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The notions of Critical Thinking (CT) and Lifelong Learning (LL) are mutually inseparable as both are required in every domain of one's educational and professional life in order to survive and flourish in today's world of increased literacy and competition. CT is an important functional skill, needed for students to analyze concepts and ideas to get a clear understanding of them. Review of a host of definitions of CT, included in this paper, suggests that it basically involves a plethora of thinking abilities for the purposes of evaluating one's own thinking process that results in a meaningful learning experience. However, unlike ordinary thinking, which is an inborn human ability, CT needs to be inculcated through implicit and/or explicit instruction. Many researchers (e.g. Benesch, 1993; Atkinson, 1997; Oster, 1989; Brookfield, 1987; Shor & Freire, 1987; Fox, 1994; etc.) explain CT as a means to transform learning and society and they believe that social practice is one of the indispensable components of CT. In view of this, we need to orient our ESL / EFL students towards CT, along with the teaching of language skills, through interactive instructional practices. Considering the role(s) CT can play in developing information-based societies and the pedagogical gains that can be made through the use of visuals in teaching language skills and CT, this paper aims to discuss and demonstrate how certain schematic pictorial presentations can be exploited as stimuli to orient ESL/EFL learners towards CT. The significance of this paper also lies in encouraging researches which explicitly link CT with pictorial presentations of cartoons and caricatures.

For many students learning English as a second/foreign language is an uninteresting, dull experience. Quite often teachers present words, sentence patterns, and grammar rules in a very mechanical manner. As a result, people come to think of the teaching of grammar and vocabulary as a monotonous job. But a resourceful, imaginative and creative teacher can always break this monotony using innovative techniques and authentic materials. The present paper is an attempt to demonstrate how jokes, anecdotes, stories and situations, and journalistic cartoons can be effectively exploited as supplementary materials to enliven the classroom atmosphere, ensure better learner motivation and participation, and make the teaching and learning of English an enjoyable, stimulating, and memorable experience.

Myocardial tissue homeostasis is critically important for heart development, growth and function throughout the life course. The loss of cardiomyocytes under pathological conditions ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease due to the limited regenerative capacity of the postnatal mammalian heart. Inhibition of electron transport along the mitochondrial respiratory chain causes cellular stress characterized by ATP depletion as well as excessive generation of reactive oxygen species. Adult cardiomyocytes are highly susceptible to mitochondrial dysfunction whereas embryonic cardiomyocytes in the mouse heart have been shown to be resistant towards mitochondrial complex III inhibition. To functionally characterize the molecular mechanisms mediating this stress tolerance, we used H9c2 cells as an in vitro model for immature cardiomyoblasts and treated them with various inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration. The complex I inhibitor rotenone rapidly induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis whereas the complex III inhibitor antimycin A (AMA) had no effect on proliferation and only mildly increased cell death. HL-1 cells, a differentiated and contractile cardiomyocyte cell line from mouse atrium, were highly susceptible to AMA treatment evident by cell cycle arrest and death. AMA induced various stress response mechanisms in H9c2 cells, such as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), integrated stress response (ISR), heat shock response (HSR) and antioxidative defense. Inhibition of the UPR, ISR and HSR by siRNA mediated knock down of key components does not impair growth of H9c2 cells upon AMA treatment. In contrast, knock down of NRF2, an important transcriptional regulator of genes involved in detoxification of reactive oxygen species, reduces growth of H9c2 cells upon AMA treatment. Various approaches to activate cell protective mechanisms and alleviate oxidative stress in HL-1 cells failed to rescue them from AMA induced growth arrest and death. In summary, these data show that the site of electron transport interruption along the mitochondrial respiratory chain determines cell fate in immature cardiomyoblasts. The study furthermore points to fundamental differences in stress tolerance and cell survival between immature and differentiated cardiomyocytes which may underlie the growth plasticity of embryonic cardiomyocytes during heart development but also highlight the obstacles of cardioprotective therapies in the adult heart.

