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This investigation aimed to study the effects of adding TiO 2 on many aspects of 1393-B3 glasses, including their physio-chemical, mechanical parameters, crystallization behaviour, in-vitro bioactivity, hemocompatibility, and cellular viability. Here, we replaced 1393 glass silica with boric oxide to determine a more effective alternative. 1393-B3 bioactive glasses having the general weight % composition (53-X) B 2 O 3 , 6 Na 2 O, 5 MgO, 20 CaO, 12 K 2 O, 4 P 2 O 5 , X TiO 2 (where X = 0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 %) were prepared using solid-state melt quenching method in platinum crucible at 1100 °C for 2 h in an electric furnace with air as furnace atmosphere. This research aimed to investigate the complete substitution of 1393 glass silica with boric oxide in order to get a reduced melting temperature forming 1393-B3. The objective was to develop a more energy-efficient and economical bioactive glass. Thermal analysis of the samples was obtained up to 700 °C. To evaluate the in-vitro bioactivity, the samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). These materials undergo XRD, FTIR, and SEM/EDAX analysis both before and after soaking in SBF. These characterization results show the presence of a hydroxyapatite (HA) layer forming on the samples of the bioactive glass surface. The haemolysis process performed on human blood shows its haemocompatibility result. To test these results for the human body. We performed cell proliferation and cell compatibility on the MG-63 cell line to see its effect on osteosarcoma patients. Density (2.31–2.48 gm/cm3), pH value (7.4–8.86), and mechanical parameters such as compressive strength (98–125 MPa), flexural strength (33–54), and elasticity are measured. As a result, physio-chemical, mechanical, biological properties and in-vitro bioactivity of these samples were obtained with increasing concentration of TiO 2 in 1393-B3 borate bioactive glass and found to increase with increasing concentration of TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the complexity of today's world, we might need to work with numbers requiring multi-attribute functions, such as those having positive, neutral, and negative membership and those having truth, indeterminacy, and falsity membership. Adding these numbers together to get a single real number is the most important factor. In situations like this, decision-makers have more difficult choices and are unable to apply the single attribute function of the soft set theory. To address this constraint, the hyper-soft set theory with multi-attribute functions is introduced. We combine the notion of neutrosophic hypersoft set with picture fuzzy hypersoft set to form a single theory of neutrosophic picture hypersoft set in this study. We introduce the notions of correlation coefficient and weighted correlation coefficient and demonstrate its fundamental properties for neutrosophic picture hypersoft set. Then, we introduce the notions of a weighted average operator and a weighted geometric operator for neutrosophic picture hypersoft set by using the various aggregation operators with a suitable example. Making decisions based on several factors and choosing the best option is multi-criteria decision-making or MCDM. When ranking and choosing options based on a distance metric, one essential and useful strategy is the Technique of order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS). We demonstrate the accuracy of the fuzzy TOPSIS methodology by extending it to neutrosophic fuzzy TOPSIS and using neutrosophic picture hypersoft set theory to describe the MCDM problem in this study. We provide a generalized neutrosophic TOPSIS approach to demonstrate correlation coefficients and the effectiveness of this approach with an appropriate example. Finally, we offer a comparison to prior studies to demonstrate the viability of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Vindhyan (Semri) Group substantially consists of unmetamorphosed and undeformed sedimentary sequences of Palaeoproterozoic age. A detailed geochemical study has been carried out to infer the paleoenvironment and the source of REEs for the Palaeoproterozoic Kajrahat Limestone, Vindhyan Supergroup, Central India. This study investigates the geochemical composition of major, trace and rare earth elements (REEs). The studied limestones, have a high percentage of CaO (ranging from 30.87 to 48.59) implies that calcite was the primary mineral phase in these carbonates. SiO2 is second most abundant major oxide. Sr is dominant trace element showing a negative correlation with CaO. All trace elements exhibit depletion with respect to Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS). The PAAS-normalized REE pattern of studied limestone has a relatively uniform pattern, with slightly enriched LREE compared to HREE with negative Ce anomaly. Collectively, low concentration of U and U/Th, Ce/Ce* ratios clearly indicates an oxic depositional condition for the samples. The ΣREE shows a positive correlation with SiO2, TiO2 and Al2O3 (r2 = 0.87, 0.84and 0.91 respectively) and a week positive correlation with CaO (r2 = 0.12) suggested that siliciclastic sediments also serve as a source for the REEs beside seawater. This, in turn, indicates that the deposition of this limestone occurred in a coastal/shallow marine environment with some contribution from continental part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atlanto-occipital assimilation is an osseous embryological anomaly of the craniovertebral junction in which the atlas (C1) is fused to the occiput of skull. Embryologically, this assimilation may happen due to failure of the segmentation and separation of the caudal occipital and the cranial cervical sclerotome. The segmentation clock is maintained by NOTCH and WNT signalling pathways along with Hox genes and retinoic acid. This condition is likely to be a consequence of mutation in above mentioned genes. The knowledge of this assimilation may be crucial for the clinicians as it may lead to various neurovascular symptoms. The present case report involves the analysis of atlanto-occipital assimilation with its clinical significance and embryological basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central Arctic, interglacial intervals have traditionally been associated with diverse and intense bioturbation, and abundant foraminifera, interpreted as indicating relatively low sea-ice concentrations and productive surface waters, while glacial intervals, typically barren, support the inverse. In this respect, the Yermak Plateau is anomalous. Biomarker studies suggest that glacial intervals were characterized by comparatively open water, while interglacials are marked by severe sea-ice conditions. Here we study downcore Ethological Ichno Quotient (EIQ) variations in trace fossils and bioturbation to test the hypothesis that different ethological classes vary in accordance with late Pleistocene changes in sea-ice extent, with deposit feeders increasing during reduced sea-ice cover and chemosymbiotic traces increasing during periods of thick perennial sea-ice conditions. Our results generally demonstrate that the abundance of traces like Planolites, Scolicia, and burrows produced by deposit feeders increase during episodes of seasonal sea-ice cover. In contrast, intervals with more severe sea-ice conditions are characterized by chemosymbiotic traces such as Chondrites and Trichichnus/Mycellia, suggesting lower food delivery and poorly ventilated bottom water conditions. The study thus confirms previous reconstructions of sea-ice conditions on the Yermak Plateau during interglacials, demonstrating that bioturbation variation provides insights into bentho-pelagic coupling under variable sea ice regimes in the Arctic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Legumes can fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) and facilitate N availability to their companion plants in crop mixtures. However, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) of legumes in intercrops varies largely with the identity of the legume species. The aim of our study was to understand whether BNF and concentration of plant nutrients by common bean is influenced by the identity of the companion plant species in crop mixtures. In this greenhouse pot study, common beans were cultivated with another legume (chickpea) and a cereal (Sorghum). We compared BNF, crop biomass and nutrient