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Marginal agricultural lands are considered unsuitable for conventional crop production but could be utilized for biofuel production, groundwater recharge, afforestation, and other land use purposes. Effective management of these lands requires accurate identification and understanding of their spatial distribution. We used random forest regression (RFR) with remotely sensed vegetation indices, soil properties, and climate data to estimate soybean and corn yield and identify marginal agricultural lands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). The developed RFR models were utilized to estimate gridded crop yields and identify marginal agricultural lands within the LMAV. Depending on the cost and revenue data used, the total area of marginal agricultural lands ranged from 18,888 to 720,655 ha. Using the 2021 sales price and associated production costs, 18,888 ha (1.03% of total cropland) of marginal lands were identified within the study area. However, using the six-year (2016–2021) average of the inflation-adjusted sales price and production costs, the estimated area of marginal agricultural lands increased to 720,655 ha (36.35% of total cropland). The findings have significant implications for land use planners and farmers, who can use the identified spatial distribution data of marginal lands within the study area to update existing field crops and plan for alternative land uses such as biofuel/bioenergy crop production, afforestation, groundwater recharge, restoring wildlife habitat, and soil restoration. These alternative land uses could result in higher returns and conservation of marginal lands, leading to sustainable and productive land use management.

Scrub typhus is a seriously neglected life threatening disease in Asia and the islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans. The causative agent is Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intra-cytosolic bacterium transmitted to vertebrate animals such as human or rodent by larval trombiculid mites (chiggers). Here, we conducted an outbreak investigation in Madhya Pradesh state in central India after sudden upsurge in scrub typhus cases and mortality in humans. Sixty-five live traps were placed for capturing the rodents. The captured rodent species were identified and the samples were subjected to nested PCR targeting 56kDa TSA gene. Analysis revealed for the first-time predominant circulation of Karp genotype in this region. The vector species involved in transmission is Leptotrobidium deliense. In conclusion, we reported the circulation of Karp strain in outbreak regions of Madhya Pradesh and suggest that public health monitoring and surveillance needs to be improved. Studies on antigenic diversity, association of strains with clinical spectrum and pathogenicity in the local setup will be essential for development of region-specific diagnostics and vaccines.

त्रिषु लिङ्गेषु समानरूपवतां सर्वासु विभक्तिषु सर्वेषु वचनेषु च समानरूपवताञ्चाव्ययपदानां संस्कृतवाङ्मये महत्त्वपूर्णं स्थानमस्ति। अव्ययपदानि विभिन्नशास्त्रेषु शब्दसङ्ग्राहककोशेषु च प्राप्यन्ते। एतैर्भाषायां सारल्यं सरसताकर्षकता–मनोरञ्जकतारुचिवर्धकताश्च प्राप्यन्ते। यैर्विना भाषासु सजीवता नाप्यते। अतः प्रत्येकभाषार्थम् अव्ययशब्दानामतीव महत्त्वं विदृश्यते। वाक्यरचनायाञ्चाव्ययपदानां महदवदानं दृग्गोचरीभवति। अव्ययं नाम किम्? अव्ययानां कति भेदाः? ते चाव्ययाः कति संख्यान्विताः? तेषामर्थवैविध्यञ्च कीदृशमिति स्थले स्थले प्रकीर्णमेव विवेचनमुपलभ्यते। आचार्यपाणिनिमते सम्पूर्णः पदराशिः सुबन्तरूपेण तिङन्तरूपेण च द्विधा विभक्तो दृश्यते। अव्ययशब्दा अपि सुबन्तत्वेनाभिमताः। तेषामवान्तरपदविभागस्तु चतुर्धैव दृश्यते– निपातरूपेण, उपसर्गरूपेण, गतिरूपेण कर्मप्रवचनीयरूपेण च। साधुशब्दव्युत्पादनं पाणिनीयव्याकरणस्य मुख्यं प्रयोजनमस्ति। तत्र शब्दव्युत्पादनक्रमे प्रकृति–प्रत्ययविभागेन शब्दसाधुत्वस्य वर्णनं पाणिनिना बहुशो विहितम्। तेषु शब्देषु कतिपयशब्दाः प्रकृति–प्रत्ययरहिताः सन्तोऽव्युत्पन्ना दृश्यन्ते। ते एव शब्दा अव्ययपदेन व्यवह्रियन्ते। अनुसन्धानेऽत्र पाणिनिमतेऽव्ययपदविमर्शः क्रियते।

