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Digitalization brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has revolutionized many aspects of businesses, magnifying their opportunities and challenges in the market. The global retail sector is no exception. Several changes have transpired in the sector, such as increased preference for online shopping and changes in supply chains and logistics. The purpose of this study is to examine how digital advancement has taken place in the retail sector of Dubai and how it has affected service delivery. To this end, a survey of 94 retailers from around Dubai was conducted using a structured, close-ended questionnaire. The data analysed on SPSS software showed that disruptive technologies like internet of things, artificial intelligence, automation, and big data analytics have a role in changing business functioning. With the implementation of practices like on-demand delivery, tracking product location, personalized services, controlled delivery system, and reduction in transmissible disease exposure the retail industry can improve its service delivery and build healthier relationships with consumers.

Water scarcity and global food requirements are two major issues currently that need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Aerobic rice, grown without submergence and requiring occasional irrigation, offers a sustainable solution to water scarcity, contributing to sustainable agriculture. In the present study, nine experimental treatments, consisting of application methods of gel-biofertilizers (seed treatment, soil treatment, and seed + soil treatment) and split application of potassium (at basal, 30DAS, and 50DAS), along with one control, were replicated thrice. Results revealed that application of gel-biofertilizers as seed and soil treatment along with 3 equal splits of potassium recorded significantly higher plant height (97.65 cm), dry weight (27.08 g), panicles/m² (267.20), grain yield (3.35 t/ha), and stover yield (7.47 t/ha). Maximum gross returns (1,80,311.47 INR/ha), net returns (1,10,126.61 INR/ha), and benefit:cost ratio (1.57) were also recorded with the same treatment. Hence it is concluded that application of gel-biofertilizers as seed and soil treatment along with 75% recommended dose of fertilizers with 3 split applications of potassium gives a higher benefit:cost ratio over control (100% RDF).

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is introduced as a rare neglected disease in tropical areas. It is a chronic, localized, slowly progressive infectious granulomatous disease of soft tissue. It may be caused by true fungi such as eumycetoma or filamentous bacteria such as actinomycetoma. In India, there is variation in the species causing mycetoma according to geographical location. The purpose of this study was to review all currently available information to identify knowledge gaps and/or research priorities. METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively in the Department of Histopathology for biopsy-confirmed cases of mycetoma. Eight histopathologically confirmed cases were found in the two-year study period from 2018 to 2019, and a clinicopathological analysis of de-identified patient data was done. RESULTS: Five cases were reported as mycotic mycetoma, and the rest were reported as actinomycosis. All patients were men, and the mean age of presentation was 41.37 years old. The foot, ankle, head, and neck were the sites that were the most infected regions. CONCLUSION: Mycetoma is a rare disease but should be considered a differential diagnosis of any foot and ankle lump in a patient from the subtropics. An accurate and timely histopathological diagnosis is essential in mycetoma for its treatment and prognosis, as when left untreated, the disease progresses and leads to increased morbidity. Appropriate preventive and control measures can be utilized by health workers/community leaders to educate people at risk to reduce their exposure risk and report the cases as early as possible.

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the article entitled “Can Menstrual Cycle Length Predict Cardiovascular Risk in Healthy Indian Females? A cross-sectional Study” by Shilpi Vashishta et al., published in your esteemed journal (Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research) 2024;18(6):CC22-CC25. We would like to share a few of our thoughts regarding this study, mainly about the sampling and statistical techniques used. Although it was worthwhile research, the sampling technique was not properly chosen. It is impossible to conduct quality research without adequate sampling. There are two main varieties: probability sampling and non probability sampling. Convenient non random sampling was incorrectly referred to as simple random sampling in the article. The sampling technique should be stratified instead of relying on convenient sampling. Stratified sampling is used to separate the population into smaller groups that may differ significantly from one another. Ensuring that each subgroup is fairly represented in the sample allows for more precise conclusions

An experimental field study was carried out in the Kharif season of 2023 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.). The experimental replications were conducted using a Randomized Block Design, with three levels of Nitrogen (0, 60, 90kg N/ha) and Azolla spp. (2, 4, 6t/ha), and one Control (NPK 120:60:60 kg/ha). In all, there were a total of ten treatments, each reproduced three times. The tested field had sandy loam soil texture with a neutral soil pH of 7.6, low organic carbon content of 0.372%, nitrogen content of 278.4 kg/ha, phosphorous content of 29.5 kg/ha, and potassium level of 217.3 kg/ha. The experimental results showed that treatment T₉ obtained significantly higher plant height (107.77 cm), dry weight (66.05 g), crop growth rate (57.27 g/m2/day), relative growth rate (0.0279 g/g/day), highest number of tillers per hill (22.07), panicles per m2 (282), test weight (15.23 g), grain yield (3.67 t/ha), stover yield (6.7 t/ha), and harvest index (35.74%). Transplanted Black Rice of variety BPT-2841 exhibited significantly greater maximum gross return (1,80,551.40 INR/ha), net return (1,05,496.30 INR/ha), and B:C ratio (1.41) in treatment T9. The investigation concludes that Nitrogen, being easily transportable in soil and plants, is a constituent of amino acids, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, enzymes, and hormones. These factors are essential in plant physiology and are associated with increased tillering, biomass production, protein synthesis, grain filling, yield, and quality. The availability, absorption, and utilization of nitrogen have a significant impact on these processes. Therefore, in the present experiment, the nitrogen requirements are met by applying 90kg of nitrogen through urea combined with 6t/ha of Azolla spp. This approach revealed superior performance in terms of both crop yield and economic returns .

This paper presents an analytical expression for the temperatures of the plant, room air, and solar cell, as well as the electrical efficiency, for a photo-voltaic thermal (PVT) roof façade of a greenhouse integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (GiSPVT) system. The expression considers climatic variables such as solar intensity and ambient air temperature, as well as design parameters such as the area of the PV module, electrical efficiency under standard test conditions (STC), temperature coefficient, and various heat transfer coefficients. Using monthly numerical computations for different parameters in Indian climatic conditions, this study evaluates energy matrices such as energy payback time (EPBT), energy production factor (EPF), and life cycle conversion efficiency (LCCE) for various solar cell materials, including single-crystalline (c-Si), multi-crystalline (mc-Si), amorphous (a-Si), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), and cadmium telluride (CdTe), with and without thermal exergy. Considering that the life span of greenhouse materials varies from 5-30 years for low cost, medium, and high-tech greenhouses, different solar cell materials are recommended for different life spans of GiSPVT. Therefore, this study recommends suitable solar cell materials for known greenhousedesigns:(a) The EPBT and (LCCE considering thermal exergy for c-Si/mc-Si range from approximately 3.5 to 4.5 years and 13 to 22%, respectively. Consequently, these values render crystalline silicon solar cells highly fitting for application in high-tech greenhouses with a comparable lifespan.(b) For the CIGS, the EPBT is 1.17 years with an associated LCCE (including thermal exergy) of 16.44%. This establishes CIGS as particularly well-suited for deployment in cost-effective greenhouse environments designs:(a) EPBT and LCCE for c-Si/ mc-Si are about 3.5 to 4.5 years and 13 to 22%, respectively, with respect to thermal exergy. Hence, these two solar cell materials are most suitable for high-tech greenhouses that are similar to crystalline solar cell in terms of life cycle. (b) EPBT and LCCE of CIGS are 1.17 years and 16.44%, respectively, with respect to thermal exergy. Hence, the solar cell material of CIGS is most suitable for low-cost greenhouses.

