory and motor block. Materials and Methods: The patients in supraclavicular block group (n = 20) were given supraclavicular block, in interscalene block (IRD) group (n = 20) were given low interscalene block, and in combination of supraclavicular and interscalene block (ISRD) group (n = 20) were given combination of supraclavicular block and low interscalene block using nerve stimulator by injecting 30 ml 0.5% ropivacaine and 50 μg dexmedetomidine in each group. Results: The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference seen in demographic and hemodynamic parameters. Combined supraclavicular block and low interscalene block had statistically better outcomes than supraclavicular block and low interscalene block individually. Conclusion: The onset of sensory and motor block in combined supraclavicular and interscalene blocks as significantly faster with prolonged duration of sensory and motor block followed by low interscalene block and supraclavicular block, respectively. There were no significant complications encountered during the procedure.

Objective: To assess the estrogenic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Clitoria ternatea leaves in female Wistar rats. Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of C. ternatea leaves prepared by using cold maceration method was tested for estrogenic activity. An acute toxicity study was conducted to estimate the safe dose using OECD 423 guidelines. For estrogenic activity, ovariectomized female rats were divided into four groups, with 6 rats in each group. The control and standard groups were administered with 1% carboxymethyl cellulose orally and estradiol valerate at 1 μg/rat/day subcutaneously, respectively. The third group was administered with hydroalcoholic extract of C. ternatea at the dose 500 mg/kg body weight orally and the fourth group was administered with hydroalcoholic extract of C. ternatea at the dose 500 mg/kg body weight orally along with estradiol valerate at dose 1 μg/rat/day subcutaneously. All treatments lasted for 7 consecutive days and estrogenic activity was assessed by observing vaginal cornfication. On day 8, all animals were sacrificed and uterine horns were dissected out. Utrine weight was measured and blood serum was further processed for the estimation of biochemical parameters like cholesterol, total proteins, alkaline phosphatase and estrogen by autoanylser. Histological studies of uterus were also carried out. Results: Acute toxicity studies indicated the hydroalcoholic extract of C. ternatea leave was found to be safe up to the dose level of 2 000 mg/kg. Oral administration of C. ternatea extract at the dose 500 mg/kg body weight and and estradiol valerate (1 μg/rat/day) caused morphological changes i.e. increase in uterine weight, vaginal opening and cornification of cells; biochemical changes i.e. increase in cholesterol, total protein, alkaline phosphatase and estrogen contents; histological changes i.e. increase in uterine diameter, thickness and height of endometrium. Simultaneous administration of C. ternatea extract with estradiol valerate showed a synergistic effect. Histological investigations further confirmed the strong estrogenic nature of C. ternatea extract. Conclusions: C. ternatea extract (500 mg/kg) showed a significant estrogenic activity which is also supported by biochemical and histological studies. So, on the basis of these findings, it can be concluded that C. ternatea can be used as an alternative to synthetic oral contraceptives.

The emergence of the latest technologies gives rise to the usage of noninvasive techniques for assisting health-care systems. Amongst the four major cardiovascular diseases, stroke is one of the most dangerous and life-threatening disease, but the life of a patient can be saved if the stroke is detected during early stage. The literature reveals that the patients always experience ministrokes which are also known as transient ischemic attacks (TIA) before experiencing the actual attack of the stroke. Most of the literature work is based on the MRI and CT scan images for classifying the cardiovascular diseases including a stroke which is an expensive approach for diagnosis of early strokes. In India where cases of strokes are rising, there is a need to explore noninvasive cheap methods for the diagnosis of early strokes. Hence, this problem has motivated us to conduct the study presented in this paper. A noninvasive approach for the early diagnosis of the strokes is proposed. The cascaded prediction algorithms are time-consuming in producing the results and cannot work on the raw data and without making use of the properties of EEG. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to devise mechanisms to forecast strokes on the basis of processed EEG data. This paper is proposing time series-based approaches such as LSTM, biLSTM, GRU, and FFNN that can handle time series-based predictions to make useful decisions. The experimental research outcome reveals that all the algorithms taken up for the research study perform well on the prediction problem of early stroke detection, but GRU performs the best with 95.6% accuracy, whereas biLSTM gives 91% accuracy and LSTM gives 87% accuracy and FFNN gives 83% accuracy. The experimental outcome is able to measure the brain waves to predict the signs of strokes. The findings can certainly assist the physicians to detect the stroke at early stages to save the lives of the patients.

