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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been shown to be linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to established risk factors such as obesity, age, and type 2 diabetes in numerous studies. However, alternative research suggests that factors related to IBD, such as disease activity, duration, and drug-induced toxicity, can contribute to NAFLD. Recent research findings suggest IBD relapses are correlated with dysbiosis, mucosal damage, and an increase in cytokines. In contrast, remission periods are characterized by reduced metabolic risk factors. There is a dichotomy evident in the associations between NAFLD and IBD during relapses and remissions. This warrants a nuanced understanding of the diverse influences on disease manifestation and progression. It is possible to provide a holistic approach to care for patients with IBD by emphasizing the interdependence between metabolic and inflammatory disorders.

Abstract The widespread use of pesticides poses significant threats to both environmental and human health, primarily due to their potential toxic effects. The study investigated the cardiovascular toxicity of selected pesticides, focusing on their interactions with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), an important part of the innate immune system. Using computational tools such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, principal component analysis (PCA), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and ADME analysis, this study identified C160 as having the lowest binding affinity (-8.2 kcal/mol), followed by C107 and C165 (-8.0 kcal/mol). RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and hydrogen bond metrics indicated the formation of stable complexes between specific pesticides and TLR4. PCA revealed significant structural changes upon ligand binding, affecting stability and flexibility, while DFT calculations provided information about the stability, reactivity, and polarity of the compounds. ADME studies highlighted the solubility, permeability, and metabolic stability of C107, C160, and C165, suggesting their potential for bioavailability and impact on cardiovascular toxicity. C107 and C165 exhibit higher bioactivity scores, indicating favourable absorption, metabolism, and distribution properties. C165 also violated rule where molecular weight is greater than 500 g/mol. Further, DFT and NCI analysis of post MD conformations confirmed the binding of ligands at the binding pocket. The analysis shed light on the molecular mechanisms of pesticide-induced cardiovascular toxicity, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate their harmful effects on human health.

Introduction: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) consists of administering oxygen at pressures higher than atmospheric pressure. Though HBOT remains one of the safest therapies used today, it is not completely devoid of side effects. Pulmonary oxygen toxicity can result as a result of continuous exposure of elevated levels of oxygen for increased duration and at increased pressures. The main pathological manifestations occur as acute exudative phase followed by subacute proliferative phase. Effects of HBOT on pulmonary functions has not been studied in detail. This study was conducted to ascertain the effects of HBOT on pulmonary functions and determine if these changes are reversible in nature. Material and Method: A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over a period of 02 years. A total of 72 patients who were undergoing HBOT for any indication normal chest radiograph and normal spirometry/DLCO were included in the study. Spirometry and DLCO was done initially at the time of inclusion and repeated after half of the total planned HBOT sessions and finally at the end of all sessions of HBOT. Spirometry and DLCO was also repeated 6 months post completion of HBOT. The HBOT protocol consisted of breathing 100% oxygen at 2.4 atmospheric absolute (ATA) for 90 minutes which was referred as one session. Total sessions varied from 20-30 based on indication and response of their primary disease to HBO. Results: The mean age score in study population was 47.12 ± 12.88. Among the study population, 12(24%) participants were male and 38(76%) participants were female. The mean BMI was 24.49 ± 5.45. The mean DLCO was 6.67 ± 1.45 ml/min/mm Hg pre intervention, it was 6.38 ± 1.43 ml/min/mm Hg at mid cycle and 6.21 ± 1.41 ml/min/mm Hg post intervention and at 6 months follow up it was 6.43 ± 1.46 ml/min/mm Hg. The difference in the DLCO at mid cycle, post intervention and 6 months follow up period with baseline value were statistically significant (P value 0.005). Conclusion: HBOT although a safe intervention, it is not totally devoid of complications. Although our study did reveal statistically significant changes in pulmonary function in most of the instances, it did not show any clinically significant changes in pulmonary function with use of HBOT protocol at 2.4 ATA. Studies with larger sample size will be required to ensure evidence based safety of HBOT use.

Repositioning of FDA approved/clinical phase drugs has recently opened a new opportunity for rapid approval of drugs, as it shortens the overall process of drug discovery and development. In previous studies, we predicted the possibility of better activity profiles of flavopiridol, the FDA approved orphan drug with better fit value 2.79 using a common feature pharmacophore model for anti-adipogenic compounds (CFMPA). The present study aimed to investigate the effect of flavopiridol on adipocyte differentiation and to determine the underlying mechanism. Flavopiridol inhibited adipocyte differentiation in different cell models like 3T3-L1, C3H10T1/2, and hMSCs at 150 nM. Flavopiridol was around 135 times more potent than its parent molecule rohitukine. The effect was mediated through down-regulation of key transcription factors of adipogenesis i.e. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), and their downstream targets, including adipocyte protein −2 (aP2) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Further, results revealed that flavopiridol arrested the cell cycle in G1/S phase during mitotic clonal expansion by suppressing cell cycle regulatory proteins i.e. Cyclins and CDKs. Flavopiridol inhibited insulin-stimulated signalling in the early phase of adipocyte differentiation by downregulation of AKT/mTOR pathway. In addition, flavopiridol improved mitochondrial function in terms of increased oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in mature adipocytes. In the mouse model of diet-induced obesity, flavopiridol attenuated obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation and improved serum lipid profile, glucose tolerance as well as insulin sensitivity. In conclusion, the FDA approved drug flavopiridol could be placed as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of cancer and obesity comorbid patients.

Potassium, a pivotal macronutrient essential for growth, development, and crop yield, serves as a critical determinant of soil productivity. Its depletion disrupts the equilibrium of soil nutrients, prompting an investigation into integrated potassium management strategies to address this challenge. A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2020 using a randomized complete block design, with eight treatments, each replicated three times in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis). These treatments comprised standard (100 %) and reduced (75 % and 50 %) rates of the recommended dose of potassium (RDK) via muriate of potash (MOP). Variations in the inclusion and exclusion of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), farmyard manure (FYM) as 25 % of the potassium recommendation, and foliar spray of nano potash were systematically implemented. Findings unequivocally demonstrated that the treatmentT8, involving 100 % RDK +25 % K through FYM + PGPR + nano K fertilizer spray at 25 and 40 DAS, yielded significant improvements in both green fodder (64.0 t ha−1) and dry fodder (7.87 t ha−1).Moreover, T8 exhibited the highest values for total ash (8.75 %), total ash yield (68.9 ± 2.88 kg ha−1), ether extract (2.85 %), ether extract yield (22.4 ± 0.88 kg ha−1), crude protein (9.71 %), and total crude protein yield (76.4 ± 3.21 kg ha−1). Conversely, a marked reduction was observed in various fiber components and carbohydrate fractions upon application of the T8 treatment. The lowest values of yield, crude protein content, total ash ether extract were recorded in treatment T1 (control) applied with no potassium. This investigation underscores the inadequacy of the recommended potassium dose in achieving optimal productivity, necessitating a re-evaluation of potassium fertilization levels. The integrated approach involving FYM, PGPR, and nano potash, coupled with the recommended potassium dose through MOP, emerges as a promising avenue for augmenting both yield and quality parameters in Chinese cabbage.

