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Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is a revolutionizing additive manufacturing (AM) that melts the powder particles to create innovative products, but it faces substantial challenges in monitoring and predicting the quality of the printed samples. Traditional density measurement methods, like the Archimedes technique, have been employed to determine the density of maraging steel samples produced under varying machine settings (MACH-S) process parameters, including laser power and scan speed. However, these machine-dependent parameters alone are insufficient for accurately predicting part density. To address this issue, an optical coaxial pyrometer in the AconityMINI system was utilized to capture thermal emissivity data, from which six statistical pyrometer-driven (PYRO-D) features, such as mean, median, and standard deviation, were extracted. The proposed feature-driven model then interprets machine settings and pyrometer data into physics-based (PHYS-B) features, including laser energy density, radiation pressure, intensity, temperature, and wavelength. With these three sets of input features, the study investigates the effectiveness of four supervised machine learning (ML) regression models: Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), for predicting the density of printed samples. The performance of these models was enhanced through three hyperparameter optimization (HPO) techniques: Random Search (RS), Grid Search (GS), and Bayes Search (BS), alongside a feature selection (FS) method to refine the input feature dimensions. The findings indicate that RS is the most effective HPO technique across all models and highlight the significance of MACH-S and PHYS-B features in improving model predictions over PYRO-D features, achieving an R2 score of 0.948 and a mean-squared error (MSE) of 0.007. Finally, the feature-driven model incorporating optimal machine, pyrometer, and physical features was utilized for density prediction through ML. Future research will aim to extend this approach to predict layer-wise part quality by incorporating a broader range of process parameters, focusing on understanding influencing factors such as porosity and surface roughness in AM printed parts.

Conversational systems are important applications of Artificial Intelligence, encompassing a wide variety of implementations, from rule-based systems to complex systems using Natural Language Processing, Deep Neural Networks, and Transformer Architectures. With the growth of these implementations, the quality of conversational data has become a concern. Many attempts have been made to generate such data, focusing primarily on topical conversations. This article presents a generalized framework moving from generating topical conversation towards topic-agnostic conversational data consisting of three Large Language Model instances. Two of these models interact with each other to generate the conversation, while the third one plays the role of a judge to keep the conversation going. The synthetic data created by the proposed method exhibits higher quality and lower toxicity than four of the existing datasets (AmazonQA, Daily Dialog, Open Subtitles, and HUMOD) in terms of six performance measures, namely Toxicity, Severe Toxicity, Obscene, Threat, Insult, and Identity Attack. Compared to other datasets, the performance analysis of the generated data shows the lowest measures in terms of mean and maximum values. Specifically, the percentages for Toxicity, Obscene, Threat, Insult, and Identity Attack are 0.27%, 0.04%, 0.02%, 0.05%, and 0.02%, respectively, while the corresponding maximum values are 90.13%, 29.65%, 3.42%, 67.16% and 0.69%. The generated dataset also shows the maximum concentration, with 99.74% of the data in the range of 0-10% toxicity with just a few outliers.

Accurate modeling is an important aspect for a reliable design, control and optimization of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The mathematical model of PEM fuel cell involves a set of non-linear equations and is considered as multi-variate, multi-modal and non-linear optimization problem having seven unidentified parameters. This paper proposes a new hybrid approach based on weIghted meaN oF vectOrs and Nelder-Mead (INFONM) method for PEM fuel cell parameter extraction. An optimization problem is framed and a sum of squared error (SSE) based objective function is formulated between estimated and experimental voltages. The effectiveness of the developed approach is evaluated on four available benchmark fuel cell data sheets such as NedStack PS6, BCS 500 W, 250 W and Ballard Mark V fuel cell stacks. A fair comparison is presented with well-established algorithms as well as existing literature work to demonstrate the superiority of INFONM. The results reveal that hybrid approach produces better outcomes in terms of accuracy, reliability and effectiveness as compared to other algorithms. Also, the good closeness between the estimated and experimental polarization curves proves that hybrid approach accurately determines unknown parameters. The obtained value of SSE for NedStack PS6, BCS 500 W, 250 W and Ballard Mark V PEM fuel cell stacks are 1.242, 0.0111, 0.317, and 0.619 respectively whereas, the maximum values of percentage voltage deviations are −1.076%, 0.458%, 1.688%, and 2.69% respectively. Furthermore, statistical indices such as mean, minimum, standard deviation, and maximum value of SSE for hybrid approach indicate a least value among all other algorithms which elucidates hybrid approach as more robust and efficient. Additionally, the convergence curves, box plot study and non-parametric test further validate the robustness and reliability of INFONM in identifying unknown parameters of PEM fuel cell. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis considering SOBOL indicators is also presented to provide an illustration of influence of variation in extracted parameters on PEM fuel cell model.

This study introduces a two-dimensional thermoelastic model for a homogeneous isotropic half-space with double porosity underlying an inviscid liquid half-space featuring temperature variations. The model incorporates the three-phase lag (TPL) heat equation and reveals that in the solid half-space, four coupled longitudinal waves intertwine with one uncoupled transverse wave, while one mechanical wave ripples through the liquid half-space. The investigation highlights dispersion, attenuation, and other effects affected by the thermal properties and the presence of voids. Using plane wave solutions and boundary conditions at the interface, a concise expression for the frequency equation of the model has been derived. Furthermore, the magnitudes of the displacements in the solid half-space and liquid half-spaces, the temperature change, and the volume fractional fields at the interface have been precisely determined. In the graphical section, computer-simulated results of various wave profiles for magnesium crystal material have been generated for different heat conduction thermoelastic models. The study's implications span various fields, such as hydrology, engineering, ultrasonics, navigation, and electronics.

Abstract Background Infection risk was significant for front-line nurses during the Covid-19 outbreak. The pandemic presented several ethical difficulties and sapped nurses’ drive to labor harder for longer periods. This study evaluates registered nurses’ perceptions of Covid-19 infection risk, ethical dilemmas, and motivating factors. Materials and methods During March and April 2022, 400 registered nurses from a newly established tertiary care hospital participated in this cross-sectional exploratory survey. The risk assessment scale, motivation to work scale, and ethical dilemma scale were used to assess the perceived risk of infection, motivational factors and ethical challenges experienced by the nurses. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to compute the results. Results 76.4% of nurses feared working as a nurse put them at higher risk of infection. Besides the fear of contracting infection, nurses believed they were the source of infection to family members (70.8%) and people around (67.5%). 63.3% of nurses agree that they do not have the right to refuse treatment and every patient has the right to receive optimal care, regardless of age, gender, and medical conditions. Professional obligation to treat patients (72.3%) and sound professional knowledge and experience (83.5%) are important motivating factors to work during the pandemic. Multilinear regression analysis revealed that professional education (95% CI, 3.845 − 0.694, p = 0.005), Covid-19 positive status (95% CI,0.455-2.756, p = 0.006), and post-Covid-19 hospitalization (95% CI, 1.395–6.978, p = 0.003) and duration of hospitalization (95% CI, 0.754-0.058, p = 0.022) are independent predictors of higher perceived risk of infection among nurses. Conclusions During the pandemic, nurses were afraid to work and faced personal and family risks of contracting the virus. Despite these challenges, they still feel a strong sense of commitment and dedication to providing the best possible care. Nurse administrators need to create a supportive environment that follows ethical principles and meets the needs of nurses to boost their motivation and encourage them to continue working for longer periods.