Hamartomas are tumor-like deformities typified by cellular propagation indigenous to the original site, although they display growth arrest without the possibility for further growth. Various hamartomatous oral lesions include hemangiomas, lymphangiomas, nevi, odontomas, Cherubism, etc. Lymphangiomas are benign, developmental hamartomatous entities typified by abnormal proliferation of lymphatic vessels. They are usually congenital, and more than 90% of cases occur by 2 years of age, with a rare occurrence in adults. They have a site affinity for the head and neck, and oral lesions are relatively uncommon. The dorsum of the tongue is the commonest oral site of predilection; however, the lip is a rare site of involvement. Hereby, we present an uncommon case of lymphangioma of the lower lip in a 45-year-old male patient, who reported to our hospital with an asymptomatic lower lip submucosal mass present for the last 3 years. Our case is unique as it occurred on the lower lip of a 45-year-old male. A detailed history and clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of lymphangioma.

The avian influenza A virus (AIV) is naturally prevalent in aquatic birds, infecting different avian species and transmitting from birds to humans. Both AIVs, the H5N1 and H7N9 viruses, have the potential to infect humans, causing an acute influenza disease syndrome in humans, and are a possible pandemic threat. AIV H5N1 is highly pathogenic, whereas AIV H7N9 has comparatively low pathogenicity. A clear insight into the disease pathogenesis is significant to understand the host’s immunological response, which in turn facilitates the design of the control and prevention strategies. In this review, we aim to provide comprehensive details on the pathogenesis and clinical features of the disease. Moreover, the innate and adaptive immunological responses to AIV and the recent studies conducted on the CD8+ T cell immunity against AIVs are detailed upon. Further, the current status and advancement in the development of AIV vaccines, along with the challenges, are also discussed. The information provided will be helpful in combating the transmission of AIV from birds to humans and, thus, preventing severe outbreaks leading to pandemics worldwide.

Oxidative stress (OS) resulting from imbalance in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or the dysfunction of the antioxidant machinery, is a key mechanism associated with the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. Although the molecular mechanisms are still elusive, the onset of disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Recently, a mitochondrial-targeted hydrogen sulphide (H2S) donor, AP39, has shown to promote cellular bioenergetics in OS related scenarios. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of AP39 to protect the mitochondrial function in an OS environment induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). We assessed the potential effects of increasing concentrations of AP39 on cell viability, H2S availability and the mitochondrial bioenergetic response in resting (non-differentiated and differentiated) neuroblastoma SHSY5Y cell line. Further, we explored the role of AP39 in attenuating H2O2-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Our results showed that nanomolar to micromolar concentrations of AP39 (0.1 μM – 3 μM) are not toxic to SHSY5Y cells, regardless of their differentiation status. Fluorescence detection of H2S observed AP39 co-localises within the mitochondria in a concentration dependent manner. Whilst a lower concentration of AP39 (0.3 μM) was required to improve the mitochondrial bioenergetics in resting non-differentiated cells, 1 μM produced this effect in their differentiated counterparts. In both, non-differentiated and differentiated cells, AP39 reduced H2O2-induced mitochondrial impairments by improving the parameters of the mitochondrial function and abrogating the generation of mitochondrial ROS. These suggest that mitochondrial targeted delivery of H2S may attenuate neuronal toxicity in neuronal disorders associated with OS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.