Introduction: In Cerebral Palsy (CP), sensory perception is affected in addition to the motor symptoms. Now-a-days, treatment solely focuses on diagnosed motor deficiencies, often overlooking underlying sensory abnormalities and their examination. Therefore, including a clinical sensory examination in the evaluation of children with CP is crucial. Aim: To develop a validated measure for assessing sensory processing among children with CP. Materials and Methods: This study, conducted as part of a Ph.D. research project, employed an exploratory sequential research design. It commenced on March 1, 2020, and concluded on October 18, 2021, at the Physiotherapy Out Patient Department (OPD) of Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. Validity tests, including Scale Level Content Validity Index (CVI) and Spearman rank correlation methods, were used alongside other subtests. The study consisted of two phases: Development and Validation. An extensive literature search and parent interviews were conducted to comprehensively understand and collect information on sensory issues. Based on this information, a preliminary questionnaire draft was created. Three categories of validity-content, face, and concurrent-were tested. Content validation involved employing a three-round online Delphi approach. Face validity was assessed through opinions from clinicians regarding the questionnaire’s appearance. Concurrent validity was established by comparing the Sensory Outcome Measure (SOM) with the criterion measure scale, Short Sensory Profile (SSP). Results: For all items, Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and itemlevel CVI values ranged from 0.8 to 1. The overall Scale Level CVI (average) for the scale was 0.890625. Experts exhibited a 96% agreement regarding the appearance of the questionnaire, indicating complete agreement. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient value was 0.866, and the correlation graph indicated a positive association between the two scales in terms of concurrent validity. Conclusion: The Sensory Outcome Measure (SOM) has been developed as a valid scale with high content and face validity, along with excellent concurrent validity. SOM is the first measuring scale developed in India and used for assessing sensory deficits in children with CP.

Abstract Soil microbes play a crucial role in soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling and are influenced by management practices. Therefore, quantifying the impacts of various agricultural management practices on soil microbiomes and their activity is crucial for making informed management decisions. This study aimed to assess the impact of various management systems on soil bacterial abundance and diversity, soil enzyme activities and carbon mineralization potential in wheat-based systems. To accomplish this, soil samples from 0 to 15 cm depth were collected from ongoing long-term field trials in eastern Oregon region under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow (WF), WF with different tillage (WT), wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (WP), WF under different crop residue management (CR) and natural undisturbed/unmanaged grassland pasture (GP). These trials consisted of an array of treatments like tillage intensities, nitrogen rates, organic amendments, and seasonal residue burning. This study was a part of the Soil Health Institute’s North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health measurements (NAPESHM). Bacterial community structure was determined using amplicon sequencing of the V4 region of 16SrRNA genes and followed the protocols of the Earth Microbiome Project. In addition, extracellular enzyme activities, and carbon mineralization potential (1d-CO2) were measured. Among different trials, 1d-CO2 in WT, WP, and CR studies averaged 53%, 51% and 87% lower than GP systems, respectively. Enzyme activities were significantly greater in GP compared to the other managements and followed similar trend as respiration. We observed higher evenness in GP and higher richness in spring residue burning treatment of CR study. Our results indicated that species evenness is perhaps a better indicator of soil health in comparison to other indices in dryland wheat systems.

Sukinda Valley of Jajpur district, Odisha contributes about 98% of India's total chromite reserves with about 334 million tons annual production rate globally, which plays a colossal role to strengthen the economy of our country and leads to sustainable development. The consequences related to chromite mining and excessive production of chromium have entitled this valley a “Valley of Despair”. A far-reaching production of different forms of chromite ore has bowed this area into a contamination-prone region due to the deposition of an unacceptable amount of chromium in the soil, sediment, groundwater and air of Sukinda. Around 1.8 lakh mining workers and nearby village dwellers are getting affected due to the presence of the forbidden amount of chromium ions. The foremost roots of exposure by humans are inhalation of contaminated air, accidental ingestion and contact absorption by skin. In the environment, chromium occurs in different forms and its level of toxicity also varies in each state. Chromium in its hexavalent form is bio-leachable and water-soluble. Thereby easily contaminates the water body which in turn becomes accessible to human beings and reacts with the cellular components. Long-term exposure to the human body may result in initiating several serious diseases like microcytic anaemia, mitochondrial and DNA damage of blood cells which in turn induces carcinogenicity, occupational asthma, airway hypersensitivity, nose, eye and skin irritation etc. The repercussion of chromium contamination at the terrestrial level is not endemic but also invades other sectors of the natural environment via the food chain and other means of transportation. Numerous on-going studies are yet to be carried out for the reduction and remediation of chromium from the contaminated environment. Nevertheless, this issue is worsening at a rapid rate making it difficult to tackle. The chromite mining activities in Sukinda Valley are creating difficulties for the livelihood as well as for the natural environment due to the discharge of massive amount of contaminants. The issue related to the chromium contamination is gigantic and needs urgent management and control strategies. Therefore, the present review focuses on the present scenario to combat deleterious effects initiated as a result of long-term exposure to metallic pollutant, Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] on the natural environment as well as on human health specifically on the health of mining workers and villagers residing near the Sukinda Valley, Odisha.

Introduction: Malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT)/carcinosarcoma is an exceptionally rare tumor, representing just 1%–5% of all gynecological malignancies, but leading to 15% of gynecological malignancy-related deaths, with an occurrence of

Potassium–oxygen batteries (KOBs) are a promising energy storage technology with high theoretical energy density, low overpotential and a long cycle life. The cathode microstructure plays a significant role in the electrochemical performance of KOB. In this article, hierarchical porosity was introduced to commercially available carbon paper cathodes by thermal pretreatment in air at different pretreatment times. This pretreatment modifies the properties, such as surface area, defects, oxygen functional groups, etc. The discharge performance was determined at three different current densities, i.e., 0.1 mA/cm2, 0.5 mA/cm2, and 1.0 mA/cm2. It has been found that an increase in specific surface area with the introduction of micropores and mesopores is beneficial for the improvement in the discharge capacity by enabling homogeneous discharge product, KO2 distribution and high degrees of pore filling over the volume of the cathode. A reduction in the discharge overpotentials was observed, which is attributed to the introduction of oxygenic functional groups and defects. Samples treated for the longest pretreatment time of 24 h showed the highest discharge capacity of 5 mAh/cm2 and lowest discharge overpotential of 0.03 V.

Urban areas account for around 70% of global GHG emissions, one-third of which is attributed to the transportation sector. Thus, decarbonising urban mobility is critical in the endeavours to mitigate climate change. Electric vehicles (EV) have potential to control global decarbonisation of transportation. India has air quality index of 141, which is amongst the highest in the world. Considering this troubling figure, government has initiated various schemes and initiative plans. This study reviews the progress and current status of EV adoption in India with regard to availability, manufacturing, charging infrastructure, commercial vehicle electrification and in-depth analysis of FAME-I and FAME-II schemes along with state level initiatives. This research explores the current state of EV adoption through the integrative perspective of financial resources, infrastructure and technology availability highlighting various complications. Based on these challenges, the study proposes points of improvment in each fragment such as policies, infrastructure,electricity demand and sustainable source of energy. A roadmap is recommended of primary factors that should be priortised for effective EV adoption.