In the last few decades, the deficiency of sulfur (S) has been noticed in the agricultural soils of India. Meanwhile, researchers reported that S plays a significant role in the productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS). For the quantification of S response, a long-term field experiment was started at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram, India. In total, 7 nutrient supply options were applied, i.e., organic, mineral fertilizer in the combination of integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), and IPNS + berseem (B)/IPNS + cowpea (C) in the S availability of the soil in the RWCS. The results showed that the highest contribution in S availability by the total S (39%) is followed by the organic S (35%), sodium bicarbonate extractable sulfur (NaHCO3-ES; 7%), heat-soluble sulfur (SS; 7%), water-soluble sulfur (WSS; 4%), available S (4%), and inorganic S (4%) under different long-term nutrient supply options of RWCS. The continuous application of organic fertilizer and various IPNS options, such as the inclusion of pulses, significantly improved all S fractions in the soil and also offers an additional benefit in terms of sustainability of production and soil health as compared to the inorganic fertilizer fields. Overall, the results showed that IPNS showed its superiority over the rest of the treatment. The results also supported that the inclusion of pulses gives a further gain in terms of sulfur availability in soil systems under RWCS.

Introduction: Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation during general anaesthesia are associated with haemodynamic surges which can be detrimental, particularly if there is pre-existing hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Intravenous (i.v.) labetalol, a β-adrenergic blocker with additional α1-adrenoceptor blocking activity, and clonidine, a centrally acting α2 agonist, are known to attenuate this haemodynamic response. Aim: To compare the effects of i.v. labetalol and clonidine in attenuating haemodynamic changes during laryngoscopy and intubation in controlled hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: This single centre, parallel-group, double-blind, randomised clinical trial was conducted in the Surgery Operation Theatre (OT) of Midnapore Medical College, District Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India, from February 2018 to August 2019. The study included 90 adult patients of either sex, who were randomly allocated to receive either clonidine 1 mcg/kg or labetalol 0.15 mg/kg by intravenous route. After recording baseline parameters, patients were preoxygenated with 100% oxygen for 3 min and the study drug was given 5 min prior to induction. Heart Rate (HR), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and the rate pressure product were recorded prior to induction, at the time of intubation and 1, 3, 5, and 10 min after intubation. General anaesthesia maintenance was done in a similar manner in both groups. Two-sample t-test was used to assess significance of difference in means between independent samples. Fischer’s-exact test was employed for comparing categorical data. Analysis was two-tailed and p-value 0.05). Both drugs were able to attenuate the expected rise in HR following intubation but labetalol was more effective than clonidine throughout the postintubation period. SBP and DBP were comparable between the two groups at baseline but underwent greater attenuation in the labetalol group at intubation and subsequent measurements. The differences were around 10 bpm for HR, 20-30 mmHg for SBP and 10 mmHg for DBP, in favour of labetalol. Adverse events like bradycardia, hypotension, sedation or undesirable ECG changes were not encountered. Conclusion: Intravenous labetalol is more effective than i.v. clonidine in controlling haemodynamic changes during laryngoscopy and intubation in controlled hypertensive patients undergoing general anaesthesia without any complications.

Abstract The bioenergy crops such as energycane, miscanthus, and sorghum are being genetically modified using state of the art synthetic biotechnology techniques to accumulate energy‐rich molecules such as triacylglycerides (TAGs) in their vegetative cells to enhance their utility for biofuel production. During the initial genetic developmental phase, many hundreds of transgenic phenotypes are produced. The efficiency of the production pipeline requires early and minimally destructive determination of oil content in individuals. Current screening methods require time‐intensive sample preparation and extraction with chemical solvents for each plant tissue. A rapid screen will also be needed for developing industrial extraction as these crops become available. In the present study, we have devised a proton relaxation nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) method for single‐step, non‐invasive, and chemical‐free characterization of in‐situ lipids in untreated and pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. The systematic evaluation of NMR relaxation time distribution provided insight into the proton environment associated with the lipids in the biomass. It resolved two distinct lipid‐associated subpopulations of proton nuclei that characterize total in‐situ lipids into bound and free oil based on their “molecular tumbling” rate. The T1T2 correlation spectra also facilitated the resolution of the influence of various pretreatment procedures on the chemical composition of molecular and local 1H population in each sample. Furthermore, we show that hydrothermally pretreated biomass is suitable for direct NMR analysis unlike dilute acid and alkaline pretreated biomass which needs an additional step for neutralization.

