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Charles Dearman,1 Esme J Hill,1 Jamie M Franklin,1 Greg P Sadler,2 Lai Mun Wang,3 Michael A Silva,3 Ricky A Sharma4 1Department of Oncology, 2Department of Endocrine Surgery, 3Department of Histopathology and Hepatobiliary Surgery, 4CRUKMRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Abstract: The routine use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography scans for staging and assessment of treatment response for cancer has resulted in a large number of thyroid abnormalities being detected as incidental findings (“incidentalomas”). Since most PET/CT scans are performed in the setting of a known nonthyroid malignancy, the need for “incidentalomas” to be further investigated and managed depends on the stage, prognosis, and current treatment plan for the known malignancy. We present a case describing the management of an incidental F-fluorodeoxyglucose-avid thyroid nodule detected in a patient with known metastatic colorectal cancer. On the basis of this case, we discuss the management of incidental PET-detected thyroid nodules in patients with metastatic cancer. Thyroid “incidentalomas” must be seen in the context of the prognosis and treatment plan for the known malignancy.Keywords: cancer, imaging, metastasis, morbidity, surgery, PET

May–Thurner syndrome (MTS) is an anatomical condition of external luminal compression of common iliac vein due to a partial obstruction of the common iliac vein between common iliac artery and lumbar vertebra causes deep-vein thrombosis, venous hypertension, and chronic venous insufficiencies. In this article, we review present evidence of the clinical diagnosis and management of MTS. Here, we conducted a literature review of studies on MTS. We also reviewed different clinical features, presentation, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic procedure for this condition. Most studies mentioned the diagnosis of this condition is performed by color Doppler, computed tomographic angiography, venography, and problem-solving cases by intravascular ultrasound technique. Nonsurgical methods of management are first line, and vascular surgery is reserved for refractory cases. Multiple modalities are required to reach the diagnosis of MTS, and noninvasive intervention radiology methods are the first line of management. This review highlights the presentations of MTS and outlines diagnostic procedure and management.

BackgroundIn contrast to the standard shoulder arthroscopy, current radio-diagnostic techniques like magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide less invasive intricate structural detail of shoulder anatomy. ObjectivesComparison of efficacy of MRA and MRI for diagnosing suspected rotator cuff injury. Materials and MethodsOver the course of 4 years (from June 2017 to June 2021), a comparative study, including 100 individuals with suspected rotator cuff pathology, was conducted. For the evaluation of shoulder injuries, the assessment and comparison of MRA and MRI were done in terms of sensitivity (Sn), positive predictive value (PPV), and diagnostic accuracy (DA). ResultsMRI and MRA were positive in 76 (76%) and 98 (98%) patients, respectively. The Sn and PPV of MRI for diagnosing the shoulder injury were 76% and 100%, respectively, whereas the Sn and PPV of MRA were 98% and 100%, respectively. MRA was better than MRI in terms of diagnostic accuracy (98% vs. 76%, P = 0.03). ConclusionMRA is a nonsurgical effective method in evaluating and diagnosing rotator cuff injuries in comparison to MRI.

Forecasting is valuable to countries because it enables them to make informed business decisions and develop data-driven strategies. Fruit production offers promising economic opportunities to reduce rural poverty and unemployment in developing countries and is a crucial component of farm diversification strategies. After vegetables, fruits are the most affordable source of essential vitamins and minerals for human health. India's fruit production strategies should be developed based on accurate predictions and the best forecasting models. This study focused on the forecasting behavior of production of apples, bananas, grapes, mangoes, guavas, and pineapples in India using data from 1961 to 2015 (modelling set) and 2016–2020 (predicting set). Two unit root tests were used, the Ng–Perron (2001) test, and the Dickey–Fuller test with bootstrapping critical values depending on the Park (2003) technique. The results show that all variables are stationary at first differences. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and exponential smoothing (ETS) models were used and compared based on goodness of fit. The results indicated that the ETS model was the best in all the cases, as the predictions using ETS had the smallest errors and deviations between forecasting and actual values. This result was confirmed using three tests: Diebold–Mariano, Giacomini–White, and Clark–West. According to the best models, forecasts for production during 2021–2027 were obtained. In terms of production, an increase is expected for apples, bananas, grapes, mangoes, mangosteens, guavas, and pineapples in India during this period. The current outcomes of the forecasts could enable policymakers to create an enabling environment for farmers, exporters, and other stakeholders, leading to stable markets and enhanced economic growth. Policymakers can use the insights from forecasting to design strategies that ensure a diverse and nutritious fruit supply for the population. This can include initiatives like promoting small-scale farming, improving postharvest storage and processing facilities, and establishing effective distribution networks to reach vulnerable communities.

