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In photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment, heavy-atom-free photosensitizers (PSs) are a great source of singlet oxygen photosensitizer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by an energy transfer from the lowest energy triplet excited state to the molecular oxygen of cancer cells. To clarify the photophysical characteristics in the excited states of a few experimentally identified thionated (>C=S) molecules and their oxygenated congeners (>C=O), a quantum chemical study is conducted. This study illustrates the properties of the excited states in oxygen congeners that render them unsuitable for PDT treatment. Concurrently, a hierarchy is presented based on the utility of the lowest-energy triplet excitons of thionated compounds. Their non-radiative decay rates are calculated for reverse-ISC and inter-system crossover (ISC) processes. In addition, the vibronic importance of C=O and C=S bonds is clarified by the computation of the Huang–Rhys factor, effective vibrational mode, and reorganization energy inside the Marcus–Levich–Jörtner system. ROS generation in thionated PSs exceeds their oxygen congeners as kf ≪ kISC, where radiative decay rate is designated as kf. As a result, the current work offers a calculated strategy for analyzing the effectiveness of thionated photosensitizers in PDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural rigidity and chemical diversity of the highly fluorescent perylenediimide (PDI) provide wide opportunities for developing triplet photosensitizers with sufficiently increased energy efficiency. Remarkably high intersystem crossing (ISC) rates with a complete fluorescence turn-off reported recently for several thione analogs of PDI due to substantially large spin–orbit coupling garners huge attention to develop other potential analogs. Here, several selone analogs of PDI, denoted as mSe-PDIs (m = 1–4) with varied Se content and positions, are investigated to provide a comprehensive and comparative picture down the group-16 using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT implementing optimally tuned range-separated hybrid in toluene dielectric. All mSe-PDIs are confirmed to be dynamically stable and also thermodynamically feasible to synthesize from their oxygen and thione congeners. The first excited-state singlet (S1) of mSe-PDI with relatively low Se-content (m = 1, 2) is of nπ* character with an expected fluorescence turn-off. Whereas, the ππ* nature of the S1 for 3Se-PDI and 4Se-PDI suggests a possible fluorescence turn-on in the absence of any other active nonradiative deactivation pathways. However, ∼4–6 orders greater ISC rates (∼1012–1014 s−1) than the fluorescence ones (∼108 s−1) for all mSe-PDIs signify highly efficient triplet harvest. Importantly, significantly higher ISC rates for these mSe-PDIs than their thione congeners render them efficient triplet photosensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse and tunable electronic structures of perylenediimide (PDI), together with its high thermal and chemical stability, make the compound suitable for applications in bioimaging, electrical, and optical devices. However, a large singlet–triplet gap (ΔES–T) and almost zero spin–orbit coupling (SOC) between the lowest excited singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) restrict intersystem crossing (ISC) in highly fluorescent pristine PDI, yielding a near zero triplet quantum yield (ΦT). Interestingly, a thione analogs of PDI with varied S content (mS-PDIs, m = 1–4) was experimentally shown to yield ΦT ∼ 1.0 through efficient ISC. Time-dependent optimally-tuned range-separated hybrid calculations are performed to rationalize the experimentally observed red-shifted optical absorption and also the remarkably high ISC with almost zero radiative fluorescence reported for these mS-PDIs. To this end, the relative energies of low-lying excited singlets Sn (n = 1, 2) and a few triplets Tn(n = 1–3), along with their nature (nπ* or ππ*), are assessed for each of the mS-PDIs studied in chloroform. To our surprise and contrary to the earlier reports, both S1 and T1 are found to be of the same ππ* character, originating from the highest occupied to lowest unoccupied orbital transition, which, therefore, leads to a still large ΔES–T and vanishingly small SOC, as expected from the identical wavefunction symmetry. Increasing S content lowers S1(ππ*) due to a greater extent of π-delocalization, which well complements and supports the observed red-shift. More importantly, the T2 (or T3) closely lying to the S1 is of nπ* and, therefore, produces a relatively smaller ΔES–T and larger SOC. Detailed kinetics analysis suggests S1(ππ*) → T2(nπ*) is the primary ISC channel for all mS-PDIs, which is responsible for the remarkably high ΦT observed. In addition, comparable SOC and ΔES–T produce similar ISC rates for all mS-PDIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have recently drawn interest in various applications due to their superior electronic properties, high specific surface area, and surface activity. However, studies on the catalytic properties of the 2D counterpart of V2O5 are scarce. In the present study, the catalytic properties of 2D V2O5 vis-à-vis bulk V2O5 for the degradation of methylene blue dye are discussed for the first time. The 2D V2O5 catalyst was synthesized using a modified chemical exfoliation technique. A massive increase in the electrochemically active surface area of 2D V2O5 by one order of magnitude greater than that of bulk V2O5 was observed in this study. Simultaneously, ~ 7 times increase in the optical absorption coefficient of 2D V2O5 significantly increases the number of photogenerated electrons involved in the catalytic performance. In addition, the surface activity of the 2D V2O5 catalyst is enhanced by generating surface oxygen vacancy defects. In the current study, we have achieved ~ 99% degradation of 16 ppm dye using the 2D V2O5 nanosheet catalysts under UV light exposure with a remarkable degradation rate constant of 2.31 min−1, which is an increase of the order of 102 from previous studies using V2O5 nanostructures and nanocomposites as catalysts. Since the enhanced photocatalytic activity emerged from the surface and optical properties of the catalyst, the current study shows great promise for the future application of 2D V2O5 in photo- and electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some nuclear reactors, under accidental conditions, core debris forms a molten pool, which is later located in a core catcher. The core catcher proposed by the authors uses special refractory material to absorb enthalpy of corium so that temperatures are within 1500 K, which is possible to cool with side cooling and top flooding. Since performing a full-scale prototypic experiment is extremely challenging and complex because of the involvement of very high temperatures and the presence of radioactive materials, it is important to develop a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model capable of simulating coolability of the melt pool with the above cooling strategy. In the present work, a CFD model was developed for the above purpose and was benchmarked with experiments conducted under simulated conditions by the authors. The experiment involved the melting of about 25 L of sodium borosilicate glass at about 1473 K and cooling it in a scaled-down core catcher model. In the presence of decay heat inside the melt pool, turbulent natural convection plays an important role in the temperature distribution inside the melt pool and on the vessel walls. For this, we used different turbulence models. Comparisons among the Standard k-ε, Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ω, and two-dimensional (2D) Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence models show that SST k-ω and 2D LES turbulences are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results for the temperature distribution in the melt pool, and SST k-ω is found to be computationally less expensive than 2D LES. In general, the