Search

Abstract Dinanath grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.) is an extensively grown forage grass known for its significant drought resilience. In order to comprehensively grasp the adaptive mechanism of Dinanath grass in response to water deficient conditions, transcriptomic and metabolomics were applied in the leaves of Dinanath grass exposed to two distinct drought intensities (48-hour and 96-hour). Transcriptomic analysis of Dinanath grass leaves revealed that a total of 218 and 704 genes were differentially expressed under 48- and 96-hour drought conditions, respectively. The genes that were expressed differently (DEGs) and the metabolites that accumulated in response to 48-hour drought stress mainly showed enrichment in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, particularly phenolics and flavonoids. Conversely, under 96-hour drought conditions, the enriched pathways predominantly involved lipid metabolism, specifically sterol lipids. In particular, phenylpropanoid pathway and brassinosteroid signaling played a crucial role in drought response to 48- and 96-hour water deficit conditions, respectively. This variation in drought response indicates that the adaptation mechanism in Dinanath grass is highly dependent on the intensity of drought stress. In addition, different genes associated with phenylpropanoid and fatty acid biosynthesis, as well as signal transduction pathways namely phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, putrescine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, abscisic acid 8’-hydroxylase 2, syntaxin-61, lipoxygenase 5, calcium-dependent protein kinase and phospholipase D alpha one, positively regulated with drought tolerance. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses highlights the outstanding involvement of regulatory pathways related to secondary cell wall thickening and lignin biosynthesis in imparting drought tolerance to Dinanath grass leaves. These findings collectively contribute to an enhanced understanding of candidate genes and key metabolites relevant to drought response in Dinanath grass. Furthermore, they establish a groundwork for the creation of a transcriptome database aimed at developing abiotic stress-tolerant grasses and major crop varieties through both transgenic and genome editing approaches.

Sexual dimorphism traditionally refers to physical differences between males and females of a species. This variability is crucial for maintaining diverse phenotypic traits. In essence, sexual dimorphism reflects a complex interplay of genetic, gonadal, hormonal, and behavioral factors that shape the traits observed in males and females. Sex estimation involves determining whether skeletal remains belong to a male or female. This can be done through two primary approaches: nonmetric methods, which rely on visual inspection of skeletal features, and metric methods, which use equations based on measurements of skeletal dimensions. Because the degree of sexual dimorphism can differ significantly across populations, using population-specific equations generally yields more accurate results for metric sex estimation. Sex estimation by forensic odontologist can be done either by morphological analysis or by molecular analysis. A standardized method for documenting dental records is crucial for aiding in the identification of individuals following accidents or large-scale disasters. Furthermore, training specialized groups, forming interdisciplinary teams, and fostering international collaboration are essential components in the field of forensic medicine.

Abstract In recent decades, microalgae have been getting attention as one sustainable and promising feedstock for biofuel production. Algal biomass can be a viable and long-term alternative for biofuel generation and has the capability to replace petroleum or diesel. According to technological economic models, algal biomass can become economically comparable to petroleum due to lowering carbon energy indices. This review entails the process, mechanism, comparative studies, challenges, and various reports involved in algal-based biofuel production. It also discusses the revolutionizing potential or option of algal biofuel, particularly in the transportation sector. Several advantages of algal biofuel over fossil fuels have been discussed, such as renewable, clean, low-cost, and commercial viability. Biofuels can be used as the primary fuel in motors or as a supplement. Sustainable issues regarding renewable biofuel have been addressed, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The preparation of biofuel from three basic components, which are lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, is also discussed. Algae biomass can be used as an energy source for vehicular engines or as an additive to traditional fuels, such as by blending ethanol from sugar biomass with gasoline, offering a sustainable solution for both green product manufacturing and renewable energy requirements. In the aspect of carbon neutrality, algal biomass can be converted intobiofuels, including biomethane, bioethanol, and biohydrogen. The variety of available research and updated mechanisms represent a clear-cut idea for the suitability of industrial-scale biofuel production using selected algal strains. Finally, this review will be helpful to researchers who are working to improve production efficiency, reduce production costs, and realize industrial-scale production.

A new equation of state (NEOS) for Halides has been developed using the theory of lattice potential and the concept of volume dependence of the short-range force constant. The derivation of this equation of state involved the use of the third-order approximation of the lattice potential. A comparative analysis was conducted between the isothermal equations of state, including Vinet EOS, Murnaghan EOS, Holzapfel EOS, Born-Mie EOS, Birch-Murnaghan EOS, and the newly derived NEOS. The NEOS was used to analyze the compression behavior of Halides, and it was found that Vinet EOS and NEOS agreed with the experimental data for Halides up to high compression. However, Murnaghan EOS, Born-Mie EOS, Holzapfel EOS, and Birch-Murnaghan EOS are usually less sensitive to calculating pressure at high compression. It was also observed that for some Halides, such as NaBr and NaI, Vinet EOS could not produce results consistent with experimental findings. In contrast, NEOS consistently produced results that matched the experimental findings for all Halides samples, unequivocally demonstrating its reliability and accuracy.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of antral follicle count (AFC) on follicular and luteal development during the estrous cycle and superovulatory period, as well as on superovulatory response and in vivo embryo quality within the MOET program. A total of 48 estrus-induced (500 μg PGF2α, Single dose, IM) Sahiwal cows (Bos indicus) with a BCS between 3.5 and 4.0 were selected for the study. On the day of wave emergence, the animals were divided into two groups based on the AFC, i.e., low AFC (≤18) and high AFC (>18). Both the groups were monitored daily using B-mode ultrasonography (USG) for one cycle, and the superovulation protocol was initiated on the 9th day of the subsequent estrous cycle. A total of 240 μg of FSH in eight divided doses were given in a tapering sequence for 4 days and simultaneous administration of 500 μg PGF2α, along with the fifth dose of FSH. Donors were inseminated at superovulatory estrus using double straws of high-quality frozen semen thrice at 12-h intervals, and non-surgical flushing was performed on day 7 of the superovulatory estrus followed by embryo searching and evaluation under a stereo zoom microscope. Ovulatory waves of the high-AFC Sahiwal cows have significantly (p ≤ 0.05) larger sizes of preovulatory follicles (POF) (12.06 ± 0.19 mm vs 11.56 ± 0.16 mm) and corpus luteum (CL) (19.57 ± 0.28 mm vs 18.26 ± 0.35 mm), as compared to low AFC. The ovarian size was significantly (p