This century’s most serious catastrophe, COVID-19, has been dubbed “the most life-threatening disaster ever”. Asthmatic persons are even more prone to COVID-19’s complex interplay with the underlying inflammatory condition. In order to protect themselves against COVID-19, asthmatic patients must be very vigilant in their usage of therapeutic techniques and drugs (e.g., bronchodilators, 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors), which may be accessed to deal with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 indications. People with asthma may have more severe COVID-19 symptoms, which may lead to a worsening of their condition. Several cytokines were found to be elevated in the bronchial tracts of patients with acute instances of COVID-19, suggesting that this ailment may aggravate asthma episodes by increasing inflammation. The intensity of COVID-19 symptoms is lessened in patients with asthma who have superior levels of T-cells. Several antibiotics, antivirals, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs have been suggested to suppress COVID-19 symptoms in asthmatic persons. Furthermore, smokers are more likely to have aggravated repercussions in COVID-19 infection. Being hospitalized to critical care due to COVID-19, needing mechanical breathing, and suffering from serious health repercussions, are all possible outcomes for someone who has previously smoked. Smoking damages airways and alveoli, which significantly raises the risk of COVID-19-related health complications. Patients with a previous record of smoking are predisposed to severe COVID-19 disease symptoms that essentially require a combination of bronchodilators, mucolytics, antivirals, and antimuscarinic drugs, to cope with the situation. The present review discusses the care and management of asthmatic and smoker patients in COVID-19 infection.

In this paper, the finite element method (FEM) is applied to calculate the bearing capacity of two footings having the aspect ratio L/B (where L and B are the length and width of the footing, respectively) equal to 1, 2 resting on one-layer and two-layer soil. Soil profile contains two soil types including sand and clay. The soil strip is 500mm × 500mm × 350mm; however, only a quarter of the model (250mm × 250mm × 350mm) is examined in the study. Two primary situations are investigated in this study. In the first situation, the one-layer system is supposed to be sandy soil with footing overlays on medium-dense sand. The soft clay/stabilized clayey layer is supposed to be on top of the sandy soil in the second condition, with the footing resting on top of the soft clay/stabilized clay. The influence of layer thickness, aspect ratio, and material property on the bearing capacity value and footing failure mechanism is studied for eight different combinations of layered soil. The bearing capacity for a one-layer case is also estimated, and it agrees well with Vesic (1973), Hansen (1970), and Terzaghi's (1943) equations. The bearing capacity of footings is observed to decline when the height of unstabilized clayey soil increases, and it increases when clayey soil is stabilized with molasses, waste foundry sand, and lime alone and in combination with each other.

The stress-strain and volumetric behavior, shear strength parameters, permeability and stiffness of soft clayey soil stabilised with various proportions of molasses, waste foundry sand, and lime are investigated in this article using the variable head permeability test and consolidated drained triaxial test. The results of the tests showed that the permeability, stress-strain and volumetric behavior of the soft clayey soil were significantly enhanced by the addition of molasses, waste foundry sand, and lime. At all confining pressures, the volumetric strain was found to decrease with the inclusion of additives. The additives to soft clayey soil reduced cohesion to a limited extent whereas significantly increasing the angle of shearing resistance. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of all the optimum composites demonstrate that with the additives, a composite with higher strength and density is observed, and the geotechnical properties of soft clayey soil are improved, thereby making it suitable as a subgrade material in pavement construction.

