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Abstract We study a model where the Standard Model is augmented with three sterile neutrinos. By adopting a particular parameterization of a $$(6\times 6)$$ ( 6 × 6 ) unitary matrix—in this context, light neutrino masses being generated via a type-I seesaw mechanism—we analytically derive the masses of the sterile states using an exact seesaw relation. The masses of the sterile states are derived in terms of the lightest mass of active neutrinos and active–active and active–sterile mixing angles and phases; they can be all light, all heavy, or a mixture of light and heavy compared to the active states. This can be attributed to the interplay of the CP-violating (CPV) phases of the mixing matrix. As both active and sterile states can mediate the neutrinoless double beta decay ( $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β ) process, their contributions to the effective mass of the electron neutrino, $$|m_{ee}|$$ | m ee | , become a function of the mass of the lightest active state and active–active and active–sterile mixing angles and phases. We explore the parameter space of $$|m_{ee}|$$ | m ee | , keeping in mind the present and future sensitivity of $$0\nu \beta \beta $$ 0 ν β β decay searches. By making use of constraints from charged lepton flavor-violating (cLFV) processes and non-unitarity, we explore the role of additional CPV phases and active–sterile mixing angle values. The numerical values thus obtained for $$|m_{ee}|$$ | m ee | can vary from as low as $$\mathscr {O}(10^{-4})$$ O ( 10 - 4 ) to saturating the present experimental limit. We also check the reliability of our result by calculating the branching ratio of $$\mu \rightarrow e \gamma $$ μ → e γ , a prominent cLFV process, and non-unitarity in this framework.

Background: Pediatric procedural dermatology is a broad and emerging aspect in the field of dermatology. Pediatric procedures require great expertise, skill, empathy, and confidence on the part of the treating physician. The challenging factors such as parental anxiety and doubts, the child’s cooperation, and the risks versus benefits are further contributory. Objective: The objective of the study was to summarize the risks of intra- and postoperative complications/side effects during diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in the pediatric population. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in our hospital. Patients were taken between ages 0 and 18 years who had attended the dermatology outpatient department from January 2019 to March 2022. Results: In a total of 527 outpatient department patients, 267 (50.66%) were males and 260 (49.33%) were females (male:female ratio 1.02:1). Out of diagnostic procedures, the most commonly performed procedures were punch biopsy (14.61%), followed by autologous serum skin test (11.81%) and slit-skin smear (1.90%). Out of 15 therapeutic procedures, intralesional steroids (21.34%) were the most frequently performed therapeutic procedure, followed by radiofrequency cauterization (16.51%), autologous skin therapy (6.98%), cryotherapy (8.76%), nail surgery (2.79%), chemical peeling (2.79%), comedone extraction (2.66%), chemical cauterization (2.54%), neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (2.16%), platelet-rich plasma therapy (1.39%), diode laser (1.27%), measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine injection (0.89%), fractional carbon dioxide laser (0.63%), suction blister epidermal grafting (0.63%), and platelet-rich fibrin therapy (0.25%). Conclusions: This study provided comprehensive data on the various dermatological procedures done for pediatric cases in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures caused mild and transient side effects such as pain, edema, erythema, burning sensations, and irritation that did not affect the patient’s lifestyle.

The left-right symmetric models (LRSM) generally include type-I and type-II induced seesaw masses as a hybrid mass for the light-active neutrinos. Assuming a particular form of Dirac-type coupling, the Majorana-type coupling present in the seesaw mass formula can be expressed in terms of low-energy neutrino oscillation observables and vacuum expectation values (vevs) of the scalar fields present in the model. The Majorana-type coupling thus admits eight different solutions by considering whether the type-I and type-II terms dominate the light neutrino mass. We study the role of all eight solutions in the lepton number violating neutrinoless double beta decay (0νββ) process. In LRSM, the right-handed neutrinos, triplet scalars, and gauge bosons of the left and right sectors act as mediators of new contributions to the 0νββ process. As a result, the effective mass of electron neutrino appearing in the decay width would be a function of vR (vev of the Higgs triplet of the right sector) along with other parameters of the model, through the masses of the new contributions. The energy scale, vR can be considered as the new physics scale which allows exploring physics beyond the Standard Model. Considering the present and future sensitivity of searches of 0νββ, we study the role of eight different solutions of the Majorana coupling matrix. In our study, the inverted hierarchy of light neutrino masses is disfavored for all solutions keeping future sensitivity of effective mass in the picture, if the lightest mass of active neutrinos is below 0.001 eV. Also, our study shows a possibility of new physics contributions saturating the experimental bound on effective mass for vR in the range of 10 TeV for two particular solutions of the Majorana coupling matrix and simultaneously provides the insights about parity breaking scale.

