Search

Hygienic behavior (HB) emerges as a pivotal trait, impacting colony resistance to diseases. This study aimed to understand the behavioral traits of Apis cerana indica colonies, with a focus on HB and other key characteristics crucial for colony health, and to screen and identify colonies with superior hygienic behavior and better performance to combat prevailing diseases and pests. This research spans a comprehensive field analysis with different seasons and locations, encompassing the distinct environmental and management factors that influence honey bee behavior. The inclusion of A. cerana indica colonies from various locations provides a novel perspective, offering valuable insights regarding the hygienic behavior of A. cerana indica. Several statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and Aligned Rank Transformation-Analysis of Variance (ART-ANOVA) for repeated measures, shed light on the distribution of hive metrics, emphasizing the significance of considering seasonality and location-specific factors. PCA highlights unique characteristics in Tirupur and Coimbatore colonies, while correlation analyses uncover relationships among HB, honey, pollen, brood area, and adult population. Moreover, the study’s nuanced findings gave the status of hygienic behavior of A. cerana indica colonies and identified colonies with better colony performance, which will be useful for future breeding programs with A. cerana indica.

Preparation of myrtle liqueur through ethanol-based extraction is a widely employed methodology. Nevertheless, optimization of existing processes is possible, especially through a modern statistical multivariate approach. In this context, a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was used to quantitatively assess for the first time the effect of the time, ethanol concentration, temperature, and the ratio between the Myrtus communis berries’ weight and the extractant volume (v/w) on the amounts of anthocyanins, volatile compounds and dry residues in the liqueur. The kinetic profile relative to the volatile fraction variation during the process was described by gas chromatography (GC), while spectrophotometric analysis allowed quantification of the total anthocyanins and total polyphenols. Multiple response analysis showed that the maximum efficiencies in terms of the considered parameters (desirability function) were reached by setting the temperature to 25 °C and the ethanol percentage to 96% after 20 days of processing. Some hints as to the chemical instability and not negligible sensitivity of anthocyanins in relation to the experimental conditions for longer extraction times were also observed. The statistical model represents a novel tool for industrial production of myrtle liqueur.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to assess the frequency with which orthodontic patients decided to shift to another type of orthodontic appliance, among conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner, based on their personal experiences of pain, ulcers, bad breath, hygiene issues and social difficulties. Material and Methods: This study comprises of patients seeking orthodontic treatment. The sample (n = 500; age group = 19-25 years) was divided equally into four groups based on the treatment modality: conventional metal brackets, ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and clear aligner. Patients rated the questionnaire using a visual analogue scale, to assess variables (such as pain, ulcer etc) that impact various treatment modalities. Subsequently, patients from all groups provided feedback regarding their treatment experiences, and expressed their preference for an alternative modality. Intergroup comparison among the four groups was done using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Patients who received lingual brackets reported higher levels of pain and ulceration, as compared to those who received clear aligners. All four groups showed statistically significant differences for ulcers during treatment (p ≤ 0.05). Of the 125 patients who received conventional metal brackets, 28% expressed a preference for clear aligner therapy, while 20% preferred ceramic brackets. In the lingual group, 56% of 125 patients preferred clear aligner therapy, and 8% preferred ceramic brackets to complete their treatment. In the ceramic group, 83% did not want to switch, whereas 17% desired to switch to clear aligner, while in aligner group no patient desired to switch. Conclusions: A higher percentage of patients from lingual brackets group chose to shift to clear aligners, followed by conventional metal brackets group and by ceramic brackets group, in this descending order. The clear aligner group demonstrated fewer issues than the other treatment modalities.

Abstract Researchers are investigating innovative composite materials for renewable energy and energy storage systems. The major goals of this studies are i) to develop a low‐cost and stable trimetallic oxide catalyst and ii) to change the electrical environment of the active sites through site‐selective Mo substitution. The effect of Mo on NiCoMoO4 is elucidated using both in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Also, density functional theory strategies show that NiCoMoO4 has extraordinary catalytic redox activity because of the high adsorption energy of the Mo atom on the active crystal plane. Further, it is demonstrated that hierarchical nanoflower structures of NiCoMoO4 on reduced graphene oxide can be employed as a powerful bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction/evolution reactions in alkaline solutions, providing a small overpotential difference of 0.75 V. Also, Zn–air batteries based on the developed bifunctional electrocatalyst exhibit outstanding cycling stability and a high‐power density of 125.1 mW cm−2. This work encourages the use of Zn–air batteries in practical applications and provides an interesting concept for designing a bifunctional electrocatalyst.

