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Frontline demonstrations were conducted in 2012 at five farmers' fields, to popularize the improved variety of paddy. Results of FLD indicated that Sampda variety of paddy gave highest yield of 40.1 q/ha with an average of 30.8 q/ha in demonstration which was more than farmers practices (29.1 q/ha). Net returns (45150 ₹/ha) were higher in improved variety. Thereafter this variety was more popular in Ernakulum, district of Kerala state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papilledema's association with hydrocephalus (HCP)-linked larger vestibular schwannoma (VS) is established but cases lacking concurrent HCP require further investigation. This retrospective comparative observational study, conducted from July 2018 to July 2023, examined 120 VS patients undergoing surgery. Patients were categorized into Group 1 (papilledema without HCP) and Group 2 (no papilledema or HCP), with comprehensive data analyzed. In this study, Group 1 (14 patients with papilledema) and Group 2 (106 patients without papilledema or HCP) were compared. Group 1 was younger (mean age 27.21 ± 11.73 years) than Group 2 (mean age 54.66 ± 11.44 years). Both groups had similar symptom durations and tumor detection times. Group 1 had increased vascularity (P = 0.001), elevated cisterna magna protein levels (P = 0.001), and a higher incidence of neurofibromatosis 2 (P = 0.003). They also experienced longer surgeries (P = 0.001) and more blood loss (P = 0.001), leading to extended postoperative complications. Group 2 showed improved postsurgery visual outcomes (P = 0.001), better Glasgow Outcome Scores (P = 0.001), enhanced facial nerve preservation (P = 0.002), and improved hearing on follow-up (P = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis highlighted prolonged surgery duration (P = 0.057) and papilledema (P = 0.0001) as significant factors influencing visual improvement. Patients with VS require preoperative fundoscopy evaluation due to potential visual loss and papilledema, even without HCP. Early treatment initiation enhances visual and hearing outcomes. Meticulous surgery is vital given the lesion's hypervascular nature and adherence to surrounding structures. Preoperative embolization may aid in preserving neurovascular structures. In developing countries with higher blindness rates, judicious noncontrast computed tomography brain evaluation is crucial for timely detection and treatment initiation of lesions like VS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionSoybean is a rich source of bioactive components with good nutritional support and is easily available. In the treatment of cancer, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from plant-based samples has gained attentions due to its potency and feasibility. In the present study, using soybean extracts (GM), silver nanoparticles are synthesized and analyzed for their anticancer potency.MethodsThe synthesized GM-AgNPs were characterized via UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques for further analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disc method and anti-hemolysis activity using the in vitro method, followed by anticancer property evaluation by cytotoxicity, cell migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle.Results and discussionOur results showed that the synthesized GM-AgNPs were spiral-shaped with a size range of 5–50 nm. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 250 μg/mL in comparison with gentamicin. On exploring the anti-hemolysis efficiency, at 200 μg/mL, GM-AgNPs showed no hemolysis in comparison to the extract which showed 40% hemolysis. On analysis of GM-AgNPs against the breast cancer cell line, the nanoparticles displayed the IC50 value of 74.04 μg/mL. Furthermore, at the IC50 concentration, cancer cell migration was reduced. The mechanism of action of GM-AgNPs confirmed the initiation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the sub-G0/G1 (growth phase) phase by 48.19%. In gene expression and protein expression analyses, Bax and Bcl-2 were altered to those of normal physiology.