Inguinal lymphadenopathy is a common condition encountered in routine clinical practice. It can be associated with various causes such as infections, inflammatory conditions, and neoplastic processes. We report the case of a young female presenting with an inguinal swelling with active discharge, which was initially suspected to have bacterial lymphadenitis, but subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Such an atypical presentation of a hidden malignancy is very rare and has never been reported as per our knowledge.

College students may have limited access to produce and may lack confidence in preparing it, but cooking videos can show how to make healthy dishes. The Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning suggests that learning is enhanced when visual and auditory information is presented considering cognitive load (e.g., highlighting important concepts, eliminating extraneous information, and keeping the video brief and conversational). The purpose of this project was to pilot test a food label for produce grown at an urban university and assess whether student confidence in preparing produce improved after using the label and QR code to view a recipe video developed using principles from the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning. The video showed a student preparing a salad with ingredients available on campus. Students indicated the label was helpful and reported greater perceived confidence in preparing lettuce after viewing the label and video (mean confidence of 5.60 ± 1.40 before vs. 6.14 ± 0.89 after, p = 0.016, n = 28). Keeping the video short and providing ingredients and amounts onscreen as text were cited as helpful. Thus, a brief cooking video and interactive label may improve confidence in preparing produce available on campus. Future work should determine whether the label impacts produce consumption and if it varies depending on the type of produce used.

Background: Schistosome egg deposition in pregnant women may affect the placenta of infected mothers and cause placental schistosomiasis (PS). Histopathological examination of placental tissue is an inadequate detection method due to low sensitivity. So far, there has not been any systematic review on PS. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed, EMBASE, and Medline and included all publications that reported microscopically confirmed cases of PS, as well as the relevant secondary literature found in the citations of the primarily included publications. Results: Out of 113 abstracts screened we found a total of 8 publications describing PS with a total of 92 cases describing egg deposition of dead and/or viable eggs and worms of S. haematobium and S. mansoni in placental tissue. One cross-sectional study investigating the prevalence of PS and its association with adverse birth outcomes, found 22% of placentas to be infested using a maceration technique but only

Introduction: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent congenital disorders in infants. Neonatal hearing screening is an important tool for early detection of hearing impairment in newborns. Present study is aimed to assess the impact of hearing among babies born to gestational diabetic mothers. Material & Methods: This study was conducted among 100 pregnant mothers who gave birth in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in a medical college in Pondicherry from December 2020 to July 2022. 50 pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were assigned to Group 1 and 50 pregnant women who had no GDM were assigned to Group 2. Hearing screening among the infants were done using Otoacoustic emissions and Brainstem evoked response audiometry (OAE and BERA). The results in Group 1 and Group 2 were collected, analysed and compared. Results: All patients were between 20 – 45 years of age. The average gestational age was 39.2±5.7 from 36 weeks to 42 weeks. In the present study OAE has shown that 40% babies had bilateral refer and 18% had unilateral refer in GDM mothers which significantly higher than the normal mothers. BERA showed that 14% had hearing loss among those of the GDM mothers which was significantly higher than the normal mothers. Comparison of abnormal hearing screening between the two groups were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of hearing impairment in newborns. Timely detection and standardised management should be followed and early intervention procedures should be studied and developed.