assimilation of all plant species grown in monocultures with plants grown in crop mixtures. Results: We found beans to exhibit low levels of BNF, and to potentially compete with other species for available soil N in crop mixtures. The BNF of chickpeas however, was enhanced when grown in mixtures. Furthermore, biomass, phosphorous and potassium values of chickpea and Sorghum plants were higher in monocultures, compared to in mixtures with beans; suggesting competitive effects of beans on these plants. Concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in beans was higher when grown with chickpeas than with Sorghum. Conclusions: It is generally assumed that legumes benefit their companion plant species. Our study highlights the contrary and shows that the specific benefits of cereal-legume mixtures are dependent on the growth rate of the species concerned. We further highlight that the potential of legume-legume mixtures is currently undervalued and may play a strong role in increasing N use efficiency of intercrop-based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidation of structure and dynamics of alternative higher-order structures of DNA such as in branched form could be targeted for therapeutics designing. Herein, we are reporting the intrinsically dynamic and folds transitions of an unusual DNA junction with sequence d(CGGCGGCCGC)4 which self-assembles into a four-way DNA junction form with sticky ends using long interval molecular simulations under various artificial physiological conditions. The original crystal structure coordinates (PDB ID: 3Q5C) for the selected DNA junction was considered for a total of 1.1 μs molecular dynamics simulation interval, including different temperature and pH, under OPLS-2005 force field using DESMOND suite. Following, post-dynamics structure parameters for the DNA junction were calculated and analyzed by comparison to the crystal structure. We show here that the self-assembly dynamics of DNA junction is mitigated by the temperature and pH sensitivities, and discloses peculiar structural properties as function of time. From this study it can be concluded on account of temperature sensitive and pH dependent behaviours, DNA junction periodic arrangements can willingly be synthesized and redeveloped for multiple uses like genetic biomarkers, DNA biosensor, DNA nanotechnology, DNA Zipper, etc. Furthermore, the pH dis-regulation behaviour may be used to trigger the functionality of DNA made drug–releasing nanomachines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existing structural framework of defining gender and sexuality based on heteronormative ideology led to the succession of the notions of stigma, prejudice, and hate towards the sexual and gender minority population. The presence of strong scientific evidence for the negative consequences of discriminatory and violent events has directed the association with mental and emotional distress. This study aims to comprehend the role of minority stress in emotional regulation and suppression among the sexual minority population globally using systematic review of literature through elaborate Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Summary: The analyses of the sorted literature premised on the PRISMA guidelines revealed that minority stress mediates the emotion regulation processes among the individuals who witness continuous episodes of discrimination and violence leading to emotional dysregulation and emotion suppression. Studies also reported the dominance of various health-risk behaviors such as alcohol addiction, drug abuse, and other forms of intoxication among sexual minority individuals. Increased instances of anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal ideations were prominent in the findings of the empirical research suggesting an intricate role of minority stress in advancing the faulty emotion suppression and mental health concerns among the sexual and gender minority population. Key message: Minority stressors among sexual and gender minority individuals mediate emotion suppression and mental distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder marked by progressive neuronal atrophy, particularly in striatum and cerebral cortex. Although predominant manifestations of the disease include loss in the triad of motor, cognitive and behavioral capabilities, metabolic dysfunction in patients and HD models are being increasingly recognized. Patients display progressive body weight loss, which aggravates the disease and leads to cachexia in the terminal stages. Using the Drosophila model of HD, we have earlier reported that diseased flies exhibit an atypical pattern of lipid gain and loss with progression along with exhibiting extensive mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired calcium homeostasis and heightened apoptosis in the fatbody. Here, we first monitored the structural changes that abdominal fatbody undergoes with disease progression. Further, we checked the transcriptional changes of key metabolic genes in whole fly as well as genes regulating mitochondrial function, apoptosis, autophagy and calcium homeostasis in the abdominal fatbody. We found extensive alterations in whole-body and fatbody-specific transcriptional profile of the diseased flies, which was in consort with their stage-specific physiological state. Additionally, we also assessed lysosome-mediated autophagy in the fatbody of diseased flies in order to ascertain the mechanisms contributing to fatbody atrophy at the terminal stage. Interestingly, we found elevated autophagy in fatbody of flies throughout disease progression. This study provides new insights into the effect on peripheral metabolism due to degeneration of neurons in the neurodegenerative disease, thereby discerns novel mechanisms leading to cachexia in diseased flies and advocates for the need of managing metabolic dysfunctions in HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sports competitions and recreational activities are practiced by infants, kids, and teenagers for their physical and mental health. Unfortunately, engaging in sports increases the chance of suffering trauma to the mouth's delicate and hard tissues, including lacerations to the lips, various injuries to the gingiva, tongue, or mucosa, chipped, luxated, or avulsed teeth, maxillary or mandibular fractures. The importance of the dentistry profession in connection to the prevention of dental and other orofacial sporting injuries has increased due to the popularity of contact sports and the encouraging of participation at a young age. Inculcating the prevention, management, and treatment of oral and face injuries, sports dentistry is the newest and most promising area of dentistry. Dentists should make it a point to tell parents about the orofacial damage caused by sports and about the different preventive measures that are available. They should also have solid clinical understanding of sports-related dentofacial injuries. In this article, we go over the different facets of sports-related injuries as well as the risk factors that go along with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the risk of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection born to the women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. This prospective study was conducted at single tertiary hospital from September 2020 and May 2021. 50 pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 50 neonates were included for analysis. We performed comprehensive testing of all biological samples for vertical transmission including the cord blood immunoglobulin. We detected SARS-CoV-2 in one fetal membrane and one amniotic fluid sample. We also demonstrated presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies in cord blood of 3 neonates. Though none of the samples of vaginal secretion, breast milk and nasopharyngeal swab from neonates were tested positive for covid infection via RT-PCR. We demonstrated presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the cord blood which had shown positive correlation with increasing disease to delivery interval and disease severity. