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The present study reports the synthesis, characterization, and application as energy devices of an ionic liquid blended polymer electrolyte film in which the host polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is mixed with low viscosity ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate. Various characterization tools have been used further to elaborate electrical, structural, and photoelectrochemical properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized optical microscope (POM) affirm the reduction of crystallinity of polymer, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows complexation and composite nature. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows an enhancement in ionic conductivity by IL doping, where the highest conductivity is achieved at 60 wt% of IL concentration with a conductivity value of 6.21 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm. The ionic transference number (tion) and electrochemical stability measurement show the film's predominantly ionic nature and a reasonable stability window. Using maximum conducting film sandwiched between electrodes, we have successfully fabricated two devices, i.e., an electrical double-layer capacitor (EDLC) and a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The fabricated EDLC capacitor shows a specific capacitance of 125 F/g, while DSSC shows an efficiency of 1.1 % at one sun condition.

Background and Aim: Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a common cause of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia. The phenotype is dependent on the repeat size and duration of the disease. We aimed to study the clinical, electrophysiologic, and radiologic profiles in a large Indian cohort of genetically proven FRDA patients. Subjects and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional, descriptive analysis of genetically proven FRDA patients was performed. A detailed review of all the hospital case records was done to analyze the clinical, radiologic, and electrophysiologic details. Results: A total of 100 FRDA patients were selected for the analysis. Eighty-six patients had an age at onset between 5 and 25 years. Eight patients (8%) were classified as late-onset FRDA and six patients (6%) as early-onset FRDA. The median age at presentation was 19 years. The median age at onset was 14 years, and the median duration of illness was 4 years. All patients had gait ataxia as the initial symptom. Gait ataxia, loss of proprioception, and areflexia were seen in all patients. Dysarthria, nystagmus, amyotrophy, spasticity, extensor plantars, pes cavus, and scoliosis occurred in one-third of patients. Cardiomyopathy (18%) and diabetes (5%) were less common. Sensory polyneuropathy (87.5%) was the most common nerve conduction abnormality. Cortical somatosensory evoked responses were absent in all 43 tested patients (100%). Brainstem auditory evoked response test was done in 24 patients and it showed absent reactions in six patients (25%). Visual evoked potential was tested in 24 patients and it showed absent P100 responses in five patients (21%). Cerebellar and cord atrophy was seen on magnetic resonance imaging in 50% of patients. Conclusion: Most FRDA patients (86%) had an age at onset of less than 25 years, with typical symptoms of gait ataxia, areflexia, and loss of proprioception found in all patients. Dysarthria, nystagmus, amyotrophy, spasticity, extensor plantars, pes cavus, scoliosis, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes were not seen in all patients. Cerebellar atrophy can occur in FRDA patients. Knowledge regarding the clinical, radiologic, and electrophysiologic profile of FRDA will aid in proper phenotypic characterization.

The purpose of this review paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of hydrogels in cancer therapy. This aims to explore the definition of hydrogels and their unique characteristics of hydrogel, role of hydrogel in cancer therapy, cancer therapy treatment approaches, challenges in cancer therapy, that make them suitable for use in cancer treatment. It seeks to emphasize on the integration of innovative approaches and new technologies in addressing the challenges of conventional cancer therapies and to highlight their potential to revolutionize cancer treatment approaches. The review will delve into different types of hydrogels, methods of preparation of hydrogel including natural and synthetic hydrogels, providing insights into their characteristics, synthesis methods, and tenability. Furthermore, it will examine the diverse applications of hydrogels in cancer therapy, such as drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, localized therapy, and combination therapies.

Porous-activated carbons (PAC) show a lot of applications in various fields due to their large surface area and appropriate pore volume, along with decent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability. Because of these characteristics, PACs are the best choice as an electrode material in supercapacitors (SCs). Due to the utility of PACs, this work reports the transformation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into PAC with a surface area of 162.40 m2/g. The synthesized PAC exhibits a maximum specific capacitance (CSP) of 40 F/g at five mV/s in 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium thiocyanate ionic liquid (EMIM SCN-IL) electrolyte. Also, no degradation was recorded in the initial Csp of the fabricated SC, even after 9000 cycles at room temperature. Additionally, using the same PAC in counter electrode dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was also fabricated, and the cell was tested at 1 sun condition, which shows a fill factor of 59.37 % and an efficiency of 1.42 %.

The detection of mycotoxins is a worldwide issue given their significant effects on both food safety and human health. The European Union (EU) has implemented various measures to address mycotoxin contamination and regulate their levels in food and feed. Given the high toxicity of mycotoxins, it is essential to develop a sensor that is sensitive, selective, and practical for their detection. The electrochemical sensing platforms emerge as a feasible analytical instrument for tackling specificity and sensitivity concerns, owing to its cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and user-friendly nature. The present review outlines a variety of electrochemical sensing platforms that have been developed in recent years for the detection of mycotoxins. Initially, it provides an overview of electrochemical sensors, both nonenzymatic and enzymatic featuring diverse bioreceptors such as immunosensors, aptasensors, and enzymatic sensors, all geared towards detecting mycotoxins. The subsequent section provides further details on electrochemical sensors that are portable, wireless, and compatible with smartphones. In summary, the review sought to offer valuable perspectives on the existing challenges and prospective advancements in electrochemical sensor technology.

This essay ponders on the thorny issue of including artificial beings under the category of “citizen.” The increasing humanization of the artificial being, it suggests, prevents us from seeing and treating the machine as a being. But if the humanoid robot performs all the functions of a human being, and acquires cultural traits such as emotional intelligence, rational thinking, or altruism, then on what grounds do we deny it the same status as a human person? Conversely, as more and more humans are cyborged, through transplants, implants, and prostheses, resulting in an erasure of their “core” humanity, then what is the difference between such a cyborged human with human rights and an artificial being?

Blepharospasm may be the most disabling of symptoms in Meige’s syndrome, and sunglasses or specialized tinted lenses (FL-41) have been suggested to be useful. The present report provides electrophysiological evidence to substantiate the utility of sunglasses as an alternative alleviating agent for Meige’s syndrome secondary to deep cerebral venous thrombosis with improvement extending beyond blepharospasm.