Abstract This study investigated the first-ever reported use of freshwater Nannochloropsis for the bioremediation of dairy processing side streams and co-generation of valuable products, such as β-galactosidase enzyme. In this study, N. limnetica was found to grow rapidly on both autoclaved and non-autoclaved whey-powder media (referred to dairy processing by-product or DPBP) without the need of salinity adjustment or nutrient additions, achieving a biomass concentration of 1.05–1.36 g L−1 after 8 days. The species secreted extracellular β-galactosidase (up to 40.84 ± 0.23 U L−1) in order to hydrolyse lactose in DPBP media into monosaccharides prior to absorption into biomass, demonstrating a mixotrophic pathway for lactose assimilation. The species was highly effective as a bioremediation agent, being able to remove > 80% of total nitrogen and phosphate in the DPBP medium within two days across all cultures. Population analysis using flow cytometry and multi-channel/multi-staining methods revealed that the culture grown on non-autoclaved medium contained a high initial bacterial load, comprising both contaminating bacteria in the medium and phycosphere bacteria associated with the microalgae. In both autoclaved and non-autoclaved DPBP media, Nannochloropsis cells were able to establish a stable microalgae–bacteria interaction, suppressing bacterial takeover and emerging as dominant population (53–80% of total cells) in the cultures. The extent of microalgal dominance, however, was less prominent in the non-autoclaved media. High initial bacterial loads in these cultures had mixed effects on microalgal performance, promoting β-galactosidase synthesis on the one hand while competing for nutrients and retarding microalgal growth on the other. These results alluded to the need of effective pre-treatment step to manage bacterial population in microalgal cultures on DPBP. Overall, N. limnetica cultures displayed competitive β-galactosidase productivity and propensity for efficient nutrient removal on DPBP medium, demonstrating their promising nature for use in the valorisation of dairy side streams.

Psychological activities have various dimensions in which they correlate with their respective behavior generated by the human body. Understanding the relationship of psychological events with the help of external action units is one of the research subjects to explore various human behavior and their dependencies. Existing work applied various deep learning algorithms to outline the correlation between psychological activities with human emotions. The study of psychological analysis in the medical field is very time-consuming and costly. It requires constant monitoring of the patient for a period of time and various interrogation sessions to finalize the emotional severity of an individual. Few skilled specialists and the lack of medical knowledge of human emotions drive the need for computer vision approaches to emphasize emotion recognition, particularly in disorders. The proposed study specifically assesses the use of speech signals to identify psychological disorders in terms of stress characteristics and uses a deep learning model that incorporates feed-forward networks and long short-term memory (LSTM) to identify the degree of psychological disease. The study made use of a standard speech dataset that was gathered from a variety of patients using a standard questionnaire format. The survey was conducted throughout a few Indian states. Speech samples were taken from patients whose cortisol levels were higher than 10 %. To assess the relationship between speech and psychological activity, speech signals from each patient have been gathered. The spectrogram of the speech signal's Mel filter bank coefficients has been analyzed, and the characteristics that cause stress and those that don't have it have been further divided into categories. The suggested model classifies stress and non-stress features in 150 voice dataset subjects with an average accuracy of 98 %. The model is found to be robust for various applications such as preventing suicidal cases, improving decision-making in the diagnosis of depression patients, improves the overall mental healthcare system.

Abstract Fucoidan has attracted considerable attention from scientists and pharmaceutical companies due to its antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and health-enhancing properties. However, the extraction of fucoidan from seaweeds often involves the use of harsh chemicals, which necessitates the search for alternative solvents. Additionally, the high viscosity and low cell permeability of high molecular weight (Mw) fucoidan can limit its effectiveness in drug action, while lower Mw fractions exhibit increased biological activity and are also utilized as dietary supplements. The study aimed to (1) extract fucoidan from the seaweed Fucus vesiculosus (FV) using an environmentally friendly solvent and compare it with the most commonly used extraction solvent, hydrochloric acid, and (2) assess the impact of ultrasound-assisted depolymerization on reducing the molecular weight of the fucoidan extracts and examine the cytotoxic effect of different molecular weight fractions. The findings indicated that the green depolymerization solvent, in conjunction with a brief ultrasound treatment, effectively reduced the molecular weight. Moreover, a significant decrease in cell viability was observed in selected samples, indicating potential anticancer properties. As a result, ultrasound was determined to be an effective method for depolymerizing crude fucoidan from Fucus Vesiculosus seaweed.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common liver disorder worldwide, with an estimated global prevalence of more than 31%. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), formerly known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a progressive form of MASLD characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the extrahepatic manifestations of MASH, focusing on chronic diseases related to the cardiovascular, muscular, and renal systems. A systematic review of published studies and literature was conducted to summarize the findings related to the systemic impacts of MASLD and MASH. The review focused on the association of MASLD and MASH with metabolic comorbidities, cardiovascular mortality, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease. Mechanistic insights into the concept of lipotoxic inflammatory “spill over” from the MASH-affected liver were also explored. MASLD and MASH are highly associated (50%–80%) with other metabolic comorbidities such as impaired insulin response, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypertension. Furthermore, more than 90% of obese patients with type 2 diabetes have MASH. Data suggest that in middle-aged individuals (especially those aged 45–54), MASLD is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, sarcopenia, and chronic kidney disease. The concept of lipotoxic inflammatory “spill over” from the MASH-affected liver plays a crucial role in mediating the systemic pathological effects observed. Understanding the multifaceted impact of MASH on the heart, muscle, and kidney is crucial for early detection and risk stratification. This knowledge is also timely for implementing comprehensive disease management strategies addressing multi-organ involvement in MASH pathogenesis.

Summary: Most cells in solid tumors are exposed to oxygen levels between 0.5% and 5%. We developed an approach that allows collection, processing, and evaluation of cancer and non-cancer cells under physioxia, while preventing exposure to ambient air. This aided comparison of baseline and drug-induced changes in signaling pathways under physioxia and ambient oxygen. Using tumor cells from transgenic models of breast cancer and cells from breast tissues of clinically breast cancer-free women, we demonstrate oxygen-dependent differences in cell preference for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) signaling. Physioxia caused PDGFRβ-mediated activation of AKT and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) that reduced sensitivity to EGFR and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) inhibition and maintained PDGFRβ+ epithelial-mesenchymal hybrid cells with potential cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. Cells in ambient air displayed differential EGFR activation and were more sensitive to targeted therapies. Our data emphasize the importance of oxygen considerations in preclinical cancer research to identify effective drug targets and develop combination therapy regimens.

Background: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare complication of measles, which emerges long after the initial infection. The diagnosis of SSPE can be challenging, especially when initial presentation is atypical. Clinical Description: A 6-year-old boy, apparently healthy previously, presented with a sudden onset of generalized myoclonic jerks with intact cognitive and scholastic skills. Past history revealed that the child had measles infection at 7 months of age. Clinical examination, including memory and intellect assessment, was normal except for the generalized myoclonus. Management and Outcome: Diagnosis of SSPE was confirmed with positive antimeasles antibodies and characteristic pseudoperiodic pattern on electroencephalogram. The child was started on standard treatment as per the existing guidelines. However, the child showed marked deterioration over the next 4 weeks with loss of cognition and intellect, causing hopelessness and grief in the family, leading to their self-withdrawal from further treatment. Conclusion: This case report describes the importance of considering SSPE as a potential diagnosis in patients with myoclonic jerks but intact cognitive and intellectual function. Furthermore, the case portrays the progressive deterioration and profound emotional impact on the family of child with this disease.