Abstract Background Malaria is a major public health problem in India and accounts for about 88% of malaria burden in South-East Asia. India alone accounted for 2% of total malaria cases globally. Anti-malarial drug resistance is one of the major problems for malaria control and elimination programme. Artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is the first-line treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum in north eastern states of India since 2013 after confirming the resistance against sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. In the present study, therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and k13 polymorphism was assessed in uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. Methods This study was conducted at four community health centres located in Koraput district of Odisha, Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh and Gondia district of Maharashtra state. Patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were administered with fixed dose combination (6 doses) of artemether-lumefantrine for 3 days and clinical and parasitological response was recorded up to 28 days as per World Health Organization protocol. Nucleotide sequencing of msp1 and msp2 gene was performed to differentiate between recrudescence and reinfection. Amplification and sequencing of k13 propeller gene region covering codon 450–680 was also carried out to identify the polymorphism. Results A total 376 malaria patients who fulfilled the enrolment criteria as well as consented for the study were enrolled. Total 356 patients were followed up successfully up to 28 days. Overall, the adequate clinical and parasitological response was 98.9% and 99.4% with and without PCR correction respectively. No case of early treatment failure was observed. However, four cases (1.1%) of late parasitological failure were found from the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. Genotyping of msp1 and msp2 confirmed 2 cases each of recrudescence and reinfection, respectively. Mutation analysis of k13 propeller gene showed one non-synonymous mutation Q613H in one isolate from Bastar. Conclusions The study results showed that artemether-lumefantrine is highly effective in the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria among all age groups. No functional mutation in k13 was found in the study area. The data from this study will be helpful in implementation of artemether-lumefantrine in case of treatment failure by artesunate plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

Serology remains the mainstay for diagnosis of scrub typhus. In central India, diagnosis of this neglected emerging zoonotic disease suffers due to lack of standardized region-specific cutoff value and diagnostic test. Henceforth, standardized region-specific cutoff value for diagnostic ELISA play a significant role in initial treatment of patients and to differentiate other febrile diseases in endemic setup. A total of 144 patients of all age groups with acute undifferentiated febrile illness patients, forty healthy controls, dengue and chikungunya positive thirty-five samples in each category, respectively were enrolled in the study and subjected to IgM ELISA (InBioS, International, Inc.). Samples showing OD value more than 0.5 in IgM ELISA, were subjected to nested PCR. Both, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and healthy volunteer samples mean with +3 SD were considered to generate region specific cutoff OD value. A total of 48 patients were diagnosed as cases of scrub typhus through IgM ELISA. Out of 48 samples, 30 were positive by nested PCR. The ROC curve analysis revealed a diagnostic ELISA cutoff value of 0.73 with sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 100%, respectively. The cut off arrived from healthy volunteer is mean OD + 3 SD is 0.72. Considering the significance of scrub typhus diagnosis for treatment and to understand disease dynamics in region wise, the cutoff value of >0.72 for diagnostic ELISA for Madhya Pradesh in central India can be used.

