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This study investigates the two-dimensional nonlinear complex coupled Maccari equations, which are significant in describing solitary waves concentrated in small spatial regions. These equations have applications across various fields, including hydrodynamics, nonlinear optics, and the study of sonic Langmuir solitons. Using the Bäcklund transformation, we explore a broad range of soliton solutions for this system, focusing on their spectral properties. The proposed method stands out for its simplicity and comprehensive results compared to traditional approaches. The obtained solutions are expressed in rigorous, trigonometric, and hyperbolic forms, providing deeper insights into the dynamics of the system. To enhance understanding, we present contour and three-dimensional graphical representations of the solutions. This study has potential applications in energy and industry by advancing the understanding of nonlinear wave phenomena, which are crucial in optimizing energy transfer processes and designing efficient systems in hydrodynamic and optical engineering. Additionally, the soliton solutions obtained here contribute to technologies in power transmission and high-speed optical communications, offering a foundation for innovations in sustainable energy systems and industrial applications.

An ultrawide stopband lowpass filter is reported using three stepped impedance resonators with high selectivity. The filter extends the stopband frequency range and attenuation, and two quarter-wave open stubs and three circular ground slots are introduced. The lumped and distributed equivalent models are derived and analyzed. The corresponding results are validated experimentally in a fabricated prototype. The prototype lowpass filter has a 3 dB cutoff frequency (fc) of 2.9 GHz, and the stopband is extended up to 35 GHz (12.07fc), with an attenuation level better than 20 dB throughout. The passband-to-stopband transition (3 dB-20 dB) bandwidth is 0.18 GHz, and the roll-off factor is 135 dB/GHz at 30 dB. The insertion loss is 0.3 dB at 1.6 GHz. The normalized circuit size of the proposed filter with respect to the guided wavelength is 0.04.

Abstract Accounting potential zones for recharging groundwater is a prerequisite before the implementation of the springshed conservation program. Many studies have suggested that the resurgence of the springs in the Himalayan region is waning due to anthropogenic and Climate Change impacts. Typical physical methods of recharge zone explorations are manpower & fiscal-intensive and find limited applicability in areas with steep slopes and undulating topography. The deliberated study is an attempt towards the identification of potential recharge zones using topographical and meteorological indices via two MCDM methods, namely, AHP and Fuzzy AHP for the Saryu watershed of Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Twelve thematic layers following the assignment of suitable weights were overlayed for the development of the groundwater recharge potentiality map. The findings indicated that following AHP 6%, 86.89%, 7.10% & 0.01% of the study area demonstrates low, moderate, high, and very high potentiality for groundwater recharge, while, FAHP suggests these indices to be 19.23%, 76.77%, 3.55%, & 0.45%, respectively. Further, FAHP demonstrates the redundancy of a few input layers for the adopted scale of the input data. The study also furnishes a brief description of opportune recharge structures based on the groundwater recharge potentialities.

This article addresses the two analytical methods, i.e., the new iterative transform method (NITM) and the homotopy perturbation transform method (HPTM), along with an Aboodh transform (AT), to approximate the nonlinear system of two-dimensional (2D) time-fractional Navier-Stokes (TFNS) equations. We take the time-fractional derivative in the form of Atangana-Baleanu (AB). The article's suggested examples examine the accuracy and efficacy of the proposed methods, while the graphs demonstrate their potential and effectiveness. The article also provides demonstrations of uniqueness and convergence. The aforementioned techniques are straightforward and support a high rate of convergence, which helps in understanding the dynamics of fractional nonlinear systems.

In this study, I systematically investigate the fractional Whitham-Broer-Kaup (WBK) system and the fractional Coupled Jaulent-Miodek (CJM) equation under the Caputo fractional calculus. The nonlinear fractional differential equation systems are investigated via the Aboodh transform iteration method and the Aboodh residual power series method, thus offering a thorough analytical investigation. The dynamics of the fractional WBK system are accomplished using the Aboodh transform iteration method, and the Aboodh residual power series method is employed to study the behavior of the fractional CJM equation. Using established solutions, we completely analyze their dynamics employing both symbolic computations and numerical simulations. Consequently, novel solutions are identified, and the behavior of these fractional systems in the Caputo operator sense are clarified. The results obtained show good agreement of convergence of the numerical and analytical solutions, highlighting the effectiveness of the schemes adopted for unraveling the complex dynamics of fractional nonlinear systems.