The present study was undertaken to standardize the milk fat, stevia level, and optimize fortification of carrot pulp at 10, 20 or 30 % levels separately replacing the chakka for production of low-fat and low-sugar functional shrikhand, a fermented Indian dessert from cow milk. On the basis of sensory evaluation, it was determined that the most favorable shrikhand was prepared using milk with 1.5% fat and replacing 60% of the sugar with stevia. Additionally, the incorporation of carrot pulp at a 20% level was identified as the optimal choice. This carrot pulp-enriched shrikhand was further assessed for its physico-chemical attributes such as pH, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) value and water activity, microbiological quality (including total plate count, coliform, psychrophilic, yeast and mold counts), and sensory characteristics over a 9-day period, with evaluations at intervals of three days (0, 3, 6, and 9 days), and then it was compared with the control. Although the mean TBARS values showed an increasing trend, the values of carrot pulp treated shrikhand (0.497 mg manolaldehyde/kg) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than control (0.582 mg manolaldehyde/kg) samples during the 9 days storage period. Further, the sensory evaluation results of shrikhand with carrot pulp exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean scores for color, appearance, and overall acceptability. The microbiological quality parameters of both products (control and treated) remained within permissible limits, when stored under refrigerated conditions for up to 9 days. In conclusion, shrikhand with 20% carrot pulp is recommended due to its ability to add value to the product by enhancing its functional properties and overall acceptability.

Background: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is the most common primary tauopathy. The definite diagnosis of PSP is established by histopathologic changes in the brain. There are no reliable blood-based biomarkers to aid the diagnosis of this fatal disease at an early stage. Also, the precise etiopathology of PSP and its variants is inadequately understood. Objective: Blood-based molecules such as neurofilament light chain (NfL) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are shown as important markers of neurodegenerative and aging processes, respectively. These two biomarkers have not been analyzed simultaneously in PSP patients. Methods: To address this knowledge gap, 40 PSP patients and equal number of healthy individuals were recruited and serum levels of NfL and IGF-1 were assayed in all the study participants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Motor and nonmotor symptoms were evaluated in PSP patients using various scales/questionnaires. Cardiac autonomic function tests were performed in a subset of patients (n = 27). Results: A significantly high serum level of NfL (P < 0.01) and a reduced level of IGF-1 (P = 0.02) were observed in PSP patients compared to healthy controls. Besides, a negative correlation (r = -0.54, P < 0.01) between NfL and IGF-1 levels was observed in PSP patients. Conclusion: The finding of this study reinforces the important role of blood NfL level as a potential biomarker of PSP. Further, the current study provides novel insights into the reciprocal correlation between NfL and IGF-1 in PSP patients. Combined analysis of blood levels of these two functionally relevant markers might be useful in the prediction and diagnosis of PSP.

Background: Literature on the efficacy and safety of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in pediatric patients is limited. Hence, we aimed to compare ESPB versus caudal epidural block (CEB) in children undergoing abdominal surgery. Methods: In this patient and assessor-blind study, fifty-two ASA I-II patients, between 1 to 9 years of age, were randomized into groups of 26 each. ESPB group received unilateral or bilateral ultrasound (USG)-guided ESPB with 0.5 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine per side. CEB group received USG-guided CEB with 1 ml/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine. The primary objective was to estimate the proportion of patients requiring postoperative rescue analgesia. The secondary objectives were to assess postoperative Face, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale scores, duration of analgesia, and consumption of rescue analgesic drugs. Results: More patients in the ESPB group (88.4%), compared to the CEB group (42.3%), required rescue analgesics (P value

Abstract Background Recapitulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) in vitro remains a major hurdle in cancer research. In recent years, there have been significant strides in this area, particularly with the emergence of 3D spheroids as a model system for drug screening and therapeutics development for solid tumors. However, incorporating macrophages into these spheroid cultures poses specific challenges due to the intricate interactions between macrophages and cancer cells. Methods To address this issue, in this study, we established a reproducible healthy multicellular 3D spheroid culture with macrophage infiltrates in order to mimic the TME and modulate the drug’s efficacy on cancer cells in the presence of macrophages. A 3D spheroid was established using the human cancer cell line CAL33 and THP1 cell derived M0 macrophages were used as a source of macrophages. Cellular parameters including tumour metabolism, health, and mitochondrial mass were analysed in order to establish ideal conditions. To modulate the interaction of cancer cells with macrophage the ROS, NO, and H2O2 levels, in addition to M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypic markers, were analyzed. To understand the crosstalk between cancer cells and macrophages for ECM degradation, HSP70, HIF1α and cysteine proteases were examined in spheroids using western blotting and qPCR. Results The spheroids with macrophage infiltrates exhibited key features of solid tumors, including cellular heterogeneity, metabolic changes, nutrient gradients, ROS emission, and the interplay between HIF1α and HSP70 for upregulation of ECM degradading enzymes. Our results demonstrate that tumor cells exhibit a metabolic shift in the presence of macrophages. Additionally, we have observed a shift in the polarity of M0 macrophages towards tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in response to cancer cells in spheroids. Results also demonstrate the involvement of macrophages in regulating HIF-1α, HSP70, and ECM degradation cysteine proteases enzymes. Conclusions This study has significant implications for cancer therapy as it sheds light on the intricate interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding macrophages. Additionally, our 3D spheroid model can aid in drug screening and enhance the predictive accuracy of preclinical studies. The strength of our study lies in the comprehensive characterization of the multicellular 3D spheroid model, which closely mimics the TME.

The scientific community has struggled to monitor harmful and toxic chemicals with the goal of improving both human health and the environment. Melamine (1, 3, 5-triazine-2, 4, 6-triamine, C3H6N6) is a cyanamide trimer used primarily to produce plastics, melamine formaldehyde, flame retardants, coatings, adhesives, insecticides, fertilizer, and kitchenware. Melamine is usually added illegally to dairy products, food and pet food to boost its protein content due to its high nitrogen content (66 %), which poses severe health risks. Therefore, it is vital to create efficient, reliable, and robust analytical methods for the detection of melamine. This review begins with a brief discussion of conventional melamine detection methods, such as chromatography, electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among many detection methods, electrochemical sensors have garnered considerable interest in detection due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, short analysis time, and simplicity of use. The review ends with a conclusive note focusing on the current challenges and future perspectives of the development of advanced electrochemical sensors. This review will inspire future research on nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensing for the determination of melamine with novel ideas.

