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In the present work, the Inconel 625 material is utilized for processing on a wire electrical discharge machine. The zinc-coated brass wire is used as a tool electrode. The Taguchi mixed orthogonal L27 experimental design is developed to perform the experiments. The parameter was induced on normal and cryogenic material such as pulse on time (Ton), pulse off time (Toff), discharge current (Ip), wire feed (Wf), and wire tension (WT). The characteristics responses i.e., material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), and overcut (OC) were analyzed. The genetic algorithm (GA) was applied for the evaluation and measuring of fact, which determined its performance, and predicted facts were considered for particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique multiple objective problems. After the comparison, the facts predicted were analyzed for the response, which revealed the surface integrity and accuracy on the machined surface. The solution implied that applied PSO gives highly significant results on optimal setting parameters of WEDM machining. The 0.419 μm surface roughness has been obtained by a cryogenic process as compared to normal (0.880 μm). The material removal rate for the cryogenic process was found to have decreased in PSO by 21.18 % and in GA by 2.78 % in comparison to the normal process. The obtained results give the utmost measure for the suitability of time reduction and cost-cutting in productivity rate.

Background: The crucial aspect to consider during method development and validation, ensuring accurate, precise, and specific estimation of drug substances and drug products, is stability. Various factors, including environmental, instrumental, reagent, and human factors, can pose challenges in achieving suitable method development and validation. Objective: This work aimed to develop and validate a low flow rate, LCMS compatible, simple, and rapid reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimating efavirenz and its degradation products at different stress conditions. Materials and Methods: The HPLC system employed a Phenomenex Luna 5μ C18 (2) 100A (250 x 4.6 mm) column and a mobile phase of methanol: 20 millimolar ammonium formate solution (90:10) adjusted to pH 4 with formic acid. All analytes were separated within 15 minutes and detected at 247 nm. Method validation was carried out according to ICH guidelines, including linearity, accuracy, precision, ruggedness, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. Results and Discussion: The method was linear in the 10-90 μg/ml range, with a regression coefficient 0.999. Intra- and inter-day precisions, ruggedness, and robustness were within acceptable limits (≤2% RSD) with LOD and LOQ of 0.35 and 1.16 μg/ml, respectively. Degradation study indicates well resolution of the drug and degradants. Conclusion: Purposeful degradation of efavirenz resulted in different degradation products under various stress conditions, and the method demonstrated satisfactory resolution from its degradants.

Background: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are among the leading causes of morbidity in the population. In low- and medium-income countries like India, there is a wide treatment gap for SUD. A multicentric study on the care pathways for SUD in India can help to understand service provision, service utilization, and challenges to improve existing SUD care in India. Aim: We aimed to map pathways to care in SUD. We compared the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who first consulted specialized services versus other medical services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of consecutive, consenting adults (18–65 years) with SUD registered to each of the nine participating addiction treatment services distributed across five Indian regions. We adapted the World Health Organization’s pathway encounter form. Results: Of the 998 participants, 98% were males, 49.4% were rural, and 20% were indigenous population. Addiction services dominated initial (50%) and subsequent (60%) healthcare contacts. One in five contacted private for-profit healthcare. Primary care contact was rare (5/998). Diverse approaches included traditional healers (4–6%) and self-medication (2–8%). There was a 3-year delay in first contact; younger, educated individuals with opioid dependence preferred specialized services. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure and delivery systems and integrate SUD treatment into public healthcare.

Conventional breeding approaches have played a significant role in meeting the food demand remarkably well until now. However, the increasing population, yield plateaus in certain crops, and limited recombination necessitate using genomic resources for genomics-assisted crop improvement programs. As a result of advancements in the next-generation sequence technology, GABs have developed dramatically to characterize allelic variants and facilitate their rapid and efficient incorporation in crop improvement programs. Genomics-assisted breeding (GAB) has played an important role in harnessing the potential of modern genomic tools, exploiting allelic variation from genetic resources and developing cultivars over the past decade. The availability of pangenomes for major crops has been a significant development, albeit with varying degrees of completeness. Even though adopting these technologies is essentially determined on economic grounds and cost-effective assays, which create a wealth of information that can be successfully used to exploit the latent potential of crops. GAB has been instrumental in harnessing the potential of modern genomic resources and exploiting allelic variation for genetic enhancement and cultivar development. GAB strategies will be indispensable for designing future crops and are expected to play a crucial role in breeding climate-smart crop cultivars with higher nutritional value.

An experiment was conducted during rainy (kharif) seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, and Madhya Pradesh to study the impact of genotypic mixture on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] pest population. A total of 16 soybean genotypes and 4 genotypic mixtures were evaluated for relative efficacy in management of insect-pests of soybean. Among the 20 treatments, the plots with genotypic mixtures had lowest population of Spodoptera exigua Hubner and at par with each other. In case of Spodoptera litura Fabricius, tussock moth, blue beetle and grey weevil management, a mixture of the genotypes JS-9560, JS-20-34, MAUS-47 and MACS-1460 was found most effective treatment. The plots with the genotypic mixtures of NRC-37, JS-9752, RSC-1046 and RKS-113 supported the least population of semiloopers. However, lowest population of leaf miner and girdle beetle was recorded in plots of JS-20-34 while the least population of stem fly was recorded in RSC-1046. The differences observed due to the genotypic combinations may be used for developing inset-pest management programmes in soybean.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The coexistence of COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (i.e., overlap syndrome) has been reported in several studies. Both disorders independently increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. Hence, there is a theoretical possibility that cardiovascular parameters may be worse in patients with overlap syndrome compared to those with only COPD. However, this has been sparsely assessed in the literature. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, echocardiography, and sleep parameters amongst COPD patients with and without sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD). This observational, cross-sectional study included 30 patients with stable COPD. All participants underwent a detailed clinical evaluation, followed by level 1 polysomnography (PSG). Each participant underwent echocardiographic evaluation to estimate mean pulmonary artery pressure from right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). Based on their PSG findings, participants were classified into non-SRBD and SRBD groups. Both groups were further compared with respect to clinical characteristics, echocardiographic, and PSG parameters. We found that most of the participants (93.3%) were male, and the mean age of the study population was 56±8.2 years. The only SRBD identified in this study was OSA, which was observed in 80% of participants. In this group, OSA was not associated with obesity. Systemic hypertension (50%) was the most common comorbidity, followed by diabetes mellitus (26.67%), but both were not significantly different between the groups. The mean RVSP was significantly higher amongst OSA patients than non-OSA patients (41.25±14.98 versus 30.83±5.84, respectively; p=0.01). OSA was seen in 80% of participants with stable COPD, even in the absence of obesity. The presence of OSA was associated with a higher RVSP in this patient group.

