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In this paper, Fm-3m structure of HgF2 has been studied using the density functional theorem (DFT). The stability of this structure is revealed by the positive phonon frequencies of the phonon dispersion curves and by satisfying Born Huang criteria concerned with elasticity of the structure. For the very first time, the elastic constants C 1 1 , C 1 2 and C 4 4 of Fm-3m structure of HgF2 have been explored using thermo_pw package. The ductile nature of HgF2 is evidenced by its B ∕ G H ratio of 2.56. The linear response approach has been used to evaluate the intrinsic thermodynamic characteristics of HgF2 while examining the temperature fluctuations of the Helmholtz free energy (F) , internal energy (E) , specific heat at constant volume (Cv), and Debye temperature ( Θ D). The ionic behavior of HgF2 is demonstrated by the broad valence bandgap that is present in the electronic band structure and density of states. Moreover, the hybridization between "s", "p", and "d" orbitals in HgF2 is defined by the charge density along the [110] plane. The static refractive index of HgF2 is 1.26. The broad optical investigation demonstrates Fm-3m HgF2's transparency in the UV and visible spectrums. Additionally, it exhibits considerable UV absorption throughout its range as well as with absorption tail that continues into the visible spectrum. The overall optical parameters of Fm-3m HgF2 show non-linear optical behavior which makes the material to be useful in ultraviolet (UV) photo-sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is presented to investigate the influence of several discontinuity like interfacial-crack, void and inclusion in the bimaterial plate, to analyze the normalized mixed-mode stress intensity factor (NMMSIFs) using XFEM under the uniaxial tensile load with considering the several numerical problems. It is investigated the normalized stress intensity factors (NSIFs) for an isotropic bimaterial plate and NMMSIFs for an isotropic-orthotropic bimaterial plate through varying the single-multi voids/inclusions position while its above, aligned and away from the interfacial edge crack and center crack of the bimaterial plate. It is also analyzed the void/inclusion several shape influence in the bimaterial plate. It is observed higher and fluctuating SIFs obtained with more number of voids/inclusions, influence of elliptical and diamond shape of void/inclusion is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to understand the relationship between, altruistic behavior, life satisfaction and coping in geriatric population and compare with those living with families and old age homes. 60 elderly persons (30 elderly were living with families and 30 were living in old age homes) with age 60 years or above were selected randomly in this study. Altruistic Personality Scale', Satisfaction with Life Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale and Spirituality Scale (Delaney, 2003) were administered on them individually. The correlations between the scores of different scales, were calculated to bring out the relationship of altruism with life satisfaction and spirituality. Mann Whitney test was used to compare the two groups of elderly living in different settings. The findings of this study revealed that, altruism (p=0.01) and spirituality (p=0.001) were positively related to life satisfaction in the elderly living in with their families. On the other hand spirituality (p=0.001) and subjective happiness (p=0.001) were significantly better in the elderly inmates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlation analysis revealed that the magnitude of genotypic correlation co-efficients was higher as compared to their corresponding phenotypic correlation co-efficients for most of the characters. Seed yield per plant exhibited significant and positive correlation with biological yield, number of pods per plant, harvest index, number of seeds per pod, number of primary branches per plant and 100-seed weight at genotypic as well as phenotypic levels. Path coefficient analysis indicated the highest positive direct effect of biological yield per plant followed by harvest index towards seed yield. The indirect effects of most of the characters through biological yield per plant were higher and positive. The biological yield per plant and harvest index were found to be the most valuable traits for formulating selection criterion to improve seed yield in chickpea in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to study the variability of characters under different parameters in fifty diverse genotypes of kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Analysis of variance revealed significant genotypic differences for all the ten characters with wide range of variations. Estimates of genotypic and phenotypic co-efficients of variation were high for seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant. Broad sense heritability was higher for all the traits except plant height. High genetic advance expressed as a percentage of mean was exhibited by seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of ZRC-3277 (pertuzumab biosimilar) with Perjeta® (pertuzumab) in previously untreated patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC)., Patients and Methods: This phase III, multicenter, double-blind study across 38 sites in India randomized (1:1) patients with HER2-positive MBC in either the ZRC-3277 or Perjeta® group. Both groups also received trastuzumab and docetaxel. Of 268 enrolled patients, mITT population had 243 patients (119 and 124 in the ZRC-3277 and Perjeta® groups, respectively). The primary objective was to compare the between-group objective response rate (ORR) after 6 cycles of treatment. ORR was determined by evaluating scans of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging following Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST 1.1). Two-sided 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the difference in ORR was determined to evaluate the noninferiority of ZRC-3277 to Perjeta®. The secondary outcomes included the assessment of PK, immunogenicity, and safety between the 2 groups., Results: In the mITT population, 104 (87.39%) and 114 (91.94%) participants achieved the ORR in the ZRC-3277 and Perjeta® groups, respectively. For predefined -15% noninferiority margin, obtained 2-sided 95% CIs (-12.19%, 3.11%) for the difference in ORR (-4.55%) between the 2 groups demonstrated the noninferiority of ZRC-3277 to Perjeta®. PK, immunogenicity, and safety were not significantly different between the 2 groups., Conclusion: Efficacy, PK, immunogenicity, and safety profiles of ZRC-3277 was found to be similar to those of Perjeta®., Competing Interests: Disclosure Deven Parmar is an employee of Zydus Therapeutics Inc, USA, whereas Maulik Doshi and Rahul Shrivastava are employees of Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. All other authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: The BMJ has judged that there are no disqualifying financial ties to commercial companies. The authors declare the following other interests: none. Further details of The BMJ policy on financial interests are here: https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/forms-policies-and-checklists/declaration-competing-interests

