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Abstract We generalize the potential reconstruction method to set up a dynamical Einstein-Born-Infeld-dilaton model, which we then use to study holographic quarkonium melting in an external magnetic field. The non-linear nature of the model allows to couple the magnetic field to the quarkonium inner structure without having to introduce back-reacting charged flavour degrees of freedom. The magnetic field dependent melting temperature is computed from the spectral functions and suggests a switch from inverse magnetic to magnetic catalysis when the magnetic field increases. We also discuss the differences due to the anisotropy brought in by the external field.

Head and neck cancer is the 7th most common malignancy worldwide. Few decades earlier, there has been an enormous rise in genetic events as the source in the development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) and metastasis to various organs. The seeding of neoplastic cells occurs via blood vessels (haematogenous spread), lymphatics (lymphogenous spread), or invasion into body cavities (transcoelomic spread). Neoangiogenesis results in haematogenous spread from the site of the primary tumour. Various angiogenic markers have been recognised, like Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, Cluster of Differentiation (CD34), in head and neck neoplasms. The specificity and sensitivity of CD34 helps in vascular endothelial cell staining. CD34 is a type I transmembrane molecule of 110 kDa that is heavily glycosylated and expressed on haematopoietic progenitor cells selectively. The quantification of new blood vessels using CD34 antibody by Microvessel Density (MVD) can be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic indicator in many solid malignancies, like OSCC. Increased expression of positive CD34 antibody induces neoangiogenesis in neoplasms, upsurges the stemness of cancer and boosts its potential to metastasise. In this context, the present review focuses on use of CD34 antibody as a potential angiogenic marker that can be used to determine the the aggressiveness and potential outcome of the tumour based on the literature overview.

Abstract Brahmaputra is a large, tropical, trans-boundary river with high sediment load and has the unique distinction of possessing both largest and smallest inhabited river islands. Majuli is the largest inhabited river island situated in the Indian state of Assam and bounded by Brahmaputra on the south, Subansiri River on the northwest, and the Kherkatia River (anabranch of Brahmaputra) on the northeast. The island was formed during a flooding event in 1750 with a sudden change in the course of the Brahmaputra from a low energy meandering to a high energy braided river and subsequent capture of one of its tributaries. The island is a part of the Brahmaputra alluvium squeezed between active Himalayan and Indo-Burmese orogenic belts in an intricate tectonic regime. The dominant flow path of Brahmaputra is controlled by the crustal scale reorganization in this part of the world. The tectonic factors that controlled the anabranching process and created the island, is at present acting as the destroyer of the same by the means of unabated erosion. The erosion pattern of the two rivers viz. Brahmaputra and Subansiri were studied and areas with marked selective erosion have been found. From a combined study of satellite imaging, bathymetric survey and mapping, it is found that the lobate shaped erosions in the study areas are restricted to traces of the tectonic elements related to the Himalayan thrust system through which the rivers are trying to anabranch.

Background and Objectives: Double-volume exchange transfusion (DVET) is a life-saving procedure that replaces a neonate’s blood volume twice over with adult donor blood to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and prevent kernicterus. This study assessed DVET’s effectiveness in reducing total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration in neonates at risk of kernicterus and examined the disease conditions that necessitate DVET. Methods: This observational study assessed the effectiveness of DVET in 104 neonates at risk of kernicterus. Neonates meeting the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines were selected. Blood samples were collected before and 24 h after DVET for TSB estimation and complete blood count analysis. Blood components were selected based on ABO, Rh, and other minor blood group incompatibility. DVET was performed using the push–pull method. Results: This study of DVET in 104 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia found that DVET is an effective treatment, reducing TSB levels by 61.72% on average. The most common cause of hyperbilirubinemia was idiopathic (25.6%), followed by ABO incompatibility (22.12%) and anti-D alloimmunization (17.31%). In hypothyroid, preterm, and sepsis cases, hemoglobin levels decreased by an average of 17.7%, 12.9%, and 13.9%, respectively, after DVET. However, in cases of minor alloimmunization and anti-D alloimmunization, hemoglobin levels increased by an average of 29% and 40.5%, respectively, after DVET. The maximum decrease in TSB level was observed in cases of ABO incompatibility with sepsis (82%), while the minimum decrease was seen in neonates undergoing DVET due to sepsis (50%). The percentage reduction of TSB level after DVET was similar for different etiologies, ranging from 50.2% to 65.4%. Conclusion: DVET is a rarely used procedure in the age of phototherapy and intravenous immunoglobulin for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, it is the only effective treatment for very high bilirubin levels to prevent kernicterus or bilirubin encephalopathy.