Background: Antimicrobial endodontic intracanal medicaments play a vital role along with biomechanical preparation in the elimination of bacteria present in the pulp area to achieve success in endodontic therapy. Aim: The present research was conducted with the objective of evaluating and comparing intracanal medicaments regarding antibacterial properties against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty healthy human premolars of the mandible were used. All premolar crowns were removed, keeping the standardized length of the root as 15 mm. Category 1 received triple antibiotic paste (TAP) (n = 30), Category 2 received double antibiotic paste (DAP) (n = 30), Category 3 received augmentin (n = 30), and Category 4 received calcium hydroxide (n = 30). Hygienic paper points were placed in each root canal, then they were moved to a tube containing 1 mL of brain-heart infusion medium and left there for bacteriological testing. Colony-forming units (CFUs) of E. faecalis were then observed and counted after the plates had been incubated overnight at a temperature of 37°C. Results: During intracategory comparisons, there was a significant reduction in colonies of E. feacilis in each category (P ≤ 0.001). When there were intercategory comparisons, there was a maximum reduction in CFU in specimens of Category 1 (TAP) followed by Category 3 (Augmentin) and Category 2 (DAP). Conclusion: Intracanal medicaments like TAP, DAP, and augmentin are effective against root canal E. faecalis.

Background Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a complex of cryptic species with subtle morphological differences and distinct genetic backgrounds; thus, species identification using traditional methods remains challenging. The existence of different haplotypes and genotypes within a species can significantly influence various aspects of its biology, including host preference, reproductive capacity, resistance to pesticides, and vector competence for plant viruses. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptic species within T. tabaci will not only aid in the development of more effective control strategies tailored to specific genetic variants but also in monitoring population dynamics, tracking invasive species, and implementing quarantine measures to prevent the spread of economically damaging thrips biotypes. Methods This study aims to explore intraspecies genetic diversity and molecular evolutionary relationships of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (mtCOI) in T. tabaci populations from India. To capture diversity within the Indian T. tabaci populations, amplicon sequencing was performed for the thrips mtCOI gene from eight diverse localities in India. A total of 48 sequences retrieved for the mtCOI gene from the NCBI Nucleotide database were analysed. Results Multiple insertions and deletions were detected at various genomic positions across the populations from different localities, with the highest variation observed in the 300–400 genome position range. Molecular diversity analyses identified 30 haplotypes within the population, with certain subpopulations exhibiting higher gene flow. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism patterns within the mtCOI gene across diverse Indian locales revealed significant intrapopulation genetic heterogeneity and its potential repercussions on gene functionality. Elevated F statistics (Fst) values in the northern–western subpopulations suggested high genetic variability, particularly evident in haplotype networks originating mainly from the northern region, notably Delhi. While most populations displayed stable and ancient evolutionary histories, thrips populations from northern, western, and north-eastern regions indicated rapid growth.

Crassulaceae plants are valued for their horticultural, ecological, and economic significance, but their genetic improvement is hindered by the absence of efficient and stable genetic transformation methods. Therefore, the development of a tailored genetic transformation method is crucial for enhancing the progress of the genetic improvement of Crassulaceae plants. The results indicate that, in the transformation experiments conducted on Kalanchoe tetraphylla, the K599 strain exhibited the highest transformation efficiency (76.67%), while C58C1 was least efficient (21.43%). An acetosyringone concentration of 100 μM was optimal for the hairy root transformation, and the immersion method yielded the highest efficiency. Additionally, the Silwet L-77 concentration significantly influenced the transformation efficiency, with 0.05% leading to a decrease. Upon four Crassulaceae species, notable differences were observed, with K. tetraphylla exhibiting the highest efficiency of 100%, and Sedum alfredii displaying the lowest efficiency of 5%. The RUBY reporter gene offers a more distinct advantage over GFP in observing the transformation effects. This study developed a simple, feasible, and cost-effective method for obtaining transgenic roots from leaves of Crassulaceae. The methodology provides technical support for the genetic improvement and gene function research of Crassulaceae plants.

Drought is the most important abiotic stress that restricts the genetically predetermined yield potential of the crops. In the present study, four tomato varieties: Kashi Vishesh, Kashi Aman, Kashi Abhiman, and Kashi Amrit, were used to study the effect of PGPMs (plant growth-promoting microorganisms). PGPM strains, Bacillus megaterium BHUPSB14, Pseudomonas fluorescens BHUPSB06, Pseudomonas aeruginosa BHUPSB01, Pseudomonas putida BHUPSB0, Paenibacillus polymixa BHUPSB17, and Trichoderma horzianum, were used as the consortium. The control group was irrigated up to 80% of field capacity, while 7-, 14-, and 21-day water-deficit-exposed (DWD) plants’ pot soil moisture was maintained to 40, 25, and 15% of the field capacity, both with and without the PGPM inoculation condition. The physiological parameters, such as electrolyte leakage, relative water content, photosynthetic efficiency, and chlorophyll color index, were significantly improved by PGPM application under progressive drought stress, compared to the control. PGPM application enhanced the proline accumulation and reduced the formation of hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation under drought stress. The plant growth attributes were significantly increased by PGPM application. The Kashi Amrit variety showed the highest fruit yield among the four varieties under all the treatments. The PGPM consortium application also improved the soil physico-biological properties and nutrient availability in the soil. The PGPM consortium used in this study can potentially mitigate drought stress on tomato in drought-prone regions and act as a biofertilizer. The present study will open a new avenue of drought stress management in tomato.