Objective: To Identify house dust mite (Blomia Tropicalis) Sensitisation by Skin prick test in children with Asthma. Methods: In this observational study, Children between 5-15 years with Pediatric Asthma were enrolled to undergo skin-prick testing. Sensitivity was checked for Blomia Tropicalis. Results: Total 100 Children underwent skin-prick test; 20 (20%) showed significant positivity to Blomia Tropicalis. In the HDM sensitized group, a positive family history of allergic disorders was present in 56 children (56%). Conclusion: Sensitization of B. Tropicalis in asthmatic children between 5-15 years of age was a significant number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of 4-aminobenzoic acid (IIe) demonstrates the selectivity of the protocol for esterification of oximes over intermolecular acid-amine coupling. Substrate (IIe) does not react with (VIb). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Purely cystic brain stem epidermoid is a rare diagnosis among all brainstem cystic lesions. Further, it is very rare in pediatric age group.Methods: Here, we are reporting a rare case of completely cystic brain stem epidermoid in a child. The patient presented with clinical features of brain stem involvement. MRI brain was suggestive of cystic brain stem lesion.Results: Patient went through surgical procedure. Final diagnosis of epidermoid cyst was confirmed on histopathological report.Conclusion: With the help of various advanced sequences of MRI like diffusion and ADC, diagnosis of epidermoid cyst can be established at unusual intracranial site also. Surgical resection of epidermoid cyst at brain stem should be attempted judiciously utilizing all modern tools of neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacier ice-thickness measurement and distribution is one of the essential variables to assess present status of glacier-water equivalent and its volumetric reserve as well as to model the future glacier dynamics under the climate changing scenario. Yet, substantial gaps in ice thickness information exist for the Himalayan glaciers. The present study provides a long-term assessment (1965–2016) of recessional and area change patterns, as well as the detailed field-based (2016–2017) Ground Penetrating Radar(GPR), derived ice-thickness measurement of the Menthosa Glacier, Lahaul Himalaya. Additionally, the study examines whether the modelled ice thickness from remote sensing data is consistent with the field-based GPR measurement and how can it be improved. The extensive field surveys coupled with the multi-temporal high (Corona KH-4A) to medium resolution (Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+)/Operational Land Imager (OLI), Sentinel 2A-Multispectral Instrument (MSI)) remote sensing data and cross-sectional GPR surveyed profile measurements have been used to examine past half a century (1965–2016) glacier fluctuation and the recent ice-thickness estimations, respectively. The results show that the Menthosa Glacier receded by 301.5 ± 19.2 m during the past half a century (1965–2016) with an average annual retreat of 5.9 ± 0.4 m a−1, whereas glacier lost 0.09 km2 ice in the frontal section. Field measurement over the past one decade (2006–2017) also conforms to a continuous recessional pattern and substantial glacier degeneration particularly the extensive surface lowering and significant appearance of ice-cliffs in the ablation and lateral zones over this period. The GPR measurements (2017) show the minimum glacier ice thickness of 24 meters at 4691 m a.s.l. (in the lower part of ablation area) and maximum glacier ice thickness of 55 meters measured at 4758 m a.s.l. (in the upper left-side tributary part of ablation area). Moreover, the modelled ice thickness derived from remotely sensed data is having Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between 38 to 72 ± 10 m as compared with GPR measured ice thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the promising performance improvement observed in emerging many-core architectures in high performance processors, high power consumption prohibitively affects their use and marketability in the low-energy sectors, such as embedded processors, network processors and application specific instruction processors (ASIPs). While most chip architects design power-efficient processors by finding an optimal power-performance balance in their design, some use sophisticated on-chip autonomous power management units, which dynamically reduce the voltage or frequencies of idle cores and hence extend battery life and reduce operating costs. For large scale designs of many-core processors, a holistic approach integrating both these techniques at different levels of abstraction can potentially achieve maximal power savings. In this paper we present CASPER, a robust instruction trace driven cycle-accurate many-core multi-threading micro-architecture simulation platform where we have incorporated power estimation models of a wide variety of tunable many-core micro-architectural design parameters, thus enabling processor architects to explore a sufficiently large design space and achieve power-efficient designs. Additionally CASPER is designed to accommodate cycle-accurate models of hardware controlled power management units, enabling architects to experiment with and evaluate different autonomous power-saving mechanisms to study the run-time power-performance trade-offs in embedded many-core processors. We have implemented two such techniques in CASPER–Chipwide Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling, and Performance Aware Core-Specific Frequency Scaling, which show average power savings of 35.9% and 26.2% on a baseline 4-core SPARC based architecture respectively. This power saving data accounts for the power consumption of the power management units themselves. The CASPER simulation platform also provides users with complete support of SPARCV9 instruction set enabling them to run a full operating system software stack, and hence a wide variety of benchmarking applications.

