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Abstract Background Plastic is widely utilized in packaging, frameworks, and as coverings material. Its overconsumption and slow degradation, pose threats to ecosystems due to its toxic effects. While polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, their production costs present significant obstacles to global adoption. On the other side, a multitude of household and industrial activities generate substantial volumes of wastewater containing both organic and inorganic contaminants. This not only poses a threat to ecosystems but also presents opportunities to get benefits from the circular economy. Main body of abstract Production of bioplastics may be improved by using the nutrients and minerals in wastewater as a feedstock for microbial fermentation. Strategies like feast-famine culture, mixed-consortia culture, and integrated processes have been developed for PHA production from highly polluted wastewater with high organic loads. Various process parameters like organic loading rate, organic content (volatile fatty acids), dissolved oxygen, operating pH, and temperature also have critical roles in PHA accumulation in microbial biomass. Research advances are also going on in downstream and recovery of PHA utilizing a combination of physical and chemical (halogenated solvents, surfactants, green solvents) methods. This review highlights recent developments in upcycling wastewater resources into PHA, encompassing various production strategies, downstream processing methodologies, and techno-economic analyses. Short conclusion Organic carbon and nitrogen present in wastewater offer a promising, cost-effective source for producing bioplastic. Previous attempts have focused on enhancing productivity through optimizing culture systems and growth conditions. However, despite technological progress, significant challenges persist, such as low productivity, intricate downstream processing, scalability issues, and the properties of resulting PHA. Graphical abstract

Abstract Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements produced from food sources that are intended to improve health through immune system modulation or by helping to prevent and treat a variety of ailments. Their anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant qualities are well recognized. In certain instances, they even show direct microbiological efficacy against viral infections. Because of their special capacity, they may be able to help slow the spread and effects of very infectious illnesses, such as pandemics like COVID‐19. Nutraceuticals work well against viral infections because of a number of intricate processes. Reducing the harm that infections do to the immune system is one of the main effects. Nutraceuticals have the power to stimulate and activate the immune system, improving the body's capacity to identify and eliminate infections. Additionally, they are essential in reducing oxidative damage, which can result in serious consequences and is frequently intensified during viral infections. Nutraceuticals also strengthen immunity by promoting regulatory T cell differentiation and proliferation, which is crucial for preserving immune system homeostasis and limiting hyperinflammatory reactions. They control the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which helps to avoid cytokine storms during viral infections that may seriously harm tissue. This regulation lowers the danger of hyperinflammation and enhances overall results by supporting a balanced immune response. Through a number of biochemical mechanisms, nutraceuticals can strengthen the body's defenses against viral infections. They promote a more effective and efficient immune response by regulating immune cell activities, oxidative stress reduction, and antioxidant pathway activation. Furthermore, by interacting with different cellular signaling pathways, nutraceuticals can affect the synthesis and function of important immune components. This study clarifies the molecular processes behind the immunomodulatory effects of nutraceuticals, highlighting their crucial role in both treating and preventing viral infections.

IntroductionMore than half of the world’s population consumes rice as their primary food. The majority of rice production is concentrated in Asia, with the top 10 rice-growing countries accounting for 84% of the world’s total rice cultivation. However, rice production is also strongly linked to environmental changes. Among all the global sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, paddy cultivation stands out as a significant contributor to global methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This contribution is expected to increase further with the projected increase of 28% in global rice output by 2050. Hence, modifications to rice management practices are necessary both to increase yield and mitigate GHG emissions.MethodsWe investigated the effect of seedling treatment, soil application, and foliar application of a methane-derived microbial biostimulant on grain yield and GHG emissions from rice fields over three seasons under 100% fertilizer conditions. Further, microbial biostimulant was also tested under 75% nitrogen (N) levels to demonstrate its effect on grain yield. To understand the mechanism of action of microbial biostimulant on crop physiology and yield, a series of physiological, transcript, and metabolite analyses were also performed.ResultsOur three-season open-field studies demonstrated a significant enhancement of grain yield, up to 39%, with a simultaneous reduction in CH4 (31%–60%) and N2O (34%–50%) emissions with the use of methane-derived microbial biostimulant. Under 75% N levels, a 34% increase in grain yield was observed with microbial biostimulant application. Based on the physiological, transcript, and metabolite analyses data, we were further able to outline the potential mechanisms for the diverse synergistic effects of methane-derived microbial biostimulant on paddy, including indole-3-acetic acid production, modulation of photosynthesis, tillering, and panicle development, ultimately translating to superior yield.ConclusionThe reduction in GHG emission and enhanced yield observed under both recommended and reduced N conditions demonstrated that the methane-derived biostimulant can play a unique and necessary role in the paddy ecosystem. The consistent improvements seen across different field trials established that the methane-derived microbial biostimulant could be a scalable solution to intensify rice productivity with a lower GHG footprint, thus creating a win–win–win solution for farmers, customers, and the environment.

Abstract Succinic acid (SA) is one of the top platform chemicals with huge applications in diverse sectors. The presence of two carboxylic acid groups on the terminal carbon atoms makes SA a highly functional molecule that can be derivatized into a wide range of products. The biological route for SA production is a cleaner, greener, and promising technological option with huge potential to sequester the potent greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. The recycling of renewable carbon of biomass (an indirect form of CO2), along with fixing CO2 in the form of SA, offers a carbon-negative SA manufacturing route to reduce atmospheric CO2 load. These attractive attributes compel a paradigm shift from fossil-based to microbial SA manufacturing, as evidenced by several commercial-scale bio-SA production in the last decade. The current review article scrutinizes the existing knowledge and covers SA production by the most efficient SA producers, including several bacteria and yeast strains. The review starts with the biochemistry of the major pathways accumulating SA as an end product. It discusses the SA production from a variety of pure and crude renewable sources by native as well as engineered strains with details of pathway/metabolic, evolutionary, and process engineering approaches for enhancing TYP (titer, yield, and productivity) metrics. The review is then extended to recent progress on separation technologies to recover SA from fermentation broth. Thereafter, SA derivatization opportunities via chemo-catalysis are discussed for various high-value products, which are only a few steps away. The last two sections are devoted to the current scenario of industrial production of bio-SA and associated challenges, along with the author's perspective.