The aim of present article is to introduce the Szász-Beta operators in terms of Hermite Polynomial. We calculate some estimates and then discuss convergence theorems and order of approximation in terms of Korovkin theorem and first order modulus of smoothness respectively. Next, we study pointwise approximation results in terms of Peetre’s K-functional, second order modulus of smoothness, Lipschitz type space and rth order Lipschitz type maximal function. Lastly, weighted approximation results and statistical approximation theorems are proved.

The spatiotemporal pattern of root water uptake (RWU) depends on multiple factors, such as plant root biomass, soil water availability, and prevailing weather conditions at the site. The water uptake reduction due to the nonuniformity in soil water contents is often mitigated through compensated root water uptake (CRWU) and hydraulic redistribution (HR). Although previous studies have often considered these two processes independently due to the simplicity and feasibility of analyzing them separately, CRWU and HR can coexist in field conditions. Therefore, this work demonstrates the importance of considering CRWU and HR simultaneously in estimating daily transpiration and RWU distribution for nonuniform soil moisture conditions. For that, we have implemented the mechanistic RWU models developed by de Jong van Lier et al. (denoted below as the DJ model), Couvreur (CR), and Nimah and Hanks (NH) (see the references in the main text) into the widely-used HYDRUS-1D model, in addition to the previously available Jarvis (JF) and Feddes (FD) models. The performance of these models was then compared for varying soil water contents and boundary conditions using experimental data and hypothetical modeling scenarios. Our analysis has shown that these models are beneficial in estimating RWU with varying degrees of accuracy. The DJ and CR models are effective in simultaneously simulating CRWU and HR. NH and JF models can simulate CRWU but cannot simulate HR satisfactorily. Implementing these models into the HYDRUS platform for simultaneously considering CRWU and HR will significantly improve the accuracy of RWU predictions.

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is considered a biomarker of ovarian follicular reserve and fertility in humans and farm animals. A study was carried out to evaluate the peripheral AMH concentration in high and low fertile crossbred cows. Vrindavani crossbred cows (n=60) at the institutional dairy farm were used for the study. The age-specific decline in AMH concentration was evident, with the highest concentration at 4-6 years (134.8±17.74 pg/mL) corresponding to second to third parity. Retrospective assessment of fertility using 217 lactation records in crossbred cows revealed that circulatory AMH was higher by 69 pg/mL in the high fertile cows than those of low fertile cows. It was concluded that the serum AMH concentration was influenced by age and parity. Further, serum AMH concentrations were found to be higher in the group of cows that had superior fertility records in comparison to the group with low-performing animals.

Abstract The biologic basis of genetic ancestry-dependent variability in disease incidence and outcome is just beginning to be explored. We recently reported enrichment of a population of ZEB1-expressing cells located adjacent to ductal epithelial cells in normal breasts of women of African ancestry compared to those of European ancestry. In this study, we demonstrate that these cells have properties of fibroadipogenic/mesenchymal stromal cells that express PROCR and PDGFRα and transdifferentiate into adipogenic and osteogenic lineages. PROCR + /ZEB1 + /PDGFRα+ (PZP) cells are enriched in normal breast tissues of women of African compared to European ancestry. PZP: epithelial cell communication results in luminal epithelial cells acquiring basal cell characteristics and IL-6-dependent increase in STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, level of phospho-STAT3 is higher in normal and cancerous breast tissues of women of African ancestry. PZP cells transformed with HRasG12V ± SV40-T/t antigens generate metaplastic carcinoma suggesting that these cells are one of the cells-of-origin of metaplastic breast cancers.

Abstract Loss of the tumor suppressive activity of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is associated with cancer, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. PP2A holoenzyme comprises a heterodimeric core, a scaffolding A subunit and a catalytic C subunit, and one of over 20 distinct substrate-directing regulatory B subunits. Methylation of the C subunit regulates PP2A heterotrimerization, affecting B subunit binding and substrate specificity. Here, we report that the leucine carboxy methyltransferase (LCMT1), which methylates the L309 residue of the C subunit, acts as a suppressor of androgen receptor (AR) addicted prostate cancer (PCa). Decreased methyl-PP2A-C levels in prostate tumors is associated with biochemical recurrence and metastasis. Silencing LCMT1 increases AR activity and promotes castration-resistant prostate cancer growth. LCMT1-dependent methyl-sensitive AB56αCme heterotrimers target AR and its critical coactivator MED1 for dephosphorylation, resulting in the eviction of the AR-MED1 complex from chromatin and loss of target gene expression. Mechanistically, LCMT1 is regulated by S6K1-mediated phosphorylation-induced degradation requiring the β-TRCP, leading to acquired resistance to anti-androgens. Finally, feedforward stabilization of LCMT1 by small molecule activator of phosphatase (SMAP) results in attenuation of AR-signaling and tumor growth inhibition in anti-androgen refractory PCa. These findings highlight methyl-PP2A-C as a prognostic marker and that the loss of LCMT1 is a major determinant in AR-addicted PCa, suggesting therapeutic potential for AR degraders or PP2A modulators in prostate cancer treatment.

Objectives Patient involvement in mental health professional education is required by policy but lacks a robust evidence base. The impact of involvement in education on patients with mental health conditions may differ from that of patients with other conditions. This study aims to review the impact of involvement in mental health professional education on the patients with mental health conditions involved.Setting Electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Emcare, BNI, HMIC and CINAHL were systematically searched to find articles reporting on health professional teaching interventions involving patients with mental health conditions and the psychological, social or physical impact of involvement. The search took place in August 2023.Results Findings from 20 articles were amalgamated into four synthesised findings: (1) Impact of general involvement (2) impact of making a difference through teaching, (3) impact of new relationships and (4) impact of talking about experiences.Conclusions Patient involvement in mental health professional education can be beneficial for patients with mental health conditions when their experiences are respected and valued as expertise by students and academic staff. The experiences of patient educators in the mental health field are unique in that teaching activities interact with their mental health. Future research should evaluate patient involvement in the mental health field separately and report research findings according to reporting guidelines.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020224907.