Gallic acid (GA) is a well-known herbal bioactive compound found in many herbs and foods like tea, wine, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, plums, grapes, mangoes, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. GA has been reported for several pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, inflammatory, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, etc. Apart from its incredible therapeutic benefits, it has been associated with low permeability and bioavailability issues, limiting their efficacy. GA belongs to BCS (Biopharmaceutics classification system) class III (high solubility and low probability). In this context, novel drug delivery approaches played a vital role in resolving these GA issues. Nanocarrier systems help improve drug moiety's physical and chemical stability by encapsulating them into a lipidic or polymeric matrix or core system. In this regard, researchers have developed a wide range of nanocarrier systems for GA, including liposomes, transfersomes, niosomes, dendrimers, phytosomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, metallic nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymer conjugates, etc. In the present review, different search engines like Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar have been referred to for acquiring recent information on the theme of the work. Therefore, this review paper aims to emphasize several novel drug delivery systems, patents, and clinical updates of GA.

Aim: Angiogenesis is the hallmark of cancer progression driven by VEGF/VEGFR-2 signalling pathway, inhibition of which could be a solution to tackle the progression of tumour cells and thus arresting their growth. Materials & methods: A novel class of pyrazoles was synthesized using arginine and dibromo ketones. Antiangiogenic activity was performed by in vivo yolk sac method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging assays. Docking studies were performed to determine the pyrazoles' binding potential with VEGFR-2 receptor and VEGF tyrosine kinase. ADMET properties were calculated using SwissADME and admetSAR for drug-likeness. Results: Compounds 5a-e showed significant antiangiogenic effects. Compound 5f exhibited effective hydroxyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities. Docking results confirmed the potential binding efficiency with VEGFR-2 receptor over VEGF tyrosine kinase, thus, functioning as competitive-inhibitors. ADMET studies revealed that the compounds possess favourable drug-like qualities. Conclusion: This study presents a novel class of pyrazoles as promising antioxidant and antiangiogenic agents with favourable drug-likeness properties.

Potassium, a pivotal macronutrient essential for growth, development, and crop yield, serves as a critical determinant of soil productivity. Its depletion disrupts the equilibrium of soil nutrients, prompting an investigation into integrated potassium management strategies to address this challenge. A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2020 using a randomized complete block design, with eight treatments, each replicated three times in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis ). These treatments comprised standard (100 %) and reduced (75 % and 50 %) rates of the recommended dose of potassium (RDK) via muriate of potash (MOP). Variations in the inclusion and exclusion of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), farmyard manure (FYM) as 25 % of the potassium recommendation, and foliar spray of nano potash were systematically implemented. Findings unequivocally demonstrated that the treatmentT 8 , involving 100 % RDK +25 % K through FYM + PGPR + nano K fertilizer spray at 25 and 40 DAS, yielded significant improvements in both green fodder (64.0 t ha -1 ) and dry fodder (7.87 t ha -1 ).Moreover, T 8 exhibited the highest values for total ash (8.75 %), total ash yield (68.9 ± 2.88 kg ha -1 ), ether extract (2.85 %), ether extract yield (22.4 ± 0.88 kg ha -1 ), crude protein (9.71 %), and total crude protein yield (76.4 ± 3.21 kg ha -1 ). Conversely, a marked reduction was observed in various fiber components and carbohydrate fractions upon application of the T 8 treatment. The lowest values of yield, crude protein content, total ash ether extract were recorded in treatment T 1 (control) applied with no potassium. This investigation underscores the inadequacy of the recommended potassium dose in achieving optimal productivity, necessitating a re-evaluation of potassium fertilization levels. The integrated approach involving FYM, PGPR, and nano potash, coupled with the recommended potassium dose through MOP, emerges as a promising avenue for augmenting both yield and quality parameters in