Jithin K Sreedharan,1 Gokul Krishna Gopalakrishnan,2 Ann Mary Jose,2 Ibrahim Ahmad Albalawi,3 Mohammed Ghaithan Alkhathami,4 Keerthi N Satheesan,5 Musallam Alnasser,4 Meshal AlEnezi,4 Abdullah S Alqahtani4 1Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha, Qatar; 2Department of Respiratory Care, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Advanced Centre for Clinical Simulation, Assistant Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Respiratory Care, Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Respiratory Care, Royal Medical Services College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Manama, BahrainCorrespondence: Jithin K Sreedharan, Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Doha, Qatar, Email jithin.sreedharan@udst.edu.qa; jithinksree@gmail.comAbstract: Simulation-based pedagogy has become an essential aspect of healthcare education. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding the application of simulation-based modalities in respiratory care education. This review aims to address this gap by providing insight into the theory and current uses of simulation, its effectiveness in respiratory care education, and strategies to enhance faculty development. The study utilizes a narrative synthesis approach to review relevant literature and provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. The research involved comprehensive searches of electronic databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify relevant literature, encompassing original articles, reviews, and other pertinent content, focusing on simulation-based teaching and learning in respiratory care education published between 1990 and 2022. Findings suggest that simulation-based education is an effective tool for improving respiratory care education and can enhance the clinical skills of learners. The study concludes by discussing the future of simulation in respiratory care education and the potential benefits it may offer.Keywords: simulation, learning, respiratory therapy, education, clinical simulation, medical simulator, clinical Skills

The aim of the study was to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Alpinia purpurata leaves and evaluate their cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, dye degradation, and larvicidal potentials. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, which confirmed AgNPs synthesis and revealed nanoparticle size (10 to 30 nm) and the presence of silver. Cytotoxicity tests showed IC50 values of 4.59 ± 0.6 µg/mL in A549 cells and 3.48 ± 0.4 µg/mL in PA1 cells, inducing apoptosis and DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometry revealed cell cycle arrest at G0-G1 phase. AgNPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, with maximum inhibition zones against K. pneumoniae (23 ± 2 mm) and F. oxysporum (17 ± 2 mm), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 12.5 ± 0.25 to 75 ± 2.5 µg/mL. They also reduced bacterial and fungal biomass and showed antibiofilm effects. Photocatalytic activity degraded methylene blue dye by 88.4 ± 1.4% in 60 minutes. Larvicidal activity resulted in 100% mortality of A. aegypti larvae after 48 hours exposure to AgNPs (10 mg/L), additionally reducing chemical oxygen demand (55.1 ± 2.1% to 63.8 ± 1.5%) and microbial load in wastewater (2.5 to 10 ppm).

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains highly lethal due to limited therapeutic options and expensive/burdensome drug discovery processes. Utilizing genomic-data-driven Connectivity Mapping (CMAP) to identify a drug closer to real-world PC targeting may improve pancreatic cancer (PC) patient outcomes. Initially, we mapped CMAP data to gene expression from 106 PC patients, identifying nine negatively connected drugs. These drugs were further narrowed down using a similar analysis for PC cell lines, human tumoroids, and patient-derived xenografts datasets, where ISOX emerged as the most potent agent to target PC. We used human and mouse syngeneic PC cells, human and mouse tumoroids, and in vivo mice to assess the ability of ISOX alone and in combination with 5FU to inhibit tumor growth. Global transcriptomic and pathway analysis of the ISOX-LINCS signature identified HDAC 6/cMyc as the target axis for ISOX. Specifically, we discovered that genetic and pharmacological targeting of HDAC 6 affected non-histone protein cMyc acetylation, leading to cMyc instability, thereby disrupting PC growth and metastasis by affecting cancer stemness. Finally, KrasG12D harboring tumoroids and mice responded effectively against ISOX and 5FU treatment by enhancing survival and controlling metastasis incidence. Overall, our data validate ISOX as a new drug to treat advanced PC patients without toxicity to normal cells. Our study supports the clinical utility of ISOX along with 5FU in future PC clinical trials.

Background: Colon cancer is rising among younger population than elder people. About 50% of colon cancer cases attributed to dietary factors. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) widely used taste enhancer prevalent in fast foods and processed items. Objectives: The study investigated into the potential toxic and carcinogenic role of MSG in male Wistar rats of 1–3 months old and compared the effects with the Dimethyl hydrazine (DMH): by observing survival probability, estimation of serum biochemical parameters, and analysis for colon beta catenin protein expression. Methods: Rats were grouped into control, DMH (s.c), low- and high dose MSG (LDMSG, HDMSG) (p.o). Survival rate statistically calculated using Kaplan-Meier plots and Log-rank tests. Biochemical analyses were done using standard protocols and one-way ANOVA were performed for data analysis. Beta catenin protein expressions were studied using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results: Our study emphasizes that high dose MSG consumed male Wistar rats cause high decline in survival rate compared to low dose MSG and DMH. Estimated serum biochemical parameters showed significantly increased oxidative stress, altered liver and kidney function markers, alongside elevated serum sodium, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and inflammatory markers. Observed, colon polyps formed in DMH and MSG rats. Rat’s colon immunohistochemistry study expressed β- catenin whereas Western blotting results confirmed the altered β- catenin and β-catenin phosphorylation ratios in cytosol and nuclear region were elevated in DMH-induced colon cancer (p value of 0.0002), MSG low dose (p value of 0.003) and high dose (p value of 0.01) statistically significant. These findings highlights declined survival probabilities and pronounced oxidative stress markers, organ function changes, disrupted lipid profiles, and increased nuclear β-catenin expression reveals the potential toxic and carcinogenic role of MSG is influencing colon cancer development in male Wistar rat models. Conclusion: Based on the results, the study underscores the potential toxic and carcinogenic role of MSG, particularly at neoplastic stages of colon cancer in male Wistar rat models.