The field trial was carried in Zaid season of 2021 at SHUATS Model of Organic Farm (SMOF), Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.). The objective was to study the growth and yield of Black gram as influenced by crop geometry and seed pelleting with botanicals under certified organic production system. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design to study the effect of seed pelleting with leaf powders of three botanicals, viz., Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, and Albizia lebbeck, and sown in three different row spacings of 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm, on the growth and yield of black gram. The results revealed that black gram seeds pelleted with Albizia leaf powder and sown at row spacing of 30 cm reported maximum plant height (43 cm), dry weight (12.49 g/plant), number nodules per plant (27.50), seeds per pod (7.07), test weight (42.19 g), grain yield (872.96 kg/ha), and haulm yield (2511.11 kg/ha) which was significantly superior to other treatments.

Introduction: Soil organic matter (SOM) quality is the major driving force for nutrient cycles impacting the productivity of cropping systems. Identification of sensitive indicators and developing metrics to assess SOM quality is a major challenge under field conditions.Methods: Data from a continuing long-term experiment since 2005 at Modipuram, India, were analyzed with key objectives to 1) observe the long-term effect of vermicompost/crop residues alone or in conjunction with NPK chemical fertilizers on crop yield and quality of SOM, 2) identify and develop SOM quality indicators (SOMQI) by encompassing sensitive indicators, and 3) predict system productivity by using SOMQI under rice (Oryza sativa L.)–potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (RPW) and maize (Zea mays L.)–potato–onion (Allium cepa L.) (MPO) cropping systems. The treatments comprised of 100% NPK fertilizer; 100% N from vermicompost (N-VC); 50% NPK from fertilizer + 50% N from VC; 100% NPK from fertilizer + crop residue (CR); 100% N from VC + CR.Results: Results showed that continuous application of 100% N-VC and 100% N-VC+CR for eight years considerably increased the soil’s particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), light fraction organic matter carbon (LFOM-C), and nitrogen (LFOM-N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON), as well as the available N (AN), available P (AP) and available S (AS) over control. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified AN, POM-C, LFOM-C: N, and DON in RPW and AN, POM-C, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and LFOM-C: N in MPO cropping system as sensitive SOM quality indicators for the development of SOMQI. Under the MPO cropping system, results were more pronounced with 100% N-VC and 50% NPK+50% N-VC at 0–15 cm soil depth. Furthermore, at 15–30 cm depth, the effect was more prominent in 100% NPK + CR over other treatments.Discussion: Overall MPO cropping system exhibited better SOMQI than the RPW system. Rice, wheat, and maize yields increased significantly under different fertilizer treatments with organic or inorganic amendments. Substitution of fertilizer N with organic sources showed comparable yields obtained under 100% NPK treatment. Partial substitution of chemical fertilizers either by VC and/or CR enhanced the SOM quality and productivity under both cropping systems. The use of PCA-based SOMQI can be helpful in assessing SOM quality and predicting the productivity of cropping systems.

PURPOSESixteen percent (16%) of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) show no bone metastasis at diagnosis. However, 33% will become metastatic within 2 years. The goal of treatment in patients with nonmetastatic CRPC (nmCRPC), therefore, is to delay symptomatic metastases without undue toxicity. With novel antiandrogen treatments of different strengths and limitations available, physician preferences for nmCRPC treatment in Japan should be understood.METHODSA discrete choice experiment was conducted. Physicians chose between two hypothetical treatments in nmCRPC defined by six attributes: risk of fatigue, falls or fracture, cognitive impairment, hypertension, rashes as side effects of treatment, and extension of time until cancer-related pain occurs. Relative preference weights and relative importance were estimated by hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression. Physicians were also asked to make treatment decisions based on four hypothetical patient profiles to understand the most important factors driving decision making.RESULTSA total of 151 physicians completed the survey. Extension of time until cancer-related pain occurs was the most important attribute (relative importance, 32.3%; CI, 31.3% to 33.3%). Based on summed preference weights across all attributes, preferences for hypothetical treatment profiles I, II, and III were compared. A hypothetical treatment profile with better safety though shorter extension time was preferred (I: mean [standard deviation] = 1.7 [1.6 to 2.1]) over treatment profiles with lower safety but longer extension time (II: −2.7 [−2.8 to −2.6] and III: −0.2 [−0.3 to −0.1]). Treatment characteristics were more important factors for physicians' decision making than patient characteristics in prescribing treatment.CONCLUSIONPhysicians preferred a treatment with better safety profile, and treatment characteristics were the most important factors for decision making. This might have implications in physicians' decision making for nmCRPC treatment in the future in Japan.

Introduction: Anthropometric hand dimensions are used in the design of hand instruments for improving the efficiency and human comfort of surgical equipment and instruments. Instruments built for large male hands make it more difficult for petite female hands to operate them, which reduces their productivity and increases the risk of musculoskeletal diseases. So, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the differences in anthropometric and biomechanical parameters between the dominant hands of adult Indian males and females. Methods: The study was conducted on 335 Indian health care professionals of which 168 were males and 167 were females. Various anthropometric and biomechanical parameters were measured on the dominant hand of all the individuals included in the study. Length, breadth and span of a hand, as well as wrist circumference, were measured by measuring tape while handgrip strength and pinch strength was recorded by Jamar dynamometer & Jamar pinch gauge respectively. Obtained data were analyzed by applying the t-test SPSS version 27. We considered P-value

Mitochondria are valuable subcellular organelles and play crucial roles in redox signaling in living cells. Substantial evidence proved that mitochondria are one of the critical sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and overproduction of ROS accompanies redox imbalance and cell immunity. Among ROS, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the foremost redox regulator, which reacts with chloride ions in the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO) to generate another biogenic redox molecule, hypochlorous acid (HOCl). These highly reactive ROS are the primary cause of damage to DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), RNA (ribonucleic acid), and proteins, leading to various neuronal diseases and cell death. Cellular damage, related cell death, and oxidative stress are also associated with lysosomes which act as recycling units in the cytoplasm. Hence, simultaneous monitoring of multiple organelles using simple molecular probes is an exciting area of research that is yet to be explored. Significant evidence also suggests that oxidative stress induces the accumulation of lipid droplets in cells. Hence, monitoring redox biomolecules in mitochondria and lipid droplets in cells may give a new insight into cell damage, leading to cell death and related disease progressions. Herein, we developed simple hemicyanine-based small molecular probes with a boronic acid trigger. A fluorescent probe AB that could efficiently detect mitochondrial ROS, especially HOCl, and viscosity simultaneously. When the AB probe released phenylboronic acid after reacting with ROS, the product AB–OH exhibited ratiometric emissions depending on excitation. This AB–OH nicely translocates to lysosomes and efficiently monitors the lysosomal lipid droplets. Photoluminescence and confocal fluorescence imaging analysis suggest that AB and corresponding AB–OH molecules are potential chemical probes for studying oxidative stress.

An integrated forage-legume cropping system has immense potential to address the issue of land degradability. It provides a critical understanding of the capacity of diversified species mixes vs. monocultures to boost forage production and the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and phosphorus (P). In this study, we assessed the performance of Napier Bajra Hybrid (NBH) (Pennisetum glaucum × P. purpureum) + cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and tri-specific hybrid (TSH) (P. glaucum × P. purpureum × P. squamulatum) + cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) as compared to monocultures of NBH and TSH. The legume equivalent yield of NBH + cowpea and TSH + cluster bean intercropping systems were found −31% and −23% higher than monoculture systems. The SOC increased by −5% in the NBH + cowpea system as compared to NBH monoculture. The carbon mineralization rates under NBH + cowpea and TSH + cluster bean were −32% and −38% lower than the NBH and TSH monoculture cropping systems, respectively. It was found that the legume intensification with the forage significantly improved the soil’s P status. The research suggested that coalescing diverse crops (e.g., grass and legume) poses enormous potential for sustaining soil health and productivity in semi-arid regions of India. This study advances the research on characterizing the crucial factors of grass-legume-based cropping systems and helps in assessing the impact of these factors on long-term sustainability.