Background: In India, trauma is the most common cause of death. The third most common cause of traumatic death is thoracic trauma. Thoracic trauma accounts for 10% of all trauma admissions, and the mortality rate is reported to range from 10% to 60%. Thoracic trauma patients are likely to be assessed and cared for consistently under a well-designed classification system. Aims: This study aims To investigate Chest Trauma Score (CTS)-based prognostic and predictive outcomes following chest trauma in the Indian subpopulation sustaining chest injuries. Setting and Design: This prospective observational study, Department of General Surgery, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah, was included a total of 50 individuals with thoracic trauma. Materials and Methods: When a patient is admitted to the emergency department or trauma unit, a complete clinical assessment, detailed history, vital signs, and all appropriate investigations - including chest radiographs, computed tomography, or high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest (if hemodynamics are stable on admission) - are performed. Age, pulmonary contusion (on HRCT chest), number of rib fractures, and presence of bilateral rib fracture were the four factors used to calculate the CTS. Statistical Analysis: Data were expressed as mean (standard deviation) and percentage (%). Chi-square, Student's t-test, and analysis of variance were used to compare measured variables. Results: The mean pulse rate (beats/min) and respiratory rate (/min) of patients were significantly higher, and systolic blood pressure (mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) were significantly lower in the nonsurvivor group compared with the survivor group. More than 5 rib fractures and intubation were significantly found more in nonsurvivor group. The mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was significantly decreased in nonsurvivor group (11.67 ± 1.37) as compared to survivor group (14.55 ± 1.13). Conclusion: Traffic accidents were more frequently (60%) responsible for chest trauma. The mean GCS was significantly associated with patient mortality.

The presence of muscles throughout the active parts of the body, such as the upper and lower limbs, makes electromyography-based human-machine interaction prevalent. However, muscle signals are stochastic and noisy, with noises being both regular and irregular. Irregular noises due to movements or electrical switching require dynamic filtering. Conventionally, filters are stacked, which unnecessarily trims and delays the signal. This study introduces a decontamination technique involving a supervised rewarding strategy to drive a deep Q-network-based agent (supDQN). It applies one of three filters to decontaminate a 1 sec long surface electromyography signal, which is dynamically contaminated. A machine learning agent identifies whether the signal after filtering is clean or noisy, generating a reward accordingly. The identification accuracy is enhanced by using a local interpretable model-agnostic explanation. The deep Q-network is guided by this reward to select the filter optimally while decontaminating a signal. The proposed filtering strategy is tested on four noise levels (−5 dB, −1 dB, +1 dB, +5 dB). supDQN filters the signal desirably when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is between -5 dB to +1 dB but filters less desirably at high SNR (+5 dB). A normalized root mean square ( $\Omega $ ) is formulated to depict the difference of the filtered signal from the ground truth. This is used to compare supDQN and conventional methods, including wavelet denoising with debauchies and symlet wavelet, high-order low-pass filter, notch filter, and high-pass filter. The proposed filtering strategy gives an average $\Omega $ value of 1.1974, which is lower than that of the conventional filters.

Background: Internet has become an integral part of our daily lives but as the use of internet is increasing, it is important to be aware of the prevalence, context, and impact of its addiction on sleep and the presence of anxiety, depression, and stress in our lives. Aim: To assess the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress among medical students in a tertiary care medical institute in Eastern India. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with a purposive sampling method was conducted among 420 undergraduate medical students of different professional years. Out of 420 medical students, 413 students who gave consent and returned complete performa were taken in the study using a semi-structured performa for sociodemographic details, Young's Internet Addiction Test, Insomnia Severity Index, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Results: We found 31.2% of students had internet addiction, 24.2% had clinical insomnia, 58.1% had stress, 68.8% had anxiety, and 64.6% had depression. Potential internet addiction was significantly related to average screen time, insomnia, stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusions: Internet addiction is prevalent among medical students affecting sleep, anxiety, depression, and stress, which needs urgent preventive strategies.

Background: Vitiligo is a common depigmenting dermatosis characterized by milky-white macules or patches. Any pathological discoloration of the skin has been linked to an impact on the body image of an individual, and vitiligo has been linked to decreased self-esteem and poor socialization of the affected people. In Indian society, vitiligo is labeled as Shweta-Kushta (i.e., white-colored leprosy) and is compared to leprosy—a more stigmatizing skin condition. Aim: This study aims to study gender-related differences in the quality of life of Indian vitiligo patients. Methodology: In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, a total of 55 vitiligo patients (females 25 and males 30) were enrolled using the purposive sampling technique. The sample was assessed on Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSS), and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) to assess their quality of life, self-esteem, and psychological well-being, respectively. The gender differences in sociodemographic and clinical details as well as their relationship with the quality of life of the patients were sought with the help of appropriate statistical measures. Results: The patients of both genders were comparable in terms of all sociodemographic and clinical variables except the females being less educated and employed than the males. There was a statistically significant trend of higher mean DLQI total score in females than males (6.6 ± 3.55 vs 4.8 ± 2.71, Mann–Whitney U = 263.5, P =0.058). Significantly, the average DLQI score in female vitiligo patients was negatively related to family income (rs = -.659, P

NiO cellulose nanocomposite (NiO-CN) were synthesized by the precipitation method and characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements and UV–vis spectroscopy. The particles obtained have an average size of 20-30 nm as shown by TEM analysis. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements were carried out to identify the possible biomolecules responsible for the capping and stabilization of the nickel oxide nanoparticles synthesized by milk. The presence of elements in the nanoparticles was also analysed by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The results of EDX analysis show the weight percentages of C, O, Ni, and N-elements in the synthesized material were 41.65%, 52.49%, 3.81%, and 2.06%, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) has been used to assess the morphology of the nanoparticle. The effects of NiO-cellulose nanocomposite are screened for biological activities like, antibacterial activity was done by the Disc diffusion method. The bacterial organisms used in this study were Bacillus subtilis, Salmonela abony, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The observed inhibition zone for these microorganisms was found to be a minimum of 3.0 mm and a maximum of 22.0 mm. Moreover, This NiO-CN also decreases the 50% load of Leishmania donovani via MTT assay with 25µg/ml concentration after 72 hours incubation.

Paryaymuktavali is an ancient Nighantu, composed by Haricharansen, a resident of Utkal (Odisha). In this lexicon, only the synonyms of substances are compiled, not the properties. It is composed on the basis of Amarkosh and Paryayaratnamala. There are 23 Vargas in it, which have been divided on the basis of size, smell, and Rasa (taste). In this, eight fascinating meters have been used along with Anushtupa. Therefore, it is an alluring work from poetic point of view as well. The composition of the scripture cannot be clearly stated; however, based on some external evidence, the approximate period of it has been considered to be the last part of the 16th century. Objective: The objective is to study and analyze the importance and utility of Paryayamuktawali in the present era and its real author. Data Source: Preprinted books of Paryayamuktawali. Apart from this contemporary journal, articles, internet material, and previous research papers related to these subjects have been used. Review Methods: All the published and unpublished literature related to Paryayamuktawali are reviewed by comparing and analyzing the different meanings and thoughts of classical as well as contemporary authors. Result and Conclusion: This article highlights the utility, importance, and originality of Paryayamuktawali.