In the present study antibacterial efficacy of aqueous and methanol extract obtained from leaves and stem of Ocimum sanctum L. was evaluated against certain test bacterial species viz. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus. It is a traditional medicinal herb, commonly used for the treatment of various human health disorders. The antibacterial activity was determined by using agar well diffusion method. Among the solvent extracts tested, aqueous extract of leaves exhibited higher antibacterial activity as compared to methanolic extract of leaves. Maximum antibacterial activity was recorded 17.6 mm against Bacillus cereus and minimum value was recorded 14 mm against S. aureus. Maximum antibacterial efficacy of O. sanctum leaves was found 7.3mm against P. aeruginosa and minimum value was 5mm against B. cereus in methanolic extract. Similar trend has been observed in extract of stem of O. sanctum in aqueous and methanolic solvent. The antibacterial efficacy has been found nil in methanolic extract. However in aqueous extract moderate activity has been recorded i.e. 9.3 mm against E.coli and minimum 7.3 mm against K. pneumoniae. The trend of phytochemicals revealed non significant variation. Phytochemical analysis of leaves and stem extracts of O. sanctum revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents i.e. alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tanins, glycosides.

Despite the significant advancements made in targeted anti-cancer therapy, drug resistance constitutes a multifaceted phenomenon leading to therapy failure and ultimately mortality. Emerging experimental evidence highlight a role of cholesterol metabolism in facilitating drug resistance in cancer. This review aims to describe the role of cholesterol in facilitating multi-drug resistance in cancer. We focus on specific signaling pathways that contribute to drug resistance and the link between these pathways and cholesterol. Additionally, we briefly discuss the molecular mechanisms related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the documented link between EMT, metastasis and drug resistance. We illustrate this by specifically focusing on hypoxia and the role it plays in influencing cellular cholesterol content following EMT induction. Finally, we provide a proposed model delineating the crucial role of cholesterol in EMT and discuss whether targeting cholesterol could serve as a novel means of combatting drug resistance in cancer progression and metastasis.

Optical scanners are used frequently in medical imaging units to examine and diagnose cancers, assist with surgeries, and detect lesions and malignancies. The continuous growth in optics along with the use of optical fibers enables fabrication of imaging devices as small as a few millimeters in diameter. Most forward viewing endoscopic scanners contain an optical fiber acting as cantilever which is vibrated at resonance. In many cases, more than one actuating element is used to vibrate the optical fiber in two directions giving a 2D scan. In this paper, it is proposed to excite the cantilever fiber using a single actuator and scan a 2D region from its vibrating tip. An electrothermal actuator is optimized to provide a bidirectional (horizontal and vertical) displacement to the cantilever fiber placed on it. A periodic current, having a frequency equal to the resonant frequency of cantilever fiber, was passed through the actuator. The continuous expansion and contraction of the actuator enabled the free end of fiber to vibrate in a circle like pattern. A small change in the actuation frequency permitted the scanning of the area inside the circle.

In this work, we present high-accuracy spectroscopic properties, such as line strengths, transition probabilities and oscillator strengths for allowed transitions among nD3/2,5/2,n′S1/2 and n′P1/2,3/2(n=4,n′=5,6) states of Rb-isoelectronic Tc (Tc VII), Ru (Ru VIII) and Rh (Rh IX) ions for their applications in the analysis of astrophysical phenomena occurring inside celestial bodies containing Tc, Ru and Rh ions. Due to the scarcity of computational data of atomic properties of these transitions, as well as considerable discrepancies within the literature about these ions, the precise determination of these properties is necessary. For this purpose, we have implemented relativistic many-body perturbation theory (RMBPT) for evaluation of the wave functions of the considered states. For better accuracy, we have accounted for electron interactions through random phase approximation, Brückner orbitals and structural radiations of wave functions in our RMBPT method for further precise evaluation of electric dipole amplitudes. Combining these values of the observed wavelengths, the above transition properties and radiative lifetimes, a number of excited states of Tc VII, Ru VIII and Rh IX ions have been calculated. For further validation of our work, we have compared our results with the data already available in the literature.

