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Abstract In therapeutic diagnostics, early diagnosis and monitoring of heart disease is dependent on fast time-series MRI data processing. Robust encryption techniques are necessary to guarantee patient confidentiality. While deep learning (DL) algorithm have improved medical imaging, privacy and performance are still hard to balance. In this study, a novel approach for analyzing homomorphivally-encrypted (HE) time-series MRI data is introduced: The Multi-Faceted Long Short-Term Memory (MF-LSTM). This method includes privacy protection. The MF-LSTM architecture protects patient’s privacy while accurately categorizing and forecasting cardiac disease, with accuracy (97.5%), precision (96.5%), recall (98.3%), and F1-score (97.4%). While segmentation methods help to improve interpretability by identifying important region in encrypted MRI images, Generalized Histogram Equalization (GHE) improves image quality. Extensive testing on selected dataset if encrypted time-series MRI images proves the method’s stability and efficacy, outperforming previous approaches. The finding shows that the suggested technique can decode medical image to expose visual representation as well as sequential movement while protecting privacy and providing accurate medical image evaluation.

In this report, we describe a case of homozygous delta-beta (δβ) thalassaemia, a rare genetic disorder characterized by severe deficiency in delta (δ) and beta (β)-globin chain production, leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and chronic haemolytic anaemia. The patient, a 26-year-old female with δβ-thalassaemia, experienced a miscarriage. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed 89.5% foetal haemoglobin (HbF) and 14.4% glycated HbF. Sebia capillary electrophoresis showed haemoglobin peak of 97.2% and 2.8%. Kleihauer Bekte test indicated a pancellular pattern of foetal cells, while morphology analysis demonstrated microcytic, hypochromic red cells and target cells. Gene analysis confirmed compound heterozygosity for two large deletions in the β-globin gene cluster.

The novelty of this research lies in presenting a fresh stochastic algorithm enthused via ‘Velociraptor’ social intelligence in wildlife (or nature), known as the Velociraptor Group Optimization algorithm (VROA). In this strategy, ‘Velociraptor’ co-operative natural life cycle is mathematically framed, and novel mechanisms are presented to perform search (or exploration) and hunting (or exploitation). This suggests that the proposed method reveals a noteworthy ability in both exploitation and exploration. Furthermore, it successfully stabilities exploration and exploitation, supporting the search process. In the direction of evaluating the VROA, we utilized it on 51 CEC'17, CEC'20, and CEC'22 standard benchmark suites and six multidisciplinary engineering optimization functions. Furthermore, well-known statistical methods like Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Friedman's test have been used to verify the strength of the proposed algorithm against various optimizers. The tabulated numerical and statistical solutions show that VROA performs better than recent optimizers on most standard test suites and has efficiently attained the most competent resolution while concurrently upholding adherence to the designated constraints. The results validate that VROA can offer efficient and accurate optimal solutions in evaluation with recent metaheuristics.

In this study, for the first time a magnetically recoverable zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) / graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/ cooper ferrite (CuFe2O4) nanocomposite was prepared through a fast and simple wet impregnation procedure. The magnetic behavior of the ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 heterostructure was used for the easy recovery of the nanocomposite by an external magnet. After studying the structural, crystallinity, magnetic, and photophysical properties of the as-syntesized sample, its application was investigated for the enhanced photodegradation of tetracycline under visible light illumination. The band gap energies for ZIF-8, g-C3N4, and CuFe2O4 were obtained 5.1 eV, 2.8 eV, and 1.3 eV, respectively. After combination of ZIF-8, g-C3N4, and CuFe2O4, the band gap energy was obtained to 2.4 eV, which indicate the improvement of photocatalytic activity of ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 nanocomposite. Among the as-synthesized photocatalyst samples, the ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 showed an excellent photocatalytic activity (99.15 %) for degradation of tetracycline within 65 min irradiation of visible light, solution pH of 5 and photocatalyst dosage of 0.75 g/L. The rate constant of the ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 is almost 13.1, 9.9, and 15.6 times higher than that of ZIF-8, g-C3N4, and CuFe2O4, respectively. The ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 heterojunction showed the effective degradation activity for four consecutive cycles, which exhibited its excellent reusability and stability. Moreover, the free radical quenching tests confirmed that holes, and hydroxyl radicals were the main reaction species for degradation of tetracycline. Altogether the preparation of novel ZIF-8/g-C3N4/CuFe2O4 provides an promise avenue for the development of high potential magtenticaly photocatalytic systems for sustainable tetracycline production with remarkable efficiencies.

Abstract We study a set of two-loop non-planar master integrals needed for the NNLO QCD corrections to diphoton and dijet production at hadron colliders. The top-sector topology contains an internal massive fermion loop and is known to contain elliptic curves. Leveraging the method of differential equations, we provide a comprehensive discussion for deriving an ϵ-factorized differential equation related to the most intricate sector within the Feynman integral family. Despite the dependence on multiple scales and the presence of two elliptic sectors, we demonstrate how to leverage the properties of their maximal cuts and the factorization of the Picard-Fuchs operator to deal with the complexity of the analytic computation. In particular, we construct a transformation matrix that brings the differential equations into a format enabling the convenient expression of analytic results in terms of Chen’s iterated integrals.

Abstract Future colliders aim to provide highly precise experimental measurements of the properties of the Higgs boson. In order to benefit from these precision machines, theoretical errors in the Higgs sector observables have to match at least the experimental uncertainties. The theoretical uncertainties in the Higgs sector observables can be reduced by including missing higher-order terms in their perturbative calculations. In this direction, we compute the mixed QCD-electroweak corrections at $$\mathcal{O}\left({\alpha \alpha }_{s}\right)$$ to the Higgs decay into four charged leptons by considering the golden decay channel, H → e + e − μ + μ − . Due to color conservation, these corrections receive contributions only from the two-loop virtual diagrams. In the complex mass scheme, we find that the mixed QCD-electroweak corrections to the partial decay width, relative to the leading order predictions, are positive and about 0.27% for α s (M Z ). Relative to the next-to-leading order electroweak corrections, the mixed QCD-electroweak corrections are found to be approximately 18% for α s (M Z ). With respect to the leading order, we observe a flat effect of the mixed QCD-electroweak corrections on the invariant mass distribution of the lepton pairs with fixed QCD coupling. The ϕ distribution, due to the mixed QCD-electroweak corrections, follows a (1 − cos ϕ) dependence.

The recent global resurgence of Mpox (formerly monkeypox), primarily transmitted via close contact and respiratory droplets, highlights a significant shift in its epidemiology, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This resurgence underscores the need for robust public health responses and improved surveillance. This comprehensive review of current literature focuses on recent outbreaks, virology, and available treatments. Epidemiological data were gathered from various international health reports and analysed to understand transmission dynamics and outbreak patterns. Mpox, characterised by symptoms like fever and rash, has shown variable clinical presentations, particularly among immunocompromised individuals. Recent outbreaks have prompted the development of new diagnostic methods and treatments, including antivirals like Tecovirimat and vaccines such as MVA-BN. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing infection, which is crucial for outbreak containment. The global response to the Mpox resurgence requires integrated strategies combining vaccination, antiviral treatments, and public health policies tailored to high-risk populations. Future efforts should focus on vaccine distribution equity and enhancing diagnostic capabilities to effectively manage and mitigate the impact of Mpox.