Abstract The combination of extended dry periods and high intensity rainfall, common in the southeastern US, leads to greater variability in soil moisture and consequently increases uncertainty to microbial processes pertinent to soil carbon (C) mineralization. However, field-based findings on soil moisture sensitivity to soil C cycling are very limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019 on a soybean (Glycine max L.) cropland in the southeastern US with three soil moisture treatments: drought (simulated using rainout-shelter from June to October in each year), rainfed (natural precipitation), and irrigated (irrigation and precipitation). Soil respiration was measured weekly from May to November in both years. Soil samples were collected multiple times each year from 0–5, 5–15, and 15–30 cm depths to determine microbial biomass C (MBC), extractable organic C (EOC), hydrolytic enzyme activities, and fungal abundance. The cumulative respiration under drought compared to other treatments was lower by 32% to 33% in 2018 and 38% to 45% in 2019. Increased MBC, EOC, and fungal abundance were observed under drought than other treatments. Specific enzyme activity indicated fewer metabolically active microbes under drought treatment compared to rainfed and irrigated treatments. Also, maintenance of enzyme pool was observed under drought condition. These results provide critical insights on microbial metabolism in response to soil moisture variation and how that influences different pools of soil C under field conditions.

Rice is grown throughout the year in India, in a variety of agro-climatic conditions, and it is grown on 43.39 million hectares with a production of 159.20 MT with an average productivity of 3623 kg/ha. Aerobically produced rice may be an option for farmers on rainfed areas where rainfall is not sufficient or availability of water is rare and expensive too for flooded rice production but enough for cultivation of upland rice. The field experiment took place at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, during the kharif season of 2020. The experiment was done by using Randomized Block Design with three replications. The findings of the experiments revealed a considerable rise in the growth parameter viz., plant height (46.0 cm), total tillers/m2 (564.3), plant dry matter accumulation (1938.0 g/m2), leaf area index (19.07) and crop growth rate (49.47 g/m2/day) and yield attributing parameters viz., effective tillers/m2 (362.3), weight of panicle/m2 (856.9), number of filled grain/panicle (115.7), grain yield ( 4.7 t/ha), test weight (28.9 g), straw yield (11.3 t/ha) with foliar application of 7.5 percent Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed sap four times, plus RDF and two foliar applications of 10% K-sap yielded the greatest harvest index (32.7%).

Ricinoleic acid is a biobased green chemical industrially produced from castor oil. Microbial conversion is a cleaner and greener approach to ricinoleic acid production from castor oil. These processes should be further optimized for a better yield of the product. Aspergillus flavus BU22S was used to convert castor oil into ricinoleic acid. The strain was isolated and identified by molecular biological techniques. It was found to be effective in the biotransformation of castor oil. The ricinoleic acid production and dry cell weight of the fungus were studied as functions of time. In this study, to increase the yield of ricinoleic acid and decrease the oil loss, which microorganisms utilizes in biomass production, response surface methodology (RSM) has been used for process optimization. The central composite design was used to optimize the predictor variables such as oil concentration (% w/v), glucose concentration (% w/v), and calcium chloride concentration (% w/v) to increase the overall yield of ricinoleic acid. A quadratic model was found to be the best fit to predict the responses of the experimental results. The model suggested that the concentrations of oil, glucose, and calcium chloride should be lower in order to increase the ricinoleic acid yield and minimize the oil loss. The bench scale studies of optimized conditions from RSM were also conducted. The yield of ricinoleic acid in batch and fed-batch culture studies was also compared. The yield of the ricinoleic acid in batch culture was 21.67 g/kg of total oil. The yield of ricinoleic acid in fed-batch culture in the absence of an external air supply was 46.77 g/kg of total oil. In this case, the oil loss was also reduced to only 12%.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has threatened continued access to public health services worldwide, including HIV prevention and care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV service access and delivery in the Asia region.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional, online study, conducted between October-November 2020, assessed the impact of COVID-19 on HIV prevention and care among people living with HIV (PLHIV), key populations (KPs), and healthcare providers (HCPs). The study populations were recruited across ten Asian countries/territories, covering Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.ResultsAcross the region, 702 PLHIV, 551 KPs, and 145 HCPs were recruited. Both PLHIV and KPs reported decreased or had yet to visit hospitals/clinics (PLHIV: 35.9%; KPs: 57.5%), reduced HIV RNA viral load testing (21.9%; 47.3%), and interruptions in antiretroviral therapy (ART) (22.3%) or decreased/complete stop of HIV prevention medication consumption (40.9%). Travel constraints (40.6%), financial issues (28.9%), and not receiving prescription refills (26.9%) were common reasons for interrupted ART access, whereas reduced engagements in behaviours that could increase the risks of HIV acquisition and transmission (57.7%), travel constraints (41.8%), and less hospital/clinic visits (36.7%) underlie the disruptions in HIV preventive medications. Decreased visits from PLHIV/KPs and rescheduled appointments due to clinic closure were respectively reported by 50.7%-52.1% and 15.6%-17.0% of HCPs; 43.6%-61.9% observed decreased ART/preventive medication refills. Although 85.0% of HCPs adopted telemedicine to deliver HIV care services, 56.4%-64.1% of PLHIV/KPs were not using telehealth services.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted HIV prevention to care continuum in Asia at the time of the study. The findings highlighted differences in HIV prevention to care continuum via telehealth services utilisation by PLHIV, KPs, and HCPs. Efforts are needed to optimise infrastructure and adapt systems for continued HIV care with minimal disruptions during health emergency crises.

In this communication, an attempt has been made to evaluate daily and monthly electrical power of off-grid greenhouse integrated semi-transparent photo-voltaic thermal (GiSPVT) system by integrating with earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) under quasi-steady state condition which has not been considered earlier. The analysis is based on basic energy balance equations which are function of climatic and design parameters. Analytical expressions for solar cell temperature and its electrical efficiency, room air and plant temperatures have been derived. Numerical computations have been carried out for a typical day by MATLAB program. The results have also been compared with respect to without earth air heat exchanger (EAHE). Based on outcome of numerical computation, the daily electrical power is increased by 7.5% due to cooling effect of semi-transparent PV module roof of GiSPVT by EAHE. An overall daily exergy of GiSPVT system has been found to be 4.60 × 107 Wh for a packing factor of 0.22. The monthly output of off-grid GiSPVT system is obtained as 861.28 kWh. Finally, the theoretical model has also been validated by experimental results of a typical winter climatic condition without earth air heat exchanger (EAHE) for climatic condition of Ballia (UP), India.