Chinese cabbage., Competing Interests: Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Utilizing agricultural and industrial wastes, potent reservoirs of nutrients, for nourishing the soil and crops through composting embodies a sustainable approach to waste management and organic agriculture. To investigate this, a 2-year field experiment was conducted at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, focusing on a pigeon pea-vegetable mustard-okra cropping system. Seven nutrient sources were tested, including a control (T 1 ), 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through farmyard manure (T 2 ), 100% RDN through improved rice residue compost (T 3 ), 100% RDN through a paddy husk ash (PHA)-based formulation (T 4 ), 75% RDN through PHA-based formulation (T 5 ), 100% RDN through a potato peel compost (PPC)-based formulation (T 6 ), and 75% RDN through PPC-based formulation (T 7 ). Employing a randomized block design with three replications, the results revealed that treatment T 4 exhibited the significantly highest seed (1.89 ± 0.09 and 1.97 ± 0.12 t ha -1 ) and stover (7.83 ± 0.41 and 8.03 ± 0.58 t ha -1 ) yield of pigeon pea, leaf yield (81.57 ± 4.69 and 82.97 ± 4.17 t ha -1 ) of vegetable mustard, and fruit (13.54 ± 0.82 and 13.78 ± 0.81 t ha -1 ) and stover (21.64 ± 1.31 and 22.03 ± 1.30 t ha -1 ) yield of okra during both study years compared to the control (T 1 ). Treatment T 4 was on par with T 2 and T 6 for seed and stover yield in pigeon pea, as well as okra, and leaf yield in vegetable mustard over both years. Moreover, T 4 demonstrated notable increase of 124.1% and 158.2% in NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N levels in the soil, respectively, over the control. The enhanced status of available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the soil, coupled with increased soil organic carbon (0.41%), total bacteria population (21.1%), fungi (37.2%), actinomycetes (44.6%), and microbial biomass carbon (28.5%), further emphasized the positive impact of T 4 compared to the control. Treatments T 2 and T 6 exhibited comparable outcomes to T 4 concerning changes in available N, P, soil organic carbon, total bacteria population, fungi, actinomycetes, and microbial biomass carbon. In conclusion, treatments T 4 and T 6 emerge as viable sources of organic fertilizer, particularly in regions confronting farmyard manure shortages. These formulations offer substantial advantages, including enhanced yield, soil quality improvement, and efficient fertilizer utilization, thus contributing significantly to sustainable agricultural practices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Garg, Dhar, Sharma, Azman, Meena, Hashim, Kumar, Ali, Karunakaran, Kumar, Athnere, Kumar, Om, Tuti, Meena, Kumar, Meena and Kumar.)

Study Design: This prospective, nonrandomized, analytic comparative study analyzed the outcome of 100 patients who underwent spinal fusion surgeries (Posterolateral fusion (PLF) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion [PLIF]) with 6 months of follow-up., Objective: The aim of our study was to compare clinicoradiological outcome of the lumbar spinal fusion surgeries (PLF vs. PLIF/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion [TLIF]), to assess the quality of life pre- and post-operatively in all patients, and to compare the results within the groups., Summary of Background Data: We retrieved the articles related to posterolateral fusion (PLF) and PLIF/TLIF through computer-assisted PubMed and Cochrane database search. Most of the studies in previous literature did not show any significant difference in the success of fusion between the two groups. However, the global outcome in terms of clinical and radiological parameters was good in all the studies., Materials and Methods: Senior neurosurgeons who are part of the study treated 100 patients presented with degenerative disc disease (DDD). Patients underwent two types of spinal fusion surgeries: Posterolateral fusion (PLF) and PLIF/TLIF, and those two groups were compared for clinicoradiological outcome, successful fusion, and quality of life at 6 months of follow-up. Results were analyzed statistically using SPSS version 21.0 and presented in terms of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Measurements were compared between groups using the Student's t -test (independent and paired) for normally distributed variables. Percentage was compared with Chi-square test in various parameters. Statistical significance was determined with P values; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Patients aged between 30and 65 years with lumbar DDD who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Patients were operated for 1-3 vertebral