Background: Owing to the heterogeneous nature of prostate cancer (PCa) and errors in the characterization of the disease, researchers have been trying to unveil molecular biomarkers like microRNA (miRNA) as diagnostic markers. The purpose of our study is to demonstrate the precision of a panel of miRNAs as biomarkers with diagnostic potential for risk stratification. Materials and methods: The present study demonstrates the comparative expression profiles of miRNA-141,-1290,-100, and -335 in both tissue and serum, including Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and PCa, with healthy volunteers. Firstly, we demonstrate the expression of all miRNAs in the discovery cohort, including metastasis and benign tissue, and later validate their non-invasive diagnostic potential in BPH and PCa with healthy volunteers. MiRNA was isolated from tissue and serum to be quantified by RT-PCR and analyzed for biomarker potential by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, followed by targetome analysis of each miRNA. Results: Among the non-invasive miRNA assessed, it was seen that miRNA 141 (P = 0.0003) and miRNA 1290 (P

The menace of drought has persistently loomed over global crop production, posing a serious threat to agricultural sustainability. Research on drought stress highlights the important role of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) in orchestrating plant responses to drought conditions. ABA regulates various drought/dehydration-responsive genes, initiates stomatal closure, and influences cellular responses to drought stress. Additionally, plants employ a phosphate starvation response (PSR) mechanism to manage phosphate (Pi) deficiency, with ABA playing a role in its regulation. However, despite intensive research in these fields, the precise connection among PSRs, drought stress, and ABA signaling still needs to be determined. Recently, PSR-related gene induction has been reported to occur before the induction of ABA-responsive genes under progressive mild drought. Mild drought decreases Pi uptake and contents in plants, triggering PSRs, which play an important role in plant growth during mild drought. Both ABA-responsive and PSR-related gene expression could indicate plant perception of external moisture conditions. Thus, integrating the information regarding their associated gene expression with soil moisture contents and thermographic data can enable timely irrigation optimization to mitigate the effect of drought on crop productivity.

Water pollution poses significant environmental and health challenges globally due to increasing industrialization and urbanization, which have led to a rise in wastewater discharges containing hazardous pollutants. These pollutants not only degrade aquatic ecosystems but also pose risks to human health. To address these issues, researchers have been exploring various treatment technologies, including adsorption, in which specific pollutants can be removed efficiently and selectively using adsorbents. Magnetic adsorbents, especially magnetite (Fe3O4), have emerged as a promising adsorbent material for water purification. Its high surface area, supermagnetism, and ease of functionalization make it suitable for the adsorption of many contaminants. In this Review, we highlight the recent developments in Fe3O4 nano adsorbents, including synthesis, properties, functionalization strategies, and challenges. The stability of Fe3O4 adsorbents was also discussed. A comparison of Fe3O4-based adsorbents and traditional adsorbents was then addressed. Finally, an outlook on the challenges and opportunities for the future advancement and practical application of these adsorbents is provided. Such an interdisciplinary research field is expected to stimulate further developments in nanoscience and advanced nanotechnology in water treatment.

Abiotic stress is considered as the main culprit for reduction of global food production. Recent studies have reported GABA as a major regulator of abiotic stress and thus opening new avenues in research on emerging roles of GABA in abiotic stress acclimation in plants.

Abstract Developing sustainable agricultural practices is currently becoming an increasingly relevant challenge. As the worldwide population rises and climate change affects agriculture globally, new and sustainable approaches must be adopted to ensure food security. In this editorial, we invite contributions to a BMC Plant Biology collection on ‘Sustainable agriculture,’ covering research on the environmental and socioeconomic factors that affect sustainable agricultural practices and their management.

The liver injury leads to an inflammatory response, which causes the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) that further secrete ECM proteins and play an important role in liver fibrosis. Moreover, the inflammatory response is a driving force for fibrogenesis, which is triggered by many types of injuries. Exaggerated inflammatory immune responses are mediated by cytoplasmic protein complexes known as inflammasomes, which are involved in many chronic liver diseases. Inflammasomes are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that can sense any microbial motifs known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and host- or environmental-derived stress signals known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The inflammasomes cause caspase-mediated proteolytic cleavage of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into active IL-1β and IL-18. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the important roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis with an emphasis on several direct and indirect pathways responsible for the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated HSCs activation and fibrogenesis. In addition, we discuss the general pharmacological and genetics strategies for the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its downstream signaling with examples of emerging pharmacotherapeutics, targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling as well as a possible way to develop effective and safer NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome refers to a clustering of metabolic risk factors including central obesity, glucose intolerance, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high triglycerides, and hypertension. In the naval setting, some occupational characteristics of submariners such as long work hours, lack of physical activity, disturbed circadian rhythm, and stress have a negative influence on the health status of individuals. It is worth speculating that the occupational factors might also influence the development of clinical conditions related to a greater cardiovascular risk such as metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 2 years. Submariners posted onboard an operational submarine for the past 1 year in the age group 18–45 years and willing to participate in the study were included in the study. Shore-based personnel in the similar age group posted in shore billet for at least 1 year were taken as control. Universal sampling technique was used for selection of subjects. A total of 250 submariners and 250 age-matched shore-based naval personnel were enrolled in the study. The study group was assessed for prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome using national cholesterol education program adult treatment panel III criteria. Results: The mean age of submariners and shore-based personnel was 29.7 ± 4.9 years and 29.3 ± 5.3 years, respectively (P = 0.77). 20.8% of the submariners had a body mass index (BMI) more than 25 kg/m2 compared to 16.8% in the shore-based group. BMI was higher for the submariners compared to shore-based personnel but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.097). The prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension in submariners was 16.8%–15.2% compared to 11.6% and 10.4% in shore-based group (P > 0.05). Fasting blood sugar levels >100 mg/dl was observed in 14% submariners compared to 8.4% shore-based personnel (P > 0.05). Triglyceride levels of >150 mg/dl was observed in 22.4% submariners compared to 16% shore-based personnel (P = 0.085). HDL level of

Abstract For the burgeoning global population, sustainable agriculture practices are crucial for accomplishing the zero-hunger goal. The agriculture sector is very concerned about the rise in insecticide resistance and the Modern Environmental Health Hazards (MEHHs) that are problems for public health due to on pesticide exposure and residues. Currently, farming practices are being developed based on microbial bio-stimulants, which have fewer negative effects and are more efficient than synthetic agro-chemicals. In this context, one of the most important approaches in sustainable agriculture is the use of biocontrol microbes that can suppress phytopathogens and insects. Simultaneously, it is critical to comprehend the role of these microbes in promoting growth and disease control, and their application as biofertilizers and biopesticides, the success of which in the field is currently inconsistent. Therefore, editorial is part of a special issue titled "Biocontrol Strategies: An Eco-smart Tool for Integrated Pest and Disease Management" which focuses on biocontrol approaches that can suppress the biotic stresses, alter plant defense mechanisms, and offer new eco-smart ways for controlling plant pathogens and insect pests under sustainable agriculture.

