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Introduction: Nutritional status during pregnancy is a determining factor for maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Protein is an essential nutrient for foetal development. If pregnancy is associated with an improper diet leading to protein deficiency, the prospects for maternal and foetal outcomes may be catastrophic. An electrophoretic study of serum protein patterns in pregnancy can help identify pregnancy-specific protein markers and facilitate the monitoring of feto-maternal health. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess serum protein levels and their fractions (albumin, alpha-1 globulin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin, and gamma globulin) using gel electrophoresis in healthy pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medical Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sultania Zanana Hospital, associated with Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, between January 2021 and February 2021. Fifty normal non-pregnant women of childbearing age and 50 normal pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy attending an antenatal clinic were enrolled and followed-up through the second and third trimesters for investigations. Serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were estimated using a fully automated chemistry analyser, and the electrophoretic patterns of serum protein fractions were analysed using an automated gel electrophoresis apparatus. Epi-Info statistical software was used for the statistical analysis of data, with p

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura is a rare mesenchymal tumor with

The application of extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes (EXs), is rapidly expanding in the field of medicine, owing to their remarkable properties as natural carriers of biological cargo. This study investigates utilization of exosomes derived from stromal cells of tumor adjacent normal tissues (NAF-EXs) for personalized medicine, which can be derived at the time of diagnosis by endoscopic ultrasound. Herein, we show that exosomes (EXs) derived from NAFs demonstrate differential bio-physical characteristics, efficient cellular internalization, drug loading efficiency, pancreatic tumor targeting and delivery of payloads. NAF-derived EXs (NAF-EXs) were used for loading ormeloxifene (ORM), a potent anti-cancer and desmoplasia inhibitor as a model drug. We found that ORM maintains normal fibroblast cell phenotype and renders them incompatible to be triggered for a CAF-like phenotype, which may be due to regulation of Ca2+ influx in fibroblast cells. NAF-EXs-ORM effectively blocked oncogenic signaling pathways involved in desmoplasia and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and repressed tumor growth in xenograft mouse model. In conclusion, our data suggests preferential tropism of NAF-EXs for PDAC tumors, thus imply feasibility of developing a novel personalized medicine for PDAC patients using autologous NAF-EXs for improved therapeutic outcome of anti-cancer drugs. Additionally, it provides the opportunity of utilizing this biological scaffold for effective therapeutics in combination with standard therapeutic regimen.

Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)-based assays are extensively being utilized to detect coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, due to a lack of RT-qPCR testing capability, these tests cannot be carried out in community clinics. The intention of our study was to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of Rapid Antigen Detection (RAT) tests versus those of RT-qPCR using nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal specimens. Respiratory swab specimens were collected from the COVID-19 patients admitted at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur, CG, India, during March to April 2022. RAT and RT-qPCR were performed using standard methods as per guidebook instructions, and subjects were chosen using a convenience sample technique. 100 swabs from patients, who had earlier verified positive and 100 from who had earlier verified negative for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-qPCR, were taken for study. Study was approved by the institutional ethical committee before data collection and initiation of the study. We evaluated for the sensitivity and specificity of the STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag test kit (SD Biosensor). On testing, an over-all sensitivity and specificity of the kit was recorded as 74% and 100%, respectively in comparison to the RT-qPCR kit. Further, the assay’s sensitivity was shown to be 100%, 94.87%, 77.27%, and 55.56%, respectively, for samples with cycle thresholds (Ct) of 15-25, 25-30, 30-35, and >35. We draw the conclusion that the RT-qPCR assay has superior sensitivity and specificity to the antigen assay. However, in all situations where RT-qPCR testing is difficult, the antigen assay could serve as a rapid and simple option for separating SARS-CoV-2 contagious from non-contagious patients.

Silver oak, Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. is an important exotic tree species component of urban forestry in India. However, the occurrence of insect-pests in exotics causes tremendous impact on the production and yield in nurseries as well-established plantations; consequently, reducing profits and inducing high expense to stakeholders. Thus, a detailed account of insect-pests infestation and their impact becomes important. Therefore, present study was undertaken to find out the insect pest occurrence on G. robusta in the nursery, plantation established at different geographical region of northern India from 2018-2022. The study result exhibited infestation of ten insect-pests for the first time on G. robusta. Six species were defoliator in nature viz. Ascotis selenaria, Chrysodeixis includens, Ectropis bhurmitra, Helicoverpa armigera, Hyposidra talaca, and Olene inclusa; while infestation of four species of sap sacking nature viz. Asterolecanium sp., Ceroplastes rusci, Drosicha stebbingi, and Oxyrachis tarandus. The seasonal incidence and nature of damage were also recorded for the first time of these insects on G. robusta. This is the first attempt to report insect-pests of G. robusta, which gave an overview of the possible potential threat in India. The study would be beneficial for future reference with respect to pest management of G. robusta, when the species is taken up for tree improvement program in the long run.

