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The Present paper deals with a special type of interpolation problem, in which we have prescribed the values of the function at Ki and Ki+1 and the whole interval is divided into n equal sub-intervals of width.. We will derive a spline function of Degree 3 which will be able to interpolate this polynomial function, we name it three point spline (TPS). We have shown here how to change the next control point during further interpolation. We have also discussed the case, of whether this spline can be used for evaluating curvature.

The proliferation of FinTech apps has democratized access to financial services, empowering individuals and businesses to take greater control of their finances. These apps have catalyzed financial innovation, disrupted traditional business models, and fostered competition in the financial industry. Moreover, FinTech apps have the potential to drive economic growth, promote financial literacy, and advance financial inclusion on a global scale. FinTech applications have played an important role in the creation of an arena where information is collected, stored, and processed to make the best decisions of investment. This has boosted the investment and increased the activity in capital markets when considered from the investors’ point of view. Capital markets have always been an important place for investors to invest in long-term securities with a maturity of more than one year. Primary as well as secondary markets are part of it. People invest in securities expecting a return in the form of capital gains and/or income. The role of FinTech applications in facilitating various investment decisions has also opened doors to retail investors in capital markets. Traditionally, retail investors have been overlooked because they are perceived not to have enough capital to invest, be too risk-averse, and be too costly to service. Both quantitative and qualitative data have been used. 150 online surveys were used to gather primary data. The outcome from this study showed a major shift in stock market investors towards digital connection due to various reasons. Some cultural and behavioral effects have been found among the investors for the financial transactions.

BackgroundIn this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism by which resveratrol promotes cisplatin-induced death of HepG2 cells and to provide a potential strategy for resveratrol in the treatment of cancer.MethodsHepG2 cells were exposed to a range of drug concentrations for 24 h: resveratrol (2.5 μg/mL [10.95 μM], 5 μg/mL [21.91 μM], 10 μg/mL [43.81 μM], 20 μg/mL [87.62 μM], 40 μg/mL [175.25 μM], and 80 μg/mL [350.50 μM]), cisplatin (0.625 μg/mL [2.08 μM], 1.25 μg/mL [4.17 μM], 2.5 μg/mL [8.33 μM], 4.5 μg/mL [15.00 μM], and 10 μg/mL [33.33 μM]), 24 μg/mL (105.15 μM) resveratrol + 9 μg/mL (30.00 μM) cisplatin, and 12 μg/mL (52.57 μM) resveratrol + 4.5 μg/mL (15.00 μM) cisplatin. The interaction of two drugs was evaluated by coefficient of drug interaction (CDI), which was based on the Pharmacological Additivity model. The MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of drugs on cell viability, while transcriptome sequencing was used to identify pathways associated with higher gene enrichment. Synchrotron radiation FTIR microspectroscopy experiments and data analysis were conducted to obtain detailed spectral information. The second-derivative spectra were calculated using the Savitzky–Golay algorithm. Single-cell infrared spectral absorption matrices were constructed to analyze the spectral characteristics of individual cells. The Euclidean distance between cells was calculated to assess their spectral similarity. The cell-to-cell Euclidean distance was computed to evaluate the spatial relationships between cells. The target protein of resveratrol was verified by performing a Western blot analysis.ResultsAfter 24 h of treatment with resveratrol, HepG2 cell growth was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. Resveratrol promotes cisplatin-induced HepG2 cell death through membrane-related pathways. It also significantly changes the membrane components of HepG2 cells. Additionally, resveratrol changes the morphology of the HepG2 cell membrane by decreasing the expression of PLA2G2.ConclusionResveratrol changes the morphology of the HepG2 cell membrane by decreasing the expression of PLA2G2 and promotes cisplatin-induced HepG2 cell death. The combination of cisplatin and resveratrol can play a synergistic therapeutic effect on HepG2 cells.

In pathological conditions, surgeries, or immunodeficiency, opportunistic pathogens that normally coexist harmlessly within the human body can escalate the human system, leading to infections ranging from mild to life-threatening. Combatting such infections requires reliance on either natural or synthetic antimicrobial molecules. Plant secondary metabolites, particularly essential oils, present a potential natural remedy for addressing these infections. The study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the efficacy of eight synthetic drugs and three essential oils against various pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Enterococcus faecalis, Malassezia furfur, and Candida albicans (K4-1). Our results showed that penicillin was highly effective against S. aureus and E. faecalis, while gentamicin was effective against S. epidermidis. Vancomycin exhibited antimicrobial activity against all bacteria except S. epidermidis. Notably, clotrimazole and amphotericin-B demonstrated potent inhibition of fungal pathogens. Essential oils, particularly lemongrass displayed prominent zones of inhibition against all the examined pathogens including the resistant strains. Palmarosa oil showed substantial inhibition at a concentration of 3% v/v.

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease is a gradual neurodegenerative condition affecting the brain, causing a decline in cognitive function by progressively damaging nerve cells over time. While a cure for Alzheimer’s remains elusive, the detection of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through brain biomarkers is crucial to impede its advancement. High-resolution structural MRI scans, particularly T1-weighted images, are commonly used in Alzheimer’s detection. These images provide detailed information about the brain’s structure, allowing researchers and clinicians to identify abnormalities. Our study employs a deep learning methodology using T1-weighted MRI images for a binary classification task—distinguishing between AD and normal/healthy control (NC). The volumetric convolutional neural network model is deployed on pre-processed images and validated on MIRIAD datasets, achieving an impressive accuracy of 97%, surpassing other network models. Addressing the challenge of limited datasets for deep learning models, we incorporated various augmentation techniques such as rotation and rescaling, resulting in outstanding model accuracy and effective discerning between Alzheimer’s disease and normal controls.

According to various studies, different countries have different climate conditions that affect the quantity and quality of crop production. Farmers want to use novel technologies that can help them produce crops in large quantities with good quality. The greenhouse is one of the rapidly growing technologies used for the production of crops. It protects the crops from changes in external weather conditions and, hence, helps to produce good-quality crops throughout the year. This work proposes a deep study of the technologies used in the greenhouse for the monitoring and control of various environmental parameters that affect the quality and production of the crops. This work also analyses the different communication techniques, relays, and sensors used for monitoring and controlling the different greenhouse parameters. Also, give details on sensors and the advantages and disadvantages of different communication technologies so that farmers can easily understand which technology is most suitable for their greenhouse. This study helps the farmers adopt the best-suited techniques in their green houses that are cost-friendly, easy to use, and have a longer life.

Biomass and agricultural wastes have increased exponentially and are significant concerns resulting in further environmental and societal issues through the accumulation and burning of waste. Waste burning emits fumes, which release and increase greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. During the production and harvesting of nuts, nutshell waste can account for 20 to as much as 80 wt.% of the total production volume, leaving a considerable amount to accumulate and be underutilized. China and the USA are the most significant producers of nutshells globally, of which, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds are the highest produced. In addition to biomass waste, plastic pollution causes the contamination of land and marine environments and the leaching of toxic substances during their decomposition under the action of environmental conditions. Interest in biodegradable polymers, their investigation, and production have quickly risen recently. This addresses the challenges of the linear economy cycle and offers a solution to waste management by improving degradation rates and applications. As such, biodegradable and biobased polymers can decrease energy consumption by 65 % and greenhouse gas emissions by 35 to 80 %. Therefore, this timely review focuses on using nutshell wastes such as walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pecan, pistachios, and hazelnut shells as fillers in biodegradable polymers and fabricating sustainable composites via various processing techniques. Current uses and environmental considerations of nutshell waste-based composites have been discussed based on feasibility and economic impact.

