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Abstract Preventing nosocomial infection is a major unmet need of our times. Existing air decontamination technologies suffer from demerits such as toxicity of exposure, species specificity, noxious gas emission, environment-dependent performance and high power consumption. Here, we present a novel technology called “ZeBox” that transcends the conventional limitations and achieves high microbicidal efficiency. In ZeBox, a non-ionizing electric field extracts naturally charged microbes from flowing air and deposits them on engineered microbicidal surfaces. The surface’s three dimensional topography traps the microbes long enough for them to be inactivated. The electric field and chemical surfaces synergistically achieve rapid inactivation of a broad spectrum of microbes. ZeBox achieved near complete kill of airborne microbes in challenge tests (5–9 log reduction) and $$>90\%$$ > 90 % efficiency in a fully functional stem cell research facility in the presence of humans. Thus, ZeBox fulfills the dire need for a real-time, continuous, safe, trap-and-kill air decontamination technology.

Abstract Continuous use of antibiotics in poultry feed as growth promoters poses a grave threat to humanity through the emergence of antibiotic resistance, necessitating the exploration of novel and sustainable alternatives. The present study was carried out to evaluate the performance of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus acidophilus in broiler birds. The postbiotics were harvested by culturing probiotic bacteria from the stock cultures at the required temperature and duration under laboratory conditions and supplemented to broilers via feed. For experimentation, 480-day-old CARI-Bro Dhanraja (slow-growing broiler) straight-run chicks were randomly split up into six groups. Treatment groups diets are as follows: T1- Basal diet (BD)+0.2%(v/w) MRS Broth/ uninoculated media; T2 – BD + Antibiotic (CTC); T3- BD + Probiotic; T4, T5 & T6 – BD + postbiotics supplementation of 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% (v/w) respectively. The chicks were raised under an intensive, deep litter system with standard protocol for 6 weeks. Results showed that 0.2% of postbiotics (T4) had significantly (P

Brain fluid clearance by pathways including the recently described paravascular glymphatic system is a critical homeostatic mechanism by which metabolic products, toxins, and other wastes are removed from the brain. Brain fluid clearance may be especially important after traumatic brain injury (TBI), when blood, neuronal debris, inflammatory cells, and other substances can be released and/or deposited. Using a non-invasive dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) method that models the rate at which an intravenously injected radiolabeled molecule (in this case 11C-flumazenil) is cleared from ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we estimated the overall efficiency of brain fluid clearance in humans who had experienced complicated-mild or moderate TBI 3?6 months before neuroimaging (n?=?7) as compared to healthy controls (n?=?9). While there was no significant difference in ventricular clearance between TBI subjects and controls, there was a significant group difference in dependence of ventricular clearance upon tracer delivery/blood flow to the ventricles. Specifically, in controls, ventricular clearance was highly, linearly dependent upon blood flow to the ventricle, but this relation was disrupted in TBI subjects. When accounting for blood flow and group-specific alterations in blood flow, ventricular clearance was slightly (non-significantly) increased in TBI subjects as compared to controls. Current results contrast with past studies showing reduced glymphatic function after TBI and are consistent with possible differential effects of TBI on glymphatic versus non-glymphatic clearance mechanisms. Further study using multi-modal methods capable of assessing and disentangling blood flow and different aspects of fluid clearance is needed to clarify clearance alterations after TBI.