Background Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) contributes to approximately 20% of the admissions in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in our setting. Timely identification and treatment of raised ICP is important to prevent brain herniation and death in such cases. The objective of this study was to examine the role of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in detecting clinically relevant raised ICP in children.Methods A hospital-based observational analytical study in a PICU of a tertiary care institute in India on children aged 2–14 years. ONSD was measured in all children on three time points that is, day 1, day 2 and between day 4 and 7 of admission. ONSD values were compared between children with and without clinical signs of raised ICP.Results Out of 137 paediatric patients recruited, 34 had signs of raised ICP. Mean ONSD on day 1 was higher in children with signs of raised ICP (4.99±0.57 vs 4.06±0.40; p

Ectopic thyroid, the presence of thyroid tissue in locations other than the normal anterior neck region between the second and fourth tracheal cartilages, is the most common form of thyroid dysgenesis. A 32-year-old female patient sought medical attention at the Otolaryngology Department with a foreign body sensation in her throat. To ensure an accurate diagnosis, hereby, the authors conducted a comprehensive diagnostic work-up, which included Technetium-99 (Tc-99m) scanning. Remarkably, the scanning results revealed radiotracer uptake in the base of the tongue while indicating an absence of uptake in the thyroid bed. By shedding light on present captivating case, the present report offers valuable insights into the usage of Technetium imaging in diagnosing doubtful Lingual Thyroid (LT) cases.

Introduction. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), encompassing unstable angina, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is a major global health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality. Research highlights a link between ACS and elevated acute phase reactants like C-reactive protein, emphasizing the role of inflammation and atherosclerosis. Serum fibrinogen, crucial in thrombus formation and an inflammatory marker, is significant in the coagulation process. This study investigates the predictive value of serum fibrinogen levels and the GRACE score for 3-month mortality in ACS patients. Aim. To examine the clinical profile of ACS patients and evaluate serum fibrinogen and GRACE score as prognostic markers for 3-month mortality. Methodology. A prospective observational study was conducted on 50 patients diagnosed with ACS at Saveetha Medical College Hospital. The study included adults over 18 with ACS, excluding those with severe comorbid conditions like end-stage liver disease or malignancy. Serum fibrinogen levels were measured at presentation and at 3 months using an automated coagulation analyzer. GRACE scores were calculated, and clinical assessments including ECG, cardiac markers, and ECHO were conducted. Data analysis involved IBM SPSS Statistics, utilizing descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson's Correlation. Results. The study group had diverse demographics and a high prevalence of cardiovascular symptoms and comorbidities. The clinical profile of ACS showed a higher incidence of STEMI. Serum fibrinogen levels varied significantly across different Killip classes at presentation and at 3 months, with the highest levels in the more severe classes. Higher serum fibrinogen was linked to recurrent heart failure admissions and higher KILIPS class. However, there was no significant difference in fibrinogen levels between patients with and without interventions. The GRACE score was higher in STEMI patients, those with LV dysfunction, and correlated with higher serum fibrinogen. Lower FACIT F scores, indicating higher fatigue, were associated with higher fibrinogen levels and readmissions for heart failure. Conclusion. Higher serum fibrinogen levels and GRACE scores at presentation and at three months are indicators of severe myocardial infarction, increased heart failure readmission rates, and greater fatigue in ACS patients. These markers are valuable for evaluating morbidity in ACS and can aid in enhancing patient management strategies.

Voltage stability assessment (VSA) is invariably an essential step in the satisfactory operation of power system. For this, several Voltage Stability Indices (VSIs) based on 1) Existence of solution for voltage equations, 2) Maximum power transfer (MPT) through a line, 3) MPT theorem/maximum loadability limit, 4) P-V curve, 5) Energy function and 6) Jacobian matrix can be found in the literature. VSIs assist in identifying weak lines and buses, voltage collapse proximity, maximum loadability, voltage stability margin, and prompting countermeasures against voltage instability. This article examines 78 different VSIs based on their concepts, assumptions, thresholds, and formulae. Additionally, mathematical proofs for 29 indices have been elaborated upon so that researchers may familiarize themselves with the underlying concepts of the other existing indices and find newer indices in modern power systems composed of intermittent power generation and dynamic loads. Also, a novel qualitative comparative analysis of VSIs is tabulated. Further, a novel framework has been proposed to aid researchers in shortlisting VSIs for a particular application. This article intends to serve as a meaningful reference to various researchers and individuals working in domains like Distributed Generation (DG) placing and rating, Voltage Stability Assessment (VSA), and power system planning.

Abstract Plant materials are a rich source of polyphenolic compounds with interesting health-beneficial effects. The present study aimed to determine the optimized condition for maximum extraction of polyphenols from grape seeds through RSM (response surface methodology), ANFIS (adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system), and machine learning (ML) algorithm models. Effect of five independent variables and their ranges, particle size (X 1: 0.5–1 mm), methanol concentration (X 2: 60–70% in distilled water), ultrasound exposure time (X 3: 18–28 min), temperature (X 4: 35–45 °C), and ultrasound intensity (X 5: 65–75 W cm−2) at five levels (− 2, − 1, 0, + 1, and + 2) concerning dependent variables, total phenolic content (y1; TPC), total flavonoid content (y2; TFC), 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radicals scavenging (y3; %DPPH*sc), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radicals scavenging (y4; %ABTS*sc) and Ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential (y5; FRAP) were selected. The optimized condition was observed at X 1 = 0.155 mm, X 2 = 65% methanol in water, X 3 = 23 min ultrasound exposure time, X 4 = 40 °C, and X 5 = 70 W cm−2 ultrasound intensity. Under this situation, the optimal yields of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant scavenging potential were achieved to be 670.32 mg GAE/g, 451.45 mg RE/g, 81.23% DPPH*sc, 77.39% ABTS*sc and 71.55 μg mol (Fe(II))/g FRAP. This optimal condition yielded equal experimental and expected values. A well-fitted quadratic model was recommended. Furthermore, the validated extraction parameters were optimized and compared using the ANFIS and random forest regressor-ML algorithm. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC–MS) analyses were performed to find the existence of the bioactive compounds in the optimized extract.