VL Dhan 159 is an early duration rice variety suitable for cultivation under rainfed upland organic condition of Uttarakhand hills. This variety has been developed by ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan(VPKAS) Almora, Uttarakhand for the kharif season and released by the State Varietal Release Committee of Uttarakhand in 2020, Subsequently it was notified by the Central Seed Committee vide notification number S.O.500(E) dated the 29th January, 2021. VL Dhan 159 is derived from the cross VL 66/HPR 2143 with a maturity duration of 110-115 days. Under organic conditions, this variety has recorded an average yield of 2,054 kg/ha and out yielded the check varieties of Vivek Dhan 154 by 42.34 per cent, VL Dhan 221 by 27.34 per cent and VL Dhan 156 by 33.64 per cent. It was found resistant against leaf and neck blast (score 0-3), brown leaf spot (score 3-4), sheath rot (score 1), leaf scald (score 1-3), false smut (score 0), stem borer and leaf folder (score 0-1) under natural condition. It has more number of panicles/m2 (229) compared to the checks of Vivek Dhan 154 (200) and VL Dhan 156 (172). This variety has non lodging intermediate plant height, semi-erect with well exerted panicle. It has exhibited a better quality characteristics like high hulling (82.8%) and milling (72.1%), intermediate Alkali Spreading Value (4.0), Gel consistency (50) and amylose content (25.93%). Grain Chalkiness is very occasionally present. It has short bold grain with L/B ratio of 2.00

While COVID-19 has dominated Influenza-like illness (ILI) over the past few years, there are many other pathogens responsible for ILI. It is not uncommon to have coinfections with multiple pathogens in patients with ILI. The goal of this study was to identify the different organisms in symptomatic patients presenting with ILI using two different high throughput multiplex real time PCR platforms. Specimens were collected from 381 subjects presenting with ILI symptoms. All samples (nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs) were simultaneously tested on two expanded panel PCR platforms: Applied Biosystems™ TrueMark™ Respiratory Panel 2.0, OpenArray™ plate (OA) (32 viral and bacterial targets); and Applied Biosystems™ TrueMark™ Respiratory Panel 2.0, TaqMan™ Array card (TAC) (41 viral, fungal, and bacterial targets). Results were analyzed for concordance between the platforms and for identification of organisms responsible for the clinical presentation including possible coinfections. Very good agreement was observed between the two PCR platforms with 100% agreement for 12 viral and 3 bacterial pathogens. Of 381 specimens, approximately 58% of the samples showed the presence of at least one organism with an important incidence of co-infections (~36–40% of positive samples tested positive for two and more organisms). S. aureus was the most prevalent detected pathogen (~30%) followed by SARS-CoV-2 (~25%), Rhinovirus (~15%) and HHV6 (~10%). Co-infections between viruses and bacteria were the most common (~69%), followed by viral-viral (~23%) and bacterial-bacterial (~7%) co-infections. These results showed that coinfections are common in RTIs suggesting that syndromic panel based multiplex PCR tests could enable the identification of pathogens contributing to coinfections, help guide patient management thereby improving clinical outcomes and supporting antimicrobial stewardship.