This article introduces a new iterative transform method and homotopy perturbation transform method along with a natural transform to analyze the multi-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. To solve the fractional-derivative, the Caputo-Fabrizio definition of the fractional derivative was employed. Four examples were considered to examine the efficacy and accuracy of the proposed methods. The efficiency and accuracy were also demonstrated by the solution comparison via graphs. The proposed methods' convergence and uniqueness are also discussed. The methods mentioned above are straightforward and support a high rate of convergence.

Aloe vera is one of the most significant therapeutical plant species that belongs to the family Liliaceae. Aloe vera is composed of a high amount of water, with the remainder being dry matter. The dry matter contains a lot of bioactive compounds like carbohydrates, fats, and enzymes, with various therapeutic and antimicrobial properties. It can enhance the proliferation of cells and prevent cell damage by anti-oxidative properties (stimulating the secretion of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase). Human skin is colonized by microbes like fungi (Candida albicans), bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus), and mites. These commensals are responsible for skin characteristics such as acidic pH, the pungent smell of sweat, etc. Human fetuses lack skin microbiota, and their skin is colonized after birth. Commensals present on the skin have a crucial role in training the human immune system against other pathogenic microbes. Propionibacterium acnes act as an opportunistic pathogen when the balance between the commensals is disturbed. We also emphasize the recent progress in identifying the aloe metabolite biosynthesis pathways and the associated enzyme machinery. The hyperproliferation of Propionibacterium acnes causes acne, and acemannan plays a significant role in its cure. Hence, we need to consider a new treatment approach based on the root cause of this dysbiosis.

An effective performance enhancement model for the thin film solar cell conjointly based on extraordinary transmission and nanoantenna is proposed and investigated. The absorber layer of the extraordinary transmission based solar cell contains a metallic thin film with periodic holes. Maximum extraordinary transmission is accomplished as the metallic film has the same refractive index on both sides. Increased light transmission causes the absorber layer to absorb more light, which increases short circuit current density and subsequently the efficiency of the thin film solar cell. The presented analysis demonstrates that adding a square nano patch on the top surface of the absorber layer can further boost the extraordinary transmission. The extraordinary transmission is increased because of the formation of cavity nanoantenna. Cavity nanoantenna increases the coupling of light into the hole due to the excitation of surface plasmons polaritons. The proposed design of solar cell exhibits around 98% absorption and the short circuit current density is increased by a factor of 3.23. The study has been carried out using finite difference time domain (FDTD) method.

In the present investigation, a new integral transform method (NITM) and the projected differential transform method (PDTM) are used to give an analytical solution to the time-fractional Klein-Gordon (TFKG) equation. The time-fractional derivative is used in the Caputo sense. The huge advantage of the suggested approach is the ease with which the nonlinear term can be effortlessly treated by projected differential transform without using Adomian's and He's polynomials. The solution of fractional partial differential equations using the aforementioned method is very simple and straightforward. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated by three examples, and the effects of various fractional Brownian motions are demonstrated graphically.

Surface functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) with antibiotics is a novel approach that opens the door to drug delivery applications. In the present work, we report iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. As-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) , energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet (UV)–visible (Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The poly-shaped Fe2O3 NPs of size (34 ± 10) nm with hematite (α-Fe2O3) phase were synthesized. The antibacterial activity of chloramphenicol and gentamicin and their formulation with encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles was investigated by the agar well diffusion technique. Drug-encapsulated Fe2O3 NPs showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains, possibly in a dose-dependent manner. Significant effectiveness was confirmed by the increase in the single range of inhibition against the tested microorganisms. Furthermore, the effect of iron oxide nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 1 to 9 μg/μL on bacterial growth was examined.

