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Kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for end-stage kidney disease patients. Long-term survival of the allograft is a crucial component of medical care because of the expense and complications of the surgical procedure. C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is the primary glomerular disease with a very high recurrence rate postrenal transplantation. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) shares common genetic risk factors with C3G. Few cases were reported earlier regarding phenotype shifts between C3G and aHUS. However, recurrence of C3G immediate postrenal transplant as aHUS is an extremely rare phenomenon. This patient did not respond to plasmapheresis but showed excellent response to eculizumab and completely recovered the graft function. There are no guidelines for the prevention or treatment of the recurrence of C3G in kidney transplant patients and requires further discussion.

The growing concern for environmentally friendly biomaterials has spurred interest in natural fibers as a viable alternative to synthetic fibers in various industrial applications. Chemical treatment of natural fibers is necessary in cases where it is desired to enhance their properties and make them more suitable for various industrial applications. These treatments can remove impurities, increase fiber roughness for better adhesion, and modify surface chemistry, ultimately improving characteristics like tensile strength, thermal stability, and compatibility with matrix materials in composites. In this study, chemical treatments, including Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Hydroxide, and Potassium Permanganate, were applied to the Bamboo fibers to modify the fiber structure. The tensile strength, morphological characteristics, and degree of crystallinity of the treated fibers were examined. Results revealed that 5% Sodium Hydroxide treatment for 2 hours significantly improved tensile strength and crystallinity compared to other treatments. Chemical composition analysis, XRD, and FTIR analyses confirmed the removal of impurities and amorphous substances. Density measurements indicated a reduction in volume due to the elimination of low molecular weight impurities, leading to increased fiber density. This research provides valuable insights for the development of sustainable biomaterials in the construction and automotive industries such as wall panels, dashboards and door panels.

Photon-driven technologies encompass the utility of carefully engineered materials for myriad applications. Over the past decade, thin films of II–VI chalcogenide materials have emerged as versatile candidates for the efficient construction of photovoltaic devices. The buffer layer which serves as a lattice fixer in solar cells plays a role in determining the photon-driven processes between the absorber and the window layers, significantly affecting the performance of the working device. However, mostly used buffer layer, CdS is highly toxic. Recently, there is quest to replace the highly toxic cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer layers with Zn-based materials to obtain high-efficiency solar cells. Among the II–VI compounds, zinc sulfide (ZnS) and zinc selenide (ZnSe) present promising futuristic scope for research in the photovoltaics field and are recognized as alternatives to the widely used toxic CdS buffer layer. Although significant research has been devoted in this direction, a comprehensive review capturing the latest advancements in photon-driven technologies pertaining to Zn based buffer layers in photovoltaics, has not yet been conducted. In light of these observations, we present a review focusing on the recent progress in the incorporation of Zn based buffer layers into different solar cells constituting CdTe, CIGS, and CZTS. The light matter interactions that depend on the thickness, and the band alignment of the buffer layer with the absorber is discussed in detail.

E-scooters are one of the latest additions to transport networks in many countries and their popularity is increasing rapidly. A range of studies have been conducted to understand the relationship between e-scooters and public transport. Some found that e-scooters complement public transport, serving as a first mile/last mile access mode, whereas others found that they compete by taking riders away from public transport. The contradictory results of studies in different contexts make it unclear whether results in one city are transferrable to another. This study aims to explore the definitions of ‘complement’ and ‘compete’ in literature and to identify the circumstances where e-scooters complement or compete with public transport using a mixed-method literature review. We combine a systematic literature review of e-scooter papers with a scoping review of bike-share studies to see if the two modes act in a similar manner. Most researchers found that e-scooters tend to complement rail but are more likely to compete with buses. Bike-share behaves in a similar manner, but the competing effect with buses is higher with bike-share than shared e-scooters. Both shared e-scooters and bike-share have a complementary relationship with public transport for commuting and longer trips. Moreover, shared e-scooters have the potential to promote public transport when deployed thoughtfully, but further investigation is needed given the novelty of the field. Further research should focus on a wider variety of cities (particularly outside of Europe and the USA), the reasons behind rider behavior and different ridership patterns and characteristics of personally owned e-scooters.