Abstract Introduction We report on post stillbirth and newborn death socio-cultural experience of women from a population-based representative sample in the Indian state of Bihar. Methods A state-representative sample of 7,270 births between July 2020 and June 2021 was sampled, including 582 stillbirths and 831 newborn deaths. Detailed confidential interviews were conducted with the consenting women with stillbirth and newborn death to understand their post-birth experience. Results A total of 501 (86.1% participation) women with stillbirth and 717 (86.3% participation) with neonatal death provided interview. Able to talk to someone about their baby and receiving support to cope with their loss were reported by 369 (74.2%) and 398 (80.2%) women with stillbirth; these proportions were 76.7% and 77.3% for women with newborn deaths, respectively. More than 80% of these women reported spouses as their main source of support. At least one negative experience was reported by 150 (30.9%) and 233 (32.5%) women with stillbirth and newborn death, respectively. The most commonly reported negative experience was receiving insensitive/hurtful comments about the baby (18.6% for stillbirth and 20.4% for newborn deaths), followed by being blamed for the baby’s death (14.3% for stillbirths and 15.0% for newborn deaths). The majority of women reported being verbally abused by the mother-in-law for both stillbirth (24, 63.2%) and newborn death (49, 64.5%); while 48 (67.6%) and 66 (61.7%) women were blamed by the mother-in-law for stillbirth and neonatal death, respectively. Most women with stillbirth (72.7%) and with neonatal death (77.1%) were asked to forget about their babies as a means to cope with their loss. Naming, seeing, and holding the stillborn were reported by 56 (11.2%), 229 (45.9%), and 64 (12.8%) women with a stillborn. Conclusion With one-third women with adverse birth outcome reporting negative experience, this translates into a significant number of women in India as it accounts for high numbers of stillbirths and newborn deaths globally. These population-based data can facilitate in designing interventions to improve post-partum experience for women with adverse birth outcomes in India.

Abstract Pneumatic planters are widely adopted in precision agriculture due to their superior field performance and minimal seed damage. However, variations in seed size, shape, and orientation can affect the ability of each orifice to pick and release a single seed accurately. Seed metering units typically incorporate seed cut-off and knock-out devices to improve singulation and ensure timely seed dropping, enhancing the quality feed index and reducing the precision index. These auxiliary devices—whether mechanical, electronic, pneumatic, or magnetic—increase system complexity, require skilled operation, necessitate additional maintenance, consume more energy, and heighten the risk of seed damage. The suctioned seed experiences impact from the seed metering plate during picking, and orifices are not fully sealed after seed pick-up, leading to a need for higher vacuum pressure. Additionally, field vibrations can adversely affect planter performance. To overcome these issues, this study developed a novel flexible orifice seed metering plate and optimised its operating parameters for cotton seed, adopting a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The plates were developed by adding a layer of elastomeric material on rigid seed metering plate. The experiments were conducted using a developed electronic sticky belt setup in laboratory. An orifice diameter of 3 mm, vacuum pressure of 3.40 kPa, forward speed of 4.67 km/h, extended radius of 1 mm and coating thickness of 0.25 mm were found optimum with a quality feed index of 97.289% and precision index of 4.653%. Minimal difference between laboratory and field performance was noted when operated by an electronic planter. The miss index, multiple index, and precision index obtained under field conditions with rigid seed metering plate were found to be 4.4, 2.8, and 9.08% higher than coated seed metering plate, respectively. A comparatively lower optimal vacuum pressure and higher operation speed was achieved when coated seed metering plate was used in place of rigid seed metering plate. Hence coated seed metering plate can be a low-cost solution to achieve higher speed of precision planting with improved seeding performance. Graphical Abstract

Background The presence of dental caries may have a negative impact on well-being of children and their parents, causing pain and discomfort, leading to poor oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different levels of caries experience on the OHRQoL of pre-school children and their families in Odisha, assessed using Odia version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (Od-ECOHIS). Methodology A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a sample of 369 pre-school children using Od-ECOHIS. Dental caries was recorded using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) index. Result The total score of ECOHIS ranged from 0 to 42 with a mean of 2.4 (±5.3) and a median score of 0. The items bearing high mean scores in the child impact section were related to “pain”, “difficulty in drinking hot or cold beverages”, “difficulty in eating some food”, and “irritable or frustrated”. Though half of children (50.4%) had cavitated carious lesions, the prevalence of negative impact was 30.6%. Compared to the child being caries-free, the expected count of total Od-ECOHIS score increased by 1.54 times if the child had white spot lesion and 1.94 times if the child had a cavitated lesion. Conclusion Presence of dental carious lesions has a significant impact on OHRQoL of pre-school children and their families measured by using Od-ECOHIS even after adjusting for SES and caregivers’ perception of their children’s oral health.

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis remains a global public health threat. Over the last few decades, antitubercular research mainly focused on mechanisms of identifying by which activated macrophages can slaughter or the proliferation of M. tuberculosis bacilli prevented in a cell-dependent manner. In this regard, for disease resolution, inflammatory cytokines are very crucial. Here, we demonstrate how macrophages act as the first line of defense against the M. tuberculosis. Studies have revealed a dual role in M. tuberculosis infection played by macrophages. It is worth mentioning that the macrophages are the crucial immune effector and antigen-presenting cells that play the anti-tubercular response, which is the habitat of M. tuberculosis, hence, followed by progressing the disease protecting M. tuberculosis. This dual role can be correlated with the different macrophage polarization statuses, namely, M1 and M2. Herein, we have stated how the several polarization conditions of macrophages are directly linked to the immune responses during host and M. tuberculosis pathogen interactions. We have proposed that macrophage polarization and repolarization are of paramount significance for the anti-tubercular immune response that may involve a sterile cure of the disease. This article summarizes the immune response to M. tuberculosis, the polarization states of macrophages during M. tuberculosis and the repolarization of macrophages by some agents during some diseases including M. tuberculosis, which may be an important factor in the World Health Organization’s target to cure tuberculosis by 2035.