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is possible. As virus was not detected in cervicovaginal secretions and breast milk so vertical transmission through this mechanism seems unlikely. Presence of IgG in cord blood is suggestive of passive immunity acquired from mother. This finding has greater clinical implication as large number of expecting mothers are being vaccinated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative disease exhibiting autosomal-dominant inheritance. It is caused by an unstable expansion in the CAG repeat tract of HD gene, which transforms the disease-specific Huntingtin protein (HTT) to a mutant form (mHTT). The profound neuronal death in cortico-striatal circuits led to its identification and characterisation as a neurodegenerative disease. However, equally disturbing are the concomitant whole-body manifestations affecting nearly every organ of the diseased individuals, at varying extents. Altered central and peripheral metabolism of energy, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates encompass the gross pathology of the disease. Intense fluctuation of body weight, glucose homeostasis and organ-specific subcellular abnormalities are being increasingly recognised in HD. Many of these metabolic abnormalities exist years before the neuropathological manifestations such as chorea, cognitive decline and behavioural abnormalities develop, and prove to be reliable predictors of the disease progression. In this review, we provide a consolidated overview of the central and peripheral metabolic abnormalities associated with HD, as evidenced from clinical and experimental studies. Additionally, we have discussed the potential of metabolic biomolecules to translate into efficient biomarkers for the disease onset as well as progression. Finally, we provide a brief outlook on the efficacy of existing therapies targeting metabolic remediation. While it is clear that components of altered metabolic pathways can mark many aspects of the disease, it is only conceivable that combinatorial therapies aiming for neuronal protection in consort with metabolic upliftment will prove to be more efficient than the existing symptomatic treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenugreek seed exhibits antidiabetic, antineoplastic, hepatoprotective, antidepressant and immunomodulatory properties. Fenugreek also causes antifertility effects in rodents. However, the impact of fenugreek seed on male reproduction and the possible mode of its action are not properly evaluated. Herein, we examined the effect of aqueous seed extract of fenugreek (FSE) and the possible mechanism of its action on male reproductive health in mice. Parkes mice were orally administered FSE (600 mg/kg body weight/day) or distilled water for 28 and 56 days, respectively. Various sperm parameters, histopathology, serum testosterone level and fertility indices were assessed. Furthermore, steroidogenic enzymes activities, oxidative status and germ cell dynamics in the testis were evaluated. Toxicological endpoints were also assessed. Treatment with FSE caused degenerative changes in the testis histoarchitecture. The treatment also affected various sperm parameters and concentrations of sialic acid and fructose in the epididymis and seminal vesicle, respectively. Fenugreek treatment also had negative impact on oxidative status and germ cell dynamics in the testis; fertility indices were also affected in female mice impregnated by the extract‐treated male mice, though libido of the treated male mice remained unaffected. Results show that treatment with FSE caused adverse effects on the male reproductive health and pregnancy outcome in Parkes mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and differentiation of explosives is an issue of immediacy for security and environmental monitoring. At present, the most operated explosive system combines primary and secondary explosives. Although various advances are presently equipped for identifying primary explosives, the insensitive nature of secondary explosives makes their detection and differentiation challenging. Here, we report three coordination nanosheets (CNs) AM-8-Eu, AM-8-Tb, and AM-8-Zn containing three-way terpyridine ligands (AM-8) and Eu(III), Tb(III), and Zn(II) ions. These CNs act as a highly selective platform for detecting unexplored high-energy explosive 1,1-Diamino-2,2-dinitro ethylene (FOX-7) in solid and solution phases. For AM-8-Zn, calculated molecular electrostatic surface potential revealed two modes of interactions for triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) and FOX-7, producing two distinct spectral responses. Digital analysis of these responses revealed a complimentary implication (IMP)/not implication (NIMP) logic function. Finally, the unique feature of IMP gate is used to define all possible sixteen distinct binary Boolean operations on two logic values for "functional completeness". The detection and differentiation of such insensitive high-energy explosives TATB and FOX-7, where Boolean logic can process information through distinct binary responses in solid and solution phases, have not been witnessed hitherto in a single chemical platform. [Display omitted] • Three novel luminescent coordination nanosheets (CNs) were prepared. • Detection and differentiation of unexplored high-energy explosive FOX-7 and TATB performed in solid and solution phases. • DFT study revealed different ESPs of the CNs favor two different modes of interaction with TATB and FOX-7. • Digital analysis revealed a complimentary implication (IMP)/not implication (NIMP) logic function. • Unique feature of IMP gate is used to define "functional completeness ". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Haemorrhage is associated with changes in the cardiac autonomic drive which begins during early stages of mild haemorrhage. The knowledge of chronology of the autonomic changes at smaller timescale during the period of haemorrhage can help identify the primary autonomic parameter which signals the institution of cardiovascular reflex mechanisms. Aim: To evaluate the heart rate variability in 2-min sequential segments with one minute overlap during and after the period of mild haemorrhage (450 ml) using blood donation as a model of acute blood loss. Methods: 47 male blood donors who had volunteered for blood donation were recruited for the study. Continuous lead II ECG was recorded before the start of the blood donation (5 min), during the period of the blood donation (~ 5–7 min) and after blood donation (5 min). The parasympathetic and sympathetic drive to heart was estimated by measures of heart rate variability in time and frequency domain. Results: A significant decrease in the parameters assessing parasympathetic drive i.e., normalised High frequency (HFn) and NN50 (Number of pairs of adjacent NN intervals differing by more than 50 ms) and pNN50 (NN50 divided by the total number of all NN Intervals) was observed during blood donation at 3–5 min, as compared to baseline. An increase in parameters associated with sympathetic drive i.e., normalised low frequency (LFn) was observed only in the post donation period at 2–3 min. A significant rise in LF/HF ratio which is a marker of sympatho vagal balance was observed at 4–5 min during blood donation when compared to baseline. Conclusion: The initial cardiac autonomic change during mild haemorrhage is withdrawal of parasympathetic drive, followed by an increase in sympathetic tone which occurs much later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a very rare occurrence accounting for <0.1% of all breast cancers. For the diagnosis, it requires the diffuse expression of neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase) and the lack of simultaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma in extramammary sites. The breast carcinomas with focal neuroendocrine differentiation are defined as scattered tumor cells that stain positive with neuroendocrine markers. These tumors are usually seen in elderly women around sixth or seventh decade of life, as reported in literatures. The high nuclear grade and regional lymph node metastasis was also significant negative prognostic factors for overall survival. We study a case of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of breast in a 46-year-old lady, on the basis of histopathology and immunohistochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a dual-port circularly polarized (CP) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna equipped with frequency selective surface (FSS) for X-band applications is designed and analyzed. The antenna system aims to enhance gain, a critical parameter like isolation radiation pattern, etc. In wireless communication systems working in the X-band frequency range. The present MIMO antenna consists of two parts that provide coverage for