Background Two-wheeled vehicles are the major mode of transportation in India. Such vehicles are exposed to excessive vibration on the road when compared to four-wheeled vehicles. However, the research on the reduction of whole body vibration in the case of two-wheelers is not explored in detail. The present study predicts rider comfort in the case of an electric two-wheeler as per ISO 2631-1, by obtaining the finding the weighted acceleration at the strategic locations of vibration at the test rig. Methods An electric two-wheeler test rig is used in the study. The values of acceleration from the test rig in running conditions are obtained by using NI LabVIEW 2019. The drive cycle of the electric vehicle (EV) test rig is controlled by Sync sols’ EV lab software. Obtaining the weighted root mean square (RMS) acceleration from running the test setup, it is compared with the ISO 2631-1 standard to obtain the rider comfort. Results Loading area, traction motor, base mount, and suspension were found to be the strategic points of vibration. Frequency weighted RMS acceleration of 0.3 to 0.4 m/s2 obtained at these points are prone to cause discomfort for the rider. Vehicle speed, road profile, and duration of exposure were found to be important parameters affecting the rider’s comfort. A maximum of 4.6 m/s2 amplitude was observed. The loading area, which corresponds to a rider’s seat in actual vehicle, is important and reduction of these vibrations make the ride comfortable for the rider. Suspension and base mount of the test rig are found to be uncomfortable observing the weighted RMS acceleration. Conclusions A suitable damping technique design is very much essential in reducing these vibrations and improve the rider comfort, as many more non-deterministic vibrations are prone to cause dis-comfort in case of actual on road riding conditions.

Background Two-wheeled vehicles are the major mode of transportation in India. Such vehicles are exposed to excessive vibration on the road when compared to four-wheeled vehicles. However, the research on the reduction of whole body vibration in the case of two-wheelers is not explored in detail. The present study predicts rider comfort in the case of an electric two-wheeler as per ISO 2631-1, by obtaining the finding the weighted acceleration at the strategic locations of vibration at the test rig. Methods An electric two-wheeler test rig is used in the study. The values of acceleration from the test rig in running conditions are obtained by using NI LabVIEW 2019. The drive cycle of the electric vehicle (EV) test rig is controlled by Sync sols’ EV lab software. Obtaining the weighted root mean square (RMS) acceleration from running the test setup, it is compared with the ISO 2631-1 standard to obtain the rider comfort. Results Loading area, traction motor, base mount, and suspension were found to be the strategic points of vibration. Frequency weighted RMS acceleration of 0.3 to 0.4 m/s2 obtained at these points are prone to cause discomfort for the rider. Vehicle speed, road profile, and duration of exposure were found to be important parameters affecting the rider’s comfort. A maximum of 4.6 m/s2 amplitude was observed. The loading area, which corresponds to a rider’s seat in actual vehicle, is important and reduction of these vibrations make the ride comfortable for the rider. Suspension and base mount of the test rig are found to be uncomfortable observing the weighted RMS acceleration. Conclusions A suitable damping technique design is very much essential in reducing these vibrations and improve the rider comfort, as many more non-deterministic vibrations are prone to cause dis-comfort in case of actual on road riding conditions.

The 4′-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-3,-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1′-methylspiro(indole-3,2′-pyrrolidin)-2(1H)-one (SOD1) compound has been synthesized and the single crystals are grown by the slow evaporation method using ethanol. Initially, FT-IR and NMR (1H and 13C NMR) spectroscopic studies were used to confirm the structure of the compound. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data were used to determine the solid state structure of the grown single crystals. The title compound SOD1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca. The crystal packing analysis of the compound shows that distinct hydrogen bonding intermolecular interactions construct the R22(12), R22(8), and R12(8), supramolecular synthons to stabilize the packing modes. The propensity of intermolecular interactions is quantified by the Hirshfeld surface analysis, 2-D fingerprint plots and enrichment ratio analysis. Further, the 3-D packing topology of the molecular fragments is visualized through energy frameworks, which reveal the predominance of dispersion energy over other interaction energies. The optimized structure's geometric parameters were computed using DFT calculations using B3LYP/6–311+G(d,p) basis set and compared with the crystal structure parameters obtained by the X-ray diffraction studies. To explore the anticancer activity of the spiro compound, molecular docking with the 6FS1 protein was performed and the binding score of -7.7 kcal/mol was observed. Further, the binding interaction was explored by the dynamics simulation studies.

2-(3‑bromo-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-8-methyl-4H benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (2-BCBO) compound, was synthesized by the reaction of 3‑bromo-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylic acid in acetonitrile and methane sulfonyl chloride. The monoclinic crystal structure in C2/c space group of the compound was unveiled through single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. A prediction model was employed to investigate the influence of intermolecular contacts on molecular packing in the crystalline phase. The model incorporated both Hirshfeld surface and 2D fingerprint models to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strength of these contacts. The calculation of the total interaction energy was conducted by utilizing the three-dimensional molecular energy frameworks and further, employed density functional theory to examine molecular orbital characteristics and key factors associated with chemical reactivity. The application of topological analysis techniques, such as QTAIM and NCI, provided further insight regarding the attraction and repulsive interactions shown by the molecule. The pharmacokinetic properties of the 2-BCBO molecule have also been examined using ADMET analysis, which is important in drug discovery and development. In addition, the molecular docking study to determine the inhibitory effect of the investigated ligand on the main protease of new coronavirus (COVID-19), followed by molecular dynamics simulations, and it is found that both the results are in good agreement. The 2-BCBO could be accepted as a lead molecule to treat the coronavirus.