As a dietary strategy, methionine restriction has been reported to promote longevity and regulate metabolic disorders. However, the role and possible regulatory mechanisms underlying methionine in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), remain unexplored. This study utilized the data from BXD recombinant inbred (RI) mice to establish a correlation between the AD phenotype in mice and methionine level. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that the genes associated with the concentration of methionine in the midbrain are involved in the dopaminergic synaptic signaling pathway. Protein interaction network analysis revealed that glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) was a key regulator of the dopaminergic synaptic pathway and its expression level was significantly correlated with the AD phenotype. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that methionine deprivation could reduce the expression of Aβ and phosphorylated Tau, suggesting that lowering methionine levels in humans may be a preventive or therapeutic strategy for AD. In conclusion, our findings support that methionine is a high risk factor for AD. These findings predict potential regulatory network, theoretically supporting methionine restriction to prevent AD.

Background: About 10% of Indians have common mental disorders (CMDs) which include depression and anxiety. These disorders are common in women, which not only impacts on their quality of life but also their family members. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of CMDs, and factors associated with them among women residing in coastal Karnataka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 980 women aged between 18 and 60 years from 2019 to 2021. Women were administered a baseline questionnaire along with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) and Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4). Data were collected using Epi-info and were analysed using SPSS version 15.0. Association between CMDs and socio-demographic, reproductive health and behavioural factors were expressed as crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The prevalence of CMDs among women was 5.7%, with 4.6% having depression and 3.37% with anxiety disorders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that residing in urban areas (OR = 2.15; 95% CI:1.10–4.17), having a chronic illness (OR = 2.38; 95% CI:1.14–4.97), history of recent bereavement in the family (OR = 2.20; 95% CI:1.02–4.75), early marriage (OR = 2.63; 95% CI:1.09–6.33), history of abortion (OR = 2.89; 95% CI:1.42–5.92), and exposure to domestic violence (OR = 3.08; 95% CI:1.14–8.33) were significantly correlated with CMDs in this sample. Conclusions: The study revealed that CMDs were prevalent among the surveyed women, which calls for routine screening of women for CMDs in primary care settings for early identification and appropriate interventions.

Plants play a crucial role in human history by providing essential resources such as food. However, they are susceptible to various diseases like leaf blight, grey spots, and rust, posing significant challenges for farmers and ranchers due to the potential damage and financial losses incurred. The current method of diagnosing plant diseases relies heavily on manual inspection by trained professionals, which becomes increasingly complex and resource-intensive, particularly on large farms. To address this issue, a novel approach is proposed, integrating clustering methods and neural networks to enhance the efficiency of identifying and studying plant disease samples. This method aims to expedite the diagnostic process and accurately quantify disease-induced damage. It introduces a formula for assessing damage, calculating the diseased leaf area as a fraction of the total leaf area. With an impressive accuracy rate of 96–97%, the system successfully identifies diseases such as Alternaria, Anthracnose, Bacterial Blight, and Cercospora Leaf Spot. This advancement signifies a notable improvement over previous methods, highlighting the evolution of the system. By harnessing the capabilities of clustering techniques and neural networks, this innovative approach seeks to revolutionize the detection and monitoring of plant diseases in agriculture, offering a more accessible and precise solution.

Clipping is one of the non-linear distortions commonly introduced due to microphone saturation during speech recording. Present work focuses on the effect of clipping in the task of prosody modification. Since, $F_{0}$ contour and duration are the important prosodic parameters, the present work studies the effect of clipping in the manipulation of $F_{0}$ and duration of a given speech. Epoch based prosody modification is considered as the popular method to generate waveforms with good perceptual quality by scaling $F_{0}$ contour and duration of the given speech by fixed scaling factors. Therefore, present work studies the effect of waveform clipping on the perceptual quality of prosody modified speech. Deviations in the estimation of epochs (which are used as the analysis pitch marks) and method used for generating the waveform are the two ways wherein perceptual quality in epoch based prosody modification can be compromised. The work proposed in this paper examines, effect of clipping on the aforesaid stages of epoch based prosody modification affecting the perceptual quality of the generated speech. Zero frequency filtering (ZFF), a simple and popular method, is chosen as the epoch estimation algorithm for epoch based prosody modification presented in the paper. Based on comparative epoch estimation performance analysis carried out by introducing various amplitude clipping levels, epoch identification rates are confirmed to be unchanged, irrespective of the level of clipping distortions present. However, due to saturation in the waveform samples, the waveform generation stage of the prosody modification was observed to be affected to the level which was proportional to the clipping distortions present in the signal. A variational mode decomposition (VMD) based signal approximation of the prosody modified speech is proposed to reduce the non-linear effect due to clipping. At the gross level, the re-estimated speech signal obtained from the VMD modes observed to have improved the perceptual quality of the pitch and duration modified speech. The improved perceptual quality of VMD based re-estimation of prosody modified speech was confirmed from subjective and NIST-STNR based objective assessments. Further, VMD based refinement is proposed as an alternative to local mean subtraction for trend removal in conventional ZFF of speech for the accurate epoch estimation. Comparative performance analysis carried out on CMU arctic database, confirmed improvement in the identification accuracy for the epochs estimated by using VMD based trend removal in ZFF algorithm.

The present paper deals with the lacunary interpolation problem called the mixed values problem or (0, 3; 0, 2) problem for which known data points are function values at all the points, third derivatives at even knots, and second derivatives at odd knots of the unit interval I = [0,1]. For this problem, we obtained an interpolating function. The paper is divided into two parts, where we have shown that the spline function exists and is convergent.