Two new proanthocyanidins (2S:3S)-(−)-epicatechin-(4α→8)4-(2R:3R)-(+)-catechin (Compound 1) and (2R, 3R)-3-O-galloyl-(+)-catechin (4β→8)3-(2R, 3R)-3-O-galloyl-(+)-catechin (Compound 2) were isolated from Ficus glomerata and characterized by ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), 13C NMR, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation . The bioactivity and drug scores of isolated compounds were predicted using OSIRIS property explorer applications with drug scores of 0.03 (compound 1) and 0.05 (compound 2). Predictive drug scores provided an indication of the compounds’ potential to demonstrate desired biological effects. Furthermore, the newly discovered proanthocyanidins tended to interact with protein due to their chemical structure and molecular conformation. With the aim of maintaining this focus, compounds 1 and 2 were subjected to in vitro testing against ruminal enzymes to further explore their potential impact. Both compounds showed significant inhibition activities (p < 0.01) against glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in both protozoa and bacterial fractions, with an effective concentration (EC50) of 12.30–18.20 mg/mL. The compounds also exhibited significant inhibition (p < 0.01) of ruminal glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity, with EC50 values ranging from 9.77 to 17.38 mg/mL. Furthermore, the inhibition was recorded in R-cellulase between EC50 values of 15.85 and 23.99 mg/mL by both compounds. Additionally, both compounds led to a decrease in protease activity with increasing incubation time and concentration. In conclusion, the results indicate that these novel proanthocyanidins hold the potential to significantly impact rumen enzyme biology. Furthermore, their promising effects suggest that they could be further explored for drug development and other important applications.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the condition for a Finsler space with a generalized α,β-metric to be projectively flat. In addition, we establish that the Finsler space with generalized α,β-metric is a flat-parallel Minkowski space and derive the condition under which the β-change for the aforementioned metric is projective. We also explored the projective nature of β-change for various significant Finsler metrics derived from the generalized α,β-metric.

The dissolved-phase hydrocarbon recovery can be the first step in decontaminating the soil–water system if spilled with light/dense non-aqueous phase liquid (L/D-NAPL). This study proposes a temporal moment-based approach to investigate the effectiveness of groundwater table manipulations for recovering dissolved-phase byproducts of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) from the subsurface system. Temporal moments were computed utilizing experimentally observed and HYDRUS-simulated dissolved-phase toluene concentration data, representative of LNAPL, under stable and dynamic groundwater table fluctuation (GWTF) scenarios. Zeroth temporal moment (ZTM) showed that the hydrocarbon mass recovery varied from 1,804 to 5,190.6 mg/L × h, with the highest variation for the rapid GWTF scenario. An increase in the ZTM of hydrocarbon was observed with an increase in the rate of change of magnitude of the water table and pore velocity fluctuation as in the case of a rapid GWTF as compared to a stable GWTF case. The value of mean residence time for the stable groundwater table case was highest for the entire experimental duration, followed by slow, general, and rapid cases. Temporal moment analysis revealed that the high dissolved-phase hydrocarbon recovery could be achieved by manipulating groundwater table conditions. The present study provides a powerful technique to improve dissolved hydrocarbon remediation in mineral aquifers using hydrological restorations. HIGHLIGHTS 2D sand tank experiments were performed under varying subsurface flow conditions.; The LNAPL recovery increases with water level fluctuation amplitudes.; Water table manipulation can act as a remediation tool for LNAPL-polluted sites.; The outcomes will help to advise the remediation and management of polluted sites.;

Three-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to study the turbulent mixing of hot and cold fluids at a T-junction with unique branch pipe extended mixing jets. The major aim of the current research is to compare the performance of two distinct designs for thermal mixing and flow characteristics of a T-junction. We investigate the effects of the momentum ratio and temperature difference of mixing fluids on temperature gradients for proposed configurations of T-junctions. The finding demonstrated that a T-junction with jets appears to mix hot and cold fluids more homogeneously. The addition of the mixing jets significantly lessens the internal wall's temperature gradients and improves the efficacy of thermal mixing. The thermal mixing efficiency for T-junctions with mixing jets increased by 25%, 42%, and 50%, respectively. At the same momentum ratio, the length of the thermal mixing in the T-junction with mixing jets is dramatically reduced by 77%, 79%, and 83%. The stress distribution is also determined using thermo-mechanical coupled analysis. The result shows the reduction in peak stresses substantially with the mixing jet T-junction. The current study will help the researcher to evaluate safety issues in high-temperature applications and better understand thermal mixing, flow characteristics, and thermal cracks.

In 1997, S. Basco and M. Matsumoto introduced the concepts of Douglas spaces with a generalization of the notion of Berwald spaces. Weakly-Berwald space is one of the generalizations of Berwald spaces. In the present paper, we considered a cubic (α,β)-metric which is a special class of p-power Finsler metric and obtained the conditions under which the Finsler space with such special metric will be a Weakly-Berwald space.

Abstract Background Pediatric one lung ventilation is challenging to achieve; smaller the child greater is the challenge. Challenge gets bigger due to unavailability of proper sized lung isolation devices. The aim of this case series was to assess the feasibility of using embolectomy catheter for lung isolation in 10 children who were planned to undergo lung decortication surgery. Results Age wise predictions of airway diameters were used to select sizes of endotracheal tube and embolectomy catheter. We used a Fogarty catheter, with its tip bent to 30° and placed parallel to a cuffed endotracheal tube, under fiberoptic bronchoscope guidance to achieve lung isolation. Desired lung was deflated passively after achieving lung isolation. Embolectomy catheter cuff position was reconfirmed with bronchoscopy after patient positioning. Ages of children ranged from 2 to 6 years. Four patients required right lung isolation while six required left lung isolation. Dislodgement of embolectomy catheter while positioning or during surgery did not occur in any case. Surgeons reported good to excellent lung isolation in all the cases. All cases were successfully extubated at the end of surgery. Conclusions Embolectomy catheter for one lung ventilation in pediatric cases maybe a useful alternative in absence of customized devices.

Spermidine, a polyamine reported to extend lifespan and reduce the risk of age-related diseases, serves as a substrate for the post-translational modification hypusination. Here the authors report that EIF5A hypusination, which regulates mitochondrial protein synthesis, is reduced during non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can be prevented by spermidine to inhibit the progression of NASH in mice.

miR-486 is a myogenic microRNA, and its reduced skeletal muscle expression is observed in muscular dystrophy. Transgenic overexpression of miR-486 using muscle creatine kinase promoter (MCK-miR-486) partially rescues muscular dystrophy phenotype. We had previously demonstrated reduced circulating and skeletal muscle miR-486 levels with accompanying skeletal muscle defects in mammary tumor models. To determine whether skeletal muscle miR-486 is functionally similar in dystrophies and cancer, we performed functional limitations and biochemical studies of skeletal muscles of MMTV-Neu mice that mimic HER2+ breast cancer and MMTV-PyMT mice that mimic luminal subtype B breast cancer and these mice crossed to MCK-miR-486 mice. miR-486 significantly prevented tumor-induced reduction in muscle contraction force, grip strength, and rotarod performance in MMTV-Neu mice. In this model, miR-486 reversed cancer-induced skeletal muscle changes, including loss of p53, phospho-AKT, and phospho-laminin alpha 2 (LAMA2) and gain of hnRNPA0 and SRSF10 phosphorylation. LAMA2 is a part of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex, and its loss of function causes congenital muscular dystrophy. Complementing these beneficial effects on muscle, miR-486 indirectly reduced tumor growth and improved survival, which is likely due to systemic effects of miR-486 on production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. Thus, similar to dystrophy, miR-486 has the potential to reverse skeletal muscle defects and cancer burden.