The widespread application of micro-plastics (MP) and their release in the open environment has become a matter of worldwide concern. When interacting with contaminants such as heavy metals in the soil ecosystem, MPs can result in detrimental effects on the soil environment and plant growth and development. However, information based on the interaction between MPs and heavy metals and their effects on terrestrial plants is still limited. Keeping this in mind, the present study was conducted to explore the single and combined toxicity of polypropylene (PP) MPs (13 and 6.5 μm) and cadmium (Cd) on germination indices; root and stem growth; fresh and dry weight; and anti-oxidative enzyme activities of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings. Our results indicated that a single application of PP MP and Cd on rice seedlings inhibited most of the germination indicators, while their co-occurrence (PP + Cd) showed a reduction in the overall toxicity to some extent. A single application of both the contaminants significantly inhibited root length, stem length, fresh weight and the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes in rice seedling, while no significant effect on dry weight was observed. The combined toxicity of both PP and Cd revealed that 13 μm PP + Cd had an antagonistic effect on the growth of rice seedlings, while 6.5 μm PP + Cd showed a synergistic effect. The present study revealed that smaller PP MP particles (6.5 µm) prominently affected plant growth more as compared to larger particles (13 µm). Our work reported the combined effect of PP MP and Cd on the germination and growth of rice for the first time. This study can provide the basis for future research on the combined effects of different types and sizes of MPs and heavy metals on the terrestrial ecosystem.

Hypoxia, or insufficient oxygen availability is a common feature in the development of a myriad of cardiovascular-related conditions including ischemic disease. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) donors, such as sodium thiosulphate (STS), are known for their cardioprotective properties. However, H2S due to its gaseous nature, is released and cleared rapidly, limiting its potential translation to clinical settings. For the first time, we developed and characterised liposome formulations encapsulating STS and explored their potential for modulating STS uptake, H2S release and the ability to retain pro-angiogenic and biological signals in a hypoxia-like environment mirroring oxygen insufficiency in vitro. Liposomes were prepared by varying lipid ratios and characterised for size, polydispersity and charge. STS liposomal encapsulation was confirmed by HPLC-UV detection and STS uptake and H2S release was assessed in vitro. To mimic hypoxia, cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was administered in conjunction with formulated and non-formulated STS, to explore pro-angiogenic and metabolic signals. Optimised liposomal formulation observed a liposome diameter of 146.42 ± 7.34 nm, a polydispersity of 0.22 ± 0.19, and charge of 3.02 ± 1.44 mV, resulting in 25% STS encapsulation. Maximum STS uptake (76.96 ± 3.08%) from liposome encapsulated STS was determined at 24 h. Co-exposure with CoCl2 and liposome encapsulated STS resulted in increased vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA as well as protein expression, enhanced wound closure and increased capillary-like formation. Finally, liposomal STS reversed metabolic switch induced by hypoxia by enhancing mitochondrial bioenergetics. These novel findings provide evidence of a feasible controlled-delivery system for STS, thus H2S, using liposome-based nanoparticles. Likewise, data suggests that in scenarios of hypoxia, liposomal STS is a good therapeutic candidate to sustain pro-angiogenic signals and retain metabolic functions that might be impaired by limited oxygen and nutrient availability.

In this paper, a class of third order singularly perturbed delay differential equation with large delay is considered for numerical treatment. The considered equation has discontinuous convection-diffusion coefficient and source term. A quintic trigonometric B-spline collocation technique is used for numerical simulation of the considered singularly perturbed delay differential equation by dividing the domain into the uniform mesh. Further, uniform convergence of the solution is discussed by using the concept of Hall error estimation and the method is found to be of first-order convergent. The existence of the solution is also established. Computation work is carried out to validate the theoretical results.

Abstract Background Microbial species in the brine pools of the Red Sea and the brine pool-seawater interfaces are exposed to high temperature, high salinity, low oxygen levels and high concentrations of heavy metals. As adaptations to these harsh conditions require a large suite of secondary metabolites, these microbes have a huge potential as a source of novel anticancer molecules. Methods A total of 60 ethyl-acetate extracts of newly isolated strains from extreme environments of the Red-Sea were isolated and tested against several human cancer cell lines for potential cytotoxic and apoptotic activities. Results Isolates from the Erba brine-pool accounted for 50% of active bacterial extracts capable of inducing 30% or greater inhibition of cell growth. Among the 60 extracts screened, seven showed selectivity towards triple negative BT20 cells compared to normal fibroblasts. Conclusion In this study, we identified several extracts able to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Further investigations and isolation of the active compounds of these Red Sea brine pool microbes may offer a chemotherapeutic potential for cancers with limited treatment options.