In this article, our focus lies in investigating the existence of global solutions and the occurrence of infinite-time blowup for a nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation characterized by logarithmic nonlinearity, specifically in the form $ \mathbf {w}\log \vert \mathbf {w}\vert ^k $ . Notably, our inquiry involves handling logarithmic functions within the reaction terms and accommodating the functions $ \mathbf {w}_0 $ and $ \mathbf {w}_1 $ in the boundary terms. Consequently, a pivotal task is to establish blowup conditions that intricately hinge on the characteristics of the domains and the boundary conditions. It is of significant note that our exploration incorporates domain and boundary information into the formulation of blowup conditions. By employing a combination of the potential well technique and energy estimation methodology, we delve into scenarios of low initial energy and critical initial energy. In doing so, we derive a set of sufficient conditions that encompass both the global existence and the potential explosive behaviour of solutions pertaining to this variant of the Klein–Gordon equation. This work contributes to enhancing our understanding of the intricate interplay between logarithmic nonlinearity, domain characteristics, and boundary conditions in shaping the behaviour of solutions in the realm of nonlinear wave equations.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak occurred due to a human respiratory virus that originated in the city of Wuhan, China. During the COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant improvement in the air quality across the world. We analyzed the data for BTEX over the three years (January to December 2019 to 2021) with pairwise comparison and trend analysis for pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. This study demonstrates the substantial changes in the concentration of VOCs in the urban area (Punjab) due to the lockdown effects. The results indicate a substantial reduction in the mean TVOCs concentration for all the monitoring stations was found to be 8.89 ± 1.80, 5.59 ± 1.71, and 5.57 ± 1.43 μg/m3 for before, during, and post-pandemic, respectively. The level of TVOCs declined by −43% for all monitoring stations during the lockdown period compared to the previous years. A higher T/B ratio was found in Patiala (2.97 μg/m3) before the pandemic, which may indicate vehicle emission sources. The LCR values for benzene were found to be higher in children than in males and females, which indicated the possible risk. The LCR values for benzene exceeded the prescribed value by CPCB for children.

MODIS Land Surface Temperature (LST) product is extensively used in agricultural studies like crop health assessment, soil moisture estimation, irrigation management, land use land cover change, air-temperature retrieval and crop water stress detection. Numerous studies have used Split Window (SW) algorithms to retrieve LST from MODIS TIR bands. Among them, some utilize Sensor View Angle Dependent (SVAD) or Columnar Water Vapor Dependent (CWVD) SW algorithms. Present study aims to make use of SVAD and CWVD SW algorithms and compare them to evaluate the LST retrieval accuracy over various land surface type. Theoretical accuracy assessment of the CWVD and SVAD algorithms demonstrates a good accuracy with the RMSE of 1.09K and 1.42K, respectively. The experimental retrieval of LST achieves exceptionally good accuracy, with a RMSE of 1.45K in the CWVD algorithm and 1.80K in the SVAD algorithm, particularly in heterogeneous regions. In homogeneous regions, the RMSE values are 1.14K in CWVD and 1.10K in SVAD. Both algorithms exhibit satisfactory accuracy; nevertheless, the application of these algorithms may vary in agricultural contexts. Based on the obtained results and the inclusion of required parameters, we have arrived at a conclusion regarding the superior performance of the SVAD compared to the CWVD for LST retrieval.

The increase in popularity of wireless networks in industrial, embedded, medical and public sectors has made them an appealing attack surface for attackers who exploit the vulnerabilities in network protocols to launch attacks such as Evil Twin, Man-in-the-middle, sniffing, etc., which may result in economic and non-economic losses. To protect wireless networks against such attacks, IEEE 802.11 keep updating the protocol standards with new and more secure versions. There has always been a direct correlation between attacks and the improvement of protocol standards. As the sophistication of attacks increases, protocol standards tend to move towards higher security, resulting in a significant rise in both latency and computational overhead, and severe degradation in the performance of low-latency applications such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), automotive, robotics, etc. In this paper, we make an attempt to highlight the importance of both latency and security in wireless networks from implementation and performance perspective. We make a review of existing IEEE 802.11 protocols in terms of security offered and overhead incurred to substantiate the fact that there is a need of a protocol which in addition to providing optimum security against attacks also maintains the latency and overhead. We also propose a secure and low-latency protocol known as Secure Authentication Protocol (SAP) which operates in two phases - registration and authentication, where the first phase is a one time process implemented using asymmetric cryptography and the second phase is implemented using symmetric cryptography. The protocol is structured in a way that it maintains the original structure of IEEE 802.11 protocols and performs both phases using fewer messages than existing protocols. By simulating the protocol using well-established OMNeT++ simulator, we proved that the proposed protocol incurs a low computation overhead, making it ideal for low-latency applications. We extensively verified the security properties of the proposed protocol using formal verification through widely-accepted Scyther tool. Finally, we perform a comparative analysis of SAP with existing IEEE 802.11 wireless network protocols to highlight the improvement.