Abstract The UV-mediated peptide exchange has enabled the generation of multiple different MHC multimer specificities in parallel, surpassing tedious individual refolding of MHC molecules with peptide ligands. Murine models are acknowledged as an effective tool for preclinical research to advance our understanding of immunological mechanisms, with the potential translatability of key learnings from mouse models to the clinic. The common inbred mouse strain BALB/c is frequently used in immunological research. However, for the BALB/c histocompatibility (H)-2 alleles availability of conditional ligand has been limited. To overcome this challenge, we design and experimentally validate conditional ligands restricted to murine MHC class I alleles H2Dd and H2Kd. In addition, we demonstrate the ability of the three H2d molecules and two additional C57BL/6 H2b molecules folded in-house with conditional ligands to generate fluorescently labeled peptide-H2 tetramers that allow staining of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in splenocyte samples. Finally, we generate large peptide-H-2 multimer libraries with a DNA-barcode labeling system for high-throughput interrogation of CD8+ T cell specificity in murine splenocyte samples. Consequently, the described techniques will contribute to our understanding of the antigen-specific CD8+ T cell repertoire in murine preclinical models of various diseases.

As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) increases in all countries, automobile companies are launching different types of EVs. Installation of EVCS in the present power system network without modification can cause an extra burden on the present network. However, this extra burden can be reduced if EVCS gets a supply of renewable energy resources. This paper proposes energy management schemes by installing a photo-voltaic distributed generator (PV-DG) and energy storage system (ESS) at an EVCS. An IEEE-33 bus system for the Saudi Arabia United Kingdom rural location has been selected to introduce real-time energy management schemes. In this radial distribution network (RDN), three EVCS of different capacities are installed at different locations to maintain the stability of the network. The power flow program is used in the MATLAB environment to check the stability of the network. Accurate solar data, traffic patterns, and EV charging patterns in Saudi Arabia are collected and used for energy management at EVCS. Three cases are used for comparison: EVCS annual charges, EVCS annual benefits, and grid annual fuel charges. All proposed cases are also simulated in MATLAB using MATPOWER6 to check the impact on voltage profile and power line flows.

The spread of Huanglongbing (HLB), a bacterial disease presumed to be caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, throughout the state of Florida has coincided with a steady decline in total citrus (Citrus sp.) production. This decline is partially attributable to the high rates of preharvest fruit drop seen in HLB-affected trees. Although mature fruit drop is a natural phenomenon, the drop rates continue to increase as HLB symptom severity worsens. Unfortunately, how HLB causes this increase in fruit drop remains unknown. The current study aimed to determine the fruit characteristics associated with mature fruit drop in sweet orange (Citrus ×sinensis) and to provide an understanding of the possible role of endogenous ethylene, carbohydrates, and water deficit in HLB-associated preharvest fruit drop. Therefore, preharvest fruit drop rates of ‘Hamlin’ and ‘Valencia’ trees exhibiting mild, moderate, or severe HLB symptoms were monitored during the preharvest period (October–December for ‘Hamlin’ and January–May for ‘Valencia’). In addition, a subset of 20 fruit was collected to measure the fruit detachment force (FDF), which is the amount of force necessary to detach the fruit from the stem. After performing FDF measurements, eight additional physical and biochemical variables of tight and loose fruit (categorized by FDF) were measured. The total fruit drop rate during the preharvest period was higher for trees with severe visual HLB symptoms than for mild trees. Similarly, this increase in drop rates was negatively correlated with the canopy density. The fruit from severe trees (with high preharvest drop) showed increases in gene activity related to ethylene and abscisic acid earlier in the preharvest drop season, but not late in the season. No consistent carbohydrate pattern in tight and loose fruit was observed. Fruit likely to drop (those with lower FDF) were also consistently smaller than the fruit likely to be maintained on the tree (those with higher FDF). Therefore, it is proposed that the suppression of fruit growth early in the developmental period (possibly caused by water deficit) determines the fate (to drop or not) of the fruit before they have reached physiological maturity. Thus, strategies to mitigate preharvest fruit drop should be applied earlier in the season, and possibly during early stages of fruit development. By the time actual fruit drop becomes evident, the fruit drop-related signals have already been triggered, and treatments may not effectively reduce drop.

IntroductionChildren transition from engaging control reactively as per the demands of a given situation, to using a proactive mode of control as an automatic response in all situations. Yet, it is crucial to study the age at which this transition takes place and to understand the development of the ability of flexible shifts in modes of control.MethodsTo investigate developmental changes in this ability of children and its relationship with school readiness and academic achievement, children in the continuous age groups of 5, 6–8, and 9–11 years performed a cued switching task. The task conditions were manipulated such that in the case of “Proactive Impossible” condition, only reactive control was available; in the case of “Proactive Encouraged” condition, only proactive control was available; and in the case of “Proactive Possible” condition, both proactive and reactive control could be used.ResultsA clear preference for reactive control was evident in 5-year-old children, along with the ability to engage in proactive control when encouraged. Nine to eleven-year-old children favored proactive control as their default mode. However, 6–8-year-olds displayed flexibility in shifting between control modes, compared to the other two age groups. This ability correlated with school readiness and academic achievement.DiscussionThese findings emphasize that 6–8 years of age marks the developmental period for flexible cognitive control, with the benefits of having access to and utilizing both control modes and their relationship with academic achievement.