The synthesis of ultralong, low-diameter, and uniform nanowires holds significant promise for integrating multiple devices within a single structure. In this study, a hydrothermal synthesis method was employed to grow ultralong Co-doped SnO₂ nanowires. The reaction conditions, including temperature, concentration of precursors, and the introduction of Co as a dopant, were optimized for producing high-aspect-ratio, crystalline nanowires. These nanowires were then characterized for their structural and electrical properties, and their potential for gas sensing and photocatalytic applications was explored. The results suggest that Co-doped SnO₂ nanowires could play a crucial role in future nanodevice applications.

The research of the MOFs for biological activities have garnered a lot of interest in current history. Because of their exceptionally wide surfaces, and permeability, Metal-organic framework are thought to be an exciting type of nanocarriers for the dlivery of pharmaceuticals. The unique characteristics of MOFs and their advantages as Nanomaterials for drug administration in therapeutic systemshave been reviewed in the first half of this paper. The most current techniques included hydrophilic group, pore encapsulated, covatent linkin, and using basic components of useful molecules. Strong bonds are used to join inorganic and organic units to create according to the utilization of metal-organic frameworks versality of the elements, structure, dimension, and usefulness, more that twenty thousdand different MOFs have been reported and investigated in the last ten years. An overview, different types of ligands, and numerous techniques for MOF synthesis are given at the beginning of the chapter. In many applications where MOFs are potential options, the special property of MOFs has been a significant problem. The latest scientific applications of MOFs for aptamer- specific intracellular drug, protein, and nucleic acid delivery were discussed. Finally, issues and opportunities were thoroughly covered to set the stage for the evolution of MOFs into an effective drug delivery system in the future.

This study investigates the kinetics of rhodamine B diffusion over a multilayer membrane composed of silk fibroin hydrogel and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nonwoven fabric. To evaluate the impact of varying membrane structure thicknesses on dye diffusion rate, we used 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 layers. The research indicated that the 32-layer membrane significantly slowed dye penetration. An initial linear release was seen until 2500 minutes, after which the rate of diffusion decelerated. Validation of the controlled diffusion behavior across the hydrogel layers was achieved by UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, specifically targeting the absorbance peak at 554 nm of rhodamine B. The results of this study provide crucial insights for the advancement of hydrogel- based materials in sensor technologies, drug delivery approaches, and regulated dye release.

Coastal cities worldwide face increasing threats from climate change, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and flooding. Enhancing the climate resilience of these cities is critical to mitigating the impacts of these threats on infrastructure, ecosystems, and human populations. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer powerful tools for analyzing vulnerabilities and guiding adaptation strategies. This paper investigates the climate resilience of coastal cities using GIS techniques to assess risks, map vulnerable areas, and propose adaptation measures. By combining spatial analysis and climate data, we evaluate three coastal cities—Miami, Mumbai, and Manila. The results show significant variations in vulnerability due to differences in geography, urban density, and socio-economic factors. We provide actionable recommendations for improving resilience, including zoning reforms, flood-resistant infrastructure, and community-based adaptive practices.

This study examines how predictive analytics and the IoT might improve sustainable urban transportation systems. Using IoT device data, this study will explore how predictive analytics and IoT integration alter urban transportation. The data covers vehicle speed, traffic density, AQI, and weather. The research estimates traffic congestion, AQI, and volume using predictive modeling. This assesses prediction accuracy and data match. Unfavorable weather increases congestion, whereas traffic density decreases vehicle speed. Predictive methods accurately estimate congestion and air quality, but traffic volume is more difficult. The algorithms' accuracy in anticipating congestion and AQI is confirmed by comparing predicted and actual outcomes. Despite a 1.4% traffic flow increase, predictive analytics and IoT solutions reduce congestion by 25% and improve air quality by 12.7%. The impact research shows that these methods reduce congestion and promote sustainability. This research highlights the potential of predictive analytics and IoT to improve urban mobility, enable smarter decision-making, and create sustainable urban environments via data-driven insights and proactive actions.