Application of drug conjugated iron oxide hematite ( α -Fe _2 O _3 ) nanoparticles are of tremendous interest in biomedicine nowadays. Meanwhile, green production of iron oxide nanoparticles is gaining favour due to its sustainability, ease of usage, and biocompatibility. Therefore, this work reports on the use of hexahydrate ferric chloride and nerium oleander flower extract to synthesize nanoscaled hematite ( α -Fe _2 O _3 ) iron oxide particles conjugated with various drugs for antibacterial agents. Diverse morphological, physicochemical, structural, optical, and magnetic characteristics have been characterized using FESEM, EDX, XRD, UV–vis, FTIR, Raman and vibrating sample magnetometer. The synthesis of the polyshaped iron oxide nanoparticles, with average sizes ranging from 47.2 ± 20 nm, was accomplished. Furthermore, temperature-dependent variations in magnetic behavior were observed during calcination. The XRD and Raman spectra revealed hematite ( α -Fe _2 O _3 ) type formation of iron oxide nanoparticles. Only calcinated IO-NPs at high temperatures (700 °C) demonstrated low coercivity and residual magnetism, which revealed weak ferromagnetic ordering; other calcinated samples, including nascent ones, showed incredibly weak ferromagnetic ordering. Besides, the effectiveness of drug-encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles against bacteria in vitro was examined. It was interesting to observe that gentamycin-coated IO-NPs tended to be more susceptible to S. aureus than E. coli bacteria, but streptomycin-conjugated IO-NPs showed the reverse trend. However, as compared to the nascent sample and the high temperature (700 °C) calcinated sample, both antibiotic-loaded IO-NPs displayed better inhibitory abilities.

This work comprises the contribution of buoyancy forces, linear and quadratic convection on cross Nano fluid under the effects of dipole effects with chemical reaction. The flow of a cross model (CM) with mass and thermal transport has been modeled in Cartesian coordinates for the two-dimensional fluid flow problem. Temperature gradient effects have been incorporated in mass transport and concentration gradient impacts in thermal transport phenomenon with chemical reaction. The governing laws are derived under boundary layer principle (BLP) in the conformation of coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. Afterwards, coupled partial differential equations are converted into a scheme of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by incorporating the similarity transformation. The nonlinear modeled equations are solved numerically with the aid of finite element scheme as well as analysis of grid independent is reported based on the reliability of the utilized approach. Several graphs and tables have been prepared to observe the bearing of multiple emerging parameters regarding velocity, temperature as well as concentration fields. Comparison has been made to confirm the efficiency of a finite element scheme. It is perceived that higher values of a Schmidt number control the fluid concentration. Moreover, velocity is diminished against higher values of Weissenberg parameter.

This developing study is focused on mass diffusion and thermal energy enhancement in Reiner–Philippoff martial across a vertical-surface under an exposed Lorentz force. Characterization of the thermal energy and mass diffusion are modified utilizing non-Fourier’s theory in the presence of a heat source. Three types of nanoparticles—Al2O3, titanium dioxide, and TiO2—in engine oil are inserted for production of heat energy. Darcy’s Forchheimer theory is used to analyze behavior flow and heat energy. Moreover, effects related to Dufour and Soret are added. A transformed system of ODEs is achieved regarding the developed model using similarity variables. Numerically developing models in the form of ODEs are handled with the aid of the finite element method (FEM). Fluidic thermal energy is augmented against upshot values of time relaxation number. Fluidic concentration declines against changes in Schmidt number and chemical reaction number.

In this paper, the study is supported by design, FEA simulation, and practical RF measurements on fabricated single-port-cavity-based acoustic resonator for gas sensing applications. In the FEA simulation, frequency domain analysis was performed to enhance the performance of the acoustic resonator. The structural and surface morphologies of the deposited ZnO as a piezoelectric layer have been studied using XRD and AFM. The XRD pattern of deposited bulk ZnO film indicates the perfect single crystalline nature of the film with dominant phase (002) at 2θ = 34.58°. The AFM micrograph indicates that deposited piezoelectric film has a very smooth surface and small grain size. In the fabrication process, use of bulk micro machined oxide (SiO2) for the production of a thin membrane as a support layer is adopted. A vector network analyzer (Model MS2028C, Anritsu) was used to measure the radio frequency response of the resonators from 1 GHz to 2.5 GHz. As a result, we have successfully fabricated an acoustic resonator operating at 1.84 GHz with a quality factor Q of 214 and an effective electromechanical coupling coefficient of 10.57%.