Summary: Skeletal muscle dysfunction or reprogramming due to the effects of the cancer secretome is observed in multiple malignancies. Although mouse models are routinely used to study skeletal muscle defects in cancer, because of species specificity of certain cytokines/chemokines in the secretome, a human model system is required. Here, we establish simplified multiple skeletal muscle stem cell lines (hMuSCs), which can be differentiated into myotubes. Using single nuclei ATAC-seq (snATAC-seq) and RNA-seq (snRNA-seq), we document chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic changes associated with the transition of hMuSCs to myotubes. Cancer secretome accelerated stem to myotube differentiation, altered the alternative splicing machinery and increased inflammatory, glucocorticoid receptor, and wound healing pathways in hMuSCs. Additionally, cancer secretome reduced metabolic and survival pathway associated miR-486, AKT, and p53 signaling in hMuSCs. hMuSCs underwent myotube differentiation when engrafted into NSG mice and thus providing a humanized in vivo skeletal muscle model system to study cancer cachexia.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder that results in glucose accumulation in the blood, accompanied by the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) through glycation of cellular proteins. These AGEs interfere with insulin signaling and prevent GLUT4 membrane translocation, thereby promoting the accumulation of more glucose in the blood and causing post-diabetic complications.Methods: In this study, we examine the anti-diabetic potential of Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude, a well-known ethnomedicinal plant of the Indian Himalayas. Considering its various medicinal properties, we analyzed its ethanolic extract and various solvent fractions for in vitro antiglycation activity and antidiabetic potential, i.e., stimulation of GLUT4 translocation.Result and Discussions: The results showed that the extract and fractions exhibited increased antiglycation activity and an increased level of GLUT4 translocation. Analysis of a further 12 bioactive compounds of ethanolic extract, identified through LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, revealed the presence of three new compounds: leucothol B, rhodoterpenoids A, and leucothol A. Moreover, we performed molecular docking of identified compounds against key proteins of diabetes mellitus: the sirtuin family of NAD (+)-dependent protein deacetylases 6 (SIRT6), aldose reductase (AR), and tyrosine kinase (TK). The results showed that flavonoid luteolin showed the best binding affinity ((−12.3 kcal/mol), followed by eriodictyol, astilbin, and syringaresinol. An ADMET study showed that luteolin, eriodictyol, astilbin, and syringaresinol may be promising drug candidates belonging to the flavonoid class of compounds, with no harmful effects and complying with all the drug-likeness guidelines. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a 50 ns timescale revealed that AR protein was most stable with luteolin throughout the simulation period. Therefore, this study reveals for the first time that L. ovalifolia plays an important role in insulin homeostasis, as shown in in vitro and in silico studies.

Abstract Orphan crops, also known as minor crops, smart foods, and superfoods, have attracted great attention recently because of their unique ability to grow in resource‐poor marginal lands, and under harsh environmental conditions without any intensive agricultural care. These crops possess inherent tolerance against different abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, cold, and heat. Recent advancements in genomic resources and high‐throughput phenotyping platforms have provided opportunities to explore the untapped potential of orphan crops to identify novel gene source(s) and mechanism(s) for developing abiotic stress‐tolerant crops. Moreover, genomics‐assisted investigations into the various physiological and molecular mechanism(s) could provide useful insights into stress tolerance mechanisms in these plants. Nevertheless, translating the hidden power of the tolerant gene pools from the orphan crops into major staple crops for enhancing their stress tolerance while maintaining yield is a challenging task. The contemporary tools of genomics can be used to unravel the secret of stress tolerance in orphan crops and employ these untapped genes for tailoring stress‐tolerant crop varieties to ensure global food security in the era of climate change.

Abstract Background The Ayurvedic system of medicine mentions the use of seeds of Bryonopsis laciniosa (L.) Naud. (also known as Shivlingi due to their unique structure resembling a ‘Shivling’) for treating sexual dysfunction, impaired fertility, and as a general virility-booster in both males and females. To investigate the scientific basis for such claims, the current study was designed for the chemical characterization of the super critical fluid extracted Shivlingi seed oil (SLSO), and subsequent evaluation of its reproductive fecundity in the zebrafish model of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea induced infertility. Results Linoleic and linolenic acids were the major fatty acids in the SLSO, with trace amounts of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Both male and female zebrafish, when fed orally with the SLSO infused pallets, showed a dose-dependent increase in fertility and fecundity rates. Microscopic observations revealed recovery in the gross ovarian anatomy and consequential improvement in egg production in infertile female zebrafish. Similarly, cytological studies exhibited increased sperm counts and motility in male zebrafish. SLSO exhibited effects similar to the human equivalent dose of Letrozole. Conclusion Taken together, these observations demonstrated the fertility-boosting potentials of SLSO comparable to the widely used infertility drugs. As a whole, this research work has provided scientific evidence for the rationale behind the use of Shivlingi seeds in Ayurvedic treatment for infertility in humans. Finally, but importantly, this study warrants further scientific investigations into different aspects of SLSO on human reproductive health.

This study assesses four Satellite-derived Precipitation Products (SPPs) that are corrected and validated against gauge data such as Soil Moisture to Rain—Advanced SCATterometer V1.5 (SM2RAIN-ASCAT), Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation V2.8 (MSWEP), Global Precipitation Measurement Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM Final run V6 (GPM IMERGF), and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS). We evaluate the performance of these SPPs in Nepal’s Myagdi Khola watershed, located in the Kali Gandaki River basin, for the period 2009–2019. The SPPs are evaluated by validating the gridded precipitation products using the hydrological model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The results of this study show that the SM2RAIN-ASCAT and GPM IMERGF performed better than MSWEP and CHIRPS in accurately simulating daily and monthly streamflow. GPM IMERGF and SM2RAIN-ASCAT are found to be the better-performing models, with higher NSE values (0.63 and 0.61, respectively) compared with CHIRPS and MSWEP (0.45 and 0.41, respectively) after calibrating the model with monthly data. Moreover, SM2RAIN-ASCAT demonstrated the best performance in simulating daily and monthly streamflow, with NSE values of 0.57 and 0.63, respectively, after validation. This study’s findings support the use of satellite-derived precipitation datasets as inputs for hydrological models to address the hydrological complexities of mountainous watersheds.

The use of conventional techniques for physico-chemical remediation of hydrocarbon such non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL)-polluted sites may disturb the natural biotic settings of the (sub)-surface. However, natural attenuation has been reported very slow and sometime results as incomplete removal under prevailing site conditions. In particular, microbial growth is quite slow in cold regions, which reduces the applicability of bioremediation in treating NAPL-polluted soil-water. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the thermally enhanced bioremediation techniques to treat NAPL-polluted soil-water using practical experiments. A one-dimensional large column setup was designed and fabricated for this purpose. The column was integrated with automatic temperature controlling baths to maintain different soil-water temperatures (4 °C, 20 °C, 28 °C, and 36 °C), which was circulated through the porous media filled in the column setup. Results show a high dissolution rate of toluene, the selected light NAPL, at an elevated temperature of 28–36 °C. The biodegradation rates of the NAPL were found to be 0.002 mg L/h, 0.008 mg L/h, 0.012 mg L/h, and 0.015 mg L/h at soil-water temperature levels of 4 °C, 20 °C, 28 °C, and 36 °C, respectively. It was found that at high soil-water temperature (28 °C and 36 °C), a significant increment in microbial actions accelerates the biodegradation rate of NAPL in the subsurface system. The outcomes of this study may help in treating NAPL-polluted sites using solar or geo-thermal based heating systems for thermally enhanced bioremediation.