Background: Tendinopathies like lateral epicondylosis (LE) are a difficult problem requiring lengthy management with patients often responding poorly to treatment. Although it is known as a tendonitis, histopathologic studies in recalcitrant LE have shown that it is associated with few inflammatory cells and more of fibroblasts. Emerging regenerative therapies such as autologous blood, platelet-rich plasma, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and tenotomy have a significant role in the management of recalcitrant cases. The present study aimed to compare ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle tenotomy and extracorporeal shockwave therapy in reducing pain and functional disability in the management of recalcitrant LE. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted for 2 years on 82 patients recruited from the outpatient department, and they were randomly assigned to two groups – Group A (41 patients) received extracorporeal shockwave therapy, while Group B (41 patients) underwent ultrasound-guided tenotomy of the common extensor tendon. The outcome was measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), grip strength, and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and was assessed at baseline, 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Results: At the end of 24 weeks, the VAS score was 1.34 ± 0.48 in Group B, while it was still 3.44 ± 0.59 in Group A. The PRTEE score reduced to 24 ± 1.74 in Group B compared to 40.91 ± 2.94 in Group A. Conclusion: Percutaneous tenotomy provides significant improvement in pain and elbow activities as measured by VAS and PRTEE at 24 weeks, and thus, a single percutaneous tenotomy may be considered as a cheap and easy novel alternative in resistant cases of LE.

Abstract Background Obesity is a precursor for many co-morbid diseases. One of the main triggering factors for obesity is the abnormal expansion of white adipose tissue characterized by high rates of genesis and differentiation of precursor cells into mature adipocytes. As a result, targeting adipogenesis and adipogenic transcription factors opens new roadmaps for developing novel antiobesity pharmacotherapies. The present study was intended to rationally develop topiramate–phenolic acid conjugate for targeting obesity via inhibition of PPARγ which is often considered as the master regulator of adipogenesis. Results 2D QSAR models were built to foretell PPARγ inhibitory activity of designed conjugates. The models presented excellent robustness, goodness of fit, and predictive capability compounds. The highest PPARγ inhibitory activity was predicted for T3 (topiramate–caffeic acid conjugate) with a pIC50 value of 7.08 µM. Molecular docking was performed for all the designed conjugates against PPARγ (PDB ID: 3VSO). The highest binding affinity was exhibited by T3 (− 11.27 kcal/mol) and displayed strong and stable interactions with the receptor within the allosteric pocket in comparison to the irreversible PPARγ antagonist, GW9662 (binding affinity, − 9.0 kcal/mol). These results were confirmed by subjecting the best-docked molecules to molecular dynamic simulations. The PPARγ–T3 complex was observed to be most stable with maximum number of hydrogen bonds (maximum observed RMSD = 0.57 Å at 100 ns) in comparison to PPARγ–topiramate and PPARγ–caffeic acid complexes. Consequently, T3 was synthesized and further subjected to in vitro screening. The TR-FRET assay established T3 as a PPARγ antagonist (IC50 = 6.78 µM). T3 also significantly reduced the lipid buildup in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, T3 also reduced the protein expression levels of PPARγ as evidenced from western blot results. Conclusions Studies clearly indicated that T3 reduces adipose tissue cell differentiation by downstreaming PPARγ expression at protein levels, thereby emerging as a novel scaffold for antiobesity pharmacotherapy. Graphical abstract

Worldwide population growth and consumerism have elevated the water pollution problem to the top of the environmental priority list, with severe consequences for public health, particularly in agricultural countries such as India, where water scarcity is a big challenge. Hence, greywater has the potential to be one of the most sustainable options to meet the growing need for freshwater with satisfying treatment options. This study focused on the assessment of electrocoagulation coupled with the filtration and adsorption processes in continuous modes and different electrode arrangements including (Al-Fe-Al-Fe), (Fe-Al-Fe-Al), (Al-Al-Al-Al) and (Fe-Fe-Fe-Fe) to investigate the effect of specific flow rates (i.e., 0.05 and 0.1 liters per minute) on the removal efficiency. The findings show that a 0.05 lit/min flow rate produces a higher removal efficiency approximately between 85 to 90% with an energy consumption of between 0.5 to 4.75 KWh/m3 as compared to the 75 to 85% removal efficiency and 0.4 to 4 KWh/m3 energy consumption at a flow rate of 0.1 lit/min. The operational cost is variable and mainly depends upon the energy consumption; moreover, it was found that the optimal results and economy variation shown by the electrode assembly of Al-Fe-Al-Fe was between 20 to 22 Indian rupees at a 24 volt current density and in each combination of electrodes.

Abstract Numerous under-researched edible plants are present in the desert regions of the world. These plants could be potential candidates to ensure food security and provide valuable bioactive compounds through diet. In general, the bioactives present in food manifest synergistic, additive, or antagonistic interactions. The current study investigates such interactions between food combinations traditionally consumed in (semi) arid regions. Five edible plants (representing three food categories) were selected: Prosopis cineraria and Acacia senegal (legume), Capparis decidua and Cordia dichotoma (non-legume), and Mangifera indica (fruit), in which the first four are largely underutilized. The antioxidant capacities of individual plant extracts and their binary mixtures were analyzed by DPPH free radical scavenging and FRAP assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were also determined. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained for Prosopis cineraria extract (EC50—1.24 ± 0.02 mg/ml, FRAP value—380.58 ± 11.17 μM/g), while Mangifera indica exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity (EC50—2.54 ± 0.05 mg/ml, FRAP value—48.91 ± 4.34 μM/g). Binary mixture of Prosopis cineraria (legume) and Mangifera indica (fruit) manifested maximum synergy (experimental EC50—0.89 ± 0.01 mg/ml, theoretical EC50—3.79 ± 0.05 mg/ml). Correlation studies [Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) and Principal component analysis (PCA)] showed a high correlation of TFC with DPPH and TPC with FRAP values. LC–MS analysis of methanolic plant extracts detected 43 phenolic compounds (including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and isoflavonoids), possibly responsible for the observed food synergy. For edible plants of the (semi) arid zones, this study is a first-of-its-kind and provides scientific validation to the traditional wisdom of consuming these foods together. Such indigenous food combinations derived from desert flora could offer valuable insights into development of sustainable functional foods and nutraceuticals. Graphical Abstract