Mobility hubs (MHs) are places offering access to various modes of transport along with enhanced facilities to provide integrated and seamless travel. This study proposes a method to find optimum locations for the planning and development of MHs using Greater Melbourne as a case. Our analysis focuses on 222 existing train stations. We identified 18 stations that meet our operational definition of a mobility hub -- i.e., providing interchange facilities for trains, bus/tram, and shared mobility services. The remaining 204 stations were considered as potential candidates for future mobility hubs. These candidates were assessed using location-allocation analysis that optimizes their access for general public, students and commuters travelling by four different modes (car, bike, e-scooter and walking). The shortlisted stations were ranked using a multicriteria scoring system. The analysis resulted in 62 sites with high potential to develop as future mobility hubs.

Background Two-wheeled vehicles are the major mode of transportation in India. Such vehicles are exposed to excessive vibration on the road when compared to four-wheeled vehicles. However, the research on the reduction of whole body vibration in the case of two-wheelers is not explored in detail. The present study predicts rider comfort in the case of an electric two-wheeler as per ISO 2631-1, by obtaining the finding the weighted acceleration at the strategic locations of vibration at the test rig. Methods An electric two-wheeler test rig is used in the study. The values of acceleration from the test rig in running conditions are obtained by using NI LabVIEW 2019. The drive cycle of the electric vehicle (EV) test rig is controlled by Sync sols’ EV lab software. Obtaining the weighted root mean square (RMS) acceleration from running the test setup, it is compared with the ISO 2631-1 standard to obtain the rider comfort. Results Loading area, traction motor, base mount, and suspension were found to be the strategic points of vibration. Frequency weighted RMS acceleration of 0.3 to 0.4 m/s2 obtained at these points are prone to cause discomfort for the rider. Vehicle speed, road profile, and duration of exposure were found to be important parameters affecting the rider’s comfort. A maximum of 4.6 m/s2 amplitude was observed. The loading area, which corresponds to a rider’s seat in actual vehicle, is important and reduction of these vibrations make the ride comfortable for the rider. Suspension and base mount of the test rig are found to be uncomfortable observing the weighted RMS acceleration. Conclusions A suitable damping technique design is very much essential in reducing these vibrations and improve the rider comfort, as many more non-deterministic vibrations are prone to cause dis-comfort in case of actual on road riding conditions.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who fail conventional treatment. Methods: A retrospective observational study was designed in patients who underwent ECMO for severe COVID-19 ARDS in a tertiary care centre from September 2020 to July 2021. The primary outcome was to assess factors influencing clinical outcomes and survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes were to assess the clinical profile and pre-ECMO features, ECMO characteristics and complications. Collected data were entered in Excel software and analysed using R software version 4.0.2 (R foundation for statistical computing, Vienna, Austria). Results: A total of 19 patients underwent ECMO. Ten patients survived and discharge. Survivors had a longer median (interquartile range [IQR]) duration (days) on ECMO, that is, 25 (7–50), compared to non-survivors, that is, 12 (1–34) (P = 0.133). We also noted that patients who survived had a longer median (IQR) duration (days) of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, that is, 41.5 (30–70), compared to non-survivors, that is, 9 (2–40) (P = 0.001). Conclusion: In our study, 52.3% of patients survived and discharge, and with ECMO outcomes for COVID-19 ARDS were at par with ECMO outcomes for non-COVID-19 ARDS despite requiring ECMO for longer duration and increased ICU length of stay.

Market demand for “clean and green” food products is increasing, and so there is growing opportunity for the seaweed aquaculture industry to take a position as a key food producer in this area. In this study, in order to investigate the impact of dry fractionation on seaweed protein qualities, dried and milled seaweed powder from three seaweed species was sieved into 6 fractions (F1 to F6) of different particle size from >710 µm to 710 µm) contained the highest protein and amino acid content in L. digitata. Glutamic acid was the most prevalent amino acid in A. esculenta and L. digitata (55.34 mg/g and 23.78 mg/g), while aspartic acid was the most prevalent in S. latissima (19.41 mg/g). This information is valuable to both researchers and seaweed producers who can use particle size separation as a simple method to create value-added products using their green biomass for applications across multiple markets.

The axial loads of high-speed rotating turbo machines are supported by self-acting hydrodynamic components known as air foil thrust bearings (AFTB). The load bearing capability of these bearings depends primarily on the foil structure and secondarily on the operating conditions. The present review enlightens on the tribological performance parameters of the said bearing in enhancing the load carrying capacity. Various design and fabrication methods including theoretical models are briefly summarised and comparisons of experimental results are presented in order to reveal the possible research gap that leads in optimising the gas lubricated foil thrust bearings (GFTB) for their better employment in typical applications.