Leaf tissue testing is a useful tool for monitoring nutrient requirements in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.; abbreviated as “blueberry”) but may require adaptation to specific growing environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate macronutrient concentrations in early-, mid-, and late-season blueberry cultivars grown in two contrasting environments, specifically eastern and western Washington. Climate and soil conditions between these two regions differ tremendously with eastern Washington being more arid with naturally calcareous soils lower in soil organic matter. Sampling was conducted over a 3-year period in commercial fields. Leaf tissue nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) concentrations were affected by year (Y), growing region (R), cultivar (C), and Day of Year (DOY) that the samples were collected with many interactions. Leaf nutrient concentrations were higher, on average, in western than eastern Washington except for Ca and Mg, indicating sufficiency levels should differ between these regions. Leaf macronutrients generally stabilized between DOY 212–243 (1–31 August), suggesting this period is optimal for tissue sampling. Findings from this study demonstrate the importance of considering regional effects and may be applicable for blueberry cultivated in similar pedo-climactic conditions around the world.

Agriculture is the basis of every economy worldwide. Crop production is one of the major factors affecting domestic market condition in any country. Agricultural production is also a major prerequisite of economic development, be it any part of any country. It plays a crucial role as it even provides raw material, employment and food to different citizens. A lot of issues are responsible for estimated crop production varying in different parts of the world. Some of these include overutilization of chemical fertilizers, presence of chemicals in water supply, uneven distribution of rainfall, different soil fertility and others. Other than these issues one of the commonly faced challenges across the globe equally includes destruction of the major part of production due to diseases. After providing effective resources to the fields, major section of the production is diminished by the presence of diseases in the plants grown. This leads to focus on effective ways of detection of disease in plants. Presence of various diseases in plant is a major concern among farmers. Plant diseases acts as a major threat to small scale farmers as they lead to major destruction in overall food supply. To provide effective measures for detection and avoidance of the destruction requires an early identification of type of plant disease present. In recent time major work is being done for the identification of plant disease presents in varied parts of the world affection varied crops. Major work is being done in the domain of identification of causing factors of these diseases. Some of the diseases are marked by the presence of viruses while some are resultant of fungal infection. This becomes a major issue when the causing factor is not traceable before it has already spread to major production section. This paper brings a review on effective use of different imaging techniques and computer vision approaches for the identification and classification of plant diseases. Detection of Plant disease is initiated with image acquisition followed by pre-processing while using the process of segmentation. It is further accompanied by different techniques used for feature extraction along with classification. In this Paper we present the Current Trends and Challenges for detection of plant disease using computer vision and advance imaging technique.

Abstract Background Ethylene signal transduction in plants is conducted by the two-component system (TCS) which consists of histidine kinase (HK), histidine phosphotransferase (HPT) and response regulators (RRs). This system plays an important role in signal transduction during various cellular processes, including fruit ripening and response to multiple environmental cues. Though members of TCS have been identified in a few plants, no detailed analysis has been carried out in banana. Results Through genome-wide analysis, we identified a total of 80 (25 HK, 10 HPT and 45 RR) and 72 (25 HK, 5 HPT and 42 RR) TCS genes in Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana respectively. The analysis of identified genes revealed that most of the genes are highly conserved however; there are subtle divergences among various members. Comparative expression analysis revealed an involvement of a set of TCS members during banana fruit ripening. Co-expression network analysis identified a working TCS module with direct interactions of HK-HPT and RR members. The molecular dynamics analysis of TCS module showed a significant change in structural trajectories of TCS proteins in the presence of ethylene. Analysis suggests possible interactions between the HK-HPTs and RRs as well as other members leading to banana fruit ripening. Conclusions In this study, we identified and compared the members of TCS gene family in two banana species and showed their diversity, within groups on the basis of whole-genome duplication events. Our analysis showed that during banana fruit ripening TCS module plays a crucial role. We also demonstrated a possible interaction mechanism of TCS proteins in the presence and absence of ethylene by molecular dynamics simulations. These findings will help in understanding the functional mechanism of TCS proteins in plants in different conditions.

Objectives With novel antiandrogen treatments of varying clinical benefits and risks becoming available, this study investigates how patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) value differences in treatment characteristics.Design Cross-sectional observational study.Setting A discrete choice experiment was conducted. Patients chose between two hypothetical non-metastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) treatments defined by six attributes: risk of fatigue, falls or fracture, cognitive impairment, hypertension, rashes as side effects to treatment and extension of time until cancer-related pain occurs.Participants A total of 137 adult male patients with CRPC with no prior experience with chemotherapy and with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0–1 were recruited. Patients were excluded if they participated in an investigational programme outside of routine clinical practice, had a clinically relevant medical or psychiatric condition, or diagnosis of visceral/other metastases not related to the prostate, or were otherwise deemed ineligible by the referring physician.Primary outcome measures Relative preference weights and relative importance of the attributes was estimated by hierarchical Bayesian logistic regression.Results Among the treatment attributes, ‘risk of cognitive impairment as a side effect of treatment’ was the most important attribute (relative importance (RI) (95% CI): 27.47% (24.80% to 30.14%)), followed by ‘extension of time until cancer-related pain occurs’ (RI (95% CI): 17.87% (15.49% to 20.25%)) and the ‘risk of falls or fracture’ (RI (95% CI): 15.99% (14.73% to 17.25%)). The ‘risk of hypertension as a side effect of treatment’ (RI (95% CI): 13.77% (12.73% to 14.81%)) had similar RI as ‘risk of rashes as a side effect of treatment’ (RI (95% CI): 13.17% (12.15% to 14.19%)), followed by the ‘risk of fatigue as a side effect of treatment’ (RI (95% CI): 11.74% (10.75% to 12.73%)).Conclusions Patients consider the risk of cognitive impairment as a side effect of treatment as the most important attribute in nmCRPC, followed by the extension of time until cancer-related pain occurs, and the risk of falls and fracture. These features should be considered in treatment decision making for nmCRPC in Japan.

Soil microbial respiration is one of the largest sources of carbon (C) emissions to the atmosphere in terrestrial ecosystems, which is strongly dependent on multiple environmental variables including soil moisture. Soil moisture content is strongly dependent on soil texture, and the combined effects of texture and moisture on microbial respiration are complex and less explored. Therefore, this study examines the effects of soil moisture on the mineralization of soil organic C Soil organic carbon in three different soils, Ultisol, Alfisol and Vertisol, collected from mixed forests of Georgia, Missouri, and Texas, United States , respectively. A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted for 90 days under different moisture regimes. Soil respiration was measured weekly, and destructive harvests were conducted at 1, 15, 60, and 90 days after incubation to determine extractable organic C (EOC), phospholipid fatty acid based microbial community, and C-acquiring hydrolytic extracellular enzyme activities (EEA). The highest cumulative respiration in Ultisol was observed at 50% water holding capacity (WHC), in Alfisol at 100% water holding capacity, and in Vertisol at 175% WHC. The trends in Extractable Organic Carbon were opposite to that of cumulative microbial respiration as the moisture levels showing the highest respiration showed the lowest EOC concentration in all soil types. Also, extracellular enzyme activities increased with increase in soil moisture in all soils, however, respiration and EEA showed a decoupled relationship in Ultisol and Alfisol soils. Soil moisture differences did not influence microbial community composition.

Acceptability of mobile robots in various applications has led to an increase in mobile robots’ research areas. Path planning is one of the core areas which needs to be improvised at a higher level. Optimization is playing a more prominent role these days. The nature-inspired algorithm is contributing to a greater extent in achieving optimization. This article presents the modified cuckoo search algorithm using tournament selection function for robot path planning. Path length and Path time are the algorithm’s parameters to validate the effectiveness and acceptability of the output. The cuckoo search algorithm’s fundamental working principle is taken as the baseline, and the tournament selection function is adapted to calculate the optimum path for robots while navigating from its initial position to final position. The tournament selection function is replacing the concept of random selection done by the cuckoo search algorithm. The use of tournament selection overcomes local minima for robots while traversing in the configuration space and increases the probability of giving more optimum results. The conventional cuckoo search algorithm whose random selection mechanism may lead to premature convergence may fall into the local minima. The use of tournament selection function increases the probability of giving better results as it allows all the possible solution to take part in the tournament. The results are analysed and compared with other relevant work like cuckoo search algorithm and particle swarm optimization technique and presented in the article. The proposed method produced a better output in terms of path length and path time.