Dysarthria, a speech disorder stemming from neurological conditions, affects communication and life quality. Precise classification and severity assessment are pivotal for therapy but are often subjective in traditional speech-language pathologist evaluations. Machine learning models offer objective assessment potential, enhancing diagnostic precision. This systematic review aims to comprehensively analyze current methodologies for classifying dysarthria based on severity levels, highlighting effective features for automatic classification and optimal AI techniques. We systematically reviewed the literature on the automatic classification of dysarthria severity levels. Sources of information will include electronic databases and grey literature. Selection criteria will be established based on relevance to the research questions. The findings of this systematic review will contribute to the current understanding of dysarthria classification, inform future research, and support the development of improved diagnostic tools. The implications of these findings could be significant in advancing patient care and improving therapeutic outcomes for individuals affected by dysarthria.

In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021–2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge. Patients hospitalized for mucormycosis during March–July 2021 were included. Mucormycosis was diagnosed based on mycological confirmation on direct microscopy (KOH/Calcofluor white stain), culture, histopathology, or supportive evidence from endoscopy or imaging. After consent, trained data collectors used medical records and telephonic interviews to capture data in a pre-tested structured questionnaire. At baseline, we recruited 686 patients from 26 study hospitals, of whom 72.3% were males, 78% had a prior history of diabetes, 53.2% had a history of corticosteroid treatment, and 80% were associated with COVID-19. Pain, numbness or swelling of the face were the commonest symptoms (73.3%). Liposomal Amphotericin B was the commonest drug formulation used (67.1%), and endoscopic sinus surgery was the most common surgical procedure (73.6%). At discharge, the disease was stable in 43.3%, in regression for 29.9% but 9.6% died during hospitalization. Among survivors, commonly reported disabilities included facial disfigurement (18.4%) and difficulties in chewing/swallowing (17.8%). Though the risk of mortality was only 1 in 10, the disability due to the disease was very high. This cohort study could enhance our understanding of the disease’s clinical progression and help frame standard treatment guidelines.

The democratic welfare government is equally committed to quality-driven, impartial, and egalitarian education. The major contribution of this study is to examine the problems and opportunities posed by the incorporation of digital technology in the classroom via the lens of Classroom 4.0 (CLSR4) and education 4.0. The commitment of the democratic welfare government to equitable and quality education is investigated, in line with the Global Agenda SDG 4 goal of ensuring comprehensive and lifelong education for everyone. The modern classroom is witnessing a clash between traditional teaching methods and the digital competency of today’s tech-savvy generation. The goal of this study is to examine the connections between education 4.0 and classroom 4.0 by looking at developments in classroom architecture and the use of digital platforms. The biggest issue found is instructors’ inability to adjust to changing conditions. In terms of methodology, confirmatory factor analysis is used in this work to investigate the dynamics of correlations in the context of Classroom 4.0. This method offers insights into the variables influenced by metaverse technology, resulting in a thorough comprehension of the evolving educational scene. This study’s findings shed insight into how students see the changing classroom and the role that various platforms play in engaging them. The study underscores the need for educators to effectively integrate these tools and address this digital transformation to improve teaching and learning experiences. However, there are study constraints, most notably the limited contextual scope, which is exclusively focused on the Indian educational setting. Further research in other worldwide contexts is required to generalize the findings. In the future, it is critical to investigate and build creative instructional practices that effectively synergize with Classroom 4.0. Furthermore, further research should be conducted to determine how governments and educational institutions might adapt to this paradigm shift, ensuring a smooth and effective transition into the digital era of education.

Chronic wounds take longer to heal and, if left untreated, can result in severe repercussions such as sepsis, gangrene, and amputation. The current treatment procedures followed are wound cleaning and debridement, specialized dressings, antibiotics and antiseptics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and vacuum-assisted wound closure. Some of the limitations of these treatment options are multidrug resistance and tissue toxicity. Cold plasma is an emerging technology that has opened a new frontier in biomedical applications and is found to have great utility in wound healing. Cold plasma comprises reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) that can be targeted against bacterial inactivation and improve wound healing. The amount of RONS produced can be controlled by several parameters such as gas composition, flow rate, power, frequency, voltage, distance, and exposure time. The reactive species causes damage to the cell membrane as well as the intracellular components which ultimately lead to bacterial cell death. It can also accelerate wound healing by activating neutrophils, macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts. These help in maintaining tissue oxygenation, initiating angiogenesis, collagen synthesis which aids in rapid wound closure. In this review, we summarize the various characteristics of cold plasma that can be optimized to produce an effective antimicrobial effect. The different mechanisms of bacterial inactivation and the stimulation of wound healing processes by the reactive species are discussed. Furthermore, numerous pieces of evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials that prove that cold plasma is an effective approach are presented.

Abstract The migration of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to their final destination during development follows well-defined pathways, such as along blood vessels. Cells originating from the highly malignant tumor glioblastoma (GBM) seem to exploit similar routes for infiltrating the brain parenchyma. In this report, we have examined the migration of GBM cells using three-dimensional high-resolution confocal microscopy in brain tumors derived from eight different human GBM cell lines xenografted into immunodeficient mice. The primary invasion routes identified were long-distance migration along white matter tracts and local migration along blood vessels. We found that GBM cells in the majority of tumors (6 out of 8) did not exhibit association with blood vessels. These tumors, derived from low lamin A/C expressing GBM cells, were comparatively highly diffusive and invasive. Conversely, in 2 out of 8 tumors, we noted perivascular invasion and displacement of astrocyte end-feet. These tumors exhibited less diffusive migration, grew as solid tumors, and were distinguished by elevated expression of lamin A/C. We conclude that the migration pattern of glioblastoma is distinctly tumor cell-specific. Furthermore, the ability to invade the confined spaces within white matter tracts may necessitate low expression of lamin A/C, contributing to increased nuclear plasticity. This study highlights the role of GBM heterogeneity in driving the aggressive growth of glioblastoma.

The brachial plexus block is a flexible and reliable regional anesthetic method with a wide range of applications. In this study, we aim to determine whether nalbuphine in combination with the local anesthetic bupivacaine could increase the efficacy and duration of analgesia during ultrasound-guided blockade of the brachial plexus. Seven randomized and controlled trials involving 416 patients were included after searching PubMed, Google, and Web of Science. Results of the studies were then retrieved and effect sizes were calculated using Review Manager 5. Duration of analgesia was significant heterogeneity between studies (P