This paper proposes the novel control strategy to improve the power quality injection of wind energy system using Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) into the grid by implementing artificial neural network. The torque ripple produced in DFIG due to loading by grid tied inverter, which leads to poor power quality injection into the system. Also, these ripples transferred by DC link and causes heating losses and generator phase current distortion. Therefore, this paper modelled ANN based control scheme to reduce the torque ripple content and restrict the transfer of ripple by DC link to improve the outcome of wind energy system while operating in variable conditions. The DFIG system under studied are modelled and simulated in MATLAB SIMULINK to verify the improvement using proposed control strategy. The recent control technique is also simulated for reflecting the effectiveness in the proposed control method. The outcomes obtained are studied and analysed with the existing control scheme to highlight the improvement obtained by proposed control.

BACKGROUND: Increasing demand of single donor platelet requires blood banks to expand the donor pool. A reassessment of donor deferral criteria for plateletpheresis is required to ensure that this increasing demand is met without compromising on product quality and donor safety. AIMS: (1) To list the various causes of SDP donor deferral. (2) To discuss various approaches to minimize it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of plateletpheresis donor deferral were collected from records retrospectively over a period of 4 years from January 2017 to December 2020. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All statistical tests were performed using IBM SPSS software for Windows version 20. Categorical variables were presented as proportions, while continuous variables were presented as mean with standard deviation, mean calculated P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of the 7478 donors screened for plateletpheresis procedure, 3232 (43.2%) were deferred among which 3089 (42.5%) were male and 142 (63.1%) were female donors. Majority (96.5%) of deferral were temporary. These included low platelet count (47.4%) followed by poor venous access (22.4%) and low hemoglobin (Hb) (7.2%). Among the donors deferred for low Hb, 24.7% (58 out of 234) had Hb between 12 and 12.4 g%. Similarly, among donor deferred for low platelet count, 12% (184 out of 1532) had platelet count between 140 and 149 × 103/μl. CONCLUSION: There is potential for increasing the number of eligible plateletpheresis donors if the present donor selection criteria were relaxed to a minimum Hb of 12 g/dl and minimum platelet count of 140 × 103/μl.

This research was aimed at the development of a probiotic Lactobacillus culture for administration to cattle calves to treat and/or prevent gastrointestinal disorders, as an alternative to antibiotics. A total of 41 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from the feces of newborn calves and categorized as Lactobacillus on the basis of biochemical tests and genus-specific PCR. Further, nine strains were selected for in vitro probiotic tests and were confirmed to be Ligilactobacillus salivarius through 16S rRNA sequencing. Among these nine strains, the highest cell surface hydrophobicity was 64.45% for RBL76 and 66.45% for RBL62 in n-hexadecane and xylene, respectively, and auto-aggregation results in RBL76 were satisfactory (60.26%). All nine isolates showed optimal production of amylase, protease, and β-galactosidase enzymes. The antimicrobial and co-aggregation activities of all isolates were also determined against the pathogenic microorganisms E. coli ATCC-25922 and Salmonella arizonae ATCC 13314. The biosafety assessment of all selected isolates revealed that they were non-hemolytic and did not exhibit mucin degradation, showed sensitivity to nine antibiotics (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, trimethoprim, and tylosin) and showed resistant to two antibiotics (nalidixic acid and oxytetracycline). The isolates exhibited substantial antioxidant activity, as tested via the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power methods. RBL40 and RBL50 showed a prebiotic index of>1 for fructo-oligosaccharide, and RBL40 and RBL38 displayed the highest prebiotic activity scores with inulin (1.58 ± 0.04 and 1.46 ± 0.02, respectively), followed by RBL40 (1.44 ± 0.02), with fructose, RBL68 (1.36 ± 0.02), and RBL50 (1.33 ± 0.02) with inulin. In addition, the highest adhesion ability to the HT29 cell line was observed for the isolate RBL50 (13.86 ± 0.43%). Among the evaluated LAB isolates, RBL38 and RBL68 emerged as promising probiotic candidates on the basis of heat maps and principal component analysis.

In the prominent era of the digital world and Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits, Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) provides a vital contribution to low-power and high-speed performance. Sense Amplifiers (SA) are a part of Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) memories used to read the stored information. This paper indicates a Dual-Voltage, Dual-Tail Level Restoration Voltage Latch Sense Amplifier (DVDTLR-VLSA). The design has been implemented using the LT SPICE tool at 180nm technology node with a 1.8V supply. Performance comparison of existing SA presented in literature with the proposed SA is examined based on different parameters like power, energy, delay, and current. The proposed design maintains power at 2.167uW that is decreased to half as against Dual Switch Transmission Gate Voltage SA (DTGVSA) and shows an appreciable depletion. Also, the current and delay results are improved. Dimensional analysis is also done for the proposed SA to examine the performance. After that, the effect of sleep transistors on the proposed SA examines the performance in comparison to delay and power parameters without sleep transistors. The DVDTLR-VLSA has minimal energy and power. Also, the delay is improved which may be determined more advisable for low-power operations.

The COVID-19 pandemic will forever be known as a disruptive dilemma that impacted many industries in Australia. For the university sector, sudden lockdown and social distancing rules resulted in an acceleration in the provision of learning and teaching via online platforms, creating new challenges for students and educators. This project explored the ways in which an enabling course supported students through the forced transition from face-to-face classes to online learning due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and the students’ ability to adjust to the disruption caused by the pandemic. This unexpected change provided the opportunity to explore how enabling students perceived this experience and the effect it had on their ability to complete their units of study. This paper presents findings on the impact that the abrupt transition to online learning had on the students’ educational experience and on their psychological and emotional wellbeing. It was found that most students experienced increased stress due to the changes in household dynamics, responsibilities and a different learning context, yet many reported improved study and technological skills, as well as an improved awareness of their ability to cope with change.