CFD model is capable of simulating heat transfer with phase changes inside the heat-generating melt pool. In view of this, the model can be further extended to include cooling of the melt pool in the prototype core catcher. The evolution of crust formation has been investigated in detail using a CFD model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some microorganisms known as endophytes live in symbiotic relationships in the living tissues of plants without posing a health risk. As a result, they synthesize many metabolites which are helpful for the plants in many ways. So, these metabolites are known to exhibit many biological properties like antioxidant, antidiabetic anti-inflammatory, etc. Currently, many drugs are used to control inflammatory diseases like arthritis and, irritable bowel disease; however, they pose a lot of side effects. The present study was taken up to explore the anti-inflammatory properties along with the phytochemicals present, its quantification, and other in vitro biological activities of the less reported Aspergillus melleus, an endophytic fungus, isolated from Premna serratifolia L., a medicinal plant. The results of the investigation demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides and amino acids in the methanolic extract of endophytic fungus. It yielded 25.28 µg GAE/g and 19.465 µg GAE/g of total phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively. The results of anti-inflammatory activity showed 84.69+0.82% protein inhibition by BSA and also showed IC50 values of 68.53 µg/mL and 43.34 µg/mL for COX1 and COX 2, respectively. It exhibited 63.91+0.08% of radical scavenging activity by DPPH. The IC50 values of 181.41 µg/mL and 190.62 µg/mL were found for the in vitro antidiabetic activity. This study shows that the endophytic fungus A. melleus has exhibited considerably good results with respect to its in vitro biological activities. Yet, there is a scope for future researchers to isolate the bioactive metabolites to explore for future needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High species diversity, hybridization potential, broad geographical dispersal range and ornamental characteristics (i.e., attractive size, shape, structure, flowers, and evergreen) have fetched a good international market for Rhododendron. However, most species are restricted to specific geographic areas due to their habitat specificity in acidic soil and cold climates, resulting many species being classified under threat categories of the IUCN. In this review, advances in research on Rhododendron for improvement to floral display quality and stress resistance have been described. The low genetic barrier among species has created opportunities for extensive hybridization and ploidy alteration for introducing quality and adaptive traits during the development of new varieties. Recent technological advances have supported investigations into the mechanism of flower development, as well as cold tolerance and pathogen resistance mechanisms in the Rhododendron. However, most of the species have limited adaptability to drought, line-tolerance, pathogen resistance, and high-temperature conditions and this resistance ability present in few species largely remains unexplored. Additionally, the available genetic diversity and genomic information on species, and possibilities for their application in molecular breeding have been summarized. Overall, genomic resource data are scarce in the majority of the members of this genus. Finally, various research gaps such as genetic mapping of quality traits, understanding the molecular mechanism of quality-related traits and genomic assortment in Rhododendron members have been discussed in the future perspective section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appropriate storage, transportation, and utilization of wood-based fuels, including woodchips, pellets, and sawdust, in the energy production process, depends on their efficient drying. Traditional drying methods include limitations such as high thermal losses, inefficient heat transfer, and sustainability issues. These barriers, coupled with the high costs and complexities of maintaining the desired moisture content, underscore the need for innovative solutions. This study introduces a novel approach to wood fuel drying through the integration of phase-change materials (PCMs) with hybrid solar drying systems, aimed at enhancing thermal efficiency and sustainability. Employing coconut oil as the PCM, experiments were performed under a consistent artificial radiation of 755 W m−2. The hybrid system demonstrated the capability to retain approximately 200 watts of useful heat for three hours post-radiation, marking a significant improvement in heat storage. Our findings reveal peak thermal and exergy efficiencies of 30–35% and 13–14%, respectively. An economic and environmental analysis predicts a system lifespan of five years, with the cost of generating one kilogram of hot air at 0.0058 EUR and an annual CO2 emission of 64.09 kg. This research offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for wood fuel drying, presenting a significant advancement for large-scale producers and setting a benchmark for further exploration of wood fuel drying technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on polypyrrole (PPy) with varying contents of silicon nanoparticles (Si) have been synthesized using a one-step polymerization technique. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized using various analytical tools such as FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM, DSC, TGA and an impedance analyzer. FTIR demonstrated the successful inclusion of nanoparticles in the PPy matrix. XRD analysis revealed the presence of silicon in the PPy matrix. SEM images demonstrated that silicon grew uniformly into the PPy. The HR-TEM analysis revealed that silicon particles were scattered at the nanoscale level in nanocomposites with widths ranging from 20 to 35 nm. TGA and DSC results exhibited that the addition of nanoparticles increases the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of nanocomposites. The dielectric characteristics and electrical conductivity increased dramatically with temperature and the loading of nanoparticles. The activation energy calculated using the Arrhenius equation revealed that 7 wt% nanocomposite has the lowest activation energy. The nanocomposites were employed to detect ammonia gas at room temperature and the composite containing 7% sample exhibited the best gas sensing capability. The improvements in thermal, electrical, and gas detection properties enable these materials to have various applications, including integrated thin film capacitors, gas sensor development, and flexible nano-dielectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular-scale design strategies for promoting intersystem crossing (ISC) in small organic molecules are ubiquitous in developing efficient metal-free triplet photosensitizers with high triplet quantum yield (ΦT). Air-stable and highly fluorescent perylenediimide (PDI) in its pristine form displays very small ISC compared to the fluorescence due to the large singlet–triplet gap (ΔES−T) and negligibly small spin–orbit coupling (SOC) between the lowest singlet (S1) and triplet state (T1). However, its ΦT can be tuned by different chemical and mechanical means that are capable of either directly lowering the ΔES−T and increasing SOC or introducing intermediate low-lying triplet states (Tn, n = 2, 3, ...) between S1 and T1. To this end, herein, a few chalcogen (X = O, S, Se) bay-substituted PDIs (PDI-X2) are computationally modeled aiming at introducing geometrical-strain at the PDI core and also mixing nπ* orbital character to ππ* in the lowest singlet and triplet excited states, which altogether may reduce ΔES−T and also improve the SOC. Our quantum-chemical calculations based on optimally tuned range-separated hybrid reveal the presence of intermediate triplet states (Tn, n = 2, 3) in between S1 and T1 for all three PDI-X2 studied in dichloromethane. More importantly, PDI-X2 shows a significantly improved ISC rate than the pristine PDI due to the combined effects stemming from the smaller ΔES−T and the larger SOC. The calculated ISC rates follow the order as PDI-O2 < PDI-S2 < PDI-Se2. These research findings will be helpful in designing PDI based triplet photosensitizers for biomedical, sensing, and photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an urge for traditional herbal remedies as an alternative to modern medicine in treating several diseases. A significant number of modern pharmaceutical drugs are based on or derived from medicinal plants or their extracts. These drugs derived from the plant origin have various antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory activities. Alangium salviifolium belongs to Cornaceae family and is well known for its medicinal properties. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant effect and possible bioactive components present in the chloroform, acetone, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extract of Alangium salviifolium leaves. Methodology: Dried leaves of Alangium salviifolium were subjected to serial solvent extraction using increasing polarity of solvents, i.e., chloroform, acetone, methanol, ethanol, and distilled water. Crude extracts were further tested for qualitative analysis of phytochemicals using standard procedure, while GCMS analysis was performed to identify the probable phytocompounds. Antibacterial activity was performed against bacterial pathogens using agar well method, whereas antioxidant activity was performed using in vitro PM, DPPH and FRAP assays. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of key phytochemical classes. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, several high and low molecular weight chemical compound kinds were discovered. These chemical substances are regarded as having significant biological and pharmacological effects. All crude extracts had considerable and comparable in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, Alangium salviifolium leaves are a rich source of phytoconstituents that are crucial in stopping the advancement of numerous disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced flexible ionotronic devices have found excellent applications in the next generation of electronic skin (e-skin) development for smart wearables, robotics, and prosthesis. In this work, we developed transparent ionotronic-based flexible electrochemical capacitors using gel electrolytes and indium tin oxide (ITO) based transparent flexible electrodes. Different gel electrolytes were prepared using various salts, including NaCl, KCl, and LiCl in a 1:1 ratio with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution and compared its electrochemical performances. The interaction between gel electrolytes and ITO electrodes was investigated through the development of transparent electrochemical capacitors (TEC). The stable and consistent supply of ions was provided by the gel, which is essential for the charge storage and discharge within the TEC. The total charge contribution of the developed TECs is found from the diffusion-controlled mechanism and is measured to be 4.59 mC cm−2 for a LiCl/PVA-based gel. The prepared TEC with LiCl/PVA gel electrolyte exhibited a specific capacitance of 6.61 mF cm−2 at 10 μA cm−2. The prepared electrolyte shows a transparency of 99% at 550 nm and the fabricated TEC using LiCl/PVA gel exhibited a direct bandgap of 5.34 eV. The primary benefits of such ionotronic-based TEC development point to its potential future applications in the manufacturing of transparent batteries, electrochromic energy storage devices, ionotronic-based sensors, and photoelectrochemical energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urethral atresia is a rare but clinically significant cause of congenital lower urinary tract obstruction. Initial management options include urinary diversion until definitive urethral reconstruction or progressive urethral dilation. Given the overall rarity of the condition, there are no evidence-based guidelines for the immediate and long-term management of urethral atresia, and clinical practice varies widely. We present an illustrative case managed with progressive urethral dilation alongside urinary diversion to highlight key factors in shared clinical decision making. Ultimately, pooled multi-institutional long-term outcomes data are needed to better guide practice for these patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A severe accident involving core melt in a nuclear reactor is a major concern especially after Fukushima. Thus, to mitigate the effects of core melt accidents, an ex-vessel core catcher is being developed for Advanced Indian Nuclear Reactors. The core catcher design envisages using special refractory material. The cooling strategy of the core catcher is one of the key components in the design of the core catcher. Performing a full-scale prototypic experiment is extremely challenging and prohibitory due to the involvement of very high temperature and presence of radioactive materials. Therefore, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model capable of simulating the coolability of the melt pool is important to develop. In the present work, a two-dimensional (2D) CFD model was developed to understand the heat transfer phenomenon and solidification of the heat-generating simulant melt pool. The 2D symmetry geometry of the simulated core catcher vessel was used. The CFD model considers appropriate models for melting and solidification to understand crust formation in the melt pool and the k-ε turbulence model to resolve turbulence inside the melt pool. A decay heat of 1 MW/m3 was also considered inside the melt pool. The CFD simulation results were compared with the authors' experimental results. The experiment involved a scaled-down ex-vessel core catcher model (CCM) employing electrical heaters to simulate decay heat. The experiment was carried out by melting about 25 L of sodium borosilicate glass using a cold crucible induction furnace at about 1200°C and cooling it in the scaled-down CCM. The scaled-down CCM was strategically cooled in three phases, namely, air cooled, indirect side cooling, and complete top flooding. To overcome the complexities of simulation of the initial melt pour condition, the CFD simulation was initialized with the temperatures just after the melt pour was completed in the experiment. Similar to the experimental conditions, the CFD simulations were carried out in three phases by changing the boundary condition. Comparison of the temperatures of the melt pool by the CFD simulations and experiments at different locations gave reasonable agreement. The evolution of crust formation, melt pool temperatures, core catcher inner wall temperatures, and heat flux distribution were investigated in detail using the CFD model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractUnderstanding skin responses to external forces is crucial for post-cutaneous flap wound healing. However, the in vivo viscoelastic behavior of scalp skin remains poorly understood. Personalized virtual surgery simulations offer a way to study tissue responses in relevant 3D geometries. Yet, anticipating wound risk remains challenging due to limited data on skin viscoelasticity, which hinders our ability to determine the interplay between wound size and stress levels. To bridge this gap, we reexamine three clinical cases involving scalp reconstruction using patient-specific geometric models and employ uncertainty quantification through a Monte Carlo simulation approach to study the effect of skin viscoelasticity on the final stress levels from reconstructive surgery. Utilizing the generalized Maxwell model via the Prony series, we can parameterize and efficiently sample a realistic range of viscoelastic response and thus shed light on the influence of viscoelastic material uncertainty in surgical scenarios. Our analysis identifies regions at risk of wound complications based on reported threshold stress values from the literature and highlights the significance of focusing on long-term responses rather than short-term ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cell Press and the Cell special issue focusing on structural biology, we want to highlight the rapid progress of cryo-EM related research in India in this collection of Voices. We have asked structural biologists to introduce their research and the national cryo-EM facilities throughout the country. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science is a collaborative endeavor, and the importance of collaborations across disciplines and boundaries is becoming clearer with the advent of new technologies. This article focuses on key aspects of initiating and sustaining new collaborations, and expanding from bilateral to multilateral efforts to create major impact through team science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biodosimetry is the quantification of absorbed radiation dose using biological material obtained from an exposed individual. Radiation can cause different types of chromosomal aberrations, including stable aberrations like translocations and unstable ones like micronuclei, dicentric chromosomes (DC), acentric, and ring forms. Dicentric chromosome assay has become the "gold standard" for cytogenetic biodosimetry due to its reproducibility, specificity (low baseline rates), and sensitivity to low doses. Using existing calibration curves and models obtained from in vitro irradiation of blood, the yield of DCs can be used to estimate the average whole-body absorbed dose. Purpose: To evaluate and compare the in vivo dose-response relation of DC aberration formation in peripheral blood lymphocytes of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT) alone, cisplatin-based chemoradiation (CCRT), accelerated fractionation RT (AFRT), and CCRT with gefitinib (GCRT). Methodology: This prospective observational and analytical study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Genetic Lab of tertiary care, teaching hospital after approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Biodosimetric analysis was done weekly in patients undergoing RT (n = 20) versus CCRT (n = 20), CCRT (n = 12) versus AFRT (n = 12), and CCRT (n = 6) versus GCRT (n = 6). The yield of DCs was measured in blood samples taken before starting treatment, that is, day 0 and during RT on days 6, 11, and 16 in RT alone versus CCRT; on days 7 and 13 in CCRT versus AFRT; and days 6 and 11 in CCRT versus GCRT from a blood sample drawn 1-2 h after RT. Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated lymphocytes were cultured using heparinized blood in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Cells were arrested at metaphase using demecolcine, harvested by centrifugation, mounted, and stained with Giemsa. Cytogenetic analysis was performed by analyzing at least 100 metaphases with well-spread chromosomes. DC aberrations and acentric fragments were identified and recorded. To standardize the findings as per the customized field for every patient, the mean DC yield per cm² of the irradiated area was calculated and compared. Results: The mean yield of DC/cm² in the CCRT group was greater than the RT alone group by 16.33%, 28.57%, and 18.68% on days 6, 11, and 16 of treatment, respectively. This difference between the two groups at day 6 (P = 0.001), day 11 (P < 0.001), and day 16 (P < 0.001) was found to be statistically significant. The mean yield of DC/cm² in the CCRT group was greater than the AFRT group by 7.9% and 18.3% on days 7 and 13 of treatment, respectively. This difference at day 7 (P < 0.001) and day 13 (P < 0.001) was found to be statistically significant. The mean yield of DC/cm² in the CCRT group was greater than the GCRT group by 22.7% and 21.8% on days 6 and 11 of treatment, respectively. The difference at day 6 (P = 0.01) was statistically significant but, on day 11 (P = 0.065) this difference was found insignificant. Conclusion: There is a dose-dependent increase in the yield of DCs in lymphocytes of HNC patients undergoing RT with subsequent fractions. Cisplatin-based chemoradiation is the superior method of treatment intensification radio-biologically proven by higher DC yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, optical, morphological and thermal properties of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/boehmite nanocomposite films were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. The FT-IR spectra of composites showed the characteristic band of boehmite nanoparticles at 518 cm−1 indicating an effective interaction between PMMA and boehmite. The UV-visible measurements showed that the optical energy gaps for the direct permitted transitions decreased as boehmite content increased. The orientation of nanoparticles observed from XRD revealed that the addition of boehmite increases the crystallinity of PMMA. The SEM analysis showed the uniform distribution of boehmite in the PMMA matrix. The shift in glass transition and melting temperatures to higher temperature domains were revealed by DSC analysis. From the TGA studies, the reinforcement of PMMA with boehmite nanoparticles increases thermal stability. The electrical conductivity was measured using the impedance technique, and it was studied as a function of nanoparticles loading, applied frequency ranging from 100 to 106 Hz and at different temperatures. The AC conductivity of the composite increases with frequency and temperature. The activation energy was also measured for all samples at various applied frequencies, and it was observed that it decreased with increasing nanoparticle loading. The dielectric constant of PMMA increases with nanoparticle concentration up to 7 wt%. The modulus, tensile strength, hardness, and impact properties of the PMMA/boehmite nanocomposite films were significantly enhanced by the reinforcement of nanoparticles into the polymer matrix. The excellent optical properties, mechanical strength and electrical properties obtained for 7 wt% loaded nanocomposite films enable them to be used in the construction of electromagnetic induction shielding materials, conducting adhesives, and flame-resistant flexible optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the vehicle seat suspension system installed with a semi-active magnetorheological (MR) damper is excited by the power spectral density (PSD) and its vibration control performance is evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA). The control system receives the velocity of the sprung and unsprung mass from the seat mounting locations and calculates the desired controllable damping forces available from MR damper. The effectiveness of the control systems is demonstrated by adopting ride quality evaluation method. To predict a better ride comfort and ride quality, co-simulation methodology is utilized considering the dynamic behavior of the real-world seat system. In this case, the multi-body dynamics and control system are coupled by solving the mechanical equations and the control logic. Then, the computed damping force is exchanged between the dynamics and controller in an iterative manner by passing state variables. The simulation results achieved from co-simulation methodology associated with the controller are analyzed by comparing with ISO 2631-1. The co-simulation results studied using vibration dose value (VDV), crest factor (CF) and seat effective amplitude transmissibility (SEAT) in terms of percentage improvement were found to be 44.33%, 26.66% and 17.65% respectively which were better than that for the passive suspension for a random rough road profile. Modified skyhook controller delivers superior performance for vibration suppression of the vehicle seat suspension as compared to other control policies. The application of co-simulation methodology can reduce time and cost for the development of a semi-active seat suspension system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concurrent extreme rainfall events, or synchronous extremes, during Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR), cause significant damage, but their spatiotemporal