IntroductionRice, one of the major staple food crops is frequently affected by various biotic/abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, submergence, heat, Bacterial leaf blight, Brown plant hopper, Gall midge, Stem borer, Leaf folder etc. Sustained increase of yield growth is highly necessary to meet the projected demand in rice production during the year 2050. Hence, development of high yielding and multiple stress tolerant rice varieties adapted to wider environments will serve the need. MethodsA systematic MAB approach was followed to pyramid eight major QTLs/genes controlling tolerance to major abiotic/biotic stresses viz., drought (qDTY1.1 and qDTY2.1), salinity (Saltol), submergence (Sub1), bacterial leaf blight (xa13 and Xa21), blast (Pi9) and gall midge (Gm4) in the genetic background of an elite rice culture CBMAS 14065 possessing high yield and desirable grain quality traits. Two advanced backcross derivatives of CBMAS 14065 possessing different combinations of target QTLs namely #27-1-39 (qDTY1.1+qDTY2.1+Sub1+xa13+Xa21+Gm4+Pi9) and #29-2-2 (qDTY1.1+qDTY2.1+Saltol+Xa21+Gm4+Pi9) were inter-mated.ResultsInter-mated F1 progenies harboring all the eight target QTLs/genes were identified through foreground selection. Genotyping of the inter-mated F4 population identified 14 progenies possessing all eight target QTLs/genes under homozygous conditions. All the fourteen progenies were forwarded up to F8 generation and evaluated for their yield and tolerance to dehydration, salinity, submergence, blast and bacterial leaf blight. All the 14 progenies exhibited enhanced tolerance to dehydration and salinity stresses by registering lesser reduction in their chlorophyll content, relative water content, root length, root biomass etc., against their recurrent parent Improved White Ponni/CBMAS 14065. All the 14 progenies harboring Sub1 loci from FR13A exhibited enhanced survival (90 - 95%) under 2 weeks of submergence /flooding when compared to their recurrent parent CBMAS 14065 which showed 100% susceptibility The inter-mated population showed a enhanced level of resistance to bacterial leaf blight (Score = 0 to 2) against blast (Score – 0) whereas the susceptible check CO 39 and the recurrent parent CBMAS 14065 recorded high level of susceptibility (Score = 7 to 9). Conclusion or discussionOur study demonstrated the accelerated development of multiple stress tolerant rice genotypes through marker assisted pyramiding of target QTLs/genes using tightly linked markers. These multiple stress tolerant rice lines will serve as excellent genetic stocks for field testing/variety release and also as parental lines in future breeding programs for developing climate resilient super rice varieties.

Abstract One potential approach for treating obesity is to increase energy expenditure in brown and white adipose tissue. Here we aimed to achieve this outcome by targeting mitochondrial uncoupler compounds selectively to adipose tissue, thus avoiding side effects from uncoupling in other tissues. Selective drug accumulation in adipose tissue has been observed with many lipophilic compounds and dyes. Hence, we explored the feasibility of conjugating uncoupler compounds with a lipophilic C8-hydrocarbon chain via an ether bond. We found that substituting the trifluoromethoxy group in the uncoupler FCCP with a C8-hydrocarbon chain resulted in potent uncoupling activity. Nonetheless, the compound did not elicit therapeutic effects in mice, likely as a consequence of metabolic instability resulting from rapid ether bond cleavage. A lipophilic analog of the uncoupler compound 2,6-dinitrophenol, in which a C8-hydrocarbon chain was conjugated via an ether bond in the para-position (2,6-dinitro-4-(octyloxy)phenol), exhibited increased uncoupling activity compared to the parent compound. However, in vivo pharmacokinetics studies suggested that 2,6-dinitro-4-(octyloxy)phenol was also metabolically unstable. In conclusion, conjugation of a hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain to uncoupler compounds resulted in sustained or improved uncoupling activity. However, an ether bond linkage led to metabolic instability, indicating the need to conjugate lipophilic groups via other chemical bonds.

Abstract Background Mice lacking vitamin D receptor (VDR) exhibit a glycogen storage disorder, disrupting carbohydrate utilization in muscle. Here, we asked if the defective carbohydrate metabolism alters the fat utilization by the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice. Methods To check the effect of high‐fat‐containing diets on muscle mass and metabolism of vdr−/− mice, we subjected them to two different milk fat‐based diets (milk fat diet with 60% of energy from milk fat and milk‐based diet [MBD] with 37% of energy from milk fat) and lard‐based high‐fat diet (HFD) containing 60% of energy from lard fat. Skeletal muscles and pancreas from these mice were analysed using RNA sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot to understand the changes in signalling and metabolic pathways. Microscopic analyses of cryosections stained with haematoxylin and eosin, BODIPY, succinate dehydrogenase and periodic acid–Schiff reagent were performed to understand changes in morphology and metabolism of muscle fibres and pancreatic islets. Results Transcriptomic analyses showed that the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice exhibit upregulation of the fatty acid oxidation pathways, suggesting a shift towards increased lipid utilization even in a carbohydrate‐enriched regular chow diet (chow). Two different milk fat‐enriched diets restored body weight (12.01 ± 0.33 g in chow vs. 17.99 ± 0.62 g in MBD) and muscle weights (38.58 ± 3.84 mg in chow vs. 110.72 ± 1.96 mg in MBD for gastrocnemius [GAS]) of vdr−/− mice. Muscle ATP levels (0.56 ± 0.18 μmol in chow vs. 1.48 ± 0.08 μmol in MBD) and protein synthesis (0.25 ± 0.04 A.U. in chow vs. 2.02 ± 0.06 A.U. in MBD) were upregulated by MBD. However, despite increasing muscle energy levels, HFD failed to restore the muscle mass and cross‐sectional area to that of wild‐type (WT) mice (104.95 ± 2.6 mg for WT mice on chow vs. 77.26 ± 1.7 mg for vdr−/− mice on HFD for GAS). Moreover, HFD disrupted glucose homeostasis in vdr−/− mice, while MBD restored it. We further analysed insulin response and pancreatic insulin levels of these mice to show that HFD led to reduced insulin levels in pancreatic beta cells of vdr−/− mice (mean intensity of 1.5 × 10−8 for WT mice on chow vs. 4.3 × 10−9 for vdr−/− mice on HFD). At the same time, MBD restored glucose‐stimulated pancreatic insulin response (mean intensity of 9.2 × 10−9). Conclusions Skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice are predisposed to utilize fatty acids as their primary energy source to circumvent their defective carbohydrate utilization. Thus, HFDs could restore energy levels in the skeletal muscles of vdr−/− mice. This study reveals that when mice are subjected to a lard‐based HFD, VDR signalling is essential for maintaining insulin levels in pancreatic islets. Our data show a critical role of VDR in muscle metabolic flexibility and pancreatic insulin response.