Organic–inorganic hybrid crystals have diverse functionalities, for example in energy storage and luminescence, due to their versatile structures. The synthesis and structural characterization of a new cobalt–vanadium‐containing compound, 2[Co(en)3]3+(V4O13)6−·4H2O (1) is presented. The crystal structure of 1, consisting of [Co(en)3]3+ complexes and chains of corner‐sharing (VO4) tetrahedra, was solved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in the centrosymmetric space group P1. Phase purity of the bulk material was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis and powder X‐ray diffraction. The volume expansion of 1 was found to be close to 1% in the reported temperature range from 100 to 300 K, with a volume thermal expansion coefficient of 56 (2) × 10−6 K−1. The electronic band gap of 1 is 2.30 (1) eV, and magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that the compound exhibits a weak paramagnetic response down to 1.8 K, probably due to minor CoII impurities (<1%) on the CoIII site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What nutrient supply options can ensure maximum productivity and optimize the nutrient uptake of rice–wheat system (R-W system)? an experiment started in the year 1998 (19-year-old) to examine the impact of optimal nutrient supply (NS) strategies to maximize crop productivity and nutritional security in R-W system. To determine the best nutrient management strategies (BNMS), seven different NS methods were tested. These included (organic and mineral fertilizers), as well as combinations such as integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS), IPNS + B (berseem), and IPNS + C (cowpea), with the aim of enhancing the productivity and nutrient absorption of R-W system. Results showed that rice grain yield notably wide-ranging from 1.61 to 5.81 t ha−1 under different NS options and highest rice grain yield (mean of 19 years) was observed at IPNS + C (5.81 t ha−1), which was at par with IPNS (5.79 t ha−1), STCR (soil test crop response) (5.76 t ha−1) and IPNS + B (5.67 t ha−1) followed by 100% recommended dose fertilizer NPK (4.41 t ha−1), which equality with OF (organic farming) (4.04 t ha−1) and lowest was recorded in control plot (1.61 t ha−1). Wheat grain yield varied significantly from 1.43 to 5.86 t ha−1 under different NS options. The highest yield (mean of 19 years) was observed in treatments IPNS + B (5.86 t ha−1), IPNS (5.77 t ha−1), IPNS + C (5.48 t ha−1), and STCR (5.45 t ha−1), followed by OF at 4.49 t ha−1, NPK at 3.76 t ha−1, with the lowest in the control plot at 1.43 t ha−1. Additionally, total phosphorus and sulfur accumulation in rice (grain: 8.41 to 39.09 kg ha−1; straw: 6.02 to 23.54 kg ha−1) varied significantly across nutrient supply treatments. Overall, adoption of IPNS integration with legumes (IPNS + B and IPNS + C), can significantly improve productivity and nutrient accumulation in R-W systems. Incorporating legumes into farming practices is advised for sustained productivity and nutritional benefits.Article highlights: Legume integration boosts productivity in rice–wheat systems. Integrated plant nutrition system (IPNS) + cowpea enhances rice yield (5.81 t/ha). Highest wheat yield at IPNS + berseem (5.86 t/ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fully biocompatible supercapacitor was fabricated utilizing dopamine-grafted activated carbon-based (DPBAC) electrode material along with a choline chloride–urea-based eco-friendly Reline deep eutectic solvent electrolyte. The current collector (graphite ink), electrode (DPBAC ink), and electrolyte (Reline) were 3D printed using the optimized printing parameters tailored specifically for the Piezo jet dispenser printing tool. Dopamine was grafted on commercially available (YP-80 F) bare activated carbon (BAC) using the π–π stacking method. Thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed the grafting of dopamine on BAC. 3D printed devices (size of 50 mm × 50 mm × 0.5 mm) were fabricated using DPBAC and BAC-based electrode materials to study the electrochemical performance. The DPBAC supercapacitor displayed a specific capacitance of 39 F g−1 which was comparatively higher than that of BAC (23 F g−1) at a current density of 0.2 A g−1, demonstrating the contribution of the redox reaction of the grafted dopamine molecule. The developed 3D-printed fully biocompatible supercapacitors (3DPBSC) demonstrate an outstanding specific capacitance of 96 F g−1 at a scan rate of 1 mV s−1 which surpasses the previously reported state-of-the-art