The first infection case of new coronavirus was reported at the end of 2019 and after then, the cases are reported in all nations across the world in a very short period. Further, the regular news of mutations in the virus has made life restricted with appropriate behavior. To date, a new strain (Omicron and its new subvariant Omicron XE) has brought fear amongst us due to a higher trajectory of increase in the number of cases. The researchers thus started giving attention to this viral infection and discovering drug-like candidates to cure the infections. Finding a drug for any viral infection is not an easy task and takes plenty of time. Therefore, computational chemistry/bioinformatics is followed to get promising molecules against viral infection. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are being explored to get drug candidates in a short period. The molecules are screened via molecular docking, which provides preliminary information which can be further verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. To understand the change in structure, MD simulations generated several trajectories such as root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), hydrogen bonding, and radius of gyration for the main protease (Mpro) of the new coronavirus (nCoV) in the presence of small molecules. Additionally, change in free energy for the formation of complex of Mpro of nCoV with the small molecule can be determined by applying molecular mechanics with generalized born and surface area solvation (MM-GBSA). Thus, the promising molecules can be further explored for clinical trials to combat coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

The rhizosphere microbes play a key role in plant nutrition and health. However, the interaction of beneficial microbes and Vigna unguiculata (lobia) production remains poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to isolate and characterize the soil microbes from the rhizosphere and develop novel microbial consortia for enhancing lobia production. Fifty bacterial strains were isolated from the rhizosphere soil samples of lobia. Finally, five effective strains (e.g., Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V1 and Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V2, Serratia marcescens IESDJP-V3, Bacillus cereus IESDJP-V4, Ochrobactrum sp. IESDJP-V5) were identified and molecularly characterized by 16 S rDNA gene amplification. All selected strains showed positive plant growth promoting (PGP) properties in broth culture. Based on morphological, biochemical, and plant growth promoting activities, five effective isolated strains and two collected strains (Azospirillum brasilense MTCC-4037 and Paenibacillus polymyxa BHUPSB17) were selected. The pot trials were conducted with seed inoculations of lobia (Vigna unguiculata) var. Kashi Kanchan with thirty treatments and three replications. The treatment combination T3 (Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V2), T14 (Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V2 + A. brasilense), T26 (Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V1+ B. cereus IESDJP-V4 + P. polymyxa) and T27 (IESDJP-V1+ IESDJP-V5+ A. brasilense) were recorded for enhancing plant growth attributes, yield, nutritional content like protein, total sugar, flavonoid and soil properties as compared to control and others. The effective treatments T3 (Pseudomonas sp.), T14 (Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V2 + A. brasilense), T26 (Pseudomonas sp. IESDJP-V1+ B. cereus IESDJP-V4 + P. polymyxa) and T27 (IESDJP-V1+ IESDJP-V5+ A. brasilense) recorded as potential PGPR consortium for lobia production. The treatment of single (Pseudomonas sp.), duel (IESDJP-V2 + A. brasilense) and triple combination (IESDJP-V1+ IESDJP-V4 + P. polymyxa) and (IESDJP-V1+ IESDJP-V5+ A. brasilense) can be further used for developing effective indigenous consortium for lobia production under sustainable farming practices. These PGPR bio-inoculant will be cost-effective, environment-friendly and socially acceptable.

Insects possess beneficial and nuisance values in the context of the agricultural sector and human life around them. An ensemble of gut symbionts assists insects to adapt to diverse and extreme environments and to occupy every available niche on earth. Microbial symbiosis helps host insects by supplementing necessary diet elements, providing protection from predators and parasitoids through camouflage, modulation of signaling pathway to attain homeostasis and to trigger immunity against pathogens, hijacking plant pathways to circumvent plant defence, acquiring the capability to degrade chemical pesticides, and degradation of harmful pesticides. Therefore, a microbial protection strategy can lead to overpopulation of insect pests, which can drastically reduce crop yield. Some studies have demonstrated increased insect mortality via the destruction of insect gut symbionts; through the use of antibiotics. The review summarizes various roles played by the gut microbiota of insect pests and some studies that have been conducted on pest control by targeting the symbionts. Manipulation or exploitation of the gut symbionts alters the growth and population of the host insects and is consequently a potential target for the development of better pest control strategies. Methods such as modulation of gut symbionts via CRISPR/Cas9, RNAi and the combining of IIT and SIT to increase the insect mortality are further discussed. In the ongoing insect pest management scenario, gut symbionts are proving to be the reliable, eco-friendly and novel approach in the integrated pest management.

Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is a collection of spontaneous nodes that form a dynamic network without any centralized administration. Routing decisions for mobile communication is a challenging task because the continuous movement of nodes increases the routing overhead and energy consumption. Numerous studies have been conducted in the field of MANET to reduce the routing decision overhead and energy consumption. Their concepts are good for improving efficiency in terms of load balancing, congestion control, and energy consumption. This article provides new concepts that are able to give better outcomes. This paper, proposes an adaptive Multipath Multichannel (N-channel) Energy Efficient (MMEE) routing approach in which route selection strategies are dependent on predictive energy consumption per packet (calculated accustomed data delivery), available bandwidth, queue length, and channel utilization. Multipath provides multiple routes and balances network load, whereas multichannel reduces network collisions via a channel ideal assignment mechanism. In the multichannel mechanism, link bandwidth is divided into multiple sub-channels. Multiple source nodes access the channel bandwidth in a simultaneous manner that minimizes the network collision. The collaborative multipath multichannel mechanism provides more than one path between a single source or multiple sources to the destination without collision and congestion. The path selection is based on the MMEE routing approach. In the proposed MMEE, a load and bandwidth aware routing method selects the path, based on node energy and predicts their lifetime, which increases the network reliability. The result shows the comparative analysis between various multichannel medium access techniques such as MMAC, Parallel Rendezvous Multi Channel Medium Access Protocol (PRMMAC), Quality of Service Ad hoc On Demand Multipath Distance Vector (QoS-AOMDV), Q-learning based Multipath Routing (QMR), Topological Change Adaptive Ad hoc On-demand Multipath Distance Vector (TA-AOMDV), and the proposed MMEE method. The outcome concludes that the MMEE method performs better than other schemes. The proposed MMEE protocol provides better performance in terms of percentage of data received, throughput, and minimum energy utilization.