In today's digital world, with growing population and increasing pollution, unhealthy lifestyle habits like irregular eating, junk food consumption, and lack of exercise are becoming more common, leading to various health problems, including kidney issues. These factors directly affect human kidney health. To address this, we require early detection techniques that rely on text data. Text data contains detailed information about a patient's medical history, symptoms, test results, and treatment plans, giving a complete picture of kidney health and enabling timely intervention. In this research paper, we proposed a range of sophisticated models, such as Gradient Boosting Classifier, Light GBM, CatBoost, Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Boost, Logistic Regression, XGBoost, Deep Neural Network (DNN), and an Improved DNN. The Improved DNN demonstrated exceptional performance, with an accuracy of 90 %, precision of 89 %, recall of 90 %, and an F1-Score of 89.5 %. By combining traditional machine learning and deep neural networks, this integrative approach enables the identification of intricate patterns in datasets. The model's data-driven processes consistently update internal parameters, guaranteeing flexibility in response to evolving healthcare settings. This research represents a notable advancement in the progress of creating a more detailed and individualised ability to diagnose kidney stones, which could potentially lead to better clinical results and patient treatment.

The etiology of PCOS is complex and frequently mis or undiagnosed, which may enhance morbidity and reduce the quality of life. Attenuated total reflection- Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy examines the structural fingerprints of the biochemical compounds and can provide distinct FTIR spectra of the PCOS cases and controls. The present study recruited 61 PCOS cases and 38 control women. The student's t-test was used to compare BMI, WHR, and lipid profile. The FTIR spectral region was compared among both groups using the Mann-Whitney U test and multivariate analysis involved principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). FTIR spectra of different phenotypes of PCOS were also analyzed using multivariate analysis. In univariate analysis, PCOS women had significantly higher WHR (p = 0.007), BMI (p = 0.04), triglycerides (p = 0.04), and VLDL (p = 0.02) than the controls. The spectral regions of amide I (1700-1600 cm-1) and amide II (1580-1480 cm-1), were significantly greater in the PCOS group than in the controls (p

Use of the green approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles has gained significant interest in the field of nanotechnology. The applicability of greener nanomaterials in environmental remediation has unveiled their tremendous properties and potentiality to eradicate the pollutants from nature in ecofriendly manner. In the present paper, we proposed synthesis of TiO2-Al2O3-ZnFe2O4 nanocomposites using flower extract of Hibiscus rosa sinesis via hydrothermal approach. The synthesized product was characterized by several optical and morphological techniques i.e. Field emission scanning electron microscope, X ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Brunauer Emmett Teller. To conclude, Field emission scanning electron microscope reveals the nanostructures are of 40-130 nm size. X ray diffraction reveals the presence of rutile TiO2 and hexagonal Al2O3 along with ZnFe2O4 crystallites. Barrett-Joyner-Halenda model reveals that the pore volume and pore diameter were found to be 38.206 m2/g, 0.048 cc/g and 3.640 nm, respectively. TiO2-Al2O3-ZnFe2O4 have shown photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (96.54 ± 1.24%.), industrial sample (88.52 ± 0.64), and heavy metal hexavalent chromium (94.7 ± 3.20%) in the presence of sunlight. Besides, the synthesized product exhibited good antioxidant properties (84 ± 2.1%) against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl.

Abstract In the realm of high-performance sports, athletes often prioritize success at the expense of their well-being. Consequently, sports psychology researchers are now focusing on creating psychological profiles for athletes that can forecast their performance while safeguarding their overall well-being. A recent development in this field is the concept of athletic mental energy (AME), which has been associated with both sporting success and positive emotions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore if AME in athletes can mediate this directly observed relationship between performance and psychological well-being. For stronger predictive validity these relationships were examined across two studies with each involving distinct sets of participants engaged in various sports disciplines, including football, cricket, basketball, archery, and more. The self-report measures of sports performance, athletic mental energy (AME), and psychological well-being (PWB) were administered post-competition on the local, regional, state, national, international, and professional level athletes of age 18 and above. Our study found that both, the affective and cognitive components of AME mediated the athletes’ performance and psychological well–being relationship. Interestingly, the study found no significant gender differences in AME and PWB scores. While family structures didn’t yield significant variations in AME scores, there were some descriptive distinctions in PWB scores across different family structures. Our research offers preliminary evidence suggesting that AME can play a pivotal role in preserving athletes’ psychological well-being following competitive events.

Abstract This study was conducted to analyze the association of Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor (LHCGR) gene rs4953616 and rs7371084 polymorphisms with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Punjab, India. A total of 823 women (443 PCOS cases and 380 healthy controls) were enrolled in the present study. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR–RFLP) was used for genotyping. Anthropometric parameters, lipid and hormonal profiles, were compared between the two groups. Demographic features were compared using Mann Whitney U test while the Chi-square test and odds ratios (ORs) were used to assess the genetic association and risk towards PCOS, respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was employed to analyze the correlation of genotypes with baseline parameters in PCOS cases. A statistically significant difference was revealed in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs4953616 polymorphism between PCOS cases and controls (p = 0.01 and p = 0.004, respectively). The mutant genotype (TT), mutant allele (T), and recessive model of rs4953616 polymorphism conferred 1.77, 1.3, and 1.5 times risk towards PCOS, respectively. No significant distribution for genotypes and alleles was found for rs7371084 in both groups (p = 0.25 and p = 0.26, respectively). In addition to dyslipidemia, PCOS women also had significantly higher body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), testosterone (T), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Upon haplotype analysis, the TT haplotype was found to be significantly associated with the increased risk of PCOS. Our results demonstrated a significant role of LHCGR rs4953616 polymorphism in the development of PCOS.

Over 21 days of cold storage, the quality and microbial composition of beef steaks in response to different high-CO2 packaging conditions achieved by flushing gas mixtures or embedding gas emitters into the packages were studied. The results revealed that the high levels of CO2, achieved by either the gas flushing or the CO2 emitter pads, effectively controlled the number of aerobic counts. The headspace CO2 increased quickly in response to using the CO2 emitter pads, and the meat samples presented different pH levels and surface color (a* and b*) values compared to the samples packaged with the gas flushing technique. Excessive accumulation of gas in the packages that contained CO2 emitters resulted in package swelling and higher levels of drip loss. The longest overall quality and attractive red color of the meat samples were observed when the packages were initially flushed with the headspace gas mixture containing high levels of oxygen. Overall, using CO2 emitters for meat packaging can be suggested when a topfilm with proper permeability to O2 and CO2 gases is used to regulate the internal CO2/O2 and gas/product ratios.

The most frequent cystic lesions that affect the jaw are radicular cysts. The current case report describes the surgical management of a radicular cyst in the periapical region of maxillary central and lateral incisors, and highlights the efficacy of natural platelet concentrate [platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)] along with Ostoden bone graft material used for postoperative healing. A 46-year-old male patient presented to the department with swelling in the palatal aspect of the maxillary anterior region. On radiographic examination, a radiolucent periapical lesion was evident in relation to the left maxillary central and lateral incisor. In the maxillary anterior region, root canal therapy was performed, followed by periapical surgery, and PRF with Ostoden bone graft was placed in the surgical site to initiate the healing at a faster rate. The patient was recalled at follow-ups after 7 days, 3, 6, and 9 months. No symptoms such as pain, inflammation, or discomfort were observed during the review period.

Abstract While adjuvant treatment with the selective-estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen has been the standard of care for pre-menopausal patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer, recent trials showed a benefit of aromatase inhibitors (AI) and ovarian function suppression (OFS) for some patients. The approach to endocrine therapy has not been well studied in pre-menopausal patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). We identified 202 pre-menopausal patients with HR positive stage I-III ILC in an institutional database. We investigated factors associated with endocrine therapy type and determined changes in systemic therapy from 1990–2021. We evaluated associations between endocrine therapy type and disease-free survival (DFS) with a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Of 202 patients, most (69.3%) were prescribed a SERM (99.3% tamoxifen). Those who received an AI had significantly higher stage disease. Over time, use of OFS and AI increased significantly in stage II or III cases (from 0% in 1990 to 56% after 2015 for stage II; from 0% to 80% after 2015 for stage III). Concurrently, adjuvant chemotherapy use significantly decreased in stage II cases (from 67% to 19%). In an exploratory multivariable model, longer duration of AI compared to tamoxifen was associated with significantly improved DFS (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.11–0.86; p = 0.025). While most pre-menopausal patients received adjuvant tamoxifen, the use of OFS and AIs increased significantly over time. The association between AI use and improved DFS may be consistent with prior randomized trials and warrants further investigation into predictive factors to guide treatment selection.