The term waste is for undesirable or pointless resources produced by human activity in residential, industrial, or commercial environments. It can be divided into three categories. Depending on its: source (household, industrial, commercial, building, or institutional); and composition (organic material, glass, metal, plastic, paper, etc.). The educational institute, offices, packing of goods etc generate huge quantity of paper waste every year. The waste paper is major issue in municipal solid waste. Paper pulp can be made from a variety of sources, including wood, recycled paper waste, and other plant-based materials. Neem, also known as Azadirachta indica, is a tree readily available in nature having grate medicinal value and helps to protect environmental pollution. Neem is a evergreen tree that grows quickly and is widely used. It may be found all over India. A single mosquito bite can put you in the hospital for Chikungunya, Dengue, or Plasmodium falciparum (malaria). Use of sophisticated electric mosquito-killing devices or chemical mosquito repellents is the only method to stop this. Neem and paper waste are combined to create mosquito repellent that is both environmentally friendly and has natural and practical benefits. Neem may be utilized to manufacture helpful items such as insect repellent. Sticks used to ward off mosquitoes are made of burning paper pulp, or paper waste. Dryobalanops Aromatica, another name for camphor, is a white, crystalline material with a powerful, aromatic scent. Numerous characteristics of camphor include its physical, chemical, flammability, and fragrant attributes. Due to these characteristics, camphor is utilized as an aromatic substance in mosquito- repellent sticks. It also aids in the burning of mosquito-repellent sticks.

The integrity and lifespan of metallic structures are significantly threatened by corrosion in a variety of sectors. As a result, as compared to traditional coatings, nanocomposite coatings provide improved mechanical qualities and corrosion resistance, making them attractive options for corrosion protection. In this work, sol-gel processing and electrochemical deposition were used to create sustainable nanocomposite coatings including graphene, carbon nanotubes, silica nanoparticles, and zinc oxide. The coatings' characterization showed that the nanoparticles were evenly distributed throughout the matrix, with distinct interfaces and little agglomeration. Testing for corrosion resistance showed that nanocomposite coatings performed better than traditional coatings, with lower corrosion rates and larger corrosion potentials. Higher adhesion strengths and hardness values for nanocomposite coatings were found during mechanical testing; this suggests that the coatings have better mechanical durability and performance in challenging environments. When compared to traditional methods, environmental impact evaluations indicated that sustainable manufacturing procedures might result in lower energy usage, waste creation, and greenhouse gas emissions. The research's overall conclusions highlight the promise of nanocomposite coatings as environmentally friendly corrosion protection options that outperform traditional coatings in terms of performance, durability, and sustainability.

This research explores the effectiveness of environmentally friendly nanocomposite catalysts for cleaning up polluted areas. The results of the characterization showed that nanocomposite A had particles that were 20 nm in size, a surface area of 50 m^2/g, and a pore volume of 0.1 cm^3/g. In contrast, nanocomposite E had particles that were 15 nm in size, a surface area of 45 m^2/g, and a greater pore volume of 0.08 cm^3/g. Evaluations of the effectiveness of the catalysts in removing pollutants showed that nanocomposite E was the most effective, with removal percentages of 95% for Pollutant A, 90% for Pollutant B, and 98% for Pollutant C. Analyses of the reaction kinetics showed that nanocomposite E had the best catalytic kinetics, with a rate constant of 0.08 min^-1 and a turnover frequency of 0.003 mol/g/min. As compared to other catalysts, nanocomposite C had the lowest cost per gram and the highest cost efficiency, making it the most cost-effective alternative. With nanocomposite E showing better efficiency in pollutant removal and catalytic kinetics, the results indicate that catalysts made of nanocomposite materials using green techniques might be used for long-term, effective environmental cleanup. Based on these findings, nanocomposite catalysts have great promise for promoting environmental sustainability and protection.