Abstract Illegal mining is one of the problems in natural resource management in Indonesia. The enactment of Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning the Amendment to Law Number 4/2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining (UU No. 4/2009) further strengthens the concept of ecosystem protection, one of which is through reclamation and post-mining obligations. However, in the current law, there is confusion regarding the assignment of reclamation responsibility. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the concept of legal responsibility for illegal mining, and provide justification or consideration of the urgency of reclamation responsibility for illegal mining. This research employed a normative method and statutory, case, and conceptual approaches. The results of the study indicate that there is a legal vacuum in the current mining regulations regarding reclamation responsibility for illegal mining. The concept of responsibility for reclamation in Law no. 3/2020 is only charged to legal mining but does not cover illegal mining, causing many mine pits to be left unattended, and this situation has claimed many lives. Parties involved in Illegal mining in Indonesia should not only be burdened with liability but also environmental obligations or responsibilities in the form of reclamation and post-mining from illegal mining activities carried out. The first thing that can be done by the Government is to amend Law No. 3/2020 by expanding the concept of recovery responsibility to ensure that it can cover illegal mining. The imposition of reclamation responsibility for illegal mining is expected to provide maximum recovery for the ecosystem around the former mine. Abstrak Pertambangan ilegal merupakan salah satu masalah dalam pengelolaan sumber daya alam di Indonesia. Lahirnya Undang-Undang Nomor 3 Tahun 2020 tentang Perubahan Atas Undang- Pertambangan Mineral dan Batubara sebelumnya (UU No. 4/2009) semakin memperkuat konsep perlindungan ekosistem salah satunya melalui kewajiban reklamasi dan pasca tambang. Akan tetapi, dalam aturan hukum saat ini terdapat kerancuan mengenai pembebanan tanggung jawab reklamasi. Tujuan penulisan ini adalah untuk mengkaji bagaimana konsep pertanggungjawaban hukum pertambangan ilegal, dan memberikan justifikasi atau pertimbangan urgensi tanggung jawab reklamasi untuk pertambangan ilegal. Metode penelitian dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian normatif dengan pendekatan perundang-undangan, pendekatan kasus, dan konseptual. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat kekosongan hukum (legal vacuum) dalam aturan pertambangan saat ini mengenai tanggung jawab reklamasi bagi pertambangan ilegal. Konsep tanggung jawab reklamasi dalam UU No. 3/2020 hanya dibebankan kepada pertambangan legal namun tidak menjangkau pertambangan ilegal. Hal ini menyebabkan banyak lubang tambang yang dibiarkan yang merenggut banyak korban jiwa. Pelaku pertambangan ilegal di Indonesia seharusnya tidak hanya dibebani tanggung jawab pidana, melainkan kewajiban atau tanggung jawab lingkungan dalam bentuk reklamasi dan pasca tambang dari kegiatan tambang ilegal yang dilakukan. Hal pertama yang dapat dilakukan oleh Pemerintah adalah melakukan perubahan terhadap UU No. 3/2020 dengan memperluas konsep tanggung jawab pemulihan sehingga dapat juga menjangkau pertambangan ilegal. Pembebanan tanggung jawab reklamasi bagi pertambangan ilegal ini diharapkan dapat memberikan pemulihan yang maksimal bagi ekosistem sekitar bekas tambang.

The growing challenge of food waste management presents a critical opportunity for advancing the circular bioeconomy, aiming to transform waste into valuable resources. This paper explores innovative strategies for converting food wastes into renewable food resources, emphasizing the integration of sustainable technologies and zero-waste principles. The main objective is to demonstrate how these approaches can contribute to a more sustainable food system by reducing environmental impacts and enhancing resource efficiency. Novel contributions of this study include the development of bioproducts from various food waste streams, highlighting the potential of underutilized resources like bread and jackfruit waste. Through case studies and experimental findings, the paper illustrates the successful application of green techniques, such as microbial fermentation and bioprocessing, in valorizing food wastes. The implications of this research extend to policy frameworks, encouraging the adoption of circular bioeconomy models that not only address waste management challenges but also foster economic growth and sustainability. These findings underscore the potential for food waste to serve as a cornerstone in the transition to a circular, regenerative economy.

Malnutrition, defined as both undernutrition and overnutrition, is a major global health concern affecting millions of people. One possible way to address nutrient deficiency and combat malnutrition is through biofortification. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to explore the current state of biofortification research, including techniques, applications, effectiveness and challenges. Biofortification is a promising strategy for enhancing the nutritional condition of at-risk populations. Biofortified varieties of basic crops, including rice, wheat, maize and beans, with elevated amounts of vital micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C, have been successfully developed using conventional and advanced technologies. Additionally, the ability to specifically modify crop genomes to improve their nutritional profiles has been made possible by recent developments in genetic engineering, such as CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The health conditions of people have been shown to improve and nutrient deficiencies were reduced when biofortified crops were grown. Particularly in environments with limited resources, biofortification showed considerable promise as a long-term and economical solution to nutrient shortages and malnutrition. To fully exploit the potential of biofortified crops to enhance public health and global nutrition, issues such as consumer acceptance, regulatory permitting and production and distribution scaling up need to be resolved. Collaboration among governments, researchers, non-governmental organizations and the private sector is essential to overcome these challenges and promote the widespread adoption of biofortification as a key part of global food security and nutrition strategies.

Introduction: Challenges in the achievement of good menstrual hygiene management in resource poor settings have been well documented and are linked to deleterious effect on women's health. This study was an attempt to assess the vulnerability with regards to menstrual health among the migrant population residing in urban slums in Udupi taluk. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 migrant women in reproductive age group using a predesigned 31- item questionnaire.The domains of knowledge, attitude and practice about menstrual hygiene were categorized into poor and adequate knowledge, positive and negative attitude, and poor and good practice by using median as a cut off. Results: Out of the 392 study subjects who participated in the study 31%,27% and 41% of them had good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice regarding menstrual hygiene respectively. Good knowledge was significantly associated with better standard of living (p

Tripartite motif 21 (TRIM21) is a cytosolic Fc receptor that targets antibody-bound, internalized pathogens for destruction. Apart from this intrinsic defense role, TRIM21 is implicated in autoimmune diseases, inflammation, and autophagy. Whether TRIM21 participates in host interactions with influenza A virus (IAV), however, is unknown. By computational modeling of body weight and lung transcriptome data from the BXD parents (C57BL/6 J (B6) and DBA/2 J (D2)) and 41 BXD mouse strains challenged by IAV, we reveal that a Trim21-associated gene network modulates the early host responses to IAV infection. Trim21 transcripts were significantly upregulated in infected mice of both B6 and D2 backgrounds. Its expression was significantly higher in infected D2 than in infected B6 early after infection and significantly correlated with body weight loss. We identified significant trans-eQTL on chromosome 14 that regulates Trim21 expression. Nr1d2 and Il3ra were among the strongest candidate genes. Pathway analysis found Trim21 to be involved in inflammation and immunity related pathways, such as inflammation signaling pathways (TNF, IL-17, and NF-κB), viral detection signaling pathways (NOD-like and RIG-I-like), influenza, and other respiratory viral infections. Knockdown of TRIM21 in human lung epithelial A549 cells significantly augmented IAV-induced expression of IFNB1, IFNL1, CCL5, CXCL10, and IFN-stimulated genes including DDX58 and IFIH1, among others. Our data suggest that a TRIM21-associated gene network is involved in several aspects of inflammation and viral detection mechanisms during IAV infection. We identify and validate TRIM21 as a critical regulator of innate immune responses to IAV in human lung epithelial cells.

Background: Post-stroke pain is common after a stroke and might be underreported. We describe Persistent Facial Pain (PFP) developed in post-stroke patients. Method: ology: This was a prospective hospital-based cohort study of stroke patients, and patients were followed up. Out of 415 stroke patients, 26 developed PFP. Result: Out of all PFP patients, six patients had an ischemic stroke, and 20 had a hemorrhagic stroke. 57.7% of patients had hypertension, while 34.6 patients had diabetes. The stroke location was left-sided in 12 patients and right-sided in 14 patients. 46.15% of patients responded to venlafaxine, 30.77% responded to amitriptyline, and 23.08% responded to pregabalin. Conclusion: Persistent facial pain is a pain syndrome that might be missed in patients post-stroke. It might be more common in hemorrhagic stroke patients than in ischemic stroke patients. It responds adequately to antidepressants. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose and appropriately manage these patients.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is a psychological condition in which a person has a persistent and overwhelming fear of being negatively judged or observed by other individuals. This fear can affect them at work, in relationships and other social activities. The intricate combination of several environmental and biological factors is the reason for the onset of this mental condition. SAD is diagnosed using a test called the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5), which is based on several physical, emotional and demographic symptoms. Artificial Intelligence has been a boon for medicine and is regularly used to diagnose various health conditions and diseases. Hence, this study used demographic, emotional, and physical symptoms and multiple machine learning (ML) techniques to diagnose SAD. A thorough descriptive and statistical analysis has been conducted before using the classifiers. Among all the models, the AdaBoost and logistic regression obtained the highest accuracy of 88 % each. Four eXplainable artificial techniques (XAI) techniques are utilized to make the predictions interpretable, transparent and understandable. According to XAI, the “Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale questionnaire” and “The fear of speaking in public” are the most critical attributes in the diagnosis of SAD. This clinical decision support system framework could be utilized in various suitable locations such as schools, hospitals and workplaces to identify SAD in people.