AimTCF7L2 gene is believed to increase the risk of T2DM by its effects on insulin secretion. However, the exact mechanism of this enhanced risk is not clearly known. While TCF7L2 gene has been shown to affect lipid metabolism, these effects have remained largely unexplored in the context of diabetes risk.MethodsPostprandial lipid responses to a standardized fat challenge test were performed in 620 Asian Indian subjects (310 with NGT and 310 with T2DM/prediabetes) and compared between the risk and wild genotypes of the rs7903146 TCF7L2 gene. In 30 subjects scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery (10 each with NGT, Prediabetes and T2DM), adipocyte TCF7L2 gene expression was also performed by real time qPCR and confirmed by protein expression in western blot.ResultsT allele of rs7903146 TCF7L2 gene was confirmed as the risk allele for T2DM (OR=1.8(1.2-2.74), p=0.005). TT+CT genotypes of rs7903146 TCF7L2 gene showed significantly higher 4hrTg (p

A conjoined twin of male gender, weighing 3 kgs was born at 36 weeks of gestation to a primigravida mother. The twin cried immediately after birth. The twin had a single trunk, three upper limbs, two lower limbs and two separate heads joined at the trunk , single anal opening and male external genitalia. Antenatal USG at 35 weeks showed polycephaly live intrauterine fetus with breech presentation with anteriorly placed placenta maturity grade II with gross fetal anomaly, polyhydramnios with distended fetal urinary bladder (bladder volume: 63ml). The twin had respiratory distress on admission, so oxygen support was given. Babygram done was suggestive of two separate vertebral columns from cervical to lumbosacral region. 2D echo shows 2 hearts. Twin was managed conservatively, started on NG feeds and discharged in stable condition.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates the expression of ECM-associated genes during early injury. Tissue fibrosis development is driven by synergistic cues between the evolving biochemical and mechanical milieu. Few studies have addressed the role of substrate stiffness on TGF-β activity and extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated genes. We used a commercial formulation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to fabricate substrates of 40 kPa, 300 kPa, and 1.5 MPa stiffness, and cultured the HMF3S fibroblasts on substrates. We quantified TGF-β protein secreted by HMF3S cells on different substrates using a TGF-β responsive promoter reporter assay. We also tested for variations in gene expression levels on the substrates using RT-PCR and Western blotting and determined the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities with gelatin zymography. The results showed that TGF-β protein activation was significantly compromised at lower stiffnesses. The expression of integrin α5 decreased on lower stiffness substrates and correlated with inefficient TGF-β protein activation. Collagen I, collagen III, and MMP-2 expression levels were lower on softer substrates; there was little MMP-9 activity on all substrates. Cell and nuclear morphologies were more rounded on compliant substrates, correlating with increased tubulin expression. Proliferations were higher on stiffer substrates, whereas cells on softer substrates showed cell cycle arrest. These results demonstrated critical feedback mechanisms between substrate stiffness and ECM regulation by fibroblasts, relevant in fibrosis.

Background Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) exposure may induce an endocrine disruption which may lead to the risk of developing diabetes through alteration and disturbance of glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and destruction of β-cells. The present study determines the recent trend of OCPs residue in blood samples and their association with the known risk factors responsible for developing the risk of diabetes among the North Indian population. Methods Blood sample of 300 patients (100 each of normal glucose tolerance [NGT], prediabetes and newly detected diabetes mellitus [DM]) between the age group of 30 to 70 years were collected. OCPs residue in whole blood samples was analyzed by using gas chromatography equipped with a 63Ni selective electron capture detector. Results Significantly higher levels of β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), dieldrin, and p,p’-dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE) were found in the prediabetes and newly detected DM groups as compared to NGT group. Insulin resistance showed to be significantly positive correlation with β-HCH and dieldrin. Also, fasting and postprandial glucose levels were significantly positively correlated with levels of β-HCH, dieldrin, and p,p’-DDE. Further, when OCPs level was adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), it was found that β-HCH, dieldrin, and p,p’-DDE levels in blood increases the risk of diabetes by 2.70, 2.83, and 2.55 times respectively. Moreover, when we adjust OCPs level based on BMI categories (BMI 25 kg/m2); β-HCH and p,p’-DDE showed a significant risk of developing newly detected DM with BMI >25 and ≥23 and ≤25 kg/m2. Conclusion The OCPs level present in the environment may be responsible for biological, metabolic, and endocrine disruptions within the human body which may increase the risk of developing newly detected DM. Hence, OCPs exposure can play a crucial role in the etiology of diabetes.

Introduction: Inguinal hernia is a common surgical condition encountered of pediatric age group. Inguinal hernia may get incarcerated and if strangulated, it requires prompt intervention. Rarely incarcerated bowel can perforate leading to formation of entero-cutaneous fistula. Littre's hernia is the protrusion of a Meckel diverticulum through a potential abdominal opening. Presentation of case: A one and half months old infant presented with an irreducible right inguino-scrotal swelling and faecal discharge from the scrotum for a month. Patient was passing stools from normal anal opening as well. Patient underwent exploratory laparotomy which revealed an incarcerated right inguinal hernia containing long ruptured Meckel's diverticulum of size 8 cm passing from deep inguinal ring to right hemiscrotum. Diverticulectomy with ileo-ileal end to end anastomosis with right herniotomy was done. Discussion: The main complication of inguinal hernia is incarceration, which may result in bowel obstruction. Spontaneous intestinal-cutaneous fistula from incarcerated inguinal hernia with Meckel's diverticulum as content in neonates and infants is a rare occurrence and hitherto only one such case has been reported in the world literature. Conclusion: Prompt and early seeking of medical facility of patients with incarcerated inguinal hernias is necessary to reduce their morbidity and mortality.

Introduction: Hernia surgery can be performed via the classical open technique, or laparoscopically. However, the later techniques i.e, total extraperitoneal repair and transabdominal preperitoneal techniques are allied to a steep learning curve. Aim: To define the learning curve associated with a Total Extraperitoneal (TEP) in inguinal hernia repair. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Surgery at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, from January 2018 and January 2022. Total 125 patients with inguinal hernia posted for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair by a TEP technique, to assess the learning curve using the moving average method. Two surgeons i.e, surgeon 1 (assessee, junior surgeon) and surgeon 2 (assessor, senior surgeon) were chosen. The learning curve was assessed for surgeon 1, who was a general laparoscopic surgeon, not performing laparoscopic hernia repair, while surgeon 2 was regularly performing laparoscopic hernia repairs. A direct comparison was made, based on operative time, peritoneal laceration, vascular injury, conversion rates, hospital stay and complications. Chi-square test and Fisher’s-exact test was used wherever applicable. Results: Out of 125 patients, 50 patients were operated by the surgeon 1 and 75 patients were operated by surgeon 2. Mean operating time by surgeon 2 was 52±4.5 minutes, and 66±4.18 minutes for surgeon 1 with a p-value of 0.0005. This was the only statistically significant variable, while hospital stay and surgical complications like peritoneal laceration was statistically insignificant (p-value >0.05). Surgeon 1 (assessee) required to perform 10 TEP surgeries to overcome the learning curve. Oral intake was started at mean of postoperative day 1.08±0.32 for surgeon 1 and 1.04±0.20 for surgeon 2. Full diet was initiated on postoperative day 1.5±0.5 for senior surgeon, while 2.08±0.8 days for the junior surgeon. Conclusion: Surgeons with a prior experience in laparoscopic surgery needs a shorter learning curve as compared to a beginner in laparoscopic surgery, when it comes to laparoendoscopic groin hernia repair.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most debilitating brain diseases. Despite the availability of symptomatic treatments, response towards the health of PD patients remains scarce. To fulfil the medical needs of the PD patients, an efficacious and etiological treatment is required. In this review, we have compiled the information covering limitations of current therapeutic options in PD, novel drug targets for PD, and finally, the role of some critical beneficial natural products to control the progression of PD.