Introduction: Tenofovir remains the cornerstone drug in various antiretroviral regimens and is commonly associated with renal failure in susceptible individuals with a renal biopsy suggestive of proximal tubular injury. Objectives: To investigate clinical, histopathological and outcome findings in tenofovir-induced nephrotoxicity patients. Patients and Methods: Between August 1, 2014, and March 31, 2017, an observational study was conducted in a government-run tertiary care facility in South India. All patients receiving a regimen based on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were included. A renal biopsy was performed when needed. Results: A total of 27 cases were identified, with a mean age of 45.03± 12.95 years, while 19 (70%) of them were men. Mean creatinine and mean proteinuria among the participants were 5.78 ±2.71 mg/dL and 1643.96 ±1056.44 mg/dL, respectively, at the time of the renal biopsy. Interval between TDF treatments to kidney biopsies ranged between 7 to 52 weeks with mean (±SD) of 30.8±22 weeks. Phosphaturia and glycosuria were found in 10 (37.03%) and 8 (29.5%) patients respectively, all of whom had normoglycemia. In contrast to the remaining 13 instances, which all had moderate to severe diffuse inflammation, 14 patients exhibited toxic proximal tubular damage along with mild and localized interstitial inflammation. Hemodialysis was required by 10 individuals. A total of 22 patients were monitored after TDF was stopped, while 17 (77.27%) of them had fully recovered renal function at the end of monitoring period. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that TDF nephrotoxicity is a reversible form of toxic acute tubular necrosis with concurrent interstitial inflammation that affects the proximal tubules. As a result, it is crucial to carefully monitor renal parameters in these patients.

In the pursuit of sustainable materials, natural fibers are gaining attention because of their renewable nature and low environmental impact. However, their application in composites has been hindered by their hydrophilicity and non-homogeneity in the properties. To address these issues, chemical treatments such as Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Permanganate have been utilized. This study explored the impact of chemical treatments on Bamboo fibers and their subsequent influence on the vibration and acoustic properties of Carbon/Bamboo fiber-reinforced hybrid composites. This study investigates the vibration damping and acoustic characteristics of hybrid composites, considering the synergistic advantages of Bamboo’s natural damping properties and Carbon fiber’s mechanical strength. The damping factor of Sodium Hydroxide treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites is 34.55% higher than that of untreated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites. It is also 11.95% higher than that of Potassium Permanganate treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites. The flexural modulus of untreated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites was 164.36% and 157.77% higher than that of Sodium Hydroxide treated and Potassium Permanganate treated Bamboo fiber reinforced hybrid composites, respectively. The effect of chemical treatment on the fiber properties were analysed using the FTIR spectrum. Acoustic characterization revealed that untreated Bamboo fiber composites have higher sound absorption coefficients at lower frequencies, whereas Sodium Hydroxide-treated composites have higher sound absorption coefficients at medium and high frequencies. The results indicated that chemical treatment enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion, reduced stiffness, and influenced the damping and acoustic performance of the hybrid composites.

Objectives: To study the influence of amniotic fluid volume at term gestation with accuracy in fetal weight estimation by ultrasound. Methods: Retrospective observational cross-sectional study was done in 358 term deliveries over a period of two years from January 2019 to December 2020 in a medical college hospital. All singleton term pregnancies that had an ultrasound estimation of fetal weight and amniotic fluid within a week of delivery were included, irrespective of parity, age and mode of delivery. Error in estimation of fetal weight was calculated with reference to actual birth weight and comparisons were made to note the degree of accuracy across varying amniotic fluid volume by applying ANOVA and Tukeys test. Results: Mean error in fetal weight estimation was not significant with respect to parity index, gestational age or fetal gender. There was a significant (p= 0.001) increasing mean birth weight with increasing amniotic fluid volume and the error in estimation of fetal weight was significant across all AFI groups (p= 0.014). Mean error in oligoamnios group was significantly lesser than normal liquor (p=0.041) and high normal (p= 0.032) at a 5% level of significance. Hence, the estimation of fetal weight in the oligoamnios group was more accurate. Conclusion: Amniotic fluid volume and ultrasound fetal weight estimation are mostly independent variables though they are factors of gestational age. Consistent errors are seen across varying AFI. The noticeable accuracy in the low liquor group is reassuring as oligoamnios is frequently associated with low birth weight.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterized by progressive increase in proteinuria and decline in renal functions. Various forms of nondiabetic kidney disease may be superimposed on DN, which can alter the progression of DN. Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG) may superimpose on DN, and is characterized by rapid worsening of renal failure and has poor prognosis. In our institute, renal biopsies were performed in diabetic patients for increasing proteinuria or worsening renal functions. There were seven cases of CG superimposed on DN. All patients except one had a history of long standing diabetes mellitus. All patients had nephrotic range proteinuria. Four patients had severe renal failure at presentation. Renal biopsy showed CG superimposed on DN. Six patients progressed to end-stage renal disease during follow-up; one patient is in chronic kidney disease-stage 3b. The development of CG contributes to an increased level or new onset proteinuria in DN, and can lead to rapid worsening of renal failure. The diagnosis of CG superimposed on DN is of prognostic significance.