Abstract The ability to distinguish between the abdominal conditions of adult female mosquitoes has important utility for the surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases. However, doing so requires entomological training and time-consuming manual effort. Here, we design computer vision techniques to determine stages in the gonotrophic cycle of female mosquitoes from images. Our dataset was collected from 139 adult female mosquitoes across three medically important species—Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi, and Culex quinquefasciatus—and all four gonotrophic stages of the cycle (unfed, fully fed, semi-gravid, and gravid). From these mosquitoes and stages, a total of 1959 images were captured on a plain background via multiple smartphones. Subsequently, we trained four distinct AI model architectures (ResNet50, MobileNetV2, EfficientNet-B0, and ConvNeXtTiny), validated them using unseen data, and compared their overall classification accuracies. Additionally, we analyzed t-SNE plots to visualize the formation of decision boundaries in a lower-dimensional space. Notably, ResNet50 and EfficientNet-B0 demonstrated outstanding performance with an overall accuracy of 97.44% and 93.59%, respectively. EfficientNet-B0 demonstrated the best overall performance considering computational efficiency, model size, training speed, and t-SNE decision boundaries. We also assessed the explainability of this EfficientNet-B0 model, by implementing Grad-CAMs—a technique that highlights pixels in an image that were prioritized for classification. We observed that the highest weight was for those pixels representing the mosquito abdomen, demonstrating that our AI model has indeed learned correctly. Our work has significant practical impact. First, image datasets for gonotrophic stages of mosquitoes are not yet available. Second, our algorithms can be integrated with existing citizen science platforms that enable the public to record and upload biological observations. With such integration, our algorithms will enable the public to contribute to mosquito surveillance and gonotrophic stage identification. Finally, we are aware of work today that uses computer vision techniques for automated mosquito species identification, and our algorithms in this paper can augment these efforts by enabling the automated detection of gonotrophic stages of mosquitoes as well.

Abstract In this article, the stability of a synchronous motor generator pair (SMGP) used for improving the inertia of grid‐connected renewable energy systems is investigated. The useful operational regime for different sets of system parameters is identified, such as electromagnetic torque, damping co‐efficient, and inertia by employing bifurcation analysis to detect stability boundaries. For the first time, the existence of bi‐stable regimes for the SMGP with non‐linear stability analysis is revealed. The authors' analysis unravels the possibility of the system getting transited to unsafe operation even when the system is in the linearly stable region. The existence of the bistable regime indicates the possibility of the system becoming unstable even when the eigenvalues are in the left half plane. The authors also identify globally stable and globally unstable regimes in the parameter space. The safe operating range of inertia and damping co‐efficient values helps in the design of a suitable MGP set that is robust to frequency deviations, even with a low inertia source. With the recommended values of electromagnetic torque, the authors' analysis provides a safe operational regime for power generation from renewable energy sources.

Objective: Alpinia purpurata is being studied for its potential to treat various conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, and tuberculosis. This research explores the impact of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill). K. Schum on ovarian cancer induced by 4-vinyl cyclohexane in Wistar albino rats. Materials and methods: Five sets of 100–120 g Wistar albino rats were assembled. Group 1 was the control group. Group 2 received intraperitoneal injection of 4-vinyl cyclohexane (80 mg/kg) for one month. Group 3 Treated similarly to Group 2 subsequently for the next two months treated with oral administration of A. purpurata ethyl acetate leaf extract (200 mg/kg body weight) Group 4 Treated similarly to Group subsequently for the next two months treated with Standard Drug Cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) weekly twice intraperitoneally. Group 5 acquired daily oral A. purpurata leaf extract (200 mg/kg) for two months. The rats were euthanized after the experiment under light chloroform anesthesia. Ovary and liver samples were obtained for lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidants, membrane-bound enzymes, tumor indicators, and histological investigation. Results: Over a 60-day period, rats were given an ethyl acetate extract of A. purpurata at a dose of 200 mg/kg, which lead to in a substantial (p < 0.05) increase in body protein content, as well as enzyme levels. Furthermore, the use of the ethyl acetate extract significantly (p < 0.05) recovered the altered lipid peroxidation activities in the ovarian tissues of both control and experimental rats to near-normal levels. These data imply that the extract has the capacity to quench free radicals, indicating possible anticancer effects. Conclusion: The results suggested that, the ethyl acetate extract of A. purpurata exhibited significant antitumor activity against 4-vinyl cyclohexane induced ovarian cancer bearing rats.

Introduction: Optimising post-strike ball velocity is essential for success in football. Biomechanical factors play a significant role in determining ball speed. However, further investigation is needed to understand the specific relationships between the biomechanical factors and post-strike ball velocity in football players. Aim: To identify the key biomechanical factors contributing to post-strike ball velocity and provide insights for enhancing performance in league-level football players. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine at the Sri Ramachandra Centre for Sports Science, Tamil Nadu, India. The duration of the study was five months, from January 2022 to May 2022. The study included 25 professional male football players from national-level league teams. Participants performed maximal instep kicks while various kinematic variables were measured using Vicon cameras, Advanced Mechanical Technology Inc., (AMTI) force footplates, and a radar speed gun. Data processing was performed using Vicon Nexus software version 2.7. The data were analysed using R statistical software version 4.0.2. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post-hoc tests, were used to compare the various kick matrices across the players. Pearson’s r correlation analysis was used to check for a correlation between post-strike ball velocity and other kick matrices. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the relative effects of various kick matrices on post-strike ball velocity, with significance set at a p-value

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent cancer among men in the United States and is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been established as a biomarker for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to develop a novel theranostic agent, PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413, which integrates a PSMA-targeting ligand, the photosensitizer Pc413, and the microtubular inhibitor monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) for synergistic therapeutic efficacy. In vitro uptake studies revealed that PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 demonstrated selective and specific uptake in PSMA-positive PC3pip cells but not in PSMA-negative PC3flu cells, with the uptake in PC3pip cells being approximately three times higher. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that, when exposed to light, PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 had a synergistic effect, leading to significantly greater cytotoxicity in PSMA-positive cells (IC50 = 2.2 nM) compared to PSMA-1-Pc413 with light irradiation (IC50 = 164.9 nM) or PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 without light irradiation (IC50 = 12.6 nM). In vivo imaging studies further demonstrated the selective uptake of PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 in PC3pip tumors. In in vivo studies, PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 dramatically improves the therapeutic outcome for prostate cancer by providing a synergistic effect that surpasses the efficacy of each treatment modality alone in PC3pip tumors. These findings suggest that PSMA-1-MMAE-Pc413 has strong potential for clinical application in improving prostate cancer treatment.