evolution remains unclear. Using the event synchronization approach to examine the synchronicity of extreme rainfall events from 1901 to 2019, we find that Central India consistently hosts strongly connected synchronous extreme hubs with localized connections, indicating the geographical trapping of these concurrent events in the region. We observe a moderate positive correlation between network cohesiveness and El Niño Southern Oscillations (ENSO), and a negative correlation between ENSO and link lengths, suggesting localized synchronicity during El Niño dominant decades and opposite patterns in La Niña periods. Despite increasing ISMR variability and spatial nonuniformity, the persistence of hubs and network attributes could offer insights for predicting synchronous extremes, informing effective adaptation and risk management strategies during the monsoon season. Plain Language Summary: Synchronous extreme rainfall events during the India monsoon season have been persistent over the past century, tending to concentrate in Central India and remaining highly localized. These events are correlated with El Niño Southern Oscillations (ENSO), with more synchronization during strong El Niño periods and less during La Niña conditions. The networks representing these synchronous extremes at various levels of severity exhibit key attributes that are time‐invariant with minimal divergence. These properties demonstrate a significant correlation with recurring climate patterns such as ENSO and Tropical Sea‐Surface Temperature Anomalies. Understanding these time‐invariant characteristics and their links to larger climate patterns is essential for infrastructure planning and design, given the persistent challenges posed by these synchronous extremes. Key Points: Despite growing spatial non‐uniformity, synchronous monsoon rainfall extremes confine to nearly the same geographical regionHighly connected locations persist in Central India and synchronize locally, indicating a stable network of extreme rainfall eventsTime‐invariant network properties linked to ocean‐atmosphere processes could serve as key covariates for predicting synchronous extremes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of linear and nonlinear error propagation on the optimization are explored. • Performances of two collision avoidance constraint formulations are compared. • A new probabilistic measure is proposed for a non-Gaussian distribution. With the soaring number of space debris, collision avoidance maneuvers have become crucial to ensure the safety of any operating satellite. In real-world scenario, the problem gets a little more complicated due to the presence of uncertainty in the values of the states of the space objects. Also, the uncertainty distribution assigned to a given state variable evolves over time. This paper studies the effects of linear and nonlinear propagation of the uncertainty distributions on the collision avoidance maneuver optimization. These different methods for error propagation lead to differing shapes and sizes of the error distribution, resulting in differing regions to be avoided during the encounter, thus resulting in different optimal Δv requirements. In the method using nonlinear propagation of uncertainty distribution, the uncertainty of the passive object is propagated using Monte Carlo samples while that of the operating spacecraft is evolved using Unscented Transform. The sigma points from the Unscented Transform of the operating spacecraft are required to lie outside the stretch of most of the debris uncertainty while implementing cumulative density function. This also results in defining a new probabilistic measure which is like a modified Mahalanobis distance but for a non-Gaussian distribution. The other approach uses linearly propagating the error covariances and a combined error ellipsoid to ensure the maintenance of a desired Mahalanobis distance of the hard body from the uncertainty distribution to ascertain safety. Both the approaches consider nonlinear state dynamics while incorporating the perturbing forces to find the optimal thrust profile and the corresponding steer angles. The approach implementing nonlinear propagation of uncertainty and using cumulative density to ensure that the sigma points of the satellite avoid the debris' uncertainty distribution is found to require lower Δv compared to the other method while also representing the error propagation better. However, the method implementing linear propagation of uncertainty and using Mahalanobis distance of the hard body from the combined error distribution to frame the avoidance constraint proves to be computationally much faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical water, known for its abrupt changes in fluid properties near the pseudocritical region, has always posed a design challenge, leading to enhancement or deterioration in heat transfer. Additionally, the lack of complete understanding of the thermodynamic behavior of supercritical water near the pseudocritical zone, unlike in the subcritical zone, highlights the necessity of a systematic study. Hence, this paper focuses on characterizing the convective upward flow and heat transfer characteristics inside a vertical smooth annular square channel. The numerical analysis uses a steady-state, pressure-based, compressible, Newtonian solver with body force term and two-equation turbulence model to study the influence of variation in pressure, heat flux, and heat-to-mass flux ratios. The flow characteristics and heat transfer behavior of deteriorated, normal, and enhanced heat transfer modes are studied. The heat transfer deterioration is suppressed with the increase in pressure; however, it increases with the increase in inlet bulk temperature. The supercritical boiling number that determines the heat transfer mode is calculated and analyzed for the square annulus section. The evolution of the flow in different heat transfer modes differs based on the effect of buoyancy on the velocity field and the turbulence. The calculated Nusselt numbers match the existing Jackson and Hall correlation well with a maximum absolute error of 9.91%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of supplementing omega fatty acids‐rich oil blend, composed of sunflower oil (1.5% and 3.0%), linseed oil (1.5% and 3.0%), and FineXNV1810 (20 g) on the carcass, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and genes (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α, stearoyl‐CoA desaturase, acetyl‐CoA carboxylase, hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A, and leptin) of Barbari goats. The goat kids (n = 18) were divided into three groups, namely, group A: basal diet; group B: basal diet + oil blend level 1; and group C: basal diet + oil blend level 2, and subjected to the feeding trial for 120 days followed by slaughter and meat quality studies. No treatment effect was recorded in carcass characteristics, pH, water holding capacity, and proximate composition of meat. However, a significant (p < 0.05) treatment effect was observed in cooking loss, lightness, yellowness, and shear force values of meat. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in linoleic acid, α‐linolenic acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), n − 3 and n − 6 PUFA, PUFA/saturated fatty acids and n − 6/n − 3 ratios, and thrombogenic index among groups. An upregulation of the studied genes in the supplemented groups was observed. There were upregulations in the studied genes in the supplemented groups. Practical applications: Goat meat is in great demand the world over, especially in tropical countries, including India, and does not carry any social or religious prohibition. Although goat meat has relatively less fat, consumers express their concern over the presence of undesirable fatty acids. The present study shows that the fatty acid configuration of goat meat can be improved by a dietary supplementation of an oil blend rich in omega fatty acids. The amount of n − 3 PUFA, n − 6 PUFA, and CLA in goat meat was significantly increased due to the dietary oil blend making it healthy for the consumers. Moreover, the dietary oil blend at the studied levels did not significantly affect the growth and meat quality parameters of the goats. Thus, the studied approach can be successfully followed to produce healthier goat meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: UP has the 2nd highest MMR which is 197 compared with national average of 113 (RGI-SRS-2016-2018).Although institutional deliveries in India has been increased from 78.9% (NFHS-4) to 89% (NFHS-5) [ UP from 67.8% to 83.4%] but still we are far away from SDG -3 target. It reflects that there may be increase in crude coverage but not in effective coverage. Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional study conducted in May-June 2017. Out of 8 blocks of rural Varanasi, 4 blocks were selected randomly. Best functioning facility for EmOC services in each selected block were assessed using Facility Gap Assessment Schedule of IPHS. Result: None of the facility met the recommended standard for BEmOC .Tracking of drop out of ANC and PNC services, use of Partograph, treatment of abortion-related complications, were not found at all the 4 facility. Blood grouping and RH typing was also not functional at 2 of the 4 centers. Caesarean section and availability of blood bank were also lacking in CHC (FRU). Conclusion: If condition of best functioning facility in a block is not according to the recommendation then how can we expect to provide a good maternal health service to public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India is the home to almost 30% of total children aged 13 to 19 years. Road traffic injury dominates over all causes of unintentional injuries. Children's road safety is neglected issue in the planning and designing of roads in the urban towns of India where a third of a billion children travel to school every day. As India is motorizing rapidly, road traffic injuries are projected to increase in near future. In the present study, awareness regarding road safety issues and prevalence of self-reported road traffic injury incurred while commute to school was estimated in the school going children aged 14 to 18 years. Methods: A Crosssectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among three schools in Pune, Maharashtra India. The information was collected about mode of commute to/ from school including distance from home and understanding about road safety issues. The data was also collected about any road traffic injury incurred during commute to school in the past 12 months. Results: Total 398 children participated in the study of which 212 (53.3%) respondents were male. The mean age of the respondents was 15.5years (SD 1.1 years). The overall prevalence of selfreported road injury during journey to school in the last 12 months was 17.3% (95% CI, 13.75-21.42). A higher proportion of boys (18.9%) reported road injury than girls(15.6%).Children who walk (OR = 2.79; 95% CI 1.04-7.52) or travelled by autorickshaw (OR = 2.37; 95% CI 0.78-7.24) to school were more likely to report road injury than those who travelled by school bus/school van. Conclusions: A sixth of the children reported a road traffic injury in the past 12 months during school journeys in Pune district, Maharashtra. Road safety education may be made part of the syllabus of school going children. Children's road safety should be given utmost priority in any urban planning of roads, schools and streets in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel quality is an important measure to assess as conventional fuel resources have been depleted at an alarming rate over recent years. For centuries, wood-based biofuels have been used extensively as the primary fuel source for boilers or heating plant operations. In a heating plant scenario, operating temperature, moisture content, gas usage, emission controls, etc., play a significant role in fuel quality assessment. Additionally, the advent of solar energy and its popularity in drying applications has provided ample opportunities to explore wood solar drying. Hence, improving the wood-based biofuel quality by implementing solar drying strategies has caught research attention in recent decades. However, there is a lack of well-documented review on the classifications of wood solar drying systems and the various modeling and simulation approaches that evolved in recent years for their performance optimization. This work reviews extant wood fuel quality problems and regional and technical challenges worldwide. Further insights into the possible solutions (through modeling or simulation) to enhance wood-based fuel quality by adopting solar drying technologies are discussed briefly. Notably, a case study of real-time data assessment of wood chips as biofuel in a boiler plant in Miskolc, Hungary, is presented. The outcomes of this review would serve as a benchmark and aid industries and researchers in further exploring wood solar drying potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop computational models of bone growth in ultrasonically stimulated porous tissue scaffolds with uniform square pores and a bioinspired structure. While bone growth in the bioinspired scaffolds is slower, it produces amounts of bone comparable to the square pore scaffold, making the bioinspired structure ideal for enhancing bone growth with better structural integrity. Controlling the initial mesenchymal stem cell distribution in the scaffolds also affects the growth rate and total bone formation, which could be further useful for controlling bone growth in the scaffold based on an individual's physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frictional properties of sliding surfaces have practical importance in a variety of applications. Therefore, the present study investigates the ageing or holding time-dependent static friction of a wet granular layer using a slide-free-slide (SFS) friction test. It is observed that the static friction varies as a logarithm of hold time. Further, the Mohr–Coulombs' law of friction is used to determine adhesive friction and normal stress-dependent friction. The scaling law analysis has shown that the exponent of adhesive friction is more prominent in magnitude than the corresponding coefficient of friction. A static friction model, based on the formation and rupture of capillary bridges, has also been proposed for predicting the peaks of static friction at different hold times. At the end, the power laws, which correlate the number of attached capillary bridges and adhesion constant with hold time, are proposed to justify the present results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent amino acid modification significantly expands protein functional capability in regulating biological processes. Tyrosine residues can undergo phosphorylation, sulfation, adenylation, halogenation, and nitration. These posttranslational modifications (PTMs) result from the actions of specific enzymes: tyrosine kinases, tyrosyl-protein sulfotransferase( s), adenylate transferase(s), oxidoreductases, peroxidases, and metal-heme containing proteins. Whereas phosphorylation, sulfation, and adenylation modify the hydroxyl group of tyrosine, tyrosine halogenation and nitration target the adjacent carbon residues. Because aberrant tyrosine nitration has been associated with human disorders and with animal models of disease, we have created an updated and curated database of 908 human nitrated proteins. We have also analyzed this new resource to provide insight into the role of tyrosine nitration in cancer biology, an area that has not previously been considered in detail. Unexpectedly, we have found that 879 of the 1971 known sites of tyrosine nitration are also sites of phosphorylation suggesting an extensive role for nitration in cell signaling. Overall, the review offers several forward-looking opportunities for future research and new perspectives for understanding the role of tyrosine nitration in cancer biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroactive polymers (EAPs) have the interesting property of generation and flow of