The main goal of this research is to meet the demanding need for developing lightweight materials with improved properties that are appropriate for several engineering applications. The investigators proceeded to considerable efforts to assess the mechanical, micro-structural, and tribological characteristics of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/10 wt%SiCP/3 wt%GrP-MMC, Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/15 wt%SiCP/5 wt%GrP-MMC, and Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/20 wt%SiCP/8 wt%GrP-MMC based hybrid metal-matrix nano-composites (HMMC's). These hybrid aluminum matrix nano-composites were fabricated using the liquid processing stir casting method for automobile, aviation, defense, and chemical handling sectors owing to their superior strength, and higher thermal conductive properties. The machinability of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn/(SiCp + Grp) - MMC has received limited attention to date. Owing to its exceptional characteristics, this hybrid composite could take the role of cast iron or aluminum composites in a wide-variety multitude of engineering applications. The Mechanical properties of fabricated Hybrid-MMCs have been examined along with tribological properties & other factors, affecting the tensile strength of cast composites in this study. Additionally, the characterization has been performed through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Optical Microscopy. The fabricated samples of hybrid metal matrix nano-composites of Al-0.7Fe-0.6Si-0.375Cr-0.25Zn matrix have been tested for microstructure analysis, micro hardness test, density, tensile strength, and grain size. Microstructure study clears the claim of uniform distribution of SiC & Graphite particles in Al matrix alloy. An average tensile strength has been recorded as 258 MPa and a percent-elongation of 4.6 during the tensile test. Tensile-fractography findings have portrayed the intrinsic fractured-rupture microstructure of tensile-tested samples that seemed to have particle deformation breakage and pull-outs. The density of Al/(SiCp + Grp)-MMCs have been found to be 2.76 g/cm3 whereas the average hardness has been recorded at 120HV. An increase in graphite content in Al/SiC-MMC's provides a significant improvement in friction coefficient as well as a reduction in wear rate. Findings have observed that the wear rate is increased with increasing the sliding speed, however, it is almost constant between 300 and 600 rpm, and beyond this wear rate increases drastically. Likewise, the coefficient of friction also shows a considerable increase with the increase in sliding speed. As the composition of graphite in the material increases, a considerable decrease in the wear has been noted down because of the presence of tribo-layer formed between mating surfaces. A high value of applied load and high rotating speed imposed high deformation of the surface and increase in frictional force, as a result, an increase in wear rate. Wear rate increases with the increment in load during the wear test, while friction coefficient decreases. Hence, the development of HMMCs with better mechanical, microstructural, and tribological properties that can be utilized as cast iron or aluminum composites in a diverse spectra multitude of engineering applications involving the study's scientific insights and technological developments. Manufacturers in the myriads of industries, including aerospace, ground-transportation, thermal management, industrial, recreational, and infrastructure, could profit inventors/producers from the findings of the current study.

Development of native microbial consortia is crucial for the sustainable management of plant diseases in modern agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the antagonistic potential of various microbial isolates against Rhizoctonia bataticola, a significant soil-borne pathogen. A total of 480 bacteria, 283 fungi, and 150 actinomycetes were isolated and screened using in vitro dual plate assays. Among these, isolates 5F, 131B, 223B, and 236B demonstrated the highest antagonistic activity, with inhibition rates of 88.24%, 87.5%, 81.25%, and 81.25%, respectively. The selected isolates were further assessed for abiotic stress tolerance, revealing their ability to thrive under extreme conditions. Characterization of biocontrol and plant growth-promoting activities revealed the production of siderophores, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, chitinase, and indole-3-acetic acid, along with the solubilization of zinc and phosphorus. Compatibility tests confirmed the potential of forming effective microbial consortia, which significantly reduced the percent disease index in cluster bean. The most effective consortium, comprising Trichoderma afroharzianum 5F, Pseudomonas fluorescens 131B, Bacillus licheniformis 223B, and Bacillus subtilis 236B, achieved a 76.5% disease control. Additionally, this consortium enhanced total phenol (92.1%), flavonoids (141.6%), and antioxidant defense enzyme activities including POX (188.5%), PPOX (116.3%), PAL (71.2%), and TAL (129.9%) in cluster bean plants over the infected control, leading to substantial improvements in systemic resistance of plants. This consortium also significantly enhanced plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, number of pods per plant, and seed yield over the infected control as well as mock control. This study underscores the potential of these robust microbial consortia as a sustainable and effective strategy for managing R. bataticola and enhancing crop productivity under extreme environmental conditions.

Aims To identify the patterns of psychiatric help seeking behaviour among patients with psychotic illness presenting to mental health institute in Pakistan. Methods This Descriptive, Cross-Sectional Design comprised of a sample of 103 patients with psychotic diseases, chosen via non-probability – consecutive sampling at Outpatient Department of Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry, Hyderabad. The relatives of psychotic patients who were between 18 and 65 years of age with either gender and living with at least one family member were interviewed after taking informed written consent. An anonymous self-structured questionnaire containing inquiries pertaining to basic biodata, sociodemographic details, psychiatric diagnosis and disease particulars, pattern of help seeking and time and reasons for delay. Results The mean age of the sample stood at 32 years (±9.5 SD). 1/3 of the sample comprised of male patients while only 24% were comprised of female population. The mean time elapsed after first episode psychosis till interview was 82 ± 32 months (7 years) while mean delay in help seeking to any helper was reported to be 41 ± 17 months (3.5 years). Majority of the patients approached first to faith healers (Aamil Baba, Witch Doctor, Pir, Religious Leader, Molvi, Imam or Religious Cleric) while only 1/5 of the patients approached to psychiatrists for treatment of first psychotic episode. The mean time duration to approach to psychiatrist after first episode psychosis was reported to be 73 ± 38 months (around 6 years). Conclusion The study showed that most frequent source of health care for psychiatric patients were faith healers (Aamil Baba, Witch Doctor, Pir, Religious Leader, Molvi, Imam or Religious Cleric) as compared with one-third who went to qualified healthcare providers like psychiatrists or physicians. There is a huge delay in proper help seeking among psychiatric patients. Health education aiming at increasing awareness among general population regarding treatment options for psychiatric illness is recommended to improve the quality of life of people living in our locality.

This paper introduces a description of a doubly warped product manifold, taking into account certain conditions related to the projective curvature tensor. We demonstrate that the factor manifolds of a projectively flat (symmetric) doubly warped product manifold possess constant sectional curvature. In the flatness scenario, a doubly warped product manifold reduces to a singly warped product manifold. We establish that the factor manifolds of a doubly warped product manifold with harmonic projective curvature tensor are Einstein manifolds and exhibit harmonic projective curvature tensor. In Sec. VI, we provide evidence that a projectively flat (symmetric) generalized Robertson–Walker space-time is both a perfect fluid and static.

IntroductionThe utilization of plant material for synthesizing nanoparticles effectively triggers physiological and biochemical responses in plants to combat abiotic stresses. Salt stress, particularly caused by NaCl, significantly affects plant morphology and physiology, leading to reduced crop yields. Understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance is crucial for maintaining crop productivity.MethodsIn this study, we examined the effects of 150 μM spinach-assisted gold nanoparticles (S-AuNPs) on various parameters related to seed germination, growth attributes, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal traits, ion concentrations, stress markers, antioxidants, metabolites, and nutritional contents of spinach plants irrigated with 50 mM NaCl.ResultsResults showed that S-AuNPs enhanced chlorophyll levels, leading to improved light absorption, increased photosynthates production, higher sugar content, and stimulated plant growth under NaCl stress. Stomatal traits were improved, and partially closed stomata were reopened with S-AuNPs treatment, possibly due to K+/Na+ modulation, resulting in enhanced relative water content and stomatal conductance. ABA content decreased under S-AuNPs application, possibly due to K+ ion accumulation. S-AuNPs supplementation increased proline and flavonoid contents while reducing ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation via activation of both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. S-AuNPs also regulated the ionic ratio of K+/Na+, leading to decreased Na+ accumulation and increased levels of essential ions in spinach plants under NaCl irrigation.DiscussionOverall, these findings suggest that S-AuNPs significantly contribute to salt stress endurance in spinach plants by modulating various physiological attributes.