Wood can be a suitable alternative to energy-intensive materials in various applications. Nevertheless, its susceptibility to weathering and decay has significantly hindered the broad adoption of the most commercially significant wood species. While current solutions do tackle certain challenges, they often come with disadvantages like high costs, environmental risks, and/or inefficiencies. Nanotechnology-based methods can be employed to mitigate these weaknesses and create durable, sustainable wood materials. In this review, we delve into cutting-edge advancements in the development of biodeterioration-resistant wood through innovative nanotechnology approaches. These methods usually involve the application of nanomaterials, either possessing biocidal properties or serving as carriers for biocides. We systematically describe these approaches and compare them to conventional wood modification methods. Additionally, this review provides a brief overview of the prevalent biodeteriorating organisms and their mechanisms of action, which notably impact the development and choice of a suitable strategy for wood modification/treatment. Given the requirements of biodeteriorating organisms for growth and wood degradation, it is expected that the new nanotechnology-based approaches to enhance wood durability may provide innovative broad-spectrum biocidal nanosystems. These systems can simultaneously induce alterations in the physicochemical properties of wood, thereby constraining the availability of the growth requirements. These alterations can efficiently inhibit the biodeterioration process by decreasing water absorption, restricting access to the wood components, and reducing void spaces within the wood structure. Finally, this review highlights the new opportunities, challenges, and perspectives of nanotechnology methods for biodeterioration-resistant wood, through which some techno-economic, environmental and safety aspects associated with these methods are addressed.

Combined radial and ulnar artery injuries are associated with a >35% amputation rate when not revascularized promptly. We describe a patient who suffered a penetrating injury to both the radial and ulnar arteries. Despite the ulnar artery being ligated and the radial artery primary repair becoming occluded after the index operation, his hand remained salvageable, likely because of collateral arterial pathways. The patient obtained a delayed radial-radial artery bypass and afterward achieved meaningful neuromotor function. This case emphasizes the importance of forearm vascular anatomy variability and the need for prompt management of arterial injuries to reduce limb loss and disability.

The current era of rapid climate change necessitates greater emphasis on wild, often underutilized yet sturdy, edible plants that are capable of growing in harsh arid lands. When compared to more popular crops like rice, these are often of traditional significance and more region-specific; but needing less chemical fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation water, they can not only provide food and nutrition in a sustainable manner but also medicinally valuable compounds (nutraceuticals) to target various communicable and non-communicable diseases. These bioactive metabolites could also serve as markers for in-process quality control of herbal formulations and as metabolic biomarkers. Of late, a few of the common food crops across the world have benefited from the use of technological interventions, employing various Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors to collect data on the farm and conduct agro-food specific analytics. Machine Learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have found application in numerous facets of agriculture, particularly in tasks such as yield prediction, disease detection, weed detection, crop recognition, and assessing crop quality at pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages. ML technology also has shown potential to be effectively employed at various stages of bioactives discovery, encompassing target identification, compound screening, lead discovery, as well as pre-clinical and clinical development phases. However, the usage of these modern technologies has been less explored in the desert plants of the world. The current article reviews a few available examples and highlights the potential of employing ML and DL technologies in edible plants of the world, with a focus on sustainable desert flora, for achievement of multidisciplinary objectives, that is, agro-food production, food safety and bioactives discovery.

Maternally-loaded factors in the egg accumulate during oogenesis and are essential for the acquisition of oocyte and egg developmental competence to ensure the production of viable embryos. However, their molecular nature and functional importance remain poorly understood. Here, we present a collection of 9 recessive maternal-effect mutants identified in a zebrafish forward genetic screen that reveal unique molecular insights into the mechanisms controlling the vertebrate oocyte-to-embryo transition. Four genes, over easy, p33bjta, poached and black caviar, were found to control initial steps in yolk globule sizing and protein cleavage during oocyte maturation that act independently of nuclear maturation. The krang, kazukuram, p28tabj, and spotty genes play distinct roles in egg activation, including cortical granule biology, cytoplasmic segregation, the regulation of microtubule organizing center assembly and microtubule nucleation, and establishing the basic body plan. Furthermore, we cloned two of the mutant genes, identifying the over easy gene as a subunit of the Adaptor Protein complex 5, Ap5m1, which implicates it in regulating intracellular trafficking and yolk vesicle formation. The novel maternal protein Krang/Kiaa0513, highly conserved in metazoans, was discovered and linked to the function of cortical granules during egg activation. These mutant genes represent novel genetic entry points to decipher the molecular mechanisms functioning in the oocyte-to-embryo transition, fertility, and human disease. Additionally, our genetic adult screen not only contributes to the existing knowledge in the field but also sets the basis for future investigations. Thus, the identified maternal genes represent key players in the coordination and execution of events prior to fertilization.