Background Early identification of overweight and obesity with the help of simple anthropometric tests can prevent from development of metabolic complications in these children. Body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used parameter but, measurements such as waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and wrist circumference (WrC) have also been studied and found to have a better correlation with visceral fat.Objective To correlate WC, WHtR and WrC with BMI among overweight and obese children. The secondary objective was to estimate the proportion of metabolic syndrome among obese and overweight children.Methods A single-centre, cross-sectional study involving 80 overweight and obese children aged 3–15 years. Anthropometric measures such as WC, WHtR and WrC of the study subjects were correlated with BMI and investigated for metabolic syndrome.Results Statistically significant and moderate positive correlation was found between BMI and WC, r (80)=0.45 and p

This work successfully demonstrates a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for synthesizing Semal-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using the aqueous leaf extract of Bombax ceiba L. These NPs exhibit an absorption peak at approximately 390 nm in the UV-visible spectrum and an energy gap (Eg) of 3.11 eV. Detailed analyses of the morphology and particle size using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, XRD, FE-SEM with EDS, and HR-TEM reveal crystallographic peaks attributable to the hexagonal phase, with an average crystal size of 17 nm. The Semal-ZnO NPs also exhibit a notable photocatalytic efficiency for degrading methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under sunlight in different water samples collected from diverse natural sources, indicating that they are promising photocatalysts for environmental remediation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the biofabricated Semal-ZnO NPs is impressive, exhibiting a photodegradation rate of up to 99% for MB and 79% for MO in different water samples under exposure to sunlight. The novel phytofabricated Semal-ZnO NPs are thus a beacon of hope for the environment, with their desirable photocatalytic efficiency, pseudo-first-order kinetics, and ability to break down noxious dye pollutants in various aquatic environments.

The present study describes an environmentally benign biological method for the production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by blending water-based leaf extract from a sustainable bio-source, the Arjuna tree, under ambient conditions. Aqueous leaf extract comprised of different reducing agents appeared as the precursor for phytofabrication, and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (ZnNO3·6H2O) acted as a zinc source. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs had a hexagonal shape with an average size of 31.14 nm, as revealed by HR-TEM, FE-SEM micrographs, and XRD patterns. The FESEM-EDS micrograph and the XRD patterns also revealed the elemental composition, phase purity, and crystalline nature of phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs. The initial formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed by absorption maxima at approximately 376 nm and Zn-O stretching vibrations at 520 cm−1 using UV–VIS and an FT-IR spectrophotometers, respectively. The aqueous extract of Arjuna leaf was also analysed using FT-IR spectrophotometer to identify the functional groups of bioactive substances that participated in the reduction and encapsulation processes. The efficacy of the Arjuna-ZnO NPs was assessed in terms of their ability to photocatalyzed on three noxious dyes, methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and congo red (CR), for high commercial and industrial usage. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs were photoactive and proved highly efficient and effective nano-photocatalysts for the photodegradation of three dyes, MB, MO, and CR, under natural sunshine, underscoring their potential for effective remediation of environmental pollutants. The degradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics in terms of adsorption kinetics.

Although rare, a Petrous Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm is a possible complication following chronic otitis media. A 57-year-old woman was brought to the Emergency Department with multiple painless episodes of right ear bleeding and epistaxis over the last two months. Upon evaluation, bony dehiscence was observed over the petrous carotid’s first (proximal) genu, along with a pseudoaneurysm detected in the Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MR angiogram). The Balloon Occlusion Test (BTO) showed no cross-flow from the opposite side. Consequently, the patient was considered for high-flow bypass surgery between the external carotid artery and the M2 segment of the Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA), utilising a radial artery graft in the neurosurgery specialty. The present rare case report emphasises the significance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and implementing prompt intervention through a multidisciplinary approach. It also raises an open-ended question about whether the petrous carotid pseudoaneurysm is a complication of chronic otitis media or merely a co-incidence.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) represent widely expressed and evolutionarily conserved proteins crucial for governing signaling pathways and playing essential roles in mammalian male reproductive processes. These proteins facilitate the transmission of signals through phosphorylation cascades, regulating diverse intracellular functions encompassing germ cell development in testis, physiological maturation of spermatozoa within the epididymis, and motility regulation at ejaculation in the female reproductive tract. The conservation of these mechanisms appears prevalent across species, including humans, mice, and, to a limited extent, livestock species such as bovines. In Sertoli cells (SCs), MAPK signaling not only regulates the proliferation of immature SCs but also determines the appropriate number of SCs in the testes at puberty, thereby maintaining male fertility by ensuring the capacity for sperm cell production. In germ cells, MAPKs play a crucial role in dynamically regulating testicular cell-cell junctions, supporting germ cell proliferation and differentiation. Throughout spermatogenesis, MAPK signaling ensures the appropriate Sertoli-to-germ cell ratio by regulating apoptosis, controlling the metabolism of developing germ cells, and facilitating the maturation of spermatozoa within the cauda epididymis. During ejaculation in the female reproductive tract, MAPKs regulate two pivotal events—capacitation and the acrosome reaction essential for maintaining the fertility potential of sperm cells. Any disruptions in MAPK pathway signaling possibly may disturb the testicular microenvironment homeostasis, sperm physiology in the male body before ejaculation and in the female reproductive tract during fertilization, ultimately compromising male fertility. Despite decades of research, the physiological function of MAPK pathways in male reproductive health remains inadequately understood. The current review attempts to combine recent findings to elucidate the impact of MAPK signaling on male fertility and proposes future directions to enhance our understanding of male reproductive functions.

Introduction With the advances in critical care, the incidence of post intubation tracheal stenosis is increasing. Tracheal resection and anastomosis have been the gold standard for the management of grades III and IV stenosis. Scientific evidence from the literature on the determining factors and outcomes of surgery is not well described.

Introduction: The 2016 World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of tumours of the Central Nervous System (WHO CNS 2016 classification) is used to classify diffuse gliomas as astrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma (ODG), glioblastoma which are three prognostically distinct groups based on Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (IDH1), alpha thalassaemia/mental retardation, x-linked (ATRX) mutations, p53 and 1p/19q co-deletion status. Although WHO CNS 2022 classification has been brought in use, it is based on molecular studies. In a resource limited setting like in many Indian diagnostic centres it’s difficult to apply the WHO CNS 2022 classification. It is felt that WHO CNS 2016 classification has not lost its utility. Aim: To investigate the Immunohistochemistry (IHC) status of IDH1, ATRX, p53 in diagnosis of diffuse glial tumours and to classify them according to WHO 2016. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India for two years and six months (July 2020 to December 2022). Thirty-two diffuse glioma cases and IHC markers IDH1, ATRX, p53 were evaluated. Ki-67 index was additionally done. Results: Total 32 cases were studied, 19 cases were male. Mean age of the patients was 40.13 years. Fourteen patients belonged to WHO Grade-II, 6 to Grade-III, and 12 to GradeIV. As per the IHC findings and histopathological features, there were 16 (50%) patients with diffuse astrocytoma, while 12 (37.5%) and 4 (12.5%) patients were diagnosed as glioblastoma and ODG respectively. Reclassification of these cases was done depending on IHC results where IDH1 was positive in 71.9% cases, ATRX was positive in 40.6% cases and p53 was positive in 15.6% cases. This result includes all the cases where these IHC markers showed reactivity. The diagnosis of four patients was modified based on findings of IHC markers. Conclusion: The study demonstrates subgrouping of gliomas based on IDH1, ATRX, p53. There was no significant association between grade of tumour and Ki-67 expression.