A large, multi-site NHS trust piloted switching from single-use pulp to reusable plastic trays for use in clinical care. This mixed-methods analysis combines quantitative cost-effectiveness and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions calculations with a stakeholder analysis and user survey to not only ascertain the cost and climate implications of this intervention, but to also better understand the use of trays across the trust to improve staff buy-in and, ultimately, the feasibility and success of the policy. We show that the plastic trays are both more cost-effective and climate friendly compared with the pulp trays, even using an annual replacement rate of 50% (higher than our anticipated rate of 5%), and that staff and key stakeholders would support the policy. Our analysis is one example of a larger trend in the return to reusable items, as awareness grows of the significant GHG emissions and waste produced from disposable, single-use items in healthcare., (© Royal College of Physicians 2023. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Herein, we compared the efficacy among the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS), Toddlers Ocular Trauma Score (TOTS), and Pediatric Ocular Trauma Score (POTS) for prognosis prediction in Indian children who had mechanical ocular conditions causing traumatic cataract., Methods: This prospective, interventional study recruited consecutive children undergoing operation for traumatic cataracts caused by mechanical eye injuries at Drashti Netralaya. The following details were obtained from their medical files: the circumstance and time of injuries, penetrating injury type, initial and final visual acuity (VA), time of operation, and associated eye diseases. Specific variables were employed to determine the OTS, TOTS, and POTS. For all patients, the final and predicted VA determined using all scores were compared using Fischer's exact test. Accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were evaluated for all the scores by using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve., Results: We enrolled 124 eyes. Patients' mean value for age was 4.6 ± 1.29 years; 44 (35.41%) and 74 (64.5%) were female and male patients, respectively. Visual outcomes significantly improved after operation, and the outcomes did not differ between closed- and open-globe injuries (P = 0.162). The actual and predicted VA did not exhibit a statistically significant difference among the three scores. TOTS and POTS were more suitable for evaluating low-risk injuries, whereas the OTS could more efficiently examine high-risk cases., Conclusion: TOTS and POTS were more accurate than the OTS in VA prediction after operation in toddlers with traumatic cataracts caused by mechanical globe injury. TOTS and POTS were more suitable for evaluating low-risk injuries, whereas the OTS could more efficiently examine high-risk cases. All the examined scores can be helpful in estimating VA following treatment., Competing Interests: None

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single, peri-tendinous injection of hyaluronic acid for mid-portion, non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy., Materials and Methods: A prospective, open labelled, single center, pilot study was conducted. All patients enrolled received a single peri-tendinous injection of Ostenil Tendon™ (40 mg/2 ml 2% HA with 0.5% mannitol). Outcome measures were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score and Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOxFQ) scores at 2 weeks and at final follow at 12 weeks. Any major and minor adverse effects were recorded. To assess change in VAS and MOxFQ scores, t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were employed., Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in this study with a mean follow-up of 12 weeks. Mean pre-injection VAS score was 9.38 cm (9-9.8), which significantly reduced post-injection to a mean score of 4.09 cm (2-8) at week-2 stage, and further improved to 3.01 cm (2-3.9) at the final follow-up (p < 0.0001). MOxFQ score showed a significant improvement from pre-injection value of 67.77 (63.03-72.55) to 31.18 (13-60) at week-2 stage, and further improved to 24.20 (15.73-32.67) at the final follow-up (p < 0.0001). The mean improvement from pre-injection to the final follow up was 43.57 (34.25-52.90). No adverse effects for injections were recorded., Conclusion: This small series suggests an encouraging response of a single injection of HA as an effective and safe option for non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cell shape is controlled by the submembranous cortex, an actomyosin network mainly generated by two actin nucleators: the Arp2/3 complex and the formin mDia1. Changes in relative nucleator activity may alter cortical organization, mechanics and cell shape. Here we investigate how nucleation-promoting factors mediate interactions between nucleators. In vitro, the nucleation-promoting factor SPIN90 promotes formation of unbranched filaments by Arp2/3, a process thought to provide the initial filament for generation of dendritic networks. Paradoxically, in cells, SPIN90 appears to favour a formin-dominated cortex. Our in vitro experiments reveal that this feature stems mainly from two mechanisms: efficient recruitment of mDia1 to SPIN90-Arp2/3 nucleated filaments and formation of a ternary SPIN90-Arp2/3-mDia1 complex that greatly enhances filament nucleation. Both mechanisms yield rapidly elongating filaments with mDia1 at their barbed ends and SPIN90-Arp2/3 at their pointed ends. Thus, in networks, SPIN90 lowers branching densities and increases the proportion of long filaments elongated by mDia1.