Background: Venous thrombosis is a common life-threatening disorder and is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. This study aims to evaluate soluble P-selectin (sP-Sel) and to correlate with D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) in venous thrombosis patients. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study includes 144 subjects, with cases (100) as duplex scan positive, Control A (22) includes age matched with no signs of inflammation, and Control B (22) with age matched with signs of inflammation and duplex scan negative. The severity of venous thrombosis is assessed by Well’s score. The statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel, GraphPad Prism version 9.4.1 (681), and MedCalC 20.114. Normality for all the variables in controls and cases was checked. The data were expressed as the median (interquartile range). Comparison between groups was made using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Post hoc analysis was conducted using Dunn’s multiple comparison tests. Quantitative correlation of data was done using Spearman rho test. Receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed to assess the diagnostic performance of sP-Sel, and cutoff value was established. Linear and logistic regression analyses were also performed to predict the disease outcome. Results: In the study, controls have more females, but cases turned out to be more in males may be due to additional risk factors such as smoking and alcohol associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The D-dimer (ng/mL) levels were compared in Control A, B, and cases, and the values were 67.5 (36–107), 135 (101–264), and 1309 (750–2390) ng/mL, respectively, and were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The sP-Sel (ng/mL) were compared in Control A, B, and cases; the values were 7.59 (7.150–10.64), 7.84 (7.0–11.87), and 19.64 (12.95–33.29), respectively, and were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). Based on the Well’s score, the cases were categorized into having low disease probability, moderate probability, and high probability, and the sP-Sel is high in cases with high probability and is statistically significant. Based on CRP (mg/L) positive (>6 mg/L) or negative (14.29 (ng/mL) showed a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 81.8% positively predicting the diagnosis of venous thrombosis and D-dimer at a cutoff of >367 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 95.45% is positively predicting the diagnosis of venous thrombosis. When multilinear regression analysis was performed D-dimer (ng/mL) and Well’s score were positively associated with sP-Sel (ng/mL) in cases of venous thrombosis. Logistic regression analysis is applied sP-Sel (ng/mL), D-dimer (ng/mL), Well’s score, and smoking came out as the positive predictor for the occurrence of venous thrombosis. Conclusion: D-dimer and Well’s scores are positively associated with sP-Sel and help to diagnose venous thrombosis.

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as promising candidates for immune modulation in various diseases that are associated with dysregulated immune responses like Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GVHD). MSCs are pleiotropic and the fate of MSCs following administration is a major determinant of their therapeutic efficacy. Methods Human MSCs were derived from bone marrow (BM) and Wharton’s Jelly (WJ) and preconditioned through exposure to hypoxia and induction of apoptosis, either sequentially or simultaneously. The immune programming potential of preconditioned MSCs was evaluated by assessing their effects on T cell proliferation, induction of Tregs, programming of effector T-cell towards Th2 phenotype, macrophage polarization in the direct co-culture of MSCs and aGVHD patients-derived PBMNCs. Additionally, efferocytosis of MSCs and relative change in the expression of immunomodulatory soluble factors were examined. Results Our study demonstrated that hypoxia preconditioned apoptotic MSCs (BM-MSCs, WJ-MSCs) bear more immune programming ability in a cellular model of acute Graft-versus-Host-Disease (aGVHD). Our findings revealed that WJ-MSCsHYP+APO were superior to BM-MSCsHYP+APO for immune regulation. These induced the differentiation of CD4+T-cell into Tregs, enhanced Th2 effector responses, and simultaneously mitigated Th1- and Th17 responses. Additionally, this approach led to the polarization of M1 macrophages toward an M2 phenotype. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential of WJ-MSCs conditioned with hypoxia and apoptosis concurrently, as a promising therapeutic strategy for aGVHD. It underscores the importance of considering MSC apoptosis in optimizing MSCs-based cellular therapy protocols for enhanced therapeutic efficacy in aGvHD. Graphical Abstract