The use of inhibitors retain nitrogen as ammonium in soil, giving plants ample time for its uptake. This can reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, but extended retention may increase ammonia (NH3) volatilization. This study assessed the efficacy of coated urea fertilizers in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and NH3 volatilization in rice fields. A field experiment with Pusa 44 rice in the kharif seasons of 2019 and 2020 compared unfertilized control (No N), prilled urea (PU), nitrification inhibitors (NIs): neem oil-coated urea (NCU), karanj oil-coated urea, and dual inhibitor (DI: Limus + NCU). The coated urea fertilizers were analysed with scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Compared to PU, DI reduced N2O emissions by 23.7%, methane by 11.9%, and NH3 by 29.8%. DI also reduced NH3 emissions by 36–39% compared to other NIs. Overall, DI can lower the global warming potential of rice cultivation in trans Indo-Gangetic plains region by 17.1% for both direct and indirect emissions, suggesting its significant potential to reduce India's contribution to total agricultural GHG emissions.

The present experiment was conducted during winter (rabi) seasons of 2019–20 and 2020–21 at the ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh to study the genetic diversity amongst oat (Avena sativa L.) lines for micronutrients and agro-morphological traits. For study, 150 oat accessions collected from different sources were evaluated for two years and four micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) and 9 agro-morphological traits were recorded. Genotypes IG02122 (464.0 mg/kg), IG02156 (48.1 mg/kg), IG03271 (136.0 mg/kg), and IG03213 (22.0 mg/kg) had maximum Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content in fodder (harvested at 50% flowering). Genotype IG0280 had both high Zn (36.97 mg/kg) and Mn (114.33 mg/kg); IG03233 had high Cu (18.0 mg/kg) and Mn (124.0 mg/kg); and IG02131 had high Cu (18.33 mg/kg) and Fe (369.0 mg/kg) content. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) highlighted significant genotypic differences (P

Bioactive tragacanth gum (TG) was functionalized by covalent crosslinking of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (PMEDSAH) to design network structure in form of hydrogel wound dressings (HWD). These copolymers were encapsulated with antibiotic drug vancomycin to enhance wound healing potential of the dressings. The copolymers were characterized by SEM, AFM, FTIR, 13C NMR, XRD, and TGA-DSC analysis. SEM demonstrated uneven heterogeneous morphology and AFM revealed rough surface of copolymer. Inclusion of synthetic component into HD was confirmed by FTIR and 13C NMR. Hydrogel dressings absorbed 8.49 ​± ​1.03 ​g/g simulated wound fluid and exhibited non-hemolytic (3.7 ​± ​0.02 % hemolytic potential) and antioxidant (37.42 ​± ​1.54 ​% free radical scavenging in DPPH assay) properties. Polymers required 35.0 ​± ​5.0 ​mN detachment force to get it detach from the mucosal surface during mucoadhesive test. Tensile strength was found to be 1.88 ​± ​0.13 ​N/mm2 during mechanical stability test. Hydrogel dressings were permeable to O2/H2O and impermeable to microbes. Release of drug vancomycin occurred through non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and release profile was best described by Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Overall, these results revealed that these hydrogels could be explored as materials for hydrogel wound dressings.

Harmonics, are the major source of contaminations in fundamental voltage and current signals. For consumer satisfaction and for better equipment performance, these contaminations shall be identified and mitigated. Although, for accurate identification of harmonics, several methods have been proposed, yet metaheuristic based approaches have been used and in practice, since last two decades. The work reported here is based on a newly proposed optimization algorithm named as Atom Search Optimisation (ASO). In the first phase, a variant of ASO is proposed, based on Laplacian operator based position update mechanism named as Laplacian-ASO (L-ASO) for enhancing the performance of ASO and in the next phase, application of a newly developed L-ASO is carried out on harmonic estimator design problems. The improvisation of our proposed L-ASO is validated through conducted analyses and results showcased in the discussion section.

The relatively high concentration of thorium and uranium in monazite poses significant environmental issues in the extraction process of rare earth elements from monazite if left untreated. A new process route that recovers both thorium and uranium as oxides has been proposed, and an analysis of its economic feasibility is presented in the current paper, based on analysis and processing of a Korean monazite sample. Comparative evaluations with existing acidic and alkaline routes have also been carried out. It was estimated that the largest proportion of the operational cost for the new process related to the materials and reagent costs. Sensitivity analysis predicted that the value of neodymium oxide followed by Heavy Rare Earth Oxides (HREO) and praseodymium oxide affect the revenue significantly. Increasing the average basket price of the total rare earths oxide by 1.5 times would result in revenues of US$158.8 million/year for the proposed route, compared to US$161.5 and US$156.3 million/year for the alkaline and acidic routes, respectively. The discounted cash flow analysis and the resulted Net Present Value (NPV) suggested that the proposed processing route was in fact the only process estimated to be economically feasible with the payback period expected to be around 4.5 years. The sale of thorium oxide and uranium oxide by-products of the proposed route contributed to the positive discounted NPV. It was also estimated that a minimum sale price of US$20/kg total rare earth oxide is required to ensure all the processes generate a positive discounted NPV. These results shown that the proposed new processing route is estimated to be economically feasible.

The Pliocene to Holocene Kashmir basin of NW Himalaya, India, is prone to various geological and climatic hazards routinely connected to the climatic and structural setting of the Himalayan intermontane basins. The topographic expression of the basin is a direct consequence of the active plate tectonic convergence between the lithosphere plates of India and Eurasia. However, the role of the tectonic framework and its contribution to flood hazards has remained an unresolved research question. Our previous work has contributed towards this problem, and here, we extend our previous work by producing robust evidence in support of the role of active faults and tectonic topography in shaping the flood hazards in the Kashmir basin and its implication for the other similar basins in the world. The Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager-Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI-TIRS) and Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) images were used to extract pre-2014 floodwater bodies and 2014 flooded areas in the Jhelum River valley of the Kashmir region, respectively. Water pixels were extracted using the modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI) methods, and similarly, the flood depth and duration (in days) were computed. The flood depth was correlated with the Jhelum River valley's topography, morphology, and geology. The slope and topography were also associated with the 2014 flood disaster to map the influence of the pre-disposed structural setting of the basin on flood vulnerability. The results suggest that flood disasters were mainly related to the unplanned built area, which remains the dominant factor in how flood hazards have turned into disasters. The results reveal the tectonically derived structural configuration of the basin mainly contributed towards the flood hazards, which is the primary predisposed structural framework to dictate flood hazards since the formation of the basin ∼4.0 million years ago. Therefore, the primary outcome of our work is the strong evidence that flood hazards are related to the structural setting of the basin, which includes topography and geology, while the transition of flood hazards into disasters is mainly because of unplanned urbanization.

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a complex interaction of genetic and multifactorial environmental factors. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of blood groups with the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary cardiac care center in Karachi, Pakistan. Consecutive adult patients of either gender diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergone primary PCI during the study period of November 2020 to February 2021 were included. Based on blood grouping patients were stratified into two groups, non-O and O. comparative analysis of clinical and angiographic findings was performed and Chi-square test was used with p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 398 patients were included in this study out of which 296(74.4%) were males (mean age: 57.15±10.95 years) and 102(25.6%) females. Type O blood group distribution was 107(26.9%) and non-O blood groups were 291(73.1%). The non-O blood group included A=110(27.6%), AB=43(10.8%), and B=138(34.7%). Significant results in type O and non-O group were seen among single vessel diseases (41.1%, 29.6%) (p=0.029) and circumflex artery as culprit (16.8%,9.6%) (p=0.046), whereas in post-procedure complication no significant results were found (p=0.554) with in-hospital mortality rate (p=0.642). Conclusion: Blood group type O was found to be associated with single-vessel coronary artery diseases. However, no association of blood groups was observed with lesion complexity, post-procedure complications and mortality. Keywords: Ischemic Heart Diseases; Coronary Artery Diseases; Myocardial Infarction; Blood Group.