Excessive consumption of antibiotics like gentamicin (GEN) can lead to hostile effects as antibiotic resistance. Therefore, the detection is important for which, reduced graphene oxide-Gadolinium oxide nanocomposite (rGO@Gd2O3 NC) was composed through co-precipitation method for the detection of GEN. The structural, morphological and functional group characterizations were done using XRD, FT-IR, SEM and TEM techniques. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and superior performance towards GEN detection. Through the use of GEN monoclonal antibodies (anti-GEN) on a screen-printed electrode (SPE), a very sensitive electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated. Covalent interactions were employed to construct the electrochemical immunosensor, while bovine serum albumin (BSA) was employed as a blocking agent on the anti-GEN/rGO@Gd2O3/SPE electrode surface. The analysis of the CV response of the BSA/anti-GEN/rGO@Gd2O3/SPE bioelectrode demonstrated linear detection range from 1 pM – 100 μM, along with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.424 pM and sensitivity of 44.87 μA pM-1 cm− 2. Additionally, rGO@Gd2O3 immunosensor, exhibited a good level of linearity with R2 value of 0.978. These findings indicate the excellent potential of the rGO@Gd2O3 electrochemical immunosensor for accurately detecting GEN in spiked milk samples at different concentrations.

In order to find standard transport time and its effect on the welfare, 480 marketable commercial broiler chickens (CARIBRO VISHAL; avg. 2.0 kg body weight) were transported for 2, 4, 8h and without transport in crates in three replicates in a completely randomized design. Transport affected welfare as well as behaviour of broiler chickens. Transport stretch impacted the gait score and tonic immobility with maximum aggravation with extended duration. Runaway results shown that 8h group exhibited more run-away time (279.20sec). Number of birds affected by physical injuries increases with the duration. Bodyweight change was significant among transported groups, especially 8h travelled group exhibited more (−8.21%) body weight loss. It is concluded that a transport period of more than 4h in Indian conditions is not recommended as its causing a significant level of stress in the birds leading to stress, production loss and hampering welfare of broilers.

In this study, a soil filled Hydraulic Tilting Flume (HTF) was used as a test plot under simulated rainfall conditions. This flume was filled with mollisols soils (sandy loam in texture) collected from tarai region of Himalayas. The effects of root and shoot characteristics of Napier grass in terms of leaf area index (LAI), shoot length (SL), number of leaves (NL), number of tillers (NT), shoot biomass (SB), root density (RD), root length (RL), root biomass (RB), and total biomass (TB) were investigated on runoff and sediment outflow at 90, 120 and 150 days after planting (DAP). Four simulated rainfall intensities namely 4.0, 6.5, 8.3 and 9.4 cm/h over three land slopes of 1, 2 and 3% were selected. Runoff samples collected from whole plant plot and only root plot were analyzed for runoff and sediment outflow. Findings revealed that Napier grasses were very effective to reduce runoff and sediment outflow and its efficacy increased with the extended growth stages. The reduction in runoff and sediment outflow at 90, 120 and 150 DAP was obtained as 56% and 85%, 68% and 90%, and 74% and 96%, respectively, as compared to bare plot conditions. It was observed that the comparative contribution of shoots in runoff rate reduction was higher than the roots. On the contrary, the root part of the plant showed more contribution in sediment rate reduction as compared to the shoot part. Step wise regression was attempted for the selection of effective input parameters to establish authentic runoff and sediment outflow models. Power form of multiple non-linear regression (MNLR) showed very satisfactory results for predicting runoff and sediment outflow with coefficient of determination (R2) as 97.4% and 99.0%, respectively, root mean square error (RMSE) as 38.8 cc/m2/min and 0.126 g/m2/min, respectively, and coefficient of efficiency (CE) as 93.9% and 96.7%, respectively, during testing period.

Self-powered biosensors are innovative devices that can detect and analyze biological or chemical substances without the need for an external power source. These biosensors can convert energy from the surrounding environment or the analyte itself into electrical signals for sensing and data transmission. The self-powered nature of these biosensors offers several advantages, such as portability, autonomy, and reduced waste generation from disposable batteries. They find applications in various fields, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, food safety, and wearable devices. While self-powered biosensors are a promising technology, there are still challenges to address, such as improving energy efficiency, sensitivity, and stability to make them more practical and widely adopted. This review article focuses on exploring the evolving trends in self-powered biosensor design, outlining potential advantages and limitations. With a focal point on enzymatic biofuel cell power generation, this article describes various sensing mechanisms that employ the analyte as substrate or fuel for the biocatalyst’s ability to generate current. Technical aspects of biofuel cells are also examined. Research and development in the field of self-powered biosensors is ongoing, and this review describes promising areas for further exploration within the field, identifying underexplored areas that could benefit from further investigation.

IntroductionThe prevalence of peanut allergies is increasing, emphasizing the need for an animal model to enhance our understanding of peanut allergy pathogenesis and to advance diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions. While mice are frequently used as model organisms, their allergic responses do not fully mirror those observed in humans, warranting the exploration of a higher animal model. The porcine gastrointestinal system closely resembles that of humans, and exhibits allergy symptoms akin to human responses, making pigs a promising model for peanut allergy research.MethodsIn this study we compared two allergen sensitization protocols involving either topical allergen application after repeated tape stripping (TS) or intraperitoneal (IP) injections to induce peanut-specific allergy and anaphylaxis reactions in mini pigs. Mini pigs sensitized with a combination of peanut protein extract (PE) and cholera toxin (CT) through either the IP or the TS route.ResultsSensitized pigs via both methods developed systemic PE-specific IgG and IgE responses. Following peanut challenge via the IP route, both TS- and IP-sensitized pigs displayed allergy symptoms, including lethargy, skin rashes, vomiting, and a drop in body temperature. However, respiratory distress was observed exclusively in pigs sensitized through the TS route and not in those sensitized through the IP route. However, it is noteworthy that both groups of sensitized pigs maintained peanut hypersensitivity for up to two months post-sensitization, albeit with a reduction in the severity of allergy symptoms. Importantly, both groups exhibited sustained levels of PE-specific IgG, IgE, and elevated concentrations of mast cell protease in their blood following the IP challenges.DiscussionOverall, this study reports TS and IP as two different modes of sensitization leading to onset of peanut specific allergic reactions in mini pigs, but only the TS-sensitization led to systemic anaphylaxis (simultaneous presence of symptoms: breathing difficulty, intense skin rash, and impaired mobility). A distinctive feature of these sensitization protocols is the 100% success rate (N = 4 pigs per group) in sensitizing the subjects.