Abstract Background Two polymorphisms, rs6165 and rs6166 located in the intracellular domain of FSHR has been reported to affect folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis and oocyte maturation. Several studies have highlighted the role of FSHR polymorphisms in PCOS but the findings are conflicting. A meta-analysis was carried out to decipher the emerging perspectives. Methodology A comprehensive literature search was made using PubMed, PCOSkb, and Google Scholar. New Ottawa Scale has been utilized to evaluate the quality of each article. To evaluate the strength of association under different genetic models of rs6165 and rs6166 polymorphisms, odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Results A total of 20 articles were selected for the present study. In pooled analysis and after the stratification by ethnicity, polymorphism rs6165 remains unrelated to the onset of PCOS. Besides, rs6166 exhibits significant protection in the Indian population under recessive, additive, and allele models (OR = 0.7, CI: 0.54–0.9, p = 0.006, OR = 0.65, CI: 0.48–0.89, p = 0.006, OR = 0.82, CI: 0.7–0.95, p = 0.01, respectively) and low to moderate risk in the Caucasian population under allele model (OR = 1.17, CI: 1.04–1.32, p = 0.01). Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that GG genotype of rs6166 provides protection against PCOS, in a population-specific manner.

Digital innovation continues to fuel business transformation. Organizations have realigned their strategic direction on enhanced adoption of digital technologies to leverage the opportunities provided by the new age technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence. Enterprises can leverage strategic advantage in talent - a key differentiator- by adopting Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management. More than ever now, Human Resources function now regarded as a trusted advisor, helping the organizations get through the transformational phase created by disruptive technologies. This research provides insights on how Human Resources function has evolved as a strategic partner by deployment of AI related technological advancements related, as it contributes to building organizational capabilities and making organization competitive, thus creating organizations that win in the market. It also looks at the challenges faced in Human Resource Management by deployment of Artificial Intelligence. Insights are shared on future directions of potential research that can be conducted in this field.

Abstract This study explores influence of charge transfer and X-ray absorption characteristics in aluminum (Al) and copper (Cu) co-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures for perovskite solar cell electrodes. Sol-gel technique was employed to synthesize the nanostructures, and their optical and morphological properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed high crystallinity and also single-phase composition of all the samples, particularly up to 5% Al co-doping. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) exhibited the formation of pseudo-hexagonal wurtzite nanostructure and the transition to nanorods at 5% Al co-doping. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy indicated a reduction in the optical band gap of co-doped zinc oxide from 3.11 to 2.9 eV with increasing Al doping. Photoluminescence spectra (PL) exhibited a decrease in peak intensity, suggesting enhanced conductivity in ZnO, also confirmed from I-V measurements. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) analysis depicts that charge transfer from Al to oxygen (O) species enhanced the photosensing properties of the nanostructure, which was supported by FESEM micrographs and PL spectra. Furthermore, the study discovered that 5% Al co-doping significantly reduced the density of emission defects (deep-level) in Cu–ZnO nanostructure. These findings highlight the potential of Cu and Al co-doped ZnO materials for perovskite solar cell electrodes, as their improved optical and morphological properties resulting from charge transfer could enhance device performance. The investigation of charge transfer and X-ray absorption characteristics provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and behaviors of the co-doped ZnO nanostructures. However, further research is required to delve into the intricate hybridization resulting from charge transfer and explore the broader impact of co-doping on other properties of the nanostructures, enabling a comprehensive understanding of their potential applications in perovskite solar cells.

The High-level synthesis (HLS) is a key step in the digital VLSI circuit design. HLS can be seen in the present study as an important matter of intelligently map a Data Flow Graph (DFG) specification of digital filters to FPGA. In this article, the powerful features of the Harris hawks optimization (HHO) and Cuckoo search (CS) algorithm have improved the performance of the proposed method. This proposed strategy is also known as the GChO algorithm. In GChO, the phase of CS helps to force the HHO to escape from stagnation, to ignore local optima and premature convergence. In addition for HLS, the three retiming-based models were also proposed in the work. The standard pipelining was employed in Model 1. The modified Min-Period Retiming on the multiplier less digital filters was incorporated by Model 2 and led to a significant improvement in clock frequency. Model 3 adopted modified Min-Area Retiming on digital filters and reduced the complexity of the circuit; however these designs therefore offer single parameter-based heuristic solution. This can be resolved by using meta-heuristic approach focused on retiming. The use of meta-heuristic methods and swarm intelligence has been considered as a highly desirable choice when searching the digital block solution space with higher frequency and reduced complexity in HLS problems. The robustness of the GChO method has been verified on IEEE CEC’ 2020 standard benchmark test suites. The paper analyzes that the performance of the proposed GChO algorithm outperforms the Harris hawks optimization (HHO), Moth Flame optimization algorithm, Particle Swarm optimization algorithm, Chimp optimization algorithm for the HLS digital filters. The experimental results show that the proposed Model 2 and 3 for retimed PDR-FIR filter is improved in term of MUF by 7.38% and utilized slices by 37.77%, PRO-DFII IIR retimed filter by 10.54%, and complexity reduced by 29.69%, PRO-LAT-ARF by 41.61% and slice by 11.17% and PRO-LATLAD-IIR improved in term of MUF, slices by 35.69% and 38.095% in relative to the standard retimed filters of various architecture. For the evolutionary GChO-retimed filter, an improvement in MUF by 58.52%, and utilized slices by 49.61%, for PDR-FIR, 48.09%, 80.76% for PRO-DFII-IIR , 52.68%, 54.33% for PRO-LAT-ARF, 27.85% and 18.46% for PRO-LATLAD-IIR are achieved in respect of Model 2 and 3 whereas an improvement in term of MUF by 34.60%, and utilized slices by 37.61%, for PDR-FIR, 40.55%, 39.66% for PRO-DFII-IIR, 40.08%, 31.33% for PRO-LAT-ARF, 26.95%, 24.41% for PRO-LATLAD-IIR are achieved with respect of other meta-heuristic methods.

Novel nanocellulose (cellulosic carbohydrate polymer) embedded with Wheat straw was synthesized, characterized and examined as nanoadsorbent for the removal of copper, lead and zinc metals from aqueous solution through batch mode. The effects of pH, dose, contact time, temperature and synchronous cations on the amount of Cu (II), Pb (II) and Zn (II) adsorbed have been probed. The desirable pH was 8 and nanoadsorbent dose was 0.6 g/50 mL in the adsorption study. The removal efficiencies of Cu (II), Pb (II) and Zn (II) were 88.75%, 81.18%, 86.84% respectively. Adsorption kinetic study was employed to analyze experimental data and adsorption process followed pseudo second order kinetic model. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Redlich-Peterson isotherm models were used to indicate the adsorption of Cu (II), Pb (II) and Zn (II) on WSN and thermodynamic study affirmed that adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. AFM indicated size and morphology and attachment of functional groups on WSN were examined by FTIR. The results confided that adsorption is economically competent method for removing Cu (II), Pb (II) and Zn (II) and WSN is anticipative owing to its ease and low cost of regeneration