Abstract Lightweight and mechanically robust hybrid foams based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with an anisotropic structure are prepared by directional ice‐templating. The anisotropic hybrid CNC‐MWCNT foams displayed a combination of highly anisotropic thermal conductivity and an orientation‐dependent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding with a maximum EMI shielding efficiency (EMI‐SE) of 41–48 dB between 8 and 12 GHz for the hybrid foam with 22 wt% MWCNT. The EMI‐SE is dominated by absorption (SEA) which is important for microwave absorber applications. Modelling of the low radial thermal conductivity highlighted the importance of phonon scattering at the heterogeneous CNC‐MWCNT interfaces while the axial thermal conductivity is dominated by the solid conduction along the aligned rod‐like particles. The lightweight CNC‐MWCNT foams combination of an anisotropic thermal conductivity and EMI shielding efficiency is unusual and can be useful for directional heat transport and EMI shielding.

In this work, nickel oxide (NiO) nanostructures deposited by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) are fabricated to achieve highly specific catalytic electrooxidation of lactate, replacing the natural enzyme lactate oxidase for electrochemical detection of lactate in sweat. GLAD NiO electrodes exhibit high sensitivity (412 μA mM−1 cm−2), wide linear detection range (1–45 mM), low detection limit (3 μM), and excellent specificity in artificial sweat samples. The unique microporous structure of the GLAD NiO electrodes, combined with their high surface area, high catalytic activity, and excellent conductivity, enhance the performance of the sensor and demonstrate their exceptional effectiveness in the sensitive detection of lactate. In-house fabricated gold counter, and stable solid-state Ag/AgCl reference electrodes, all fabricated on a flexible PET substrate along with the GLAD NiO working electrode, demonstrate performance comparable to commercial Pt auxiliary and Ag/AgCl (1M KCl) reference electrodes in lactate detection, along with outstanding flexibility, tested at various radii of curvature (15 mm, 7.5 mm, and 5 mm). The durable and long-lasting GLAD NiO electrode chips overcome numerous challenges in transport, storage, and operation, paving the way for the development of wearable lactate sensors that can detect lactate levels in sweat.

Abstract Some of the prominent features of long-term memory formation include protein synthesis, gene expression, enhanced neurotransmitter release, increased excitability, and formation of new synapses. As these processes are critically dependent on mitochondrial function, we hypothesized that increased mitochondrial respiration and dynamics would play a prominent role in memory formation. To address this possibility, we measured mitochondrial oxygen consumption (OCR) in hippocampal tissue punches from trained and untrained animals. Our results show that context fear training significantly increased basal, ATP synthesis-linked, and maximal OCR in the Shaffer collateral-CA1 synaptic region, but not in the CA1 cell body layer. These changes were recapitulated in synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampi of fear-trained animals. As dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) plays an important role in mitochondrial fission, we examined its role in the increased mitochondrial respiration observed after fear training. Drp1 inhibitors decreased the training-associated enhancement of OCR and impaired contextual fear memory, but did not alter the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria. Taken together, our results show context fear training increases presynaptic mitochondria respiration, and that Drp-1 mediated enhanced energy production in CA1 pre-synaptic terminals is necessary for context fear memory that does not result from an increase in the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria or an increase in mitochondrial mass within the synaptic layer.

Abstract Background Inflammation is a fundamental biological response to injury and infection, which if unregulated can contribute to the pathophysiology of many diseases. The vagus nerve, which primarily originates from the dorsal motor nucleus (DMN), plays an important role in rapidly dampening inflammation by regulating splenic function. However, direct vagal innervation of the spleen, which houses the majority of immune and inflammatory cells, has not been established. As an alternative to direct innervation, an anti-inflammatory reflex pathway has been proposed which involves the vagus nerve, the sympathetic celiac ganglion, and the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Although sympathetic regulation of inflammation has been shown, the interaction of the vagus nerve and the celiac ganglia requires a unique interaction of parasympathetic and sympathetic inputs, making this putative mechanism of brain–spleen interaction controversial. Body As neuropeptides can be expressed at relatively high levels in neurons, we reasoned that DMN neuropeptide immunoreactivity could be used to determine their target innervation. Employing immunohistochemistry, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, viral tract tracing, CRISPR-mediated knock-down, and functional assays, we show that cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide-expressing projection neurons in the caudal DMN directly innervate the spleen. In response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, CART acts to reduce inflammation, an effect that can be augmented by intrasplenic administration of a synthetic CART peptide. These in vivo effects could be recapitulated in cultured splenocytes, suggesting that these cells express the as yet unidentified CART receptor(s). Conclusion Our results provide evidence for direct connections between the caudal DMN and spleen. In addition to acetylcholine, these neurons express the neuropeptide CART that, once released, acts to suppress inflammation by acting directly upon splenocytes.

This article presents a scoping review of literacy research that employs multilingual and multimodal literacy narratives and discussions as tools for enabling immigrant youth to explore their intersectional identities and experiences of inequality. It encourages a re-examination of emerging educational/societal issues, incorporating these interventions as a catalyst for discussion. Utilizing a descriptive-analytic approach for data extraction, this scoping review has mapped out prevailing trends in the literature, research methodologies employed, and the types and objectives of multilingual and multimodal literacy interventions. The findings underscore a growing trend over the past decade in adopting multilingual and multimodal literacy interventions with immigrant youth, often employing collaborative research approaches such as participatory action research. The most frequently utilized multilingual and multimodal texts in such studies include digital storytelling materials (comprising images and video), spoken word poetry, photographs, and bilingual books. These interventions are typically designed to (a) encourage youth to express their knowledge, experiences, and identities; (b) examine and address educational and societal issues and opportunities; and (c) challenge dominant ideologies, practices, and discourses through the voices of immigrant youth. The review discusses the transformative possibilities for immigrant youth and encourages rethinking the language learning, literacy, and curriculum process. The data advocates for eclectic approaches and interventions to help newcomer youth understand their lived experiences and societal issues and encourages educators to respond in kind.