Abstract Background Loss of skeletal muscle volume and functional limitations are poor prognostic markers in breast cancer patients. Several molecular defects in skeletal muscle including reduced myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) levels and increased protein turn over due to enhanced proteosomal activity have been suggested as causes of skeletal muscle loss in cancer patients. However, it is unknown whether molecular defects in skeletal muscle are dependent on tumour aetiology. Methods We characterized functional and molecular defects of skeletal muscle in mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV)‐Neu (Neu+) mice (n = 6–12), an animal model that represents HER2 + human breast cancer, and compared the results with well‐characterized luminal B breast cancer model MMTV‐PyMT (PyMT+). Functional studies such as grip strength, rotarod performance, and ex vivo muscle contraction were performed to measure the effects of cancer on skeletal muscle. Expression of muscle‐enriched genes and microRNAs as well as circulating cytokines/chemokines were measured. Because nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) pathway plays a significant role in skeletal muscle defects, the ability of NF‐κB inhibitor dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT) to reverse skeletal muscle defects was examined. Results Neu+ mice showed skeletal muscle defects similar to accelerated aging. Compared with age and sex‐matched wild type mice, Neu+ tumour‐bearing mice had lower grip strength (202 ± 6.9 vs. 179 ± 6.8 g grip force, P = 0.0069) and impaired rotarod performance (108 ± 12.1 vs. 30 ± 3.9 s, P

Background: Exposure to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a potent lipophilic organochlorine pesticide, has long been linked as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, its presence in the adipose tissues of the T2DM subjects has not been explored in the Indian population, where this long-banned pesticide is still in use. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possible association of DDT and its metabolites in obese and non-obese T2DM subjects. Methods: Subjects with normal glucose tolerance (n = 50) and T2DM (n = 50) were divided into equal numbers in obese and non-obese groups. Their plasma glucose levels, HbA1c, and lipid profile were measured. The adipose tissues were collected intraoperatively, and DDT and its metabolites were measured using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector. Results: Obese subjects, irrespective of their glycemic status, and T2DM subjects had higher concentrations of DDT. p, p′ DDT was found to increase the odds for diabetes, and o, p′ DDT for central obesity. p, p′ DDD was also strongly correlated with central obesity, glycemic parameters, and triglycerides. Conclusion: The excess deposition of p, p′ DDD, o, p′ DDT, and p, p′ DDT in obese subjects may proceed to T2DM by disrupting triglycerides and glycemic parameters.

Background: Calotropis procera is a large shrub which consists many medicinal properties, used in treatment of snake bite, sinus fistula, rheumatism, mumps, burn injuries, inflammation and jaundice traditionally. All the parts of Calotropis procera were utilized in the treatment of diseases out of which leaves and roots were investigated for its toxicity profile that showed dose dependent toxicity. Toxicity profile of flowers of Calotropis procera was not investigated in the previous studies. The aim of this study was to explore the acute and subacute toxicity of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera flowers for the safe use of traditional medicine. Method: In acute toxicity, a total of 20 female mice (Swiss albino), weighing between 23 and 32 g were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control, 300, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg groups with 5 mice each, and each received a single dose of extract at 300, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were monitored for 14 days. In the subacute study, a total of 40 mice (23–32 g) were divided into 4 groups, each containing males and females. Group 1 (control group) received vehicle and groups 2, 3, and 4 received extract at doses of 300 mg/Kg, 1000 mg/Kg, 2000 mg/Kg of b.w., respectively, for 28 consecutive days. The study was conducted in compliance with the OECD guidelines 407 and 423. Results: Acute toxicity study showed no mortality at the dose of 2000 mg/Kg. In subacute toxicity study, statistical analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant differences compared to control group except marked increase in segmented neutrophils. Histopathological studies revealed no significant structural differences among the treated groups and in comparison to control group. Conclusions: It was concluded that oral administration of doses of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera flower, administered acutely, did not cause any mortality or notable changes at the dose of 2000 mg/Kg. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of in mice was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. In a 28-day subacute toxicity model, the extract did not cause any mortality, and no treatment-related changes were observed in body weight, organ weight, hematological and biochemical blood analysis, or histopathologic examinations at the extract dose of 2000 mg/Kg. These findings indicate that the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of Calotropis procera flower ethanolic extract was greater than 2000 mg/kg/day.

Field crops are subjected to drought at different growth stages and cause for substantial yield loss in major crops, thus threaten to global food security. The crop researcher have evaluated numerous physiological, biochemical and molecular strategies to combat drought stresses but these approaches are not enough in present scenario. Therefore, it is argued that plants can be primed by assorted organic and in-organic promoters for excelling fortitude under stress conditions. Hence, seed priming with different agents is an auspicious area of research in stress biology and crop stress management, for conferring tolerance when plants are subjected to drought stress. However, the adaptation and tolerance mechanisms of drought stress are complex and quantitative in nature, which have been explored at physiological, biochemical and molecular levels thoroughly in this review. The concept of stress memory and its implication in future generation has also been discussed. Finally, in this review the challenges and opportunities of seed priming with effective application in crop stress management along with expanding the knowledge on deep understanding of drought stress tolerance to reduce the future yield gap are discussed thoroughly.

The present investigation was conducted to find out the fungal diversity on leaf litter samples collected from Ratangarh forest, Datia. The samples were collected from Jan 2017-June 2017 at monthly intervals. Serial dilution method and PDA media was used for the isolation of fungi. During present investigation, 14 species belonging to 6 different fungal genera have been isolated and identified. Out of these, 2 species belongs to class Zygomycota and 12 species belongs to class Ascomycota and their anamorphs. Species namely Mucor hiemalis, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus japonicus and Torula sp. were early colonizers while Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Emericella nidulans, Ascochyta sp., Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Trichoderma reesei, and Trichoderma viride were found as late colonizers over leaf litter of Acacia catechu. In all stages of decomposition, fungi belonging to the Ascomycota were predominant. The present investigation provides valuable information about diversity of leaf litter fungi of tropical forest.

Introduction: Esophageal varices develop as a consequence of portal hypertension (PHT) in patients with chronic liver disease. Hence, screening of all cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to detect the presence of significant esophageal varices implies a number of unnecessary endoscopies and has its limitation where such facilities are not available, especially in the rural part of country. Method: Patients with either sex, aged between 18 and 60 years with diagnosis of cirrhosis were studied. Detailed history, physical examination along with relevant investigations were recorded and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done within 2–3 days of investigation. Esophageal varices were graded as I-IV, using the Paquet grading system and patients were classified dichotomously either as having large esophageal varices (LEV) group A (Grade III-IV) and no varices group B (grade I-II). Result: A total of 50 patients with cirrhosis of liver were recruited in the study. Among hematological markers, only low platelet count was significantly associated with the presence of LEV (P value