We study baryogenesis through leptogenesis via decay of triplet scalars embedded in the Standard Model. We consider two triplets scenario where the vacuum expectation value developed by one of the triplets is complex. The coupling of the triplet Higgs with the Standard Model leptons and Higgs scalar allows two decay channels, with branching ratios BL and Bϕ, respectively. It is known that the hierarchy between the two branching ratios (BL≫Bϕ or Bϕ≫BL), is sensitive to the generation of adequate CP violation and efficiency of leptogenesis. Working in a hierarchical limit of branching ratios and requiring adequate CP violation, we find the mass of the lightest triplet can be as low as 1×1010 GeV. In the temperature regime [109,1012] GeV, flavor effects, especially two-flavor effects become important in the study of leptogenesis. In two-flavored regime we study flavor effects in leptogenesis. It is observed that adequate baryon asymmetry can not be obtained for purely flavored leptogenesis, which corresponds to the hierarchical branching ratios, BL≫Bϕ. But the hierarchy in the other way Bϕ≫BL still allows successful baryogenesis through leptogenesis. The phase of the complex vacuum expectation value of the triplet scalar is constrained by requiring non-zero CP violation. Considering the mass scale of triplet scalars as TeV scale, we also study resonant leptogenesis in the light of TeV scale physics.

As a consequence of global climate change, the frequency, severity, and duration of heat stress are increasing, impacting plant growth, development, and reproduction. While several studies have focused on the physiological and molecular aspects of heat stress, there is growing concern that crop quality, particularly nutritional content and phytochemicals important for human health, is also negatively impacted. This comprehensive review aims to provide profound insights into the multifaceted effects of heat stress on plant-nutrient relationships, with a particular emphasis on tissue nutrient concentration, the pivotal nutrient-uptake proteins unique to both macro- and micronutrients, and the effects on dietary phytochemicals. Finally, we propose a new approach to investigate the response of plants to heat stress by exploring the possible role of plant peroxisomes in the context of heat stress and nutrient mobilization. Understanding these complex mechanisms is crucial for developing strategies to improve plant nutrition and resilience during heat stress.

Abstract Background Migrant women may have an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. This study analyses the occurrence of low birth weight, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction / fetal growth restriction (IUGR/FGR) in pregnant migrants. Method Cross-sectional study of 82 mother-child pairs of pregnant migrants attending medical care in Germany. Results The Median age was 27 years, 49% of patients were of oriental-asian ethnicity and median year of migration was 2015. At least one previous pregnancy was reported in 76% of patients, in 40% the delivery mode was caesarian section. Median gestational age was 39.7 weeks. Preterm birth occurred in 6.1% of pregnancies. Median gestational age for preterm birth was 32.3 weeks. Low birth weight (

Thyme oil (TO) is derived from the flowers of various plants belonging to the genus Thymus. It has been used as a therapeutic agent since ancient times. Thymus comprises numerous molecular species exhibiting diverse therapeutic properties that are dependent on their biologically active concentrations in the extracted oil. It is therefore not surprising that oils extracted from different thyme plants present different therapeutic properties. Furthermore, the phenophase of the same plant species has been shown to yield different anti-inflammatory properties. Given the proven efficacy of TO and the diversity of its constituents, a better understanding of the interactions of the various components is warranted. The aim of this review is to gather the latest research findings regarding TO and its components with respect to their immunomodulatory properties. An optimization of the various components has the potential to yield more effective thyme formulations with increased potency.

Polyamines (PAs) are positively charged amines that are present in all organisms. In addition to their functions specific to growth and development, they are involved in responding to various biotic and abiotic stress tolerance functions. The appropriate concentration of PA in the cell is maintained by a delicate balance between the catabolism and anabolism of PAs, which is primarily driven by two enzymes, namely diamine oxidase and polyamine oxidase (PAO). PAOs have been found to be localized in multiple subcellular locations, including peroxisomes. This paper presents a holistic account of peroxisomal PAOs. PAOs are flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent enzymes with varying degrees of substrate specificity. They are expressed differentially upon various abiotic stress conditions, namely heat, cold, salinity, and dehydration. It has also been observed that in a particular species, the various PAO isoforms are expressed differentially with a spatial and temporal distinction. PAOs are targeted to peroxisome via a peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS) type 1. We conducted an extensive bioinformatics analysis of PTS1s present in various peroxisomal PAOs and present a consensus peroxisome targeting signal present in PAOs. Furthermore, we also propose an evolutionary perspective of peroxisomal PAOs. PAOs localized in plant peroxisomes are of potential importance in abiotic stress tolerance since peroxisomes are one of the nodal centers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and an increase in ROS is a major indicator of the plant being in stress conditions; hence, in the future, PAO enzymes could be used as a key candidate for generating abiotic stress tolerant crops.

