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Recently developed locally scaled self-interaction correction (LSIC) is a one-electron SIC method that, when used with a ratio of kinetic energy densities (zσ) as iso-orbital indicator, performs remarkably well for both thermochemical properties as well as for barrier heights overcoming the paradoxical behavior of the well-known Perdew–Zunger self-interaction correction (PZSIC) method. In this work, we examine how well the LSIC method performs for the delocalization error. Our results show that both LSIC and PZSIC methods correctly describe the dissociation of H 2 + and He 2 + but LSIC is overall more accurate than the PZSIC method. Likewise, in the case of the vertical ionization energy of an ensemble of isolated He atoms, the LSIC and PZSIC methods do not exhibit delocalization errors. For the fractional charges, both LSIC and PZSIC significantly reduce the deviation from linearity in the energy vs number of electrons curve, with PZSIC performing superior for C, Ne, and Ar atoms while for Kr they perform similarly. The LSIC performs well at the endpoints (integer occupations) while substantially reducing the deviation. The dissociation of LiF shows both LSIC and PZSIC dissociate into neutral Li and F but only LSIC exhibits charge transfer from Li+ to F− at the expected distance from the experimental data and accurate ab initio data. Overall, both the PZSIC and LSIC methods reduce the delocalization errors substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valid and updated clinical indicators can serve as important tools in assessing and improving eyecare delivery. Indicators for diabetic eyecare in Australia were previously developed from guidelines published before 2013 and then used to assess the appropriateness of care delivery through a nationwide patient record card audit (the iCareTrack study). To reflect emerging evidence and contemporary practice, this study aimed to update clinical indicators for optometric care for people with type 2 diabetes in Australia. Forty-five candidate indicators, including existing iCareTrack and new indicators derived from nine high-quality evidence-based guidelines, were generated. A two-round modified Delphi process where expert panel members rated the impact, acceptability, and feasibility of the indicators on a 9-point scale and voted for inclusion or exclusion of the candidate indicators was used. Consensus on inclusion was reached when the median scores for impact, acceptability, and feasibility were ≥7 and >75% of experts voted for inclusion. Thirty-two clinical indicators with high acceptability, impact and feasibility ratings (all median scores: 9) were developed. The final indicators were related to history taking (n = 12), physical examination (n = 8), recall period (n = 5), referral (n = 5), and patient education/communication (n = 2). Most (14 of 15) iCareTrack indicators were retained either in the original format or with modifications. New indicators included documenting the type of diabetes, serum lipid level, pregnancy, systemic medications, nephropathy, Indigenous status, general practitioner details, pupil examination, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography, diabetic retinopathy grading, recall period for high-risk diabetic patients without retinopathy, referral of high-risk proliferative retinopathy, communication with the general practitioner, and patient education. A set of 32 updated diabetic eyecare clinical indicators was developed based on contemporary evidence and expert consensus. These updated indicators inform the development of programs to assess and enhance the eyecare delivery for people with diabetes in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densities (ρ ) and viscosities (η ) of the binary mixtures of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol (2-EH) with ethylenediamine, 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and monoethanolamine (MEA) were measured at T = (298.15–318.15) K under atmospheric pressure over the entire composition range ( x 1 = 0 - 1.0 ). For these binary mixtures ultrasonic speeds (u ) and refractive indices ( n D ) were also measured at 298.15 K. With these experimental data the excess molar volumes ( V m E ), viscosity deviations ( Δ η ), excess molar refractions ( R m E ), excess isentropic compressibility ( κ S E ) and other derived properties were determined at various experimental temperatures. Such thermophysical properties were discussed in terms of molecular interactions and structural effects well corroborated with IR spectra of the mixtures. Excess molar volumes ( V m E ) of the binary mixtures were used to derive partial molar volumes ( V ¯ m,1 0 and V ¯ m, 2 0 ) and excess partial molar volumes ( V ¯ m,1 0,E and V ¯ m,2 0,E ) at infinite dilution to reveal the volume changes of the binary mixtures. Prigogine-Flory-Paterson theory (PFP), Peng-Robinson Equation of States (PR-EOS) and Bloomfield-Dewan (BF-D) model were used to predict excess molar volumes ( V m E ) and viscosities (η ) of the mixtures. Ultrasonic speeds (u ) of the binary mixtures predicted using empirical or semi-empirical theories like free length theory, Impedance dependence relation, Ideal mixture relation, Junjie's relation, collision factor theory and Nomoto's relation, etc. Computational studies have also been performed to establish the degree and nature of solvent–solvent interactions theoretically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bilateral uterine arteries supplying gravid uterus undergoes physiological changes in pregnancy to maintain its high volume. In our country, pregnancy is very important stage for every women .Foetal morbidity and mortality is very high due to pre-eclampsia,it can also lead to complications like HELLP syndrome,DIC,abruption and increased chances of caesarean section.It can cause foetal complications like FGR,preterm labour,intra uterine foetal death .Doppler ultrasound helps to screen and diagnose complications early in the pregnancy. High risk pregnancies can lead to maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Early identification of the risk factors can protect mother and foetus from harmful effects of pregnancy. Doppler ultrasound is a recent advance in the field of foetal medicine, cost effective, non-invasive technique without any exposure to contrast media or harmful radiation during pregnancy to identify high risk factors to prevent pregnancy complications. Material and methods: Role of umbilical and uterine artery Doppler in predicting pregnancy outcome in high risk pregnancies. We will do a prospective study on 150 patients with high risk factors having chronic or pregnancy induced hypertension, eclampsia or pregnancy induced hypertension in previous pregnancy,anemia, diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes mellitus, elderly gravida (>35 years),grand multipara(>=5). We will perform Doppler study of Umbilical and Uterine artery at 16-22 weeks. Study design-prospective observational study. Results Out of 150 patients 43 had PIH,36 had anemia,25 had gestational diabetes mellitus. Abnormal Doppler study consisted of presence of uterine artery notching, increased PI>1.45 and increased RI>0.58. In Our study out of 150,abnormal uterine artery Doppler results were noted in 40%.In umbilical artery Doppler Out of 150 patients 97 had raised RI,PI and 53 had Normal RI, PI.Out of 97, 74 had poor perinatal outcome,16 had good perinatal outcome and 7 had IUD.Out of 150 patients 90 had raised S/D ratio,52 had normal S/D ratio and 8 had absent S/D ration. Among those with abnormal Doppler results,pre eclampsia was seen in 11.3%,6.6 % foetuses had IUGR and were small for gestational age,6% required NICU admission. Intrauterine death occurred in 4.6% cases. Pre-eclampsia was seen in 84% having high RI with DN whereas only 16% pre eclampsia had raised RI without DN. Pre eclampsia was not found in 76.6% having high RI without DN whereas only 23.4%has pre eclampsia having high RI with DN. Conclusion Our data confirmed the efficacy of second trimester screening of high risk pregnancies using Doppler studies. Raised RI,PI and S/D ratio of umbilical artery could predict IUGR,poor perinatal outcome and risk of intrauterine foetal death with good sensitivity. The presence of high RI of uterine artery Doppler and/or the appearance of DN is associated with an increased risk of development of preeclampsia. Therefore,we recommend the introduction of this technique into routine antenatal care for high risk pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractOur research described in this manuscript investigated the dielectric properties and structural characteristics of Bisphenol-A epoxy resin composites infused with various concentrations (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 15 wt.