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Undernutrition is considered to be a serious public health problem in most of the developing countries. Globally, the anthropometric measures are widely used to estimate the magnitude of undernutrition in children. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) provides the overall magnitude of undernutrition as an aggregate single measure over the conventional anthropometric indices and helps in identification of single or double or multiple anthropometric failures in preschool children. The present investigation assesses the age-sex specific prevalence of undernutrition using both conventional anthropometric measures and CIAF among Sonowal Kachari tribal preschool children of Assam, India. This cross-sectional investigation was carried out among 362 (162 boys and 190 girls) Sonowal Kachari tribal children younger than 5 years of flood affected regions of Lakhimpur district of Assam, India. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were measured using standard procedures. Age-sex specific Z-score value of weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height were calculated by using WHO-Anthro, v. 3.2.2. A child Z-score

Abstract The anti-angiogenic agent, diamino propane tetraiodothyroacetic acid (DAT), is a thyro-integrin (integrin αvβ3) antagonist anticancer agent that works via genetic and nongenetic actions. Tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) and DAT as thyroid hormone derivatives influence gene expression after they transport across cellular membranes. To restrict the action of DAT to the integrin αvβ3 receptors on the cell surface, we used DAT-conjugated PLGA nanoparticles (NDAT) in an active targeting mode to bind to these receptors. Preparation and characterization of NDAT is described, and both in vitro and in vivo experiments were done to compare DAT to NDAT. Intracellular uptake and distribution of DAT and NDAT in U87 glioblastoma cells were evaluated using confocal microscopy and showed that DAT reached the nucleus, but NDAT was restricted from the nucleus. Pharmacokinetic studies using LC-MS/MS analysis in male C57BL/6 mice showed that administration of NDAT improved the area under the drug concentration curve AUC(0–48 h) by 4-fold at a dose of 3 mg/kg when compared with DAT, and Cmax of NDAT (4363 ng/mL) was 8-fold greater than that of DAT (548 ng/mL). Biodistribution studies in the mice showed that the concentrations of NDAT were higher than DAT/Cremophor EL micelles in heart, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney. In another mouse model using female NCr nude homozygous mice with U87 xenografts, tumor growth was significantly decreased at doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg of NDAT. In the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay used to measure angiogenesis, DAT (500 ng/CAM) resulted in 48% inhibition of angiogenesis levels. In comparison, NDAT at low dose (50 ng/CAM) showed 45% inhibition of angiogenesis levels. Our investigation of NDAT bridges the study of polymeric nanoparticles and anti-angiogenic agents and offers new insight for the rational design of anti-angiogenic agents.

A simple, environmentally benign methodology has been developed to synthesize some bromoorganic compounds which have potential as antimicrobial agents. The required compounds were obtained through microwave (MW) irradiation, on-water reactions and using cetyltrimethylammonium tribromide (CTMATB) as the bromine source. The high yield of the product could be achieved within short reaction times, thus representing the main attribute of the present synthetic approach. The compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Further, in silico studies were carried out to elucidate the interactions of the compounds with the bacterial proteins.

An 80-year-old male reported to the clinic with complaints of diminished vision, foreign body sensation, and occasionally some black object moving in front of the right eye. Detailed ocular examination revealed three slender creamy white live worms in the conjunctival sac of the right eye. Total three worms were retrieved and sent to the pathology department for detailed examination. The worm was identified as gravid Thelazia callipaeda. As per the search results in PubMed and Cochrane search engine, this is the first report of human case of gravid Thelazia infestation with simultaneous existence of embryonated or ensheathed eggs and primary-stage larvae in the same worm.

BACKGROUND: In these modern times of digitization, the use of Internet has become an integral part of everyday life, especially the lives of adolescents. At the same time, Internet addiction has emerged as a serious affliction. However, the impact of Internet addiction on these crucial years of life has not been well studied in India. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction in adolescents of the urban areas of Kamrup district and assess its association with depression, anxiety, and stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students of higher secondary schools/colleges in the urban areas of Kamrup district in Assam. Out of 103 government and private higher secondary school/colleges of Kamrup district, Assam, 10 colleges were selected randomly, and a total of 440 students were enrolled in the study. A pretested, predesigned questionnaire, Young's Internet Addiction Scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21 (DASS21) were used in the study. Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used to assess the association between Internet addiction and depression, stress, and anxiety. RESULTS: Majority (73.1%) of the respondents were females, and mean age was 17.21 years. The prevalence of Internet addiction was 80.7%. The main purpose of using Internet was social networking (71.4%) followed by study (42.1%), and majority (42.1%) reported spending 3-6 hours a day on internet. There was a significant association between Internet addiction and stress (odds ratio=12), depression (odds ratio=14), and anxiety (odds ratio=3.3). CONCLUSION: Internet addiction is a serious problem with a profound impact on mental health. Therefore, early intervention is crucial.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the most important reaction that occurs in the cathode surface of fuel cells. Its sluggish kinetics stimulated the researchers towards the development of inexpensive as well as efficient alternatives, to the precious and low abundant Pt-based catalysts. Recently, transition metal-oxide (TMO) based electrocatalysts have attracted tremendous attention as suitable electrocatalyst towards ORR due to its high activity and better stability. Other factors that promote the utilization of TMOs include low cost, high availability and the presence of variable oxidation states. Mixed transition metal oxides (MTMOs) show even better ORR performance due to their enhanced electrical conductivity as compared to that of single TMOs. This review article highlights the recent progress in the design and synthesis of TMO based electrocatalysts with various size and morphology for ORR. Special importance has been given to cobalt oxides, copper oxides, manganese oxides and iron oxides throughout the study. Moreover, the effects of using conductive materials like carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres, mesoporous carbon, graphene etc. have also been reviewed. Keywords: Fuel cells, PEMFCs, ORR, TMOs

