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Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregation is found to induce islet β-cell death in T2DM patients. Recently, we demonstrated that yakuchinone B derivative 1 exhibited inhibitory activity against IAPP aggregation. Thus, in this study, a series of synthesized yakuchinone B-inspired compounds were tested for their anti-IAPP aggregation activity. Four of these compounds, 4e-h, showed greater activity than the lead compound 1, in the sub-μM range (IC50 = 0.7-0.8 μM). The molecular docking analysis revealed crucial hydrogen bonds between the compounds and residues S19 and N22 and important hydrophobic interactions with residue I26. Notably, compounds 4g and 4h significantly protected β-cells against IAPP-induced toxicity with EC50 values of 0.1 and 0.2 μM, respectively. In contrast, the protective activities of compounds 4e and 4f were weak. Overall, these results suggest that the compounds exhibiting IAPP aggregation-inhibiting activity have the potential to treat T2DM.

We address the problem of 3-D reconstruction using neuromorphic cameras (also known as event-driven cameras), which are a new class of vision-inspired imaging devices. Neuromorphic cameras are becoming increasingly popular for solving image processing and computer vision problems as they have significantly lower data rates than conventional frame-based cameras. We develop a neuromorphic-camera-based Fringe Projection Profilometry (FPP) system. We use the Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) in the DAVIS346 neuromorphic camera for acquiring measurements. Neuromorphic FPP is faster than a single-line-scanning method. Also, unlike frame-based FPP, the efficacy of the proposed method is not limited by the background while acquiring measurements. The working principle of the DVS also allows one to efficiently handle shadows thereby preventing ambiguities during 2-D phase unwrapping.

Phytochemicals that interrupt adipocyte lifecycle can provide anti-obesity effects. 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-d-glucose (PGG) is a tannin with two isomers that occurs widely in plants and exhibits various pharmacological activities. The aim of the investigation is to comprehensively examine effects of PGG isomer(s) on adipocyte lifecycle and diet-induced obesity. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), 3T3-L1 fibroblasts, and H4IIE hepatoma cells were used to determine the effects of PGG isomers on cell viability and adipogenesis. Mice with diet-induced obesity were generated from male C57/BL6 mice fed with a 45% high fat diet. Oral administration of β-PGG (0.1 and 5 mg/kg) lasted for 14 weeks. Viability was reduced by repeated PGG treatment in hMSC, preadipocytes, and cells under differentiation. PGG mainly induces apoptosis, and this effect is independent of its insulin mimetic action. In vivo, administration of β-PGG attenuated shortening of the colon, hyperlipidaemia, fat cells and islet hypertrophy in DIO mice. Hepatic steatosis and related gene expression were improved along with glucose intolerance. Increased serum adiponectin, leptin, and glucagon-like peptide-1 levels were also observed. In conclusion, repeated PGG treatment interrupts the adipocyte lifecycle. PGG administration reduces adiposity and fatty liver development in DIO mice, and therefore, PGG could aid in clinical management of obesity.

Introduction: Pulpotomy technique is most widely accepted clinical procedure for treating primary teeth with coronal pulp inflammation caused by caries with no involvement of the radicular pulp. Aim and Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the success and efficacy of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and antioxidant mix as pulpotomy agents both clinically and radiographically. Materials and Methods: A total of forty primary molars in children aged between 6 and 9 years, requiring for pulpotomy procedures, were selected. Random samples distribution was done, antioxidant mix (n = 20) and MTA (n = 20) both were used as pulpotomy agent. Under rubber dam isolation, pulpotomy procedure was performed in all samples followed by restoration with stainless steel crowns. Later, the patients were recalled after 6 and 12 months for clinical and radiographic evaluation. The data were evaluated using Fisher's exact test. Results: Statistically analysis shows no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05) with respect to clinical and radiographic success rate, but antioxidant mix showed more efficient result than MTA. Conclusion: Antioxidant mix pulpotomy is more biocompatible and cost effective than any other commercially available medicament.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of dental caries in primary dentition of 5–6-year-old children in urban and rural areas of Jabalpur city. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural and urban areas of Jabalpur city, India. A power analysis was carried out to select a representative sample of 5–6-year-old children (n = 408), 204 from government schools and 204 from private schools. Parents were interviewed using a self-structured questionnaire to collect data with regard to variables under evaluation. Statistical Analysis: Collected data were subjected to descriptive analysis using the SPSS 12.0 version. Risk factor association with dental caries was investigated using a stepwise logistic regression analysis with P < 0.05 considered significant. Results: This shows significantly higher decayed missing filled teeth among rural children than urban children. It was seen that 46.5% of children whose mothers were illiterate were affected with dental caries. In urban area, 91.5% of children whereas 77% of children in rural area have parental control on sugar consumption. Conclusion: It is important to focus on parents' education level when planning preventive programs for young children. Assessing family-related risk factors is essential when instituting preventive/treatment programs for young children.