Parth J Rana,1 Himanshu Deshmukh,2 Urmil Shah,3 Vinod Kumar,4 Sanghamitra Kanungo,5 Deepika Singhal,6 Santosh Kumar Mahapatra,7 Ira Vakharia,8 Mukesh Jaiswal,9 Ajitkumar Gondane,10 Pooja Vaidya,10 Vinayaka Shahavi,9 Harish Shandilya,11 Dattatray Pawar,10 Akhilesh Sharma12 1Department of Retina and Trauma Surgery, Netralaya Superspeciallity Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; 2Department of Retina; ‘Daulat’ Deshmukh Eye Hospital, Khaparde Gardens, Amravati, Maharashtra, India; 3Department of Retina, P.N. Desai Eye Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380052, India; 4Department of Ophthalmology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India; 5Department of Retina, Kar Vision Eye Hospital, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751007, India; 6Department of Ophthalmology, GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; 7Department of Retina, JPM Rotary Club of Cuttack Eye Hospital and Research Institute, Cuttak, Odisha, 753014, India; 8Department of Retina, Nirmal Hospital Pvt Ltd, Surat, Gujarat, 395002, India; 9Clinical Research Department, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Lower Parel, Mumbai, India; 10Medical Affairs Department, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Lower parel, Mumbai, India; 11Global Product Development, IPM & Regulatory Affairs, Enzene Biosciences Ltd., Pune, India; 12Medical Affairs and Clinical Research Department, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Lower Parel, Mumbai, IndiaCorrespondence: Ajitkumar Gondane, Medical Affairs, ALKEM Laboratories Ltd., ALKEM HOUSE, “Devashish”, Adjacent to Matulya Centre, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, 400 013, India, Tel +8983375722, Email ajitkumar.gondane@alkem.comObjective: This study aimed to compare efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the biosimilar ranibizumab in comparison with the Innovator Ranibizumab in treatment-naive patients with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD or wAMD).Materials and Methods: This comparative, double blind, multicentre, Phase III clinical study randomized eligible patients in a 3:1 ratio to receive either OPTIMAB® (Alkem Laboratories Ltd./ Enzene Biosciences Ltd.) or Innovator Ranibizumab. Intravitreal injections of Innovator Ranibizumab (0.5 mg in 0.05 mL) and OPTIMAB® (0.5 mg in 0.05 mL) were administered every four weeks for 12 weeks (three doses). Primary efficacy endpoints included loss of < 15 letters from baseline, gain of ≥ 15 letters from baseline in visual acuity, mean change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline, and change in central subfoveal thickness (CSFT) from baseline at week 12. Safety was assessed through monitoring of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) throughout the study.Results: Overall, of the 152 patients randomized, 141 (92.8%) patients (mean age, 66.6 ± 9.37 years) completed the study. Percentage of patients who lost < 15 letters in BCVA at week 12 from baseline was comparable in both the groups (100.0%, each). On secondary end point analysis, the two groups had comparable mean changes in BCVA (OPTIMAB®, 11.8 ± 9.18; innovator ranibizumab, 12.9 ± 10.29; P = 0.5509); proportion of patients who gained ≥ 15 letters in visual acuity (OPTIMAB®, 32.18%; innovator ranibizumab, 25.74%; P = 0.4785) and mean change in CSFT (OPTIMAB®, − 76.6 ± 89.03; Innovator ranibizumab, − 73.1 ± 92.23 μm; P = 0.8422) at week 12 as compared to baseline. OPTIMAB® and innovator ranibizumab demonstrated comparable safety over the 12-week treatment period and no patient expressed anti-ranibizumab antibody in either group patient.Conclusion: Biosimilar ranibizumab (OPTIMAB®) was non-inferior to innovator ranibizumab in terms of efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in the patients of nAMD.Keywords: biosimilar ranibizumab, best corrected visual acuity, central subfoveal thickness, nAMD

Abstract Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cause of cancer-associated deaths in females worldwide. Despite advancements in BC treatment driven by extensive characterization of its molecular hallmarks, challenges such as drug resistance, tumor relapse, and metastasis persist. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative treatment approaches with multi-modal efficacy to overcome these hurdles. In this context, natural bioactives are increasingly recognized for their pivotal role as anti-cancer compounds. This study focuses on predicting molecular targets for key herbal phytoconstituents—gallic acid, piperine, quercetin, resveratrol, and beta-sitosterol—present in the polyherbal formulation, Krishnadi Churna. Using an in-silico network pharmacology model, key genes were identified and docked against these marker compounds and controls. Mammary carcinoma emerged as the most significant phenotype of the putative targets. Analysis of an online database revealed that out of 135 predicted targets, 134 were mutated in breast cancer patients. Notably, ESR1, CYP19A1, and EGFR were identified as key genes which are known to regulate the BC progression. Docking studies demonstrated that the herbal phytoconstituents had similar or better docking scores than positive controls for these key genes, with convincing protein-ligand interactions confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, MM/GBSA and free energy landscape (FEL) analysis. Overall, this study highlights the predictive potential of herbal phytoconstituents in targeting BC genes, suggesting their promise as a basis for developing new therapeutic formulations for BC.

Abstract We consider the dimensional reduction to two dimensions of certain gravitational theories in D ≥ 4 dimensions at the two-derivative level. It is known that the resulting field equations describe an integrable system in two dimensions which can also be obtained by a dimensional reduction of the self-dual Yang-Mills equations in four dimensions. We use this relation to construct a single copy prescription for classes of gravitational solutions in Weyl-Lewis-Papapetrou coordinates. In contrast with previous proposals, we find that the gauge group of the Yang-Mills single copy carries non-trivial information about the gravitational solution. We illustrate our single copy prescription with various examples that include the extremal Reissner-Nordstrom solution, the Kaluza-Klein rotating attractor solution, the Einstein-Rosen wave solution and the self-dual Kleinian Taub-NUT solution.