Engineering and flow properties of banana seed powder as a function of moisture content are important for processing, handling, packaging, and transport processes. The bulk density, tapped density, and porosity increased from 377.37 to 427.36 kg m-3, 622.08 to 746.33 kg m-3, and 38.99-43.74%, respectively, within the increasing moisture content range. The Hausner ratio (Hr) and Carr’s compressibility index (CI) significantly (p

The production of nanomaterials from new sources is an important topic because the diversity of the raw materials provides a variety of properties for these materials, therefore, this study involved the synthesis and characterization of a zinc complex obtained by reacting 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid (DMB) with zinc chloride in the presence of triethylamine as a bulk base. The structure and coordination mode of the resulting zinc complex were determined through various techniques, including FTIR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis, and molar conductivity. The findings confirmed that the 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid ligand acts as a bidentate ligand, coordinating through both oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group, resulting in a complex of the type [Zn(DMB)Cl]2. This complex was then used as a precursor for the synthesis of a ZnO-MWCNTs nanocomposite using ultrasound waves. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using SEM and XRD techniques. The results revealed the formation of small spherical clusters around the carbon nanotubes, with an average size of the spherical nanostructures measuring 11.875 nm. Moreover, the incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles had a positive impact on increasing the diameter of the carbon nanotubes from 3.005 nm to 21.218 nm.

This paper studies two texts about animals in conflict zones: Sadat Hasan Manto’s ‘The Dog of Titwal’ and its graphic adaptation by Arif Ayaz Parrey and Wasim Helal’s ‘Tamasha-e-Tetwal’, in Vishwajyoti Ghosh’s Partition collection, This Side That Side. In Manto, the deterritorialized dog creates an animal heterotopia. The dog is also significant in that its precarious life between two territories transforms the political organization of space into what Stuart Elden terms ‘terrain’. Such an organization’s biopolitics involves fauna and flora as well.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to considerable morbidity and mortality across the world. Lung transplant is a viable option for a few with COVID-19–related lung disease. Whom and when to transplant has been the major question impacting the transplant community given the novelty of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We describe a pitfall of presumed prolonged shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in a patient with COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome leading to COVID-19 pneumonia after lung transplant. This raises concerns that replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus can persist for months post-infection and can lead to re-infection of grafts in the future.

Introduction: Neuroglioma, a classification encompassing tumors arising from glial cells, exhibits variable aggressiveness and depends on tumor grade and stage. Unraveling the EGFR gene alterations, including amplifications (unaltered), deletions, and missense mutations (altered), is emerging in glioma. However, the precise understanding of emerging EGFR mutations and their role in neuroglioma remains limited. This study aims to identify specific EGFR mutations prevalent in neuroglioma patients and investigate their potential as therapeutic targets using FDA- approved drugs for repurposing approach. Methods: Neuroglioma patient’s data were analyzed to identify the various mutations and survival rates. High throughput virtual screening (HTVS) of FDA-approved (1615) drugs using molecular docking and simulation was executed to determine the potential hits. Results: Neuroglioma patient samples (n=4251) analysis reveals 19% EGFR alterations with most missense mutations at V774M in exon 19. The Kaplan-Meier plots show that the overall survival rate was higher in the unaltered group than in the altered group. Docking studies resulted the best hits based on each target's higher docking score, minimum free energy (MMGBSA), minimum kd, ki, and IC50 values. MD simulations and their trajectories show that compounds ZINC000011679756 target unaltered EGFR and ZINC000003978005 targets altered EGFR, whereas ZINC000012503187 (Conivaptan, Benzazepine) and ZINC000068153186 (Dabrafenib, aminopyrimidine) target both the EGFRs. The shortlisted compounds demonstrate favorable residual interactions with their respective targets, forming highly stable complexes. Moreover, these shortlisted compounds have drug- like properties as assessed by ADMET profiling. Conclusion: Therefore, compounds (ZINC000012503187 and ZINC000068153186) can effectively target both the unaltered/altered EGFRs as multi-target therapeutic repurposing drugs towards neuroglioma.

Molecular chaperones are highly conserved across evolution and play a crucial role in preserving protein homeostasis. The 60 kDa heat shock protein (HSP60), also referred to as chaperonin 60 (Cpn60), resides within mitochondria and is involved in maintaining the organelle’s proteome integrity and homeostasis. The HSP60 family, encompassing Cpn60, plays diverse roles in cellular processes, including protein folding, cell signaling, and managing high-temperature stress. In prokaryotes, HSP60 is well understood as a GroEL/GroES complex, which forms a double-ring cavity and aids in protein folding. In eukaryotes, HSP60 is implicated in numerous biological functions, like facilitating the folding of native proteins and influencing disease and development processes. Notably, research highlights its critical involvement in sustaining oxidative stress and preserving mitochondrial integrity. HSP60 perturbation results in the loss of the mitochondria integrity and activates apoptosis. Currently, numerous clinical investigations are in progress to explore targeting HSP60 both in vivo and in vitro across various disease models. These studies aim to enhance our comprehension of disease mechanisms and potentially harness HSP60 as a therapeutic target for various conditions, including cancer, inflammatory disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review delves into the diverse functions of HSP60 in regulating proteo-homeostasis, oxidative stress, ROS, apoptosis, and its implications in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.

The rapid development of wearable sensor technology can be attributed to developments in materials, microelectronics, fabrication, communication systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The use of wearable sensors enables continuous acquisition and monitoring of the pathophysiological parameters of a person in real time. The global market for health-related wearables has experienced significant growth, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A wearable sensor module is comprised of various components, including a powering unit, sensor(s), acquisition unit, communication unit, and processing unit. The non-fluctuating power source with a long life is of utmost significance to the continuous and real-time operation of a wearable sensor. A wearable device can be powered by a rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a standard power source but requires regular recharging after depletion and has a negative environmental impact. This necessitates using green renewable energy sources like photovoltaic cells, piezoelectric generators, wind energy converters, and thermoelectric generators for powering wearable sensor modules. The photovoltaic cell that converts photonics into electrical energy is deemed a viable green energy source for wearable sensor modules. This article reviews the progress and application of photovoltaic technology in wearable sensor modules.