Barbari is a most preferred breed for commercial goat farming-under intensive management. However, pure-bred Barbari goats; especially buck’s availability are meager due to indiscriminate castration which resulted in stagnation of genetic improvement and breed dilution. Multiplier Flock Scheme, an integrated genetic improvement model was initiated at ICAR-CIRG, Makhdoom to cater the need of pure-bred and high merit goats and to promote commercial goat farming. Trained farmers with adequate housing and know-how were registered under this scheme and they were provided a foundation stock of Barbari goat to multiply with all technical support. Currently, 50 such goat farms exist in India with flock size of 50 to 350 goats. Data was collected on animal performance and economic attributes from eight such farms. The least squares means of body weight of Barbari kids at birth, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were 1.58, 7.22, 14.54, 20.01 and 25.76 kg, respectively. The average 60 and 90 days milk yield were 45.23 and 66.28 litre. The pre-weaning, post-weaning (3-12 month) and adult mortality were 9.03, 4.33 and 5.40% of flock strength. The net profit per goat/year ranged from ₹3800 to ₹13000 under various business models and the benefit:cost ratios ranged from 1.50 to 2.42 with mean and median value of 1.94 and 2.00, respectively. Present study concluded that multiplier flocks is efficient breeding model for improvement, conservation of goat breeds, promoting scientific goat farming at grass root level and very helpful to policymakers for small ruminant development.

Background: India accounts for 79% of global malaria burden. With progress towards malaria elimination, assessment of true disease burden and determinants of its transmission risk is critical. The present study aimed to estimate the burden of malaria and identify socioecological factors determining the disease prevalence. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 839 households covering 2910 individuals residing in Udupi taluk. A representative sample from urban, rural tribal and migrant communities were recruited and a questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic, housing & behavioral factors. Data was collected using Epi-info mobile application version 7.2.4 and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Among the population covered a total of 15 participants had a history of malaria in the past. Advancing age (AOR = 3.60; 95% CI: 2.14–6.04), illiteracy (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI:1.35–3.85), (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI:1.24–3.11) and rural (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI:1.39–2.74), tribal (AOR = 2.38; 95% CI:1.49–3.79), migrant (AOR = 4.28; 95% CI:2.30–7.98) localities were found to be independent predictors of disease awareness. With respect to malaria prevention practices, households from middle (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.49–1.09) & low SES (AOR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.19–0.46) and those from migrant localities (AOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.38–1.14) were less likely to have poor practices. Conclusion: Age, education, socioeconomic status, and locality were found to be significantly associated with knowledge and practice towards malaria prevention. Creating awareness regarding malaria and its prevention with enhanced community participation in control activities jointly with local authority is further emphasized.

Symbiotic interactions play a vital role in maintaining the phosphate (Pi) nutrient status of host plants and providing resilience during biotic and abiotic stresses. Serendipita indica, a mycorrhiza-like fungus, supports plant growth by transporting Pi to the plant. Despite the competitive behaviour of arsenate (AsV) with Pi, the association with S. indica promotes plant growth under arsenic (As) stress by reducing As bioavailability through adsorption, accumulation, and precipitation within the fungus. However, the capacity of S. indica to enhance Pi accumulation and utilization under As stress remains unexplored. Axenic studies revealed that As supply significantly reduces intracellular ACPase activity in S. indica, while extracellular ACPase remains unaffected. Further investigations using Native PAGE and gene expression studies confirmed that intracellular ACPase (isoform2) is sensitive to As, whereas extracellular ACPase (isoform1) is As-insensitive. Biochemical analysis showed that ACPase (isoform1) has a Km of 0.5977 µM and Vmax of 0.1945 Unit/min. In hydroponically cultured tomato seedlings, simultaneous inoculation of S. indica with As on the 14thday after seed germination led to hyper-colonization, increased root/shoot length, biomass, and induction of ACPase expression and secretion under As stress. Arsenic-treated S. indica colonized groups (13.33 µM As+Si and 26.67 µM As+Si) exhibited 8.28–19.14 and 1.71–3.45-fold activation of ACPase in both rhizospheric media and root samples, respectively, thereby enhancing Pi availability in the surrounding medium under As stress. Moreover, S. indica (13.33 µM As+Si and 26.67 µM As+Si) significantly improved Pi accumulation in roots by 7.26 and 9.46 times and in shoots by 4.36 and 8.85 times compared to the control. Additionally, S. indica induced the expression of SiPT under As stress, further improving Pi mobilization. Notably, fungal colonization also restricted As mobilization from the hydroponic medium to the shoot, with a higher amount of As (191.01 ppm As in the 26.67 µM As+Si group) accumulating in the plant's roots. The study demonstrates the performance of S. indica under As stress in enhancing Pi mobilization while limiting As uptake in the host plant. These findings provide the first evidence of the As-Pi interaction in the AM-like fungus S. indica, indicating reduced As uptake and regulation of PHO genes (ACPase and SiPT genes) to increase Pi acquisition. These data also lay the foundation for the rational use of S. indica in agricultural practices.

Abstract As public awareness about climate change grows, there is an increase in the research on bioplastic packaging films. This is the first‐ever scientific report on uniaxially stretched biobased‐polybutylene succinate‐co‐adipate (BioPBSA) and talc (15 and 25 wt%) based blown film composites at different stretch ratios (SR). The water vapor barrier properties of BioPBSA+25%Talc film at SR 4 shows an improvement of 40% compared to its unstretched counterpart, while an overall improvement of 48% is observed compared to the unstretched BioPBSA film. The successful dispersion of talc in the BioPBSA matrix, the orientation of talc filler during stretching, and the polymer chains orientation are responsible for such improvement. Additionally, XRD analysis shows that during uniaxial stretching, the crystallinity of the films increases by up to 26% as a result of strain‐induced crystallization, with BioPBSA+25%Talc at SR 4 having the highest crystallinity (≈75%). Furthermore, the inclusion of 25% talc in BioPBSA considerably enhances the tensile modulus by 246% compared to its unstretched counterpart. Hence biodegradable films with balanced barrier and tensile properties may be promising alternatives to petroleum‐based plastic materials used in flexible packaging applications.