Background: Allergic conjunctivitis is increasing with the rise in the levels of allergens. Drug therapy is usually needed in addition to avoidance of general allergens to treat this condition. Both bepotastine besilate and olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solutions are newer additions in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis having dual properties of second-generation antihistaminics along with mast cell stabilizing activity. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of bepotastine besilate (1.5%) and olopatadine hydrochloride (0.1%) eye drops in patients presenting with allergic conjunctivitis in a tertiary care hospital of Southern part of India. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients who were clinically diagnosed to be suffering from allergic conjunctivitis were selected as participants for the study. They were randomly distributed into two groups consisting of 30 patients each. One group received eye drop bepotastine (1.5%) and the other group received eye drop olopatadine (0.1%), with each patient receiving the medication twice daily for a duration of 2 weeks. During the first visit, all the patients were assessed for the signs and symptoms and subsequently re-assessed at weekly intervals for a period of 2 weeks. They were also advised to report occurrence of any unwanted drug reaction during the weekly follow-up visits. Results: The above study showed the effectiveness of both bepotastine and olopatadine eye drops in decreasing the signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. Significant clinical improvement was found in all participants, whereas deterioration was found in none of them. Statistically significant improvement of itching and redness of eyes was observed with use of both the study drugs mentioned beforehand. Both the drugs were well tolerated by the patients. Statistically significant reduction of itching and foreign body sensation was found to be more in patients using bepotastine eye drops compared to those using olopatadine eye drops. Only two patients using bepotastine eye drops complained of having a mild burning sensation in eyes. Conclusion: From this study, bepotastine and olopatadine eye drops have been observed to be safe and efficacious in allergic conjunctivitis. Bepotastine eye drop was found to be more efficacious to relieve itching and foreign body sensation compared to that of olopatadine eye drops.

Introduction: With the emerging trends in the dental practice, dental implants remain the up-front choice of replacing edentulous spaces. A detailed assessment of the anatomical landmarks, implant bone dimension, and bone quality evaluation by the radiologist is the key for successful implant placement. Knowledge of the nasopalatine canal anatomy, variability in shape, and possible pathologies associated with it are the mainstay for successful implant placement in maxilla. Aim: The study was conducted with the aim to study variations in morphology, course, and anatomical type of the nasopalatine canal. (NPC). Methodology: A total of two hundred CBCT scans were evaluated to study the variations in morphology, course, and anatomical types of the NPC, and the statical analysis was conducted for the same. Results: A total of two hundred CBCT scans were retrospectively analyzed. The most common morphology of the canal observed was funnel shaped in 52.5%, followed by cylindrical observed in 19.5%. Slanted curved was the most observed course of the canal seen in 38%. On comparing the above two parameters between the gender group, the results were statistically significant for the abovementioned parameters for both the groups (P value < 0.001*). The most common anatomical type observed was Type II which was observed in 67%. Conclusion: NPC is an important anatomical landmark to be considered when any dental procedures like dental implants are planned in anterior maxilla. The knowledge regarding the NPC morphology among the clinicians is of paramount importance in successful placement of implants and also other surgical procedures related to the anterior maxillary region.

Abstract The rice, like other plants, undergoes photoprotection mode by increasing nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) in high light intensity (> 1200 µmol m− 2s− 1 PPFD), which attenuates photosystem II yield (φPSII) drastically. The plant remains in photoprotection mode even after light intensity becomes not stressful for an extended period. While there are significant differences in the time it takes for photoprotection to recover among different genotypes, its use is limited in plant breeding because measuring the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in progressive actinic light after dark adaptation takes more than forty-five minutes per genotype. The study finds that instantly measured A400/A1800 ratio by five minutes in flag leaves of 25 diverse genotypes strongly associated with the φPSII400 differences between theoretical and actual, qPd400 and NPQ400 with R2 values 0.74, 0.65 and 0.60, respectively. In two consecutive years, GWAS of A400/A1800 ratio identified the regions with genes reported earlier for plant photoprotection recovery. Additionally, QTL analysis in a RIL population also identified the regions carrying known genes related to photoprotection. Thus, the A400/A1800 ratio can quickly phenotype many plants for easier introgression of the traits in popular cultivars. The identified genotypes, genes, and QTLs can be used to improve yield potential and allele mining.

Abstract Rice is one of the major food crops grown globally. However, during the wet season, rice suffers significant yield loss due to reduced light intensity caused by overcast clouds when the light intensity is only around 450–500 µmol/m2/s, compared to 1400–1800 µmol/m2/s in summer. This reduction in light intensity leads to a decrease in seed yield, mainly by limiting tiller or panicle numbers. Yield and its attributing parameters were recorded in one hundred thirty RILs for four consecutive wet seasons in ambient light (AL) and low light (LL, 35% light-cut using white shade net). QTL analysis was performed using Inclusive Composite Interval Mapping (ICIM) with all the phenotypic data and 927 polymorphic SNPs identified by the 7 K Infinium chip. The study identified a large QTL influencing panicle numbers and yield exclusively in lowlight on chromosome 1 (qPNLL1.1, qGYLL1.1) in four consecutive seasons with LOD > 10 and PVE > 30%. The favourable alleles are from the tolerant parent, Swarnaprabha. Another grain yield improving QTL was identified on chromosome 6 (qGYLL6.1), with LOD > 3 in three consecutive seasons. In a diverse rice panel of one hundred seventeen genotypes with five different models, association analysis identified the associated marker for panicle numbers and grain yield in LL, which is also the left marker of the newly identified QTLs for the traits under LL condition. A shade-responsive gene, monoculm 2 (MOC2, LOC_Os01g64660) inside the QTL on chromosome 1, upregulated in the tolerant parent and its QTL-carrying RILs, whereas repressed in the susceptible one. Therefore, due to its significant additive effect and validation across various genotypes, the yield-improving QTL on chromosome 1 can be directly utilised in marker-assisted selection (MAS) for developing shade-tolerant rice. This can also help reduce the yield gap between wet and dry-season rice.