IntroductionCOVID-19 has emerged as a highly contagious and debilitating disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has claimed the lives of over 7.7 million people worldwide. Bacterial co-infections are one of many co-morbidities that have been suggested to impact the outcome of COVID-19 in patients. The goals of this study are to elucidate the presence of bacteria in the nasopharynx of SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative patients and to describe demographic categories that may be associated with the detection of these organisms during one of the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsTo this end, we investigated SARS-CoV-2 and bacterial co-detection from outpatient RT-PCR testing in Texas.ResultsThe results indicate that Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Haemophilus influenzae were the most frequently detected bacteria in both SARS-CoV-2 positive and SARS-CoV-2 negative patients and that these bacteria were present in these two patient populations at similar proportions. We also detected Staphylococcus aureus in a significantly larger proportion of males relative to females and people under 65 years of age relative to those 65 and over. Finally, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 was more commonly detected in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics; however, low disclosure rates make volunteer bias a concern when interpreting the effects of demographic variables.DiscussionThis study describes the bacteria present in the nasopharynx of SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative patients, highlights associations between patient demographics and SARS-CoV-2 as well as bacterial co-detection. In addition, this study highlights RT-PCR based molecular testing as a tool to detect bacteria simultaneously when SARS-CoV-2 tests are performed.

Summary: The current paradigm indicates that naive T cells are primed in secondary lymphoid organs. Here, we present evidence that intranasal administration of peptide antigens appended to nanofibers primes naive CD8+ T cells in the lung independently and prior to priming in the draining mediastinal lymph node (MLN). Notably, comparable accumulation and transcriptomic responses of CD8+ T cells in lung and MLN are observed in both Batf3KO and wild-type (WT) mice, indicating that, while cDC1 dendritic cells (DCs) are the major subset for cross-presentation, cDC2 DCs alone are capable of cross-priming CD8+ T cells both in the lung and draining MLN. Transcription analyses reveal distinct transcriptional responses in lung cDC1 and cDC2 to intranasal nanofiber immunization. However, both DC subsets acquire shared transcriptional responses upon migration into the lymph node, thus uncovering a stepwise activation process of cDC1 and cDC2 toward their ability to cross-prime effector and functional memory CD8+ T cell responses.

Epidemiological studies have shown that traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). However, molecular mechanisms that underlie this risk are largely unidentified. TBI triggers widespread epigenetic modifications. Similarly, NDs such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s are associated with numerous epigenetic changes. Although epigenetic changes can persist after TBI, it is unresolved if these modifications increase the risk of later ND development and/or dementia. We briefly review TBI-related epigenetic changes, and point out putative feedback loops that might contribute to long-term persistence of some modifications. We then focus on evidence suggesting persistent TBI-associated epigenetic changes may contribute to pathological processes (e.g., neuroinflammation) which may facilitate the development of specific NDs – Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Finally, we discuss possible directions for TBI therapies that may help prevent or delay development of NDs.

Summary: Background: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is an effective tool for diagnosis in patients who remain undiagnosed despite a comprehensive clinical work-up. While WES is being used increasingly in pediatrics and oncology, it remains underutilized in non-oncological adult medicine, including in patients with liver disease, in part based on the faulty premise that adults are unlikely to harbor rare genetic variants with large effect size. Here, we aim to assess the burden of rare genetic variants underlying liver disease in adults at two major tertiary referral academic medical centers. Methods: WES analysis paired with comprehensive clinical evaluation was performed in fifty-two adult patients with liver disease of unknown etiology evaluated at two US tertiary academic health care centers. Findings: Exome analysis uncovered a definitive or presumed diagnosis in 33% of patients (17/52) providing insight into their disease pathogenesis, with most of these patients (12/17) not having a known family history of liver disease. Our data shows that over two-thirds of undiagnosed liver disease patients attaining a genetic diagnosis were being evaluated for cholestasis or hepatic steatosis of unknown etiology. Interpretation: This study reveals an underappreciated incidence and spectrum of genetic diseases presenting in adulthood and underscores the clinical value of incorporating exome sequencing in the evaluation and management of adults with liver disease of unknown etiology. Funding: S.V. is supported by the NIH/NIDDK (K08 DK113109 and R01 DK131033-01A1) and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Grant #2019081. This work was supported in part by NIH-funded Yale Liver Center, P30 DK34989.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer mixed with different weight ratios of 1-ethyl-3-methyltricynomethanide (EMIm-TCM) ranging from 0 to 30 wt% were used to develop solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). The structural, electrical, and electrochemical properties of the SPEs films were extensively studied. Introducing ionic liquid (IL) into PVA's structure improved its mechanical properties, flexibility, and conductivity, increasing application potential in energy devices. The maximal ionic conductivity of 3.85 × 10−4 Scm−1 was achieved by adding 30 wt% IL. Structural and morphology analysis was performed. Obtained materials exhibited enhanced amorphous nature, and the FT-IR spectrum showed perfect complexation, supported by our XRD pattern. The ionic transference number measurement (tion) confirms that ionic liquid doped polymer electrolyte (ILDPE) is predominantly ionic. Several devices were tested. ILDPE film sandwiched Electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC) and Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) showed a favorable response.

This paper introduces a novel approach for medical image reclamation, specifically focusing on enhancing chest image resolution. The proposed method introduces the Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DT-CWT) with Edge Preservation Smoothing (EPS) filters to balance visual clarity. The resulting Image Reclamation system maintains high-quality results while preserving image edges. Performance validation using established metrics like Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and entropy demonstrates substantial improvements: PSNR of 31, SSIM of 0.99, RMSE of 8.25, and entropy of 1.03. Furthermore, the algorithm extracts features from the enhanced chest image through symlet transform, allowing for Bhattacharya coefficient computation and unique bin analysis to enhance image retrieval. Experimental results show efficiency gains, increasing the top 5 matching images’ retrieval score from 320 to 512. This approach promises to enhance medical image reclamation in emergency settings, facilitating quicker and more accurate diagnoses and treatments for acute chest injuries. Ultimately, this work can potentially save lives, reduce complications, and improve patient outcomes in chest trauma emergencies.