Abstract Background Orbital pseudolymphoma is one of the rare diseases affecting the ocular adnexa and causing various symptoms requiring histopathological evidence for diagnosis and appropriate treatment with oral steroids or immunosuppressive agents. However, there is less literature available on this disease, thus adding to it will help in the early diagnosis and treatment of the patients. Case presentation A 48-year-old female from a village in South India came to our tertiary care centre with the only complaints of right eye protrusion for 1 year. With a working diagnosis of intraorbital mass, radiological investigations like contrast-enhanced CT and MRI were taken. It showed well-capsulated mass involving the right inferior rectus extending into the intraconal space just abutting the optic nerve. Trans-antral endoscopic biopsy under general anaesthesia was taken and reported as pseudolymphoma proven with CD 3 and CD 20 immunohistochemistry markers. The patient was treated with oral corticosteroids and tapered over a period of 3 months. During the treatment period, the patient developed no diminution of vision or new complaints. Conclusion Orbital pseudolymphomas are benign lymphoproliferative diseases affecting the ocular adnexal tissue. Patients can present with painless ptosis, proptosis, diplopia, or eyelid swelling. Prompt diagnosis and treatment result in the remission of the disease.

Background Patients with chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease (COPD) undergo bronchoscopy for various reasons, and are at relatively higher risk of complications. This study evaluated the efficacy of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and high-flow-oxygen-therapy (HFOT) compared with conventional-oxygen-therapy (COT) in patients with COPD undergoing bronchoscopy, to prevent hypoxia.Methods It was a triple-arm, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Ninety patients with COPD were randomly assigned into three intervention arms in 1:1:1 ratio. The incidence of hypoxia, lowest recorded oxygen saturation measured by plethysmography (SpO2), ECG, patient vitals and comfort levels were assessed.Results Mean age of the study population was 61.71±7.5 years. Out of 90 cases enrolled, 51, 34 and 5 were moderate, severe and very-severe COPD, respectively, as per GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) classification. Rest of the baseline characteristics were similar. SpO2 during flexible bronchoscopy (FB) was lowest in COT group (COT: 87.03±5.7% vs HFOT: 95.57±5.0% vs NIV: 97.40±1.6%, p

Molecular hybridization is one of the recent strategies to synthesize a novel hybrid compound by combining two or more pharmacophoric units. Being a linkage process, it focuses on the synthesis of hybrids which are less toxic and more potent than their parent units. Therefore, nowadays medicinal chemists look forwards for the synthesis of new novel drugs using molecular hybridization. Chalcones are a class of very important structural motifs in medicinal chemistry. Similarly, 1,2,3-triazoles are heterocyclic bio-isostere having vast spectrum of applications due to its ease of synthesis, hydrogen bond formation, inertness towards oxidizing and reducing agents, moderate dipole moment and good binding with several binding agents. In this review, we have summarized the research articles describing the medicinal application of synthetic chalcone-triazole derivatives. The structural-activity relationship has been discussed which may provide helpful guidelines for the future drug synthesis based on chalcone and triazole moieties.

Objectives: Suicide rates in India are amongst the highest in the world, resulting in an estimated 250,000 suicide deaths annually, and suicide rates in the state of Chhattisgarh are more than double the national average. Responsible media reporting is one of the few population-level suicide prevention interventions. To inform media interventions, the objective of our study was to assess the quality of newspaper reporting of suicide-related news in Chhattisgarh against World Health Organization (WHO) suicide reporting guidelines. Methods: We used content analysis to assess the quality of suicide reporting against WHO guidelines in the thirteen most highly read Hindi- and English-language daily newspapers in Chhattisgarh between February and July of 2019. Results: A total of 441 suicide articles were retrieved. The mean number of suicide articles per day per newspaper was 0.6 (range 0.2–1.1) and 33.3% of the articles were 10 sentences or less. The vast majority (97.8%) of articles primarily focused on reporting of specific suicide deaths and attempts. Harmful reporting practices were very common (for example, a detailed suicide method was reported in 38.7% of articles) while helpful reporting practices were rare (for example, just 0.5% gave contact details for a suicide support service). Conclusions: We observed that short and explicit articles covering suicide incidents was commonplace amongst newspapers in Chhattisgarh. Attempts should be made to devise context-specific strategies to boost the positive contribution that media can make to suicide prevention in Chhattisgarh.

Background: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is a rare autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder with a prevalence of 2 per million individuals. Activating mutation of ACVR1, a bone morphogenetic protein receptor causes ossification of extra-skeletal structures like ligaments, tendons, and aponeurosis. The characteristic findings are bilateral hallux valgus since birth and heterotopic ossification involving axial musculature beginning in the first decade of life. Diagnosis is based on the above clinical findings and radiographs or the identification of ACVR1 mutation by genetic analysis. There is no specific cure for Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, hence prevention and treatment of flare-ups with corticosteroids, NSAID, COX2 inhibitors, and avoidance of intramuscular injections, biopsy, and surgery form the mainstay of management. Case presentation: We report 3 children a 11 year old boy, a 3 year girl and a 3 year boy with classical clinical and radiological features of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva, two of them were misdiagnosed initially which led to exacerbation. Conclusion: Good clinical knowledge and a high index of suspicion are essential to diagnose and manage this potentially lethal and disabling condition.

Background: Psychiatric disorders are among the leading contributors to disability in India and worldwide. The pattern, prevalence, and distribution of psychiatric disorders in the country and its regions need to be assessed to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. No study on the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders has been conducted in the Chhattisgarh state. This paper, as part of the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), discusses the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric disorders in Chhattisgarh state. Methods: A stratified random cluster sampling technique and random selection based on probability proportional to size (PPS) at each stage were adopted. Participants were from three selected districts of Chhattisgarh, such as Janjgir-Champa, Kabirdham, and Raipur. Adults (aged ≥18 years) residing in selected households were interviewed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (version 6.0), the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence, the WHO-SEARO screening questionnaire for generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and screening tools for intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Results: A total of 2841 individuals were interviewed. The state’s lifetime and current prevalence of psychiatric disorders for adults were 14.06% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 13.83–14.29] and 11.66% (95% CI = 11.45–11.87), respectively. Prevalence of substance use disorders, tobacco use disorders, schizophrenia and related disorders, and mood disorders was 32.4% (95% CI = 32.09–32.71), 29.86% (95% CI = 29.56–30.16), 0.8% (95% CI = 0.75–0.86), and 4.44% (95% CI = 4.31–4.58), respectively. High risk for suicide was detected in 0.28% (95% CI = 0.25–0.31). Psychiatric disorders were twice more common in males than in females. Conclusions: The study gives authentic data on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Chhattisgarh. This shall pave the way for policymakers and planners to design state-specific plans for dealing with mental disorders and related issues.