Cytokinins (CKs) plays a key role in plant adaptation over a range of different stress conditions. Here, we analyze the effects of a cytokinin (i.e., kinetin, KN) on the growth, photosynthesis (rate of O2 evolution), PS II photochemistry and AsA-GSH cycle in Trigonella seedlings grown under cadmium (Cd) stress. Trigonella seeds were sown in soil amended with 0, 3 and 9 mg Cd kg-1 soil, and after 15 days resultant seedlings were sprayed with three doses of KN, i.e.,10 μM (low, KNL), 50 μM (medium, KNM) and 100 μM (high, KNH); subsequent experiments were performed after 15 days of KN application, i.e., 30 days after sowing. Cadmium toxicity induced oxidative damage as shown by decreased seedling growth and photosynthetic pigment production (Chl a, Chl b and Car), rates of O2-evolution, and photochemistry of PS II of Trigonella seedlings, all accompanied by an increase in H2O2 accumulation. Supplementation with doses of KN at KNL and KNM significantly improved the growth and photosynthetic activity by reducing H2O2 accumulation through the up-regulation AsA-GSH cycle. Notably, KNL and KNM doses stimulated the rate of enzyme activities of APX, GR and DHAR, involved in the AsA-GSH cycle thereby efficiently regulates the level of AsA and GSH in Trigonella grown under Cd stress. The study concludes that KN can mitigate the damaging effects of Cd stress on plant growth by maintaining the redox status (>ratios: AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG) of cells through the regulation of AsA-GSH cycle at 10 and 50 μM KN under Cd stress conditions. At 100 μM KN, the down-regulation of AsA-GSH cycle did not support the growth and PS II activity of the test seedlings.

Background: Existence of smear layer in root canals caused by instrumentation is believed to prevent penetration of irrigating agents, thereby resulting in endodontic treatment. Aims and Objectives: To compare and evaluate the effectiveness of two irrigants: 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and mixture of tetracycline isomer, an acid, and a detergent (MTAD) as final agents for eliminating the smear layer. Materials and Methods: We included 50 human lower premolar teeth whose crowns were sectioned at cementoenamel junction. The sample was randomly grouped into five groups, each with 10 teeth. Group 1: 1mL of 17% EDTA as final rinse for 1min, Group 2: 1mL of 17% EDTA for 30s, Group 3: 5mL of MTAD for 2.5min, Group 4: 5mL of MTAD for 5min, and Group 5: saline. The specimens were sectioned vertically all along the long axis and fixed on an aluminum stub for gold ion sputtering. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the specimens, and photomicrographs were taken at coronal, middle, and apical thirds of canal, and assessed by Torabinejad scoring system by two examiners, and the observations were analyzed statistically. Results: When Group 1 and Group 2 and Groups 3 and 4 were compared, we found a significant variation in removal of smear layer at cervical and middle thirds, and insignificant difference at apical third. In comparison with EDTA and saline, MTAD was more efficient significantly in middle and cervical thirds and insignificant at apical third. Conclusion: MTAD is an efficient irrigant for removing smear layer than EDTA and saline.

Recurrent application of chemical pesticides in the agricultural fields have adverse impact on flora and fauna of soil ecosystem. Earthworms immensely contribute in increasing the fertility of soil. They may act as a bioindicator for the ecotoxicological analysis of pesticide induced soil pollution. Earthworms, Eudrilus eugeniae were exposed to different concentrations of pesticides chlorpyrifos (OP), cypermethrin (a pyrethroid) and their combination for 48 h by paper contact toxicity method. The LC50 for commercial grade of chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin and combined pesticides were determined as 0.165, 0.066 and 0.020 μg/cm2, respectively. To assess the sub-lethal effect of these pesticides, E. eugeniae were exposed to 5% and 10% of LC50 of the pesticides for 48 h. Variation in morpho-behavioural changes such as coiling, clitellar swelling, mucus release, bleeding and body fragmentation in earthworms were observed after exposure of both pesticides and their combination. Various biochemical estimations such as specific activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione -S-transferase (GST); levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were carried out in different body segments. Significant changes in these stress markers were observed at low and high sub-acute concentration of pesticides exposed earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae. Such changes indicate potential health risk to E. eugeniae if exposed to the high concentrations of these pesticides accumulated in soil. Keywords: AChE activity, Stress markers, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos + Cypermethrin, Eudrilus eugeniae

Abstract Here, we report that minimal functional gelsolin i.e. fragment 28–161 can display F-actin depolymerizing property even after heating the protein to 80 °C. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data analysis confirmed that under Ca2+-free conditions, 28–161 associates into monomer to dimer and tetramer, which later forms β-amyloids, but in presence of Ca2+, it forms dimers which proceed to non-characterizable aggregates. The dimeric association also explained the observed decrease in ellipticity in circular dichroism experiments with increase in temperature. Importantly, SAXS data based models correlated well with our crystal structure of dimeric state of 28–161. Characterization of higher order association by electron microscopy, Congo red and ThioflavinT staining assays further confirmed that only in absence of Ca2+ ions, heating transforms 28–161 into β-amyloids. Gel filtration and other experiments showed that β-amyloids keep leaching out the monomer, and the release rates could be enhanced by addition of L-Arg to the amyloids. F-actin depolymerization showed that addition of Ca2+ ions to released monomer initiated the depolymerization activity. Overall, we propose a way to compose a supramolecular assembly which releases functional protein in sustained manner which can be applied for varied potentially therapeutic interventions.

The orientation of polymer composites is one way to increase the mechanical properties of the material in a desired direction. In this study, the aim was to orient chitin nanocrystal (ChNC)-reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites by combining two techniques: calendering and solid-state drawing. The effect of orientation on thermal properties, crystallinity, degree of orientation, mechanical properties and microstructure was studied. The orientation affected the thermal and structural behavior of the nanocomposites. The degree of crystallinity increased from 8% for the isotropic compression-molded films to 53% for the nanocomposites drawn with the highest draw ratio. The wide-angle X-ray scattering results confirmed an orientation factor of 0.9 for the solid-state drawn nanocomposites. The mechanical properties of the oriented nanocomposite films were significantly improved by the orientation, and the pre-orientation achieved by film calendering showed very positive effects on solid-state drawn nanocomposites: The highest mechanical properties were achieved for pre-oriented nanocomposites. The stiffness increased from 2.3 to 4 GPa, the strength from 37 to 170 MPa, the elongation at break from 3 to 75%, and the work of fracture from 1 to 96 MJ/m3. This study demonstrates that the pre-orientation has positive effect on the orientation of the nanocomposites structure and that it is an extremely efficient means to produce films with high strength and toughness.