This study was carried out in Amritsar, Punjab, to find out how efficiently nutrients were used and how much energy was employed in direct-seeded rice (DSR) production. In this study, four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 50, and 60 kg N ha−1) and three levels of phosphorus (0, 37.5, and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1) were tested. In a rice production system, the energy indices of various inputs and outputs were evaluated through the application of energy equivalency. The nutrient-use efficiencies in rice were assessed using different efficiency indices. The maximum grain yields of 38.9 q ha−1 and 36.9 q ha −1 were recorded at 50 kg N ha−1 and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1, respectively. On the other hand, application of nitrogen at 60 kg N ha−1 and phosphorus at 45 kg P2O5 ha−1 resulted in maximum straw yield of 57.1 q ha−1 and 51.1 q ha−1, respectively. In comparison with the control, application of 60 and 50 kg N ha−1 resulted in 161.9% and 151.0% higher grain yield, respectively. On the other hand, with applications of 45 kg P2O5 ha−1 and 37.5 kg P2O5 ha−1, an increase in the grain yield of 17.3 and 28.6%, respectively, over the control was recorded. Moving further towards nutrient-use efficiencies (NUEs), the highest values of partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN), agronomic efficiency of nitrogen (AEN), partial nutrient balance of nitrogen (PNBN), and recovery efficiency of nitrogen (REN) were 89.1, 50.4, 1.78 and 0.72, respectively, which were obtained at 40 kg N ha−1, after which the values started decreasing steadily. In the case of phosphorus, the partial factor productivity (PFPP) of 88.6 was the maximum at 37.5 kg P2O5 ha−1, but partial nutrient balance (PNBP) of 0.36 and recovery efficiency (REP) of 0.08 were highest at 45 kg P2O5 ha−1. The main results revealed that the farmer field had an excessive amount of non-renewable energy inputs. The experimental field depicted greater energy-usage efficiency (EUE) of 4.5, energy productivity (EP) of 0.14, and energy profitability (EP1) of 3.5. These results were primarily ascribed to a significant drop in energy inputs under direct-seeded rice (DSR). In the case of non-renewable energy inputs, fertilizer made the maximum contribution to energy input (47.9%) in the farmer’s field. We conclude that nutrient-use efficiencies and energy-use efficiency were highest at 50 kg N and 45 kg P2O5 ha−1. This recommendation is beneficial for farmers because lower inputs and higher outputs are the main objective of every farmer.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. According to the findings of various studies conducted around the world, the serological response varies greatly among different populations, with the determinants of variable response still unknown, including the role of disease severity, which is thought to have a definite correlation. The purpose of this study was to assess serial SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody response in COVID-19 patients and correlate it with disease severity. It was a longitudinal observational study in which 45 patients (age >18 yrs), were enrolled who had recovered from COVID-19 and were reporting to the post-COVID Care OPD Clinic. Patients who had been on long-term immunosuppressive therapy prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection were not eligible. All patients had not been immunized against SARS-CoV-2 and had no history of contact with recent COVID-19 cases. The patients underwent serial blood tests to determine serum IgG titers specific for SARS-CoV-2 at 30, 60, and 90 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Chemiluminescence was used to perform a semi-quantitative evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. At 30 days after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 98.78% had detectable serum IgG levels, and sero-reversion (loss of previously detectable antibodies) occurred in 2.5% at 60 days and 90 days. Serum IgG was found to peak at 30 days out of the three time points of measurement (30, 60, and 90 days from diagnosis). Serum IgG levels at 90 days were significantly lower than those at 30 days (p

Background: Medicinal plants have been widely used for treatment and management of various diseases. There are many different types of commercialized synthetic contraceptives on the market today for controlling fertility, these cannot be utilized since they have serious side effects such weight gain, hormonal alterations, hypertension, and cancer . In India, indigenous women from Tripura & Maharashtra have historically utilized the fruit pulp of Tamarindus Indicus to induce abortion. However, there is currently no accessible scientific data supporting the use of this plant for fertility control. Methods: The current study's objective was to evaluate the hydroalcoholic extract of Tamarindus indica fruit pulp's ability to induce abortion in female Wistar rats. In this experimental animal model, contraceptive activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Tamarindus indica (HAETI) was evaluated for anti-implantation, abortifacient, and estrogenic/antiestrogenic action. Female rats having ovariectomies were given HAETI extract (500 mg/kg) for 7 straight days to test to evaluate the estrogenic/anti-estrogenic action. All animals were killed on the eighth day, and the blood serum was then processed to determine the levels of several hormones, including LH, FSH, prolactin, estrogen, and others, as well as biochemical markers including cholesterol, total protein, glycogen, and alkaline phosphates. In this model, modifications to uterine histoarchitecture were also investigated. The extract was administered from the 1 to7 day of pregnancy. On 10th day, laparotomy was performed to evaluate the no. of implants in female rats. Results: Steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and alkaloids were detected during phytochemical analysis of the extract. the HAETI extract demonstrated significant anti-implantation and abortifacient effects. Additionally, the extract demonstrated significant estrogenic activity as evident by uterine histological parameters including increases in endometrium thickness and height, vaginal cornification. Further, the study found marked increases in glycogen, alkaline phosphate, estrogen, cholesterol levels when given alone or in combination with estradiol valerate. LH, FSH, and a little increase in prolactin levels were suppressed after HAETI administration. Conclusions: Our study's findings showed that Tamarindus indica fruit pulp hydroalcoholic extract has a potent contraceptive effect, which may be explained by the phytoconstituents of the plant's capacity to inhibit implantation and have an estrogenic effect. Further investigation on Tamarindus indica as a potential natural anti-implantation agent allow for new abortive drug.

The study presents the genetic diversity of Katchaikatty Black, an endangered and culturally significant sheep breed of Tamil Nadu. A panel of 25 microsatellite markers recommended for Indian sheep was used for genotyping. Considerable genetic variation in terms of allele diversity and heterozygosity was observed within the investigated breed. A total of 174 distinct alleles were detected across the analyzed microsatellite loci with an average of 6.96 alleles per locus. The average observed and expected heterozygosity values were 0.600 and 0.706, respectively. The positive heterozygote deficiency (FIS) value of 0.171, estimated for this breed may be due to the possibility of Wahlund effect resulting from sampling from different breeding flocks, i.e. different villages and flocks in the same area. A normal L-shaped curve suggested absence of genetic bottleneck in this breed. The information generated will be useful in guiding conservation and management programmes for Katchaikatty Black sheep.

Optical devices are frequently being used in medical applications to image lesions and malignancies, and to assist with surgical procedures. The advances in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMSs) and optics led to the fabrication of flexible endoscopes as small as a few millimeters in diameter. The design of a sub-millimeter sized optical fiber scanner is presented in this paper. The proposed scanner consisted of a vibrating optical fiber that carried the laser light to the targeted imaging sample. The desired vibratory motion of the scanning device was obtained using a U-shaped electrothermal actuator where the asymmetry in the actuator’s arm length caused the free end of the actuating device to bend allowing a bidirectional motion at its free end. The periodic square current wave passing through the actuator caused it to bend in a timely manner. By matching the signal frequency to the resonant frequency of the cantilever fiber and placing the cantilever appropriately relative to the actuator, the distal end of the fiber was allowed to follow a Lissajous scan. In optical scanners, the Lissajous scan pattern is normally obtained using a pair of actuators. This paper presents the design of a scanner providing a 2D Lissajous scan using a single actuator. Such a technique can provide basis for the development of sub-millimeter sized forward-viewing endoscopic catheters, whereas the smallest single fiber endoscope has a diameter of 1.2 mm. In the medical field, such a device has the potential to image small cavities of the body increasing the diagnostic yield of the medical procedures.