Background: Work is carried out to improve rivaroxaban's dissolution rate (DR) and develop mouth-disintegrating tablets for rapid onset of action. Objectives: The work objective was to improve the dissolution rate of rivaroxaban using PEG 6000 by preparing its solid dispersions (SDs) further to prepare mouth-disintegrating tablets (MDTs). Methods: Methods like physical mixing, melting, and solvent evaporation were used to prepare SDs at 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:1.5 w/w ratios of rivaroxaban with PEG 6000 were prepared. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Infrared spectroscopy (IR) were used to characterize the SDs. The selected solid dispersion at an appropriate drug: carrier ratio was used to develop MDTs by direct compression, using super disintegrants. Results: The SDs show improved solubility and rate of dissolution. SDs developed using a melting or solvent evaporation technique showed a more than two-fold increase in dissolution rate. In the dissolution study, after 60 min, the pure drug dissolved 45 %, while the prepared SDs showed almost more than 90 % within the same period. No significant drug carrier interaction was observed in the IR and DSC studies. However, minor shifts in peak values were observed for the characterization of functional groups in the drug structure. Conclusions: Formulation of solid dispersions of the drug with PEG 6000 is a successful approach for the dissolution rate improvement of rivaroxaban. This work for dissolution rate improvement of rivaroxaban using PEG 6000 showed significant improvement in dissolution rate at a 1:1 w/w ratio prepared by solvent evaporation method, which was further selected for mouth disintegrating tablet formulation.

Background: The work was intended to enhance etoricoxib's solubility and dissolution rate and then develop oro-dispersible tablets for faster onset of action. Methodology: Inclusion complexes (ICs) of the drug were obtained with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP β-CD) at ratios of 1:0.125, 1:0.25, 1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2 (w/w). The selected cyclodextrin at appropriate drug carrier proportion was used to develop oro-dispersible tablets (ODTs) by direct compression, adding crospovidone as a super disintegrant. Phase solubility studies of etoricoxib were carried out by using multiple concentrations of β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin, i.e., 1 %, 2 %, 3 % w/v in distilled water at 37±2°C. Spectroscopic (FT-IR) and thermal analysis (DSC) techniques were employed to identify the drug-carrier interactions. Result: It showed that etoricoxib solubility improves with increasing hydrophilic carrier concentration. The Gibbs free energy values (ΔG˚tr) are consistently negative, showing the solubility of etoricoxib. Significant drug carrier interaction in spectroscopic or thermal analysis was not found. Discussion: The ICs of drugs with β-CD and HP β-CD have successfully addressed the challenges of solubility enhancement and taste masking for etoricoxib. Conclusions: It is observed that the inclusion complexes formed by the kneading method using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) at a 1:1 ratio and hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HP β-CD) at a 1:2 ratio can be used to improve dissolution. Hence β-CD (at a 1:1 ratio) is selected for the formulation of oro-dispersible tablets. ODTs offer more patient compliance and an alternative to available conventional tablets.

Abstract Poor people in a developing country like India face energy poverty and are deprived of clean cooking fuel. Clean cooking fuels are costlier and require more willingness to pay (WTP) from the consumer. Therefore, this is a descriptive study aims to analyze factors associated with differences in cooking fuel expenses at the household level in Uttar Pradesh, India. For this purpose, panel data from the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey of CMIE from 2014 to 2019 has been considered. The study uses fixed-effect panel data model to control individual-specific effects. Cooking fuel expenses show positive elasticity concerning per capita income. However, this elasticity is lower for the higher-income group than the bottom-income group. Less educational attainments of households are associated with lower spending on cooking fuel. Moreover, households with better access to electricity are willing to spend more on cooking fuel expenditure. Hence, improved access to electricity nudges households towards more WTP for cooking fuel. It is further confirmed by finding a positive association between electricity-using household appliances and cooking fuel expenses. Therefore, improved access to electricity may increase the WTP for cooking fuel and adopt clean cooking fuel in different ways. This suggests positive spillover effects of modern energy services on clean cooking fuel.