Polyclonal antibodies against Pythium aphanidermatum and Fusarium oxysporum proteins were developed for the detection of rhizome rot in ginger using serological assays. Under optimal experimental conditions, the detection limit of P. aphanidermatum by indirect ELISA was 10 µg/ml with a linear working range from 5 to 100 µg/ml (R2 = 0.994). In case of F. oxysporum, the linear working range was 5–100 µg/ml (R2 = 0.991) and the limit of detection was 25 µg/ml. The developed antibodies showed the highest titer in ELISA at 1:2000 dilutions. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis identified proteins ranging from molecular weights 15–97 kDa and 14–116 kDa of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum isolates, respectively. In Western blot analysis, the developed antisera gave positive reactions against the isolated antigens of the fungi. The antibodies revealed immune-reactive bands of molecular weights 59 and 65 kDa in P. aphanidermatum and 44 and 75 kDa in F. oxysporum. The results suggest that the developed antibodies could be successfully applied for the specific immunodetection of P. aphanidermatum and F. oxysporum at an early stage of rhizome rot disease.

Pesticides are applied to control the pests indoor and outdoor; however, their remarkable amount reaches to the aquatic system through various routes like run-off, leaching, spray-drift, effluent from factories. These are reported to have negative metabolic impact on different non-target aquatic organisms like fishes. Thus, present study is aimed to evaluate the acute toxicity of two groups of pesticides, organophosphate and pyrethroid, namely triazophos and deltamethrin, respectively. The test was conducted for 96 h period in a freshwater teleost, Channa punctatus. The LC50 values for triazophos and deltamethrin after 96 h treatment was found to be 0.069 mg/L and 7.33 μg/L. The deltamethrin was found to be about ten times more toxic than triazophos to the fish. In treated fish, alterations in various behavioural patterns were observed with increasing concentrations of both the pesticides as compared to control. Further, tissue specific as well as dose dependent inhibition in the acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) activity was found in brain, muscle and gills in Channa punctatus exposed to both the insecticides. However, the effect was more pronounced in triazophos treated fishes than the deltamethrin. A futuristic approach on biochemical and molecular studies may throw light on the mechanism of action of these pesticides. Keywords: AChE, Behavioural pattern, Channa punctatus, Deltamethrin, LC50, Triazophos

Edible medicinal plants Curcuma longa, Kaempferia galanga and Zingiber officinale are considered to be suitable for pregnant mother and neonates. Their essential oils are claimed to have therapeutic effects, yet its immunomodulatory activities need to be investigated. To validate the immunomodulatory effect, cord blood monocyte cells (CBMCs) treated with different concentrations of essential oils ranging from 0 to 40 µg/ml. K. galanga oil at 40 µg/ml concentrations upregulated IFN-γ at 49.23 pg/ml, while C. longa oil downregulated the IL-10 at 10.45 pg/ml showing immunostimulant activity on CBMCs. However, Z. officinale oil showed no significant result at any concentration. K. galanga and C. longa oils also showed an increase in lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The present study was aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory potentialities of essential oils which will attract the interest of researchers and pharmaceutical industries for clinical studies and other applications in the therapy of diseases related to neonatal infections.

Introduction : Most colonoscopies are completed in the left lateral (LL) position but in cases of suboptimal caecal preparation, changing the patient’s position to supine (S) and, if needed, to right lateral (RL) improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection. Aim : To determine if position change during colonoscopy facilitates optimal visualisation of the caecum. Material and methods : A total of 359 patients were grouped into three categories based on the initial caecal intubation position. After caecal intubation, caecal visibility was scored on a four-point scale depending on the number of imaginary quadrants of the caecum completely visualized – Arya Caecal Prep Score. A score of 1 or 2 was unsatisfactory, while 3 or 4 was considered satisfactory. In patients with unsatisfactory score, position was changed from LL to S and then RL and visibility was scored again. Results : The initial caecal intubation in the LL position was achieved in 66.8% of patients, S in 28.5%, and RL in 4.8% of patients. 84.5% (300/355) of patients had an acceptable visualisation score at the initial caecal intubation position. Of the 55 patients with unsatisfactory caecum visualisation scores in the initial intubation position, 30 (8.5%) had satisfactory scores after the first position change (95% CI: 5.77–11.84). Twenty-five (7.04%) subjects required two position changes (95% CI: 4.61–10.22%). An additional 9.3% (11/118) of adenomas were detected in caecum and ascending colon following position change. Conclusions : Changing patient position improves caecal intubation rate, mucosal visibility, and adenoma detection.

Abstract This is the first report describing temperature based initiation of gelsolin’s F-actin depolymerization activity, even in absence of free Ca2+ or low pH. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and circular dichroism (CD) studies revealed that temperature in the range of 30–40 °C is capable of opening the G1 domain alone, as remaining domains are held together by the Ca2+-sensitive C-tail latch without any loss in the secondary structural content. Full opening of all domains of tail-less gelsolin, and retention of closed shape for G2–G6 gelsolin merely by heating, further substantiated our findings. The Ca2+/pH independent activity of gelsolin near physiological temperature brought out a query: whether gelsolin is always active, and if not, what might deactivate it? Earlier, PIP2 has been reported to render gelsolin inactive with no structural insight. Reduction in shape parameters and modeling revealed that PIP2 reverses the temperature induced extension of g1-g2 linker leading to a compact shape seen for Ca2+-free gelsolin. Similar results for partially activated gelsolin (by low pH or Ca2+ ions below 0.1 μM) imply that inside cells, depolymerization, capping, and nucleation of F-actin by gelsolin is regulated by the culmination of local Ca2+ ion concentration, pH, temperature and PIP2 levels.

In this paper, a non-linear model is proposed and analyzed to study the effects of habitat characteristics favoring logistically growing carrier population leading to increased spread of typhoid fever. It is assumed that the cumulative density of habitat characteristics and the density of carrier population are governed by logistic models; the growth rate of the former increases as the density of human population increases. The model is analyzed by stability theory of differential equations and computer simulation. The analysis shows that as the density of the infective carrier population increases due to habitat characteristics, the spread of typhoid fever increases in comparison with the case without such factors.

The brachial plexus consists of a network of nerves that innervates the upper limbs and its musculature. We report a rare formation of the lateral cord of the brachial plexus observed during the dissection of a 47-year-old male cadaver at the Department of Anatomy, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India, in 2016. The lateral cord was exceptionally long with twin lateral pectoral nerves and twin lateral roots of the median nerve. The proximal lateral root of the median nerve was thin in comparison to the medial root of the median nerve. The distal lateral root of the median nerve was thicker and followed an unusual course through the coracobrachialis muscle. In the lower third of the arm, the median nerve and the brachial artery—along with its vena comitans—spanned through the brachialis muscle. Surgeons, anaesthesiologists, radiologists and anatomists should be aware of such anatomical variations as they may result in neurovascular compression.

Multivalent proteins or protein dendrimers are useful for clinical and biotechnological applications. However, assembly of chemically defined protein dendrimers is a challenging endeavor. In the past, majority of protein dendrimers have been developed on branched lysine scaffolds and are usually limited to a valency of two to four. The naturally occurring cyclodextrin (CD) scaffold composed of 6-8 glucose units offers the possibility of expanding the valency. Here we have adapted a chemoenzymatic-click strategy for displaying heptavalent peptides and large proteins on the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) scaffold. We demonstrate that recombinant proteins (engineered with a LPXTG pentapeptide motif at the carboxy terminus), labeled with an alkyne moiety by sortase-mediated ligation, can be easily clicked on to the azide-derivatized β-cyclodextrin through the Huisgen cycloaddition reaction yielding a well-defined heptavalent display of proteins.