The advent of Industry 4.0 has brought with it the integration of digital twin technology, which has enabled businesses to develop a virtual replica of their physical assets. This technology allows businesses to optimize their operations and improve their overall efficiency. However, the successful implementation of digital twin technology in Industry 4.0 heavily relies on the effective utilization of gateways. A significant challenge in gateway utilization is the fair allocation of resources, particularly in heterogeneous environments where gateways have different capabilities. Digital Twin is helping Industry 4.0 vision by connecting the authorized people to the exact data and processes to protect the data/assets from unauthorized access. It is accomplished by connecting sensing devices using a unique addressing system and transmitting their combined data to the Internet of Things (IoT) cloud. Massive volumes of heterogeneous data have resulted from the rapid growth of IoT applications and services. As a result, evaluation of data which affects the Digital Twin enabled industry is studied in this article which focuses on data traffic generated from different Industry 4.0 applications and protection of data along with the industry assets is looked by Digital Twin technology. IoT gateways are currently used to connect the devices from various technologies to the Digital Twins. In such networks, sudden increase in demand of IoT gateways will increase with the increase in IoT devices and the operational cost will also be increased. In the proposed system, low-cost specific gateways are proposed to minimize cost and maximize network performance for protecting assets of smart city through Digital Twin technology. In order to accomplish effective resource allocation in a Digital Twin based infrastructure, data transmission fairness at every gateway is accomplished in an IIoT network by considering link scheduling issues. To address these issues and provide fairness in heterogeneous networks with enhanced data transfer, two steps solution is implemented. The Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) technique is used in the initial step of traffic prediction to assess the minimal time of prior traffic conditions before being applied to estimate dynamic traffic. In the second step, effective link scheduling and selection are made for each wireless technology, taking into account predicted load, gateway distance, link capacity, and estimated time. More data is transmitted at maximum capacity as a result of improved data transfer fairness for all gateways and then the data is protected by Digital Twin technology. Simulated results show that our suggested strategy performs better than other approaches by obtaining maximum network throughput in Industry 4.0 to provide protective solutions using Digital Twin technology.Index Terms – Internet of Things (IoT), Link Scheduling, Traffic Prediction, Machine Learning (ML), Industry 4.0.

Abstract WTe2 is one of the wonder layered materials, displays interesting overlapping of electron–hole pairs, opening of the surface bandgap, anisotropy in its crystal structure and very much sought appealing material for room temperature broadband photodection applications. Here we report the photoresponse of WTe2 thin films and microchannel devices fabricated on silicon nitride substrates. A clear sharp rise in photocurrent observed under the illumination of visible (532 nm) and NIR wavelengths (1064 nm). The observed phoresponse is very convincing and repetitive for ON /OFF cycles of laser light illumination. The channel length dependence of photocurrent is noticed for few hundred nanometers to micrometers. The photocurrent, rise & decay times, responsivity and detectivity are studied using different channel lengths. Strikingly microchannel gives few orders of greater responsivity compared to larger active area investigated here. The responsivity and detectivity are observed as large as 29 A/W and 3.6 × 108 Jones respectively. The high performing photodetection properties indicate that WTe2 can be used as a broad band material for future optoelectronic applications.

The non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are known to regulate expression of genes at the transcription, translation and processing levels. The present study was conducted to identify diverse short ncRNAs from milk somatic cells of lactating Murrah buffaloes. Elucidating the molecular drivers of lactation in dairy animals will help understand the process of lactation, eventually leading to improvement in milk production and quality. In order to discover the ncRNA, the transcriptome data of 12 samples of somatic cells from buffalo milk were analyzed. A web based pipeline, exceRpt was used to perform the analysis. The most abundant short ncRNA molecules discovered in buffalo milk were the miRNAs, followed by snRNAs. Least number of rRNAs was discovered in the investigated samples. The total number of rRNAs, tRNAs, snRNAs, snoRNAs and miRNAs were 12, 23, 72, 51 and 229 respectively, in the entire dataset. On matching with miRBase v22.1, a total of 1724, 897, 211 and 4 miRNAs were observed to be common to human, bovine, caprine and ovine genomes. The results provide information on the bioavailability of short ncRNAs in buffalo milk somatic cells, most of which are largely uncharacterized. The generated information is a step towards developing a database for ncRNAs in buffalo species.

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder that affects women at their child bearing age. The exact etiology is uncertain, however the involvement of multiple genes and environmental interactions has been proposed for the advancement of PCOS. The aim of present study was to evaluate the association of LHCGR variants (rs2293275 and rs12470652) with PCOS in Punjab. Methods The present case–control study comprised a total of 743 women (421 PCOS cases and 322 healthy controls). Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR–RFLP). Biochemical analysis was carried out to measure the levels of cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglycerides, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). All the statistical analysis was done using SPSS (version21, IBM SPSS, NY, USA). Results The mutant genotype (AA) and mutant allele (A) of rs2293275 conferred 1.7 and 1.3 fold risk, respectively and mutant allele (C) of rs12470652 conferred 2.3 fold risks towards PCOS progression. Levels of cholesterol and triglycerides were elevated and HDL levels were lower in PCOS cases as compared to controls. Total testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels were also found to be higher in PCOS cases. Conclusion Our study postulated that LHCGR variants are playing a cardinal role in the progression of PCOS and can be used to assess the risk of PCOS in women of reproductive age.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. The genetics of PCOS is heterogeneous with the involvement of number of genes in the steroid synthesis pathway. The CYP11B2 encodes aldosterone synthase and the genetic variants might increase aldosterone secretion in PCOS cases. CYP1A1 is known to enhance the intraovarian catechol estrogen production and thus the propensity for PCOS. The present case-control study analyzed a total of 619 females for CYP11B2 (rs1799998) and CYP1A1 (rs4646903) polymorphisms. Obesity was examined according to body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) categorization. Biochemical (lipid profile) analysis was performed in PCOS females. BMI (P=0.0001) and WHR (P=0.0001) revealed a statistically significant difference between PCOS cases and controls. The overall levels of triglycerides were higher in PCOS females. The genotype frequency distribution of CYP11B2 (rs1799998) polymorphism revealed statistically significant difference between PCOS cases and controls (P=0.017). However, CYP1A1 (rs4646903) polymorphism did not showed any association with PCOS. The present case-control association analysis is first from our region for CYP1A1 and CYP11B2 polymorphisms and is suggestive of genetic predisposition of steroidogenic genes among PCOS patients in the North-Indian Punjabi females.

Abstract The HLS of digital filters is a complex optimization task in electronic design automation that increases the level of abstraction for designing and scheming digital circuits. The complexity of this issue attracting the interest of the researcher and solution of this issue is a big challenge for the researcher. The scientists are trying to present the various most powerful methods for this issue, but keep in mind these methods could be trapped in the complex space of this problem due to own weaknesses. Due to shortcomings of these methods, we are trying to design a new framework with the mixture of the phases of the powerful approaches for high level synthesis of digital filters in this work. This modification has been done by merging the chimp optimizer with sine cosine functions. The sine cosine phases helped in enhancing the exploitation phase of the chimp optimizer and also ignored the local optima in the search area during the searching of new shortest paths. The algorithms have been applied on 23-standard test suites and 14-digital filters for verifying the performance of the algorithms. Experimental results of single and multi-objective functions have been compared in terms of best score, best maxima, average, standard deviation, execution time, occupied area and speed respectively. Furthermore, by analyzing the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm with the recent algorithms for the HLS digital filters design, this can be concluded that the proposed method dominates the other two methods in HLS digital filters design. Another prominent feature of the proposed system in addition to the stated enhancement, is its rapid runtime, lowest delay, occupied area and lowest power in achieving an appropriate response. This could greatly reduce the cost of systems with broad dimensions while increasing the design speed.