%) of hybrid nanofillers, namely alumina (Al2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO). Ultrasonic dispersion was utilized to integrate the nanofillers into the resin matrix. Structural properties were assessed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the presence of the Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles within the epoxy matrix. Dielectric properties were measured over a frequency range of 104 Hz to 2 MHz. The results provide new insights into the polarization mechanisms and structural characteristics of these composites, highlighting their potential for enhanced dielectric performance in high-frequency applications. To further understand and predict these dielectric properties, the CatBoost and LightGBM regression models were employed to predict the dielectric constant (ε'), loss tangent (tan δ), and AC conductivity (σac) of these composites. The models demonstrated strong predictive accuracy, with performance metrics, including Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and R-squared (R2), indicating the robustness and accuracy of the models in predicting the dielectric properties of the composites. The study’s findings underscore the significant potential of Bisphenol-A epoxy resin composites with hybrid nanofillers for high-frequency dielectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a crucial component of lignocellulosic biomass, holds immense promise for advancing biorefineries and producing sustainable energy alternatives. This study engineered a CN/rGO/BMO (2 : 1) heterojunction photocatalyst with varying Pd NP loading to selectively target the hydrogenolysis of challenging C–O ether bonds in lignin model compounds. Specific focus was on β-O-4, α-O-4, and the formidable 4-O-5 linkages. The 4-O-5 linkage, due to its high dissociation energy, poses a significant challenge. Electrochemical and spectral analyses unveiled improvements in charge separation, leading to delayed recombination of charge carriers in the heterojunction photocatalyst. Decorating the heterojunction with Pd NPs exhibited an elevated work function and a low Fermi energy level, facilitating the accommodation of photogenerated electrons and enabling efficient H2 dissociation. Such enhancement facilitated the cleavage of all three linkages, including the resistant 4-O-5 bonds under ambient conditions. The photocatalyst exhibited effective cleavage, yielding aromatic (toluene, phenol, ethylbenzene) and aliphatic (cyclohexane, ethylcyclohexane) products. Selectivity modulation was achieved by adjusting the time, hydrogen pressure, and Pd loading. Furthermore, this photocatalytic approach successfully transformed simulated lignin bio-oil containing all three linkages into valuable monomers. The alcoholic solvents efficiently harnessed photogenerated holes and prevented electron–hole recombination. The photocatalyst also demonstrated the capability to produce monomers from the native lignin extracted from teak wood sawdust. Emphasizing the focus on the reaction pathway and mechanism, scavenging studies and analyses were conducted, including UPS and VBXPS, to establish the Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism within the heterojunction. These findings provide a sustainable and efficient pathway for lignin valorisation in biorefineries, significantly contributing to the advancement of green fuels and aligning with the principles of green chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Behavioral measurement‐based care (MBC) can improve patient outcomes and has also been advanced as a critical learning health system (LHS) tool for identifying and mitigating potential disparities in mental health treatment. However, little is known about the uptake of remote behavioral MBC in safety net settings, or possible disparities occurring in remote MBC implementation. Methods: This study uses electronic health record data to study variation in completion rates at the clinic and patient level of a remote MBC symptom measure tool during the first 6 months of implementation at three adult outpatient psychiatry clinics in a safety net health system. Provider‐reported barriers to MBC adoption were also measured using repeated surveys at one of the three sites. Results: Out of 1219 patients who were sent an MBC measure request, uptake of completing at least one measure varied by clinic: General Adult Clinic, 38% (n = 262 of 696); Substance Use Clinic, 28% (n = 73 of 265); and Transitions Clinic, 17% (n = 44 of 258). Compared with White patients, Black and Portuguese or Brazilian patients had lower uptake. Older patients also had lower uptake. Spanish language of care was associated with much lower uptake at the patient level. Significant patient‐level disparities in uptake persisted after adjusting for the clinic, mental health diagnoses, and number of measure requests sent. Providers cited time within visits and bandwidth in their workflow as the greatest consistent barriers to discussing MBC results with patients. Conclusions: There are significant disparities in MBC uptake at the patient and clinic level. From an LHS data infrastructure perspective, safety net health systems may need to address the need for possible ways to adapt MBC to better fit their populations and clinical needs, or identify targeted implementation strategies to close data gaps for the identified disparity populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecules with curved architecture can exhibit unique optoelectronic properties due to the concave‐convex π‐surface. However, synthesizing negatively curved saddle‐shaped aromatic systems has been challenging due to the internal structural strain. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of two polyhexagonal molecular systems, 1 and 2, with saddle shape geometry by judiciously varying the aromatic moiety, avoiding the harsh synthetic methods as that of heptagonal aromatic saddle systems. The unique geometry preferences of B, N, and S furnish suitable curvature to the molecules, featuring saddle shape. The saddle geometry also enables them to interact with fullerene C60, and the supramolecular interactions of fullerene C60 with 1 and 2 modify their optoelectronic properties. Crystal structure analysis reveals that 1, with a small π‐surface, forms a double columnar array of fullerenes in the solid state. In contrast, 2 with a large π‐surface produces a supramolecular capsule entrapping two discrete fullerenes. The intermolecular interactions between B, N, S, and the aryl‐π surface of the host and C60 guest are the stabilizing factors for creating these supramolecular structures. Comprehensive computational, optical, and Raman spectroscopic studies establish the charge transfer interactions between B−N doped heterocycle host and fullerene C60 guest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current condition, hydrogen energy has the potential to be a sustainable fuel for the future as energy becomes more important every day. As the population grows and the economy expands, energy consumption is increasing. However, greenhouse gas emissions are also a concern. One solution to these problems is the use of clean energy sources, like renewable energy. Hydrogen is a clean alternative fuel that produces no carbon dioxide emissions. It is made from organic waste through biochemical and thermochemical techniques, with dual waste management and energy generation benefits. This article explores different methods for producing hydrogen from different feedstocks. The focus is on bio-hydrogen technology as an eco-friendly and sustainable energy source, and the article evaluates the technology commercialization and research initiatives that have measured its helpfulness for researchers and industrialists. The article reviews previous research on biohydrogen generation methods and assesses their stage of development using technology readiness levels (TRLs). This assessment provides insight into areas for technical improvement in biohydrogen generation and future research initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate models (GCMs) are sophisticated tools for determining how the climate system will respond. However, the output of GCMs has a coarse resolution, which is unsuitable for basin-level modelling. Global climate models need to be downscaled at a local/basin scale to determine the impacts of climate change on hydrological responses. The present study attempted to evaluate how effectively various large-scale predictors could reproduce local-scale rain in 35 different locations in India using artificial neural networks (ANN), change-factors (CF), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and multiple linear regression (MLR). The selection of predictors is made based on the correlation value. As potential predictors, air temperature, geo-potential height, wind velocity component, and relative humidity at specific mean sea-level pressure are selected. The comparison of four different downscaling methods concerning the reproduction of various statistics such as mean, standard deviation at chosen locations, quantile–quantile plots, cumulative distribution function, and kernel density estimation of the PDFs of daily rainfall for selected stations is examined. The CF approach outperforms the other methods at almost all sites (R2 = 0.92–0.99, RMSE = 1.37–28.88 mm, and NSE = –16.55–0.99). This also closely resembles the probability distribution pattern of IMD data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroponics and aeroponics are advanced techniques for cultivating plants under controlled conditions without soil in polyhouses to address soil-related problems. An experiment was designed to evaluate the potentiality of soilless methods over conventional soil-based methods for hybrid seed production of tomatoes. For initial standardization of nutrient solution and pH of the media, six different nutrient solutions viz., Hoagland's, CPRI, Chikkaballapur, Ethiopia, USDA and Komosa nutrient solutions, were tested, and pH was standardized. The crop performance was superior in Hoagland's nutrient solution with a pH range of 5.5–6.4. The experiment comprised three methods of production, two parental lines (TAG 1 F and TAG 2 F), and two seed treatments (S1: Control and S2: Thiram @ 2 g kg-1 + chlorpyrifos @3 g kg-1) for hybrid seed production of tomato. A hundred percent survival rate was recorded in a soilless medium, whereas seed treatment increased the percent survival rate by 9% under the conventional system. Soiless method performed better than the conventional method. Aeroponics recorded a higher plant relative growth rate (1.17), fruit weight (124.54 g), total biomass (106.44 g), and seed index (3.95 g). Hydroponics produced a higher number of seeds fruit 1 (98.42), SVI-II (294), and 6% higher protein than the conventional method. The soilless method may open up a new approach for high-quality and year-round healthy hybrid tomato seed production under protected cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cubic Sm@CdS quantum dots (QDs) are grown in a glass matrix with good thermal stability for the first time. The band gap of CdS particles embedded in glass is observed to be in the range of 3.8 to 2.4 eV. The present system is compared with CdS/Sm nanocrystals (NCs) doped in a silica-based glass system. The CdS quantum dots, having a size in the range of 3–6 nm, are grown in the silica glass. Structural characterization has been carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which shows the cubic structure of Sm@CdS quantum dots in glass, whereas the pristine CdS Q-dot glass shows hexagonal structure. The optical characterization of the glasses has been carried out using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. A spectroscopic study showed a shift in optical transmittance due to thermal treatment, i.e., due to the growth of CdS quantum dots in the glass matrix. The semiconductor crystals are uniform in size and distributed evenly in the glass matrix. The size quantization effect has been seen in both systems. There is a drastic change in the optical band gap with the size of the quantum dots. Under natural sunlight, the hydrogen production experiment was conducted, and an increase of 42.5% in the hydrogen evolution rate was observed from 1 wt% Sm3+ doped CdS (3769.2 μmol h−1 g−1) heat-treated at 525 °C when compared to the CdS Q-dot glass with a similar heat treatment temperature (2626 μmol h−1 g−1). Such cubic CdS QD–glass nanocomposites have great significance owing to their potential applications in solar cells, LEDs, and other optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in the world. AF increases the risk of stroke 5-fold, though the risk can be reduced with appropriate treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis is imperative but remains a global challenge. In low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), a lack of diagnostic equipment and under-resourced healthcare systems generate further barriers. The rapid development of digital technologies that are capable of diagnosing AF remotely and cost-effectively could prove beneficial for LMICs. However, evidence is lacking on what digital technologies exist and how they compare in regards to diagnostic accuracy. We aim to systematically review the diagnostic accuracy of all digital technologies capable of AF diagnosis. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science will be searched for eligible studies. Free text terms will be combined with corresponding index terms where available and searches will not be limited by language nor time of publication. Cohort or cross-sectional studies comprising adult (≥18 years) participants will be included. Only studies that use a 12-lead ECG as the reference test (comparator) and report outcomes of sensitivity, specificity, the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) or the positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) will be included (or if they provide sufficient data to calculate these outcomes). Two reviewers will independently assess articles for inclusion, extract data using a piloted tool and assess risk of bias using the QUADAS-2 tool. The feasibility of a meta-analysis will be determined by assessing heterogeneity across the studies, grouped by index device, diagnostic threshold and setting. If a meta-analysis is feasible for any index device, pooled sensitivity and specificity will be calculated using a random effect model and presented in forest plots. Discussion: The findings of our review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of the diagnostic accuracy of available digital technologies capable for diagnosing AF. Thus, this review will aid in the identification of which devices could be further trialed and implemented, particularly in a LMIC setting, to improve the early diagnosis of AF. Trial registration: Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number is CRD42021290542. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021290542. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary times, content-based image retrieval (CBIR) techniques have gained widespread acceptance as a means for end-users to discern and extract specific image content from vast repositories. However, it is noteworthy that a substantial majority of CBIR studies continue to rely on linear methodologies such as gradient-based and derivative-based edge detection techniques. This research explores the integration of bioinspired Spiking Neural Network (SNN) based edge detection within CBIR. We introduce an innovative, computationally efficient SNN-based approach designed explicitly for CBIR applications, outperforming existing SNN models by reducing computational overhead by 2.5 times. The proposed SNN-based edge detection approach is seamlessly incorporated into three distinct CBIR techniques, each employing conventional edge detection methodologies including Sobel, Canny, and image derivatives. Rigorous experimentation and evaluations are carried out utilizing the Corel-10k dataset and crop weed dataset, a widely recognized and frequently adopted benchmark dataset in the realm of image analysis. Importantly, our findings underscore the enhanced performance of CBIR methodologies integrating the proposed SNN-based edge detection approach, with an average increase in mean precision values exceeding 3%. This study conclusively demonstrated the utility of our proposed methodology in optimizing feature