In clinical research, it is crucial to segment the magnetic resonance (MR) brain image for studying the internal tissues of the brain. To address this challenge in a sustainable manner, a novel approach has been proposed leveraging the power of unsupervised clustering while integrating conditional spatial properties of the image into intuitionistic clustering technique for segmenting MRI images of brain scans. In the proposed technique, an Intuitionistic-based clustering approach incorporates a nuanced understanding of uncertainty inherent in the image data. The measure of uncertainty is achieved through calculation of hesitation degree. The approach introduces a conditional spatial function alongside the intuitionistic membership matrix, enabling the consideration of spatial relationships within the image. Furthermore, by calculating weighted intuitionistic membership matrix, the algorithm gains the ability to adapt its smoothing behavior based on the local context. The main advantages are enhanced robustness with homogenous segments, lower sensitivity to noise, intensity inhomogeneity and accommodation of degree of hesitation or uncertainty that may exist in the real-world datasets. A comparative analysis of synthetic and real datasets of MR brain images proves the efficiency of the suggested approach over different algorithms. The paper investigates how the suggested research methodology performs in medical industry under different circumstances including both qualitative and quantitative parameters such as segmentation accuracy, similarity index, true positive ratio, false positive ratio. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that the suggested algorithm outperforms in retaining image details and achieving segmentation accuracy.

In the present study, genetic screening of Sahiwal and Holstein Friesian (HF) cattle and its crosses was conducted using the PCR-RFLP technique to detect the presence of CVM and DUMPS disorders. Genomic DNA was extracted from 50 Sahiwal and 100 HF animals and its crosses using commercially available kits. Gene-specific primers were utilized for in vitro amplification of SLC35A3 and UMPS genes by PCR, followed by RFLP analysis using PstI and AvaI restriction endonucleases for CVM and DUMPS, respectively. Subsequently, the PCR products were purified and sequenced to confirm any mutations in the DNA target sequences. Notably, no affected or carrier animals for CVM and DUMPS disorders were identified among the screened animals. Thus, the gene and genotype frequency of CVM and DUMPS carriers was zero, indicating a 100% frequency of normal animals. The study underscores the importance of continued screening for these genetic disorders, involving a larger sample size across the state, and advocates for mandatory screening before utilizing animals for breeding purposes, in adherence to minimum standard protocols.

Lupus nephritis (LN), a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), leads to significant kidney inflammation and damage and drastically increases mortality risk. Predominantly impacting women in their reproductive years, LN poses specific risks during pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia, growth restrictions, stillbirth, and preterm delivery, exacerbated by lupus activity, specific antibodies, and pre-existing conditions like hypertension. Effective management of LN during pregnancy is crucial and involves carefully balancing disease control with the safety of the fetus. This includes pre-conception counseling and a multidisciplinary approach among specialists to navigate the complexities LN patients face during pregnancy, such as distinguishing LN flare-ups from pregnancy-induced conditions. This review focuses on exploring the complex dynamics between pregnancy and LN, emphasizing the management difficulties and the heightened risks pregnant women with LN encounter.

The advancement of the Mellin transformation is that it exhibits a scale-invariant nature, and thus, it is widely used in computer science. Fuzzy Mellin transformation can provide the purposes of such problems in uncertain phenomena. The existing studies on fuzzy Mellin transformation consider the fuzzy level cut approach, which makes the fuzzy valued functions into their crisp couplets regarding lower and uppercuts. This paper reconstructs a distinct mathematical frame for the Mellin transformation in a completely fuzzy environment in the sense of a modified Hukuhara derivative. In this paper, we mean the complete fuzzy environment to describe fuzzy phenomena where the conversion of the fuzzy function to its crisp counterpart is annulled. The proposed fuzzy Mellin transformation’s superiority over existing approaches is that it can be used directly to fuzzy valued functions without converting them to their crisp counter version. The challenges to dealing with fuzzy valued mappings and inputs without its level cut representation have been tackled in this manuscript. Furthermore, numerical examples, possible applications, and further extensions of this work are hinted at in this paper.

Piper betel contains phytochemicals with diverse pharmacological effects. The objective of this study was to enhance the extraction efficiency of phytochemicals and the chlorophyll content using ultrasonication. The Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the time (10, 20, 30 min), temperature (20, 30, and 40 °C), and solid-solvent ratio (1:10, 1:20, 1:30) by utilizing response surface methods with three independent variables. Multiple parameters, including extract yield, total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity, and chlorophyll content were used to optimize the conditions. The linear relationship between power intensity and responses was determined to be statistically significant, with a p-value less than 0.01. The interaction effect of temperature, time, and ratio of solid solvent was shown to be statistically significant (p

Summary: Assessing the development and function of the sympathetic nervous system in diseases on a large scale is challenging. Here, we present a protocol to generate human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived postganglionic sympathetic neurons (symNs) differentiated via neural crest cells (NCCs), which can be cryopreserved. We describe steps for hPSC replating, NCC replating and cryobanking, and symN differentiation. We then demonstrate the functionality of the hPSC-derived symNs, focusing on electrophysiological activity, calcium flux, and norepinephrine dynamics.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Wu et al.1,2 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Increased preharvest fruit drop rates and reduced fruit sizes are common symptoms associated with Huanglongbing (HLB) in sweet orange. Small fruit may be more likely to drop during preharvest fruit drop. The objective of the current study was to determine whether fruit size could be used as an indicator of the preharvest fruit drop likelihood. Nearly 1400 fruit were surveyed over the following three timepoints across two years: 11 Mar 2022, 15 Apr 2022, and 22 Mar 2023. Each fruit was evaluated to determine the equator and peduncle diameter, fruit detachment force (FDF), type of detachment (mechanically broken or abscission), and lopsidedness. The total soluble solids content was determined for a subset of fruit. The FDF was consistently lower in abscising fruit than in mechanically broken fruit, suggesting that the physiological process of abscission had begun in these fruit and that they were more likely to drop. The fruit diameter was significantly smaller in abscising fruit than in mechanically broken fruit on 11 Mar 2022 and 22 Mar 2023, but not on 15 Apr 2022. Similarly, the fruit diameter and FDF were also significantly and positively correlated, but this relationship was weaker at time points late in the season (closer to harvest). These findings suggest that small fruit are indeed more likely to drop early in the preharvest period. The abscising fruit had total soluble solids contents similar to those of the mechanically broken fruit. Therefore, we hypothesized that the smaller fruit ceased growing and are able to respond to abscission signals earlier than the larger fruit. Therefore, any strategies to mitigate fruit drop, such as the use of plant growth regulators, should be applied early in the season when the fruit are still actively growing. When growth ceases, the fruit are vulnerable to drop.