In the present study, two innovative techniques namely, Deep Learning (DL) and Gradient boosting Machine (GBM) models are developed based on a maximum air temperature ‘univariate modeling scheme’ for modeling the monthly pan evaporation (Epan) process. Monthly air temperature and pan evaporation are used to build the predictive models. These models are used for evaluating the evaporation prediction for the Kiashahr meteorological station located in the north of Iran and Ranichauri station positioned in Uttarakhand State of India. Findings indicated that the deep learning model was found best at Kiashahr station for testing datasets MAE (0.5691, mm/month), RMSE (0.7111, mm/month), NSE (0.7496), and IOA (0.9413). It can be concluded that in the semi-arid climate of Iran both of the used methods had the good capability in modeling of monthly Epan. However, DL predicted monthly Epan better than GBM. Moreover, the highest accuracy of the deep learning model was also observed for the Ranichauri station in terms of MAE = 0.3693 mm/month, RMSE = 0.4357 mm/month, NSE = 0.8344, & IOA = 0.9507 in testing stage. Overall, results expose the superior performance of DL-based models for both study stations and can also be utilized for various other environmental modeling.

Abstract We present analytic results for all the Feynman integrals relevant for O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (αα s ) virtual corrections to H → ZZ * decay. We use the method of differential equations to solve the master integrals while keeping the full dependence on the masses of all the particles, including those propagating in the loop. Due to the presence of four mass scales, we encounter multiple square roots. We argue that all the occurring square roots can not be rationalized at the same time as a simultaneous rationalization brings us to integrals over CY 3 manifolds. Hence we rationalize only three square roots simultaneously and construct suitable ansätze to obtain dlog-forms containing the square roots after obtaining an epsilon-factorised form for the differential equations in D = 4 − 2ϵ dimensions. We present the alphabet and the analytic form of all the boundary constants that appear in the solutions of the differential equations. The results for master integrals are expressed in terms of Chen’s iterated integrals with dlog one-forms.

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile pathogen that resists environmental stress, such as suboptimal pH. As a result of exposure to environmental stress, P. aeruginosa shows an altered virulence-related phenotype. This study investigated the modifications that P. aeruginosa undertakes at a mildly low pH (pH 5.0) compared with the bacteria grown in a neutral medium (pH 7.2). Results indicated that in a mildly acidic environment, expression of two-component system genes (phoP/phoQ and pmrA/pmrB), lipid A remodeling genes such as arnT and pagP and virulence genes, i.e., pqsE and rhlA, were induced. Moreover, lipid A of the bacteria grown at a mildly low pH is modified by adding 4-amino-arabinose (l-Ara4N). Additionally, the production of virulence factors such as rhamnolipid, alginate, and membrane vesicles is significantly higher in a mildly low-pH environment than in a neutral medium. Interestingly, at a mildly low pH, P. aeruginosa produces a thicker biofilm with higher biofilm biomass. Furthermore, studies on inner membrane viscosity and permeability showed that a mildly low pH causes a decrease in the inner membrane permeability and increases its viscosity. Besides, despite the importance of PhoP, PhoQ, PmrA, and PmrB in Gram-negative bacteria for responding to low pH stress, we observed that the absence of each of these two-component systems does not meaningfully impact the remodeling of the P. aeruginosa envelope. Given that P. aeruginosa is likely to encounter mildly acidic environments during infection in its host, the alterations that the bacterium undertakes under such conditions must be considered in designing antibacterial strategies against P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE P. aeruginosa encounters environments with acidic pH when establishing infections in hosts. The bacterium develops an altered phenotype to tolerate a moderate decrease in the environmental pH. At the level of the bacterial envelope, modified lipid A composition and a reduction of the bacterial inner membrane permeability and fluidity are among the changes P. aeruginosa undergoes at a mildly low pH. Also, the bacterium is more likely to form biofilm in a mildly acidic environment. Overall, these alterations in the P. aeruginosa phenotype put obstacles in the way of antibacterial activities. Thus, considering physiological changes in the bacterium at low pH helps design and implement antimicrobial approaches against this hostile microorganism.

Introduction: Pre-eclampsia (PE), a pregnancy induced hypertensive disorder affects approximately 8-10% of all pregnancies in developing countries. A highly sensitive and specific marker for diagnosis of PE is the need of the hour as diagnostic criteria are still based on non-specific clinical symptoms, ultrasound, and laboratory findings. Imbalance in the placental release of various angiogenesis regulatory factors to the maternal circulation is one of the significant contributors to its clinical manifestations. Low levels of pro-angiogenic biomarker Placental Growth Factor (PLGF) are detectable several weeks before clinical presentation of PE. Aim: To determine the association of serum levels of PLGF with PE in second and third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed in a tertiary care hospital from December 2018 to November 2021, on 130 patients by dividing study participants into two groups: Pre-eclamptic cases, Normotensive controls. At enrollment in second trimester (24-28 weeks) and during third trimester (beyond 28 weeks) serum PLGF concentration was measured by using the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit method. Data was statistically analysed. Student’s t-test was used for comparing differences between study groups. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative categorical data. Evaluation of the Area Under the Curve (AUC), diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity was done by Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis done using software defined cut-off values. Results: Total of 115 patients were analysed in the present study with 55 patients in group 1(mean age: 25.83±3.27 years) and 60 patients in group 2 (mean age: 30.52±5.63 years) When compared with normotensive group PLGF levels were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic group with median 16.27 ng/mL versus 12.20 ng/mL (p

Purtscher's retinopathy is characterized by sudden vision loss following severe head trauma. Signs of ischemia are visible at the posterior pole with edema and hemorrhages concentrated around the optic disc. Digital imaging with retcam is more precise in diagnosing but is not easily available or affordable. Smartphones have thus, emerged as an alternative and reliable imaging tool. The aim of this study is to illustrate the utility of MII RetCam assisted smartphone based fundus imaging in registering and monitoring Purtscher's retinopathy. Good documentation helps in better communication with the patient and relatives and improves their compliance with treatment.

Introduction Menstrual cycle gets affected by various modifiable risk factors. To assess prevalence of various types of menstrual problems, lifestyle and mental health status, identification of variables as predictors for menstrual problems and level of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness among rural and urban population of Punjab, the present study has been carried out. Methods The study was conducted from November 2019 to July 2020 in the Malwa region of Punjab, India, with 2673 participants (15–25 years). Epidemiological information was collected using predesigned questionnaire along with depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21) score mental health assessment tool. MS-Excel (2019) and IBM SPSS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analysis. Results The overall prevalence of different menstrual problems was 60.61%, with dysmenorrhea (50.64%) being most common problem. Body mass index (BMI), menarche age, physical activity, and mental health status are significant (p

Abstract The integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is essential for normal central nervous system (CNS) functioning. Considering the significance of BBB in maintaining homeostasis and the neural environment, we aim to provide an overview of significant aspects of BBB. Worldwide, the treatment of neurological diseases caused by BBB disruption has been a major challenge. BBB also restricts entry of neuro-therapeutic drugs and hinders treatment modalities. Hence, currently nanotechnology-based approaches are being explored on large scale as alternatives to conventional methodologies. It is necessary to investigate the in-depth characteristic features of BBB to facilitate the discovery of novel drugs that can successfully cross the barrier and target the disease effectively. It is imperative to discover novel strategies to treat life-threatening CNS diseases in humans. Therefore, insights regarding building blocks of BBB, activation of immune response on breach of this barrier, and various autoimmune neurological disorders caused due to BBB dysfunction are discussed. Further, special emphasis is given on delineating BBB disruption leading to CNS disorders. Moreover, various mechanisms of transport pathways across BBB, several novel strategies, and alternative routes by which drugs can be properly delivered into CNS are also discussed.