Introduction: Spinal cord injury is one of the common injury which causes damage to the spinal cord due to trauma, diseases or degenerations leading to disability and decreasing life expectancy. The study aims to find the characteristics of spinal cord injury presenting at a tertiary care centre. Methods: A Descriptive hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at Pokhara, Gandaki Province, from 28th March to 25th September, 2023. 139 participants were interviewed for the study. Structured interview schedule and validated questionnaires were used for data collection. Ethical approval was taken for the study (Reference number: 151/079). Results: A total of 139 cases were observed; most common affected age group was between 25-55 years with a mean age of 48.68 years. Most (66.9%) of the spinal cord injury patients were not enrolled in health insurance program. Most 107 (77.0%) common cause for spinal cord injury was falls from height. Age, gender, occupation and duration of stay in the hospital were statistically significant with mode of treatment. Conclusions: Spinal cord injury mostly traumatic commonly due to fall from height affecting mainly male population residing in rural areas at their fourth decade of life who are mainly involve in manual work and agriculture. Spinal cord injury is a major health problem at global and local level causing major morbidity.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency and severity of conductive hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal obstruction, admitted in tertiary care setup of Karachi. Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional type of study. The study was conducted in the depart- ment of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau, Civil Hospital, Karachi. The study continued for 6 months from September 8th, 2021, to March 8th 2022. Both males and fe- males were included in the study, with ages ranging between 15 and 40 years. The data was col- lected using a questionnaire. Questions were asked to all the patients with nasal/nasopharyngeal obstructive pathologies who were admitted in the ENT ward for different managements, including their gender, age, cause and duration of nasal/ nasopharyngeal obstruction. Assessment of degree and type of hearing loss was done using Pure Tone Audiogram (PTA). Data analysis done using SPSS version 23. Results: The patients’ average age was 28.23 ± 8.23 years. All patients with nasopharyngeal block- age suffered from conductive hearing loss (100%). The degree of conductive hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal blockage was mild loss in 51 (52.58%), moderate loss in 36 (37.11%), moderately severe loss in 9 (9.28%), and severe loss in one (1.03%). Conclusion: This study suggests that there is a strong link between obstructive nasal and/or nasopharyngeal lesions and conductive hearing loss. If the study could be conducted on a larger scale, the role of eustachian tube obstruction in the formation and disease course of otitis media would become clearer, and its management would be more beneficial in the treatment of otitis media.

BackgroundPrevious research showed that 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), a metabolic precursor of serotonin, reduces allergic lung inflammation by inhibiting eosinophil migration across endothelial monolayers.ObjectiveIt is unknown if serotonin receptors are involved in mediating this 5HTP function or if serotonin receptor (HTR) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associate with lung function in humans.MethodsSerotonin receptor subtypes were assessed by qPCR, western blot, confocal microscopy, pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA knockdown. HTR SNPs were assessed in two cohorts.ResultsPharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of the serotonin receptors HTR1A or HTR1B in endothelial cells abrogated the inhibitory effects of 5HTP on eosinophil transendothelial migration. In contrast, eosinophil transendothelial migration was not inhibited by siRNA knockdown of HTR1A or HTR1B in eosinophils. Surprisingly, these HTRs were intracellular in endothelial cells and an extracellular supplementation with serotonin did not inhibit eosinophil transendothelial migration. This is consistent with the inability of serotonin to cross membranes, the lack of selective serotonin reuptake receptors on endothelial cells, and the studies showing minimal impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on asthma. To extend our HTR studies to humans with asthma, we examined the CHIRAH and GALA cohorts for HTR SNPs that affect HTR function or are associated with behavior disorders. A polygenic index of SNPs in HTRs was associated with lower lung function in asthmatics.ConclusionsSerotonin receptors mediate 5HTP inhibition of transendothelial migration and HTR SNPs associate with lower lung function. These results may serve to aid in design of novel interventions for allergic inflammation.

This study aims to introduce an integrated model for understanding the influence of various sentimental factors in conjunction with macroeconomic factors on portfolio returns across ten industry sectors within the US market. These sentimental factors are categorized into market-wide, consumer, and individual stock market factors to assess their impact on industry portfolio returns. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the study evaluates the effects of macroeconomic and sentimental factors on stock market portfolio returns. The findings reveal a negative relationship between short-term interest rates and portfolio returns in specific industry sectors like manufacturing, telecom, and wholesale/retail. The study finds a positive relationship between the Hi-tech sector's risk spread and portfolio returns. Market sentimental factors positively influence portfolio returns of durable, non-durable, utility, and other sectors. Individual sentimental factors negatively impact portfolio returns in hi-tech, utility, durable, energy, and other sectors. The stock market-related individual, sentimental factor of the number of IPOs has a positive impact on portfolio returns in the energy sector and a negative impact on portfolio returns in other sectors. Consumer sentimental factors are significant positive determinants for portfolio returns in durable, energy, telecom, health, and other sectors. Discounts on closed-end funds may provide vital fundamental information regarding lower future earnings for stocks in the durable and energy sectors. The study provides valuable insights for investors to optimize their portfolio strategies in response to macroeconomic and sentimental factors within specific industry sectors.

Summary: Adipose tissue remodeling and dysfunction, characterized by elevated inflammation and insulin resistance, play a central role in obesity-related development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases. Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) are important regulators of cellular functions. Here, we describe the functions of linc-ADAIN (adipose anti-inflammatory), an adipose lincRNA that is downregulated in white adipose tissue of obese humans. We demonstrate that linc-ADAIN knockdown (KD) increases KLF5 and interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA stability and translation by interacting with IGF2BP2. Upregulation of KLF5 and IL-8, via linc-ADAIN KD, leads to an enhanced adipogenic program and adipose tissue inflammation, mirroring the obese state, in vitro and in vivo. KD of linc-ADAIN in human adipose stromal cell (ASC) hTERT adipocytes implanted into mice increases adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration compared to implanted control adipocytes, mimicking hallmark features of obesity-induced adipose tissue remodeling. linc-ADAIN is an anti-inflammatory lincRNA that limits adipose tissue expansion and lipid storage.

Indian farmers have played decisive role in ensuring national food security, however issues about their economic security have been a matter of concern. The study conducted during 2022 with 3648 farmers in 29 districts of Karnataka, exhibited the possibilities for income enhancement through technology-supported productivity-driven, diversification and agri-entrepreneurship promoted by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). The composition of income, estimated through Simpson’s Index of Diversity, testify the inclusiveness in sources of household income. Income enhancement across agro-climatic zones corroborated for the spatial inclusiveness. Evidences across different landholding categories demonstrated the social inclusiveness. Horticultural sector contributed highest to absolute enhancement in farmers’ income, but farm and non-farm enterprises, fisheries and livestock had higher rate of growth. Technology uptake was the catalyser for income enhancement across the sectors. The results provide an empirical framework for stage I impact, driven by productivity enhancement, leading to diversification and entrepreneurship development.

