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Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant challenge to global health due to its resistance to many conventional antibiotics. Emerging resistance increasingly compromises the efficacy of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, which remains a critical treatment option for MRSA infections. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its rich history and diverse pharmacopoeia, offers potential complementary therapies. This review explores the synergistic effects of combining vancomycin with TCM to enhance antibacterial efficacy against MRSA. Method: We conducted a comprehensive literature review using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies included were those that evaluated the combined effects of vancomycin and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on MRSA in vitro, in vivo, and in clinical settings. Our selection criteria focused on peer-reviewed articles published in the last two decades. We included studies that provided clear methodologies for assessing bacterial inhibition rates, synergy assessments (using methods such as the checkerboard assay and time-kill curves), and mechanisms of action. Additionally, studies were required to detail the specific TCM components used, dosages, and outcomes. We excluded studies that did not specifically assess the combination of vancomycin with TCM, lacked a control group, or did not provide sufficient methodological details for assessing the synergy between the treatments. Data extraction was standardized to include study design, TCM components used, dosages, and outcomes. Results: The review identified several TCM herbs and formulations that exhibited synergistic effects when combined with vancomycin. Notable examples include Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis), which demonstrated enhanced bacterial inhibition through disruption of bacterial cell walls and biofilm reduction. The combination therapy not only improved bacterial clearance but also reduced the required dosage of vancomycin, potentially mitigating adverse effects. Mechanistic studies showed that TCM compounds could make bacterial cell membranes more permeable and stop efflux pumps from working, which raised the concentration of vancomycin inside cells. Conclusion: The synergistic use of vancomycin and TCM offers a promising strategy to combat MRSA infections, potentially addressing the limitations of vancomycin monotherapy. This review highlights the need for further clinical trials to validate these findings and optimise combination protocols. Integrating TCM with conventional antibiotics could lead to more effective, lower-dose treatments, reducing the risk of resistance development and improving patient outcomes. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms of synergy and exploring the clinical applicability of these combinations.

Introduction: Kidney stones (renal calculi), are a common urological problem affecting millions worldwide. Madhuca longifolia (M. longifolia), commonly known as Mahua, has a rich history of medicinal use in various traditional systems, including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This review aims to explore the therapeutic potential of M. longifolia in the management of kidney stones through the lens of TCM. Methods: Examination of the therapeutic efficacy of M. longifolia in the context of TCM for the treatment of kidney stones was undertaken by performing an exhaustive literature review via internet-based databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Keywords such as ''Madhuca longifolia,'' ''Mahua,'' ''kidney stones,'' ''renal calculi,'' ''Pharmacological activity,'' and ''Traditional Chinese Medicine'' were used to ensure the inclusivity of relevant literature. Studies published between 1972 and 2019 were considered. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, focusing on the health impacts of plant-based diets. Information on the subspecies and cultivars of common names and the scientific names was verified using the Plant List (www.theplantlist.org) database. We retrieved and utilised it for the review of 80 articles. Results: The literature review revealed several studies highlighting the potential therapeutic effects of M. longifolia in the management of kidney stones. The bioactive compounds present in M. longifolia, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and saponins, exhibit diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and litholytic properties, which contribute to the dissolution and prevention of kidney stones. Furthermore, Madhuca longifolia demonstrates various pharmacognostic activities, reducing the risk of renal damage associated with kidney stone formation. Discussion: Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes M. longifolia as a valuable botanical resource for the medical management of kidney calculi. It presents a natural and comprehensive strategy for managing the intricacies associated with kidney stones.