Introduction: The intraoperative anatomical findings (IOAF) of all ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) cases are not identical. Moreover, there is also controversy in the literature regarding histopathological (HP) findings in cases of UPJO. In the present study, we evaluated different IOAF and assessed their association with specific HP parameters. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study set-up, which was carried out in a tertiary care centre. Children with UPJO who underwent surgery between 2017 and 2020 were enrolled. The following IOAF were noted: Type of pelvis (extrarenal or intrarenal), insertion of the ureter (high or normal), presence of lower pole crossing vessel (CV), negotiation of UPJ segment with double J stent (3 Fr) and length of internal narrowing (LIN) at UPJ. The resected segment of UPJ was assessed at three levels (pelvis, UPJ and ureter) for various HP parameters including fibrosis, oedema, inflammation and smooth muscle hypertrophy (SMH). Results: Thirty-nine children were included in the study with a mean age of 31 months. The summary statistics of IOAF were intrarenal pelvis in 5 cases, high insertion of the ureter (HIU) in 9, CV in 6, negotiable UPJ in 23, and 16 cases showed LIN >1 cm. All cases showed SMH at the pelvis region and SMH with fibrosis at the UPJ region. At the pelvis region, there was an association between (1) HIU with oedema and chronic inflammation (CIF), (2) CV with CIF and (3) LIN with CIF and SMH. At the UPJ region, there was an association between (1) CV and negotiable UPJ with less fibrosis and (2) LIN with SMH. At the ureteric end, CV showed an association with less fibrosis and more CIF. Conclusion: All UPJO cases have some common HP findings. Although, some particular IOAF, i.e., presence of CV, negotiable UPJ, HIU and LIN showed association with specific HP parameters.

In this work, a customized portable semi-shielded chamber for torso phantoms to evaluate fat-intrabody communication (Fat-IBC) is presented. Fat-IBC is a technology where human fat tissue is used for microwave communication with intrabody medical devices. The potential clinical applications are vast including central nervous system (brain and spine) communication, cardiovascular disease monitoring and metabolic disorder control. However, validating this technology needs assurance that the signal leakage through undesired paths, particularly surface waves and reflections, does not occur. To solve this issue, an effective technique involving a modified design of a semi-shielded chamber is presented. The cross-section of the torso phantoms is about 25 cm $\times35$ cm and the height about 20 cm. As specified by ISO 3745:2012, the maximum object volume that can be measured in a chamber is 5% of the chamber’s internal net volume. Therefore, the dimensions of the semi-shielded chamber was set to 100 cm $\times60$ cm $\times60$ cm. The semi-shielded chamber was constructed out of a wooden crate, covered on the inside with microwave absorbers and with thin aluminum sheets on the outside. The experimental evaluation of the semi-shielded chamber was validated according to standards such as EN 50147-1:1996, IEC 61000-4-3:2020, and IEC CISPR 16-1-4:2019. The torso phantom was positioned at the center of the chamber, with a separation wall to ensure signal transmission solely through the phantoms interior and not its surface or chamber walls. The separation wall can be modified either to be conformal to the phantom sample or serve as a solid partition dividing the chamber into two separate volumes for performance measurement. The separation wall was found to have a shielding attenuation of 30 dB to 60 dB for frequencies between 0.7 GHz and 18 GHz, respectively, while the corresponding values for the external walls were found to be 45 dB to 70 dB. The semi-shielded chamber realized in this work is useful for Fat-IBC technology, brain-computer interface, brain-machine interface, body area networks (BANs), and related applications.

Sensory tricks, also known as “geste antagoniste” or “alleviating maneuvers,” refer to specific maneuvers that temporarily improve dystonic postures; this is often considered to be a hallmark of primary dystonia. Although classically described to be simple activities such as a gentle touch, they can be complex and multisensory, including tactile, proprioceptive, visual, auditory, and thermal stimuli or even imaginary tricks. To date, there is no concrete concept to explain the mechanisms by which geste antagoniste alleviate dystonia. The suggested mechanisms imply an increase in intracortical facilitation in dystonia, and balance between facilitation and inhibition is restored by the geste. This narrative review aims to provide a brief overview of geste antagoniste, covering the historical aspects, types of geste, known mechanisms, and implications.

One of the most significant industrial processes is the catalytic methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide because methanol is a future energy carrier for producing fuels and high-value-added commodities, the so-called “methanol economy” is carbon neutral. As a solution to climate change, the widespread belief that carbon dioxide can be recycled by hydrogenation into methanol has motivated the development of more efficient and selective catalysts. Efficient 2 wt% Pd/CeO2 catalysts for thermochemical CO2 hydrogenation have recently been investigated. However, the rationale behind the low Pd loading (2 wt%) in CeO2 needs to be clarified, and comprehensive research into Pd tuning is lacking. In this article, we describe the synthesis ofvarious palladium contents (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 wt%) supported on ceria nanorods (Pd/CeO2) for selective hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol under vapor-phase. The impact of Pd on the physicochemical properties of CeO2 was examined using various characterization techniques. The enhanced catalytic activity was caused by the 2 wt% Pd/CeO2 catalyst's most significant level of metallic Pd species, strong interactions between Pd and CeO2, uniform Pd dispersion on CeO2, increased reducibility, oxygen mobility, and weak basic sites. This study reveals that changing the percentage of metal in the catalyst supports a valuable technique for designing efficient oxides-supported metal-based catalysts for CO2 conversions.

Abstract The primary goal of the current study is to improve the specific capacitance of electric double-layer (EDLC) device using biomass (Tribulus Terrestris) derived activated carbon electrodes synthesized by chemical activation method. Furthermore, high surface area carbon electrodes are characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), RAMAN spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm the morphological structure. Finally, the electrochemical performance of fabricated EDLC proves a good agreement data using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Low Impedance Spectroscopy (LIS), and Galvanostatic Charge–Discharge (GCD) analysis showing the high specific capacitance of 115 Fg−1 for the optimized 1:2 activated carbon material.