charges and possess exciting tunable optoelectronic properties by incorporating side chains via 'grafting' from the backbone chain retaining its properties and importing new properties from the grafted chains. The graft copolymers of EAPs exhibit exciting tunable optoelectronic properties by varying external stimuli like pH, temperature, ions, surfactants, light etc. Grafting of two main electroactive polymers e.g. polythiophene (PT) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) have spurred significant research attention and the controlled grafting has been made using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique with suitable catalyst/ligand systems. Few examples of grafting of PT and PVDF by RAFT polymerization are also described. This feature article delineates controlled grafting of different stimuli-responsive polymers on polythiophene and PVDF backbone highlighting their optoelectronic properties, useful for making chemical/biological sensors, logic gates and antifouling/antibacterial membranes. Interactions of the grafted chains with the external physical or chemical stimuli (like pH, temperature, photoirradiation, ions, surfactants, etc.) significantly alter the backbone conformation both in solution and solid state. This leads to changes in conjugation length of the backbone chain, hence tunes the band gap varying the optoelectronic properties useful for fabrication of stimuli dependent sensors and modulation of membrane pore size suitable for antifouling and antibacterial membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this special interview series, we profile members of The FEBS Journal editorial board to highlight their research focus, perspectives on the journal, and future directions in their field. Professor Arun Shukla is a Senior Fellow of DBT Wellcome Trust India Alliance, and Professor and Sonu Agrawal Memorial Chair at the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India. He has served as an Editorial Board Member of The FEBS Journal since 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a valuable longitudinal cohort study that tracks the health and demographic changes of a geographically defined population, serving as a platform for research and evidence-based policymaking. In India, there are nearly 20 HDSS sites covering diverse areas and populations totaling around two million. To foster collaboration, the Indian HDSS Network (IHN) was formed, comprising 19 sites from 16 institutes, covering a population of 1.5 million. The IHN aims to standardize data collection processes while allowing site-specific autonomy, generating high-quality longitudinal health, and demographic data. To ensure effective coordination, a governance structure with a rotating secretariat and working committee was proposed. The IHN envisions conducting robust multicentric research, supporting data-driven efforts to improve population health, and promoting research-policy synergy. The network's outcomes have the potential to optimize health research funding, generate epidemiological data, and provide evidence for public health policy. Collaboration within the IHN strengthens HDSS sites in newer technologies and community-based research, fostering capacity building. Seed funding is being sought to formalize and support the day-to-day functioning of the network, which holds promise for advancing population health and informing policymaking in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Tau-typing is an integrated analysis pipeline for identifying genes or genomic segments whose phylogenetic resolving power most closely resembles the genome-wide resolving power of an input collection of genomes using the Kendall Tau rank correlation statistic. The pipeline is implemented in Nextflow and uses Docker and Singularity containers to ensure reliable scalability and reproducibility of results. This pipeline is particularly suitable for organisms for which whole-genome sequencing remains unaffordable or unscalable for routine applications, such as protozoan parasites which are not amenable to laboratory culture-based methods. Availability and implementation Tau-typing is freely available at https://github.com/hseabolt/tautyping. The pipeline is implemented in Nextflow with Singularity support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People living with type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and their families have poor perception of health related quality of life. Therapies for T1D are becoming better with time, but they still involve a lot of effort. Prevention of T1D, if successful, has potential to change lives of millions of families across the globe. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with underlying genetic predisposition for autoimmunity against beta cell antigens upon exposure to an environmental trigger. Identifying underlying primary antigen responsible for initiating autoimmune cascade, avoiding environmental trigger and modifying immunity has all been used as strategies for preventing or delaying onset of type 1 diabetes. Primary prevention for type 1 diabetes is hindered by difficulty in identifying at-risk population and also due to lack of effective preventive strategy. Secondary prevention, in children with presence of autoimmunity, has recently received a boost with approval of Teplizumab, an immunity modifying drug by its Anti-CD3 action. Application of preventive strategies would also change based on country specific incidence, prevalence and availability of health resources. In current review, an update on preventive strategies for type 1 diabetes is being discussed as well as their applicability in Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare diseases (RD) are severe and debilitating conditions. They are one of the leading causes of childhood mortality globally. In India, RDs have not been considered in most healthcare programs which usually cater to more common diseases. We believe, that for efficient utilization of resources in a resource-constrained healthcare system, existing programs must integrate RD management strategies. In this study, we explore the utility, expandability, and limitation of one of the important national child healthcare programs, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) which translates to National Child Healthcare Program. We found that RBSK has immense potential to cater to RDs through some of its unique features, such as comprehensive screening, wide target age group, and efficient utilization of resources. We provide recommendations that can help to strengthen the present program. This study will inspire other low-resource countries to identify and expand existing public healthcare programs for RD management. Moreover, RBSK can serve as a model program to integrate RD management globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present review article, different advanced liquid chromatographic techniques and the advanced techniques other than liquid chromatography that are used to estimate the pesticide residues from different plant-based samples are presented. In the beginning of the article, details of pesticides, their health effects and various cell lines used for the related study has been outlined. Afterward, detailed descriptions regarding pesticides classification are inscribed. In the end, recent advancements in the area of analysis of pesticides for herbal drugs are explained. Solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) are considered as most common method of sample preparation for pesticides and its residual analysis. The most commonly used analytical separation technique for pesticide analysis is liquid chromatography (LC) integrated with mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS as Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QqQ) for the samples analysis where high level of sensitivity and accuracy is required in quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the problem of automating hardware-aware architectural design process of Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). The field