A broadband balanced antipodal Vivaldi antenna (BAVA) has been reported along with a novel 3D-printed shaped dielectric lens (SDL) for aiding in gain enhancement, largely towards the higher frequencies. The complete BAVA with SDL (BAVA-SDL) structure exhibits a broad simulated bandwidth of 3.8 GHz to over 60 GHz ( $\mathbf { > }15.8$ :1). The 3D SDL enables an ever-increasing gain profile by compensating for the large phase errors that occur particularly at higher frequencies over a wide range of 45–60 GHz. The maximum simulated broadside gain reaches 24 dBi at 54 GHz. A Digital Light Processing (DLP) based 3D printing technique has been used to fabricate the SDL, where periodic unit lattice cells with air inclusions have been implemented for manipulating the corresponding relative permittivity. Measurements could be carried out until 45 GHz due to limitations from the fabrication process. Nevertheless, the measured results were found to be in very good agreement with their simulated counterparts.

In this article, a broadband 1-D high-gain beam steering solution to steer sum and difference patterns for tracking the optimum common scatter volume of troposcatter links at ${X}$ -band is presented. The novel steering arrangement consists of a $D = 70$ cm offset parabolic cylindrical (OPC) reflector fed by a triple-mode circular waveguide (TM-CW) horn antenna integrated with a two-element dielectric wedge-based Risley prism and a parabolic phase correcting dielectric lens (PCDL). The proposed hybrid beam steering reflector-feed obviates the need for complex 3-axes based gimbals to mechanically steer the conventional reflector-feed assembly. In the proposed hybrid reflector-feed arrangement, steering is achieved using a simple axial rotation of smaller Risley prism components at the feed. The broadband high-gain attribute required for an efficient troposcatter link is achieved by the proposed hybrid reflector-feed with much smaller and compact moving parts compared to traditional axial rotation-based mechanical steering arrangements. The simulated gain of the proposed antenna operating in TE11 mode at broadside is 25.7 dBi. A prototype of the proposed beam steering solution is built and tested in an anechoic chamber. The OPC reflector prototype is made of lightweight composite carbon fiber/fiber glass material thus reducing the overall antenna assembly weight. Experimental results show close agreement with the simulated ones. All three modes of TM-CW horn are steered by ±19° with TE11 mode patterns showing scan losses lower than 1 dB. The measured null depths for TM01 and TE21 modes are lower than −23 dB at 10 GHz. The peak of the sum and the nulls of the difference patterns are separated by a minimum difference of 25 dB at 10 GHz.

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) emerge as innovative 21st-century solvents, supplanting traditional ones like ethanol and n-hexane. Renowned for their non-toxic, biodegradable, and water-miscible nature with reduced volatility, DESs are mostly synthesized through heating and stirring method. Physicochemical properties such as polarity, viscosity, density and surface tension of DESs influenced their application. This review paper gives the overview of application of eco-benign DESs in fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, spices, herbs, plantation crops, oil seed crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, seaweed, and milk for the extraction of bioactive compounds. Also, it gives insight of determination of pesticides, insecticides, hazardous and toxic compounds, removal of heavy metals, detection of illegal milk additive, purification of antibiotics and preparation of packaging film. Methodologies for separating bioactive compounds from DESs extracts are systematically examined. Further, safety regulations of DESs are briefly discussed and reviewed literature reveals prevalent utilization of DES-based bioactive compound rich extracts in cosmetics, indicating untapped potential of their application in the food industry.

Gummies belong to a confectionery category characterized by a hydrocolloid, acting as a stabilizer, forming a network to retain a high-moisture sugar syrup, and hydrocolloids play a key role in shaping the visual appeal, flavour release, and texture of the gel network. This study investigates the potential substitution of gelatin in gummies with plant-based hydrocolloids like agar-agar and guar gum. It is also aimed at optimizing the level of functional ingredients like curcumin and piperine in standardized gummies through incorporation of turmeric and black pepper, respectively. These plant-based gelling agents mimic gelatin’s chewable, firm, and elastic texture, catering to broader consumption and suitability for versatile use. Consumer interest in healthier diets has spurred the transition towards plant-based functional foods, leading to the replacement of gelatin gummies with plant-based alternatives. Agar-agar significantly influences gummy texture by contributing to firmness, elasticity, and stable gel formation, imparting essential strength and consistency. Guar gum, recognized as a plant-based hydrocolloid, enhances gummy texture, consistency, and moisture retention through thickening and stabilization. While agar-agar and guar gum individually fell short in achieving the desired textural attributes in the gummies, their combined use (1% agar-agar and 5.5% guar gum) yielded optimal chewiness (1,455.12±1.75 N), gumminess (2251.11±2.14 N), and high overall acceptability (8.96), resembling gelatin-based gummies. The optimized formulation included 40% sugar, 2% citric acid, 2% turmeric, and 0.6% black pepper. The developed vegan gummies contained 56.9±0.09 mg/100 g total phenols, 37.27±1.4% antioxidant capacity, 0.054±0.0012% curcumin, and 0.02±0.008% piperine. Consequently, the combined use of agar-agar and guar gum emerged as stable and effective gelling agents, offering an alternative to gelatin for creating turmeric and black pepper-infused gummies with desirable texture and functional attributes.