This study of synovial fluid was conducted by considering two different nanofluid models over a two-dimensional stretched surface using nanoparticles of different shapes. We obtained remarkable results regarding the impact of nanoparticles on thermal performance. Through this study, we assessed heat and mass transfer and the involvement of magnetic dipole of chemically reactive species in two-dimensional steady incompressible flow. Heat generation was incorporated in the energy equation and a first-order chemical reaction was involved in the mass transport phenomenon. The concept of boundary layer was adopted to derive the physical problem in Cartesian coordinates, with results in the form of coupled partial differential equations (PDEs). The derived PDEs were highly non-linear, and exact solutions were not possible. Therefore, the PDEs were converted into non-linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using appropriate similarity transformation and then solved numerically via the finite element method. The impact of numerous emerging parameters on the solutions are displayed graphically, and the physical significance is discussed. An increment in Sc,Kc, and γ decelerated the solute field, while the concentration gradient increased with enhancement in Sc. Maximum acceleration in velocity for model-I was produced compared to acceleration in the velocity field for model-II.

In this development, utilization of hybrid nanoparticles to investigate heat transfer enhancement in partially ionized liquid and generalized heat flux model. The phenomenon of momentum and thermal transport is discussed in a rotating frame and the features of hybrid nanoparticles have been monitored. The conservation laws are derived in Cartesian coordinates in a rotating frame for momentum and heat transfer laws. Current developing model is widely utilized dental products, automotive parts, electrical insulators, fuel cells, solar energy, optical chemical sensors, hair care products, engineering process, solar cells, green tires and electrical insulators etc. The concept of BL (boundary layer) is engaged to simplify the developing problem in terms of PD-equations. The derived PD-equations are changed into OD-equations by using transformations. Transformed problem is coupled nonlinear whereas the solution in terms of exactness does not exist. For the approximate solution, finite element procedure is chosen and the convergence has been shown through grid independent analysis. Several plots are developed to capture the contribution of several parameters to the solution. Velocity gradient (skin friction coefficient) declines with inclination in Hall currents, ion slip number but opposite trend was addressed against inclination of Lorentz force and power law index . It is recorded that for nonlinear problems a finite element scheme is a better tool.

The main object of this article is to present type 2 degenerate poly-Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind and numbers by arising from modified degenerate polyexponential function and investigate some properties of them. Thereafter, we treat the type 2 degenerate unipoly-Bernoulli polynomials of the second kind via modified degenerate polyexponential function and derive several properties of these polynomials. Furthermore, some new identities and explicit expressions for degenerate unipoly polynomials related to special numbers and polynomials are obtained. In addition, certain related beautiful zeros and graphical representations are displayed with the help of Mathematica.

The existence of a positive solution to a system of nonlinear semipositone Hadamard fractional BVP with the p-Laplacian operator is examined in this research. The boundary value problem’s associated Green’s function and some of its properties are first obtained. Additionally, the existence results are established using the nonlinear alternative of the Leray–Schauder theorem and the Guo–Krasnosel’skii fixed-point theorem.

In this investigation, the q-difference operator and the Sălăgean q-differential operator are utilized to establish novel subclasses of analytical bi-close-to-convex functions. We determine the general Taylor–Maclaurin coefficient of the functions in this class using the Faber polynomial method. We demonstrate the unpredictable behaviour of initial coefficients a2, a3 and investigate the Fekete–Szegő problem a3−a22 for the subclasses of bi-close-to-convex functions. To highlight the connections between existing knowledge and new research, certain known and unknown corollaries are also highlighted.

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the multiplicity results of some positive solutions for a system of Hadamard fractional differential equations with parameters and p-Laplacian operator subject to three-point boundary conditions which contains fractional derivatives. The proofs of our main result, multiplicity of positive solutions, are derived in terms of different values of parameters by using Guo–Krasnosel’skii’s fixed point theorem.