Primary immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is associated with a dysfunctional mucosal immune system, leading to renal deposition of IgA and injury. Fifty patients with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy were included. All patients were initiated on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a controlled release formulation (CRF) of budesonide. All drugs were started together, as isolated RAAS inhibitors will not prevent the immunological damage caused by the ongoing deposition of IgA. Depending on the histology (mesangial hypercellularity, endocapillary proliferation, segmental glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis, and crescents score), the patients received 9 mg or 12 mg of budesonide. All patients were followed up every 4 weeks to monitor renal function, 24-h urinary protein, and adverse effects. Our primary outcome was a mean change in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 24-h urinary protein from the baseline to the end of 6 months. The percentage of decline in mean 24-h protein at 6 months from the baseline was 33%. The mean decrease in serum creatinine from the baseline was 0.73 mg/dL. The mean gain in eGFR from the baseline was an increase of 9 mL/min/1.73 m2. Of 50 patients, 11 (22%) achieved complete remission, 20 (40%) achieved partial remission, and 16 (32%) were non-responders. Three patients (6%) were lost to follow-up. The early initiation of CRF budesonide with optimized supportive care led to reductions in proteinuria and improvements in eGFR at 6 months in patients with IgA nephropathy. Early lesions with minimal chronicity showed an excellent response to budesonide.

Yellow mosaic disease caused by Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) causes 100 percent losses in ridge gourd under epidemic conditions, particularly in the tropics and sub-tropics of India. Plant breeding approaches led by the marker-assisted selection have gained increased momentum in virus resistance breeding to hasten the development of resistant varieties. In the present study, an effort has been made to identify molecular markers linked to yellow mosaic disease resistance loci in an F2 population derived from a cross between susceptible ‘Arka Prasan’ and resistant ‘IIHR-Sel-1’ of ridge gourd. All the molecular markers were amplified in parents, and one polymorphic marker clearly distinguished the contrasting parents. The primers LaRGAP 63 produced a polymorphic DNA fragment that co-segregated with yellow mosaic disease reaction phenotypically in the F2 population. The identified marker will be helpful to the breeders for introgression of resistance loci into the elite background.

Adaptation of alternative and novel materials in place of traditional metals and alloys is getting higher attention in all domains of life. Tailored or customized fiber reinforced composite materials offer multiple advantages such as lighter systems with adequate strength, cost-effectiveness, and easier handling during fabrication and service time. In this review paper, attempts are made to comprehensively look into property improvement, fabrication, and characterization followed by researchers for natural fiber reinforced, natural fiber-synthetic fiber reinforced and hybrid natural fibers reinforced polymer-based composites. Composites having natural fibers as reinforcements had improved sound absorption and vibration damping properties. A combination of natural and synthetic fiber was found to be ideal for obtaining improved mechanical properties.

Abstract Background The natural antibody responses to B-cell epitopes from dengue structural proteins were assessed using immune sera from people having well-defined past dengue infections with one of the four serotypes. Method Based on an immune-computational analysis previously conducted, nineteen epitopes from the envelope (E) and eight epitopes from pre-membrane (prM), which were more than 50% conserved across all the four DENV serotypes, were selected. Peptides to represent these B-cell epitopes were obtained from commercially available arrays, and were subjected to enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with sera obtained from dengue seropositive healthy volunteers (DENV1 n = 12: DENV2 n = 12: DENV3 n = 12 and DENV4 n = 12), and 10 dengue seronegative healthy volunteers from Sri Lanka. The cut-off value for the positive antibody response was set by taking the mean response of a peptide to the negative sera plus three standard deviations. The peptides (N = 7) showing the broad immune responses were used to generate antibodies in three mice (Balb/c) batches. The mice antisera were then subjected to microneutralization assays against all the four DENV serotypes. An EC50 viral neutralization ≥ 40 times the serum dilution was considered as neutralizing. Results Five of the E-peptide and two prM peptides were recognised by most individuls exposed to infections with each of the four serotypes, showing a serotype cross-reactive broad antibody response. The mice immune sera against the peptides representing the five E protein epitopes neutralized all the four DENV serotypes. Two of these five epitopes are from the Domain II, whereas one of them includes the whole bc-loop region. Conclusion The antibody responses of highly conserved epitopes across the serotypes, were broadly responsive with sera of all four DENV serotypes collected from individuals infected with only one DENV serotype. Weakly conserved epitopes showed rather specific antibody responses dominated by one or few serotypes.