In this paper, a numerical technique is presented to approximate the solution of a singular perturbed delay differential equation. The continual emerge of singular perturbed delay differential equations in a mathematical model of real life applications trigger the researchers for the numerical treatment of these equations. The numerical technique is based on trigonometric cubic B-spline functions in which derivatives are approximated as a linear sum of basis functions. The obtained matrix system is solved by using the Thomas Algorithm. The convergence of the employed proposal is scrutinized and computational work is carried out on four examples to test the capability of the proposed scheme. The approximated solution is compared with the existing technique and to present the behavior of the obtained solution graphs are plotted.

Reliable prediction of evaporative losses from reservoirs is an essential component of reservoir management and operation. Conventional models generally used for evaporation prediction have a number of drawbacks as they are based on several assumptions. A novel approach called the co-active neuro-fuzzy inference system (CANFIS) is proposed in this study for the modeling of evaporation from meteorological variables. CANFIS provides a center-weighted set rather than global weight sets for predictor–predictand relationship mapping and thus it can provide a higher prediction accuracy. In the present study, adjustments are made in the back-propagation algorithm of CANFIS for automatic updating of membership rules and further enhancement of its prediction accuracy. The predictive ability of the CANFIS model is validated with three well-established artificial intelligence (AI) models. Different statistical metrics are computed to investigate the prediction efficacy. The results reveal higher accuracy of the CANFIS model in predicting evaporation compared to the other AI models. CANFIS is found to be capable of modeling evaporation from mean temperature and relative humidity only, with a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.93, which is much higher than that of the other models. Furthermore, CANFIS improves the prediction accuracy by 9.2–55.4% compared to the other AI models.

Evapotranspiration is one of the most important components of the hydrological cycle as it accounts for more than two-thirds of the global precipitation losses. Indeed, the accurate prediction of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is highly significant for many watershed activities, including agriculture, water management, crop production and several other applications. Therefore, reliable estimation of ETo is a major concern in hydrology. ETo can be estimated using different approaches, including field measurement, empirical formulation and mathematical equations. Most recently, advanced machine learning models have been developed for the estimation of ETo. Among several machine learning models, evolutionary computing (EC) has demonstrated a remarkable progression in the modeling of ETo. The current research is devoted to providing a new milestone in the implementation of the EC algorithm for the modeling of ETo. A comprehensive review is conducted to recognize the feasibility of EC models and their potential in simulating ETo in a wide range of environments. Evaluation and assessment of the models are also presented based on the review. Finally, several possible future research directions are proposed for the investigations of ETo using EC.

Impaction of permanent maxillary central incisor is very rare. Inverted impaction of the maxillary central incisor is even more uncommon. Impacted central incisor can cause esthetic concern to the patient or can be associated with the dentigerous cyst. Conventional radiographs including intraoral periapical radiograph, occlusal radiograph, and pantomograph are most commonly advised for the diagnosis and evaluating the location of the impacted tooth. Two-dimensional imaging modality may not exactly locate and evaluate the tooth, root dilacerations, and effect on the surrounding structures. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) will assist in locating the tooth and evaluating the morphology. Inverted impaction of the central incisor has been reported as a rare entity in literature. This article discusses the case report along with the role of CBCT in diagnosis and evaluation of the labially inverted impaction of the central incisor.