The dielectric properties of skin tissues in relation to different degrees of burn are a necessary prerequisite for designing non-invasive microwave sensing modalities. Due to the difficulties in obtaining human tissue samples, such databases are largely unavailable. To bridge the knowledge gap in this field, we attempt to create a dielectric database of various burn-degree skin samples and their statistical analysis in this work. This research is part of the European “Senseburn” project, which aims to create a non-invasive diagnostic tool that can measure the severity and depth of burns on humans in a clinical setting. In this work, several ex-vivo burnt samples were collected from the Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska sjukhuset, Sweden). Out of that, eight samples with different degrees of burns in various human body locations were selected for the analysis. The dielectric characterization of the categorized samples was done using an Keysight N1501A dielectric open-end co-axial probe Kit. The dielectric characterization was made from 500 MHz to 10 GHz with 1001 points. The measurement was made systematically, and the clinician feedback forms were gathered and analyzed throughout the process. The measurement data followed the FASTCLUS procedure, which was initially analyzed using density plot, convergence, and cubic clustering criteria. For the statistical analysis, 11 frequency points were considered for eight samples. The results of the fundamental statistical analysis using the FASTCLUS procedure resulted in 88 data sets. Later, data sets were analyzed in sample-wise clusters. Every sample was made with two clusters, i.e., cluster 1, which consisted of healthy sectors, and cluster 2, which consisted of burnt sectors. We made the linear approximations for the sample-wise clusters and found the constant real permittivity difference. Furthermore, we found a pattern in the constant real permittivity differences of every sample that is proportional to the burn degrees. This information is needed in order to identify optimization parameters, i.e., the sensitivity with respect to dielectric difference for various burn degrees. For this purpose, extensive measurement campaigns across the microwave frequency band from 500 MHz – 10 GHz were conducted. Based on the analysis of dielectric data, each skin region of interest (ROI) has its own dielectric properties. Additionally, we developed a proof of concept non-invasive flexible microwave sensor based on the dielectric database collected from burnt ex-vivo human tissue samples. In this way, we could distinguish between phantoms with different dielectric properties in the burned human tissue sample range.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. In India, the incidence of LC is increasing rapidly, and a majority of the patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease when treatment is less likely to be effective. Recent therapeutic developments have significantly improved survival outcomes in patients with LC. Prompt specialist referral remains critical for early diagnosis for improved patient survival. In the Indian scenario, distinguishing LC from benign and endemic medical conditions such as tuberculosis can pose a challenge. Hence, awareness regarding the red flags—signs and symptoms that warrant further investigations and referral—is vital. This review is an effort toward encouraging general physicians to maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for those at risk of developing LC and assisting them in refering patients with concerning symptoms to specialists or multidisciplinary teams as early as possible.

Abstract White mold commonly known as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes stem rot disease and has emerged as one of the major fungal pathogens of oilseed Brassica across the world. In the present study, consistently virulent S. sclerotiorum isolate “ESR-01” was sequenced and an assembly size of ~ 41 Mb with 328 scaffolds having N50 of 447,128 was obtained. Additionally, 27,450 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from 155 scaffolds against S. sclerotiorum 1980 isolate, with an average SNP density of ~ 1.5 per kb genome. 667 repetitive elements were identified and approximately comprised 7% of the total annotated genes. The DDE_1 with 454 in numbers was found to be the most abundant and accounts for 68% of the total predicted repetitive elements. In total, 3844 simple sequence repeats are identified in the 328 scaffolds. A total of 9469 protein-coding genes were predicted from the whole genome assembly with an average gene length of 1587 bp and their distribution as 230.95 genes per Mb in the genome. Out of 9469 predicted protein-coding genes, 529 genes were observed encoding the CAZymes (Carbohydrate-Active enzymes) capable of degradation of the complex polysaccharides. Glycosyltransferase (GT) families were most abundant (49.71%) among the predicted CAZymes and GT2 (23%), GT4 (20%), and glycoside hydrolase (GH) 23% with GH18 (11%) were the prominent cell wall degrading enzyme families in the ESR-01 secretome. Besides this, 156 genes essential for the pathogen-host interactions were also identified. The effector analysis in the whole genome proteomics dataset revealed a total of 57 effector candidates (ECs) and 27 of them were having their analogs whereas the remaining 30 were novel ones. Eleven selected ECs were validated experimentally by analyzing the expression profile of the ESR-01 isolate of S. sclerotiorum. Together, the present investigation offers a better understanding of the S. sclerotiorum genome, secretome, and its effector repertoire which will help in refining the present knowledge on S. sclerotiorum-Brassica interactions and necrotrophic lifestyle of the phytopathogen in general.

Measurement(s) gross primary productivity Technology Type(s) remote sensing Factor Type(s) vegetation, radiation, water Sample Characteristic - Organism vegetation Sample Characteristic - Location India

Increasing soil salinity depreciates the quantity of the crop produce. Looking at the tremendous potential of plant-associated microorganisms in salinity stress mitigation, it would be very useful in exploring and deciphering salt-tolerant microorganisms from halophytic plants and their utilization in cultivated plants. With this aim, in the present study, four halophytic plants were taken from Rann of Kutch, and bacterial endophytes were isolated from different plant organs. These endophytes were characterized by plant growth and health promotion features. The molecular identification was done based on 16 s rRNA sequence similarity. It was found that the endophytic bacteria isolated from 4 different halophytes found sharing phylogenetic relatedness. Four potential endophytes Alkalihalobacillus gibsonii 2H2, Achromobacter insuavis 2H18, Terribacillus halophilus 2H20, and Bacillus siamensis 4H1 were tested in tomato for salinity stress alleviation. Changes in the levels of antioxidants were analyzed. Total chlorophyll, total phenolics, malondialdehyde, and proline content indicated reduced damage in the plant system due to salinity by the application of endophytes. All the treatments exhibited low levels of electrolyte leakage. The accumulation of enzymatic reactive oxygen species scavengers was assessed from the levels of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guiacol peroxidase. The NBT and DAB staining confirmed the findings. The reduction in the accumulation of Na+ ions in tomato leaves was visualized using Sodium Green probes under CSLM and found to be lowest in Terribacillus halophilus 2H20 and Bacillus siamensis 4H1 inoculated plants. The endophyte Terribacillus halophilus 2H20 was the most promising isolate. The colonization in tomato roots was confirmed using a cell tracker system. Results showed that the endophytes were found to have salinity stress mitigation traits. The efficiency could be further improved with the combination of other endophytes tested earlier.