Using a combination of online tools (discussion board, submission of reports, grading with rubrics) and scaffolded low stakes writing, we designed a comprehensive writing assignment that teaches first and second year undergraduates a basic scientific skill: written communication in the form of a laboratory report. Scaffolding of the assignment into small sections helps students concentrate on topics and writing technique, and ensures the instructor can grade the reports quickly while still providing valuable feedback. Hence, students get a chance to practice lab report writing consistently throughout the semester, simultaneously learning how to do it and improving their results. The assignment prepares students for the lab report in advanced courses or writing scientific reports in their later career. The assignment was used in biology courses, but can be used in other science courses where lab report preparation is required. This system was well received by students.

Background: Infections, as well as adverse birth outcomes, may be more frequent in migrant women. Schistosomiasis, echinococcosis, and hepatitis E virus (HEV) seropositivity are associated with the adverse pregnancy outcomes of fetal growth restriction and premature delivery. Methods: A cohort study of 82 pregnant women with a history of migration and corresponding delivery of newborns in Germany was conducted. Results: Overall, 9% of sera tested positive for anti-HEV IgG. None of the patients tested positive for anti-HEV IgM, schistosomiasis, or echinococcus serology. Birth weights were below the 10th percentile for gestational age in 8.5% of the neonates. No association between HEV serology and fetal growth restriction (FGR) frequency was found. Conclusions: In comparison to German baseline data, no increased risk for HEV exposure or serological signs of exposure against schistosomiasis or echinococcosis could be observed in pregnant migrants. An influence of the anti-HEV serology status on fetal growth restriction could not be found.

Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) is the most common hormonal disorder in women. PCOD is associated with an increase in subclinical atherosclerotic disease and endothelial dysfunction. The altered endothelial function and early endothelial damage can be assessed by Urinary Albumin Excretion (UAE), a marker of an atherogenic background. Dyslipidaemia is a very common metabolic abnormality in women with PCOD due to elevated androgen level and insulin resistance. As evidenced from previous studies PCOD patients are at an increased cardiovascular risk compared with the age matched controls. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of microalbuminuria and dyslipidaemia in premenopausal PCOD patients compared to normal premenopausal women. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out at Department of Biochemistry, Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospital Puducherry, India. A total of 40 diagnosed PCOD patients (according to Rotterdam criteria) of premenopausal age (21 to 42 years) and 40 age and sex matched controls (22 to 43 years) without PCOD were included in the study. All subjects had undergone measurement of height, weight and Blood Pressure (BP), and detailed systemic examination. Fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), and High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDLc) were estimated by using commercially available kits in automated Chemistry Analyser (ChemWell). Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDLc) and Very Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (VLDLc) were calculated by Friedwald’s equation. Urine microalbumin was estimated by Latex turbidimetry method using semi Autoanalyser BIOTRON BTR830. Urine creatinine was estimated by commercial kit in Autoanalyser. Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (ACR) value more than 30 mg/g was taken as microalbuminuria positive. Student’s t-test and SPSS version 16.0 were used for statistical analysis. Results: Out of 40 PCOD patients 21 patients were having microalbuminuria and out of 40 controls only two were having microalbuminuria. Routine biochemical investigations registered a significant rise of fasting plasma glucose, TG, TC, LDLc and VLDLc in PCOD patients, incomparison with controls (p=0.02 for LDLc and p