This work successfully demonstrates a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for synthesizing Semal-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using the aqueous leaf extract of Bombax ceiba L. These NPs exhibit an absorption peak at approximately 390 nm in the UV-visible spectrum and an energy gap (Eg) of 3.11 eV. Detailed analyses of the morphology and particle size using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, XRD, FE-SEM with EDS, and HR-TEM reveal crystallographic peaks attributable to the hexagonal phase, with an average crystal size of 17 nm. The Semal-ZnO NPs also exhibit a notable photocatalytic efficiency for degrading methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under sunlight in different water samples collected from diverse natural sources, indicating that they are promising photocatalysts for environmental remediation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the biofabricated Semal-ZnO NPs is impressive, exhibiting a photodegradation rate of up to 99% for MB and 79% for MO in different water samples under exposure to sunlight. The novel phytofabricated Semal-ZnO NPs are thus a beacon of hope for the environment, with their desirable photocatalytic efficiency, pseudo-first-order kinetics, and ability to break down noxious dye pollutants in various aquatic environments.

The present study describes an environmentally benign biological method for the production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by blending water-based leaf extract from a sustainable bio-source, the Arjuna tree, under ambient conditions. Aqueous leaf extract comprised of different reducing agents appeared as the precursor for phytofabrication, and zinc nitrate hexahydrate (ZnNO3·6H2O) acted as a zinc source. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs had a hexagonal shape with an average size of 31.14 nm, as revealed by HR-TEM, FE-SEM micrographs, and XRD patterns. The FESEM-EDS micrograph and the XRD patterns also revealed the elemental composition, phase purity, and crystalline nature of phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs. The initial formation of ZnO NPs was confirmed by absorption maxima at approximately 376 nm and Zn-O stretching vibrations at 520 cm−1 using UV–VIS and an FT-IR spectrophotometers, respectively. The aqueous extract of Arjuna leaf was also analysed using FT-IR spectrophotometer to identify the functional groups of bioactive substances that participated in the reduction and encapsulation processes. The efficacy of the Arjuna-ZnO NPs was assessed in terms of their ability to photocatalyzed on three noxious dyes, methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and congo red (CR), for high commercial and industrial usage. The phytofabricated Arjuna-ZnO NPs were photoactive and proved highly efficient and effective nano-photocatalysts for the photodegradation of three dyes, MB, MO, and CR, under natural sunshine, underscoring their potential for effective remediation of environmental pollutants. The degradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics in terms of adsorption kinetics.

Abstract Cisplatin is an alkylating class of chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat cancer patients. However, cisplatin fails in long-term treatment, and drug resistance is the primary reason for tumor recurrence. Hence, understanding the mechanism of acquirement of chemoresistance is essential for developing novel combination therapeutic approaches. In this study, in vitro cisplatin-resistant cancer cell line models were developed. Gene ontology and GSEA of differentially expressed genes between parental and resistant cells suggest that PI3K-AKT signaling, central carbon metabolism, and epigenetic-associated phenomenon alter in cisplatin-resistant cells. Further, the data showed that increased glucose transport, alteration in the activity of histone-modifying enzymes, and acetyl-CoA levels in resistant cells paralleled an increase in global histone acetylation. Enrichment of histone acetylation on effectors of PI3K-AKT and glycolysis pathway provides evidence of epigenetic regulation of the key molecules in drug resistance. Moreover, cisplatin treatment to resistant cells showed no significant changes in histone acetylation marks since drug treatment alters cell epigenome. In continuation, targeting PI3K-AKT signaling and glycolysis leads to alteration in histone acetylation levels and re-sensitization of resistant cells to chemo-drug. The data provide evidence of histone acetylation's importance in regulating pathways and cisplatin-resistant cells' cell survival. Our study paves the way for new approaches for developing personalized therapies in affecting metabolic pathways and epigenetic changes to achieve better outcomes for targeting drug-resistant cells.