levels and showed clinical satisfactory outcome on visual analog scale ( P = 0.004) and modified-Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (Oswestry disability index) ( P = 0.000) at 6 months as compared to the preoperative data, which was statistically significant. Radiological outcome in terms of lumbar lordotic angle (LLA, P = 0.000) and ratio of disc space height (DSH) and height of immediate superior vertebral body ( P = 0.000) at 3 months of follow-up was also statistically significant. All of our patients showed a well-placed implant (screws and cage) in the follow-up period. Our patients showed successful fusion more in the PLIF group (81.25%) as compared to the PLF group (67.30%), but those results are not statistically significant ( P = 0.112), and all of our patients showed statistically significant difference ( P = 0.000) in quality of life score at 6 months of follow-up when compared with the preoperative score., Conclusions: We concluded from our study and after the review of literature that the patients with lumbar DDD should undergo spinal instrumentation surgery either PLF or PLIF as per the requirement as these surgeries provide good clinical and radiological outcomes in terms of pain, disability index, LLA, and maintenance of DSH. Although both the groups have few degrees of risks and complications, these are not major one and can be managed easily. The fusion rates are similar in both the groups (PLF and PLIF). Quality of life index showed significant difference within 1 week, after 3 months, and after 6 months of surgery in all of our patients., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Asian Journal of Neurosurgery.)

Background: Choroid plexus tumors are intraventricular tumors derived from choroid plexus epithelium., Aim: To study the choroid plexus tumors with reference to their clinical, radiological, and pathological features., Materials and Methods: The study was performed by the retrospectively reviewing the clinical, radiological, and pathological records of patients of choroid plexus tumors., Results: A total of 23 cases (11 males, 13 females) of choroid plexus tumor were diagnosed from 1997 to 2009. Fourteen patients were below 15 years of age. Raised intracranial pressure was the main presenting feature in all the cases. Tumor was located in lateral ventricle (n = 14; in 3 cases tumor was going into third ventricle), fourth ventricle (n = 7), and cerebellopontine angle (n = 2). Total tumor excision was achieved in 21 cases. The histopathology was suggestive of choroid plexus papilloma (n = 19), atypical choroid plexus papilloma (n = 1), and choroid plexus carcinoma (n = 2). Clears cell areas were noted in three cases. Other histopathological features observed were foci of calcification (n = 5), Psammoma bodies (n = 2), hemorrhage (n = 5), hyalinization (n = 2), and oncocytic changes (n = 1)., Conclusions: Choroid plexus tumors are intraventricular tumors arising from choroid plexus epithelium. The predominant clinical presentation is raised intracranial pressure. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment; histopathologically, they include choroid plexus papilloma, atypical choroid plexus papilloma, and choroid plexus carcinoma.

Background. Tuberculosis, a global health problem and highly prevalent in India, has always been a serious problem with respect to definitive diagnosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are now widely used for early detection and species differentiation of mycobacteria, but mostly with their own limitations. We aim to detect and differentiate Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections by choosing appropriate target sequences, ideally present in all mycobacterial species (MTB complex) and absent in others. Methods. Amplification of three target sequences from unrelated genes, namely, hsp 65 (165 bp), dnaJ (365 bp), and insertion element IS 6110 (541 bp) by PCR was carried out in clinical samples from suspected cases of tuberculosis/ mycobacterioses and healthy controls. Results. The sensitivity of this method ranged from 73.33% to 84.61%, and the specificity was 80%. The PCR method was significantly better (P = 0.03 and P = 0.009) than both smear and culture methods. Conclusion. Our trimarker-based PCR method could specifically detect M. tuberculosis and MTB complex infection from that of major pathogenic NTM and nonpathogenic mycobacteria. This method, by well distinguishing between MTB complex and NTM, presented a fast and accurate method to detect and diagnose mycobacterial infections more efficiently and could thereby help in better patient management particularly considering the increase in mycobacterial infections due to emergence of NTM over the past decades.