Two separate experiments carried out to study effect of in ovo betaine supplementation during normal as well as elevated incubation condition on post-hatch broiler performance. In experiment 1, fertile eggs (400 nos) incubated under 4 different groups and standard hatchery parameters were noted. In ovo administration of betaine was carried out on 18th day at the rate of 20 mg (T1 ), 40 mg (T2), 60 mg (T3) and 0 mg (T4) dissolved in 0.1 ml of PBS/egg. In experiment around 400 eggs were injected betaine at (T1), 50 (T2), PBS at 0.1 ml (T3) and µn-injected control (0 mg) (T4). In ovo injection was carried out at 10th day of incubation as per standard protocol. After 48 h following betaine injection (12th day), the setter temperature had increased to 103±0.5°F from for 99±1°F in all the groups for a period 5 days (12 to 17 days of incubation). Chicks were hatched out and transferred to experimental house by maintained them in respective groups and distributed evenly into six replicates in each group. The in ovo betaine supplementation did not affect the hatchability percentage, hatch weight but improved the starter phase production performance. However, in ovo betaine administration followed by thermal conditioning adversely affected the hatchability percentage. The post hatch performance, i.e. production, immunity and serum biochemical profile were comparable among all the treatment groups. In conclusion, the overall production of broiler chicken during early phase of life can be positively improved by in ovo betaine supplementation with normal incubation temperature.

Ruthenium nanoclusters have shown great promise as multifunctional nanomaterials in broad scientific and technological sectors. Owing to their distinct characteristics arising from their nanoscale size and tunable electrical configuration, ruthenium nanoclusters are highly useful in photocatalysis, biomedical, electronics, sensors, and energy storage applications. Ruthenium nanoclusters are an effective catalyst with remarkable activity and selectivity. Contact with reactants is facilitated by their large surface area. Size-dependent electronic characteristics enable ruthenium nanoclusters to detect gases and biomolecules with high sensitivity and selectivity. The creation of sophisticated materials for electronic devices, such as transistors, memory chips, and conductive coatings, is facilitated by ruthenium nanoclusters. These materials’ distinct electronic structures enable more effective and flexible electronic systems, and consequently improve device performance. Because of their stability and biocompatibility, ruthenium nanoclusters are used in the biomedical industry as drug delivery systems and imaging agents. Finally, ruthenium nanoclusters have shown photocatalytic efficiency in light-driven chemical processes, and thus may aid in solar energy conversion and environmental cleanup. Their roles in sustainable uses of solar energy may make these materials valuable for solving global problems.

Background Data regarding the prevalence and phenotype of cognitive impairment in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited.Objective We assessed the prevalence and nature of cognitive deficits in people with NAFLD and assessed whether liver fibrosis, an important determinant of outcomes in NAFLD, is associated with worse cognitive performance.Methods We performed a prospective cross-sectional study. Patients with NAFLD underwent liver fibrosis assessment with transient elastography and the following assessments: Cognitive Change Index, Eight-Item Informant Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia Questionnaire (AD8), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), EncephalApp minimal hepatic encephalopathy test and a limited National Institutes of Health Toolbox battery (Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test, Pattern Comparison Test and Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We used multiple linear regression models to examine the association between liver fibrosis and cognitive measures while adjusting for relevant covariates.Results We included 69 participants with mean age 50.4 years (SD 14.4); 62% were women. The median liver stiffness was 5.0 kilopascals (IQR 4.0–6.9), and 25% had liver fibrosis (≥7.0 kilopascals). Cognitive deficits were common in people with NAFLD; 41% had subjective cognitive impairment, 13% had an AD8 >2, 32% had MoCA

Silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) have emerged as highly adaptable nanomaterials with vast potential in theranostic applications, by integrating therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities within a single platform. This review summarizes current developments in the synthesis, characterization, and use of AgNCs for theranostics. AgNC synthesis has substantially advanced, and a variety of techniques such as chemical reduction, green synthesis, and templated methods are being used to manage stability, size, and form. AgNCs’ optical characteristics, including high fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals, make them ideal for bioimaging and diagnostic applications. Furthermore, AgNCs’ surface chemistry enables simple functionalization with therapeutic drugs and targeting ligands, thus improving effectiveness and selectivity. AgNCs have been used in several diagnostic imaging modalities, including photoacoustic imaging, fluorescence imaging, and SERS-based sensing. They are suitable for both in vitro and in vivo imaging applications because of their exceptional photostability and biocompatibility, which enables real-time tracking of disease progression and therapy response.