Background: Skin disorders are common as skin is constantly exposed to various chemicals, ultraviolet rays, climate, etc., making it prone to damage leading to various diseases. The spectrum of skin disorder lesions varies according to geographical distribution, gender, and age. A large number of skin lesions can be diagnosed clinically, but histopathological examination is necessary for accurate diagnosis and proper management. Literature shows few such studies in India, but no such study could be found for the Indian Armed Forces population. The aim of our study was to understand the pattern of skin diseases in Armed Forces population. Materials and Methods: All skin biopsies received between January 2022 and December 2022 were included in the study. Two hundred skin biopsies received were examined for various skin ailments. The skin biopsies were processed, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and wherever required special stains like modified Ziehl–Neelsen stain. The histopathological data were retrieved and reviewed. The data were collected and entered into SPSS 20.0 for statistical analysis. Results: Out of the two hundred cases studied, the most common group of disorders were of noninfectious nonneoplastic category (55%), followed by benign neoplasms (25%) and infectious category (18%), with least cases belonging to malignant category (2%). Commonly involved site in the body was upper limbs. The most common disorder found in males was psoriasis and in females was lobular capillary hemangioma. Conclusion: Understanding spectrum of histopathological spectrum of skin disorders will aid in identifying and managing different disorders, effectively providing high-quality care to the patient.

Abstract The present study assesses trends in rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, Central India, over the long (1871–2016) as well as short (1987–2016) temporal scales. The region is home to disadvantageous groups of the population including vulnerable tribals who depend on rainfall-based agriculture and forest products. Therefore, any disruption in rainfall trends due to climate change needs to be documented for better planning. This study focuses on two meteorological subdivisions, East and West Madhya Pradesh, which receive a major portion of rainfall through the Bay of Bengal branch and the Arabian Sea branch of the Indian Summer Monsoon. The study is based on the rainfall series provided by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, India. This study used the Mann–Kendall test to detect a trend and Sen’s Slope to estimate the magnitude of change in rainfall. Statistically significant negative trends were detected in total annual (− 1.125 mm y − 1) and monsoon (− 1.242 mm y − 1) rainfall over long-term observation in East Madhya Pradesh only. However, during the last 30 years, no trends have been recorded in East Madhya Pradesh. In West Madhya Pradesh, rainfall has not recorded any trend for long- as well as short-term observation periods. The non-availability of a trend in rainfall during May and October at both meteorological subdivisions shows that there is no shift in the duration of the monsoon season over long as well as short temporal observations. The decreasing rainfall trends in Eastern Madhya Pradesh over the long-term observation seem to be caused by changing patterns of tropical cyclone frequency in the Bay of Bengal.

Background: Hematological and neurological symptoms can be signs of B12 inadequacy. This work was intended to evaluate the severity of B12 deficiency and link it to peripheral neuropathy (PN) and anaemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) adults who were using metformin. Methods: To assess PN, the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) directed a hospital-based cross-sectional investigation of 245 adults with T2DM who were taking metformin. 155 subjects who fulfilled the insertion and rejection criteria provided fasting blood samples for measurement of vitamin B12, haemoglobin, HbA1c, and cell morphology using chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (C.L.I.A), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and C.B.C respectively. Results: Among adults with T2DM taking metformin, B12 deficiency (B12< 200pg/ml) was prevalent in 52% cases. O.R of vegetarian diet and B12 insufficiency was 2.33 (C.I. 1.22-4.47) (p < 0.05). Despite the fact that there were no cases of macrocytic anaemia, 40% of people had anaemia, which was not related to a B12 deficiency. According to ROC analysis, serum B12 has emerged as a fair test to predict PN scores of 2.25 (p < 0.001). 38% of people had PN (PN score ≥ 2.5) Conclusions: The usage of metformin was linked to biochemical B12 insufficiency. B12 deficiency was likely to result in PN scores ≥ 2.5 on the MNSI. In T2DM individuals using metformin, serum B12 screening and the use of MNSI for PN are suggested.

Background. Recurrence of glomerulonephritis (GN) is a significant contributor to long-term allograft failure among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with kidney failure because of GN. Accumulating evidence has revealed the role of vitamin D in both innate and adaptive immunity. Although vitamin D deficiency is common among KTRs, the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and GN recurrence in KTRs remains unclear. Methods. We analyzed data from KTRs with kidney failure caused by GN who received a transplant at our center from 2000 to 2019 and had at least 1 valid posttransplant serum 25(OH)D measurement. Survival analyses were performed using a competing risk regression model considering other causes of allograft failure, including death, as competing risk events. Results. A total of 67 cases of GN recurrence were identified in 947 recipients with GN followed for a median of 7.0 y after transplant. Each 1 ng/mL lower serum 25(OH)D was associated with a 4% higher hazard of recurrence (subdistribution hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.06). Vitamin D deficiency (≤20 ng/mL) was associated with a 2.99-fold (subdistribution HR: 2.99; 95% CI, 1.56-5.73) higher hazard of recurrence compared with vitamin D sufficiency (≥30 ng/mL). Results were similar after further adjusting for concurrent urine protein–creatinine ratio, serum albumin, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Conclusions. Posttransplant vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher hazard of GN recurrence in KTRs. Further prospective observational studies and clinical trials are needed to determine any causal role of vitamin D in the recurrence of GN after kidney transplantation. More in vitro and in vivo experiments would be helpful to understand its effects on autoimmune and inflammation processes.