Introduction The effects of COVID-19 infection persist beyond the active phase. Comprehensive description and analysis of the post COVID sequelae in various population groups are critical to minimise the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. This analysis was conducted with an objective to estimate the frequency of post COVID sequelae and subsequently, design a framework for holistic management of post COVID morbidities.Methods Follow-up data collected as part of a registry-based observational study in 31 hospitals across India since September 2020–October 2022 were used for analysis. All consenting hospitalised patients with COVID-19 are telephonically followed up for up to 1 year post-discharge, using a prestructured form focused on symptom reporting.Results Dyspnoea, fatigue and mental health issues were reported among 18.6%, 10.5% and 9.3% of the 8042 participants at first follow-up of 30–60 days post-discharge, respectively, which reduced to 11.9%, 6.6% and 9%, respectively, at 1-year follow-up in 2192 participants. Patients who died within 90 days post-discharge were significantly older (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03), with at least one comorbidity (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.35), and a higher proportion had required intensive care unit admission during the initial hospitalisation due to COVID-19 (aOR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.06) and were discharged at WHO ordinal scale 6–7 (aOR: 49.13 95% CI: 25.43, 94.92). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (at least one dose) was protective against such post-discharge mortality (aOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03).Conclusion Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience a variety of long-term sequelae after discharge from hospitals which persists although in reduced proportions until 12 months post-discharge. Developing a holistic management framework with engagement of care outreach workers as well as teleconsultation is a way forward in effective management of post COVID morbidities as well as reducing mortality.

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing is an advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) method for developing thermoplastic-based parts. Researchers studied FDM-based 3D printing of PLA with whole biomass and biomass resources such as lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. These composites are environmentally friendly, sustainable and have wide applications in healthcare. There is scope for developing the 3D printing of biocomposite with medical surgical cotton fabric, where PLA is unique for such manufacturing. The development and characterisation of FDM 3D printed medical surgical cotton fabric- PLA biocomposite is the primary objective of this work. Experimental methods used for the development of biocomposites involve the use of three types of cotton fabric of pore sizes 0.6 mm x 0.6 mm, 0.8 mm x 0.8 mm, and 1.0 mm x 1.0 mm with three different 3D printing pore sizes 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm, 1.0 mm x 1.0 and 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm. The development of biocomposites is found feasible. Breaking strength, percentage extension, and water absorption capacity increased in 3D printing pore sizes and pore wall width for each fabric. The maximum 235.40 N and minimum 123.20 N breaking strength, maximum 2.288 % and minimum 1.506 % extension, and maximum 7.63 % and minimum 3.57 % absorption capacity have been observed for the developed biocomposite. The behaviours of these biocomposites are adequate for healthcare applications and may be used as a bandage in wound healing. The present work is limited to the feasibility study of the unique biocomposite. Analysis of other properties and testing of biocomposite on animals and humans may be carried out in future work.

Objective: This review aimed to systematically review the effectiveness of various irrigant activation techniques (IATs) on the penetration of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) into the lateral canals of mature permanent teeth. Methods: Electronic databases including MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, ProQuest, and Cochrane Library were searched to identify laboratory studies evaluating the penetration of NaOCl into lateral canals following the use of apical negative pressure irrigation (ANP), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), sonic irrigation (SI), and/or manual dynamic activation (MDA) techniques. Meta-analysis was performed for individual IATs in comparison with CNI into the lateral canals of both straight and curved root canals. On the basis of the previous literature and parameters, the risk of bias of the selected studies was evaluated with the help of a customized tool. Results: Of the 983 records screened, 12 studies were selected to include in the systematic review, and 10 studies were selected for the meta-analysis. The total quality assessment across the included studies indicated a high quality (83.3%). Overall, the meta-analysis demonstrated IATs had significant improvement in the penetration of NaOCl into the lateral canals of straight canals (34.3%) over CNI. The subgroup analysis of individual IATs demonstrated PUI (60.9%) to be superior in the penetration into lateral canals of straight canals. Conclusions: IATs improved the irrigant penetration into lateral canals and therefore their use during routine endodontic practice is recommended. In straight canals, PUI is the most effective IAT followed by ANP, SI, and MDA techniques.

Abstract Background Estimating age is essential in both the analysis of human skeletal remains and assessing live persons. The third molar develops over a longer period and is hence used in age estimation for subadults. Since dental age correlates with chronological age better than other growth markers, this study aims to assess the reliability of dental age assessed using the University of Texas (UT) age estimation method and modified Cameriere’s method. Methods It is a retrospective cross-sectional study in which the development and maturation of mandibular third molars were examined in 600 orthopantomograms (264 males and 336 females) of South Indian individuals (16–23 years). Dental age was estimated by using an Indian-specific formula based on maturity index value and the UT-age estimation software program. The results were evaluated using the Student’s t-test for both methods and Pearson’s correlation test to compare chronological age with estimated dental age. Results Positive correlation was noted between chronological age and estimated dental age for males, females, and the total sample with highly statistically significant differences (p = 0.000). Modified Cameriere’s method underestimated dental age in samples ranging from less than 1 year to more than 2 years. UT-age estimation method underestimated age in samples above 20 years and overestimated age in samples below 20 years. The predictive classification of utilizing the maturity index was 79.17% accurate. Conclusions Dental age was negligibly over and underestimated in UT software method whereas it was overestimated in the modified Cameriere's method. To evaluate the reliability of these two methods, studies with larger sample sizes and population-specific data sets should be performed. Graphical Abstract

Primary healthcare caters to nearly 70% of the population in India and provides treatment for approximately 80–90% of common conditions. To achieve universal health coverage (UHC), the Indian healthcare system is gearing up by initiating several schemes such as National Health Protection Scheme, Ayushman Bharat, Nutrition Supplementation Schemes, and Inderdhanush Schemes. The healthcare delivery system is facing challenges such as irrational use of medicines, over- and under-diagnosis, high out-of-pocket expenditure, lack of targeted attention to preventive and promotive health services, and poor referral mechanisms. Healthcare providers are unable to keep pace with the volume of growing new scientific evidence and rising healthcare costs as the literature is not published at the same pace. In addition, there is a lack of common standard treatment guidelines, workflows, and reference manuals from the Government of India. Indian Council of Medical Research in collaboration with the National Health Authority, Govt. of India, and the WHO India country office has developed Standard Treatment Workflows (STWs) with the objective to be utilized at various levels of healthcare starting from primary to tertiary level care. A systematic approach was adopted to formulate the STWs. An advisory committee was constituted for planning and oversight of the process. Specialty experts' group for each specialty comprised of clinicians working at government and private medical colleges and hospitals. The expert groups prioritized the topics through extensive literature searches and meeting with different stakeholders. Then, the contents of each STW were finalized in the form of single-pager infographics. These STWs were further reviewed by an editorial committee before publication. Presently, 125 STWs pertaining to 23 specialties have been developed. It needs to be ensured that STWs are implemented effectively at all levels and ensure quality healthcare at an affordable cost as part of UHC.