Objectives: India introduced BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield vaccines in January 2021. We estimated the effectiveness of these vaccines against severe COVID-19 among individuals aged ≥45 years. Methods: We did a multi-centric, hospital-based, case-control study between May and July 2021. Cases were severe COVID-19 patients, and controls were COVID-19 negative individuals from 11 hospitals. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated for complete (2 doses ≥ 14 days) and partial (1 dose ≥ 21 days) vaccination; interval between two vaccine doses and vaccination against the Delta variant. We used the random effects logistic regression model to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjusting for relevant known confounders. Results: We enrolled 1143 cases and 2541 control patients. The VE of complete vaccination was 85% (95% CI: 79-89%) with AZD1222/Covishield and 71% (95% CI: 57-81%) with BBV152/Covaxin. The VE was highest for 6-8 weeks between two doses of AZD1222/Covishield (94%, 95% CI: 86-97%) and BBV152/Covaxin (93%, 95% CI: 34-99%). The VE estimates were similar against the Delta strain and sub-lineages. Conclusion: BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield were effective against severe COVID-19 among the Indian population during the period of dominance of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the second wave of the pandemic. An escalation of two-dose coverage with COVID-19 vaccines is critical to reduce severe COVID-19 and further mitigate the pandemic in the country.

Metal molybdates (M′MoO4, M = Fe, Co, and Ni) are recognized as active catalysts for water-splitting reactions. However, their poor electronic conductivity and low intrinsic activity hamper overall water-splitting activity and durability, limiting their widespread applications. Herein, the influence of lanthanum doping on the electrocatalysis of CoMoO4 toward overall water-splitting activity and durability in high-pH media was investigated. Varying La-dopant percentages in the CoMoO4 lattice tuned the electrocatalytic activity, and optimal performance was achieved at 5% La_CoMoO4 for hydrogen (η20 at 0.219 VRHE) and oxygen evolution reactions (η20 at 0.272 VRHE). Notably, La doping in CoMoO4 mitigated significant MoO42− leaching in the electrolyte, maintaining excellent structural integrity and demonstrating high durability for over 45 h in a two-electrode system, demanding a cell potential of only 1.68 V toward overall water splitting in 1 M KOH. Structural characterizations and in situ Raman studies established a dynamic surface reconstruction of active components toward the HER/OER. DFT analyses proved the modified electronic structure of CoMoO4 through La doping, effectively optimizing adsorption energies of reactive hydrogen and oxygen intermediates and boosting the intrinsic activity of CoMoO4 toward hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER). This work depicts the prospect of rare-earth metal incorporation in non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts to design highly efficient and durable electrocatalysts for electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the complex world of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and functions in plants is essential for understanding their diverse regulatory mechanisms. This review highlights the processes involved in miRNA biogenesis and their crucial roles in growth and development of plant, stress responses, and nutrient homeostasis. miRNAs play a central role in various developmental processes, including the transition from the juvenile to adult stage, the growth of shoot apical meristem, leaf and floral morphogenesis, and the determination of flowering time. By presenting the current state of research, we focus on the vital role of computational tools and databases in deciphering the regulatory networks controlled by miRNAs, which helps us navigate the intricate world of plant biology. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of experimental validation techniques in confirming computational predictions, ensuring that miRNA research is reliable and robust. As the field continues to grow, this review emphasizes the urgent need for integrated approaches, to deepen our knowledge of plant miRNA biology and its implications. These insights will pave the way for advancements in crop improvement, stress resilience, and biotechnological innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a prominent global cause of mortality. Palladium complexes have the potential to serve as effective anticancer and pharmacological agents, offering a viable alternative to platinum medications. This work focused on the development of a new thiolato-bridged dinuclear [Pd(M3MPyThU)Cl]2 and mononuclear palladium [Pd(M3MPyThU)2] complexes containing 1-methyl-3-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl) thiourea (HM3MPyThU) ligand. The prepared ligand and complexes have been fully characterised by various spectroscopic and single-crystal crystallographic data. The ligand and complexes were further examined for their anticancer activities against the HT-29 (human colon) and MCF-7 (human breast) cancer cells along with the standard drug cisplatin, and the outcome suggests that tested compounds have a better cytotoxic response against HT-29 cells. The order of anticancer activity was found as [Pd (M3MPyThU)Cl]2 > cisplatin > [Pd(M3MPyThU)2] > HM3MPyThU. The complex [Pd(M3MPyThU)Cl]2 demonstrated potent cytotoxic effects against HT-29 cells with an IC50 value of 10 ± 3.3 µM. The comparison of the anticancer activity of the described complexes with previous reports on HT-29 cells suggests that the described complexes have better anticancer activity than previously reported complexes. Further assays were performed for [Pd(M3MPyThU)Cl]2 to gain insights into the mechanism of cell death and found that reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production, highlighting mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis as the major mechanism for tumour cell death. Additionally, [Pd(M3MPyThU)Cl]2 was found to be more selective compared to cisplatin since it exhibited decreased toxicity towards healthy cells (HEK-293). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There has been adequate evidence that children are less likely to contract the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection and less likely to experience a deadly course of the disease in the paediatric group. The majority of the time, they exhibit moderate respiratory symptoms, like fever, dry cough and exhaustion. They were all free of COVID-19 pneumonia. Aim: To compare the clinical features and short-term outcomes of COVID-19 in children during May 2020 to April 2022. Materials and Methods: The present analytical observational study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Chettinad Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from March 2020 to March 2022. The study population included Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 children between age groups of one month and 18 years age. A sample size of 102, 90 and 98 were included from first, second and third wave, respectively. Kruskal-Wallis test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test were used were used for statistical analysis. Results: In the study population, the mean age in the wave 1, wave 2 and wave 3 was 9.1±5.25 years, 9.3±4.99 years and 9.2±5.12 years, respectively. Males were more affected in all the phases than females. The most common symptoms in all the three waves were cough, myalgia and fever. Fever was the predominant symptom reported in all three waves (74.8% in wave 1, 80.6% in wave 2 and 75% in wave 3). Between the COVID-19 waves, baseline investigations such as Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transaminase (AST) (p-value=0.001, 0.02) showed significant differences. C-reactive Protein (CRP) was non reactive in (81.55%) in wave 1, (85.07%) in wave 2 and (65.3%) in wave 3. (p-value=0.029). Conclusion: The present study results conclude that the presenting features of COVID-19 in children were mild, and the outcome was good. The first, second and third waves had considerable differences in clinical findings and short-term outcomes among COVID-19-affected children.