Abstract Skin cancer is a lethal disease, and its early detection plays a pivotal role in preventing its spread to other body organs and tissues. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based automated methods can play a significant role in its early detection. This study presents an AI-based novel approach, termed 'DualAutoELM' for the effective identification of various types of skin cancers. The proposed method leverages a network of autoencoders, comprising two distinct autoencoders: the spatial autoencoder and the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform)-autoencoder. The spatial-autoencoder specializes in learning spatial features within input lesion images whereas the FFT-autoencoder learns to capture textural and distinguishing frequency patterns within transformed input skin lesion images through the reconstruction process. The use of attention modules at various levels within the encoder part of these autoencoders significantly improves their discriminative feature learning capabilities. An Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) with a single layer of feedforward is trained to classify skin malignancies using the characteristics that were recovered from the bottleneck layers of these autoencoders. The 'HAM10000' and 'ISIC-2017' are two publicly available datasets used to thoroughly assess the suggested approach. The experimental findings demonstrate the accuracy and robustness of the proposed technique, with AUC, precision, and accuracy values for the 'HAM10000' dataset being 0.98, 97.68% and 97.66%, and for the 'ISIC-2017' dataset being 0.95, 86.75% and 86.68%, respectively. This study highlights the possibility of the suggested approach for accurate detection of skin cancer.

Abstract The performance of superconducting qubits is degraded by a poorly characterized set of energy sources breaking the Cooper pairs responsible for superconductivity, creating a condition often called “quasiparticle poisoning”. Both superconducting qubits and low threshold dark matter calorimeters have observed excess bursts of quasiparticles or phonons that decrease in rate with time. Here, we show that a silicon crystal glued to its holder exhibits a rate of low-energy phonon events that is more than two orders of magnitude larger than in a functionally identical crystal suspended from its holder in a low-stress state. The excess phonon event rate in the glued crystal decreases with time since cooldown, consistent with a source of phonon bursts which contributes to quasiparticle poisoning in quantum circuits and the low-energy events observed in cryogenic calorimeters. We argue that relaxation of thermally induced stress between the glue and crystal is the source of these events.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of secondary interval AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy after localized intra-arterial catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) through power-pulse spray (PPS) technique in partially successful or failed primary AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy cases of acute and subacute peripheral artery thrombosis.

The incidence of chronic diseases in contemporary society has been steadily rising with the ageing population. They place a significant strain on both people and the healthcare system, and they are the leading cause of death. As a result, novel detection methods that allow for early identification of chronic diseases to manage therapy are in high demand. Modern sensing tools have emerged in the form of biosensors, which can detect biomarkers and transform them into quantifiable signals. The fields of environmental science, agriculture, drug discovery, biotechnology, food safety, and medical diagnostics might all benefit from the data they provide. The development of more precise, sensitive, and selective diagnostic tools is, nevertheless, of the utmost importance, as is the ability to identify biomarkers as disease indicators at very low concentrations. Nano biosensors are a new generation of analytical instruments that have evolved from the integration of nanomaterials with biosensors. One promising option for continuous, real-time health monitoring is nanostructured biosensors, which provide exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility. Nano biosensors are categorized in this extensive study according to their size, production process, and transduction mechanism. Also, talk about the latest developments and uses for nano biosensors, and cover some important elements of them, focusing on their electrochemistry and optical characteristics. Further research is needed to fully understand nano biosensors and their potential as a tool for personalized treatment, since there are still many unknowns about their biocompatibility, toxicity, stability, and integration into the human body.

In the real world, we are faced with many problems that cannot be easily described by crisp values, as there is always some uncertainty involved in real-life situations and in those situations, we end up receiving fuzzy values rather than crisp ones in those situations. Some preliminary concepts of fuzzy sets and operations on trapezoidal fuzzy numbers incorporated with the membership function have been discussed here. This paper aims to demonstrate the advantages of the newly developed fuzzified newton–raphson method with the help of trapezoidal fuzzy numbers for solving algebraic nonlinear equations arising in fuzzy environments. The algorithm of newton–raphson techniques for solving the same has been described. This paper presents several examples of how the new fuzzified newton–raphson method works.

Subtropical fiber flax faces significant challenges due to crop lodging, exacerbated by the high N regimes needed for increased fiber production. This study examines impact of balanced P and K applications under varied N regimes on lodging resistance, fiber yield, and quality of flax. Field experiments with 12 NPK treatments revealed that while 120:19:38 kg N, P, K ha−1 achieved highest plant height, stem-diameter, and fresh-weight while increased lodging percentage and reduced fiber quality when P and K were not balanced. Conversely, balanced P and K applications mitigated negative effects of high N, significantly reducing lodging and enhancing fiber yield, quality. Optimal fiber quality, including fiber length and bundle tenacity, was observed with 90:19:38 kg N, P, K ha−1. The novelty of this study lies in integration of stochastic and ML approaches to develop hybrid models for lodging. By combining LASSO with ANN, NLSVR, and RF techniques, hybrid models outperformed individual models in lodging prediction. Specifically, LASSO-NLSVR provided most accurate predictions due to its nonlinear mapping capabilities. Key predictive factors included fiber content, linear density, and tensile strength at 60 days post-sowing, offering valuable insights for breeders and agronomists to improve flax lodging resistance and fiber quality in subtropical climates.

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.