The present study describes an environmentally benign biological method for the production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by blending water-based leaf extract from a sustainable bio-source, the Arjuna tree, under ambient conditions. Aqueous leaf extract comprised of different reducing agents appeared as the precursor for phytofabrication, and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (ZnNO3·6H2O) acted as a zinc source. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs had a hexagonal shape with an average size of 31.14 nm, as revealed by HR-TEM, FE-SEM micrographs, and XRD patterns. The FESEM-EDS micrograph and the XRD patterns also revealed the elemental composition, phase purity, and crystalline nature of phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs. The initial formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed by absorption maxima at approximately 376 nm and Zn-O stretching vibrations at 520 cm−1 using UV–VIS and an FT-IR spectrophotometers, respectively. The aqueous extract of Arjuna leaf was also analysed using FT-IR spectrophotometer to identify the functional groups of bioactive substances that participated in the reduction and encapsulation processes. The efficacy of the Arjuna-ZnO NPs was assessed in terms of their ability to photocatalyzed on three noxious dyes, methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and congo red (CR), for high commercial and industrial usage. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs were photoactive and proved highly efficient and effective nano-photocatalysts for the photodegradation of three dyes, MB, MO, and CR, under natural sunshine, underscoring their potential for effective remediation of environmental pollutants. The degradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics in terms of adsorption kinetics.

Rationale Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a pathological process that causes progressive stenosis and cerebral hypoperfusion, leading to stroke occurrence and recurrence around the world. The exact duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for ICAD is unclear in view of long-term risk of bleeding complications.Aim The current study aims to study the efficacy and safety of long-term DAPT (up to 12 months) in patients with ICAD.Sample size Using 80% power and an alpha error of 5 %, presuming a 10%–15% drop-out rate, a total of 2200 patients will be recruited for the study.Methodology This is a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.Study outcomes The primary outcomes include recurrent ischaemic stroke (IS) or transient ischaemic attack and any intracranial haemorrhage (ICH), major or minor systemic bleeding at the end of 12 months. Secondary outcomes include composite of any stroke, myocardial infarction or death at the end of 12 months. The safety outcomes include any ICH, major or minor bleeding as defined using GUSTO (Global Use of Streptokinase and tPA for occluded Coronary Arteries) classification at the end of 12 months and 1 month after completion of the drug treatment phase.Discussion The study will provide level I evidence on the duration of DAPT among patients with IS due to ICAD of more than or equal to 50%.

A series of 16 novel prenylated chalcones (5A-5P) was synthesized by microwave-assisted green synthesis using 5-prenyloxy-2-hydroxyacetophenone and different benzaldehydes. Comparisons were also performed between the microwave and conventional methods in terms of the reaction times and yields of all compounds, where the reaction times in the microwave and conventional methods were 1–4 min and 12–48 h, respectively. The synthesized compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques, including IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and LC-HRMS. The antifungal activities of all compounds were evaluated against Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum under in vitro conditions and were additionally supported by structure–activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking studies. Out of the 16 compounds screened, 2’-hydroxy-4-benzyloxy-5’-O-prenylchalcone (5P) showed the highest activity against both S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum, with ED50 of 25.02 and 31.87 mg/L, respectively. The molecular docking studies of the prenylated chalcones within the active sites of the EF1α and RPB2 gene sequences and FoCut5a sequence as the respective receptors for S. rolfsii and F. oxysporum revealed the importance of the compounds, where the binding energies of the docked molecules ranged from −38.3538 to −26.6837 kcal/mol for S. rolfsii and −43.400 to −23.839 kcal/mol for F. oxysporum. Additional docking parameters showed that these compounds formed stable complexes with the protein molecules.

Researchers commonly use hierarchical clustering (HC) or k-means (KM) for grouping products, attributes, or consumers. However, the results produced by these approaches can differ widely depending on the specific methods used or the initial “seed” aka “starting cluster centroid” chosen in clustering. Although recommendations for various clustering techniques have been made, the realities are that objects in groups can, and do, change their clusters. That can impact interpretation of the data. Researchers usually does not run the clustering algorithms multiple times to determine stability, nor do they often run multiple methods of clustering although that has been recommended previously. This study applied hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC), KM and fuzzy clustering (FC) to a large descriptive sensory data set and compared attribute clusters from the methods, including multiple iterations of same methods. Sensory attributes (objects) shuffled among clusters in varying ways, which could provide different interpretations of the data. That frequency was captured in the KM output and used to form the “best possible” clusters via manual clustering (MC). The HAC and FC results were studied and compared with KM results. Attribute correlation coefficients also were compared with clustering information. Using results from one clustering approach may not be reliable, and results should be confirmed using other clustering approaches. A strategy that combines multiple clustering approaches, including a MC process is suggested to determine consistent clusters in sensory data sets.

This study investigates the impact of black carbon (BC) emissions on monsoon rainfall patterns across the Indian subcontinent. The results show that BC exerts localized warming effects, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms influencing the rainfall distribution across the Indian landmass. The study analyzes the vertical profile of mean tropospheric temperature differences between two sets of simulations: (i) with default BC emissions (WBC) and (ii) with BC emissions reduced by 99% (WoBC), conducted for JJAS, 2017, focusing on the region along the eastern coast. The analysis of the tropospheric temperature variations over the eastern coast reveals significant rainfall differences, primarily attributed to the intensification of convective rainfall. The results indicate that WoBC simulation leads to abnormal cooling in the lower troposphere and warming in the mid-upper troposphere, plausibly linked to the release of latent heat from the enhanced convective activity observed over the region. These alterations in the tropospheric temperature profile correspond remarkably well with the changes in the spatial distribution of rainfall over this area, providing valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of the climate system over this region.

Rationale Rapid and timely treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment (EVT) in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and large vessel occlusion (LVO) significantly improves patient outcomes. Bridging therapy is the current standard of care in these patients. However, an incompletely answered question is whether one thrombolytic agent is better than another during bridging therapy.Aim The current study aims to understand if one thrombolytic agent is superior to the other during bridging therapy in the treatment of AIS and LVO.Sample size estimates Using 80% power and an alpha error of 5 %, presuming a 10% drop out rate, a total of 372 patients will be recruited for the study.Methods and design This study is a prospective, randomised, multicentre, open-label trial with blinded outcome analysis design.Study outcomes The primary outcomes include proportion of patients who will be independent at 3 months (modified Rankin score (mRS) ≤2 as good outcome) and proportion of patients who achieve recanalisation modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grade 2b/3 at first angiography run at the end of EVT. Secondary outcomes include proportion of patients with early neurological improvement, rate of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), rate of any ICH, rate of any systemic major or minor bleeding and duration of hospital stay. Safety outcomes include any intracranial bleeding or symptomatic ICH.Discussion This trial is envisioned to confirm the theoretical advantages and increase the strength and quality of evidence for use of tenecteplase (TNK) in practice. Also, it will help to generate data on the efficacy and safety of biosimilar TNK.Trial registration number CTRI/2022/01/039473.

The green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is of utmost importance in nanoscience due to its eco-friendly and sustainable approach. This approach reduces chemical usage, energy consumption, and waste generation. Our featured article presents an elaborate account of green synthesis, and various biomedical applications of diluted magnetic semiconductor-based and plasmonic-based semiconductor material, particularly focusing on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide NPs. We assertively review the necessity of an environment-friendly, cost-effective, easy-to-handle, smart, and easy approach for synthesizing ZnO and TiO2 NPs and their applications. Both ZnO and TiO2 NPs got a lot of attention because of their unique chemical, physical and biological properties. Moreover, plasmonic based diluted magnetic semi-conductor possess additional advantages in terms of their band gaps and visible light absorbance compared to bared nanoparticles. These distinct properties make them exceptionally useful in biomedical fields such as antibacterial, antimicrobial, anticancer, antifungal, and cytotoxicity. We provide various green routes for synthesizing ZnO and TiO2 NPs, along with pictorial demonstrations. Additionally, we assertively review the antibacterial capacity of both ZnO and TiO2 NPs and their mechanisms in detail in this featured review.