Background: Kidney failure and nephropathy, defined as a dysfunctional kidney with a decline in ultrafiltration and a rise in blood urea and creatinine levels, are frequently caused by diabetes. Aim: The motive of this research was to evaluate the concentration of blood urea and creatinine in individuals with diabetes, and also to examine the relationship between these parameters and the duration of diabetes as well as glycosylated hemoglobin concentration. Methods: Concentrations of urea and creatinine in the blood were evaluated in samples of Juvenile diabetes and Diabetes mellitus patients attending diabetic clinics as well as non-diabetic patients in a tertiary hospital. For the study, 144 male participants between the ages of 35 and 55 were chosen for each group. All trial participants' fasting blood sugar, post-meal blood sugar parameters, and glycosylated hemoglobin were ascertained. The relationship between blood creatinine and urea levels, glycosylated hemoglobin, and length of illness in all diabetes participants was examined. Results: In the type 1 study group, blood creatinine and urea levels were correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin levels and the length of diabetes, but not with the Diabetes mellitus study group. Serum creatinine (F-value = 50.96) and urea (F-value = 33.4) levels increased statistically significantly in the diabetes groups relative to the control group. Conclusion: Creatinine and urea are straightforward and practical indicators that can be used as predictive assays to evaluate the condition of the kidneys (nephropathy) in individuals with diabetes. Recommendations: Intensive treatment can address elevated HbA1c levels in diabetes, but it may not reverse rising serum urea and creatinine caused by permanent kidney damage. Early detection and intervention are crucial to control glomerular injury and prevent further increases in serum urea and creatinine levels.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic extends beyond respiratory issues. It impacts various organs, including the kidneys, leading to complications such as acute kidney injury. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the histological characteristics of kidney damage among individuals who succumbed to COVID-19 and to elucidate underlying factors contributing to renal pathology in individuals with COVID-19. Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional design, data were extracted from the medical records of 301 patients at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital in Bihar, India. The primary focus was on individuals concurrently afflicted with SARS-CoV-2 infection and various kidney conditions, encompassing acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), nephritic syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, etc. Diverse data elements, including demographics, clinical outcomes, treatment durations, diagnoses, and laboratory test results, were collected. Results: Key findings from this investigation revealed a positive correlation between elevated creatinine levels and older age, as well as an association between higher initial creatinine levels and shorter treatment duration. Notably, patients who did not survive exhibited significantly higher initial creatinine levels compared to discharged patients. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and AKI experienced an extended hospital stay compared to those without AKI. Moreover, individuals with AKI complicating CKD experienced a significantly extended hospitalization period compared to those without AKI. Importantly, individuals with AKI faced a substantially higher risk of mortality compared to subjects who were diagnosed with CKD only. Furthermore, individuals suffering from AKI had a considerably elevated risk of mortality when compared to individuals without CKD or AKI. Conclusion: This study highlights its impact on clinical outcomes, the importance of early creatinine measurement, and the risk associated with advanced age and AKI complications. Recommendation: Consider closely monitoring elderly individuals with COVID-19, as advanced age is identified as a significant risk factor for the development of AKI as a complication of CKD.

Objectives: There exists a gap in understanding TBI prevalence within diverse risk groups in the country. Hence, this comprehensive review and pooled-analysis sought to determine the incidence of tuberculosis infections or TBI in the Indian subcontinent, considering geographical variations, socioeconomic profiles, and specific susceptible groups. Methods: By conducting an extensive review, this study explored Tuberculosis Infection (TBI) prevalence in India from 2013 to 2022. Utilizing databases like Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE, 72 publications underwent an examination adhering to the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The comprehensive approach included diverse languages and study settings, providing a thorough understanding of TBI prevalence in India. Results: On reviewing 10,515 documents, 72 studies comprising prevalence studies (approx. 42) and long-term studies (approx. 30) were incorporated for this paper. The overall prevalence of Tuberculosis Infection (TBI) in India, sourced from population-based sample studies, was established at 41%. This percentage held steady at 36 % when eliminating highly susceptible groups from the public at large. Regions grappling with heightened active TB burdens, especially in Tamil Nadu and Delhi, demonstrated a corresponding surge in TBI prevalence. Conclusion: The present comprehensive analysis unveiled the significant pervasiveness of Tuberculosis Infections in India, aligning with proactive TB infections, hinting at the potential transformation from latent form to active TB. Notably, this possibility was pronounced in individuals residing in the southern and parts of the country. Addressing these regional variations is crucial for adapting and prioritizing tailored strategies to effectively manage TBI in India. Recommendation: Our study thus recommends prioritizing Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) in high Tuberculosis Infection (TBI) prevalence areas, advocating a 'No test, treat only' approach for resource efficiency to support effective programmatic management in pursuit of India's TB elimination goals.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus type 2 typically affects adults when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or grows resistant to it, leading to several micro- and macrovascular. This study used an activity treadmill test to assess the severity of silent myocardial ischemia, a significant macrovascular consequence, in a subset of asymptomatic diabetic outpatients. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional observational research was conducted from September 2022 to September 2023 at the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital in Laheriasarai, Bihar, India. The study comprised 250 asymptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients without clinical symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) and normal electrocardiograms. Patients with heart failure, angina pectoris, previous myocardial ischemia (MI), or any other chronic ailment were not eligible to participate in the trial. A silent myocardial infarction was identified by CASE/T2100 sr number GE MAC using a treadmill test (TMT) conducted following the Bruce protocol. Results: Silent MI was present in 12.8% of diabetic individuals with positive TMT. Diabetes for more than 10 years (p=0.001), Age (p=0.002), dyslipidemia (p=0.001), and having an HbA1c were all substantially associated with TMT favorable of more than 10% (p=0.001). It was found that TMT-positive individuals had significantly higher levels of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol than TMT-negative patients. Compared to TMT-negative patients, those who tested positive for TMT had significantly lower HDL levels. Conclusion: Many people experienced asymptomatic coronary artery disease or silent myocardial infarctions when they had type 2 diabetes. Silent MI was more common in diabetics who were overweight, dyslipidemic, older, and had increased HbA1C levels. When it first started, TMT might be an easy, non-invasive way to identify this. Recommendation: Being physically active helps you manage your diabetes because it increases your body's sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that permits your body's cells to use blood sugar for energy.

Background: Removal of one or more kidneys may reduce renal parenchyma and GFR. Hence, gaining proper knowledge of clinical symptoms is essential before donating the kidney. The main aim of this study is to analyze the long-term renal and cardiovascular outcomes in living kidney donors. Materials and methods: It was a retrospective, observational study in a single center. A total of 62 living kidney donors from Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital in Laheriasarai, Bihar, from September 2022 to August 2023 were selected for this study. Their initial data (visit 0) during the time of the study to their last nephrological data (visit 1) were obtained and compared. Results: There was a huge drop in glomerular filtration rate which was about 28mL/min in a phase of 82±60 months. One donor underwent chronic kidney failure according to his last nephrological checkup (visit 1). There was no association between the age group and reduced glomerular filtration rate. Conclusion: The decrease in glomerular filtration rate as a consequence of kidney donation may cause an adverse reaction in renal and cardiovascular outcome. Recommendation: The age of the donor does not signify the occurring consequences and so older and healthy donor individuals are also recommended.

Importance of nanotechnology may be seen by penetration of its application in diverse areas including the food sector. With investigations and advancements in nanotechnology, based on feedback from these diverse areas, ease, and efficacy are also increasing. The food sector may use nanotechnology to encapsulate smart foods for increased health, wellness, illness prevention, and effective targeted delivery. Such nanoencapsulated targeted delivery systems may further add to the economic and nutritional properties of smart foods like stability, solubility, effectiveness, safeguard against disintegration, permeability, and bioavailability of smart/bioactive substances. But in the way of application, the fabrication of nanomaterials/nanostructures has several challenges which range from figuring out the optimal technique for obtaining them to determining the most suitable form of nanostructure for a bioactive molecule of interest. This review precisely addresses concepts, recent advances in fabrication techniques as well as current challenges/glitches of nanoencapsulation with special reference to smart foods/bioactive components. Since dealing with food materials also raises the quest for safety and regulatory norms a brief overview of the safety and regulatory aspects of nanomaterials/nanoencapsulation is also presented.