performance (25.6 F g−1 at a scan rate of 1 mV s−1 for 1.2 V for fully 3D printed and disposable paper supercapacitors). Moreover, 3DPBSC exhibited a maximum energy density of 22 W h kg−1 at a power density of 1835 W kg−1 within a device voltage range from 0 to 2.0 V. These results highlight the promising potential of the fabricated 3DPBSC as flexible and sustainable supercapacitors for applications in low-power wireless sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide is a hazardous chemical mainly synthesized during the thermal processing of foods representing a significant concern within the broader issue of food contaminants and their impact on public health. Acrylamide can be absorbed by the human body through dietary intake, respiration, dermal contact, and mucosa. The metabolic conversion of acrylamide into mercapturic acid metabolites and glycidamide results in several adverse and toxic effects. Therefore, this review explores the formation, toxicity, and metabolism of acrylamide. Hence, it is crucial to detect and ensure product quality via risk evaluation. Traditional analytical techniques for acrylamide detection often require expensive instrumentation and complex sample preparation, prompting the exploration of alternative, cost‐effective, sustainable methods. Here, we propose the utilization of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized through green approaches as a novel solution. CQDs display their immense potential for diverse applications due to their valuable properties such as biocompatibility, photocatalysis, and strong fluorescence. This review highlights the distinct potential of CQDs as a fluorescence probe for detecting acrylamide, showcasing their efficacy in addressing food safety concerns. In addition, various extraction and purification techniques for acrylamide such as QuEChERS, solid phase extraction, Carrez clarification, and dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction are comprehensively reviewed. QuEChERS is regarded as a most promising technique for the extraction of acrylamide owing to its cost‐effective, rapid, and higher recovery rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The term "acute myocardial infarction" (AMI) describes the destruction of heart muscle tissue brought on by ischemia, or the lack of oxygen to the heart's tissue. Aim: To investigate the correlation between serum levels of homocysteine, uric acid, and C-reactive protein in patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: A total of 60 patients with AMI were enrolled in this study. After recruitment, detailed history was recorded and physical examination of subjects was carried out. A serum sample, used to determine the homocysteine, uric acid concentrations and other general biochemical assays, was obtained with one anticoagulant-free 7.5 mL test tube. Other biochemical assays were performed and CRP (mg/L) was measured. Subjects were grouped according to Killip classification. Results: In present study, mean Homocysteine (umol/l) in Killip class I was 4.86±2.01, in class II was 5.97±2.30, in class III was 8.44±4.73 and in class IV was 13.47±6.12 (p <0.01). Mean uric acid (mg/dl) in Killip class I was 2.13±1.81, in class II was 2.54±1.74, in class III was 3.65±1.11 and in class IV was 4.51±1.07 (p <0.01). Mean C-Reactive Protein (mg/l) in Killip class I was 0.72±0.57, in class II was 1.61±0.88, in class III was 5.96±3.03 and in class IV was 8.75±4.84, (p value <0.01). A statistically significant correlation was found between Homocysteine & Uric acid level with Coefficient of correlation being 0.58 ( p value <0.01) ; between Homocysteine & C-Reactive Protein level with Coefficient of correlation being 0.43 (p=0.002) ; between Uric acid & C-Reactive Protein level with Coefficient of correlation being 0.41 (p value=0.005). Conclusion: The study found a significant correlation between blood levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Uric acid, and Homocysteine with Killip classification in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction. As the Killip classification stages progressed, the levels of these biomarkers also increased. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between Homocysteine and Uric acid levels, Homocysteine and CRP levels, as well as Uric acid and CRP levels. These findings suggest that since these biomarkers are involved in Myocardial Infarction, monitoring their serum levels together could be beneficial for evaluating and managing these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]