Abstract Aberrantly expressed onco-mucin 16 (MUC16) and its post-cleavage generated surface tethered carboxy-terminal (MUC16-Cter) domain are strongly associated with poor prognosis and lethality of pancreatic (PC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, most anti-MUC16 antibodies are directed towards the extracellular domain of MUC16 (CA125), which is usually cleaved and shed in the circulation hence obscuring antibody accessibility to the cancer cells. Herein, we establish the utility of targeting a post-cleavage generated, surface-tethered oncogenic MUC16 carboxy-terminal (MUC16-Cter) domain by using a novel chimeric antibody in human IgG1 format, ch5E6, whose epitope expression directly correlates with disease severity in both cancers. ch5E6 binds and interferes with MUC16-associated oncogenesis, suppresses the downstream signaling pFAK(Y397)/p-p70S6K(T389)/N-cadherin axis and exert antiproliferative effects in cancer cells, 3D organoids, and tumor xenografts of both PC and NSCLC. The robust clinical correlations observed between MUC16 and N-cadherin in patient tumors and metastatic samples imply ch5E6 potential in targeting a complex and significantly occurring phenomenon of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) associated with disease aggressiveness. Our study supports evaluating ch5E6 with standard-of-care drugs, to potentially augment treatment outcomes in malignancies inflicted with MUC16-associated poor prognosis.

Abstract The present study attempts to treat S. aureus-induced soft skin infections using a combinatorial therapy with an antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin (CIP), and an efflux pump inhibitor 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropoxy) pyridine (5-NPPP) through a smart hydrogel delivery system. The study aims to reduce the increasing rates of infections and antimicrobial resistance; therefore, an efflux pump inhibitor molecule is synthesized and delivered along with an antibiotic to re-sensitize the pathogen towards antibiotics and treat the infections. CIP-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels at varying concentrations were fabricated and optimized by a chemical cross-linking process, which exhibited sustained drug release for 5 days. The compound 5-NPPP loaded hydrogels provided linear drug release for 2 days, necessitating the need for the development of polymeric nanoparticles to alter the release drug pattern. 5-NPPP loaded Eudragit RSPO nanoparticles were prepared by modified nanoprecipitation—solvent evaporation method, which showed optimum average particle size of 230–280 nm with > 90% drug entrapment efficiency. The 5-NPPP polymeric nanoparticles loaded PVA hydrogels were fabricated to provide a predetermined sustained release of the compound to provide a synergistic effect. The selected 7% PVA hydrogels loaded with the dual drugs were evaluated using Balb/c mice models induced with S. aureus soft skin infections. The results of in vivo studies were evidence that the dual drugs loaded hydrogels were non-toxic and reduced the bacterial load causing re-sensitization towards antibiotics, which could initiate re-epithelization. The research concluded that the PVA hydrogels loaded with CIP and 5-NPPP nanoparticles could be an ideal and promising drug delivery system for treating S. aureus-induced skin infections.

The Internet of Things (IoT) aims to revolutionize users' daily lives by enabling seamless data exchange among various ubiquitous devices over the Internet. However, achieving this broad objective can pose significant challenges for applications that require synchronized timing, such as ensuring the temporal sequencing of data or synchronized performance of activities. IoT networks typically comprise entities with varying resources, making it challenging to implement existing time synchronization methods like N.T.P. (Network Time Protocol) on resource-constrained devices. On the other hand, solutions that work for constrained systems may not be scalable across diverse IoT deployments. This survey paper delves into the clock synchronization issues in IoT installations where applications require a unified perception of time. The article describes clock synchronization solutions for various models and their associated performance and discusses several research challenges related to clock synchronization. Additionally, a review of time synchronization techniques is provided to aid IoT practitioners in selecting the most relevant aspects for deployment.

DevOps represents the fusion of cultural philosophies, tools, and practices that rapidly enhance an organization's capacity to deploy services and applications. Cloud-based tools, a subset of DevOps services, facilitate collaboration between development and operations teams within an organization. However, persistent challenges such as inadequate security management, substantial leakage of sensitive data, and system/service unavailability pose significant threats to sustainability. We propose an end-to-end enhanced security framework to fortify DevOps resilience by implementing authentication and vulnerability management through the Slide-Block methodology. Our approach comprises four sequential processes: pattern-based authentication, tri-level access control, privacy-focused data storage, and vulnerability management and correction. Initially, we establish candidate legitimacy through pattern-based authentication using the Magnificent Chacha-Poly 1305 algorithm. Subsequently, we devise effective access policies using the Enhanced Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (EDDPG) algorithm, employing tri-level access control based on trust value, attributes, and roles for optimal user and developer selection via the African Vulture Optimization Algorithm (AVOA). Moreover, we encrypt data in transit and at rest using Mcha-Poly 1305, considering sensitivity, and store it in a blockchain to enhance data privacy. Our approach incorporates a sliding window blockchain for secure data transmission and storage. Finally, we identify and address attack and application-based issues using the Tweak Naive Bayes (Tweak-NB) algorithm and Intruder Vulnerability Scanner (IVS). Our Slide-Block framework demonstrates superior performance in detection rate, authentication time, packet loss, security strengthening, communication overhead, and latency compared to existing models.