2-phenoxyanline was thoroughly examined using several spectroscopy nuclear magnetic resonance, IR, UV–vis, and quantum mechanical methodologies. D F T with basis set is employed to determine structural optimization and distinct vibration modes. The optimum binding parameters agree closely with the observed binding characteristics. VEDA performed the duties relating to potential energy distribution (PED) satisfactorily. The G I A O approach was adopted to compute chemical shifts in the 13C, 1H- N.M.R and the outcomes were compared to experimental spectra. TD-DFT with PCM model was used to calculate UV–vis with different solvents that, when assessed against observational spectra. The FMO energy provides sufficient proof of such. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations gave a better idea of the interaction of ligands with receptors.

AbstractThe quality of e-content had been identified as one of the major constructs impacting the quality of e-learning and students’ satisfaction. During the time of Covid 19 pandemic, a surge in the development of e-contents had been noted. Moreover, the new scenario also pushed the debate on the quality of e-learning that directly or indirectly included the issue of the quality of e-content. The present study aimed to assess the quality of e-contents prepared during the pandemic period for higher education students in India against the standards laid down by different studies and models of e-content development. A manifest analysis approach as a part of the quantitative content analysis method was employed. The sample size consisted of 60 e-contents from the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of education discipline. Half (50%) of the e-contents selected from e-content repository and remaining 50% were collected from faculty of HEIs directly. A three-stage selection criterion was formulated to select the e-contents from both sources. In agreement with the three categories of quality assessment (standard, substandard and not-suitable), only 23.3% of e-contents were found of standard quality. Two factors could be attributed mainly to this poor quality of e-contents, one was the lack of training to developers of e-content and the second was the lack of quality control mechanisms for developing e-contents at the institutes of higher education in India.

Trash mulches are remarkably effective in preventing soil erosion, reducing runoff-sediment transport-erosion, and increasing infiltration. The study was carried out to observe the sediment outflow from sugar cane leaf (trash) mulch treatments at selected land slopes under simulated rainfall conditions using a rainfall simulator of size 10 m × 1.2 m × 0.5 m with the locally available soil material collected from Pantnagar. In the present study, trash mulches with different quantities were selected to observe the effect of mulching on soil loss reduction. The number of mulches was taken as 6, 8 and 10 t/ha, three rainfall intensities viz. 11, 13 and 14.65 cm/h at 0, 2 and 4% land slopes were selected. The rainfall duration was fixed (10 minutes) for every mulch treatment. The total runoff volume varied with mulch rates for constant rainfall input and land slope. The average sediment concentration (SC) and sediment outflow rate (SOR) increased with the increasing land slope. However, SC and outflow decreased with the increasing mulch rate for a fixed land slope and rainfall intensity. The SOR for no mulch-treated land was higher than trash mulch-treated lands. Mathematical relationships were developed for relating SOR, SC, land slope, and rainfall intensity for a particular mulch treatment. It was observed that SOR and average SC values correlated with rainfall intensity and land slope for each mulch treatment. The developed models' correlation coefficients were more than 90%.

Introduction: Understanding the patterns of utilisation of primary health services can help to improve service delivery and utilisation, thereby reducing common morbidities in the community. The study aimed to assess the patterns of utilisation of services provided at an outreach healthcare centre. Methods: A community-based survey was conducted among families residing in the field practice area of an outreach centre for more than a year. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered to adults aged ≥18 years. Collected data were entered into and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0. Results: Approximately 65.1% of the respondents were aged 31–59 years, and 67.4% were women. Among 126 surveyed households, 50.7% had utilised services from the outreach centre. The facilitators of utilisation among 64 households included proximity to their area of residence (90.6%) and availability of good-quality services (40.6%). The most common barriers included a lack of awareness (30.9%) and inconvenient timings (18.2%) of the healthcare centre. The respondents aged 45 years (OR=2.65; 95% CI=1.57–4.47) had higher odds of utilising services than those aged 18–45 years. The female respondents (OR=2.89; 95% CI=1.86–4.51) were more likely to utilise services than the male respondents. Conclusion: Creating awareness regarding the outreach healthcare centre and designing services based on the observed needs of the community can further improve the utilisation of services provided at the healthcare centre.

Surface plasmons, continuous and cumulative electron vibrations confined to metal-dielectric interfaces, play a pivotal role in aggregating optical fields and energies on nanostructures. This confinement exploits the intrinsic subwavelength nature of their spatial profile, significantly enhancing light–matter interactions. Metals, semiconductors, and 2D materials exhibit plasmonic resonances at diverse wavelengths, spanning from ultraviolet (UV) to far infrared, dictated by their unique properties and structures. Surface plasmons offer a platform for various light–matter interaction mechanisms, capitalizing on the orders-of-magnitude enhancement of the electromagnetic field within plasmonic structures. This enhancement has been substantiated through theoretical, computational, and experimental studies. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the plasmon-enhanced processes on metallic and metamaterial-based sensors, considering factors such as geometrical influences, resonating wavelengths, chemical properties, and computational methods. Our exploration extends to practical applications, encompassing localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based planar waveguides, polymer-based biochip sensors, and LSPR-based fiber sensors. Ultimately, we aim to provide insights and guidelines for the development of next-generation, high-performance plasmonic technological devices.

The current experimental work investigated the engine performance and emissions when a compression ignition engine was powered by 1-propanol Electronic Mode (EM) fumigation with biodiesel and diesel fuel. The biodiesel (20 %) was blended with the reference diesel (80 %). The reference diesel and biodiesel blend values were notified to compare different timings of 1-propanol EM fumigation. 1 ms, 3 ms, and 5 ms injected fuel into the inlet manifold with varying loads. The test engine was powered by the mentioned biodiesel mixture with different timing of 1-propanol EM fumigation and reported the engine operating parameters. The test engine was subjected to additional brake power and fumigation timings. Initially, the experiments were conducted at extra engine brake power to identify the engine performance and emission characteristics, and later on, this investigation deals with the use of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Complex proportional assessment method (COPRAS) to identify the weights and Rank of the various tested blends. The experiment results were compared to the effects of reference diesel and biodiesel. The 5 ms 1-propanol EM fumigation produced good results in all engine parameters. The 3 ms EM fumigation produced intermediate results in all engine parameters.In comparison to 1-propanol EM fumigation timings, 5 ms produced maximum efficiency in peak load conditions and produced low carbon dioxide (CO2), nitric oxide (NO), and smoke at all load conditions.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant opportunistic human pathogen that utilizes two-component systems (TCSs) to sense pathophysiological signals and coordinate virulence. P. aeruginosa contains 64 sensor histidine kinases (HKs) and 72 response regulators (RRs) that play important roles in metabolism, bacterial physiology, and virulence. However, the role of some TCSs in virulence remains uncharacterized. In this study, we evaluated the virulence potential of some uncharacterized sensor HK and RR knockouts in P. aeruginosa using a Galleria mellonella infection model. Furthermore, we demonstrated that KdpD and AauS HKs regulate virulence by affecting P. aeruginosa biofilm formation and motility. Both ΔkdpD and ΔaauS showed reduced biofilm and motility which were confirmed by restored phenotypes upon complementation. Moreover, ΔkdpD and ΔaauS exhibited increased survival of HeLa cells and G. mellonella during in vivo infection. Altered expression of the transcriptional regulators anR and lasR, along with the virulence genes lasA, pelA, cupA, pqsA, pqsB, pqsC, and pqsD in the mutant strains elucidated the mechanism by which ΔkdpD and ΔaauS affect virulence. These findings confirm that kdpD and aauS play important roles in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis by regulating biofilm formation and motility.