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an amino acid derivative and precursor for creatine which plays a significant role in energy metabolism. However, because of creatine’s instability during the manufacturing process and cost, GAA has been explored as an effective alternative to creatine supplements. GAA has been tested as a potential feed additive to enhance energy utilization and growth performance in the poultry and swine industries. Moreover, GAA has been combined with methionine to improve growth outcomes and may also act as an arginine-sparing agent in birds. The safety of the GAA supplements for animals, consumers, and the environment and its efficacy in numerous livestock species have been proven. This narrative review discusses the scientific evidence regarding the metabolism and effects of GAA supplementation in swine and poultry, identifying the knowledge gaps and future directions for further research on GAA supplementation. A systematic search of the literature identified published research findings related to GAA supplementation in swine and poultry and their findings are summarized in this narrative review to confirm the impacts of GAA supplementation on growth performance, reproductive performance, and meat quality in swine and poultry. Amongst its many demonstrated benefits, GAA is effective at improving body creatine concentration, growth parameters, feed conversion ratio, and performance of animals. Although GAA exerts many non-creatine roles, including the stimulation of insulin secretion, neuromodulation, and vasodilation, further research may require in-depth elaboration.

Study region: Varahi River originating from the Western Ghats of India. Study focus: We developed a hybrid model that integrates process-based hydrological model (PHM) and data-driven (DD) techniques to generate streamflow simulations precisely. The hybrid modeling framework is practical as it respects hydrological processes through the PHM while considering the advantage of the DD model's ability to simulate the complex relationship between residuals and input variables. Further, we have proposed an optimization-based nudging scheme for post-processing the hybrid model simulated streamflow to overcome the limitations in PHM and DD. New hydrological insights for the region: We formulated two approaches for simulating streamflow ensembles using DD and PHM models. In approach− 1, DD models are initially used to ensemble meteorological variables and then use the ensembles in a PHM to simulate streamflows. In approach− 2, PHM is forced with different sets of meteorological variables to simulate multiple streamflow sets and then use DD models to ensemble the PHM-derived streamflows. Random forest exhibited better performance for ensembling precipitation, temperature, and streamflow datasets compared to the other five DD algorithms in the study. Streamflows generated using approach− 2 showed reliable estimates when compared against observed streamflow values. However, post-processing the hybrid streamflows using an optimization-based nudging scheme outperformed the streamflows generated in approach− 1 and approach− 2 with better model fit statistics (R2 and NSE of 0.69 and 0.66). The output from the nudging scheme was further utilized for streamflow predictions under the combined impact of land use/cover (LULC) and climate change (CC) under the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 scenario. It depicted a decrease in monthly and seasonal stream flows with − 22.65 %, − 31.77 %, − 11.81 % for winter, summer, and monsoon seasons, respectively. These results suggest that water availability will decline, and water scarcity will increase in the study region. These variations in streamflow might negatively impact agriculture and natural ecosystems and even lead to water restrictions in the region.

Abstract Eco-restoration initiative work in the high altitude Dayara pastureland (3501 m) from the Indian Himalayan Region has been considered to be one of the successful field demonstration against both natural and anthropogenic degradation. The present study therefore attempts to assess the implications of entire eco-restoration model as practiced by Department of Forest, Government of Uttarakhand in 2019. Its assessment was done by calculating restoration success index by way of considering three categories, viz., direct management measure (M), environmental desirability (E) and socio-economic feasibility (SE) considering 22 individual variables. ‘M’ comprised both biotic and abiotic pressures. Grazing and tourism were biotic, while abiotic pressure was considered mainly soil erosion in alpine area due to topographic fragility. Above ground vegetation profile and below ground soil nutrient profile (N, P, K, pH and water holding capacity) were analyzed in ‘E’ component. In the last but not least, ‘SE’ was analyzed to assess the social acceptability of the local communities and stakeholders who are supposed to be ultimate beneficiary of alike interventions. Direct management measure was found with the variable index score of 0.8 indicating the higher score as compared to environmental desirability (0.56). Under direct management measure, grazing and tourists’ carrying capacity of the area was analyzed with high management needs to call the region sustainable in terms of availability of bio-resources. The ecosystem index score was evaluated for the reference (81.94), treated (64.5) and untreated zones (52.03), wherein increasing profile of these values were found. The outcomes like improved vegetation profile in terms of total herb density, soil nutrient profile of the restored area along with soil pH (4.96) and water holding capacity (49.85%) were found to be restored significantly along with controlling 169.64 tonne year-1 soil erosion from draining. The assessment of grazing pattern of 118 migratory Cow Unit (CU) (76 horse/mule and 18 sheep/goat, already controlled), 318 local CU (30 horse/mule and 187 sheep/goat) were calculated and recommended to be controlled. Tourists’ carrying capacity of 274 tourists per day and manual removal of Rumex nepalensis at the shepherd camping site were found to be worth to apply in the area. Use of biodegradable but locally sourced material and engaging local villagers in this endeavor were also found to be in harmony with SDG Goal 1 (no poverty). Therefore, the restoration and its evaluation model could have its future prospects to prove as a successful restoration practice. This restoration practice could not only be worth in high altitude degraded alpine pastures of the Indian Himalayan Region but also to other mountain alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems.