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi (Fop) is an important disease and major obstacle to pea production, causing huge losses to growers. The focus of this study was on isolation followed by morphological, molecular characterization and analyzing the growth of the casual agent under variable temperature, pH and Nitrogen levels. The morphological features of radial growth, sporulation, pigmentation and mycelial characterization were examined and the variability of all isolates was presented. Molecular characterization of the fungus by ITS rDNA sequencing revealed that all 13 isolates belong to Fusarium oxysporum species. Six isolates were tested for temperature, pH and nitrogen dosage optimization studies. Seven different temperatures, viz., 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33°C and pH values, having 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 pH, as well as nitrogen dosage levels of 0 g, 3 g, 5 g, 7 g, 9 g, 11 g, and 13 g were tested against all six isolates, respectively. The results showed that all isolates exhibited the highest growth at a temperature of 25°C and the optimal temperature range for growth of Fusarium oxysporum was 23–27°C. All isolates showed the highest growth at pH5. Change in the nitrogen doses of the base ended in formation of thick, dense, fluffy mycelium of the casual agent. Six isolates were used for combination studies with seven different levels of temperatures, pH levels and nitrogen dosages. The density plots revealed the variations in the growth of the isolates with changes in temperature, pH and nitrogen levels, which can lead to mutations or genetic changes in the pathogens that could potentially introduce new threats to pea cultivation.

In this work, we have synthesized an iron based metal organic framework for removal of azo-dyes from textile industry wastewaters. The metal organic framework is comprised of two ligands, terephthalic acid and iminodiacetic acid chelated with iron. The chemical composition, surface morphology and diffraction pattern of the synthesized binary metal organic framework was confirmed with FT-IR, FE-SEM and XRD. Interaction with the model azo dye (methyl orange) has resulted in re-structuring of the native metal organic framework original shape (hexagonal nanorods to smaller octahedron structures). Under optimized conditions (time, and pH), the metal organic framework has a maximum methyl orange adsorption capacity of ∼ 280 mg per g. In presence of major salts as co-existing ions and two non-azo dyes, the methyl orange removal ability of metal organic framework significantly remained intact. The metal organic framework has displayed its practical applicability by efficiently removing two azo dyes (yellow and pink) from local textile industry wastewaters.

Summary: Background: The hormonal profile varies considerably with age, gender, ethnicity, diet or physiological state of an individual. Limited population-specific studies have studied the variations in hormonal parameters among apparently healthy women. We aimed to analyse the biological reference interval for various hormonal parameters in the reproductive-aged healthy Indian women. Methods: Out of 3877 participants that were clinically evaluated, 1441 subjects were subjected to laboratory investigations. All participants underwent a detailed clinical, biochemical and hormonal profiling. The hormone analysis was carried out at a single centre using a uniform methodology. Among the participants evaluated for biochemical and hormonal parameters, subjects that presented any abnormal profile or had incomplete investigations (n = 593) were excluded for further analysis. Findings: The mean age (±SD) of the subjects retained in the final analysis (n = 848) was 29.9 (±6.3) years. In the present study, the biological reference interval (2.5th–97.5th centile) observed were: serum T4: μg/dL (5.23–12.31), TSH: μg/mL (0.52–4.16) and serum prolactin: ng/mL (5.13–37.35), LH: mIU/mL (2.75–20.68), FSH: mIU/mL 2.59–15.12), serum total testosterone: ng/mL (0.06–0.68), fasting insulin: mIU/mL (1.92–39.72), morning cortisol: μg/dL (4.71–19.64), DHEAS:μg/dL (50.61–342.6) and SHBG: nmol/L (21.37–117.54). Unlike T4, TSH, LH, and E2, the biological reference interval for prolactin, FSH, testosterone, C-peptide insulin and DHEAS varied when the subjects were stratified by age (p

In the present study, 31 male lines and three females, were crossed in Line × Tester mating design and 93 hybrids were produced to assign these lines to three testers viz., 104A, 401A and M31-2A. Analysis of variance exhibited significant gca and sca effects for grain yield, indicating that significant breeding progress could be achieved using both inbreeding and hybridization. Heterotic grouping based on combining ability for grain yield would be useful in planning crosses in breeding programmes. In the current study, combining ability based heterotic grouping methods such as HSGCA and SCA-PY classified sorghum lines into four groups. Further, six different potential parental combinations were determined based on the HSGCA method. These combining abilities based heterotic grouping study is an additional tool that breeders could use to identify the best parents for superior hybrids development. Among the three testers, M31-2A followed by 104A was found to be the best testers.

Background: During October 2020, Delta variant was detected for the first time in India and rampantly spread across the globe. It also led to second wave of pandemic in India which affected millions of people. However, there is limited information pertaining to the SARS-CoV-2 strain infecting the children in India. Methods: Here, we assessed the SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in the pediatric population of India during the second wave of the pandemic. Clinical and demographic details linked with the nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs (NPS/OPS) collected from SARS-CoV-2 cases (n = 583) aged 0–18 year and tested positive by real-time RT-PCR were retrieved from March to June 2021. Results: Symptoms were reported among 37.2% of patients and 14.8% reported to be hospitalized. The E gene CT value had significant statistical difference at the point of sample collection when compared to that observed in the sequencing laboratory. Out of these 512 sequences 372 were VOCs, 51 were VOIs. Most common lineages observed were Delta, followed by Kappa, Alpha and B.1.36, seen in 65.82%, 9.96%, 6.83% and 4.68%, respectively in the study population. Conclusion: Overall, it was observed that Delta strain was the leading cause of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Indian children during the second wave of the pandemic. We emphasize on the need of continuous genomic surveillance in SARS-CoV-2 infection even amongst children.

We use the q-homotopy analysis Shehu transform method in this article to obtain analytical and numerical solutions to time fractional partial differential equations. We also give analytical solutions to two problems, as well as a comparison study in terms of absolute error with homotopy perturbation transform method, homotopy analysis transform method, and residual power series method to verify the suggested technique’s effectiveness and correctness. The numerical and graphical solutions achieved by the proposed method show that it is computationally accurate and may be used to obtain and investigate solutions to time fractional partial differential equations.