In this paper, we present a compact antenna for 5G new radio (NR) and Wi-Fi 6 applications. Using characteristic mode analysis (CMA), two orthogonal modes have been separated and then a gap-coupled shaped feed-line has been used to excite the radiator. An open stub is added to achieve the wide operating bandwidth of the antenna. The size of a single antenna element and the 1 $\times $ 2 array-unit (AU) are 20 $\times $ 21.5 mm2 and 40 $\times $ 21.5 mm2, respectively. The operating and fractional bandwidths (FBW) of the AU are 5.18–7.71GHz and 39.25%, respectively. The proposed AU is used to develop a number of radiating element-independent multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antennas comprising of 2AUs, 4AUs, and 8AUs with identical electrical characteristics and good isolation ( ${I}$ ) ≥ 18.8 dB. All the AUs have realized gain ~ 3.0 dBi, and the total antenna efficiency ~ 70% making it suitable for the single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO) and multiple users MIMO (MU-MIMO) needed for Wi-Fi 6 applications. To show the application of these antennas, the deployment scenario of a 16AUs MIMO antenna on a large size ground plane which mimics the smart TV panel and router chassis, etc., is also presented. These AUs may find potential applications in radiator-number independent MIMO systems.

An unprecedented global health crisis has developed due to the emergence of the mysterious coronavirus-2 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, which has resulted in millions of deaths around the globe, as no therapy could control the ‘cytokine storm’. Consequently, many vaccines have been developed and several others are being developed for this infection. Although most of the approved vaccines have been highly effective, many developing, and economically poor countries are still deprived of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 due to the unequal distribution of vaccines worldwide. Furthermore, the uncertainty about the effectiveness of the available vaccines against the emerging mutants and variants also remains a matter of concern. Due to the multistep pathogenesis and unique features, combination therapy using safe immunomodulatory and antiviral drugs should be considered as the most effective and acceptable therapeutic regimen for this infection. Based on a thorough assessment of the literature, it was determined that it would be interesting to study the therapeutic potential of ivermectin and doxycycline, given their roles in several biological pathways involved in SARS CoV-2 pathogenesis. Following that, a comprehensive literature search was undertaken using Scopus, Web of Science, and Pubmed, depending on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The present study provides a mechanism and comprehensive report, highlighting the role of combined therapy with ivermectin and doxycycline in alleviating the ‘cytokine storm’ of COVID-19 infection.

This paper presents a passive 2-D beam steering solution comprising of a triple-mode circular waveguide horn antenna operating at Ka-band frequency of 30 GHz, a pair of identical dielectric lenses employing Risley prism and a parabolic phase correcting surface. The circular waveguide horn antenna generates ${\mathrm {TE}}_{11}, {\mathrm {TM}}_{01}$ and ${\mathrm {TE}}_{21}$ modes independently. The pair of identical dielectric lenses employing the Risley prism concept are axially rotated individually and/or simultaneously to steer the radiated beam. The parabolic phase correcting structure is used to further improve the performance of the steered patterns. Overall, this antenna structure steers ${\mathrm {TE}}_{11}, {\mathrm {TM}}_{01}$ and ${\mathrm {TE}}_{21}$ modes patterns which makes it an attracting solution for tracking and communication applications. The proposed antenna system has been prototyped and experimentally verified in a compact antenna test range (CATR) chamber. The measured conical scan angles for ${\mathrm {TE}}_{11}$ mode is found to be around $\pm 40{^\circ }$ with gain deviation less than 3 dB. The ${\mathrm {TM}}_{01}$ and ${\mathrm {TE}}_{21}$ modes are steered with a scan angle covering $\pm 30{^\circ }$ .