Background: Epidermoids are ectoderm lined inclusion cysts which can be present anywhere in the body, but are rare in head and neck. Although only 7% of the dermoid cysts occur in head and neck region they are a part of differential diagnosis of neck swellings. They are more common in midline. This study presents to you the dermoids which present in unusual sites.Methods: It was a descriptive study. Cases which were proven as dermoid or epidermoid cysts by FNAC or by histopathology were included in this study. Results: Male patients were more affected than female patients.Conclusions: Complete removal should be carried out to prevent recurrence.

This paper develops a generalizable systems framework to analyze the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus from an urban systems perspective, connecting in- and trans-boundary interactions, quantifying multiple environmental impacts of community-wide FEW provisioning to cities, and visualizing FEW supply-chain risks posed to cities by the environment. Delhi's community-wide food demand includes household consumption by socio-economic-strata, visitors- and industrial food-use. This demand depends 90%, 76%, and 86% on trans-boundary supply of FEW, respectively. Supply chain data reveal unique features of trans-boundary FEW production regions (e.g. irrigation-electricity needs and GHG intensities of power-plants), yielding supply chain-informed coupled energy-water-GHG footprints of FEW provisioning to Delhi. Agri-food supply contributes to both GHG (19%) and water-footprints (72%–82%) of Delhi's FEW provisioning, with milk, rice and wheat dominating these footprints. Analysis of FEW interactions within Delhi found >75% in-boundary water-use for food is for urban agriculture and >76% in-boundary energy-use for food is from cooking fuels. Food waste-to-energy and energy-intensity of commercial and industrial food preparation are key data gaps. Visualizing supply chains shows >75% of water embodied in Delhi's FEW supply is extracted from locations over-drafting ground water. These baseline data enable evaluation of future urban FEW scenarios, comparing impacts of demand shifts, production shifts, and emerging technologies and policies, within and outside of cities.

Agriculture sector in India contributes 16% of GDP and 10% of export earnings. Agriculture sector dominates the Indian economy along with industries and services sector, which determines the growth and sustainability. About 65 per cent of the population relies on agriculture for employment and livelihood. Application of science and technology in agriculture is being practiced in several parts of the country. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) can be used as cost effective measures to improve the agricultural yield. Attempts have been made to use WSNs in improving agricultural yield, monitoring environmental conditions like humidity, soil moisture, temperature, weed disease detection, automated irrigation monitoring the growth of the crop etc. WSNs use batteries to power the sensors. However the life of the battery is limited and the sensors would need to be powered continuously. In this paper we look at recharging the batteries in the sensor nodes in a field by harnessing wind energy. We use data available on wind distribution across the state and also the available wind speed data to determine the energy that can be harvested. We also identify efficient energy aware algorithms to ensure minimal use of energy during data transfer between nodes. Our paper suggests an implementation where wind energy is harnessed to power the sensor nodes. In addition to the minimization of gross power consumption, the objective is the distribution of power consumption across the network, thereby extend the overall network battery life. We propose an adaptive power-aware routing algorithm using a combination of various proposed routing algorithms. We implement an efficient energy management system using the (Distributed Energy Harvesting Aware Routing) DEHAR algorithm and implement the same using Zigbee transmission. We also implement synchronous sleep scheduling to minimize power consumption in WSN.