Eagle’s syndrome refers to unilateral or bilateral elongation of the styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament, along with other symptoms, such as dysphagia, otalgia, tinnitus, and globus pharyngeus. A styloid process is considered elongated or abnormal when it exceeds a normal length of 25-27 mm. However, elongation of the ossified styloid ligament is insufficient for diagnosing Eagle’s syndrome. Instead, a constellation of symptoms in history, as mentioned above, and physical and radiographic examinations contribute to diagnosis. This disorder has long been a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Hence, it is essential for dentists to have a superior knowledge of this relatively rare entity and its anatomic base. This report presents a case of classical Eagle’s syndrome in a 47-year-old woman with symptomatic bilateral elongation of the styloid process. The lengths of the right and left styloid processes were 60.5 mm and 70.74 mm, respectively, which is one of the longest ever reported.

The genetic study was conducted among 68 genotypes comprising restorers and maintainers on milo and maldandi cytoplasm. Among the lines, IS 12735, DSMR-8, IS 33353 and IS 24175 exhibited full restoration on milo and DSMR- 4 and DSMR-8 on maldandi. The lines viz., IS 30383, IS 29335, IS 29914, IS 8012 and IS 12308 exhibited perfect maintainer reaction on both milo & maldandi. High heritability and genetic advance were observed for most of the traits. G x E interaction was also found to be high for the majority of the traits. A high amount of genetic variability among the population indicated an increased opportunity for the selection of restorers, maintainers as the variation is heritable.

Background Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is commonly managed with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). The majority of the time that a patient spends on IMV is in the process of weaning. Prediction of the weaning outcome is of paramount importance, as untimely/delayed extubation is associated with a high risk of mortality. Diaphragmatic ultrasonography is a promising tool in the intensive care unit, and its utility in predicting the success of weaning remains understudied. Methods In this prospective-observational study, we recruited 54 ARF patients on IMV, along with 50 healthy controls. During a spontaneous breathing trial, all subjects underwent diaphragmatic ultrasonography along with a rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) assessment. Results The mean age was 41.8±17.0 and 37.6±10.5 years among the cases and control group, respectively. Demographic variables were broadly similar in the two groups. The most common cause of ARF was obstructive airway disease. The average duration of IMV was 5.41±2.81 days. Out of 54 subjects, 45 were successfully weaned, while nine patients failed weaning. Age, body mass index, and severity of disease were similar in the successful and failed weaning patients. The sensitivity in predicting successful weaning of percent change in diaphragmatic thickness (Δtdi%) >29.71% was high (93.33%), while specificity was 66.67%. The sensitivity and specificity of mean diaphragmatic thickness (tdi) end-expiratory >0.178 cm was 60.00% and 77.78%, respectively. RSBI at 1 minute of

Introduction: Most critically ill COVID-19 patients have bronchitis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to excessive inflammatory conditions. Corticosteroids have largely been prescribed for the management of inflammation in these patients. However, long-term use of corticosteroids in patients with comorbidities such as metabolic, cardiovascular, and other inflammatory disorders is ideally not recommended due to safety issues. A potential and safer anti-inflammatory therapy is therefore the need of the hour. Withania somnifera (WS), a well-known herbal medicine used during the pandemic in India to prevent SARS-CoV2 infection, also possesses anti-inflammatory properties.Methods: In the present study, we, therefore, evaluated the effect of the aqueous extract of the roots of W. somnifera in the cell-based assays and in the experimental animal models of LPS-induced inflammation.Results: In the NCI-H460, A549 cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) pre-treatment with W. somnifera reduced the LPS-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, W. somnifera extract also showed potent anti-inflammatory activity in the lung tissues of BALB/c mice challenged intranasally with LPS. We observed a marked reduction in the neutrophil counts in the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, inflammatory cytokines, and fibrosis in the mice lungs pre-treated with W. somnifera. Results obtained thus suggest the potential utility of W. somnifera extract in reducing airway inflammation and recommend the clinical evaluation of W. somnifera extract in COVID-19 patients with a high propensity for lung inflammation.

Objectives: To highlight and assess the impact of intervention tools used by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) against COVID19 associated infodemic in the world's largest democratic country, India. Study design: It is a retrospective cross sectional study. The impact of ICMR's multi-pronged strategy to address the infodemic during pandemic has been assessed through analysis of print media reportage and social media engagements. Methods: The impact of the interventions was assessed using cloud media mappers like MediaCloud and Meltwater using keywords. The data was analysed in terms of reportage, theme of reportage. A sub-section of media reportage (Feb 2020–June 2020) was analysed in details from 4 major dailies to understand the coverage and tonality of media reports. The data on COVID 19 related tweets, posts and uploads were taken from social media platforms of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) particularly twitter, instagram, facebook and youtube and estimate of pre and post pandemic changes in followers or users were collected for analysis. The data was curated and analysed using MS excel. Results: There was a surge of 3800% reportage in media during pandemic as compared to same time frame in pre-pandemic times. A surge of followers on twitter from 26,823 on Feb 2020 (before pandemic) to 3,36,098 at March 2022 (after pandemic) was observed. A drastic increase in monthly followers was observed after start of Pandemic (after Feb 2020) in comparison to before pandemic (Before Feb 2020). Similar trends were observed on other social media platforms of ICMR. Conclusions: The Communications Unit at ICMR geared up with more robust plans and designed several interventions to mitigate the infodemic which helped in evidence based decision making towards outbreak response and action. This highlights the importance of evidence based, crisp, timely and effective communication during the epidemics/pandemics to buid trust and confidence in the community.

Background: COVID-19 vaccine is the mighty weapon opted by all the countries across the globe in an attempt to eradicate the fatal COVID-19 pandemic. The myths on the COVID-19 vaccine are spreading widely, causing a hindrance to this noble preventive measure. The prevalence of such myths among healthcare professionals may be toxic and deadly. Aim & Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the healthcare professionals regarding the myths on COVID-19 vaccination and to demystify them. Materials and Methods: An 18-item questionnaire evaluating knowledge, attitude, and practice based on the existing myths on COVID-19 vaccination was circulated through Google Forms® among the 412 healthcare professionals of six disciplines belonging to a private University. The responses obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS® 20 software package. Results: A total of 385 health professionals participated in this study. The majority of them had medium knowledge (165) and positive attitude (273) with the mean knowledge and attitude scores of 3.82 ± 1.55 out of 6 and 4.3 ± 1.58 out of 7 respectively. Even though 312 participants got vaccinated, 72 of them failed to receive it. The knowledge scores showed a high statistically significant difference among the participants of different designations (p=0.001), but not with gender, field, and staff with different years of experience (p>0.05). The attitude scores were statistically different among participants of fields and designation (p