Background and Objectives: Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. is a well-known Indian medicinal herb. Gymnemic acids are pentacyclic triterpenes saponins and active phytoconstituents of Gymnema sylvestre. The study aimed at evaluation of the in vitro rat liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition potential of extracts and total gymnemic acid (TA)-enriched fractions from G. sylvestre., Methods: Standardization of G. sylvestre [ethanolic (EL), hydroethanolic (HE), total acid of ethanolic (TAE), total acid of hydroethanolic (TAHE) and total acid of aqueous (TAAQ) extract] was done with respect to deacyl gymnemic acid (DAGA), using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Total triterpenoid content was determined by vanillin perchloric acid assay., Results: Total triterpene content was found to be the highest in TAAQ (59.86 ± 0.005% w/w) and TAE (49.77 ± 0.009% w/w). TAAQ showed IC 50  ≤ 50 µg/ml for all selected CYP activities. Testosterone 6β-hydroxylation was strongly inhibited by TAE (IC 50 : 15.48 ± 2.13 µg/ml) and was moderately by TAAQ and EL with IC 50  ≥ 50 µg/ml. Flurbiprofen 4'-hydroxylation was subject to strong, weak and moderate inhibition by TAAQ (IC 50 : 34.67 ± 1.38 µg/ml), TAE (IC 50 : ≥ 50 µg/ml) and EL (IC 50 : > 50 µg/ml), respectively. Dextromethorphan O-demethylation was inhibited by TAHE and TAAQ., Conclusions: In vitro inhibition studies suggested that TA strongly inhibits activity of selected CYP. This inhibition may possibly be due to triterpenoids and gymnemic acids that have been reported to be present in it. Data also suggest a potential for possible in vivo herb-drug interactions involving G. sylvestre and other medications that are metabolized by the same CYP.

Centrosome amplification is a common feature of human tumors. To survive, cancer cells cluster extra centrosomes during mitosis, avoiding the detrimental effects of multipolar divisions. However, it is unclear whether clustering requires adaptation or is inherent to all cells. Here, we show that cells have varied abilities to cluster extra centrosomes. Epithelial cells are innately inefficient at clustering even in the presence of HSET/KIFC1, which is essential but not sufficient to promote clustering. The presence of E-cadherin decreases cortical contractility during mitosis through a signaling cascade leading to multipolar divisions, and its knockout promotes clustering and survival of cells with multiple centrosomes. Cortical contractility restricts centrosome movement at a minimal distance required for HSET/KIFC1 to exert its function, highlighting a biphasic model for centrosome clustering. In breast cancer cell lines, increased levels of centrosome amplification are accompanied by efficient clustering and loss of E-cadherin, indicating that this is an important adaptation mechanism to centrosome amplification in cancer., (© 2018 Rhys et al.)

Gymnema sylvestre (GS) is a medicinal herb used for diabetes mellitus (DM). Herbs are gaining popularity as medicines in DM for its safety purpose. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction between allopathic drugs tolbutamide (TOLBU), amlodipine (AMLO), and phenacetin (PHENA) at low (L) and high (H) doses with ethanolic extract (EL) from GS. EL was extracted and subjected to TLC, total triterpenoid content (19.76 ± 0.02 W/W) and sterol content (0.1837 ± 0.0046 W/W) estimation followed by identification of phytoconstituents using HRLC-MS and GC-MS. PK interaction study with CYP2C9, CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 enzymes were assessed using TOLBU, AMLO and PHENA respectively to index cytochrome (CYP) mediated interaction in rats after concomitant administration of EL extract (400 mg/kg) from GS for 7 days. The rats were divided into four groups for each PK study where, group I and II were positive control for low and high dose of test drugs (CYP substrates) while group II and IV were orally administered EL. The PK study result of PHENA indicated that area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC 0-24 ) was significantly (P < 0.0001) increased by 1.4 (L) and 1.3-fold (H), plasma concentration (C max ) was significantly (P < 0.001) increased by 1.6 (L) and 1.4-fold (H). Whereas for TOLBU; clearance rate (CL) was significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased by 2.4 (L) and 2.3-fold (H), C max, was significantly (P < 0.001) decreased by 26.5% (L) and 50.4% (H) and AUC 0-24 was significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased by 59.8% (L) and 57.5% (H). Thus, EL is seen to be interacting with CYP1A2 by inhibiting its metabolic activity. HRLC-MS and GC-MS helped identify the presence of gymnemic acid (GA), triterpenoids and steroids in EL which could be the reason for PK interaction of CYP1A2 and CYP2C9. Also, in silico structure based site of metabolism study showed Fe accessibility and intrinsic activity for GA-IV, GA-VI, GA-VII and GA-X with CYP2C9. PK parameters of AMLO were not significantly affected by pre-treatment of EL. Thereby our findings indicate that co-administration of GS with drugs that are metabolized by CYP2C9 and CYP1A2 could lead to potential HDI., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)