A 13-year-old girl presented with fever, nausea and projectile vomiting and altered sensorium. On physical examination, the meningeal signs were presented without focal neurological deficits and Grade Ⅱ papilledema was presented on fundus examination. The patient was found to be positive for Japanese encephalitis virus in cerebrospinal fluid. Focal neurological deficit in the form of right hemiparesis was noticed at day 6 of hospitalisation. Multiple lesions with minimal enhancement with perilesional edema were observed in cerebral cortex in contrast with enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, giving rise to starry sky appearance. No tests for neurotuberculosis were found positive. Serum IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test was negative for Cysticercosis, but magnetic resonance spectroscopy was suggestive of cysticercal meningitis. During treatment, she had intermittent episodes of nausea and vomiting with waxing and waning sensorium. Subsequently, it was planned to start Albendazole after steroids coverage and anticonvulsants but the patient did not improve and succumbed to her illness.

In the interest to assist plant growth and bolster their strength to deal with the environmental cues, priming has been revealed to play a remarkable role through induction of several metabolic and physiological alterations. It can be delineated as a physiological process of prompting plants by treating with biological/chemical priming agents or mild stress to display better growth biomarkers and stress resistance in case of repeated stress encounters. Priming of seeds has been of great interest for researchers in recent years which brings about changes in seed metabolism to support the successful establishment of plants in its environment through faster and more prominent seed germination and growth of developing seedlings. The conspicuously displayed rise in applications of nanotechnology in agriculture has also stirred up the research on nano-priming of plants. Nanoparticles (NPs) have appeared to be more proficient in influencing growth, quality, yield, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in plant seeds than other methods of priming such as priming with the bulk materials or hydro-priming. However, there is a need to opt-out NPs exhibiting toxic effects on seed germination and seedling growth for deliberate priming while understanding their possible repercussions on plant as well as human health. Therefore, this article aims to present the recent research conducted in the field of nano-priming of seeds of different plants along with recommendations for future research.

Over the past decade, the gut microbiome has been linked to several diseases including gastrointestinal diseases, cancer, immune disorder and metabolic syndrome. Shifts in the gut bacterial population affect the overall metabolic health status leading towards obesity and Type II diabetes mellitus. Secondary metabolites secreted by the gut microbiome interact with various host-sensing signalling pathways and are responsible for functional modulation of immune resident cells in metabolic tissues (Blüher, 2019). Of these, short- chain fatty acids (SCFAs) i.e., acetate, propionate and butyrate have been significantly correlated with the disposition of diabetes and metabolic disorder. The altered gut microbial population depletes the intestinal barrier causing entry of LPS into circulation and towards metabolic tissues triggering pro-inflammatory responses. As butyrate has been known to maintain intestinal integrity, we aimed to assess the apparent effect of externally given sodium butyrate [NaB] on immuno-metabolic profiling of adipose tissue, and its association with metabolic and inflammatory status of adipose tissue. To assess this, we put groups of C57BL/6 mice i.e., Control fed with a regular chow diet and another group that was fed on a high fat diet (HFD, 60%) for 8 weeks. Following this, the HFD group were further subdivided into two groups one fed with HFD and the other with HFD + NaB (5%w/w) for another 8 weeks. Body composition, weight gain, body adiposity and biochemical parameters were assessed. NaB fed group showed an improved metabolic profile compared to HFD fed group. Administration of NaB also improved glucose tolerance capacity and insulin sensitivity as determined by IPGTT and ITT profiles. Earlier reports have shown gut leakage and increased LPS in circulation is the primary cause of setting up inflammation at the tissue level. Our studies exhibited that, NaB increased the expression of tight junction proteins of intestinal linings and thereby enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. The FITC dextran permeability assay further confirmed this enhanced intestinal barrier integrity. We assessed the quantitative and relative population of different types of resident immune cells from a stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue. Flow cytometry studies revealed significantly increased M2 (CD206+ ) macrophages and Tregs (CD25+ ) relative to the M1 macrophage population and CD4+ T cells respectively in NaB treated mice, suggesting its potential role in alleviating the inflammatory profile. In a nutshell, taken together better glucose tolerance, better gut health, reduced inflammatory adipose tissue immune cells, suggest potential beneficial role of sodium butyrate in alleviating overall inflammation and metabolic dysfunction associated with obesity.

The advancement in nanotechnology has enabled a significant expansion in agricultural production. Agri-nanotechnology is an emerging discipline where nanotechnological methods provide diverse nanomaterials (NMs) such as nanopesticides, nanoherbicides, nanofertilizers and different nanoforms of agrochemicals for agricultural management. Applications of nanofabricated products can potentially improve the shelf life, stability, bioavailability, safety and environmental sustainability of active ingredients for sustained release. Nanoscale modification of bulk or surface properties bears tremendous potential for effective enhancement of agricultural productivity. As NMs improve the tolerance mechanisms of the plants under stressful conditions, they are considered as effective and promising tools to overcome the constraints in sustainable agricultural production. For their exceptional qualities and usages, nano-enabled products are developed and enforced, along with agriculture, in diverse sectors. The rampant usage of NMs increases their release into the environment. Once incorporated into the environment, NMs may threaten the stability and function of biological systems. Nanotechnology is a newly emerging technology, so the evaluation of the associated environmental risk is pivotal. This review emphasizes the current approach to NMs synthesis, their application in agriculture, interaction with plant-soil microbes and environmental challenges to address future applications in maintaining a sustainable environment.