The production of single-use, non-renewable plastic has persistently impacted the environment through non-biodegradable plastic accumulation. Injection-moulded biodegradable polymer blend [poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene-adipate) (PBSA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)] with an inexpensive filler, walnut shell powder (WSP), enables an appropriate melt flow behaviour after incorporating compatibilizer as confirmed by rheological analysis. The sustainable composites with 60 wt% WSP showed a decrement of 68.4% in tensile strength as compared to PBSA/PBAT blend. However, the inclusion of a 5 wt% compatibilizer in PBSA/PBAT/60wt%WSP composite increased tensile strength by 48.7%, indicating improved interfacial adhesion. Further, the improvements in tensile (694%) and flexural moduli (461%) of PBSA/PBAT blend were observed with the addition of 60 wt% WSP in presence of 7 wt% compatibilizer due to fibrillar morphology of filler. Thus, signifying enhanced stiffness with increased filler, leading to a composite suitable for rigid packaging. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed an improved adhesion between matrix and filler interfaces with the addition of a compatibilizer as gaps decreased, subsequently leading to increased mechanical properties. The novelty of this work establishes a high loading of filler can be incorporated with biodegradable polymers and improved properties in presence of compatibilizer makes it more suitable for injection moulding applications to produce a low-cost biocomposite capable of being used as a single-use plastic alternative in rigid packaging.

Background: PCL is one of the major ligaments of the knee joint which stabilizes the tibia on the femur. It prevents posterior translation of the tibia. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the functional outcome of knee joint after arthroscopic posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral peroneus longus autograft and also to assess the donor site morbidity. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 24 patients in the department of orthopaedics, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, Sheikhpura, Patna. All patients (male or female; age range 18-40 years) with PCL tear coming in OPD and emergency department of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna; were included in the study. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.5 years with a range from 19 years to 39 years. Most of the patients (37.5%) were in the age group of 25-32 years followed by 33.3% in the age group of 33-40 years, and 29.2% aged 18-25 years. All the patients were males. There was a significant improvement in IKDC and Tegner Lysholm score at 6-weeks, 3-months, 6-months, 1-year, 1.5 years, and 2-years compared with pre-operative IKDC and Tegner Lysholm score. The donor site morbidity was assessed with Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) and found to be unaffected. Conclusion: Arthroscopic single bundle PCL reconstruction using ipsilateral peroneus longus tendon autograft had significant improvement in functional outcome of the knee based on IKDC and Tegner Lysholm score. Ankle function was also found to be preserved based on FADI score at 2-years follow-up.

The widespread use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to effective communication. This study investigates the application of the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) denoising method to enhance the quality of acoustic signals affected by face masks. The EMD technique utilizes a Fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the intrinsic mode function to distinguish noise from the signal and improve the acoustic signal. The EMD-enhanced speech signal is compared to the acquired speech signal using Comparison Mean Opinion Scores (CMOS), and the spectral subtraction speech enhancement signal is also evaluated using CMOS. The results from various experimental conditions consistently demonstrate the superior performance of EMD denoising in producing enhanced signals. Specifically, the EMD method outperforms the spectral subtraction method in improving speech signal quality affected by face masks. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the EMD denoising method in improving the quality of speech signals impacted by face masks, highlighting its potential for enhancing communication in challenging acoustic environments.

Problem considered: Tobacco use is the second most common preventable cause of death in the world and quitting tobacco is an important strategy to prevent premature morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the correlates of quit attempts among tobacco users in India from GATS-2 data. Methods: Complex sample analysis was considered for logistic regression analysis to identify the correlates of quit attempts using Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)- 2 (2016–17) data. Weighted estimates were calculated for sample statistics. Results: A marked difference was observed in quit attempt rates across various states of India (p

The current generation is witnessing a huge interest in optical waveguides due to their salient features: they are of low cost, immune to electromagnetic interference, easy to multiplex, have a compact size, etc. These features of optical fibers make them a useful tool for various sensing applications including in medicine, automotives, biotechnology, food quality control, aerospace, physical and chemical monitoring. Among all the reported applications, optical waveguides have been widely exploited to measure the physical and chemical variations in the surrounding environment. Optical fiber-based temperature sensors have played a crucial role in this decade to detect high fever and tackle COVID-19-like pandemics. Recognizing the major developments in the field of optical fibers, this article provides recent progress in temperature sensors utilizing several sensing configurations including conventional fiber, photonic crystal fiber, and Bragg grating fibers. Additionally, this article also highlights the advantages, limitations, and future possibilities in this area.

Introduction: Due to the shifting of weight more on the medial side of the knee, more cartilage destruction occurs medially, and subsequently, varus deformity occurs. A corrective osteotomy to alter the weight-bearing axis will be ideal to slow down the degenerative process. The success of an osteotomy around the knee depends on the biomechanics of the lower extremity, load distribution in the knee, and also on the mechanical properties of the implants used for osteotomy fixation. The aim of the study is to know the functional outcome of open-wedge high tibial osteotomy in medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was done at the tertiary center of Bihar between May 2016 and September 2018. Bilateral weight-bearing anteroposterior view in full extension and standing scannogram was taken preoperatively. Patients were operated and evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months by the Japanese Orthopaedic association knee score and Japanese Orthopaedic association system. Results: Medial opening-wedge osteotomy was performed in 26 knees of 24 in which there were 10 male and 14 female patients. Of the 26 knees operated, 16 were of the left side and 10 of the right side. Of the 26 knees operated, 6 (23%) had excellent outcome, 12 (47%) had good outcome, 4 (15%) had fair, and 4 (15%) had poor outcome. The poor result of three patients was correlated to superficial infection and the other patients due to inadequate correction. Five patients had superficial infection and one patient had hardware prominence causing pain and two patients had under correction of varus. Conclusion: From this prospective study, it can be concluded that medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy is a useful option in medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee joint and relieves pain and improves functional outcomes in patients.

Smart agriculture is a concept that refers to a revolution in the agriculture industry that promotes the monitoring of activities necessary to transform agricultural methods to ensure food security in an ever-changing environment. These days, the role of technology is increasing rapidly in every sector. Smart agriculture is one of these sectors, where technology is playing a significant role. The key aim of smart farming is to use the technologies to increase the quality and quantity of agricultural products. IOT and digital image processing are two commonly utilized technologies, which have a wide range of applications in agriculture. IOT is an abbreviation for the Internet of things, i.e., devices to execute different functions. Image processing offers various types of imaging sensors and processing that could lead to numerous kinds of IOT-ready applications. In this work, an integrated application of IOT and digital image processing for weed plant detection is explored using the Weed-ConvNet model to provide a detailed architecture of these technologies in the agriculture domain. Additionally, the regularized Weed-ConvNet is designed for classification with grayscale and color segmented weed images. The accuracy of the Weed-ConvNet model with color segmented weed images is 0.978, which is better than 0.942 of the Weed-ConvNet model with grayscale segmented weed images.