The synchronization between the grid and inverter is crucial for power sharing. By reconnecting the inverter to the electrical grid, it becomes possible to provide power in grid-off mode. Inverter-interfaced distributed generators (DGs) rely on control methods to drive the power devices in the inverter. A three-phase inverter produces output in terms of voltage, frequency, and phase, which can be matched with the electrical output using control methods. These control methods determine the pulse width modulation (PWM) pulses for driving the inverter. Simulations of the proposed systems with a grid-connected inverter are expressed through a MATLAB SIMULINK Model. Various algorithms generate different PWM pulses for the inverter. The differences between these algorithms are summarized in the results. Finally, the simulation results are analyzed across the load, total harmonic distortion (THD), error in grid voltage, and inverter voltage.

Navigating towards a sustainable future, this paper meticulously reviews diverse studies, exploring the intricate dynamics of transitioning to 100% solar energy in smart cities, whilst particularly scrutinising land requirements. The studies, set against varied geographical and socioeconomic backdrops, delve into the technical and economic feasibility, alongside environmental repercussions of a wholesale shift towards renewable energy in urban environments. For example, a detailed exploration of Delhi’s multi-sectoral energy transition pathway unveils potential in slashing primary energy and costs, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and bolstering the energy job sector. Another study elucidates a methodology for crafting Smart Energy Cities, exemplified by Aalborg’s transition within Denmark’s 100% renewable energy framework. Additionally, an examination of the economic and environmental performance of renewable energy systems in diverse Chinese residential communities highlights the predominance of solar energy and biomass, revealing disparities in investment recovery and emission reductions. Collectively, these studies illuminate the multifaceted aspects of renewable energy transitions in urban contexts, steering towards a globally sustainable, efficient, and secure energy future.

Water pumping system powered by PV without using battery bank is attracting by many scholars. Using of batteries can increase the overall system cost during the operation. A novel control algorithm must be incorporated to manage energy balance between load and generation since power produced from solar cells depends on solar irradiance. In order to lift the water from ground, a motor – pump set is used where power is fed by PV systems through proper converter. Generally induction motors are commonly using in water pumping systems. A direct torque control is applied on three phase induction motor in this paper. Three different configurations were discussed in this paper. In order to eliminate an extra converter for MPPT operation of the PV panels, the proposed method is forced the inverter to acts as a MPPT converter of the PV system. Various results are presented in this paper to validate the proposed method.

This study investigates the effects of several organic fertilizers on baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivation’s growth, productivity, and sustainability. A randomized complete block design was employed to assess six organic fertilizer treatments, including vermicompost, farm yard manure (FYM), poultry waste, Azotobacter + poultry waste + FYM, Azotobacter + vermicompost, and a control (no fertilizer application). Plant growthparameters, nutrient content, pest resistance, soil health indicators, and environmental implications were evaluated to understand the effectiveness of organic fertilizers in promoting sustainable spinach production. Results indicate that treatments incorporating Azotobacter inoculants, particularly those combined with poultry waste or vermicompost, demonstrated superior performance in terms of production, biomass accumulation, plant height, leaf area, and nutrient content. These findings underscore the potential of bioinoculants in organic farming to increase soil fertility and ecological resilience, decreasedependency on synthetic inputs, and increase crop output. Moreover, organic fertilizers significantly influenced soil health parameters, with treatments exhibiting higher soil pH, organic matter content, and microbial activity contributing to improved soil fertility. Environmental implications of organic fertilizer use were also assessed, revealing varyinglevels of nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions across different treatments. While Azotobacter-inoculated treatments showed higher greenhouse gas emissions, they also exhibited greater nutrient retention, indicating complex trade-offs between nutrient cyclingand environmental impact