A study was undertaken to examine the influence of foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA3), calcium and boron on fruit drop, yield and quality attributes of aonla (Emblica Officinalis Gaertn.) cv. NA 7 during two successive years, i.e. 2014-15 and 2015-16 on 15 year old plant of aonla cv. NA 7 at CSAUA&T, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), India. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and 10 treatments, viz. GA3 (25, 50 and 100 ppm), calcium chloride (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 %) and borax (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 %) including a control. Significantly reduced fruit drop (66.2 %) with increased fruit retention (29.85%) and specific gravity (1.06 g/cm3) was observed in plants treated with borax at 0.6%. Maximum fruit length (3.78 cm), width (3.89 cm), weight (30.90 g), volume (29.46 cc), pulp weight (29.16 g), total sugars (12.92 %), TSS (14.90 0Brix), fruit yield (80.50 kg/plant) with more moisture contents (94.04 %) was recorded in fruits produced from GA3 50 ppm treated plants, whereas, GA3 @ 100 ppm treatment reduces the titratable acidity (1.56 %) and stone weight (1.45 g) but increases the pulp: stone ratio (18.44%). Fruits with maximum ascorbic acid (608 mg/100g pulp) contents were produced from the plants treated with calcium chloride 1.5 % in the month of August in northern plains of India.

Maternal exposure to a carcinogen is associated with increased risk of different cancers in the offspring. The foetus is highly sensitive to carcinogens and this contributes to the foetal basis of the onset of disease. The better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the early stage of lung tumourigenesis in the offspring is needed for the newer preventive strategies. We evaluated the effects of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) given on the 17th day of gestation and antitumour agent inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) to the mothers at the early stage of lung tumourigenesis in F1 mice. There was no treatment related effects on the litter size or body weight of the F1 mice at the PND12 or 24. Analysis of PCNA, NF-κB (p50), IL-6, COX-2, pSTAT3, STAT3, caspase-3, caspase-9, PARP, Akt signalling and downstream cyclin D1 along with miR-155, suggested the modulation of proliferation, inflammation and apoptosis at PND12 and 24. IP6 administration to the predisposed mothers prevented the proliferation, inflammation and enhanced apoptosis in F1 lung as showed by a reduction in PCNA, NF-κB (p50), IL-6, COX-2, pSTAT3, STAT3, miR-155 and increase in caspases, cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. IP6 administration also inhibited the activation of Akt and cyclin D1. Our study shows that tumourigenic changes take place in the lungs of the F1 generation from the carcinogen predisposed mothers even before the onset of tumours and the simultaneous intake of chemopreventive agent during the gestation or lactation period could prevent the lymphocytic infiltration and hyperplasia preceding the tumourigenesis.

Of late, there has been growing awareness among organizations as to the importance of green issues. This article seeks to examine how workplace design features of a green building contribute to the formation of employee organization commitment (OCM) through better job satisfaction (JST) within employees. Based on a comprehensive literature review, a theoretical model was proposed for investigation. Three putative paths linking workspace (WSP) to JST, departmental space (DSP) to JST, and JST to OCM were then tested relying on a survey data of 356 employees collected from three Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified companies, namely Indian Tobacco Company (ITC), Suzlon Energy Ltd, and Olympia Technology Park uses structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology as prescribed by Hair et al. Significant evidences were witnessed in support of all three purposed paths. The study drew data only from the green-certified organization. Future research should involve other green organization or larger sample of green building. The size and character of the sample were restricted by organizational constraints.