Wounds are structural and functional disruptions of skin that occur because of trauma, surgery, acute illness, or chronic disease conditions. Chronic wounds are caused by a breakdown in the finely coordinated cascade of events that occurs during healing. Wound healing is a long process that split into at least three continuous and overlapping processes: an inflammatory response, a proliferative phase, and finally the tissue remodeling. Therefore, these processes are extensively studied to develop novel therapeutics in order to achieve maximum recovery with minimum scarring. Several growth hormones and cytokines secreted at the site of lesions tightly regulates the healing processes. The traditional approach for wound management has been represented by topical treatments. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold and zinc) are increasingly being employed in dermatology due to their favorable effects on healing, as well as in treating and preventing secondary bacterial infections. In the current review, a brief introduction on traditional would healing approach is provided, followed by focus on the potential of wound dressing therapeutic techniques functionalized with Ag-NPs.

In this paper, we study existence and uniqueness of solutions for a system of Caputo-Hadamard fractional differential equations supplemented with multi-point boundary conditions. Our results are based on some classical fixed point theorems such as Banach contraction mapping principle, Leray-Schauder fixed point theorems. At last, we have presented two examples for the illustration of main results.

Xylitol is a white crystalline, amorphous sugar alcohol and low-calorie sweetener. Xylitol prevents demineralization of teeth and bones, otitis media infection, respiratory tract infections, inflammation and cancer progression. NADPH generated in xylitol metabolism aid in the treatment of glucose-6-phosphate deficiency-associated hemolytic anemia. Moreover, it has a negligible effect on blood glucose and plasma insulin levels due to its unique metabolism. Its diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and polymer industries fueled its market growth and made it one of the top 12 bio-products. Recently, xylitol has also been used as a drug carrier due to its high permeability and non-toxic nature. However, it become a challenge to fulfil the rapidly increasing market demand of xylitol. Xylitol is present in fruit and vegetables, but at very low concentrations, which is not adequate to satisfy the consumer demand. With the passage of time, other methods including chemical catalysis, microbial and enzymatic biotransformation, have also been developed for its large-scale production. Nevertheless, large scale production still suffers from high cost of production. In this review, we summarize some alternative approaches and recent advancements that significantly improve the yield and lower the cost of production.

Bacterial and fungal infections still remain an important cause of mortality in patients with hematological malignancies and in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) especially in developing countries like India. Granulocyte transfusions (GTX) from healthy donors may lead to early clearance of index infection and thus prevent mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of GTX in combating life-threatening infections and preventing mortality in patients of hematological disorders/recipients of HSCT with severe neutropenia. This study was a prospective, observational analysis of patients with different hematological disorders/recipients of HSCT, who received GTX from January 2014 to December 2017. All patients had an Absolute neutrophil Count (ANC) < 0.5 x 109/L and a life threatening sepsis defined by presence of hemodynamic instability/ impending septic shock/ continuous high fever despite the use of the highest line of antimicrobials. A total of 143 granulocyte collections were done for 66 infectious episodes (IEs) in 60 patients. Multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) were observed in 47/66 IEs (71.2%) and fungal infections were seen in 9/66 IEs (13.6%). Resolution of index infection after GTX was seen in 45/66 IEs (68.2%), and the 30 day overall survival (OS) was 67.7%. OS was significantly higher in patients who received GTX within 7 days of neutropenic sepsis (p = 0.01). Patients with MDROs who received early GTX therapy had a better OS as compared to those who received late GTX (p = 0.02). GTX were well tolerated and only 6 patients' developed mild features of transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) which was managed conservatively, and 1 patient demonstrated hypocalcemic tetany. GTX may be of particular relevance in countries like India, where the incidence of infections is very high in neutropenic patients and there is an increasing emergence of MDROs.

In this study, a rectenna operating at the GSM-900 frequency band has been fabricated and tested. This rectenna composed of a 2 × 1 T-shaped monopole array antenna and an energy processing circuit. In order to reduce the gap between adjacent antenna elements in the array structure, the proposed array antenna uses a ground stub. Compared with other array antennas, the proposed array antenna with the ground stub reduces the size up to 50% without affecting the gain and bandwidth. An antenna prototype is fabricated and experimentally tested. The measured antenna's gain and bandwidth are 3.2 and 152 MHz, respectively, hence showing its suitability for radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesting application. For this to be feasible, the developed array antenna is matched with the rectifier at GSM-900 using a single stub matching network. The measured result demonstrates that the proposed rectifier circuit offers the conversion efficiency of 21.2 and 63.6% for an input power of −20 and 0 dBm, respectively. Finally, the rectifier performance is attested experimentally with the developed array antenna. The rectenna's measured RF-to-dc conversion efficiency was found to be 60% at the far-field distance from the transmitting antenna.