In this paper, investigations on heat sink property of a 4x2 wideband dual linear polarized phased array antenna comprised of 3D metal printed all metallic radiators, serving also as heat sink, is presented for X-band frequency. Two single radiators, each with a height nearly equal to ${\lambda }$ /2 corresponding to center frequency (9.50 GHz), shaped intuitively and placed orthogonal to each other and surrounded by a metal ring of square cross-section with overall dimension of ${\lambda }/2\times {\lambda }$ /2, constitutes the dual linear polarized radiating element. Both radiators are fed by an orthogonal arrangement of stripline feeds through a trapezium shaped metal plate, which in turn helps to integrate the antenna aperture with the beamforming network (BFN). A set of via fences are placed beneath each antenna element, which work as a thermal path between the BFN and antenna aperture. This radiating element resembles heat fins, and designed to cover 8.5-11.5 GHz impedance bandwidth. Good radiation pattern with low cross-polarization is obtained over the entire bandwidth, while the peak broadside gain is varying between 14–11 dBi. Beam scans are viable ±50° in ${\varphi }=0^{0}$ plane and ±30° in ${\varphi }=90^{0}$ plane. The array antenna aperture is built using 3D metal printing technology. The BFN is comprised of commercial silicon Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) chips which have been integrated with the antenna aperture. A beamforming algorithm is applied through serial peripheral interface (SPI) controller to achieve beam steering during the measurement process. The temperature reduction of 60°C is achieved with the heat sink structure when the temperature distribution of BFN with and without heat sink are compared for the 4x2 array. The temperature of the heat sink antenna is only 41°C and the temperature distribution is validated with an infrared (IR) camera.

Cannabidiol (CBD), derived from Cannabis sativa, has gained remarkable attention for its potential therapeutic applications. This thorough analysis explores the increasing significance of CBD in treating neurological conditions including epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease, which present major healthcare concerns on a worldwide scale. Despite the lack of available therapies, CBD has been shown to possess a variety of pharmacological effects in preclinical and clinical studies, making it an intriguing competitor. This review brings together the most recent findings on the endocannabinoid and neurotransmitter systems, as well as anti-inflammatory pathways, that underlie CBD’s modes of action. Synthesized efficacy and safety assessments for a range of neurological illnesses are included, covering human trials, in vitro studies, and animal models. The investigation includes how CBD could protect neurons, control neuroinflammation, fend off oxidative stress, and manage neuronal excitability. This study emphasizes existing clinical studies and future possibilities in CBD research, addressing research issues such as regulatory complications and contradicting results, and advocates for further investigation of therapeutic efficacy and ideal dose methodologies. By emphasizing CBD’s potential to improve patient well-being, this investigation presents a revised viewpoint on its suitability as a therapeutic intervention for neurological illnesses.