Contamination with hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) has drawn immense interest of national and global regulatory authorities due to its toxic and carcinogenic threat. Although various approaches have been applied for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution, adsorption has been proven to be the most promising method. Biochar, a cost-effective adsorbent, is one of the prominent adsorbents for environmental remediation that can be produced from different biowaste precursors. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) is one of the common vegetables around the world. The cauliflower stem is not commonly edible and therefore discarded as waste. In this work, the cauliflower waste-based biochar, with and without chemical modification, was prepared from a simple oxygen-limited pyrolysis. With the assistance of TGA, DSC, and SEM-EDS, the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the generation of biochar, reaction energy as well as reaction temperature, and morphology of the prepared biochar were analyzed. Pyrolytic temperature of 450°C was found to be the best for tailoring biochar. Chromium(VI) removal from the synthetic solution was performed by using biochar as an adsorbent. H3PO4-activated biochar (PBC) performs better than other biochar. The adsorption kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamic parameters were studied in batch-wise experiments by varying the contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and operating temperature. The Cr(VI) removal on PBC biochar follows a pseudo-second-order kinetics and fits with Langmuir isotherm resulting in Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of 64.10 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters and XPS analysis of spent biochar adsorbent reveal that Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) happens simultaneously during the removal process. The spent biochar can be regenerated using 0.1 M NaCl and used for several cycles. Thus, the cauliflower stem-derived biochar can be effectively applied for Cr(VI) removal for multiple cycles through regeneration, which would contribute to the circular economy for environmental purposes.

Methylxanthines are a unique class of drug, derived from the purine base xanthine and 1,3-dimethylxanthine (Theophylline) is the most commonly used methyl xanthine. The present study was conducted to study the effect of supplementation of 1,3-dimethylxanthine in semen extender on sperm motility and morphological parameters of semen. A total of 15 semen ejaculates were collected from three adult cattle bulls. Each ejaculate was divided into five groups. First group was kept as control (C) in which samples were diluted with Tris-egg yolk-glycerol extender and samples of other 4 groups (T-5, T-10, T-20 and T-40) were supplemented with 1,3-dimethylxanthine at a dose rate of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mM respectively. The diluted semen samples were incubated at 37°C in water bath and evaluated for various seminal parameters at 15 and 30 min of incubations. Sperm motility, sperm kinetic parameters and sperm abnormalities of semen of all groups were assessed using computer assisted sperm analyser (CASA). Morphological parameters of spermatozoa of control and supplemented groups were also evaluated. The results revealed that 1,3-dimethylxanthine supplementation resulted in significant increase in motile sperm concentration, kinematic parameters, sperm viability, sperms with intact plasma membrane as compared to other groups. However, sperm abnormalities viz., bent tail, coiled tail, distal droplet and distal midpiece reflex varied non-significantly in all groups. Thus, it can be concluded that 1,3-dimethylxanthine (Theophylline) inclusion at 10 mM concentration in semen extender improved the quality of semen.

Abstract Objective To compare the renal artery (RA) flow indices (RI and PI) among normohydramnios, idiopathic oligohydramnios, and polyhydramnios and determine applicability of fetal RA Doppler indices in predicting the pregnancy outcome. Methods Total 106 3rd trimester pregnant patients were divided into cases and controls based on amniotic fluid index. Routine antenatal and color Doppler (including kidneys) ultrasound was performed for all patients in this study. The postnatal follow‐up was done, and the pregnancies having poor outcomes in terms of NICU admissions were assessed. Results Statistically significant differences were noted when comparing RI and PI values of normohydramnios (0.91 ± 0.04 and 2.38 ± 0.21, respectively) with oligohydramnios (1.02 ± 0.07 and 2.99 ± 0.38, respectively) and polyhydramnios (0.90 ± 0.12 and 2.7 ± 0.84, respectively) independently (p value

Aim: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is defined as yellowish discoloration of the skin, conjunctive, and sclera from the elevated serum or plasma bilirubin in the newborn. The standard of care for the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is phototherapy to prevent long-term neurological sequelae. The aim of this study was to ascertain the predictability of significant rebound hyperbilirubinemia (SRH) in neonates after phototherapy and the factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: Neonates ≥ 35 weeks of gestation, who received treatment for hyperbilirubinemia and admitted in our hospital from 15th of March 2019 to 15th of September 2020 were enrolled after taking parental consent. SRH was defined as bilirubin levels crossing the treatment threshold within 72 hours of phototherapy termination. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictability of SRH. Results: Out of 400 neonates treated with phototherapy, 10% developed SRH. Prematurity (Gestational age < 37 weeks), low birth weight (Birth weight < 2000 gram), ABO and Rh incompatibility, Glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) deficiency, sepsis, and longer duration of primary phototherapy were found to be significantly associated with rebound hyperbilirubinemia. The probability of SRH increases for all American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) risk categories as the gestational age decreases and total serum bilirubin at the stoppage of phototherapy increases. Conclusions: The presence of risk factors should be taken into account while planning discharge and follow-up of neonates admitted for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia to prevent long-term complication of bilirubin neurotoxicity.

Introduction: Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) is acute kidney injury (AKI) occurring during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period. AKI is defined as suddenly impaired kidney function with the retention of nitrogenous and other waste products. In high population country like India, not all deliveries are done tertiary care. Even not all are registered one if delivery is conducted at a hospital setup. The majority of patients are being managed by available obstetrician at local places. Early diagnosis and timely management of complications related to pregnancy are very important to avoid PRAKI. We aim to study maternal risk factors and fetomaternal outcome in PRAKI. Materials and Methods: A prospective study is conducted between 2021 and 2022 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VMMC, and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. For antenatal and delivered women up to 6 weeks, 50 patients were recruited according to KDIGO (Kidney Disease International Global Outcomes) criteria. Patients were followed with CBC, serum electrolytes, serial KFT, urine input/output monitoring, and USG-KUB. Dialysis was done if indicated. Complete renal recovery was considered if S.Cr ≤1.0 mg/dl within 6 weeks of diagnosis of AKI. For statistical significance, a P value of less than 0.05 was considered. Results: The majority of patients were unbooked, 21–25 years of age, and belonged to lower socioeconomic status (54%). Risk factors were: preeclampsia (28%), puerperal sepsis (24%), PPH (20%), abruption (14%), pyelonephritis (4%), acute gastroenteritis (4%), gestational hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia (2%), antepartum eclampsia (2%), and thrombotic microangiopathy (2%). Hemodialysis is required in 23 (46%). Complete renal recovery was seen in 40 (80%) and partial renal recovery in 3 (6%). Maternal mortality was 14% and causes were: puerperal sepsis (57%), preeclampsia with severe features with MODS (29%), and antepartum eclampsia with hepatorenal failure (14%). Fetal outcome: 76% live birth, 24% intrauterine death, and 16% early neonatal death. Conclusion: Most common risk factors for PRAKI are preeclampsia followed by puerperal sepsis and PPH where all are preventable causes.