In this work, the novel CuTa2O6 phase was successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal and followed by the calcination process. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the formation of different phases. At a low temperature, CuTa2O6 exhibits the orthorhombic phase, whereas, at a higher temperature, it underwent a phase transition to a cubic crystal structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results suggest the presence of all the elements (Cu, Ta, and O). The optical studies were carried out using a UV-Vis DRS spectrophotometer. FESEM images confirm the spherical-shaped particles for the sample annealed at a high temperature. The local atomic and electronic structures around Cu and the contribution of the Cu oxidation state in the CuTa2O6 system were determined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. To investigate the effective usage of CuTa2O6 in treating wastewater, its photocatalytic activity was investigated by evaluating its use in the photodegradation of MO dye under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the prepared CuTa2O6 photocatalyst exhibits significant photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MO dye and shows excellent stability; it is therefore a promising material for potential use in a practical photocatalyst. The CuTa2O6 photocatalyst suggests an alternative avenue of research into effective photo-catalysts for solar hydrogen water splitting.

Cutaneous Larva Migrans (CLM) is caused by penetration of skin by the third stage larvae of hookworms, and most commonly caused by Ancylostoma braziliense (dog hookworm). Humans act as dead-end hosts for this parasite. This series reports six cases of creeping eruptions that occurred on buttocks and back in four infants and on the feet in two toddlers. All the cases clustered after the rainy seasons in the months of December and January. Diagnosis was established based on history and clinical examination. All six children were administered five days of albendazole and they recovered completely. This series is presented to make readers aware of the underestimated public health problem in infants with distinctive skin eruptions of larva migrans occurring in the tropical subcontinent of Indian coastal areas. This is clinically relevant as treatment of this condition is very simple and cost-effective.

Mushrooms are the spore bearings fruiting bodies that have been used by human being since ancient times for good health. Mushroom is the choicest food of nutrition because it provides important nutrients like proteins, selenium, potassium, riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin D and more. Oyster mushroom are known for their health benefits. Oyster mushroom protect the heart against cardiovascular diseases, helps in lowering the blood pressure, regulate the cholesterol level, improve immune health and have anti cancer, anti inflammatory and other properties. , Cultivation of oyster mushroom on waste straw not only solve the pollution problem but also improves the economic conditions of farmers.