Endophytic bacteria reside within the plant cell and are beneficial to it in a number of ways like growth, protection to environmental conditions and sustainability in favor of the hosts. Throughout the ages, Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has legendary therapeutic importance. The important step in endophyte isolation is the removal of plant tissue surface microflora, called as surface sterilization. Endophytes from medicinal plants may mimic the compound produced by the host plant and also plays an important role in production of bioactive compound, so it is necessary to isolate endophytes, not the epiphytic microbes. The present investigation was undertaken with an aim to optimize the sterilization parameters viz: time and concentration of ethanol and sodium hypochlorite for isolation of endophytic bacteria as well as exploring their antibacterial activity from Allium sativum. The results revealed that concentration and exposure time of sterilizing agent caused prominent surface sterilization but have negative effect on isolation of endophytes. Experimental results revealed that 70% ethanol (6 min), 2% sodium hypochlorite (1 min) followed by 70% ethanol (30 sec) is effective for surface sterilization of leaf and 70% ethanol (6 min), 3% sodium hypochlorite (1 min) followed by ethanol (30 sec) for bulb of Allium sativum. A total of 86 bacterial endophytes were recovered and screened for antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi and Proteus. Out of 86 bacterial endophytes, only (9%) endophytes were found to be inhibiting one or all test human pathogen. The findings of the present study suggest that use of optimized sterilization conditions are effective for removing surface bacterial strains without affecting endophytes as well as the Allium sativum plant of the Jaunpur district represents an excellent reservoir of endophytic bacteria and novel source of bioactive compounds. On the other hand different concentration and time of their exposure to different parts of plant is required for proper surface sterilization of that part and isolation of endophytes.

Shrinking of the thickness of silicon on insulator (SOI) has been proposed as a potential solution for scaling down the physical base length of symmetric lateral electrostatically doped bipolar transistors. An ultra-thin body device that utilizes the full SOI thickness has been presented and the performance of the same is investigated in detail. The device features two distinct doping techniques: work function-induced electrostatic doping (WED) and bias-induced electrostatic doping (BED). The proposed design approach leads to significant improvements in gain and cut-off frequency compared to previously reported designs. The resulting devices exhibit peak current gain β values >1100, ft>500 GHz, fmax>1300 GHz. Moreover, these improved device performance matrices get translated into better performance of universal gates with low rise and fall time of ∼1.3 ns, and improved noise margin performance in static random access memory (SRAM) device of 0.43 and 0.41 for WED and BED based devices respectively. Furthermore, the study investigates the reliability of the device concerning breakdown voltage and its response to different temperature conditions. The findings reveal a decline in the β value for WED-based devices when subjected to temperatures exceeding 340 K. In contrast, BED-based devices demonstrate a comparatively smaller variation in β at temperatures above 340 K. These results show the potential of the proposed device for mixed-signal and digital circuit applications.

Phytoplankton are the world’s largest oxygen producers found in oceans, seas and large water bodies, which play crucial roles in the marine food chain. Unbalanced biogeochemical features like salinity, pH, minerals, etc., can retard their growth. With advancements in better hardware, the usage of Artificial Intelligence techniques is rapidly increasing for creating an intelligent decision-making system. Therefore, we attempt to overcome this gap by using supervised regressions on reanalysis data targeting global phytoplankton levels in global waters. The presented experiment proposes the applications of different supervised machine learning regression techniques such as random forest, extra trees, bagging and histogram-based gradient boosting regressor on reanalysis data obtained from the Copernicus Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Hindcast dataset. Results obtained from the experiment have predicted the phytoplankton levels with a coefficient of determination score (R2) of up to 0.96. After further validation with larger datasets, the model can be deployed in a production environment in an attempt to complement in-situ measurement efforts.

In this paper, firstly, reports on use of various nature originated polysaccharides as gate dielectric candidates for organic field effect transistors (OFETs) to achieve eco-friendliness and eventual biodegradability in devices, are summarized. To emphasize the same, the performance of flexible OFETs fabricated with cyanoethyl cellulose (CEC), a synthetically modified cellulose as gate dielectric is comprehensively investigated. A widely studied TIPS-pentacene: PS blend is used to form the active layer in these devices, showing a p-channel transistor operation at a low voltage of −5 V. Along with high performance, these devices exhibited excellent repeatability and shelf life up to 10 months in ambient conditions. Effect of repeatability, bias-stress, and bending stability were investigated to confirm the decent electrical and bending stability. The device can sustain the transistor performance even after application of 200 bending cycles. Moreover, the effect of annealing temperature on transistor performance was studied to observe their suitability in real applications. These findings suggest that polysaccharides can be suitable gate dielectric for eco-sustainable electronics.