of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm design has led to advancements in many fields, such as computer vision, virtual reality, and autonomous driving. The end-to-end design process of a CNN is a challenging and time-consuming task, as it requires expertise in multiple areas such as signal and image processing, neural networks, and optimization. At the same time, several hardware platforms, general-and special-purpose, have equally contributed to the training and deployment of these complex networks in a different setting. Hardware-Aware Neural Architecture Search (HW-NAS) automates the architectural design process of DNNs to alleviate human effort and generate efficient models accomplishing acceptable accuracy-performance tradeoffs. The goal of this article is to provide insights and understanding of HW-NAS techniques for various hardware platforms (MCU, CPU, GPU, ASIC, FPGA, ReRAM, DSP, and VPU), followed by the co-search methodologies of neural algorithm and hardware accelerator specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turbulent flow over an array of cubes mounted on one of the walls of a channel has been investigated using direct numerical simulation for cube spacing that ranges between 2.0 and 4.0. The Reynolds number based on the cube size and the average streamwise velocity is chosen to be 4000. The Navier–Stokes equations have been discretized using second-order spatial and temporal discretization schemes. The present investigation focuses on the flow structures and comprehensive characterization of the separated zones surrounding the cubes, as well as the associated wall-shear stress. A vortex shedding has been observed for the cube spacings of 3.0 and 4.0 without any evidence of vortex shedding for the lowest pitch of 2.0. For the two cases having pitches of 3.0 and 4.0, the presence of the unsteady separation bubbles at the cube's top and side surfaces results in a decrease in wall-shear stress. The quadrant analysis for the region close to the top surface of the cube is performed with the help of the joint probability density function, which reveals dual peaks within the recirculation bubble at the top surface of the cube for higher cube spacings. By conducting an invariant analysis of the Reynolds stress tensor for different cube spacings, we have explored the characteristic of Reynolds stress anisotropy due to the total fluctuations. The production of negative turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is observed in different regions within the flow domain, among which the horseshoe vortex region for each cube spacing reveals its dominant presence. The physical mechanism responsible for the production of the negative TKE has also been attempted by decomposing the production term into two parts, namely, normal and shear components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims at the investigation of the transition of the natural convective flow in a water-filled differentially heated cubic enclosure. The schlieren-particle image velocimetry (PIV) system has been developed and employed for simultaneous measurement of ray-averaged velocity and temperature fields from transient schlieren images for distinct Rayleigh number (Ra) (1 × 107 ≤ Ra ≤ 5 × 108). The experimentally obtained results have been compared with three-dimensional computational results. The three-dimensional incompressible simulations are carried out for a wide range of Ra (1 × 105 ≤ Ra ≤ 5 × 108), treating the density difference using Boussinesq approximation. The results from present simulations show that the flow is found steady in the range of Ra (1 × 105 ≤ Ra ≤ 1 × 108) while the critical Ra, at which the steady flow becomes unsteady, lies between 1 × 108 and 5 × 108. The critical Ra from the experiments is found to lie between 4 × 108 and 5 × 108. Also, the three-dimensionality effect on large-scale temperature field is found to decrease as Ra increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preradiation temozolomide (TMZ) in high‑grade gliomas. Study and Design: It is a single‑center, single arm, prospective study. The study included postoperative, histopatholgically proven cases of high‑grade gliomas. Materials and Methods: Nine patients of anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and twenty patients of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) were enrolled in the study. All patients had undergone partial or complete resection. Three weeks after surgery, patients were started on chemotherapy, consisting of two cycles of TMZ, 150 mg/m² /day for 5 days, repeated at an interval of 4 weeks. Patients were subsequently treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. A dose of 60 Gy was given over thirty fractions along with TMZ, 75 mg/m2 /day. Four cycles of TMZ were given after completion of radiotherapy, in a dose and manner similar to preradiotherapy. Statistical Analysis and Result: Treatment‑related toxicity was assessed using common terminology for toxicity criteria (CTCAE v4). Progression‑free survival and overall survival (OS) analysis was done. Nearly 79% of patients completed the two cycles of preradiation chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was tolerated well. Median time to progression was 11 months and 8.2 months in AA and GBM patients, respectively. Median OS was 17.4 months in AA patients and 11.4 months in GBM patients. Conclusions: Most patients of postoperative high‑grade gliomas tolerated two cycles of TMZ. A good safety profile of TMZ allows it to be used in frontline settings, especially in high volume centers where a delay in starting radiotherapy frequently occurs. The use of TMZ before radiotherapy is a safe and feasible approach, and further studies are required to validate this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitivity and specificity are both crucial for the efficient solid-state NMR structure determination of large biomolecules. We present an approach that features both advantages by site-specific enhancement of NMR spectroscopic signals from the protein-RNA binding site within a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). This approach uses modern biochemical techniques for sparse isotope labeling and exploits the molecular dynamics of 13C-labeled methyl groups exclusively present in the protein. These dynamics drive heteronuclear cross relaxation and thus allow specific hyperpolarization transfer across the biomolecular complex's interface. For the example of the L7Ae protein in complex with a 26mer guide RNA minimal construct from the box C/D complex in archaea, we demonstrate that a single methyl-nucleotide contact is responsible for most of the polarization transfer to the RNA, and that this specific transfer can be used to boost both NMR spectral sensitivity and specificity by DNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider estimation and inference in a single-index regression model with an unknown convex link function. We introduce a convex and Lipschitz constrained least-square estimator (CLSE) for both the parametric and the nonparametric components given independent and identically distributed observations. We prove the consistency and find the rates of convergence of the CLSE when the errors are assumed to have only q ≥ 2 moments and are allowed to depend on the covariates. When q ≥ 5 , we establish n − 1 / 2 -rate of convergence and asymptotic normality of the estimator of the parametric component. Moreover, the CLSE is proved to be semiparametrically efficient if the errors happen to be homoscedastic. We develop and implement a numerically stable and computationally fast algorithm to compute our proposed estimator in the R package simest. We illustrate our methodology through extensive simulations and data analysis. Finally, our proof of efficiency is geometric and provides a general framework that can be used to prove efficiency of estimators in a wide variety of semiparametric models even when they do not satisfy the efficient score equation directly. Supplementary files for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]