extraction, thereby establishing its pivotal role in advancing edge centric CBIR approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the vertical diversity of soil dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity under coconut (Cocosnucifera L.,) and arecanut (Arecacatechu L.,) plantations within four soil depths (0–30, 30–60, 60–90, and 90–120 cm) and to determine the factors controlling the distribution across the different agro-climatic zones of Karnataka. A total of 176 soil samples from 30 soil profiles were collected from coconut and arecanut plantations representing 5 different agroclimatic zones (ACZ) and three soil types (Lixisols, Сambisols, and Acrisols) and analyzed for three major soil enzymes viz. dehydrogenase (DHA), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The results revealed that the pooled mean of DHA activity was higher in arecanut (7.44 µg TPF g–1 h–1) than coconut (5.75 µg TPF g–1 h–1) and the same pattern has been noticed in both ACP (84.041 and 48.19 µg PnP g–1 h–1 for arecanut and coconut plantations) and ALP (63.57 and 32.14 µg PnP g–1 h–1 for arecanut and coconut plantations). The impact of climate on soil enzyme activity showed that the southern dry zone (SDZ) was high in DHA (10.5 µg TPF g–1 h–1) and ALP (77.98 µg PnP g–1 h–1) activities followed by the eastern dry zone and the lowest was noticed in the coastal zone (CZ). However, ACP activity was higher in CZ (110.24 µg PnP g–1 h–1) and lower in SDZ (33.85 µg PnP g–1 h–1). As soil depth increases enzyme activity is decreased and nearly 50% of enzyme activities are restricted within 0–30 cm soil depth. We observed that greater activity of DHA and ALP was noticed in Lixisols than in Acrisols and Cambisols, whereas higher activity of ACP was found in Acrisols. Our analysis showed that the type of plantations, climate and soil type significantly affect the distribution of enzymes in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H2 and CO2-utilizing chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms from the deep subsurface ecosystems have gained considerable importance for their significant role in biogeochemical cycling of carbon. In this study, ten basalt and granite rocks from the deep subsurface environment of the Deccan Traps, India, have been used to enrich chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Following incubation with H2 and CO2 for 90 days at 50˚C, the enrichments showed microbial growth as evident from protein (27–157 mg/L) and carbohydrate (0.1–2.9 mg/L) contents of the enrichment cultures along with a change in pH, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation-reduction potential values. 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the metagenomes derived from the enrichment cultures showed selective enrichment of microbial communities compared to the native rock communities. The most abundant bacterial phyla within the native rock samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, whereas the enrichment cultures showed enrichment of Proteobacteria (members of Gamma-Alpha-subdivisions), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and others under the chemolithoautotrophic condition. Predictive metabolic profiling using PICRUSt of enriched communities revealed the presence of genes related to H2 oxidation (hyaCD) and CO2 fixation (PGK, ccl, fhs, accABC) as well as genes for value-added product formation (ACSS, LDH, adh, acmAB, adh1, adcBDH, phaC, phbCZB, etc.). A total of 14 bacteria were isolated and identified as Mesorhizobium sp., Ralstonia spp., Massilia spp., Acidovorax spp., and Sphingobium sp. Among the bacterial isolates, Ralstonia sp., and Massilia sp. obtained from basaltic rock showed higher CO2 (up to 8 mg/L) utilization ability, and most of them can produce acetate (up to 14 mg/L). PCR analysis of the functional gene (NiFe-hyd) revealed the presence of probable H2 oxidation pathway in the isolates for their energy metabolism. The study showed the potential of H2 and CO2 utilizing deep subsurface bacterial populations in CO2 capture and value-added product formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major challenges of the distribution system are optimal location and sizing of distributed generation (OLSDG), as these significantly influence the system losses, voltage profile and voltage stability issues. In this paper, the OLSDG problem is solved by a newly developed artificial rabbits optimization (ARO) algorithm. The objective of an OLSDG problem is to minimize real power loss and total voltage deviation (TVD) and enhance the voltage stability index (VSI) in radial distribution systems (RDSs) while satisfying all the constraints. The effectiveness of the ARO has been validated on IEEE 33-bus and large-scale 118-bus RDSs for various power factors of distributed generation (DG), like optimal power factor (OPF), fixed power factor, and unity power factor (UPF) under four different scenarios. It has been found that RDSs' performance in terms of TVD, VSI, and mainly power loss is much improved when DGs have been operated with an OPF. In the case of DGs operating with UPF, the power loss decreases by 65.50% and 60.24% in an IEEE-33 bus and 118-bus RDSs, respectively, whereas DGs operating with OPF, the power loss reduces to 94.44% and 90.28%, respectively. The results obtained by ARO are validated by comparing them with the results of other optimization methods in the recent literature. The results prove that the proposed ARO is more efficient, has less computational time and can provide better solutions for an OLSDG problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Careful regulation of the complement system is critical for enabling complement proteins to titrate immune defense while also preventing collateral tissue damage from poorly controlled inflammation. In the eye, this balance between complement activity and inhibition is crucial, as a low level of basal complement activity is necessary to support ocular immune privilege, a prerequisite for maintaining vision. Dysregulated complement activation contributes to parainflammation, a low level of inflammation triggered by cellular damage that functions to reestablish homeostasis, or outright inflammation that disrupts the visual axis. Complement dysregulation has been implicated in many ocular diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In the last two decades, complement activity has been the focus of intense investigation in AMD pathogenesis, leading to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of atrophic AMD. This Review outlines recent advances and challenges, highlighting therapeutic approaches that have advanced to clinical trials, as well as providing a general overview of the complement system in the posterior segment of the eye and selected ocular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experimentation was conducted to evaluate the comparative performance of integrated crop management, organic management and natural farming on crop growth, productivity, profitability and soil health under basmati rice-wheat system in Upper Indo-Gangetic Plains. Treatments comprised of different management practices viz. integrated crop management (ICM), organic management, natural farming (NF) and control (no nutrient) were used in experimentation. Plant height, number of effective tillers, SPAD meter reading, panicle weight, filled grains/panicle, fertility percentage and 1000-grains weight of basmati rice and wheat were observed highest under ICM followed by organic management. A significant reduction in growth and yield attributes was recorded under NF as compared to ICM and organic management. Grain yield of basmati rice was reduced by 15.2%, 51.2% and 53.9% under organic management, NF and control as compared to ICM, respectively. Similarly, 49.5%, 58.6%, and 63.8% reduction in grain yield of wheat was recorded under organic management, NF and control as compared to ICM, respectively. In comparison to ICM, system rice equivalent yield (REY) was reduced by 32.6%, 55.0%, and 59.0% under organic management, NF and control, respectively. Further, net return was 44.1% and 67.2% lower under organic management and NF as compared to ICM, respectively. Highest soil organic carbon (0.60%), available N, P, and K were found in organic management. Significantly highest soil microbial population, glomalin content and different soil enzyme activities were recorded under organic management. Overall, the integrated crop management provided balanced and continuous supply of the nutrient that resulted in higher productivity and profitability of basmati rice-wheat system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no stability-indicating specific related substances high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for anagliptin active pharmaceutical ingredients in the presence of its degradation products. Hence, there is a necessity to have a specific stability-indicating HPLC method for the quantification of anagliptin-related substances in the presence of its forced degradation products. The aim of the research work is to develop an innovative simple, accurate, precise, and selective HPLC method with the lesser use of organic solvents, for the quantification of anagliptin-related substances in the presence of its forced degradation products. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a YMC Pro C18 reversed-phase HPLC column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μ) with a runtime of 50 min. Mobile phase A and mobile phase B were chlorate buffer with pH 3.2 and acetonitrile respectively. The HPLC column oven temperature was set at 28°C and the photodiode array detector was set at 205 nm. The proposed test procedure has shown excellent linearity within the concentration range 0.081–6.296 μg/mL with correlation coefficient (r) about 0.9998. The limit of detection of anagliptin and related substances was observed within the range 0.052–0.106) μg/mL and the limit of quantification was observed within the range 0.156–0.317 μg/mL. The developed test procedure was successfully utilized for the quantification of related substances of anagliptin bulk drug without any interference with the degradation compounds. Hence, the test procedure can be utilized successfully in pharmaceutical organizations for the separation and quantification of anagliptin-related substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The decreasing residual efficacy of insecticides is an important factor when making decisions on insecticide choice for national malaria control programmes. The major challenge to using chemicals for vector control is the selection for the development of insecticide resistance. Since insecticide resistance has been recorded for most of the existing insecticides used for indoor residual spraying, namely, DDT, pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates, and new chemicals are necessary for the continued success of indoor residual spraying. The aim of this study was to assess the residual efficacy of Actellic 300CS, SumiShield™ 50WG and Fludora®Fusion by spraying on different wall surfaces. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight houses with different wall surface types (mud, cement, painted cement, and tin) which represented the rural house wall surface types in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were used to evaluate the residual efficacy of Actellic 300CS, SumiShield 50WG and Fludora®Fusion with DDT as the positive control. All houses were sprayed by experienced spray operators from the Malaria Control Programme. Efficacy of these insecticides were evaluated by contact bioassays against Anopheles arabiensis, a vector species. The residual efficacy of the insecticide formulations was evaluated against a susceptible insectary-reared population of An. arabiensis using WHO cone bioassays. Results: Effectiveness of the three insecticides was observed up to 12 months post-spray. When assessing the achievement of 100% mortality over time, SumiShield performed significantly better than DDT on mud (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.72–3.04) and painted cement wall types (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.36–5.26). On cement wall types, Actellic was found to be less effective than DDT (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37–0.82) while Fludora®Fusion was less effective on tin wall types (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47–0.95). When compared to the combined efficacy of DDT on mud surfaces, SumiShield applied to each of the mud, cement and painted cement wall types and DDT applied to the cement wall types was found to be significantly more effective. These insecticides usually resulted in 100% mortality for up to 12 months with a delayed mortality period of 96–144 h, depending on the insecticide evaluated and the surface type sprayed. Conclusion: Field evaluation of these insecticides have shown that Actellic, SumiShield and Fludora®Fusion are suitable replacements for DDT. Each of these insecticides can be used for malaria vector control, requiring just one spray round. These insecticides can be used in rotation or as mosaic spraying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance control in many-particle systems is a fundamental problem in nature. This becomes particularly relevant in systems of active agents, which can sense their environment and react by adjusting their direction of motion. We employ agent-based simulations to investigate the complex interplay between agent activity, characterized by Péclet number Pe , reorientation maneuverability Ω , vision angle θ and vision range R 0 , and agent density, which determines agent distancing and dynamics. We focus on semi-dense crowds, where the vision range is much larger than the particle size. The minimal distance to the nearest neighbors, exposure time, and persistence of orientation direction are analyzed to characterize the behavior. With increasing particle speed at fixed maneuverability, particles approach each other more closely, and exhibit shorter exposure times. The temporal persistence of motion decreases with increasing Pe , reflecting the impact of activity and maneuverability on direction changes. For a vision angle θ = π / 4 , we observe the emergence of flocking aggregates with a band-like structure, somewhat reminiscent of the bands in the Vicsek model. Additionally, for vision angles θ ≥ π / 2 , several quantities are found to display a universal scaling behavior with scaling variable Pe 3 / 2 / Ω . Our results are in good agreement with recent experiments of pedestrians in confined spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Highlights Psychological researchers have been criticized for making broad presumptions about human behavior based on limited sampling. In part, presumptive generalizability is reflected in the limited representation of sociodemographic variation in research reports. In this analysis, we examine time‐trends in reporting of a key sociodemographic construct relevant to many aspects of child development—socioeconomic status (SES)—across six mainstream developmental journals (Infancy, Child Development, Developmental Science, Developmental Psychology, Infant and Child Development, and Infant Behavior & Development) between 2016 and 2022. Findings point to limited reporting of SES across developmental journals and across time. Reporting rates varied significantly by region and by topic of development. In terms of specific indicators of SES, there was consistent use of income and caregiver education as SES indicators. The epistemic costs of the lack of integration of socio‐economic factors in developmental research are addressed. Pathways to greater integration of SES are proposed. We analyzed reporting and representation of socioeconomic status in published studies on early child development. A large proportion of published studies did not report any socio‐economic information. Suggestions for greater attention to socioeconomic status are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis work enlightens the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) natural convective hydrothermal scenario and entropy generation analysis in a corrugated enclosure filled with MoS2–SiO2–water hybrid nanofluid. Three discrete uniform heaters are kept fixed to the enclosure bottom wall. The enclosure top wall and the remaining parts of its bottom wall are isothermally cooled. The enclosure has adiabatic vertical walls. A higher-order compact (HOC) finite difference technique is used to determine the solutions to the dimensionless governing equations. To demonstrate the accuracy of the mathematical model, experimental and numerical verifications are accomplished. The numerical investigation is accomplished for Rayleigh number (Ra=104−106), aspect ratios of heater length (AR=0.2,0.4,0.6,0.8), nanoparticle volume percentage (ϕ=0−4%), and Hartmann number (Ha=0−120). The numerical outcomes are presented and studied by means of isotherms, streamlines, and the average Nusselt number. Furthermore, local entropy generation resulting from heat transmission, fluidic friction, and magnetic field, along with overall entropy formation and Bejan number are analyzed. This study reveals that the aspect ratio AR=0.2 enhances the convective flow process at Ra=106, even when a magnetic field is present. The heat transfer rate increases as a function of the Rayleigh number, while it exhibits a decreasing trend with the aspect ratio of heater length and Hartmann number. Total entropy generation reduces as the Hartmann number and aspect ratio of heater length increase. Bejan number graphs show a reverse pattern as compared to total entropy generation. It has been noted that an increase in the Hartmann number from 0 to 120 decreases the average Nusselt number and total entropy generation by 19.77 and 46.63%, respectively, for AR=0.2, Ra=106, and ϕ=4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue and chikungunya are co-circulating vector-borne diseases that share a significant number of clinical symptoms. To identify variables to aid physicians in making rapid and effective diagnostic decisions, we performed molecular diagnosis of the chikungunya virus and examined the clinical manifestations of chikungunya cases to identify the prevalence among dengue-negative individuals in Kolkata. Dengue suspected patients' samples were collected during January 2020—December 2021 and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods have been performed to confirm the prevalence of chikungunya infection among dengue-negative patients. By performing phylogenetic analysis, comparing clinical classifications, identifying disease aetiology using clinical and laboratory factors, and evaluating the time course of several clinical variables, we have evaluated the clinical manifestations linked to dengue and chikungunya virus infections. Chikungunya infection was found in 15.1% and 6.3% of the 635 dengue-negative patients, as determined by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. Arthritis and myalgia were more common in chikungunya-infected patients at the time of hospital admission while conjunctivitis, photosensitivity, arthralgia, Anorexia, fatigue, retro-orbital pain, vomiting, dermatitis, or swollen glands were significantly presented as an overlapping symptom. Although dengue and chikungunya infections have significant clinical overlap, basic clinical and laboratory criteria can predict these diseases at presentation for proper management. Effective management enables doctors to treat and care for patients properly and contributes to the development of control measures for these infections in a medical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of thermal performance study of a solar air heater having absorber plate with inclined fins fitted in equilateral triangular flow passages in parallel using the governing equations under transition to turbulent flow and compares the same with the conventional solar air heater having low aspect ratio rectangular air flow duct at equal pumping power condition. The equal pumping power condition for the equilateral triangular passages of width w and rectangular duct height H has been found to be w = 2.65 H. The finned absorber plate solar air heater has been found to provide 7.3-25.8% better thermal efficiency than the conventional air heater because of the substantial increase in the effective heat transfer surface area due to the fins. The effects of variation of design, ambient, and operating parameters on the performance of the finned solar air heater show that the triangular passage width w must be increased with the increase in the collector length L to satisfy the condition of equal pumping power according to the relation w³/L2.75 = constant. The results of the present study can be utilized for the development of enhanced-performance finned solar air heater with triangular passages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyherbal formulations, are frequently used to treat liver dysfunction, preserve the liver, and regenerate the liver. This research was carried out to determine whether or not polyherbal formulations could protect the livers of mice exposed to carbon tetrachloride -induced hepatotoxicity. 13 groups (n = 6) were generated at random from 78 male albino rats: Group I (serving as the normal control), Group II (containing only carbon tetrachloride), Group III (combining silymarin at a dosage of 100 mg kg-1 with carbon tetrachloride), and Groups IV-XIII (combining carbon tetrachloride with different brands of commercially available formulations). Serum levels of hepatic enzymes were analyzed to determine hepatic biochemistry and the extent of liver damage. Antioxidant activity analysis and histopathological analysis of the formulations were also conducted. The commercial formulations significantly (P < 0.01) lowered high liver biochemical markers, as validated by histological findings. Likewise, these formulations also displayed a strong antioxidant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden and morbidity among adolescents. Studies have reported higher rates of depression and anxiety secondary to the COVID pandemic and the psychosocial impact of social distancing measures. There is a paucity of literature on the subjective experiences of depressed adolescents in such pandemic circumstances. The objective of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) during the COVID pandemic, and the impact of the pandemic, and pandemic-related circumstances on adolescents' mental health and coping. Materials and Methods: In-depth interviews with eight adolescents diagnosed with MDD were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The analysis revealed three major themes; "The pandemic was arduous," "Negativity in family interactions," and "Effects on depression." Most adolescents coped using excessive screen time as a distraction, and their families perceived them as indolent. Conclusion: The study found that adolescents' experience of depression during the pandemic was extremely overwhelming because, on the one hand, they had to deal with immediate COVID infection-related worries and were not able to adjust to the new routine, not able to concentrate during online classes while also dealing with greater interpersonal discord with their parents and limited social resources for coping. The findings expand the clinical understanding of adolescents' experience of depression during pandemic circumstances and would aid in better management planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenomenon: In recent decades, medical education practices developed in Western countries have been widely adopted in non-Western countries. Problem-based Learning (PBL) was first developed in North America and it relies on Western educational and cultural values, thereby raising concerns about its 'lift and shift' to non-Western settings. Approach: This review systematically identified and interpretively synthesized studies on students' and teachers' experiences of PBL in non-Western medical schools. Three databases (ERIC, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE) were searched. Forty-one articles were assessed for quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist and synthesized using meta-ethnography. The final synthesis represented over 5,400 participants from 18 countries. Findings: Findings were categorized into three different constructs: Student Engagement, Tutor Skills, and Organization and Planning. Our synthesis demonstrates that medical students and teachers in non-Western countries have varied experiences of PBL. Students engage variably with PBL, consider knowledge to be better acquired from authoritative figures, and deem PBL to be ineffective for assessment preparation. Student participation is limited by linguistic challenges when they are not native English speakers. Teachers are often unfamiliar with the underlying philosophical assumptions of PBL and struggle with the facilitation style needed. Both students and teachers have developed modifications to ensure that PBL better fits in their local settings. Insights: Given the significant adjustments and resource requirements needed to adopt PBL, medical school leaders