Cholesterol remains a vital molecule required for life; however, increasing evidence exists implicating cholesterol in cancer development and progression. Numerous studies investigating the relationship between cholesterol and cancer in 2-dimensional (2D) culture settings exist, however these models display inherent limitations highlighting the incipient need to develop better models to study disease pathogenesis. Due to the multifaceted role cholesterol plays in the cell, researchers have begun utilizing 3-dimensional (3D) culture systems, namely, spheroids and organoids to recapitulate cellular architecture and function. This review aims to describe current studies exploring the relationship between cancer and cholesterol in a variety of cancer types using 3D culture systems. We briefly discuss cholesterol dyshomeostasis in cancer and introduce 3D in-vitro culture systems. Following this, we discuss studies performed in cancerous spheroid and organoid models that focused on cholesterol, highlighting the dynamic role cholesterol plays in various cancer types. Finally, we attempt to provide potential gaps in research that should be explored in this rapidly evolving field of study.

Gold nano-structures (Au-NS's) assembled on a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT's) reinforced functional substrate is a very attractive system routinely used in optoelectronics, EM shielding plasmonics, catalysis, chemical sensing, and solar energy devices. Here we used a very simple thermal annealing method to assemble gold nano-islands (Au-NI's) and quantum dots (QD's) on a flexible lightweight multiwall carbon nanotube (FL-MWCNT) paper. We report thickness dependent Au thin film annealing to form Au-NI's i.e. Au-NI's and QD's on FL-MWCNT paper. The highly reproducible assembly of Au-NI's was investigated by selecting an area of 4 × 4 µm2. The average diameters of ∼49 nm and ∼8 nm were observed for Au-Nis & QD's with domain diameters ranging from 20 to 120 nm and 2 to 20 nm, respectively. This study demonstrated how to make nanoparticles in a straight-forward, high–density, and large-scale manner. Integrating novel metals with flexible carbon-based nanomaterials results in a specimen for SEM resolution studies and promising photodetector under NIR laser (1064 nm) irradiation with increased photoresponsivity (43.91 A/W), detectivity (2.16 × 109 Jones) as well as a very good detector response time (rise time (43 ms) and decay time (145 ms)) which represent the multifunctional uses of Au-NS's decorated FLMWCNTs samples.

Background: Self-medication (SM) is a growing phenomenon worldwide that has recently been classified as one of the most serious public health problems. SM can result in an incorrect self-diagnosis, inappropriate treatment, potential adverse reactions, interactions, and the masking of more sinister disease. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of SM practices amongst healthcare professionals and the general population in Saudi Arabia and to identify the sociodemographic contributing factors to this practice. Methods: A total of 540 participants were enrolled in this study. Participants were asked to complete the study questionnaire comprising two sections to gather demographic information and to collect data regarding SM practice. Results: The prevalence of SM practice among the study participants was 78.6%, and it was the highest among the middle age groups of (21–40 years) 82% compared to the younger and older age groups. The observed prevalence was higher in the female participants (53.7%) and those who live alone. Type of education did not affect the attitude of SM (p = 0.374); however, level of education strongly affected the prevalence of the SM, with higher incidence among university graduates (p < 0.001). Analgesics with antipyretics properties were the most self-medicated drugs. Patients considering their illnesses minor was the main reason behind the high prevalence of this practice. Among healthcare professions the highest prevalence of SM was found among pharmacists (95%), followed by physicians, nurses, and other medical practitioners. Conclusion: The general population should be better educated and made conscious about the consequences, risks, and side effects of SM. Awareness campaigns may prove to be useful in this matter, allowing the patient to consider the appropriateness of this practice. Individuals in the age group of 21–40 years, females, and those who live alone should be considered priority target populations in the design and implementation of SM awareness projects.

This study analyzes vaccine hesitancy (VH) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in 15 European countries. We have undertaken a systematic review by synthesizing data from 46 articles (between 2015 and 2022) encompassing 55,612 subjects. Despite the heterogeneity of the methods in the various studies, we found that physicians had consistently higher vaccination rates than nurses across different countries and different vaccines. Physicians’ average vaccination rate was 79% across a selection of vaccines, while that of nurses was 62%. Concerns regarding vaccine safety, information gaps, and the responsibility of healthcare authorities in managing VH are highlighted by qualitative insights. This research contributes to our comprehension of the ways in which VH among HCWs is impacted by healthcare roles, vaccine types, and regional disparities. The insights gleaned from this analysis can serve as a guide for targeted interventions aimed at increasing vaccine acceptance and coverage in Europe, ultimately strengthening public health.

Background: Rhino-orbito-cerebral-mucormycosis (ROCM) associated with COVID-19 infection was at its peak during and immediately after the second wave of the pandemic in India during 2021. Many of the risk factors were implicated in the development of this deadly fungal infection, when there was a sudden surge of cases, especially who had a history of COVID-19 infection. Objectives: The objective of the study was to describe the characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in invasive mucormycosis and to evaluate the extent and severity of invasive mucormycosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out for 4 months which included 60 patients who underwent MRI using a Siemens Avanto 1.5 Tesla scanner. During our study, 68 cases were selected based on clinicoradiological features suspected of ROCM. However, 8 patients were excluded on the basis of exclusion criteria as either there was no definitive evidence of COVID infection or were proven to be negative for mucormycosis on microbiological examination. Results: On the basis of the spectrum of MRI findings, post-COVID-19 related ROCM was broadly categorized into three stages. Out of total of 60 patients, the disease was localized to the nasal and paranasal sinus region (Stage I) in 7 patients (11.66%), extending to adjacent extrasinus orofacial soft tissue structures (Stage II) in 36 patients (60%), and intracranial extension of disease (Stage III) was seen in 17 patients (28.33%). Conclusion: In post-COVID-19 patients presenting with clinical features suspected of ROCM, MRI imaging helps in early diagnosis and staging/severity of ROCM, so that timely intervention can be planned to reduce mortality as well as morbidity.

Background: Osteoporosis has been widely reported in chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. However, there is a scarcity of data on its prevalence and risk factors in interstitial lung disease (ILD), particularly in Indian patients. Aims: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and predictors of osteoporosis in ILD patients. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, in which ILD patients presenting to the hospital were enrolled. After collecting demographic and clinical data, the patients underwent a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan of the femoral neck to measure bone mineral density. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on their T-scores, following the World Health Organization guidelines. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the risk factors of osteoporosis in ILD. Results: The mean age of the 97 ILD patients was 55.7 + 12.6 years (range 28–84 years) with the predominance of females (n = 61). Osteoporosis was detected in 39 (40.2%) patients. Female gender, duration of symptoms, and low hemoglobin level had a positive association with osteoporosis on univariate analysis (P < 0.05). However, duration of symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [OR]-1.29; 95% confidence interval CI-1.02–1.63; P = 0.04) and hemoglobin level (adjusted OR-0.59; 95% CI-0.39–0.89; P = 0.01) were the independent risk factors of osteoporosis on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Osteoporosis is common comorbidity seen in ILD patients. A longer duration of ILD symptoms and low hemoglobin level can predict the presence of osteoporosis in these patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost 100 million people worldwide. Although the disease spectrum has still not been fully understood, there have been the reports of the persistence of symptoms well beyond the acute stage or after discharge from the hospital. Therefore, there is a need to document the persistence of symptoms to identify and provide physical as well as psychosocial support for ensuring the complete recovery of COVID-19 survivors. The present study examines the postacute stage persistence of symptoms in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 patients. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal follow-up study was conducted on 1170 patients discharged from COVID hospital. All the study participants were contacted after discharge and at 7-day intervals for 42 days, and details of the persistence of symptoms were sought from them. Results: It was found that 43.8% of patients had persistence of symptoms, and 12.4% had symptoms even after 30 days of discharge from the hospital. Among symptoms, the most common persisting symptom was found to be fatigue (26%) followed by respiratory difficulty. The presence of comorbidity (odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.56–2.25, P < 0.01) and moderate/severe disease were found to be independent risk factors for the persistence of COVID-related symptoms. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicate that a large number of COVID-19 survivors continue to suffer from COVID-19 symptoms well after the recovery from the acute stage (discharge from hospital). Therefore, there is a genuine need for instituting measures for the monitoring of patients postdischarge and if required providing treatment to those having persistent symptoms of COVID-19.