Abstract Background Medical big data analytics has revolutionized the human healthcare system by introducing processes that facilitate rationale clinical decision making, predictive or prognostic modelling of the disease progression and management, disease surveillance, overall impact on public health and research. Although, the electronic medical records (EMR) system is the digital storehouse of rich medical data of a large patient cohort collected over many years, the data lack sufficient structure to be of clinical value for applying deep learning methods and advanced analytics to improve disease management at an individual patient level or for the discipline in general. Ophthatome™ captures data contained in retrospective electronic medical records between September 2012 and January 2018 to facilitate translational vision research through a knowledgebase of ophthalmic diseases. Methods The electronic medical records data from Narayana Nethralaya ophthalmic hospital recorded in the MS-SQL database was mapped and programmatically transferred to MySQL. The captured data was manually curated to preserve data integrity and accuracy. The data was stored in MySQL database management system for ease of visualization, advanced search functions and other knowledgebase applications. Results Ophthatome™ is a comprehensive and accurate knowledgebase of ophthalmic diseases containing curated clinical, treatment and imaging data of 581,466 ophthalmic subjects from the Indian population, recorded between September 2012 and January 2018. Ophthatome™ provides filters and Boolean searches with operators and modifiers that allow selection of specific cohorts covering 524 distinct ophthalmic disease types and 1800 disease sub-types across 35 different anatomical regions of the eye. The availability of longitudinal data for about 300,000 subjects provides additional opportunity to perform clinical research on disease progression and management including drug responses and management outcomes. The knowledgebase captures ophthalmic diseases in a genetically diverse population providing opportunity to study genetic and environmental factors contributing to or influencing ophthalmic diseases. Conclusion Ophthatome™ will accelerate clinical, genomic, pharmacogenomic and advanced translational research in ophthalmology and vision sciences.

Introduction: Kidney is one of the most important organs commonly involved in the multiple organ dysfunction caused by perinatal asphyxia. Monitoring the serum urea, creatinine and urine output helps in early assessment of severity of perinatal asphyxia and, thus improving the outcome. Aim: To study renal functions in perinatal asphyxia and various stages of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in term neonates. Materials and Methods: This observational study included 118 full-term perinatally asphyxiated neonates admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah. Serum urea, creatinine and urine output were assessed on 1st, 3rd and 10th day of admission. A total of 48 newborns with normal Renal Function Test (RFT) and urine output were kept in Group A, while 70 newborn with abnormal RFT and urine output were kept in Group B. To compare RFT in various HIE stages of perinatal asphyxia, neonates were graded by the Levene staging system and divided in mild HIE (stage I), moderate HIE (stage II) and severe HIE (stage III). A total of 52 neonates who did not fulfill criteria of any stage of Levene were diagnosed as asphyxia without HIE and were excluded from comparison. Results: Significant differences (p-value

Finger pad tophi are an unusual but not very rare presentation of uncontrolled gout. Unlike tophaceous lesions of other locations, finger pad tophi are often difficult to diagnose at presentation due to resemblance to a variety of nodular lesions, coexistence with other connective tissue disorders and sometimes occurrence in asymptomatic hyperuricemia. They also pose a therapeutic dilemma due to a lack of clear treatment guidelines. Several case reports of finger pad tophi have been published before, focusing mainly on diagnosis and medical management. We discuss here a case of thumb pad tophi as primary presentation of undiagnosed asymptomatic hyperuricemia and treated surgically with excision and full-thickness skin graft along with urate-lowering therapy. This article highlights the diagnosis and treatment of finger pad tophi. We also discuss the surgical management of tophaceous lesions of hands and digits.

This paper investigates the problem of nonsmooth feedback stabilization for the higher order uncertain chain of integrators. For achieving the specified goal, the integral term of classical Proportional-Integral (PI) controller is replaced by an integral of the discontinuous function. Replacing this integrator, the overall control becomes absolutely continuous rather than discontinuous as in the first order sliding mode control. With this proposed scheme, the property of invariance concerning the matched Lipschitz uncertainty is still preserved. The main technical contribution of the paper is a sound and non-trivial Lyapunov analysis of the closed loop system controlled by nonsmooth PI controller. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is illustrated with the help of numerical simulation on the magnetic suspension system.

Study region: The Huangfuchuan Basin on the Loess Plateau, China. Study focus: Runoff and the sediment load of the Yellow River in China have received substantial attention owing to their marked declines over recent decades. Climate change and intensive anthropogenic activities—soil and water conservation measures on the Loess Plateau—are regarded as the main factors responsible for the dramatic declines. Thus, attribution analysis on the roles of such influencing factors is important for the sustainable management. In this study, annual-scale variations of runoff and sediment load of a typical watershed undergoing intensive change were simulated using three regression algorithms. The impacts of climate change, namely precipitation and temperature, and anthropogenic activities, namely channel measures (check dam construction) and slope measures (terracing, afforestation, grass planting, and closures), on runoff and sediment load variations were quantified continuously for the period 1954–2015. New hydrological insights for the region: Results indicated that the main climate change factor was precipitation reduction, which was attributed to 35% and 34% of runoff reduction and sediment load reduction, respectively. Channel measures caused 32% and 39% of runoff reduction and sediment load reduction, respectively, whereas slope measures caused 33% and 27% of runoff reduction and sediment load reduction, respectively. We recommend that further implications of soil and water conservation measures be studied carefully on the Loess Plateau.

Geopolymer concrete is sustainable, economical, eco-friendly, durable, and high-strength concrete. Geopolymer is a name for the bonding that occurs during the binding of materials in alkaline conditions. Due to the presence of high silica and alumina content, pozzolanic materials could be used as binding materials in the GPC. This research aims to check the sustainability and cost analysis of both GPC and conventional concrete with their physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The experimental investigation analyzes both GPC and OPC concrete’s physical, chemical, and mechanical properties for the M30 mix design and analyzes the concrete’s cost and sustainability. The experimental investigation shows that the setting time, density, and drying shrinkage of conventional concrete are higher than the GPC. The compressive strength of the GPC and OPC concretes both showed similar trends at the 28-day strength, but the initial three-day strength of the GPC concrete was much higher than the OPC concrete. The splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of the GPC specimens are slightly higher than the OPC concrete mix specimens. The OPC concrete’s elastic modulus is slightly higher than the GPC mix design, whereas the Poisson’s ratio of the OPC concrete is slightly lower than the GPC specimens. The GPC specimens have higher thermal stability up to 800°C. The GPC utilizes industrial solid waste like fly ash and slag as a binding material and is activated by an alkaline solution containing NaOH and Na2SiO3 in the design mix. Therefore, the GPC has less embodied energy compared to the OPC concrete. The cost of the GPC at a bulk level reduced the cost of up to 40% of the OPC concrete.