In this paper, an angular symmetric, common radiator coplanar waveguide (CPW) fed four-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna is designed on a $0.129\lambda _{\mathrm{ L}}^{2}$ RT Duroid ( $\varepsilon _{\mathrm{ r}} =3.0$ , tan $\delta =0.001$ ) substrate where $\lambda _{\mathrm{ L}}$ is the free space wavelength at the lowest operating frequency ( ${f} _{\mathrm{ L}}$ ) of 0.6 GHz. The antenna has a −6 dB impedance bandwidth from 0.6–1.09 GHz, 2.6–3.4 GHz and 4.2–7.0 GHz to cover the emerging wireless communication bands. At the same time, it also has a −10 dB impedance bandwidth extending from 0.7–1.01 GHz, 2.6–3.18 GHz, 5.3–6.06 GHz, and 6.7–6.94 GHz. Design steps to enhance the operating bandwidth and the isolation in the sub-1GHz bands are presented. The antenna has a reasonable realized gain at the simulated and measured frequencies. It exhibits the pattern diversity which is useful for the MIMO implementation. The envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), Mean effective gain (MEG), and the channel capacity of the antenna have been computed from the measured results. In spite of the small circuit size at ${f} _{\mathrm{ L}}$ , the ECC ≤ 0.50 over the entire band is observed. In addition to the existing communication applications, this antenna can find newer applications in the emerging 0.6–1.09 GHz band, sub-6GHz 5G near radio (NR), and Wi-Fi 6 communications.

We propose a 1D beam steering high gain hybrid reflector-phased array antenna system for enhanced data rate wireless communication at Ku-band (12 - 14 GHz). The proposed hybrid antenna system consists of a D = 50 cm offset parabolic-cylindrical reflector withf/D = 0.4 fed by an 8 x 4 dual linear-polarized stacked patch phased array antenna placed along the focal line of the reflector. The parabolic-cylindrical reflector has the property of a wide-angle beam steering along the cylindrical axis as compared to a conventional parabolic reflector. A complete implementation of the dual linear-polarized phased array antenna with the silicon RFIC chipset based beamforming network and integrated with aluminum offset parabolic-cylindrical reflector is reported. Cavity model and physical optics approximations are used to analyze the radiation characteristics of the phased array and the induced currents on the parabolic-cylindrical reflector surface, respectively. Furthermore, the multilevel fast multipole method (MLFMM) is used along with the method of moments (MoM) in TICRA GRASP for a comprehensive analysis of the proposed hybrid reflector system. The peak directivity of the reflector pattern is around 27 dBi for both the X-polarization and Y-polarization, and a beam scanning of ±30° is achieved along the cylindrical axis of the reflector for 3 dB reduction in the gain. The analytical and computed results of the proposed hybrid reflector-phased array antenna system are experimentally verified.

This article presents the design and development of two all flat panel phased array antennas (PAA) by using emerging 5G Silicon radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) at Ku- and Ka-bands. First, an X-/Ku-band wideband dual circular polarized Transmit (Tx)/Receive (Rx) phased array antenna with the capability of scanning (±45°) is presented. The frequency of operation is centered around 12.5 GHz within the X/Ku-Bands (3dB Axial Ratio (AR) bandwidth at broadside = 32%). The array has 16-elements with a 4 x 4 lattice arrangement. This array utilizes a nested sequential rotation architecture, which enhances the axial ratio (AR) bandwidth. Secondly, a dual slant linear polarized (±45°) transmit and receive (T/R) phased array antenna, that operates in the Ka-Band and covers the millimeter-wave 5G band (27.5 - 28.35 GHz) is discussed. Beam scanning range is up to ±60° in both polarizations. In both cases, the array apertures have been integrated with an active beamforming networks (BFN) utilizing 5G silicon Tx/Rx beamformer RFIC chips. Measured and simulated performance results agree reasonably well in both cases. These arrays are scalable to larger size arrays to provide higher gain for applications like satellite communications (SATCOM) and 5G communications.

In this paper, three different microstrip slot radiators are proposed on single user equipment (UE) size ground plane providing flexibility for the user to utilize many useful bands such as some lower cellular bands, Sub-6 GHz band, and mm-wave 5G band. First, a 2-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna (Type-I) utilizing polarization diversity is designed for useful cellular bands from 1.6 -2.2 GHz and 2.5-2.7 GHz (|S11|