Introduction: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) is one of the commonest medical disorders in pregnancy, which is divided into three categories: gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia. Hypercoagulable state in pregnancy and presence of any provocative factor can easily upset the normal balance culminating into Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC). In PIH, due to endothelial injury, the delicate haemostatic mechanism is triggered, which leads to coagulation failure. Aim: To compare the coagulation profile in normal term pregnancy and PIH during third trimester and to diagnose the severity of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy with coagulation parameters, clinical profile and to compare it with healthy controls. Materials and Methods: The present prospective study included 25 normotensive pregnant women and 80 pregnant women with signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in third trimester of gestation, over a period of one year. Study included clinical profile, age wise and parity distribution and coagulation parameters like platelet count, Prothrombin Time (PT), activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) and D-dimer in PIH and compared with healthy controls. Results: Most of the cases (56.25%) were in the age group 20-24 years and most were primipara. Mean systolic blood pressure in mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclamptic patients was 146 mmHg, 164 mmHg and 168 mmHg, while the mean diastolic blood pressure was 94 mmHg, 110 mmHg, 106 mmHg, respectively. The significant proteinuria in mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was 12 (34.29%), 17 (60.71%), and 09 (52.94%) respectively. Oedema was less severe in mild pre-eclampsia, whereas headache, blurring of vision and right upper abdominal pain were seen in severe cases of PIH. The mean haemoglobin in mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia was 10.8 gm/dL, 11.1 gm/dL, 11.5 gm/dL, respectively, whereas, platelet count was significantly lower than that of healthy pregnant control. There was prolongation of prothrombin time and significant difference between PT, aPTT D-dimer in mild pre-eclampsia, severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia and that of healthy controls. Conclusion: The degree of thrombocytopenia increases with severity of disease. Early assessment of severity of PIH can be done to prevent complications and to monitor the disease progression.

Introduction: The present study was undertaken to assess the caries activity by comparing the pH, buffering capacity, calcium, phosphorous, amylase along with the association of mutans in saliva for caries-free and caries-active children and to find out the interrelationship amongst the two groups. Methodology: The study sample of 80 children, aged between 4 and 8 years were included in the study. Caries status of each child was recorded using DMFS. They were divided into two groups: (i) caries-free group (40) and (ii) caries-active group (40). After collecting the salivary samples, mutans were determined using Saliva-Check mutans kit and buffering capacity by Saliva-Check Buffer kit. The remaining samples were sent to laboratory for analyzing pH by electrode pH meter, calcium by OCPC(o-cresolphthalein complexone) photometric method, phosphorous by phosphomolybdate/UV method, amylase by CNP-G3(2chloro-4-nitrophenyl-alpha-maltotrioside) method using semi-autoanalyzer. Results: The results obtained were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. The pH, buffering capacity, calcium and phosphorous level were found to be increased with the decrease in the caries activity of the children whereas amylase activity was increased with the increase in caries activity. It was observed that 77.5% children were tested positive and 22.5% were tested negative for mutans in caries-active group whereas 100% children were tested negative for mutans in caries-free group. Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of saliva, such as pH, buffering capacity, calcium, phosphorous, amylase and Streptococcus mutans has a definite relationship with caries activity.

An accessory spleen is a small mass of splenic tissue, found apart from main body. An unexpectedly rare location of accessory spleen in phrenicocolic ligament was encountered during the course of preclinical cadaveric dissection programme. The accessory spleen also created an oval impression measuring 2.5x2 cm on the visceral surface of the spleen. Precise knowledge of such anatomical variants is relevant to Radiologists and Surgeons in their clinical practice.

Introduction: Portal hypertension is one of the most mystifying and disconcerting abdominal ailment. Ultrasonography (USG) is an effective diagnostic tool for its prompt management. Knowledge of normal calibre of portal vein in a local setting is essential as literature reports contrasting values in different regions. It helps in early diagnosis of portal hypertension even before it is clinically manifested thereby assisting clinicians and interventional radiologists in pertinent management. Aim: Study was aimed to evaluate the Portal Vein Diameter (PVD) and find its correlation with gender by using USG in North Indian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 healthy adults were included in the study. Portal vein diameter was measured in supine position and normal respiration by grey scale USG. The portal vein diameter was correlated with age and gender statistically using independent Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Results: Mean PVD of (9.49±1.03 mm) was observed in the present cross-sectional study. Male showed a significantly higher mean PVD (9.70±1.02 mm) as compared to females (9.10±0.94 mm). Conclusion: Scarcity of information concerning ultrasonographically measured standard portal vein diameter and inconstant values reported in literature necessitates the need for establishing local standard value. In the given subset of population the portal vein diameter was influenced by the gender. The information will be helpful in prompt diagnosis and management of portal hypertension.

Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and Trapezius (TM) muscle present in the cervical region serves as an important landmark in forming boundaries of posterior triangle of neck. This case reports a continuous muscle sheet obscuring the left posterior triangle in the neck of a 60-year-old Indian male cadaver. An unfamiliar oval gap was observed in its posterosuperior portion. Description of such a variant in anatomical literature is rare and is scarcely reported. An attempt has been made to portray its embryological and phylogenetic basis. In addition authors have endeavoured to discuss its clinical implications. Awareness of such anatomical variations is relevant for the operating surgeons in their endeavour to perform various reconstruction surgeries of head and neck, radiologists while concluding various levels in Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) of the region and to the anaesthetists in their search for nerves and vessels while attempting various anaesthetic procedures.

Hypertension is a major public health problem and important area of research due to its high prevalence and being major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and other complications. Objectives. (1) To assess the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors and (2) to estimate awareness, treatment, and adequacy of control of hypertension among study subjects. Methods and Materials. A community based cross-sectional study with multistage sampling design was conducted among urban population of Varanasi. A modified WHO STEPS interview schedule on 640 study subjects aged 25–64 years was used. Results. The prevalence of hypertension was 32.9% (male: 40.9%, female: 26.0%). Mean systolic and diastolic BP were 124.25 ± 15.05 mmHg and 83.45 ± 9.49 mmHg, respectively. Higher odds of being hypertensive were found in male subjects, eldest age group, married subjects, subjects of upper socioeconomic status, illiterate subjects, and retired subjects. Tobacco and alcohol consumption, overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity were also associated with hypertension. Out of the total hypertensive 211 subjects, only 81 (38.4%) were aware about their hypertension status; out of those, 57 (70.4%) were seeking treatment and 20 (35.08%) had their blood pressure adequately controlled. Conclusion. Around one-third of the subjects were hypertensive and half of the study subjects were prehypertensive in this area. The awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure were also very low.

Osteosarcoma (OS) involving the head and neck region is rare and is a diagnostic challenge due to its aggressive nature and varied presentations. Although OS constitute 40% to 60% of all bone tumours, only 10% of these occur in the head and neck region, most commonly in the maxilla and mandible. OS of the jaw bone has a different pattern and behaviour when compared to OS at other anatomic location. It occurs in a more elderly population, less aggressive and usually spreads locally rather than distant metastases. Telangiectatic Osteosarcoma (TOS) of jaws in a paediatric patient is still a very rare variant and till date only two cases have been reported in literature. Radiographic evaluation plays an important role as the clinical symptoms are not specific to the condition. Conventional radiography should always be supplemented by advanced imaging modalities for the diagnosis, which gives a three dimensional assessment and also prevents superimposition of surrounding structures. Early diagnosis and radical surgery are the keys to high survival rates. Herein, we present a third ever reported case of TOS occurring in mandible of a nine-year-old male patient.