the whole frequency band of 7.6–11.6 GHz, specifically for X-band communication applications. As a decoupled network, the meander line architecture greatly improves isolation. The MIMO antenna's measurements include 25 × 30 × 1 mm3. To improve the antenna's peak gain even further, a FSS is placed below the present MIMO antenna at 10.5 mm. The whole volume of the FSS-inspired composite structure is 50 × 60 × 11.6 mm3. By correctly incorporating the FSS array with the antenna's structure and utilizing its frequency-selective properties, gain improvement can be attained. Without FSS, the antenna's gain is 4.8 dBi and it is enhanced by 21 % and the maximum value of gain is 15 dBi in the desired frequency spectrum. The efficiency of the proposed FSS-inspired structure is >84.2% in the operating frequency band. To evaluate the MIMO performance of the current antenna, several attributes are evaluated. On the evaluation, it is found that the present MIMO antenna has an envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) < 0.004, a diversity gain (DG) over 9.99, measured mean effective gain (MEG) below 3 dB, and CCL of less than 0.4 bits/s/Hz throughout the resonant frequency spectrum. Through modeling and experimental testing, the current MIMO antenna model is created and verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in cancer progression by selectively inducing translational degradation of messenger RNA (mRNA) via sequence-specific interactions with the 3′-untranslated region (3'-UTR). The potential targeting of miRNA has been recognized as a significant avenue for investigating the biological progression of diverse cancer types. Consequently, targeting of pri-miRNA and pre-miRNA by phytochemicals emerges as a viable strategy in the realm of anticancer therapies. Among phytochemicals, triterpenoids have garnered significant recognition for their chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive capabilities in combating multiple cancers. To date, there is a dearth of literature about the molecular interactions between triterpenoids and miRNAs. The primary objective of this investigation is to discern the potential triterpenoids that can function as modulators for specific miRNAs, namely pri-miRNA-19b-2, pre-miR21, microRNA 20b, pri-miRNA-208a, pri-miRNA-378a, pri-miRNA-320b-2, and pri-miRNA-300, achieved through the use of in silico investigations. The study primarily focused on performing drug-likeness, computer-aided toxicity, and pharmacokinetic prediction studies for triterpenoids. Furthermore, molecular docking and simulation techniques were employed to investigate these compounds. The triterpenoids studied were shown to have drug-likeness characteristics, although asiatic acid, lupeol, and pristimerin were able to pass all toxicity tests. Among the triterpenoids that underwent docking, pristimerin had a significant binding energy of −10.9 kcal/mol during its interaction with pri-miR-378a. The stable interaction between the pristimerin and miRNA complex was demonstrated by molecular dynamics simulation. As a result, pristimerin has the potential to act as a modulator of carcinogenic miRNAs, making it a promising candidate for cancer prevention and treatment due to its tailored modulation of miRNA activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immature gastric teratoma is an uncommon germ cell tumor of the stomach. A 6-month-old male child was born through full-term vaginal delivery. After 1 month presented with a history of abdominal distension and palpable mass along with a history of Malena for the past 10 days. Computed tomography scan showed the presence of a large well-defined multilobulated solid cystic lesion with multiple calcifications in the abdominopelvic region. Radiological findings were suggestive of germ cell tumors. The exploratory laparotomy findings showed a large tumor mass with variegated consistency arising from the lesser curvature of the posterior wall of the stomach. The total excision of mass and primary closure of the gastric wall was done. Histopathology of excised specimens showed immature teratoma of the stomach. The child is still on follow-up regularly visited as outpatient, doing well day-to-day activity. We report a very rare case of immature gastric teratoma in an infant on the basis of clinicoradiological and pathological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: A non-healing ulcer occurs due to multiple causes and possesses a great impact on the quality of life. Autologous platelet-rich fibrin and the application of a triple combination paste (zinc oxide, phenytoin, and mupirocin ointment) have emerged with a good response in the treatment of non-healing ulcers. Aims: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix versus the triple combination paste (zinc oxide, phenytoin, and mupirocin ointment) in non-healing ulcers. Settings and Design: Hospital-based interventional comparative study. Materials and Method: Twenty-four patients with non-healing ulcers were randomly divided into two groups. One group received platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) therapy every week for up to 5 weeks and the second group applied triple combination paste (zinc oxide, phenytoin, and mupirocin ointment) again for 5 weeks. In the end, the ulcer area was measured. Statistical Analysis Used: Student's paired t-test was used to evaluate the correlations between variables. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Group A showed a mean reduction in the ulcer area by 8.26 mm2 (75.99%). Group B showed a mean reduction in the ulcer area by 4.799 mm2 (47.75%), which was statistically significant with a P-value of 0.004. Conclusion: We conclude that autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix is much more effective than the triple combination paste (zinc oxide, phenytoin, and mupirocin ointment) in the treatment of non-healing ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we assessed how lower body negative pressure (LBNP) can be used to teach students the physiological effects of central hypovolemia in the absence of the LBNP and/or a medical monitor using a "dry lab" activity using LBNP data that have been previously collected. This activity was performed using published LBNP papers, with which students could explore LBNP as an important tool to study physiological responses to central hypovolemia as well as consider issues in performing an LBNP experiment and interpreting experimental results. The activity was performed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, with 31 graduate students and 4 teachers of physiology. Both students and teachers were provided with a set of questionnaires that inquired about aspects related to the structure of the activity and how this activity integrated research and knowledge, as well as aspects related to motivation of the students and teachers to perform the activity. Our results from student and teacher surveys suggest that a "dry lab" activity using LBNP to teach physiology can be an important tool to expose students to the basics of systems physiology as well as to provide useful insights into how research is performed. Providing insight into research includes formulating a research question and then designing (including taking into account confounding variables), implementing, conducting, and interpreting research studies. Finally, developing such an activity using LBNP can also serve as a basis for developing research capacities and interests of students even early in their medical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) has been employed in multiple countermeasure protocols against post spaceflight orthostatic hypotension. However, protocols utilizing oscillatory LBNP (oLBNP) have not been explored in this regard. oLBNP has shown promise in few studies to have good tolerance in conditions of hypovolemic stress and since the negative suction is only phasic, the extravascular fluid shifts associated with negative suction are also hypothesized to be less. Our study addressed the paucity of information on oLBNP by investigating the cardiovascular and neurohormonal effects of oLBNP of −15 and −45 mm Hg in 40 healthy adult males (mean age = 29.6 ± 4.7 years, BMI = 25.1 ± 3.6 kg/m2). After supine rest of 10 min (baseline), oLBNP was applied at −15 mm Hg and −45 mm Hg for 10 min each with a gap of 10 min. Blood sample for neurohormonal analysis was collected at the end of baseline and after each oLBNP exposure. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and end tidal CO 2 (EtCO 2) were recorded for the entire duration. Serum angiotensin II (ATII), antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were analyzed using ELISA. On comparison with the baseline [SBP: 114 ± 2.38, MBP: 75.8 ± 2.16 mm Hg] there was a significant fall in SBP on application of −15 mm Hg as well as −45 mm Hg oLBNP[-15 oLBNP: 107.4 ± 2.34 mm Hg; −45 oLBNP: 105.3 ± 2.28 mm Hg], while there was no significant difference observed in the DBP. There was a significant increase in the heart rate at both −15 [77.29(72.75–85.65) BPM] and −45 mm Hg [81.29 (73.93–86.09) BPM] oLBNP as compared to the baseline [70.41(64.32–79.80) BPM]. No significant difference in the serum ATII, ADH and ANP after 10 min of application of −15 or −45 mm Hg oLBNP as compared to baseline was observed. In conclusion, oLBNP induced legward pooling of blood causes a fall in the blood pressure which initiates the neural reflex mechanisms, most important being the baroreflex and the cardiopulmonary reflex. However, since there was no significant difference in the serum ATII, ADH and ANP from baseline, this suggests that 10 min oLBNP up to −45 mm Hg results in recruitment of cardiovascular neural reflex response but it does not evoke neurohormonal responses which mediate long term volume changes. • -45 mm Hg Oscillatory LBNP (oLBNP) evoked blood pressure drop & elevation in heart rate. • However, the serum ATII, ADH and ANP remain unchanged after the same protocol. • oLBNP causes recruitment of cardiovascular reflexes but not hormonal response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) can occur in cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy. The presence of retained product of conception can pose a diagnostic dilemma and clinical presentation could be similar. Case report: A 27 year old female presented with continuous vaginal bleeding for two and half months following dilatation and evacuation (D&E) done for cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) of 10 weeks 4days period of gestation. Sonography with color Doppler revealed dilated tortuous vessels around the mass in lower uterine segment suggesting CSP with AVM. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed the diagnosis. Bilateral uterine artery embolization achieved complete devascularisation as confirmed on post intervention angiogram. Patient became symptom free since then. Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization is an effective mode of treatment of AVM complicating CSP if future fertility is desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic potential of Cinnamomum cassia essential oil (CCEO) against aflatoxigenic food borne Aspergillus flavus strain (AF-LHP-PE-4), and probable mode of action including the safety profile on male mice. CCEO completely inhibited fungal growth and aflatoxin B1 secretion at its minimum inhibitory concentration (0.06 µL/mL). CCEO inhibited ergosterol biosynthesis in cell membranes and also disturbed the membrane fluidity. Significant enhancement in leakage of cellular ions and 260 and 280 nm absorbing cellular materials in response to increased concentrations of CCEO indicated the plasma membrane as the probable site of antifungal toxicity. The antiaflatoxigenic potency of CCEO was confirmed in terms of reduction in the level of cellular methylglyoxal (MG), the inducer of aflatoxin. Antioxidant activity of CCEO was confirmed through DPPH free radical scavenging activity as well as total phenolic content. Chemical profiling of CCEO by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of cinnamaldehyde (84.01%) as the most abundant compound. CCEO exhibited a high LD50 (10410.75 µL/kg) on male mice, strengthening its favorable safety profile. This is the first report on CCEO as novel green preservative against food storage molds and aflatoxin B1 secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the universe in a modified gravity theory that includes the terms Ricci scalar (R$ R$) and the Gauss‐Bonnet invariant (G$\mathcal {G}$) is studied. The function f(R,G)$f(R,\mathcal {G})$ is obtained using the e‐folding number and reconstruction technique by assuming an appropriate parameterization of the scale factor a$ a$. In this model, the various cosmological parameters are analyzed to explicate the bouncing scenario of the universe with the help of the contraction and expansion phases of the universe before and after the bouncing point of the model, respectively. A violation of the null energy condition is found. Additionally, the ghost condensate nature of the model in the neighborhood of the bouncing point (t=0$ t=0$) is seen. Furthermore, the deceleration parameter is not defined at the bouncing point, i.e., q→∞$q \rightarrow \infty$ at t=0$t=0$ and approaches a finite value q→−1+1β$ q \rightarrow -1+\frac{1}{\beta }$ in later times (t→∞$t \rightarrow \infty$). Finally, the evolution of the Hawking temperature and the validity of the second law of thermodynamics in the bouncing scenario of our model are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Thchit42 constitutive expression for fungal resistance showed synchronisation with leaf augmentation and transcriptome analysis revealed the Longifolia and Zinc finger RICESLEEPER gene is responsible for plant growth and development. Pelargonium graveolens essential oil possesses significant attributes, known for perfumery and aromatherapy. However, optimal yield and propagation are predominantly hindered by biotic stress. All biotechnological approaches have yet to prove effective in addressing fungal resistance. The current study developed transgenic geranium bridging molecular mechanism of fungal resistance and plant growth by introducing cassette 35S::Thchit42. Furthermore, 120 independently putative transformed explants were regenerated on kanamycin fortified medium. Primarily transgenic lines were demonstrated peak pathogenicity and antifungal activity against formidable Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium oxysporum. Additionally, phenotypic analysis revealed ~ 2fold increase in leaf size and ~ 2.1fold enhanced oil content. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms for genotypic cause, de novo transcriptional profiles were analyzed to indicate that the auxin-regulated longifolia gene is accountable for augmentation in leaf size, and zinc finger (ZF) RICESLEEPER attributes growth upregulation. Collectively, data provides valuable insights into unravelling the mechanism of Thchit42-mediated crosstalk between morphological and chemical alteration in transgenic plants. This knowledge might create novel opportunities to cultivate fungal-resistant geranium throughout all seasons to fulfil demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to understand the ranking order of the neutrosophic sets, where the uncertain or ambiguous information/data is stored in the terms of three independent variables i.e., degree of truthfulness, degree of indeterminacy, and degree of falseness. There exist many ranking tools in decision-making (DM) like score function (SF) and accuracy function (AF) that help to rank the single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) and the interval-valued neutrosophic set (IVNS) to make a better choice among all the available alternatives. An intensive study about all the existing score functions and an accuracy function reveals that the existing ranking method for SVNS and IVNS in DM problems holds for certain kinds of neutrosophic information and has its limitations. To validate these observations some well-defined examples are chosen, illustrating that the existing score functions and accuracy functions are like special cases for certain kinds of neutrosophic data. Since nothing in this world is an ultimate truth, hence this existing gap is a real motivation to come up with a more efficient SF and AF that would rank SVNS and IVNS in the real-life problems to make a better selection among all the available alternatives in DM problems in an efficient way. Hence, a new SF and AF have been proposed and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method is developed based on these proposed SF and AF. Furthermore, a real-life problem from our immediate surroundings is taken and solved successfully, and also a comparative analysis of the solutions for the existing problems is made in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a dual wide-band ingestible antenna design for wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) biotelemetry applications. The design process employs Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) and driven modal analysis. The effectiveness of the prototype antenna is afterward assessed through measurements using a tissue-equivalent phantom liquid model. We investigate the effects of antenna implantation depth and capsule shell thickness on its performance, providing insights into practical considerations. The proposed dual-band antenna demonstrates good performance in both the 1.4 GHz Wireless Medical Telemetry Services (WMTS) and 2.45 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands, exhibiting measured impedance bandwidths of 36% and 22%, respectively. The measured peak realized gains are −22.9 dBi and −25.3 dBi for the WMTS and ISM bands, respectively, with a compact footprint of 78.5 mm2. To ensure health and safety and optimal performance, we evaluate the antenna's specific absorption rate (SAR) and link margin (LM). Additionally, we assess the performance of the proposed antenna in comparison with the state-of-the-art design for capsule antennas in WCE applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient supramolecular self‐assembly has evolved as a tool to create temporally programmable smart materials. Yet, so far single‐component self‐assembly has been mostly explored. In contrast, multicomponent self‐assembly provides an opportunity to create unique nanostructures exhibiting complex functional outcomes, newer and different than individual components. Even two‐component can result in multiple organizations, such as self‐sorted domains or co‐assembled heterostructures, can occur, thus making it highly complex to predict and reversibly modulate these microstructures. In this study, we attempted to create active bicomponent nanoparticle assemblies of orthogonally pH‐responsive‐group‐functionalized gold and cadmium selenide nanoparticles with temporal microstructural control on their composition (self‐sorted or co‐assembly) in order to harvest their emergent transient photocatalytic activity by coupling to temporal changes in pH. Moving towards multicomponent systems can deliver next level control in terms of structural and functional outcomes of supramolecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study envisages the potential application of chitosan‐coated Zingiber zerumbet essential oil nanoemulsion (ZEO‐CsNE) as green antimicrobial preservative against Aspergillus flavus, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and lipid peroxidation of stored functional foods. GC‐MS analysis of ZEO exhibited the abundance of cis‐geraniol (15.53%) as the major component. ZEO‐CsNE showed biphasic release profile during in vitro release study conducted for 10 days. The ZEO‐CsNE inhibited the growth of A. flavus (strain AF‐LHP‐SH1) and AFB1 production at 1.0 and 0.8 µL/mL, respectively. Interestingly, considerable reduction in ergosterol biosynthesis followed by enhanced leakage of vital cellular contents and methylglyoxal inhibition represents novel antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic mechanism of action, respectively. Further, ZEO‐CsNE inhibited lipid peroxidation and AFB1 production in postharvest Salvia hispanica seeds during in situ trial and presented favorable safety profile (median lethal dose [LD50] = 29,114 µL/kg) for male mice. Based on overall observations, ZEO‐CsNE could be recommended as a green antimicrobial substitute of synthetic preservatives for in vitro and in situ protection of functional food samples. Practical Application: Food industries are facing enormous amount of burden coming from fungal and aflatoxin contamination that can cause severe adverse effects to humans. Essential oils (EOs) are well known for their food preservative efficacy; however, some limitations such as oxidative instability in open system may limit their application directly into food system. The encapsulation of the EOs into polymeric matrix could provide a barrier that will protect the EOs from degradation. This research could provide a basis for utilization of EO after encapsulation into chitosan nanoemulsion for industrial‐scale application for preservation of stored functional foods from fungal and aflatoxin contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, poorly recognized and underdiagnosed syndrome of excessive immune activation, which is rapidly fatal. HLH can occur as a familial or secondary disorder. Secondary HLH is most commonly associated with infections, malignancies, or autoimmune diseases. It primarily affects patients with a compromised immune system and rarely presents in immunocompetent individuals. Acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) associated HLH in the immunocompetent individual is extremely rare and only documented in five case reports till date. We, hereby, report a case of 18 years old young immunocompetent man who was diagnosed to have HLH secondary to CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fish oils, which are rich in healthpromoting polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), have emerged as promising functional foods in the global health and wellness food market. Their source regarding the fish type, season, and location of harvesting might influence the nutritional value of such bioactive oils and determine their market price. The differences in price among such oils often lead to economically motivated mislabeling and adulteration. Objective: In this study, our objective was to demonstrate how a qualitative targeted shotgun lipid profile workflow using an electrospray ionization–quadrupole-linear ion trap MS (QTrap) could differentiate fish oils originating from two different species. Methods: Five samples each of sardine (Sardinella longiceps) oil and shark (Echinorhinus brucus) liver oil were diluted to a concentration of 80 μg/mL in chloroform–methanol (1 + 2, v/v) with 5 mM ammonium acetate. These samples were directly infused into a QTrap MS. The data were acquired for 23 precursor ion and 4 neutral loss scan experiments in the positive ionization mode and compared. Results: We identified the following major lipid classes: cholesteryl ester, diacyl glycerol, triacylglycerol, monoalkyldiacylglycerol, and phophatydyl choline. The relative peak areas of the identified lipid species, when subjected to supervised multivariate analysis, could effectively distinguish the sardine oil and shark liver oil. Conclusions: The approach will be useful in establishing authenticity of fish oil and to support the regulatory agencies in dispute resolution. It can also be extended to establish authenticity in other agricultural and food commodities. Highlights: This paper reports a proof of concept for authenticating PUFA-rich fish supplements. A shotgun targeted lipidomics profile and chemometrics modeling successfully discriminated sardine oil and shark liver oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research work proposes a high gain MIMO antenna with improved isolation. The present antenna is low profile and contains four elements built with FR-4 substrate. This antenna uses a superstrate based metasurface to reduce the coupling between antenna elements and frequency selective surface (FSS) to improve the antenna gain. The suggested antenna is topped with a superstrate-based metasurface, which is positioned at a height of 15 mm below the antenna. FSS structure consists of a concentric circular ring on a single-layered FR4 substrate. The present MIMO antenna has operating band of 1.18–2.89 GHz with a peak gain of 8.44 dBi and isolation of less than − 20 dB between each antenna element. This MIMO antenna provides maximum efficiency of 96% and 92.3% reduction in the correlation coefficient. Additionally, the current structure offers a diversity gain (DG) of 9.99 and an envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) of 0.01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdel-Basset et al. (Neural Computing and Applications, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00521-018-3404-6) proposed methods for solving different types of neutrosophic linear programming problems (NLPPs) (NLPPs in which some/all the parameters are represented as trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers (TrNNs)). Abdel-Basset et al. also pointed out that as a trapezoidal fuzzy number is a special case of trapezoidal neutrosophic number. Therefore, the fuzzy linear programming problems which can be solved by the existing