Context: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has profound hematopoietic manifestations reflected in complete blood count (CBC) parameters and peripheral blood morphology. Aims: We aimed to evaluate CBC and peripheral blood morphology in COVID-19 patients and correlated them with severity, progression, and mortality. Settings and Design: Prospective observational study. Methods and Materials: Baseline and sequential blood samples were collected in 197 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and CBC and morphology were assessed and compared with severity, progression, and survival. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent samples t-test for parametric continuous and Chi-Square and Fisher Exact for categorical variables. Results: Of the 197 patients, 84 (42.6%) were non-severe and 113 (57.4%) severe. The severe group displayed higher mean Total leukocyte count (TLC) (mean 11,772/μL SD 5445 vs. mean 7872/μL SD 3789, P < 0.0001), neutrophils (mean 81.2% SD 17.01 vs. mean 59.8% SD 14.55, P < 0.0001), and Red Cell Distribution Width-Standard Deviation (RDW-SD) (mean 30.04 SD 17.1 vs. mean 16.95 SD 6.63, P < 0.0001) with lymphopenia (mean 12.86% SD 15.41 vs. mean 30.64% SD 13.23, P < 0.0001) and monocytopenia (mean 4.62% SD 3.56 vs. mean 7.23% SD 3.06, P < 0.0001). The severe group had significantly more pseudo Pelger-Huet (62.8% (71/113) vs. 22.9% (14/61), P < 0.0001), abnormal nuclear projections (27.4% (31/113) vs. 3.3% (2/61), P < 0.0001), elongated nucleoplasm (17.7% (20/113) vs. 3.3% (2/61), P = 0.0073), shift to left (100% (113/113) vs. 21.3% (13/61), P < 0.0001), prominent granules (100% (113/113) vs. 85.2% (52/61), P < 0.0001), cytoplasmic vacuolations (100% (113/113) vs. 50.8% (31/61), P < 0.0001), ring (8.3% (3/113) vs. 4.9% (3/61), P = 0.0117), fetoid (15.04% (17/113) vs. 1.6% (1/61), P = 0.039), and nucleolated forms (53.9% (61/113) vs. 21.3% (13/61), P < 0.0001) with red cell agglutination (8.8% (10/113) vs. 0% (0/61), P = 0.0154) than non-severe patients. The non-severe group showed lympho-plasmacytoid (98.4% (60/61) vs. 37.2% (42/113), P < 0.0001), monocytoid (96.7% (59/61) vs. 25.7% (29/113), P < 0.0001), apoptotic (100% (61/61) vs. 17.6% (20/113), P < 0.0001), and nucleolated lymphocytes (78.7% (48/61) vs. 5.3% (6/113), P < 0.0001) with prominent granules (80.3% (49/61) vs. 12.4% (14/113), P < 0.0001), cytoplasmic vacuolations (83.6% (51/61) vs. 30.1% (34/113), P < 0.0001), and plasma cells (45.9% (28/61) vs. 19.5% (22/113), P = 0.0004). The progressors (9/84) had baseline leukocytosis (TLC mean 15,889/cu mm SD 4163.96 vs. mean 6940.27/cu mm SD 2381.59, P < 0.0001) and lymphopenia (lymphocyte% mean 18.11% SD 10.75 vs. mean 32.1% SD 12.75, P = 0.0022) with elevated RDW-SD (P = 0.032) at 7th to 10th day of illness. The 14 non-survivors had significant thrombocytopenia (mean 63.35 × 103/μL SD 30.72 vs. mean 230.77 × 103/μL SD 98.77, P < 0.0001) with lymphocytes nadir at day 9 without recovery versus day 7 to 8 nadir before recovery in survivors. Conclusions: The peripheral blood morphological features are distinct in severe and non-severe COVID-19 patients and baseline leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and elevated RDW-SD at day 7 of illness are useful indicators of disease progression.

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a rare autosomal dominant dysplasia with an estimated incidence of 1:1,000,000. Prominent features include large head with delayed suture closure, persistent metopic suture, Wormian bones, hypertelorism, small face, cleft mandible, dental dysplasia, hypoplasia or aplasia of the clavicles, hypoplastic scapula with a small glenoid, cleft sternum, coxa vara or valga, a narrow pelvis, delayed pubic ossification, and several varieties of spinal abnormalities. We report a case of a 30-year-old male patient with this syndrome.

Abstract Background Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-InsPs) are high-energy derivatives of inositol, involved in different signalling and regulatory responses of eukaryotic cells. Distinct PP-InsPs species are characterized by the presence of phosphate at a variable number of the 6-carbon inositol ring backbone, and two distinct classes of inositol phosphate kinases responsible for their synthesis have been identified in Arabidopsis, namely ITPKinase (inositol 1,3,4 trisphosphate 5/6 kinase) and PP-IP5Kinase (diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate kinases). Plant PP-IP5Ks are capable of synthesizing InsP8 and were previously shown to control defense against pathogens and phosphate response signals. However, other potential roles of plant PP-IP5Ks, especially towards abiotic stress, remain poorly understood. Results Here, we characterized the physiological functions of two Triticum aestivum L. (hexaploid wheat) PPIP5K homologs, TaVIH1 and TaVIH2. We demonstrate that wheat VIH proteins can utilize InsP7 as the substrate to produce InsP8, a process that requires the functional VIH-kinase domains. At the transcriptional level, both TaVIH1 and TaVIH2 are expressed in different wheat tissues, including developing grains, but show selective response to abiotic stresses during drought-mimic experiments. Ectopic overexpression of TaVIH2-3B in Arabidopsis confers tolerance to drought stress and rescues the sensitivity of Atvih2 mutants. RNAseq analysis of TaVIH2-3B-expressing transgenic lines of Arabidopsis shows genome-wide reprogramming with remarkable effects on genes involved in cell-wall biosynthesis, which is supported by the observation of enhanced accumulation of polysaccharides (arabinogalactan, cellulose, and arabinoxylan) in the transgenic plants. Conclusions Overall, this work identifies a novel function of VIH proteins, implicating them in modulation of the expression of cell-wall homeostasis genes, and tolerance to water-deficit stress. This work suggests that plant VIH enzymes may be linked to drought tolerance and opens up the possibility of future research into using plant VIH-derived products to generate drought-resistant plants.

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the leading obstetric diseases with significant morbidity and mortality in both mother and foetus. The etiology of preeclampsia is unknown. It may result from several reasons with imbalance between angiogenic regulatory factors in maternal circulation as one of the factor. High circulatory levels of Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 (sFlt-1) are detectable several weeks before clinical presentation of preeclampsia. Aim: To determine association of serum levels of sFlt-1 with preeclampsia in second and third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care hospital (Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, Punjab, India), from November 2018 to March 2021. The study participants were divided into two groups i.e, normotensive (group 1) and preeclamptic (group 2). The enrollment of participants was done during second trimester. Serum sFlt-1 concentration was measured in second trimester (24-28 weeks) and in third trimester (beyond 28 weeks) using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay (ELISA) kits. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was done for evaluation of Area Under Curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity using software defined cut-off values. Results: Total 60 participants were there in each group with maternal mean age of 25.8±3.2 years in group 1 and 30.6±5.5 years in group 2 (p-value