BackgroundAs of 2021, the National Kala-azar Elimination Programme (NKAEP) in India has achieved visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination (Methodology/principal findingsWe employed spatiotemporal models incorporating environment, climatic and demographic factors as covariates to describe monthly VL cases for 8-years (2013-2020) in 491 and 27 endemic and non-endemic blocks of Bihar and Jharkhand states. We fitted 37 models of spatial, temporal, and spatiotemporal interaction random effects with covariates to monthly VL cases for 6-years (2013-2018, training data) using Bayesian inference via Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) approach. The best-fitting model was selected based on deviance information criterion (DIC) and Watanabe-Akaike Information Criterion (WAIC) and was validated with monthly cases for 2019-2020 (test data). The model could describe observed spatial and temporal patterns of VL incidence in the two states having widely differing incidence trajectories, with >93% and 99% coverage probability (proportion of observations falling inside 95% Bayesian credible interval for the predicted number of VL cases per month) during the training and testing periods. PIT (probability integral transform) histograms confirmed consistency between prediction and observation for the test period. Forecasting for 2021-2023 showed that the annual VL incidence is likely to exceed elimination threshold in 16-18 blocks in 4 districts of Jharkhand and 33-38 blocks in 10 districts of Bihar. The risk of VL in non-endemic neighbouring blocks of both Bihar and Jharkhand are less than 0.5 during the training and test periods, and for 2021-2023, the probability that the risk greater than 1 is negligible (PConclusions/significanceThe spatiotemporal model incorporating environmental, bioclimatic, and demographic factors demonstrated that the KAMIS database of the national programmme can be used for block level predictions of long-term spatial and temporal trends in VL incidence and risk of outbreak / resurgence in endemic and non-endemic settings. The database integrated with the modelling framework and a dashboard facility can facilitate such analysis and predictions. This could aid the programme to monitor progress of VL elimination at least one-year ahead, assess risk of resurgence or outbreak in post-elimination settings, and implement timely and targeted interventions or preventive measures so that the NKAEP meet the target of achieving elimination by 2030.

Molecular docking (Mol.Doc) techniques were employed to ascertain the binding affinity and energetics of hydroxy derivatives of benzoic and cinnamic acids extract from Psidium guajava L. with Human Serum Albumin (HSA). Caffeic acid (CA), Ferullic acid (FA), Sinapic acid (SA), Syringic acid (SyA) and Vanillic acid (VA) are the derivatives phenolic acids (DPA) employed in docking studies which acts as the guest molecule. Docking of various feasible conformers of DPA with HSA (host) was explored and these conformers were categorized based on the docking score which is correlated to the binding energy (BE) and the stability depends upon the molecular interactions. Among the phenolic acids, SA-HSA complex was energetically more favorable and feasible based on BE and the order of binding stability upon complex formation of various DPA-HSA follows the order SA > FA = CA > VA > SyA, though SA and SyA are structurally similar to each other, likewise FA and VA exhibit a similar structure. The stability upon complex formation is correlated to the docking of the guest molecule in the binding domains of HSA and several molecular interactions. Hydrogen-bonding (HB) interaction governs the stability of host-guest complex is established. Interestingly, the presence of multiple hydrophobic interactions (pi-pi, pi-alkyl, pi-cation or anion, pi-sigma and pi-amide) competes over HB interaction in several conformers resulting in a decrease in BE. We report that SA acts as an excellent site selective and site-specific ligand that prefers to dock in Sudlow binding site II comprising of sub domains IIIA and IIIB respectively. However, all other phenolic acids do not behave neither as site selective nor site specific ligand such that they prefer to reside both in site II and site III (non-Sudlow binding site) of HSA. We authenticate that all the DPA as well as the amino acid moieties in HSA act as HB donor as well as acceptor sites apart from several hydrophobic interactions. We further establish that all the DPA has the least probable affinity to reside in binding site I (warfarin binding site), whereas sub domain IIIA of site II is the most preferred site which is energetically most favoured among all the sub domains.

Wound healing is a dynamic process that involves a series of molecular and cellular events aimed at replacing devitalized and missing cellular components and/or tissue layers. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs), naturally cell-secreted lipid membrane-bound vesicles laden with biological cargos including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, have drawn wide attention due to their ability to promote wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, current exploitation of EVs as therapeutic agents is limited by their low isolation yields and tedious isolation processes. To circumvent these challenges, bioinspired cell-derived nanovesicles (CDNs) that mimic EVs were obtained by shearing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through membranes with different pore sizes. Physical characterisations and high-throughput proteomics confirmed that MSC-CDNs mimicked MSC-EVs. Moreover, these MSC-CDNs were efficiently uptaken by human dermal fibroblasts and demonstrated a dose-dependent activation of MAPK signalling pathway, resulting in enhancement of cell proliferation, cell migration, secretion of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins, which all promoted tissue regeneration. Of note, MSC-CDNs enhanced angiogenesis in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells in a 3D PEG-fibrin scaffold and animal model, accelerating wound healing in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that MSC-CDNs could replace both whole cells and EVs in promoting wound healing and tissue regeneration.

The increased use of chemicals in rice farming poses significant issues regarding the emergence of pesticide/fungicide resistance and environmental sustainability concerns. This study was aimed at the genetic improvement of blast, bacterial leaf blight (BB) and gall midge resistance in a popular rice variety CO 51 which already harbours a blast resistance gene Pi54. Efforts were made to pyramid an additional blast resistance gene Pi9 along with two BB resistance genes (xa13 and Xa21) and two gall midge resistance genes (Gm1 and Gm4) into an elite rice variety CO 51 to enhance the resistance level to biotic stresses. The superior lines were selected using functional markers conferring resistance to blast (NBS4 and Pi54MAS linked to Pi9 and Pi54 genes, respectively) and BB [(xa13Prom (xa13) and pTA248 (Xa21)] and SSR markers linked to Gm1 (RM1328) and Gm4 (RM22550) for phenotypic screening and agronomic evaluation. The genotyping and phenotyping of F6 and BC2F6 progenies of CO 51 X 562-4, for agronomic traits and resistance to BB and blast, identified ten superior progenies in F6 and five superior progenies in BC2F6. The breeding lines harbouring both xa13+Xa21 exhibited high levels of resistance to BB (score ≤ 1 cm) and Pi9+Pi54 exhibited strong resistance to blast (score ≤ 2). Identified lines can be evaluated further for varietal improvement or utilised as genetic stocks in breeding programs.

Software and information systems have become a core competency for every business in this connected world. Any enhancement in software delivery and operations will tremendously impact businesses and society. Sustainable software development is one of the key focus areas for software organizations. The application of intelligent automation leveraging artificial intelligence and cloud computing to deliver continuous value from software is in its nascent stage across the industry and is evolving rapidly. The advent of agile methodologies with DevOps has increased software quality and accelerated its delivery. Numerous software organizations have adopted DevOps to develop and operate their software systems and improve efficiency. Software organizations try to implement DevOps activities by taking advantage of various expert services. The adoption of DevOps by software organizations is beset with multiple challenges. These issues can be overcome by understanding and structurally addressing the pain points. This paper presents the preliminary analysis of the interviews with the relevant stakeholders. Ground truths were established and applied to evaluate various machine learning algorithms to compare their accuracy and test our hypothesis. This study aims to help researchers and practitioners understand the adoption of DevOps and the contexts in which the DevOps practices are viable. The experimental results will show that machine learning can predict an organization's readiness to adopt DevOps.

Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), poses an unprecedented health and economic burden to most of the developing countries. Treatment of TB requires prolonged use of a cocktail of antibiotics, which often manifest several side effects, including stomach upset, nausea, and loss of appetite spurring on treatment non-compliance and the emergence of antibiotic resistant M. tb. The anti-TB treatment regimen causes imbalances in the composition of autochthonous microbiota associated with the human body, which also contributes to major side effects. The microbiota residing in the gastrointestinal tract play an important role in various physiological processes, including resistance against colonization by pathogens, boosting host immunity, and providing key metabolic functions. In TB patients, due to prolonged exposure to anti-tuberculosis drugs, the gut microbiota significantly loses its diversity and several keystone bacterial taxa. This loss may result in a significant reduction in the functional potency of the microbiota, which is a probable reason for poor treatment outcomes. In this review, we discuss the structural and functional changes of the gut microbiota during TB and its treatment. A major focus of the review is oriented to the gut microbial association with micronutrient profiles and immune cell dynamics during TB infection. Furthermore, we summarize the acquisition of anti-microbial resistance in M. tb along with the microbiome-based therapeutics to cure the infections. Understanding the relationship between these components and host susceptibility to TB disease is important to finding potential targets that may be used in TB prevention, progression, and cure.

The effect of stunting by feed and space deprivation on compensatory growth (CG) in Silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii, was investigated. A commercial pellet feed (45% protein and 10% fat) was fed two times a day, throughout the entire experiment. The 270-day experiment consisted of an initial 60-day stunting phase and a 60-day post-stunting phase carried out in 4 × 2 × 2 m3 galvanized iron (GI) rectangular cages, and a 150-day grow-out phase carried out in 3-m diameter circular GI cages. During the stunting phase, the normal fish (in triplicates) were stocked at lower stocking density (17 fish/m3) and fed at 10% of body weight (BW), while stunted fish (one replication) were stocked at about three times higher stocking density (56 fish/m3) and fed at a three times lower feeding rate (3% of BW). The stunted and normal fish were reared in triplicates during the post-stunting phase, at uniform stocking density (15 fish/m3) with feeding at a higher rate (10% of BW) for stunted fish and normal feeding rate (8% of BW) was adopted for normal fish. During the grow-out stage, each replication from the post-stunting phase was shifted to 3-m circular cages with the same feeding rates. The lag in growth in stunted fish (5.56 g against 9.43 ± 0.13 g of normal) during the stunting phase was compensated during the post-stunting phase (36.88 ± 2.23 g against 38.13 ± 1.48 g of normal) by higher feeding rate. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in final harvest, biometry, morphometry, dressing yield, carcass nutritional composition, and serum biochemical markers at the end of grow-out stage. Because of the significant difference (p < 0.05) in the total feed provided (5.2 kg for stunted fish against 22.8 kg for normal fish) and the lesser unit cost for the production of stunted fingerling (USD 0.087 for stunted fish against USD 0.106 for normal), the farming of stunted fish brought about a higher net operational revenue and benefit:cost ratio.

Nephrology services across the world, already struggling to cope up with chronic kidney disease (CKD) of epidemic proportions, faced enormous challenges during the COVID pandemic. SARS CoV -2 virus affects kidney directly and indirectly through systemic effects. Also, the pandemic impacted almost all aspects of renal care services in several ways. This review article aims to discuss the impact of COVID on kidney and renal care services under the following headings.

Background and Objectives: “Adai” is a traditional South Indian breakfast prepared using the wet ground batter of white rice and pulses. Convenience foods are gaining popularity and owing to the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, there is a need for food products with lower glycemic index (GI). The current study aimed to develop an instant adai mix using brown rice, millets, pulses, and spices. Materials and Methods: The instant adai mix was prepared by blending pulverized brown rice, sorghum, and pulses (green gram, horse gram, decorticated and split red gram, black gram, and chickpea) along with roasted cumin, red chilies, and salt. The nutritional composition of the instant adai mix was analyzed, and GI of “adai” was evaluated in healthy human volunteers using International organization for standardization protocol. Results: The instant adai mix was rich in whole grains (48%) and pulses (45%). Nutritional profiling of the instant adai mix revealed that it is rich in protein and dietary fiber. One hundred grams of instant adai mix fulfill 27.8% of protein and 29.6% of dietary fiber requirements of recommended dietary allowance of adult male. Likewise, 100 g of instant adai mix fulfill 34.9% of protein requirements of the estimated average requirement of an adult male. The “adai” prepared from the instant mix exhibited medium GI (65.1). Conclusion: The instant “adai” mix was found to be nutritionally superior, and the adai prepared from the mix showed a medium GI. It can be a healthy option compared with instant mixes containing refined grains such as white rice. More formulation trials are needed to prepare an adai mix to achieve a low GI. Reformulation of traditional foods with nutritious ingredients and achieving a lower GI can expand the healthier food choices for this vulnerable population who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Abstract This study presents the design, development, and optimization of multifunctional Doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded Indocyanine Green (ICG) proniosomal gel-derived niosomes, using Design of Experiments (23 factorial model). Herein, the multifunctional proniosomal gel was prepared using the coacervation phase separation technique, which on hydration forms niosomes. The effect of formulation variables on various responses including Zeta potential, Vesicle size, entrapment efficiency of Dox, entrapment efficiency of ICG, Invitro drug release at 72nd hour, and NIR hyperthermia temperature were studied using statistical models. On the basis of the high desirability factor, optimized formulation variables were identified and validated with the experimental results. Further, the chemical nature, vesicle morphology, surface charge, and vesicle size of optimized proniosomal gel-derived niosomes were evaluated. In addition, the effect of free ICG and bound ICG on NIR hyperthermia efficiency has been investigated to demonstrate the heating rate and stability of ICG in the aqueous environment and increased temperature conditions. The drug release and kinetic studies revealed a controlled biphasic release profile with complex mechanisms of drug transport for optimized proniosomal gel-derived niosomes. The potential cytotoxic effect of the optimised formulation was also demonstrated invitro using HeLa cell lines.