Objective: Conservative approaches in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) have been evolved to avoid aggressive surgery, but are limited to elderly, frail, and patients medically unfit for surgery. Our study aimed to assess the response rate of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before radiotherapy (RT) in MIBC patients. Methods: Forty patients with urothelial carcinoma of stage T2–T4a, N0, M0 were enrolled between November 2013 and November 2015, and treated with three cycles of NACT with gemcitabine-cisplatin. Post-NACT response was assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Patients who achieved complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) >50% were treated with radical RT, and those who had PR 50% or CR, and were treated with RT. Five (12.5%) patients who had PR

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel etiology of end-stage lung disease, has resulted in major disruptions to the process of health care delivery worldwide. These disruptions have led to team-based innovations globally, resulting in a broad range of new processes in cardiopulmonary perioperative management. A key intersection of multidisciplinary teamwork and COVID-19 is found in lung transplantation, in which diverse teams collaborate throughout the perioperative period to achieve optimal outcomes. In this article, we describe the multidisciplinary approach taken by Mayo clinic in Florida to manage patients with COVID-19 presenting for lung transplantation.

Background: A salutary effect of treatments for Gaucher disease (GD) has been a reduction in the incidence of avascular osteonecrosis (AVN). However, there are reports of AVN in patients receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) , and it is not known whether it is related to individual treatments, GBA genotypes, phenotypes, biomarkers of residual disease activity, or anti-drug antibodies. Prompted by development of AVN in several patients receiving ERT, we aimed to delineate the determinants of AVN in patients receiving ERT or eliglustat substrate reduction therapy (SRT) during 20 years in a tertiary referral center. Methods: Longitudinal follow-ups of 155 GD patients between 2001 and 2021 were analyzed for episodes of AVN on therapy, type of therapy, GBA1 genotype, spleen status, biomarkers, and other disease indicators. We applied mixed-effects logistic model to delineate the independent correlates of AVN while receiving treatment. Results: The patients received cumulative 1382 years of treatment. There were 16 episodes of AVN in 14 patients, with two episodes, each occurring in two patients. Heteroallelic p.Asn409Ser GD1 patients were 10 times (95% CI, 1.5–67.2) more likely than p.Asn409Ser homozygous patients to develop osteonecrosis during treatment. History of AVN prior to treatment initiation was associated with 4.8-fold increased risk of AVN on treatment (95% CI, 1.5–15.2). The risk of AVN among patients receiving velaglucerase ERT was 4.68 times higher compared to patients receiving imiglucerase ERT (95% CI, 1.67–13). No patient receiving eliglustat SRT suffered AVN. There was a significant correlation between GlcSph levels and AVN. Together, these biomarkers reliably predicted risk of AVN during therapy (ROC AUC 0.894, p

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread apicomplexan parasite that can cause severe disease in its human hosts. The ability of T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites to invade into, egress from, and move between cells of the hosts they infect is critical to parasite virulence and disease progression. An unusual and highly conserved parasite myosin motor (TgMyoA) plays a central role in T. gondii motility. The goal of this work was to determine whether the parasite's motility and lytic cycle can be disrupted through pharmacological inhibition of TgMyoA, as an approach to altering disease progression in vivo. To this end, we first sought to identify inhibitors of TgMyoA by screening a collection of 50,000 structurally diverse small molecules for inhibitors of the recombinant motor's actin-activated ATPase activity. The top hit to emerge from the screen, KNX-002, inhibited TgMyoA with little to no effect on any of the vertebrate myosins tested. KNX-002 was also active against parasites, inhibiting parasite motility and growth in culture in a dose-dependent manner. We used chemical mutagenesis, selection in KNX-002, and targeted sequencing to identify a mutation in TgMyoA (T130A) that renders the recombinant motor less sensitive to compound. Compared to wild-type parasites, parasites expressing the T130A mutation showed reduced sensitivity to KNX-002 in motility and growth assays, confirming TgMyoA as a biologically relevant target of KNX-002. Finally, we present evidence that KNX-002 can slow disease progression in mice infected with wild-type parasites, but not parasites expressing the resistance-conferring TgMyoA T130A mutation. Taken together, these data demonstrate the specificity of KNX-002 for TgMyoA, both in vitro and in vivo, and validate TgMyoA as a druggable target in infections with T. gondii. Since TgMyoA is essential for virulence, conserved in apicomplexan parasites, and distinctly different from the myosins found in humans, pharmacological inhibition of MyoA offers a promising new approach to treating the devastating diseases caused by T. gondii and other apicomplexan parasites.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising solution to the antibiotic resistance crisis. However, an unresolved serious concern is that the evolution of resistance to therapeutic AMPs may generate cross-resistance to host AMPs, compromising a cornerstone of the innate immune response. We systematically tested this hypothesis using globally disseminated mobile colistin resistance (MCR) that has been selected by the use of colistin in agriculture and medicine. Here, we show that MCR provides a selective advantage to Escherichia coli in the presence of key AMPs from humans and agricultural animals by increasing AMP resistance. Moreover, MCR promotes bacterial growth in human serum and increases virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Our study shows how the anthropogenic use of AMPs can drive the accidental evolution of resistance to the innate immune system of humans and animals. These findings have major implications for the design and use of therapeutic AMPs and suggest that MCR may be difficult to eradicate, even if colistin use is withdrawn.

The present paper reports the elastic, mechanical and thermophysical properties of silver nanowire (Ag NW) using ultrasonic techniques at temperature dependent. Higher order elastic constants are calculated using Coulomb and Born-Mayer potential up to second nearest neighbour. To compute mechanical parameters such as young modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus tetragonal modulus, Poisson's ratio, fracture to toughness ratio and Zener anisotropy factor for finding imminent performance of the single silver nanowire at temperature dependent using second order elastic constants. The Ag NW is found to be brittle in nature at room temperature. Finally, we have evaluated the ultrasonic velocities, ultrasonic attenuation due to phonon–phonon interaction and thermoelastic relaxation for longitudinal wave and shear waves along , and crystallographic directions in the temperature range 100-300K of silver nanowire using the higher order elastic constants. The attained results are discussed in correlation with available outcomes on these properties for the silver nanowire.