Karnal bunt disease in wheat is caused by hemibiotrophic fungus, Tilletia indica that has been placed as quarantine pest in more than 70 countries. Despite its economic importance, little knowledge about the molecular components of fungal pathogenesis is known. In this study, first time the genome sequence of T. indica has been deciphered for unraveling the effectors' functions of molecular pathogenesis of Karnal bunt disease. The T. indica genome was sequenced employing hybrid approach of PacBio Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) and Illumina HiSEQ 2000 sequencing platforms. The genome was assembled into 10,957 contigs (N50 contig length 3 kb) with total size of 26.7 Mb and GC content of 53.99%. The number of predicted putative genes were 11,535, which were annotated with Gene Ontology databases. Functional annotation of Karnal bunt pathogen genome and classification of identified effectors into protein families revealed interesting functions related to pathogenesis. Search for effectors' genes using pathogen host interaction database identified 135 genes. The T. indica genome sequence and putative genes involved in molecular pathogenesis would further help in devising novel and effective disease management strategies including development of resistant wheat genotypes, novel biomarkers for pathogen detection and new targets for fungicide development.

The expression pattern of two major chaperones, the heat shock proteins (HSPs) HSP60 and HSP70 was studied in vitro in tissues of the housefly Musca domestica during larval and adult stages of development to identify their immunological relatives and understand their functional significance in normal cellular activities and during thermal stress. Fluorographs of labeled polypeptides and western blots demonstrated that both HSPs are expressed constitutively and heat-induced in all the larval and adult cell types examined. The pattern of whole tissue immunocytochemical staining using anti-HSP60 and anti-HSP70 antibodies corresponded well with the observations from western blots or fluorographs. In developing oocytes, both constitutive and heat inducible expression of HSP60 were regulated in an oocyte stage-specific manner. In unstressed ovaries the expression of these proteins was less pronounced in early stage oocytes (1st - 8th) than at later stages (9th and onward). The heat shock, however, induced both HSP70 and HSP60 to a significantly high level in early stage oocytes (1st-8th) as compared to their respective controls. Our findings indicate the involvement of the HSP60 and HSP70 proteins in the development, growth and differentiation of both somatic and germ line tissues. Furthermore, the enhanced co-expression of HSP70 and HSP60 upon heat shock in various larval and adult cell types suggests the possible role of HSP60 in thermoprotection.

Antimicrobial potential of leaf and twig extracts of Himalayan gymnosperm Ginkgo biloba L. has been determined by agar well diffusion and agar dilution methods respectively. Strains of five Gram positive bacteria were used as test organisms. Plant extract were prepared in different organic solvents (methanol, hexane and DCM). All plant extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all these tested bacterial strains. Methanolic extract of leaf and twig, and hexane leaf extract of G. biloba showed maximum activity against E. coli with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) 2.01, 2.53 and 2.97 mg/mL, respectively.

Broiler chicks of a commercial strain were fed diets containing Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate @150 g and 200 g/MT and Virginiamycin 500g/MT feed upto 6 weeks of age to evaluate their effects on growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics and bacterial population (Salmonella and E. coli). Both BMD and virginiamycin significantly increased (P

[Veterinary World 2008; 1(1.000): 28-30]

Biological material is now commonly employed during the characterization of species. Superficial blood vessels are the most appropriate sites in reptiles for blood sampling. In this study we describe a method of blood collection from various species of Indian freshwater turtles for genetic characterization and discuss its advantages over the previously described techniques. The method proved most suitable, easy, and less harmful. The quantity of blood samples obtained is enough for different applications such as karyotyping, cytological examinations of cell types, isozyme analysis from RBCs and plasma, DNA isolation for PCR-RAPD and mitochondrial gene specific amplification. We conclude that the femoral vein is probably the most suitable site for blood collection from Indian freshwater turtles for various experimental procedure and methodologies related to genetic characterization.