This research delves into the utilization of biofertilizers as a sustainable substitute for conventional chemical fertilizers, offering multifaceted advantages for soil fertility, plant vitality, and ecological equilibrium. The study investigates the effects of different application rates of biofertilizers on various growth parameters, nutrient assimilation efficiency, yield components, and physiological responses in spinach cultivation. A series of experimental trials were conducted to evaluate the impacts of biofertilizer treatments, comprising vermicompost, Azotobacter, and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), on spinach plants. The results indicate that combined application of biofertilizers significantly enhances key parameters including plant height, leaf area, shoot biomass, root biomass, nutrient assimilation efficiency, yield components, and physiological responses compared to conventional fertilizer practices and control groups. Correlation and regression analyses reveal strong positive relationships between levels of biofertilizer application and various growth metrics, nutrient assimilation efficiency, yield components, and physiological responses. Furthermore, ANOVA results confirm the statistical significance of differences among treatment groups, highlighting the efficacy of biofertilizers in promoting spinach growth and productivity. Economic evaluations suggest that despite higher initial costs, the use of biofertilizers results in increased spinach yields, making it a financially viable and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional fertilization methods.

Data from a variety of sample cities was evaluated as part of a research looking into the integration of big data analytics into urban planning. The goals were to evaluate the impact of data analytics infrastructure, data volume and processing time, urban development initiatives, and data analytics efficiency. The results showed significant differences in data analytics resources across cities, indicating different levels of investment and preparedness for data-driven decision making. It was clear that cities could handle large amounts of data efficiently thanks to their strong data processing skills. Data analytics have an impact on urban development initiatives, highlighting the revolutionary potential of data-driven urban planning. The outcomes of efficiency tests demonstrated how data analytics procedures are useful for improving urban services and for making well-informed judgments. This study offers important new insights into the mechanics of data-driven urban planning and how it can influence how cities develop in the future.

This study clarifies how precision agriculture powered by the Internet of Things may optimize agricultural productivity and sustainability. Important connections, like the positive association between agricultural output and soil moisture, are revealed by analyzing data from Internet of Things sensors. Test findings for Precision Agriculture show impressive production increases: 20% better yields for wheat, 15% higher yields for maize, and 5% higher yields for soybeans. Interestingly, these improvements come with significant resource savings, with a 10% to 20% reduction in the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The evaluation of sustainable yield highlights efficiency levels between 92% and 95%. These results demonstrate how precision agriculture has the potential to completely transform contemporary agricultural methods by maximizing crop output, promoting sustainability, and reducing environmental impact.

Introduction: The time from symptom onset to arrival at healthcare facility, and door to reperfusion time in treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can be improved significantly if the patient or the relatives can record a 12-lead ECG at home and transmit it to the physician for prompt interpretation. To make this widely applicable, the 12-lead ECG recording device has to be simple and user friendly. In this regard, torso ECG (T-ECG) electrode positions that are less cumbersome than the conventional ECG (C-ECG) electrode positions are an alternative worthy of consideration. Objective: and setting: To study the utility of T-ECG versus C-ECG in ACS patients. Design: and intervention: We proposed torso electrode positions in which upper limb electrodes were placed in the respective deltopectoral grooves below the lateral end of the clavicle; the right lower limb electrode was placed 2 finger breadths above the umbilicus and the left lower limb electrode, 2 finger breadths to the left of the umbilicus. We then studied the ECGs recorded, to ascertain whether T-ECGs miss or over-diagnose ACS changes. Twelve lead ECGs were recorded by both techniques (C-ECG & T-ECG) in 1361 patientsfrom the coronary care unit & out-patient department of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 1526 sets of ECGs (each set consisting of one C-ECG and one T -ECG) were read by two trained cardiologists independently and in a blinded fashion. There were 457 ECG sets from 342 patients with ACS. Of these, 116 ECG sets from 112 patients of anterior infarction who had changes restricted to precordial leads were excluded. Finally, 341 ECG sets from 230 patients with ACS and 324 sets of patients diagnosed to be normal on C-ECG were considered for the purpose of this study. Main results: All 341 ECG sets from the 230 patients of ACS diagnosed by C-ECG were correctly diagnosed by T-ECG (100% sensitivity) and all 324 normal ECGs on C-ECG were also identified as normal on T-ECG (100% specificity). Of the ACS ECGs, ST elevation was seen in 234 ECGs and ST depressions 154 ECGs. The localizations of ST elevation and ST depression were also accurately diagnosed by the T-ECG. Conclusion: The ECG recorded by our novel proposed torso electrode positions is comparable to a conventional ECG for the diagnosis of ACS.