methods (Ganesan and Veermani, Ann Oper Res, 2006, 143 : 305-315; Ebrahimnejad and Tavana, Appl Math Model, 2014, 38 : 4388-4395; Kumar et al., 2011, Appl Math Model, 35 : 817-823; Satti et al., Int J Decis Sci, 7 : 312-33) can also be solved by thier proposed method. In addition to that, to show the advantages of their proposed method over the existing methods (Ganesan and Veermani, Ann Oper Res, 2006, 143 : 305-315; Ebrahimnejad and Tavana, Appl Math Model, 2014, 38 : 4388-4395; Kumar et al., 2011, Appl Math Model, 35 : 817-823; Satti et al., Int J Decis Sci, 7 : 312-33), Abdel-Basset et al. solved the same fuzzy linear programming problems by their proposed method as well as the existing methods (Ganesan and Veermani, Ann Oper Res, 2006, 143 : 305-315; Ebrahimnejad and Tavana, Appl Math Model, 2014, 38 : 4388-4395; Kumar et al., 2011, Appl Math Model, 35 : 817-823; Satti et al., Int J Decis Sci, 7 : 312-33) and shown that the results, obtained on applying by their proposed method are better than the results, obtained on applying the existing methods (Ganesan and Veermani, Ann Oper Res, 2006, 143 : 305-315; Ebrahimnejad and Tavana, Appl Math Model, 2014, 38 : 4388-4395; Kumar et al., 2011, Appl Math Model, 35 : 817-823; Satti et al., Int J Decis Sci, 7 : 312-33). After a deep study of Abdel-Basset et al. 's method, it is observed that Abdel-Basset et al. have considered several mathematical incorrect assumptions in their proposed method and hence, it is scientifically incorrect to use Abdel-Basset et al. 's method in its present form. The aim of this paper is to make the researchers aware about the mathematical incorrect assumptions, considered by Abdel-Basset et al. in their proposed method, as well as to suggest the required modifications in Abdel-Basset et al. 's method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kumar and Garg (Applied Intelligence, 2017, ) pointed out the limitations of some existing methods for solving intuitionistic fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) problems. Also, to overcome the limitations, Kumar and Garg proposed a connection number (CN) based method for solving intuitionistic fuzzy MADM problems. In this paper, it is shown that the ranking method, used in Step 5 of Kumar and Garg's method for comparing connection numbers (CNs), fails to compare two distinct CNs. Hence, Kumar and Garg's method fails to rank the alternatives of intuitionistic fuzzy MADM problems. Furthermore, to overcome the limitation of Kumar and Garg's method, a new ranking method (named as Mehar ranking method) is proposed for comparing CNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seminal fluid proteins elicit several post-mating physiological changes in mated Drosophila melanogaster females. Some of these changes persist for over a week after mating because the seminal protein that causes these changes, the Sex Peptide (SP), binds to sperm that are stored in the female reproductive tract. SP's sperm binding is mediated by a network of at least eight seminal proteins. We show here that some of these network proteins (CG1656, CG1652, CG9997 and Antares) bind to sperm within 2 h of mating, like SP. However, while SP remains bound to sperm at 4 days post-mating, none of the other network proteins are detectable at this time. We also observed that the same network proteins are detectable at 2 h post-mating in seminal receptacle tissue from which sperm have been removed, but are no longer detectable there by 4 days post-mating, suggesting short-term retention of these proteins in this female sperm storage organ. Our results suggest that these network proteins act transiently to facilitate the conditions for SP's binding to sperm, perhaps by modifying SP or the sperm surface, but are not part of a long-acting complex that stably attaches SP to sperm. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A network of Drosophila seminal proteins is known to bind Sex Peptide (SP) to sperm. • Several network proteins also bind stored sperm at 2 h post-mating. • At 2 h post-mating, these proteins also are found in sperm-free seminal receptacles. • By 4 d post-mating, only SP is detectable on sperm and within seminal receptacles. • These network proteins may act locally to modify SP or sperm to allow binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermoid cyst accounts for 10-20 % of all ovarian tumors. Traditionally giant ovarian cysts have been removed through a midline laparotomy. Here we report a case of laparoscopy-assisted removal of a giant dermoid cyst in an adolescent girl. Case Presentation: A 17-year-old girl presented with a complaint of abdominal distension for 7 months. Abdominal examination revealed a well-defined tense cystic mass arising from the pelvis and extending up to the epigastric region. CT scan of abdomen and pelvis reported a mature teratoma of size 25.5x19.9x35cm of the right ovary. Laparoscopic excision of the cyst was performed following extracorporeal drainage of the cyst. Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted removal of a giant ovarian dermoid cyst is a feasible mode of treatment irrespective of its size provided malignancy has been ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a circular polarization-agile and beam switching enabled reconfigurable cavity-backed antenna having the ability to steer its radiation beam in different directions is presented. The antenna consists of two E-shaped driven patches, a tunable phase shifter integrated with PIN diodes for pattern switching and four switchable feeding probes for implementing polarization agility. The proposed antenna can simultaneously change its polarization and pattern. Beam switching and polarization agility are independently controlled by altering the OFF-ON states of diodes loaded on the feed network and switchable feeding probes. For validity of the proposed concept, the antenna prototype is fabricated and tested. The proposed antenna has measured impedance bandwidth (S 11 < -10 dB) and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidths of 23% and 17.4% respectively for all states over the frequency range 4.7–5.6 GHz. The measured and simulation results show that the antenna can scan up to ± 30° with five reconfigurable beams and two polarizations states for each reconfigurable beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a myeloproliferative disorder most commonly associated with JAK2V617F mutation. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has a wide range of etiologies and PV is one of them. CVST associated with PV has a poor prognosis. Some patients with classical PV lack JAK2V617F mutation and the molecular basis of JAK2V617F-negative PV is not known. We hereby report a case of a young man who presented with headache, vomiting and altered sensorium and was found to have recurrent CSVT. The patient had primary polycythemia and was subsequently diagnosed to have JAK2-negative PV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In indium phosphide quantum dots (InP QDs), the presence of surface states due to unbonded indium or phosphorus atoms quenches its photoluminescence (PL) efficiencies. Hence, it is imperative to passivate these surface states to achieve high photoluminescence efficiencies of InP nanocrystals. In this work, a novel post-synthesis nascent H chemical treatment to enhance the quantum yield of single-pot, wet chemical route synthesized InP QD's is reported for the first time. The main advantages of this post-synthesis treatment are: (i) it is easy, inexpensive and reproducible and (ii) it does not involve harsh chemical treatment viz. dipping of InP QDs in HF-based solutions, nor it requires annealing at high temperatures which may be detrimental to the fragile structure of InP. The significant increment in PL intensity upon aforementioned hydrogen treatment is due to the passivation of surface states and structural recrystallization mechanism that promotes radiative recombination of electrons and holes and hence higher lifetime values. An enhancement in PL intensity of as-synthesized InP QDs upon nascent hydrogen treatment is quite remarkable and is even better than that accomplished by InP-ZnS core-shell QDs with similar size-distribution. The hydrophobicity of H-treated InP QD's is found to be more than untreated InP thus implying higher compactness and structural rigidity similar to as achieved by InP-ZnS core-shell QDs. Mechanisms related to nascent hydrogen treatment, photo-oxidation and PL enhancement and its