The advent of the nanotechnology era offers a unique opportunity for sustainable agriculture provided that the exposure and toxicity are adequately assessed and properly controlled. The global production and application of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-NPs) in various industrial sectors have tremendously increased. Most of the nanoparticles end up in water and soil where they interact with soil microorganisms and plants. Investigating the uptake, translocation and accumulation of CeO2-NPs is critical for its safe application in agriculture. Plant uptake of CeO2-NPs may lead to their accumulation in different plant tissues and interference with key metabolic processes of plants. Soil microbes can also be affected by increasing CeO2-NPs in soil, leading to changes in the physiology and enzymatic activity of soil microorganisms. The interactions between CeO2-NPs, microbes and plants in the agricultural system need systemic research in ecologically relevant conditions. In the present review, The uptake pathways and in-planta translocation of CeO2-NPs,and their impact on plant morphology, nutritional values, antioxidant enzymes and molecular determinants are presented. The role of CeO2-NPs in modifying soil microbial community in plant rhizosphere is also discussed. Overall, the review aims to provide a comprehensive account on the behaviour of CeO2-NPs in soil-plant systems and their potential impacts on the soil microbial community and plant health.

Silicon (Si) is gaining widespread attention due to its prophylactic activity to protect plants under stress conditions. Despite Si’s abundance in the earth’s crust, most soils do not have enough soluble Si for plants to absorb. In the present study, a silicate-solubilizing bacterium, Enterobacter sp. LR6, was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of rice and subsequently characterized through whole-genome sequencing. The size of the LR6 genome is 5.2 Mb with a GC content of 54.9% and 5182 protein-coding genes. In taxogenomic terms, it is similar to E. hormaechei subsp. xiangfangensis based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH). LR6 genomic data provided insight into potential genes involved in stress response, secondary metabolite production, and growth promotion. The LR6 genome contains two aquaporins, of which the aquaglyceroporin (GlpF) is responsible for the uptake of metalloids including arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb). The yeast survivability assay confirmed the metalloid transport activity of GlpF. As a biofertilizer, LR6 isolate has a great deal of tolerance to high temperatures (45 °C), salinity (7%), and acidic environments (pH 9). Most importantly, the present study provides an understanding of plant-growth-promoting activity of the silicate-solubilizing bacterium, its adaptation to various stresses, and its uptake of different metalloids including As, Ge, and Si.

Tomato production is severely affected by abiotic stresses (drought, flood, heat, and salt) and causes approximately 70% loss in yield depending on severity and duration of the stress. Drought is the most destructive abiotic stress and tomato is very sensitive to the drought stress, as cultivated tomato lack novel gene(s) for drought stress tolerance. Only 20% of agricultural land worldwide is irrigated, and only 14.51% of that is well-irrigated, while the rest is rain fed. This scenario makes drought very frequent, which restricts the genetically predetermined yield. Primarily, drought disturbs tomato plant physiology by altering plant–water relation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Many wild tomato species have drought tolerance gene(s); however, their exploitation is very difficult because of high genetic distance and pre- and post-transcriptional barriers for embryo development. To overcome these issues, biotechnological methods, including transgenic technology and CRISPR-Cas, are used to enhance drought tolerance in tomato. Transgenic technology permitted the exploitation of non-host gene/s. On the other hand, CRISPR-Cas9 technology facilitated the editing of host tomato gene(s) for drought stress tolerance. The present review provides updated information on biotechnological intervention in tomato for drought stress management and sustainable agriculture.

Telomere encompasses a (TTAGGG)n tandem repeats, and its dysfunction has emerged as the epicenter of driving carcinogenesis by promoting genetic instability. Indeed, they play an essential role in stabilizing chromosomes and therefore protecting them from end-to-end fusion and DNA degradation. Telomere length homeostasis is regulated by several key players including shelterin complex genes, telomerase, and various other regulators. Targeting these regulatory players can be a good approach to combat cancer as telomere length is increasingly correlated with cancer initiation and progression. In this review, we have aimed to describe the telomere length regulator's role in prognostic significance and important drug targets in breast cancer. Moreover, we also assessed alteration in telomeric function by various telomere length regulators and compares this to the regulatory mechanisms that can be associated with clinical biomarkers in cancer. Using publicly available software we summarized mutational and CpG island prediction analysis of the TERT gene breast cancer patient database. Studies have reported that the TERT gene has prognostic significance in breast cancer progression however mechanistic approaches are not defined yet. Interestingly, we reported using the UCSC Xena web-based tool, we confirmed a positive correlation of shelterin complex genes TERF1 and TERF2 in recurrent free survival, indicating the critical role of these genes in breast cancer prognosis. Moreover, the epigenetic landscape of DNA damage repair genes in different breast cancer subtypes also being analyzed using the UCSC Xena database. Together, these datasets provide a comprehensive resource for shelterin complex gene profiles and define epigenetic landscapes of DNA damage repair genes which reveals the key role of shelterin complex genes in breast cancer with the potential to identify novel and actionable targets for treatment.

Context: Pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect (PFUDD) may be challenging for the treating urologist. Anastomotic urethroplasty is the established surgical procedure for the treatment of PFUDD. Few studies in literature focus purely on PFUDD, and majority of the studies include anterior urethral stricture as well. The period of these studies is relatively short. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent primary or redo anastomotic urethroplasty for PFUDD over a period of 12 years at a tertiary care center in northern India. Aims: The aim is to study anastomotic urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect with regard to long-term success rate and complications. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective study. Subjects and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Urology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India, from August 2004 to July 2016. All patients who underwent progressive perineal anastomotic repair of PFUDD were included in this study. Demographic findings, type of pelvic fracture, length of distraction defect as per retrograde urethrography (RUG) and micturating cystourethrography, any history of erectile dysfunction in the preoperative or postoperative phase, and urinary incontinence in postoperative phase were analyzed. Decision regarding catheter removal was taken after pericatheter RUG at 4 weeks. Follow-up was done at 3 and 6 months in postoperative period. Results: A total of 226 anastomotic repairs were done in 221 patients. Of the 221 patients, 51 (23%) were redo urethroplasty. The mean age of patients was 27.6 years. The mean length of distraction defect was 2.7 cm. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6 days. Primary urethroplasty was successful in 163 (93.14%) of 175 patients and redo urethroplasty in 44 (86.27%) of 51 patients. Out of 165 patients, 18 (10.9%) patients reported occasional incontinence while 6 (3.63%) patients reported mild incontinence. Conclusions: Anastomotic urethroplasty is the definitive procedure for PFUDD. Our success rate for primary deferred anastomotic urethroplasty is 93.14% and for redo anastomotic urethroplasty is 86.27%.