and policy makers in non-Western countries should carefully consider possible consequences of its implementation for their students and teachers, and proactively consider ways to 'hybridize' it for local contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral organism Tannerella forsythia is auxotrophic for peptidoglycan amino sugar N‐acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc). It survives in the oral cavity by scavenging MurNAc‐ and MurNAc‐linked peptidoglycan fragments (muropeptides) secreted by co‐habiting bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum with which it forms synergistic biofilms. Muropeptides, MurNAc‐l‐Ala‐d‐isoGln (MDP, muramyl dipeptide) and d‐γ‐glutamyl‐meso‐DAP (iE‐DAP dipeptide), are strong immunostimulatory molecules that activate nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like innate immune receptors and induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In this study, we utilized an in vitro T. forsythia–F. nucleatum co‐culture model to determine if T. forsythia can selectively scavenge NOD ligands from the environment and impact NOD‐mediated inflammation. The results showed that NOD‐stimulatory molecules were secreted by F. nucleatum in the spent culture broth, which subsequently induced cytokine and antimicrobial peptide expression in oral epithelial cells. In the spent broth from T. forsythia–F. nucleatum co‐cultures, the NOD‐stimulatory activity was significantly reduced. These data indicated that F. nucleatum releases NOD2‐stimulatory muropeptides in the environment, and T. forsythia can effectively scavenge the muropeptides released by co‐habiting bacteria to dampen NOD‐mediated host responses. This proof‐of‐principle study demonstrated that peptidoglycan scavenging by T. forsythia can impact the innate immunity of oral epithelium by dampening NOD activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to study η-Ricci–Yamabe solitons (η-RYS) and * {*} -η-Ricci–Yamabe solitons ( * {*} -η-RYS) in Lorentzian para-Kenmotsu n-manifolds (briefly, ( LPK ) n {(\mathrm{LPK})_{n}} ). We study the curvature condition R . S = 0 {R.S=0} and the cyclic parallel Ricci tensor in ( LPK ) n {(\mathrm{LPK})_{n}} admitting η-RYS. Furthermore, we study M-projectively flat and quasi-M-projectively flat Lorentzian para-Kenmotsu manifolds admitting * {*} -η-RYS. Finally, we give two examples of Lorentzian para-Kenmotsu manifolds admitting η-RYS and * {*} -η-RYS to verify some of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time-fractional order differential equations are used in many different contexts to analyse the integrated scientific phenomenon. Hence these equations are the point of interest of the researchers. In this work, the diffusion equation for a one-dimensional time-fractional order is solved using a combination of residual power series method with Elzaki transforms. The residual power series approach is a useful technique for finding approximate analytical solutions of fractional differential equations that needs the residual function's (n-1)α derivative. Since it is challenging to determine a function's fractional-order derivative, the traditional residual power series method's application is somewhat constrained. The Elzaki transform with residual power series method is an attempt to get over the limitations of the residual power series method. The obtained numerical solutions are compared with the exact solution of this equation to discuss the method's applicability and efficiency. The results are also graphically displayed to show how the fractional derivative influences the behaviour of the solutions to the suggested method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the design, synthesis, structure, and electrochemical study of doubly βC−B−N fused Ni(II) porphyrins (1‐trans, 1‐cis, 2‐trans, and 2‐cis). These compounds have been synthesized from A2B2 type dipyridyl Ni(II) porphyrins (Ar=Ph for 1 a; Ar=C6F5 for 2 a) via Lewis base‐directed electrophilic aromatic borylation reactions. The solution state structures of these compounds have been established using 1H NMR, 11B NMR, 1H‐1H COSY, 1H‐13C HSQC, and 19F‐13C HSQC NMR techniques. Single crystal X‐ray analysis have revealed that 1‐trans, 1‐cis, and 2‐trans adopt ruffled conformations, with alternate meso‐carbons on the opposite sides of the mean porphyrin plane. The Soret bands in the absorption spectra of the B−N fused molecules are ~40 nm redshifted compared to unfused Ni(II) porphyrin precursors. The B−N fusion have diminished the redox potential of fused porphyrins. Although 1‐trans and 1‐cis, show four oxidation processes, 2‐trans and 2‐cis show only three oxidation processes. DFT studies have revealed that the tetrahedral geometry of the boron has induced a twist in the π‐conjugation, which destabilizes the HOMO and stabilizes the LUMO in 1‐trans, 1‐cis, 2‐trans, and 2‐cis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzo‐fused nitrogen heterocycles are common features of bioactive molecules, and the enantioselective synthesis of their substituted analogues is an important goal. In this paper we demonstrate a practical and mechanistically intriguing approach to the enantioselective synthesis of 1‐arylbenzazepines and their analogues. The reaction sequence starts with an asymmetric migratory ring expansion of indoline, tetrahydroquinoline, or tetrahydrobenzazepine ureas on treatment with a chiral lithium amide base. Treatment of the ring‐expanded ureas with acid triggers a two‐atom ring contraction—an 'azatropic shift' in which one urea nitrogen displaces the other—with almost complete retention of stereochemistry. Aminolysis of the urea products provides enantioenriched 1‐aryl‐tetrahydrobenzazepine derivatives and their congeners, including an analogue of an intermediate in the synthesis of the drug solifenacin. Deuteration, in situ IR, and DFT studies provide evidence for the mechanisms of the reaction steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzo‐fused nitrogen heterocycles are common features of bioactive molecules, and the enantioselective synthesis of their substituted analogues is an important goal. In this paper we demonstrate a practical and mechanistically intriguing approach to the enantioselective synthesis of 1‐arylbenzazepines and their analogues. The reaction sequence starts with an asymmetric migratory ring expansion of indoline, tetrahydroquinoline, or tetrahydrobenzazepine ureas on treatment with a chiral lithium amide base. Treatment of the ring‐expanded ureas with acid triggers a two‐atom ring contraction—an 'azatropic shift' in which one urea nitrogen displaces the other—with almost complete retention of stereochemistry. Aminolysis of the urea products provides enantioenriched 1‐aryl‐tetrahydrobenzazepine derivatives and their congeners, including an analogue of an intermediate in the synthesis of the drug solifenacin. Deuteration, in situ IR, and DFT studies provide evidence for the mechanisms of the reaction steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on Lave's theorisation of situated learning, this article engages with skills in the so-called 'unskilled' domain of waste work. Waste work involves handling diverse material discards, from household vegetable peelings, metal and plastic scraps, to human and animal faecal material and corpses. In India, forms of waste work are toxic, historically stigmatised, burdened on Dalit and Adivasi bodies, and officially categorised as 'unskilled' work. Based on fieldwork in a town in central India, the paper draws attention to skills in waste work, documenting social practices that involve processes of learning and acquiring skills. Analysing institutions that mediate skill acquisition in waste work, the paper argues that 'skilled' work is politically and socially constructed and materially contingent. The article destabilises reified notions of how work gets classified as '(un)skilled'. Further, the paper reflects on the conflicts and paradoxes that a conversation on skills in waste work throws up: valuing and recognising different forms of waste work while also pointing to their toxicities and struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian seed industry has shown an annual growth rate of 15.7% during 2011-2018 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% during 2019-2024, reaching a value of US $ 9.1 Billion by 2024. For any seed system to be viable and sustainable it requires a great deal of efforts through the right kind of laws, acts and policy framework and interventions as its essential pre-requisites. Due implementation of some progressive policies by the government of India, seed market has witnessed a major restructuring. These policies bought relaxed seed trade norms, reduced import restrictions on germplasm, encouraged foreign investments, supported quality seed production, plant variety protection, farmers and breeders right protection. Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed had tremendous impact on the seed industry. The policy response and initiatives taken up by the government to address the problems by adopting various strategies helped in the uplifting the farming community. By classifying agriculture sector as essential, it eased in the continuous movement of the seed. This review gives insight about how the Indian seed legislation helped to increase the growth rate of Indian seed industry and also impact of covid-19 pandemic on seed sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring natural convection in three dimensions through numerical analysis has become essential for gaining a deeper understanding of this process compared to studying it in just two dimensions. This paper presents an enhanced analysis of three-dimensional (3D) natural convection phenomena within an air-filled cubical cavity, with a primary focus on heat transfer characteristics. The distinguishing feature of this research lies in the pioneering application of the newly developed higher-order accurate super-compact finite difference scheme to study 3D natural convection and entropy generation. This numerical method is renowned for its fourth-order spatial accuracy and second-order temporal accuracy. The super-compact scheme employs 19 grid points at the current time level (nth time level) while utilizing just seven grid points from the subsequent time level [ (n + 1) th time level. The flow is considered to be 3D, time-varying, laminar, and incompressible. First, the newly developed numerical code has undergone validation through quantitative and qualitative comparisons with existing results. Then, we analyze the flow phenomena and heat transfer dynamics within the cavity for various Rayleigh numbers ( 10 2 ≤ R a ≤ 10 5 ) with a fixed Prandtl number (Pr = 0.71) by using this scheme. Various parameters such as local Nusselt numbers, averaged Nusselt numbers, local entropy, Bejan number, streamlines, and isotherm dispersion are studied in this work. It is found that as the Rayleigh number (Ra) increases, the Bejan number (Be) decreases, while the total entropy increases. When the Ra is less than or equal to 104, the Be remains above 0.5, indicating that irreversibility primarily arises from heat transfer. However, as we transition to R a = 10 5 , the Be falls below 0.5, signaling that irreversibility is now predominantly driven by viscous effects. To the best of our knowledge, this research marks a pioneering effort by introducing the application of the higher order super-compact (HOSC) scheme for the examination of heat transfer within a 3D cubic cavity, thus endowing our work with a truly novel and pioneering character. It is worth mentioning that, before this study, there has been no precedent in the exploration of heat transfer using the super-compact scheme, thus endowing our work with a truly novel and pioneering character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realistic benchmarks can serve as comparators for optometrists wishing to engage in clinical practice audits of their glaucoma care. The iCareTrack study established the appropriateness of glaucoma care delivery through clinical record audits of Australian optometry practices. Benchmarks required for monitoring and improving glaucoma care delivery do not exist. This study developed realistic benchmarks for glaucoma care and then benchmarked the performance of practices from the iCareTrack study to establish aspects of care that warrant attention from quality improvement initiatives. Benchmarks were developed from the pre-existing iCareTrack dataset using the Achievable Benchmarks of Care (ABC) method. The iCareTrack study had audited the appropriateness of glaucoma care delivery against 37 clinical indicators for 420 randomly sampled glaucoma patient records from 42 Australian optometry practices. The four-step ABC method calculates benchmarks based on the top 10% of best-performing practices adjusted for low patient encounter numbers. iCareTrack results were compared to the benchmarks to explore the distribution of practices that were at, above or below benchmark. Benchmarks were developed for 34 of 37 iCareTrack indicators. For 26 (of 34) indicators, the benchmarks were at or above 90% appropriateness. The benchmarks for 14 (of 34) iCareTrack indicators were met by more than 80% of eligible practices, indicating excellent performance. Some aspects of glaucoma care such as peripheral anterior angle assessment, applanation tonometry, and visual field assessment appeared to be delivered sub-optimally by optometrists when compared to the benchmarks. This study established benchmarks for glaucoma care delivery in optometry practices that reflect realistic and top achievable performance. The large number of indicators with benchmarks above 90% confirmed that glaucoma care can and should be delivered by optometrists at very high levels of appropriateness. Benchmarking identified pockets of sub-optimal performance that can now be targeted by quality improvement initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining dapagliflozin and saxagliptin presents a promising strategy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus by leveraging their distinct, yet complementary, mechanisms of action. A novel bilayer tablet with a 5 mg sustained release layer of saxagliptin and a 10 mg immediate release layer of dapagliflozin was developed. Live animal studies (in vivo) were conducted on rabbits to evaluate the effects of an optimized formulation. Based on in vivo performance, the novel bilayer tablets demonstrated greater bioavailability. A new, easy-to-use technique was created to simultaneously measure the two drugs (dapagliflozin and saxagliptin) in rabbit blood plasma. Evaluation of the technique’s parameters were done on rabbit plasma in accordance with ICH guidelines. The parameters for pharmacokinetic analysis were (AUC0-∞), (Cmax), Tmax and others. Direct calculations of the Cmax and Tmax were made using experimental plasma concentration versus time data. The AUC0-∞ was produced by adding the computed AUC0-24h using the trapezoidal rule. Using sample analysis of variance or independent sample t tests, average data variation was compared (one way analysis of variance). Statistical significance (p=0.05) was assessed using a 95% confidence interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world has seen a tremendous increase in the number of fungal infections during the past two decades. Recently, the World Health Organisation released the pathogen priority list for fungal infections, signifying the importance of these infections in the fields of research and public health. Microbiology laboratories demand an upgrade in the diagnostic system to keep up with the increased burden of these infections. Diagnosis of fungal infections using conventional techniques has always faced limitations in terms of specificity, sensitivity, and turnaround time. Although these methods are the core pillars of the diagnosis, there is an increased need for molecular approaches. Molecular techniques have revolutionised the field of fungal diagnostics. The diverse array of molecular techniques, including techniques like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), have emerged as a cornerstone in fungal diagnostics. Molecular techniques have transformed fungal diagnostics, providing powerful tools for the rapid and accurate identification of pathogens. As these technologies continue to evolve, their integration into routine clinical practice holds the promise of improving patient outcomes through timely and targeted antifungal interventions. This review will cover the molecular approaches involved in fungal diagnostics, moving from the basic techniques to the advanced-level nucleic-acid-based molecular approaches providing a high throughput and decreased turnaround time for the diagnosis of serious fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]