Introduction: Folates perform an integral task in DNA synthesis, methylationand repair. Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) potrays a key part in the metabolism of folate and regulates the equilibrium between the various forms of folate for DNA synthesis and DNA methylation. MTHFR irrevocably transforms 5,10 methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the principal circulating folate and the carbon donor for remethylation processes. MTHFR is vastly polymorphic in the general population. Materials and Methods: It was a case-control study conducted during March 2010 to September 2011 in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine in collaboration with the Department of Biochemistry at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, to see whether any association exists between the variants of one carbon metabolism, MTHFR polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C), and lung cancer. Twenty biopsy proven lung cancer patients and 20 age and sex matched cancer-free controls were selected. Results: The mean serum folate in cases was higher (12.84 ng/mL±7.527 ng/mL) as compared to controls (4.46 ng/ mL±1.346 ng/mL), suggesting that high levels of serum folate are associated with lung cancer. There was no significant variance in the levels of vitamin B12 and plasma homocysteine between cases and controls. No MTHFR polymorphism C677T was seen in the blood and the bronchial biopsy samples of all cases as well as blood samples of all the controls. The MTHFR polymorphism A1298C was present in the blood as well as bronchial biopsy samples of cases as well as blood of controls. Thus, in the present study, there was no relation of this polymorphism with lung cancer. Conclusion: Polymorphisms in MTHFR may contribute to lung cancer. More research on the basis of cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung cancer is urgently needed to aid in understanding of pathogenesis of the disease.

Introduction: Uveitis can directly or indirectly lead to ocular hypertension which can lead to glaucoma. Ripasudil has a different mechanism of action than other anti-glaucoma medications available commercially and in contrary to these drugs, ripasudil also has anti-inflammatory properties providing an upper edge over other intraocular pressure lowering drugs. In addition to primary glaucoma, these new Rho kinase associated inhibitors can provide satisfactory results in glaucoma with secondary pathologies. Aim: To study the role of ripasudil as first line treatment for ocular hypertension in uveitis cases. Materials and Methods: A prospective randomised study comprising 40 patients of Ocular Hypertension (OHT) associated with uveitis was conducted in the Outpatient Department (OPD) of Ophthalmology at a tertiary care hospital in North India from October 2020 to January 2021. The diagnosis of uveitis was made clinically with detailed medical history and slit lamp biomicroscopic examination. All the diagnosed patients were started with topical ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate 0.4% eye drops twice daily along with anti-inflammatory medications. Intraocular Presure (IOP) was recorded after 4 weeks and 12 weeks at 8 am, 10 am and 4 pm. Effectiveness of the drugs was calculated in terms of mmHg fall in mean intraocular pressure using t-test and p-values. Results: Out of 40 patients with uveitis associated OHT, 20 cases were inflammation related (mean age was 56.2±16.3 years,13 males, 7 females) and 20 cases were categorised as corticosteroid induced (mean age was 58.9±15.69 years, 14 males, 6 females). At 12 weeks there was 5.67±0.59 mmHg fall in IOP (22.70%) in inflammation related OHT and there was 6.37±0.07 mmHg fall in IOP (25.34%) in corticosteroid related OHT. There was statistically significant fall in IOP (p-value=0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that topical ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate 0.4% eye drops is effective in lowering the IOP, also there were no side effects, so it is safe and well-tolerated. So, ripasudil can provide a safe and effective alternative for lowering of IOP among uveitis related OHT.

Glaphyropteridopsis erubescens plants were collected from Parvati valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. Meiotic investigations in the accessions collected from different areas of Himachal Pradesh revealed normal meiosis and good spore fertility. However, the accessions collected from Parvati valley has depicted meiotic anomalies and high spore abortion index. All populations shared the same cytological status of 2n = 72, which is in line with previous records. Individuals depicted normal behavior at diakinesis and metaphase-I but later stages were abnormal. It includes chromatin stickiness, interbivalent connections, early and late disjunction. The formation of laggards at anaphase-I lead to series of abnormalities such as chromatin bridges, random sub-grouping of chromosomes at anaphase-II, chromatin fragmentation and irregular sporogenesis. Large numbers of micronuclei were present in triads and tetrads along with pycnotic nuclei. Empty and some abnormal sporangia with heterogenous spores were also observed.