Melanoma is an aggressive form of cancer with poor prognosis and survival rates and limited therapeutic options. Here, we report the anti-melanoma effect of 3-O-prenyl glycyrrhetinic acid (NPC-402), a derivative of glycyrrhtinic acid, from a reputed medicinal plant Glycyrrhiza glabra against B16F10 cells. We studied the cytotoxic effect of NPC-402 on melanoma cells and investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, AKT axis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR)-mediated autophagy as the involved signaling cascade by studying specific marker proteins. In this study, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4PBA, a chemical chaperone) and small interference RNA (siRNA) knockdown of C/EBP Homologous Protein (CHOP)/growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 153(GAD153) blocked NPC-402-mediated autophagy induction, thus confirming the role of ER stress and autophagy in melanoma cell death. NPC-402 induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in melanoma cells, which were effectively mitigated by treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In vivo studies showed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of NPC-402 at 10 mg/kg (5 days in 1 week) significantly retarded angiogenesis in the Matrigel plug assay and reduced the tumor size and tumor weight without causing any significant toxic manifestation in C57BL/6J mice. We conclude that NPC-402 has a high potential to be developed as a chemotherapeutic drug against melanoma.

Nucellar embryony is the major obstacle in getting hybrid seedlings in interspecific crosses in citrus. Hence, the present study was conducted to standardize embryo age, culture media for maximizing germination, and subsequent identification of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to differentiate the hybrids. A factorial experiment was conducted with three embryo ages – 80–90, 110–120, and 130–140 days after pollination (DAP). The germination of the rescued immature embryos of acid lime × lemon crosses was initiated on three different growing media. The fruits harvested at 130–140 and 80–90 DAP had a higher number of functional seeds (90%). Older embryos (130–140 DAP) and middle-aged embryos (110–120 DAP) germinated in 100% on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 500 mg·l−1 malt extract, 1.5 mg·l−1 gibberellic acid (GA3), and 0.02 mg·l−1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). MS medium supplemented with 500 mg·l−1 malt extract proved better for the germination of embryos taken at 80–90 DAP. Plantlet survival was the highest in younger embryos (80–90 DAP) cultured on MS basal medium (84.21%) and the lowest in older embryos cultured on MS medium supplemented with 500 mg·l−1 malt extract plus 1.5 mg·l−1 GA3 and 0.02 mg·l−1 NAA. The seedlings obtained from the culture 80–90 DAP had the highest root length (4.9 mm) and shoot length (5.3 mm) at 60 days after inoculation (DAI) on the above medium. SSR marker analysis revealed that CCSM-4 and CAC-33 markers expressed polymorphism between female and male parents, proving their ability to identify the hybrids of ‘Kagzi’ acid lime × ‘Konkan Seedless’ lemon.

Background/Aim: The recent pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is yet another scourge from the coronaviridae family that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). The numbers are still on the rise, despite a country wide lockdown and yet no definitive drugs and or/vaccines are available to manage the active COVID-19 cases. Methods: The present research design was a hospital based observational descriptive study conducted at S. M. S. Medical College and Attached hospitals, Jaipur, that analysed data of all the patients with COVID-19 related mortality, admitted between 1 April to 4 May 2020. Patients included in this study were RT-PCR confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 using nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples. Results: The mean age of patients with COVID-19 related mortality was 53.41 ± 18.42 year with majority of patients belonging to age group of more than 60 years (41.18 %) followed closely by COVID-19 positive patients in age range of 45 to 60 years (33.33 %). The male to female ratio was 1.68: 1. Mean time lag between hospitalization and death reported was 6.18 days. Majority of the patients admitted (72.5 %) succumbed within 3 days of hospitalization. Eleven patients (21 %) were brought dead to the hospital who were tested COVID-19 positive after death. Most common comorbidity reported in patients with COVID-19 related mortality was hypertension (30 %) followed by diabetes mellitus (27.5 %). Conclusion: Hypertension and diabetes mellitus might be independent risk factors making an individual susceptible to COVID-19 related death. Elderly patients also have a greater risk of mortality. The non-availability of definitive management protocol and/or vaccine against COVID-19 makes public health preventive measures of social distancing, use of masks and frequent handwashing an important modality in the fight against COVID-19.