Hemp seeds are currently used mainly for oil extraction, generating waste that could be potentially exploited further as a source of proteins and other bioactives. This study aims to valorise hemp waste (Cannabis sativa, L.) from previous oil extraction as a source of protein by analysing the effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) pre-treatments (0–600 MPa; 4–8 min) combined with conventional or ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods on protein recovery/purity, amino acid composition, and protein structure. Overall, maximum protein recovery (≈62%) was achieved with HPP (200 MPa, 8 min) with UAE. The highest protein purity (≈76%) was achieved with HPP (200 MPa, 4 min) with UAE. Overall, UAE improved the extraction of all amino acids compared to conventional extraction independently of HPP pre-treatments. Arg/Lys ratios of the protein isolates ranged between 3.78 and 5.34, higher than other vegetable protein sources. SDS-PAGE did not show visible differences amongst the protein isolates. These results seem to indicate the advantages of the use of UAE for protein recovery in the food industry and the need for further studies to optimise HPP/UAE for an accurate estimation of processing costs and their effects on the composition and structure of proteins to contribute further to the circular economy.

Microalgae are potential sources for the sustainable production of valuable chemicals including polyphenols, pigments, and ω-3 PUFAs. However, successful exploitation of these high value compounds in the food, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors depends greatly on their effective separation, identification, and analysis after recovery from the biomass. The findings of this review paper illustrated that chromatographic methods coupled to different types of detectors have been used as a crucial part of research on microalgal polyphenols, Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (ω-3 PUFAs), and pigments production through identification, measurement, sample preparation, and purification practices. Therefore, it is important to provide a comprehensive review regarding the current research in the field. The basic operating principles, parametric optimisation and detection units of common (liquid chromatography and gas chromatography) and novel chromatographic techniques (counter current chromatography, expanded bed adsorption chromatography and supercritical fluid chromatography) used to separate, identify, and quantify polyphenols, PUFAs and pigments from microalgae matrices are comprehensively reviewed.

Abstract COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 is a current global challenge and urgent discovery of potential drugs to combat this pandemic is a need of the hour. 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease (3CLpro) enzyme is the vital molecular target against the SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, in the present study, 1528 anti-HIV1compounds were screened by sequence alignment between 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 and avian infectious bronchitis virus (avian coronavirus) followed by machine learning predictive model, drug-likeness screening and molecular docking, which resulted in 41 screened compounds. These 41 compounds were re-screened by deep learning model constructed considering the IC50 values of known inhibitors which resulted in 22 hit compounds. Further, screening was done by structural activity relationship mapping which resulted in two structural clefts. Thereafter, functional group analysis was also done, where cluster 2 showed the presence of several essential functional groups having pharmacological importance. In the final stage, Cluster 2 compounds were re-docked with four different PDB structures of 3CLpro, and their depth interaction profile was analyzed followed by molecular dynamics simulation at 100 ns. Conclusively, 2 out of 1528 compounds were screened as potential hits against 3CLpro which could be further treated as an excellent drug against SARS-CoV-2.

In this work, fiber strands of Wine Palm (Caryota urens) and Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) plants were extracted and characterized. The extracted fiber strands were given water treatment for making comparisons with its dried counterpart. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to determine the micro structure, morphological properties and chemical compositions. Mechanical properties were studied using universal testing machine (UTM). XRD results indicate an increase in crystallinity of the fiber strands with water treatment and FTIR Spectroscopy reveals the variation of functional groups in these fibers. SEM analysis indicates smoothening of the surface on water treatment. The fineness of these fiber strands was found to be 372.18 denier and 13.63 denier respectively for CU and HS fibers. UTM results confirm that tensile strength increases on water treatment for both the fibers. These fibers have competitive advantages when evaluated with other natural fibers.

Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) disease is an extremely ruinous disease in rice, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Although various chemicals are available to manage BLB, they are toxic to the environment as well as humans. Hence there is a need to develop new pesticides as alternatives to hazardous chemicals. Therefore, a study was carried out to discover new potent natural pesticides against Xoo from different solvent extracts of Vernonia cinerea. Among all the fractions, the methanolic extract showed the highest inhibition zone. Further, to gain mechanistic insight of inhibitory action, 40 molecules of methanolic extracts were subjected for in silico study against two enzymes D-alanine-D-alanine ligase (Ddl) and Peptide deformylase (PDF). In silico study showed Rutin and Methanone, [1,4-dimethyl-7-(1- methylethyl)-2- azulenyl]phenyl have a good binding affinity with Ddl while Phenol, 2,4-bis(1-phenylethyl)- and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester showed an excellent binding affinity to PDF. Finally, the system biology approach was applied to understand the agrochemical's effect in the cell system of bacteria against both the enzymes. Conclusively, these four-hit compounds may have strong potential against Xoo and can be used as biopesticides in the future.

In this present analysis we investigated the steady-state magnetohydrodynamic boundary layer flow of tangent hyperbolic fluid over an exponentially stretching surface in the presence of heat source and chemical reaction. The chemical reaction with combination of exponential surface has significance in many industrial and manufacturing systems. The partial nonlinear differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations by using the similarity conversion and the accomplished boundary layer ordinary differential equations are elucidated numerically by using Shooting technique. The effects of numerous non-dimensional governing factors on velocity, temperature and concentration profiles were depicted graphically and analyzed in detail. The numerically computed results of Skin friction factor, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are presented in tabular form for suction and injection cases separately.Heat transfer rate at the surface increases with increasing values of power law of index and whereas it declines with the magnetic field, heat source and chemical reaction parameters. It observed that Biot number enhances the skin friction, Nusselt number and decrease the Sherwood number.Heat transfer rate and mass transfer rate increases and skin friction decreases with increasing Eckert number.

This study gives unsteady radiative magneto hydrodynamic Carreau-Casson fluids in suspension of graphene particle with Cattaneo-Christov model. A simulation is performed by mixing of graphene nanoparticles into the base water. The arising set of governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using similarity transformations and then solved numerically using shooting technique with Runge-Kutta (RK) method. The computational results for non-dimensional temperature and velocity profiles are presented through graphs and tables. We also presented the numerical values of physical quantities (friction factor and local numbers) for various physical parameters. We compared the present results with existing literature under some limited case. At the end of this analysis we concluded that, the temperature profiles are higher in Casson fluid when compared to Carreau fluid. Similarly, the friction between the particles is more in Casson fluid compare to Carreau fluid, and heat transfer rate is high in Carreau fluid compared to Casson fluid. This help us to conclude that the cooling treatment by using Casson fluid is useful compared to Carreau fluid over unsteady sheet.

Recurrence of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is seen in 1965% cases of postrenal transplant resulting in graft loss in up to 35-50% of cases. A 31-year-old female, after 1% years on maintenance hemodialysis, underwent ABO compatible deceased donor kidney transplantation with basiliximab induction. During the immediate posttransplant period, the patient had delayed graft function, but achieved nadir creatinine of 0.9 mg/dL by 10 days. Nine months posttransplant, the patient developed fever, anasarca, and decrease in urine output with albuminuria 3+, active sediments in urine, serum creatinine 3.5 mg/dL, 24-h urine protein 7.5 g, and low C3. The patient underwent graft biopsy. Subsequently, the patient received pulse steroid for three days and five sessions of plasmapheresis. Renal biopsy report was suggestive of MPGN with focal crescents and acute tubular necrosis. Immunofluorescence showed Ig G3+, C3 3+, к 3+, and negative for λ or other immunoglobulins or complements. As her native kidney disease was immune-complex-mediated MPGN with no light chain restriction, paraffin tissue of the native kidney was reexamined for light chain restrictions by immunoperoxidase method, but did not show light chain restriction. The patient underwent extensive workup for paraproteinemias, but results were negative. Subsequently, she received four doses of bortezomib. The patient’s serum creatinine got reduced to 0.8 mg/dL and proteinuria reduced to 800 mg/day. Our case is unique as we were not able to demonstrate monoclonal deposits in native kidney sample although there was recurrence of MPGN with monoclonal light chain deposits post transplant. Our findings emphasize the need for thorough evaluation of paraproteinemias in patients with idiopathic MPGN even in the absence of light chain deposition in biopsy.

Recurrence of glomerulonephritis is the third-leading cause of allograft loss. Graft loss due to IgA nephropathy occurs in 10% at 10-year follow-up. The NEFIGAN trial demonstrated that Target Release Formulation (TRF) of budesonide is a specific treatment for IgA nephropathy targeting intestinal mucosal immunity upstream of disease manifestation with favorable safety profile. We are reporting a case of successful treatment of a patient with posttransplant IgA nephropathy with TRF of budesonide.