Diabetes is an enduring metabolic condition identified by heightened blood sugar levels stemming from insufficient production of insulin or ineffective utilization of insulin within the body. India is commonly labeled as the “diabetes capital of the world” owing to the widespread prevalence of this condition. To the best of the authors' last knowledge updated on September 2021, approximately 77 million adults in India were reported to be affected by diabetes, reported by the International Diabetes Federation. Owing to the concealed early symptoms, numerous diabetic patients go undiagnosed, leading to delayed treatment. While Computational Intelligence approaches have been utilized to improve the prediction rate, a significant portion of these methods lacks interpretability, primarily due to their inherent black box nature. Rule extraction is frequently utilized to elucidate the opaque nature inherent in machine learning algorithms. Moreover, to resolve the black box nature, a method for extracting strong rules based on Weighted Bayesian Association Rule Mining is used so that the extracted rules to diagnose any disease such as diabetes can be very transparent and easily analyzed by the clinical experts, enhancing the interpretability. The WBBN model is constructed utilizing the UCI machine learning repository, demonstrating a performance accuracy of 95.8%.

Callose is a 1,3-β glucan responsible for several processes in planta such as cell division, ripening of pollen mother cells, maintaining the plasmodesmata opening, and providing structure to the sieve plates. Besides the physiological roles, callose is deposited during pathogen attacks, forming papillae to prevent pathogen entrance into the tissue or plugging the sieve pores to limit the spread of phloem pathogens. Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the putative causal agent of Huanglongbing (HLB), is a phloem-restricted pathogen whose infection leads to the production of callose in the phloem. Characterizing the dynamics of callose plugging during HLB is important for understanding the disease, but no published protocols are available for the extraction and quantification of the callose in citrus trees, and quantitative data are limited. Detection of callose by microscopy is time-consuming and expensive and does not give information about the distribution of callose in the entire plant. Here, we present a short protocol for the efficient extraction and quantification of the total callose from citrus plants. We compared different tissues from healthy and CLas-infected plants and identified an increase in callose levels in the midribs, the stems, and the fruit peduncles of infected plants. Callose levels were highest in leaves, especially midribs, compared to stems, roots, and fruit peduncles. This method could be applied to other woody plant species.

Introduction: Each year the number of combined heart-liver transplants (HLT) increases, with two distinct patient populations proceeding down this pathway. The first are patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), most commonly single ventricle patients palliated with Fontan. The second group are those with long standing congestive hepatopathy, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, or alcohol induced myopathies and liver disease.One argument for HLT has been the low rate of rejection even among sensitized patients, with reported rejection rates ranging from 0% to 31%. Historically, those with CHD have been highly sensitized which in some cases may prevent or at least delay transplantation. As such, a recent consensus statement by Emamaulee et al. suggest that “there may be an immunological benefit to proceed with HLT with significantly fewer acute cellular and humoral rejection episodes”. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that HLT patients remain at risk for rejection and have required treatment for it. Results: There were 15 patients who underwent HLT from January 2017 to February 2022. Of the four patients who did not have CHD, none were considered sensitized, and all underwent induction with basiliximab per our institutional protocol. One of these had rejection. Rejection episodes were identified in four of the 11 CHD patients (36%) patients. Conclusions: In our study of 15 HLT, including 11 CHD patients (73% denied transplant at ≥ 1 center) demonstrated a higher rate of rejection than previously reported. While theoretically, HLT may mitigate the likelihood of rejection, the risk still exists, and patients benefit from close monitoring commensurate with single organ transplant.

ABSTRACT Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty is a major concern requiring multiple surgeries and antibiotic interventions. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli are the predominant causes of these infections. Due to biofilm formation, antibiotic treatment for patients with PJI can prolong resistance, further complicating the use of current treatments. Previous research has shown that cathodic voltage-controlled electrical stimulation (CVCES) is an effective technique to prevent/treat implant-associated biofilm infections on titanium (Ti) surfaces. This study thus evaluated the efficacy of CVCES via the use of 10% betadine alone and in combination with CVCES to eradicate lab-grown biofilms on cemented and cementless cobalt–chromium (CoCr) and Ti surfaces. CVCES treatment alone for 24 hours demonstrated no detectable CFU for E. coli and P. aeruginosa biofilms on cementless CoCr implants. In the presence of cement, E. coli biofilms had 106 CFUs/implant remaining after CVCES treatment alone; however, P. aeruginosa biofilms on cemented implants were reduced to below detectable limits. The use of 10% betadine treatment for 3 minutes followed by 24-hour CVCES treatment brought CFU levels to below detectable limits in E. coli and P. aeruginosa. The same was true for S. aureus biofilms on cementless patellofemoral implants as well as femoral and tibial implants. These treatment methods were not sufficient for eradication of S. aureus biofilms on cemented implants. These results suggest that CVCES alone and CVCES with 10% betadine are effective approaches to treating biofilms formed by certain bacterial species potentially leading to the treatment of PJI.IMPORTANCEPeriprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are problematic due to requiring multiple surgeries and antibiotic therapies that are responsible for increased patient morbidity and healthcare costs. These infections become resistant to antibiotic treatment due to the formation of biofilms on the orthopedic surfaces. Cathodic voltage-controlled electrical stimulation (CVCES) has previously been shown to be an effective technique to prevent and treat biofilm infections on different surfaces. This study shows that CVCES can increase the efficacy of 10% betadine irrigation used in debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention by 99.9% and clear infection to below detection limits. PJI treatments are at times limited, and CVCES could be a promising technology to improve patient outcomes.

Background Cancer is a leading public health problem worldwide and a growing problem in India. Factors contributing to the morbidity and mortality burden include lack of awareness regarding cancer risk factors and symptoms and barriers to seeking help. This study was conducted in selected areas of Raipur City, India to assess cancer awareness with regard to nine early warning signs selected for the project study, associated risk factors and barriers patients were likely to encounter in seeking help.