Climate change will increase drought in many regions of the world. Besides decreasing productivity, drought also decreases the concentration (%) of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) in plants. We investigated if decreases in nutrient status during drought are correlated with decreases in levels of nutrient-uptake proteins in roots, which has not been quantified. Drought-sensitive (Hordeum vulgare, Zea mays) and -tolerant grasses (Andropogon gerardii) were harvested at mid and late drought, when we measured biomass, plant %N and P, root N- and P-uptake rates, and concentrations of major nutrient-uptake proteins in roots (NRT1 for NO3, AMT1 for NH4, and PHT1 for P). Drought reduced %N and P, indicating that it reduced nutrient acquisition more than growth. Decreases in P uptake with drought were correlated with decreases in both concentration and activity of P-uptake proteins, but decreases in N uptake were weakly correlated with levels of N-uptake proteins. Nutrient-uptake proteins per gram root decreased despite increases per gram total protein, because of the larger decreases in total protein per gram. Thus, drought-related decreases in nutrient concentration, especially %P, were likely caused, at least partly, by decreases in the concentration of root nutrient-uptake proteins in both drought-sensitive and -tolerant species.

Global warming will increase root heat stress, which is already common under certain conditions. Effects of heat stress on root nutrient uptake have rarely been examined in intact plants, but the limited results indicate that heat stress will decrease it; no studies have examined heat-stress effects on the concentration of nutrient-uptake proteins. We grew Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) at 25 °C/20 °C (day/night) and then transferred some plants for six days to 35 °C /30 °C (moderate heat) or 42 °C/37 °C (severe heat) (maximum root temperature = 32 °C or 39 °C, respectively); plants were then moved back to control conditions for seven days to monitor recovery. In a second experiment, plants were grown for 15 days at 28 °C/23 °C, 32 °C/27 °C, 36 °C/31 °C, and 40 °C/35 °C (day/night). Concentrations of nutrient-uptake and -assimilation proteins in roots were determined using protein-specific antibodies and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). In general, (1) roots were affected by heat more than shoots, as indicated by decreased root:shoot mass ratio, shoot vs. root %N and C, and the level of nutrient metabolism proteins vs. less sensitive photosynthesis and stomatal conductance; and (2) negative effects on roots were large and slow-to-recover only with severe heat stress (40 °C–42 °C). Thus, short-term heat stress, if severe, can decrease total protein concentration and levels of nutrient-uptake and -assimilation proteins in roots. Hence, increases in heat stress with global warming may decrease crop production, as well as nutritional quality, partly via effects on root nutrient relations.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the etiologic agent of chronic liver disease, hepatitis C. Spontaneous resolution of viral infection is associated with vigorous HLA class I- and class II-restricted T cell responses to multiple viral epitopes. Unfortunately, only 20% of patients clear infection spontaneously, most develop chronic disease and require therapy. The response to chemotherapy varies, however; therapeutic vaccination offers an additional treatment strategy. To date, therapeutic vaccines have demonstrated only limited success. Vector-mediated vaccination with multi-epitope-expressing DNA constructs alone or in combination with chemotherapy offers an additional treatment approach. Gene sequences encoding validated HLA-A2- and HLA-DRB1-restricted epitopes were synthesized and cloned into an expression vector. Dendritic cells (DCs) derived from humanized, HLA-A2/DRB1 transgenic (donor) mice were transfected with these multi-epitope-expressing DNA constructs. Recipient HLA-A2/DRB1 mice were vaccinated s.c. with transfected DCs; control mice received non-transfected DCs. Peptide-specific IFN-γ production by splenic T cells obtained at 5 weeks post-immunization was quantified by ELISpot assay; additionally, the production of IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-α were quantified by cytokine bead array. Splenocytes derived from vaccinated HLA-A2/DRB1 transgenic mice exhibited peptide-specific cytokine production to the vast majority of the vaccine-encoded HLA class I- and class II-restricted T cell epitopes. A multi-epitope-based HCV vaccine that targets DCs offers an effective approach to inducing a broad immune response and viral clearance in chronic, HCV-infected patients.