Petroleum and hydrocarbons contamination can be remediated by physical, chemical or biological methods. Among these, in situ bioremediation is considered to be environmentally friendly because it restores the soil structure, requires less energy input and involves the notable removal after degradation of biosurfactant. The present study involves the characterization and assessment of biosurfactant producing indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and their potential application in bioremediation processes. Three bacterial strains were isolated from various crude oil contaminated environments and characterized using standard identification techniques. The results clearly demonstrate the capability of utilizing hydrocarbon and biosurfactant produced by the bacterial strains. 16S rDNA sequencing followed by BLAST analysis revealed their similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The physico-chemical characterization of the biosurfactants revealed significant surface properties with stability at extreme temperature conditions (up to 121˚C), pH (5 - 8) and salinity (up to 4 %). Further, the mass spectrometry confirmed predominance of di-rhamnolipids in biosurfactant mixtures. The biosurfactants were found to be efficient in the removal of crude oil from the contaminated sand suggesting its applicability in bioremediation technology. Further, improved discharge of crude oil at elevated temperatures also confirms their thermo-stability which, could be exploited in microbial enhanced oil recovery processes. Thus, the applications of biosurfactants produced by the indigenous hydrocarbonoclastic strains appeared to be advantageous for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated environments.

To elucidate the role of support composition in autothermal reforming of ethanol (ATR of C2H5OH), a series of Ni catalysts (Ni content 2–15 wt.%) supported on different ceria-based oxides (Ce1-xGdxOy, Ce1-xLaxOy and Ce1-xMgxOy; x = 0.1–0.9) were prepared. The synthetized materials were tested in ATR of ethanol at 200–700 °C. It was established that supports themselves show catalytic activity in ATR of C2H5OH and provide 10–15% yield of H2 at 700 °C. Upon the increase of Ni content from 2 to 15 wt.% the temperature of 100% ethanol conversion decreases from 700 tо 300 °С, hydrogen yield increases from 25 to 60%, the inhibition of С2-С3 by-products formation, as well as the promotion of decomposition of acetaldehyde occur. The enhancement of catalyst performance in ATR of C2H5OH has been observed in the next series of supports: Ce1-xMgxOy < Ce1-xGdxOy < Ce1-xLaxOy and with a decrease of x to an optimal value that correlates with the improvement of Ni active component reducibility. At 600 °C on 10Ni/Ce0.8La0.2O1.9 catalyst the H2 yield of 50% was achieved at C2H5OH conversion of 100%. Stable and high performance of developed catalysts in ATR of C2H5OH indicates the promise of their use in the production of hydrogen.

To elucidate the role of support composition in autothermal reforming of ethanol (ATR of C2H5OH), a series of Ni catalysts (Ni content 2–15 wt.%) supported on different ceria-based oxides (Ce1-xGdxOy, Ce1-xLaxOy and Ce1-xMgxOy; x = 0.1–0.9) were prepared. The synthetized materials were tested in ATR of ethanol at 200–700 °C. It was established that supports themselves show catalytic activity in ATR of C2H5OH and provide 10–15% yield of H2 at 700 °C. Upon the increase of Ni content from 2 to 15 wt.% the temperature of 100% ethanol conversion decreases from 700 tо 300 °С, hydrogen yield increases from 25 to 60%, the inhibition of С2-С3 by-products formation, as well as the promotion of decomposition of acetaldehyde occur. The enhancement of catalyst performance in ATR of C2H5OH has been observed in the next series of supports: Ce1-xMgxOy < Ce1-xGdxOy < Ce1-xLaxOy and with a decrease of x to an optimal value that correlates with the improvement of Ni active component reducibility. At 600 °C on 10Ni/Ce0.8La0.2O1.9 catalyst the H2 yield of 50% was achieved at C2H5OH conversion of 100%. Stable and high performance of developed catalysts in ATR of C2H5OH indicates the promise of their use in the production of hydrogen.

To understand the spread of SARS-CoV2, in August and September 2020, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India) conducted a serosurvey across its constituent laboratories and centers across India. Of 10,427 volunteers, 1058 (10.14%) tested positive for SARS-CoV2 anti-nucleocapsid (anti-NC) antibodies, 95% of which had surrogate neutralization activity. Three-fourth of these recalled no symptoms. Repeat serology tests at 3 (n = 607) and 6 (n = 175) months showed stable anti-NC antibodies but declining neutralization activity. Local seropositivity was higher in densely populated cities and was inversely correlated with a 30-day change in regional test positivity rates (TPRs). Regional seropositivity above 10% was associated with declining TPR. Personal factors associated with higher odds of seropositivity were high-exposure work (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval, p value: 2.23, 1.92–2.59,

Introduction: D-dimer is currently the best available marker for COVID-19 associated hemostatic abnormalities. This study aims to find out the prevelance of elevated D-dimer levels in confirmed COVID-19 cases in intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 patients admitted to COVID Intensive Care Unit of a teriary care centre from August 2020 to January 2021 after taking ethical clearence from Institutional Review Committee in order to determine the D-dimer levels in confirmed COVID-19 cases. D-dimer value was measured at the admission and the highest D-dimer value was recorded during the course of hospital stay with the risk of mortality in confirmed COVID-19 cases. The normal range of D-dimer was taken as