Sugarcane is both food and energy crop providing sugar and energy products. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is gaining importance for the conversion of sugarcane bagasse to bio-oil, whose yield depends on the deoxygenation activity of the catalyst employed and process parameters. In this study, mesoporous Fe-MCM-41 catalysts were synthesized with crystallization time varied from 12 to 72 h, characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), textural analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), and evaluated for the HTL of sugarcane bagasse. All the Fe-MCM-41 catalysts gave higher bio-oil yield with lower oxygen content compared to non-catalytic HTL, confirmed their deoxygenation activity. Among them, Fe-MCM-41 synthesized after 24 h of crystallization was found to have the highest crystallinity, and surface area thus gave the highest bio-oil yield of 56.2% containing the least amount of oxygen of 15.3 wt% at 250 °C, initial CO pressure of 45 bar, reaction time of 120 min, Water/Biomass weight ratio of 28, Catalyst/Biomass weight ratio of 0.4 and 0.2, respectively. Overall process of HTL of sugarcane bagasse was found to involve two consecutive equilibria, first conversion of lignocellulose of sugarcane bagasse by hydrolysis to water soluble organics (WSO) followed by its deoxygenation to bio-oil. Copyright © 2022 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Chandra Mauli Jha,1 Hormaz Dara Dastoor,1 Natrajan Gopalakrishnan,2 Stephen Geoffrey Holt1,3 1SEHA Kidney Care, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 2Institute of Nephrology, Madras Medical College, Chennai, India; 3Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCorrespondence: Chandra Mauli Jha, PO Box 61358; Al Bateen Post Office, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Tel +971 50 1096 345 ; +971 2 55 80 482, Email chmjha@gmail.comAbstract: Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a common condition amongst patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Several studies have confirmed that more than four out of ten early-stage CKD patients suffer from this condition, while its prevalence among CKD patients on dialysis reaches up to seven out of ten. It is noted to be associated with other disabling symptoms and serious outcomes. It has significant impact on sleep, mood, daily activities, and quality of life of CKD patients, and increased mortality risk of patients on hemodialysis. The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study found 17% higher mortality among patients with moderate to extreme pruritus compared with patients with no or mild pruritus. Despite its high prevalence, ill-effect, and suffering associated with it, CKD-aP remains surprisingly under-reported on the patient’s part and under-recognized by the healthcare team. Even upon being noticed, it remains unattended and poorly treated. Its etiopathogenesis is complex and not fully understood. Many treatment options are available but good quality evidence about most of those is absent, and to date, only two medications are approved for use in this condition. While a validated guideline is very much required for the benefit of the patients and caretakers, further research on several aspects of this issue is required.Keywords: chronic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus, CKD-aP, pruritus, itching, uremia, uremic pruritus

Objectives This study provides an estimate of the annual cost of blindness and moderate to severe visual impairment (MSVI) among people with diabetes aged 40 years and above in India in the year 2019.Design A cost of illness study.Setting India.Participants People with diabetes aged 40 years and above in India in the year 2019.Primary and secondary outcome measures Estimates are provided for the total costs of screening for most common vision-threatening eye conditions, treatment of these conditions, economic activity lost by these people and their family carers whose ability to work is affected, and loss of quality of life experienced by people with diabetes and blindness or MSVI.Results It is estimated that for people with diabetes aged 40 years or above, annual screening followed by eye examination where required would cost around 42.3 billion Indian rupees (INR) (4230 crores) per year; treating sight problems around 2.87 billion INR (287 crores) per year if 20% of those needing treatment receive it; and lost economic activity around 472 billion INR (47 200 crores). Moreover, 2.86 million (0.286 crores) quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) are lost annually due to blindness and MSVI. The estimate of lost production is highly sensitive to the proportion of people with MSVI able to work and how their output compares with that of a person with no visual impairment.Conclusions This is the first study to estimate the cost of blindness and MSVI for people aged 40 years and over with diabetes in India. The annual cost to the Indian economy is substantial. This cost will be expected to fall if a successful screening and treatment plan is introduced in India. Further work is suggested using more robust data, when available, to estimate the loss of productivity and loss of QALYs, as this would be worthwhile.

Nowadays, with the fast growing fashion trend, a surge in fashion demand is there. In future, this demand may expect to increase further in multifold. A particular apparel design is not being used for longer period due to the fast changing fashion and this will cause the shedding of micro fibers. Most of the clothes are blends of polyester (synthetic fibers) and cotton (natural fibers) (P/C: 70:30) and when wash these clothes, the shed fibers coming out and pollute the environment. These shed fibers poses a major threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem and also human health. The experimental study was performed on washing machine, considering three parameters – time (duration of washing), detergent concentration of washing liquor and mechanical stress level, to study the shed fibers. The study shows that the major contributing parameter causing more fiber loss was found to be 1% (lower) detergent concentration, this was perhaps due to decrease in inter-fiber friction. On the other hand, high micro fiber loss was achieved at higher mechanical stress and processing time. Also, the increased mechanical stress, increases the friction between the fabric and drum. Thus increases the electricity consumption. The combined impact of time and detergent concentration, increase the fiber loss. With higher processing time and lower detergent concentration, increases the micro fiber loss. The increased processing time and mechanical stress increases the micro fiber shedding and electricity consumption.

We examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the interlinkages between the Indian stock market and some of the largest indices across the world. We compare the co-movements of these stock markets to identify the possibilities for international portfolio diversification. We use the Johansen cointegration technique and Vector Error Correction Mechanism to understand the nature of long-run and short-run cointegration. We also apply the Impulse Response Function to understand the time effects of the shock. The results of the Johansen cointegration test indicate that there is an increased level of cointegration among the stock market indices post the pandemic. Our results of VEC Block Exogeneity Wald Tests indicate that in the preCovid time, there were linkages between the stock markets of India and the U.K., Japan, and Hongkong. However, the post-pandemic results indicate the shock transmission effects from India to two very important European indices, i.e., the U.K. and Euronext stock exchanges, and to the stock market of Japan. We also observe transmission effects from the USA to India post-Covid period.