Rice is an important staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Though the genetic potential of commonly cultivated varieties of rice is diminished due to various biotic and abiotic constraints, bacterial leaf blight (BLB) of rice caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is considered one of its most destructive diseases in India. Based on morpho-cultural characteristics, bacterial pathogens isolated from the leaves of a rice plant showing typical BLB symptoms were identified as Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Morphological studies revealed that the pathogen is Gram-negative, a short rod, with rounded ends, single or in pairs, light yellow, circular, whitish yellow to straw-colored, convex, yellow, slightly raised, motile with a single polar flagellum, capsulate and non-spore-forming. Biochemical tests, viz., the Gram reaction, KOH test and catalyst test, showed a positive reaction for all the isolates. Twenty isolates of Xoo were collected from the basmati-growing areas of the Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts in the Jammu sub-tropics during 2019, and their pathogenicity was confirmed on five susceptible rice cultivars, viz., Basmati-370, Pusa-1121, TN-1, SJR and Jaya, by the leaf-clipping method, and subsequently, Koch’s postulate was established in each case. Seven Xoo pathotypes, viz., Pathotype 1, Pathotype 2, Pathotype 3, Pathotype 4, Pathotype 5, Pathotype 6 and Pathotype 7, were identified from the total sample of 20 isolates. Pathotype 2 was the most dominant (100%), followed by Pathotype 5 (44.44%), Pathotype 4 (40%), Pathotype 6 (40%), Pathotype 7 (33.33%), Pathotype 3 (22.22%) and Pathotype 1 (20%), in the Jammu sub-tropics. In Jammu district, Pathotype 5 was highly distributed (44.44%) followed by Pathotype 7 (33.33%) and Pathotype 3 (22.22%). Pathotype 4 and Pathotype 6 each showed a 40 percent distribution in Kathua district, followed by Pathotype 1 (20%). Only one pathotype, i.e., Pathotype 2, was recorded in Samba district with a 100 percent distribution. Five genes, viz., Xa13, Xa4, Xa13 and Xa5 + Xa13, showed complete resistance, whereas Xa4, Xa5, Xa7, Xa8, Xa21, Xa4 + Xa5 and Xa4 + Xa21 showed susceptible response against the test isolates. It was observed that most of the single BLB-resistant genes were moderately to highly susceptible to almost all the Xoo isolates, whereas combinations of BLB resistance genes possessed high resistance against all the Xoo isolates. The studies revealed that diverse pathogenic variations existed in the Xoo population in the basmati-growing region of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the response exhibited by Xoo isolates on differential lines, seven pathotypes (Pathotype 1–7) were identified, and their virulence spectrum on rice differentials showed the occurrence of 5, 3, 10, 10, 20, 10 and 15 percent, respectively, in the Jammu sub-tropics. To develop durable and sustainable resistant cultivars, it is essential to identify predominate race(s) in a specific geographical area and continuously monitor the virulence pattern there.

Saffron, comprising of dried stigmas of the plant known as Crocus sativus, is one of the most important and scantly cultivated agricultural products. It has been used as a precious spice for the last at least 3500 years. Due to its numerous medicinal qualities and pharmacological applications, it is considered as a “golden condiment”, and its demand and consumptions has risen over a period of time. Although efforts are continuously being made to enhance the productivity in the traditional areas and promote the cultivation of saffron in the newer areas, there are several constraints hindering these efforts. Prevalence of corm rot is one such limiting factor which results in the reduction in saffron production and decline in the area under its cultivation. The disease not only reduces the yield substantially, but also adversely affects the production of daughter corms. Complete understanding and knowledge about the disease is still lacking due to the inadequate information about its etiology and epidemiology. Moreover, due to the non-availability of resistant genotypes and lack of improved cultural practices, presently no effective and sustainable management strategies are available. This review article gives an overall account of the history and impact of saffron corm rot, its present status, yield losses caused by it, dynamics of the pathogens associated with the disease, their survival and dispersal, factors influencing disease intensity, epidemiology and sustainable management strategies. As comprehensive information on the disease is presently not available, an attempt has been made to review the current knowledge regarding corm rot of saffron. The information about the disease discussed here can eventually be beneficial for the growers, students, researchers, plant protection organizations, development departments, extension workers, policy makers, government agencies and public organizations.