The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has impacted the world severely. The binding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and its intake by the host cell is a necessary step for infection. ACE2 has garnered widespread therapeutic possibility as it is entry/interactive point for SARS-CoV-2, responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and providing a critical regulator for immune modulation in various disease. Patients with suffering from cancer always being on the verge of being immune compromised therefore gaining knowledge about how SARS-CoV-2 viruses affecting immune cells in human cancers will provides us new opportunities for preventing or treating virus-associated cancers. Despite COVID-19 pandemic got center stage at present time, however very little research being explores, which increase our knowledge in context with how SARS-CoV-2 infection affect cancer a cellular level. Therefore, in light of the ACE-2 as an important contributor of COVID-19 global, we analyzed correlation between ACE2 and tumor immune infiltration (TIL) level and the type markers of immune cells were investigated in breast cancer subtypes by using TIMER database. Our findings shed light on the immunomodulatory role of ACE2 in the luminal A subtype which may play crucial role in imparting therapeutic resistance in this cancer subtype.

Spin–orbit torque (SOT) is a promising approach to manipulate the magnetization for high-performance spintronic applications. In conventional SOT heterostructures with heavy metal (HM)/ferromagnet layers, the SOT efficiency is determined by the charge-to-spin conversion, characterized by the spin Hall angle θSH of the HM layer. Researchers have investigated various HMs with different θSH to enhance the SOT efficiency while it is still limited because of the HM’s intrinsic properties. In this study, we employ a rare-earth holmium (Ho) layer on top of a ferromagnetic Co layer (Pt/Co/Ho) to enhance the SOT efficiency. An increased damping-like SOT efficiency up to 200% is achieved at an optimized thickness of 2-nm Ho, corresponding to a lower switching current density, which is 60% less compared to the sample without a Ho layer. The damping-like torque efficiency per current density is estimated at around 0.256 for Pt/Co/Ho heterostructures. Our results, herein, demonstrate that inserting a rare-earth metal affords an additional spin current and/or improves the spin transparency to enhance the SOT efficiency, providing a route for energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Literature reported that nsp3 of CHIKV is an important target for the designing of drug as it involves in the replication, survival etc. Herein, about eighteen million molecules available in the ZINC database are filtered against nsp3 using RASPD. Top five hit drug molecules were then taken from the total screened molecules (6988) from ZINC database. Then, a one pot-three components reaction is designed to get the pyrazolophthalazine and its formation was studied using DFT method. Authors created a library of 200 compounds using the product obtained in the reaction and filtered against nsp3 of CHIKV based on docking using iGEMDOCK, a computational tool. Authors have studied the best molecules after applying the the Lipinski's rule of five and bioactive score. Further, the authors took the best compound i.e. CMPD178 and performed the MD simulations and tdMD simulations with nsp3 protease using AMBER18. MD trajectories were studied to collect the information about the nsp3 of CHIKV with and without screened compound and then, MM-GBSA calculations were performed to calculate change in binding free energies for the formation of complex. The aim of the work is to find the potential candidate as promising inhibitor against nsp3 of CHIKV.

This data deals with the optimization of microprojectile bombardment particles for efficient genetic transformation in an indica rice involving AmSOD gene for development of salinity tolerant transgenic lines [1]. In this study, various parameters such as effect of genotypes, helium pressure, osmoticum, explants, flight distance, particle size, particle volume, vacuum, carrier DNA and stopping screen properties have been evaluated to determine their role in transformation of indica rice involving AmSOD gene for development of salinity tolerant Pusa Basmati 1 rice variety. To perform the transformation process, plasmid vector pCAMBIA 1305.2 was used, which harbours GUS Plus™ gene, intron from the castor bean catalase gene, pBR322 ori, kanamycin resistant gene and Xho I site. The transformants have been confirmed using slot blot, polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization techniques. Keywords: Abiotic stress, AmSOD gene, Basmati rice, Microprojectile bombardment

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has brought all sectors to be dwindled with no exception of the academic system. Even professional courses like medical and allied health academic courses were also not spared. The academic requirements were not met as required to do so. Webinar has become a good source of virtual platform acting as a bridge for attaining the gaps in accomplishing the curriculum to the students during these curfew times. Our study aimed to know the value of webinars on teaching–learning processes among the medical and allied health science students in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study design is a cross-sectional study with 2084 students who attended at least one webinar. An online survey questionnaire was sent, and the data were collected on participant's perspective on the effectiveness of webinar, post webinar assessment by their satisfactory level of gain of information through webinars and their plan to apply in future. RESULTS: Participant's perspective on effectiveness of webinar showed 66.7% of agreement with the webinar use. In post webinar assessment, the use of webinar was in agreement with 69.9% of the participants. Furthermore, we observed a significant association with the gain of information in post webinar assessment (P < 0.05) and a significant association with their plan to apply in future (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the students were satisfied with the webinar teaching and acknowledged it to be an effective tool in the teaching–learning process to gain new knowledge and wish to attend webinars in future as a part of their curriculum. Thus, webinars have a constructive effect in the teaching and learning process in professional courses during pandemic lockdown.

Chikungunya fever is a major public health issue in India affecting millions of people and occurs due to Chikungunya. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a single stranded RNA virus from the family of Togaviridae and genus alpha virus. It contain three structural proteins: glycosylated E1 and E2, embedded in the viral envelope, and a non-glycosylated nucleocapsid protein. Till date, researchers are working on inhibition of CHIKV but till now no cheap and effective medicine is available in the market. Therefore, the authors of this work thought of isoquinoline based noscapine to inhibit the nsP3 protease of CHIKV. The aim of the work is to understand the mechanism for the synthesis of noscapine theoretically using DFT. Further study the potential of all four isomers of noscapines {(13 (S,R), 14 (R,R), 15 (R,S) and 16 (S,S)} against nsP3 protease of CHIKV with the help of docking and MD simulation. The integrated e-pharmacophore binding affinity based virtual screening, docking and molecular dynamics simulation recognized four hits isomers as inhibition nsP3 protease of CHIKV. The docking energies of all the isomers of noscapine (13–16) with nsP3 protease CHIKV was found out to be more negative than baicalin (−8.06 kcal/mol) on selected sites. Amongst the isomers of noscapine, CMPD 13 possessed best binding affinity with four hydrogen bonding interactions. Further, ADME properties and blood-brain barrier permeability properties have been calculated. DFT studies of all the isomers of noscapine was investigated.