In this study, the dissipation kinetics and health risk assessment of different insecticides in tomato under open field and poly-house conditions were investigated. A total of four insecticides, namely Chlorantraniprole 18.5 SC @ 30 g a.i ha−1, Flubendiamide 20% WG @ 48.0 g a.i ha−1, Indoxacarb 14.5 SC @ 60.0 g a.i ha−1, and Thiamethoxam 25% WG @ 50.0 g a.i ha−1, were applied on tomato at the 50% flowering stage, followed by 10 days after the first spray. Prior to actual sample analysis, QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) based extraction methodology for the chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and thiamethoxam in tomato were verified and quantified on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in terms of linearity, sensitivity (detection limits), accuracy (% recovery) and precision (% RSD). The DT50 value of chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and thiamethoxam in tomato under open field condition was 1.95, 2.25, 2.37 and 3.98, respectively and under poly house condition it was 3.05, 5.02, 2.68 and 4.82, respectively. Similarly, the safe waiting period of chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and thiamethoxam in tomato under open field condition was 1.05, 0.83, 2.96 and 3.23, respectively and under poly house condition it was 2.02, 4.93, 4.09 and 7.33, respectively. Further, health risk assessment was evaluated and observed no risk for Indian consumers due to application of studied insecticides (RQ

The frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events are on the rise worldwide. Despite extensive efforts, regional climate models still show significant biases for extreme precipitation events, often due to factors like improper physics, the choice of land surface model, and spatial domain. Thus, this study uses a Coupled Land–Atmosphere Regional Climate Model version 4.7 (RegCM4.7) to explore how the choice of land surface models (LSMs) and domain extent affects the simulation of extreme precipitation over India. In this regard, a total of four sensitivity experiments have been carried out using two LSMs (CLM4.5 and BATS) over each of the two domains (one over the bigger South Asia CORDEX domain and another for the smaller domain over the Indian region). The main objective is to provide a holistic idea for obtaining an optimum model domain and LSMs for precipitation extremes over India. The model performance is demonstrated for extreme precipitation and associated processes. The result shows the systematic discrepancy in simulating extreme precipitation with a strong inter-simulation spread, indicating the strong sensitivity of extreme precipitation on the LSMs as well as the model domain. The BATS configuration shows a significant overestimation of consecutive wet days and very low precipitation, partially associated with a deficiency in convection. By contrast, the considerable underestimation of intense precipitation can be attributed to the presence of frequent, light drizzle, which hinders the accumulation of moisture in the atmosphere to a sufficient degree to prevent extreme rainfall. Despite significant improvement, the best-configured model (CLM with Indian domain) still indicates substantial bias for extreme precipitation. This deficiency in the model could potentially be mitigated by enhancing both horizontal and vertical resolutions. Nevertheless, further research is needed to explore other physics parameterizations and dynamic mechanisms to address this issue.

The liver is a major metabolic organ that performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. Any disruption in normal liver function can lead to the development of more severe liver disorders. Overall, about 3 million Americans have some type of liver disease and 5.5 million people have progressive liver disease or cirrhosis, in which scar tissue replaces the healthy liver tissue. An estimated 20% to 30% of adults have excess fat in their livers, a condition called steatosis. The most common etiologies for steatosis development are (1) high caloric intake that causes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and (2) excessive alcohol consumption, which results in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). NAFLD is now termed “metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease” (MASLD), which reflects its association with the metabolic syndrome and conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. ALD represents a spectrum of liver injury that ranges from hepatic steatosis to more advanced liver pathologies, including alcoholic hepatitis (AH), alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) and acute AH, presenting as acute-on-chronic liver failure. The predominant liver cells, hepatocytes, comprise more than 70% of the total liver mass in human adults and are the basic metabolic cells. Mitochondria are intracellular organelles that are the principal sources of energy in hepatocytes and play a major role in oxidative metabolism and sustaining liver cell energy needs. In addition to regulating cellular energy homeostasis, mitochondria perform other key physiologic and metabolic activities, including ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, redox signaling and participation in cell injury/death. Here, we discuss the main mechanism of mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic liver disease and some treatment strategies available for targeting mitochondria.

Abstract We study the stability of circular orbits in the background of a traversable wormhole (TWH) spacetime obtained as a solution of Einstein’s field equations coupled conformally to a massless scalar field. The Lyapunov stability approach is employed to determine the stability of circular orbits (timelike and null) of non-spinning test particles around a TWH spacetime. In the case of timelike geodesics, the particle is confined to move in four different types of effective potentials depending on various values of the angular momentum $$\tilde{L}$$ L ~ with both centrifugal and gravitational part. The effective potential for null geodesics consists of only a centrifugal part. Further, we characterize each fixed point according to its Lyapunov stability, and thus classify the circular orbits at the fixed point into stable center and unstable saddle points by depicting the corresponding phase-portraits.

The significant horticultural crop, cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is vulnerable to the excessive salt concentration in the soil, which contributes to its scaled-down growth and productivity, among other indices. The current study examines the efficacy of hydropriming, halopriming, and osmopriming on the physio-biochemical attributes and tolerance to salinity (100 mM NaCl) in cauliflower under controlled conditions. The results showed that the salinity (100 mM NaCl) has significant deleterious impacts on cauliflower seed germination, seedling growth, and photosynthetic attributes, and provoked the production of reactive oxygen species. In contrast, different priming approaches proved beneficial in mitigating the negative effects of salinity and boosted the germination, vigor indices, seedling growth, and physio-biochemical attributes like photosynthetic pigments, protein, and proline content while suppressing oxidative damage and MDA content in cauliflower seedlings in treatment- and dose-dependent manner. PCA revealed 61% (PC1) and 15% (PC2) of the total variance with substantial positive relationships and high loading conditions on all germination attributes on PC1 with greater PC1 scores for PEG treatments showing the increased germination indices in PEG-treated seeds among all the priming treatments tested. All 13 distinct priming treatments tried clustered into three groups as per Ward's approach of systematic categorization, clustering the third group showing relatively poor germination performances. Most germination traits exhibited statistically significant associations at the p

BackgroundSleep is important for maintaining the metabolic processes in the body, and hence, disruption in sleep leads to metabolic derangement and accelerated atherosclerosis. The effect of sleep duration on subclinical atherosclerosis has been examined in several studies; however, data regarding sleep quality is lacking. The study aimed to assess the association between sleep quality and carotid intima-media thickness among healthy young doctors.Materials and MethodsThis was an observational cross-sectional study among 110 healthy young resident doctors. Anthropometric data were recorded and morning fasting venous blood samples were collected to assess fasting blood sugar, lipid profile and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Berlin questionnaire assessed subjective sleep quality and risk for obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. Carotid ultrasonography was done to detect the intima-media thickness.ResultsAverage age of the participants was 26.45 (±1.43) years, and 51.8% were male. Self-reported poor sleep quality was found in 54.5%. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was increased among 44.5% of participants. In the multivariate analysis, only poor sleep quality appeared to be associated with higher CIMT (P 30 min), sleep efficiency (