Users worldwide can access utility-oriented computing services through cloud computing. It enables the pay-as-you-go model to host well-known consumer, educational, and business applications. However, cloud data centers encounter significant issues in effectively managing resources, ensuring optimal performance, and reducing energy usage as the demand for cloud computing services is increasing rapidly. A possible strategy to reduce energy consumption and operating expenses is the energy-efficient management of virtual machines (VMs) and server consolidation. In this paper, a VM migration and server consolidation algorithm is proposed, which is energy efficient and SLA aware. The proposed approach is evaluated using the CloudSim simulation kit and PlanetLab workload. The experiment result shows that the proposed approach has reduced energy consumption and SLA violation.

Ultraviolet (UV) exposure to the skin causes photo-damage and acts as the primary etiological agent in photo-carcinogenesis. UV-B exposure induces cellular damage and is the major factor challenging skin homeostasis. Autophagy allows the fundamental adaptation of cells to metabolic and oxidative stress. Cellular dysfunction has been observed in aged tissues and in toxic insults to cells undergoing stress. Conversely, promising anti-aging strategies aimed at inhibiting the mTOR pathway have been found to significantly improve the aging-related disorders. Recently, autophagy has been found to positively regulate skin homeostasis by enhancing DNA damage recognition. Here, we investigated the geno-protective roles of autophagy in UV-B-exposed primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). We found that UV-B irradiation to HDFs impairs the autophagy response in a time- and intensity-independent manner. However, improving autophagy levels in HDFs with pharmacological activators regulates the UV-B-induced cellular stress by decreasing the induction of DNA photo-adducts, promoting the DNA repair process, alleviating oxidative and ER stress responses, and regulating the expression levels of key cell cycle regulatory proteins. Autophagy also prevents HDFs from UV-B-induced nuclear damage as is evident in TUNEL assay and Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide co-staining. Salubrinal (an eIF2α phosphatase inhibitor) relieves ER stress response in cells and also significantly alleviates DNA damage and promotes the repair process in UV-B-exposed HDFs. P62-silenced HDFs show enhanced DNA damage response and also disturb the tumor suppressor PTEN/pAKT signaling axis in UV-B-exposed HDFs whereas Atg7-silenced HDFs reveal an unexpected consequence by decreasing the UV-B-induced DNA damage. Taken together, these results suggest that interventional autophagy offers significant protection against UV-B radiation-induced photo-damage and holds great promise in devising it as a suitable therapeutic strategy against skin pathological disorders.

In India agriculture is one of the most important sources of employment for the farmers and almost everything depends on agriculture. Root vegetables and crops are hard to remove from the soil and it takes much of the farmer’s time. Even after removing these crops manually farmers are not able to achieve 100% recovery of the crops. When these crops are taken out manually this process require many precautions from the farmer. Due to human error approximate 20-30% of root vegetables and crops are left out in the field. Rich farmers can afford the proper machinery to cultivate the root crops but poor farmers are not able to afford such types of machinery. Hence, the objective of the present study was to design and simulate low cost root crop harvesting machines for poorer farmers. The machine consists of a frame, chain drive, gears, shaft, seed drill ground wheel, plough and storage container. All the measurements, dimensions and material selections were taken as per ASTM-A36 and the design hand data book. The design of the Root Crop Harvester was done mathematically and finally validated using CAD software.