Introduction: Previous equipments used to study cornea were mostly Placido based which could only analyse anterior surface of cornea, while Pentacam is based on elevation based imaging method that helps to study the curvature of cornea, its elevation and thickness profile more accurately. There are numerous studies published to study the thickness of cornea, this study outlines the importance of changes introduced in various corneal parameters with age which in itself is an important factor with possible positive correlation. Aim: To determine various corneal parameters and to interpret the variations in these with increasing age. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included a cohort of 60 healthy patients attending Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology from July 2019 to February 2020. Two sets of values were determined, studied and compared between different age groups. First set of values included, keratometry values in the flat (K1 ) and steep (K2 ) and maximal keratometry values of the front surface (Kmax). Second set of values included, Anterior Elevations (AE), Posterior Elevations (PE), PE minus AE from Best Fit Sphere of 8 mm (BFS) and PE from the Bestfit Toric Ellipsoid (BFTE), apex thickness (CCT), pachymetry at the thinnest-point thickness (TCT),average corneal Pachymetry Progression Indices (PPI avg) and average Ambrosio’s Relational Thickness indices (ART avg). Based on age, three groups were created with 20 participants in each, Group A with age 18 to 25 years, Group B with age between 26 and 40 years and Group C with age more than 40 years. Scanning of all study subjects was done using Pentacam. Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: The average age was 21±2.42 years in group A, 30.9±4.3 years in group B and 42.45±1.65 years in group C. When AE, PE and PE-AE values were compared among three age groups, results were highly significant with p-value

This article challenges public and private constructions of honourrelated violence as they impact second-generation South Asian women and girls in Canada. While much has been written about the victims of honour killings, including high profile cases of young women killed by their families in Canada, considerably less attention and space has been given to second-generation South Asian Canadian women and girl’s stories of survivance and resistance against honour-based violence (HBV). This paper moves towards storying processes of grieving and of witnessing public stories of HBV, and documents a collective writing process I undertook in collaboration with survivors of HBV. We shared narratives of grief and pain, and the power of collective storywork. The paper includes two letters that speak to the context in which second generation South Asian women are embodying resistance and reclamation, and witnessing stories of grief, loss, love, and acceptance.

This special issue about race, honour, culture, and violence against women in South Asian Canadian communities is proffered as an entry point to a wider, multilayered discussion about race, culture, gender, and violence. It hopes to intensify a debate on gendered violence that could tie in with analysis and commentary on individual killings in family-related sites, murders of racialized women and girls in public sites, and other forms of violence against women and girls in society. We encourage readers to consider how to understand the landscape that South Asian Canadian women and girls are confronting, while also asking critical questions about the wider settler colonial system in which we all participate as we fight gender-based violence.

This foreword is related to the sixteen papers published in this issue, which were presented at IC2ST-2021 - International Conference on Convergence of Smart Technologies. The Aspire Research Foundation organized this conference in Pune, India, January 9-10, 2021. These sixteen papers have not and will not be published anywhere else.

The breath analysis technique is one of the oldest investigation strategies for disease diagnosis and human health monitoring. This strategy explores volatile organic compound (VOCs) present in human exhaled breath (EB) and their organic connection with the biomarkers that helps to determine the particular disease. This examination strategy utilizes a variety of techniques and computerized algorithms for the analysis of the breathing related data to determine the impact of exhaled breath on human bodies. The techniques chosen and applied for the investigation of the exhaled breath in this paper focus on the detection of various chemical compounds in the exhaled breath. The proposed research study also discusses the biomarkers used for clinical examination and diagnosis of the exhaled breath. These non-invasive methods have been adopted over the conventional invasive methods for conducting the study on exhaled breath components and their impact on human health. From the data utilization perspective, this research work focuses on breath examination methodologies and their pros & cons. The state-of-the-art techniques for analyzing the exhaled breath have also been explored and discussed in this paper and an extensive review has also been presented. A brief discussion on the prognosis challenges of the diseases based on exhaled breath are discussed. The limitations of the existing methods are highlighted. Finally, the future scope of the breath analysis techniques is also discussed in this manuscript along with the conclusions of the research study.