effect on the surface stoichiometry of InP QDs are discussed via structural, morphological, compositional and optical studies corroborated by various complementary techniques viz. SEM, HRTEM, EDAX,NMR, DLS, Zeta Potential, Contact Angle, PL and Transient Absorption respectively. The application of InP films as a humidity sensor has been demonstrated and untreated InP film in particular shows higher sensitivity values upon exposure to humid treatment as compared with H-treated InP and InP-ZnS core-shell QD's respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several environmental stresses are the major hindrances in achieving the attainable yield in wheat crop. The actual losses due to biotic stresses is estimated in the range of 26-29%, however, abiotic stresses have more adverse effects on crop yield and are responsible for about 70% of yield reduction worldwide. Agrochemicals are widely considered as an effective management strategy for wheat crop diseases and insect pests but they adversely affect the human and animal health due to accumulation of chemical residues in the soil, plant tissues and grains. Hence, there is a need for alternate management strategies to protect crop plants against various stresses. Species of the genus Trichoderma are economically important as biocontrol agents, serving as a potential alternative to agrochemicals for overcoming the biotic and abiotic stresses. The importance of Trichoderma in alleviating the myriad of biotic and abiotic stresses of wheat is discussed in this review article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMG) based direct-drive wind turbines (DDWTs) have recently drawn the attention of the wind power market given their low operation and maintenance cost, reliability, and longer lifetime. In this paper, a zero dc-link impedance topology for DDWT-PMG systems is presented. The proposed topology eliminates the use of the failure-prone dc bus capacitor by replacing the grid-side converter with a phasor pulse-width modulation (PPWM) boost current source inverter (CSI), also referred to as indirect boost matrix converter. Furthermore, the novelty of the proposed topology lies in utilizing the synchronous inductance of the PMG as the dc-link inductor required by the boost-CSI, thus decreasing the overall system weight and size. In addition, the PPWM boost-CSI enables a high voltage-boosting ratio, which allows the design of a low-voltage PMG. As a result, the PMG size, weight, and high-cost PM material volume can be decreased. The feasibility of the low-voltage generator is investigated through finite-element computations using as a base for comparison an existing 1.5-MW DDWT-PMG. This comparison demonstrates a reduction in the generator volume, PM material, and the total weight of the generator. Finally, the proposed topology is validated through simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation for the first time explains the anti biofilm and anti virulence potential of Kaffir lime oil (KLO) and its major constituent, Citronellal (3,7-dimethyloct-6-enal) against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae , causal organism of bacterial blight disease of rice. KLO at 500 ppm showed potential activity against X. oryzae pv. oryzae . Among the major components identified, citronellal (CIT) at 75 μM concentration was found to significantly inhibit biofilm along with the swimming and swarming potential of X. oryzae pv. oryzae . In contrary, CIT did not affect the metabolic status and growth kinetics of the bacterial cells. Gene expression analysis showed down regulation in motA, cheD, cheY, flgF, gumC, xylanase, endogluconase, cellulose, cellobiosidase, virulence and rpfF transcript levels by citronellal treatment. However, an insignificant effect of 75 μM CIT treatment was observed on motB, flgE, pilA, estY, pglA , protease and lytic genes expression. Finally, the observations recorded were in confirmity with the virulence leaf clip test as lesion length was significantly decreased (39%) in CIT treatment as compared to the control leaves inoculated with only X. oryzae pv. oryzae . Overall, the findings obtained advocate the use of CIT for promising anti biofilm and anti virulence activity which in turn can be used for managing the blight disease in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new topology is proposed for direct drive wind turbines that eliminates the use of the failure prone dc-bus electrolytic capacitor, avoids the need for a dc-link inductor by utilizing the synchronous inductance of the wind turbine permanent-magnet generator (PMG), and provides a low-voltage generator design, which decreases the amount of permanent-magnet material used in PMG, and reduces the volume and weight of the generator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentil is a major cool-season grain legume grown in South Asia, West Asia, and North Africa. Populations in developing countries of these regions have micronutrient deficiencies; therefore, breeding programs should focus more on improving the micronutrient content of food. In the present study, a set of 96 diverse germplasm lines were evaluated at three different locations in India to examine the variation in iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentration and identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that associate with the genetic variation. The genetic variation among genotypes of the association mapping (AM) panel was characterized using a genetic distance-based and a general model-based clustering method. The model-based analysis identified six subpopulations, which satisfactorily explained the genetic structure of the AM panel. AM analysis identified three SSRs (PBALC 13, PBALC 206, and GLLC 563) associated with grain Fe concentration explaining 9% to 11% of phenotypic variation and four SSRs (PBALC 353, SSR 317–1, PLC 62, and PBALC 217) were associated with grain Zn concentration explaining 14%, to 21% of phenotypic variation. These identified SSRs exhibited consistent performance across locations. These candidate SSRs can be used in marker-assisted genetic improvement for developing Fe and Zn fortified lentil varieties. Favorable alleles and promising genotypes identified in this study can be utilized for lentil biofortification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Blood donation provides an ideal setup for assessment of cardiovascular responses to mild hypovolemia for understanding the underlying mechanisms. Aim: To evaluate cardiovascular responses in time and magnitude by estimating the spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) during and after donation of 450 ml of blood. Methods: Continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure and lead II ECG was recorded before, during and after blood donation in 54 healthy volunteers (age 34.7 ± 5.08 years; weight 77.9 ± 8.20 kg), followed by offline analyses of baroreflex sensitivity. Results: The systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressures did not change during or after the blood donation. Decrease in pulse pressure and increase in heart rate was observed post donation. The spontaneous BRS decreased during [8.68 (6.038-12.69) ms/mmHg] and after blood donation [9.401 (6.396-11.59) ms/mmHg] as compared to the baseline [12.83 (6.884-18.18) ms/mmHg] with a significant decrease in α-HF on spectral analysis. Conclusion: Mild blood loss (450 ml) results in non-hypotensive haemorrhage with a decrease in spontaneous BRS before the rise of heart rate during blood donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the best of our knowledge, there is only one approach for solving neutrosophic cost minimization transportation problems. Since neutrosophic transportation problems are a new area of research, other researchers may be attracted to extend this approach for solving other types of neutrosophic transportation problems like neutrosophic solid transportation problems, neutrosophic time minimization transportation problems, neutrosophic transshipment problems, and so on. However, after a deep study of the existing approach, it is noticed that a mathematical incorrect assumption has been used in these existing approaches; therefore there is a need to modify these existing approaches. Keeping the same in mind, in this paper, the existing approach is modified. Furthermore, the exact results of some existing transportation problems are obtained by the modified approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]