Background Several non-invasive technologies are nowadays available in the market which claim to determine the hemoglobin levels instantly without the requirement of the blood sample. But no study has shown the significance of such non-invasive devices on a routine basis for determining their impact on anemia reduction programs. This study is conducted to determine the impact of regular hemoglobin screening on the women population to determine its potential in reducing anemia, using a digitalized non-invasive device.Method A cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 women of reproductive age group, residing in the Moradabad district. Repetitive readings were taken after a time interval of a minimum of 1 month for determining the impact of regular screening. The entire data collection process was carried out using the EzeCheck mobile app.Results It was observed that the prevalence of anemia was reduced upon the second time screening and was accepted by the women population. Repetitive testing has a significant impact on reducing anemia prevalence. Also, the simplified non-invasive technology for estimating the hemoglobin values, makes the user more comfortable to take the test.Conclusion Non-invasive devices should be used regularly to keep track of hemoglobin levels which will help in the effective treatment of anemia. The mobile app-based testing could help to easily evaluate the reports of the patients from any remote location with instant result interpretation and health assistance.

Action under the Montreal Protocol has contributed to climate change mitigation for almost 35 years. The phase-out of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) has set the ozone layer on a path to recovery, protecting the world’s biosphere from harmful ultraviolet radiation. The 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is expected to avoid 5.6–8.7 gigatonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) per year by 2100, reducing the impact of HFCs on global average warming by up to 0.4°C. Despite its successes, unexpected emissions of phased out ODS – notably the chlorofluorocarbon, CFC-11 - have brought attention to shortcomings in the Protocol’s monitoring, reporting, verification and enforcement (MRV+E) which must be addressed to guarantee its controls are sustained. Meanwhile, additional significant mitigation could be achieved by accelerating the phase-down of HFCs under the Kigali Amendment, by tackling ODS and HFC emissions from leaking banks of equipment and products and by controlling feedstocks, which are not subject to Montreal Protocol phase-out controls. Recent scientific papers have linked almost 870 million tCO2 per year of greenhouse gases (GHG) and ODS to fluorochemical industrial processes and illegal fluorochemical production. Expanding the scope of the Montreal Protocol to address nitrous oxide (N2O), itself an ODS and GHG, would also contribute substantial ozone and climate benefits. This perspective essay discusses new and strengthened policy measures that governments can consider under the Montreal Protocol in order to maximize early, cost-effective reductions in emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases and ensure future implementation.

Due to their value as a food source, fiber, and other products globally, there has been a growing focus on the wellbeing and health of small ruminants, particularly in relation to anemia induced by blood-feeding gastrointestinal parasites like Haemonchus contortus. The objective of this study was to assess the packed cell volume (PCV) levels in blood samples from small ruminants, specifically goats, and create an efficient biosensor for more convenient, yet accurate detection of anemia for on-farm use in agricultural environments for animal production optimization. The study encompassed 75 adult male Spanish goats, which underwent PCV testing to ascertain their PCV ranges and their association with anemic conditions. Using artificial intelligence-powered machine learning algorithms, an advanced, easy-to-use sensor was developed for rapidly alerting farmers as to low red blood cell count of their animals in this way to enable timely medical intervention. The developed sensor utilizes a semi-invasive technique that requires only a small blood sample. More precisely, a volume of 30 μL of blood was placed onto Whatman filter paper No. 1, previously soaked with anhydrous glycerol. The blood dispersion pattern on the glycerol-infused paper was then recorded using a smartphone after 180 s. Subsequently, these images were examined in correlation with established PCV values obtained from conventional PCV analysis. Four separate machine learning models (ML) supported models, namely support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and image classification-based Keras model, were created and assessed using the image dataset. The dataset consisted of 1,054 images that were divided into training, testing, and validation sets in a 70:20:10 ratio. The initial findings indicated a detection accuracy of 76.06% after only 10 epochs for recognizing different levels of PCV in relation to anemia, ranging from healthy to severely anemic. This testing accuracy increased markedly, to 95.8% after 100 epochs and other model parameter optimization. Results for SVM had an overall F1 score of 74–100% in identifying the PCV range for blood pattern images representing healthy to severely anemic animals, and BPNN showed 91–100% accuracy in identifying the PCV range for anemia detection. This work demonstrates that AI-driven biosensors can be used for on-site rapid anemia detection. Optimized machine learning models maximize detection accuracy, proving the sensor’s validity and rapidity in assessing anemia levels. This breakthrough will allow farmers, with rapid results, to increase animal wellbeing and agricultural productivity.

Wheat spot blotch has emerged as a disease of significant concern in recent years. The pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana can infect stems, leaves, roots and seeds, increasing its impact. The pathogen is particularly prevalent in the wheat growing zone of West Bengal, which provides congenial conditions for the growth and development of the pathogen. However, its knowledge under West Bengal conditions is inadequate. To address this issue, isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana were collected from different locations in West Bengal. The pathogenic species were identified via comprehensive morphological studies supplemented with internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-rDNA sequence analysis and pathogenicity. The disease severity of the twelve isolates collected varied among the surveyed locations, ranging from 44.03% to 81.48 %. The greatest radial growth was observed in BSC11 (50.07 mm), whereas the lowest growth was recorded in BSC9 (6.47 mm) at 96 h after inoculation. Molecular studies confirmed that the isolates were Bipolaris sorokiniana. In pathogenicity assays, BSC11 presented the highest area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) (380.05) and percent disease index (PDI) among the isolates at 20 dai (38.33 %). The correlation matrix revealed that disease severity was positively correlated with the number of spores (r2 = 0.70), growth rate of mycelia (r2 = 0.77), and lesion size (r2 = 0.74), whereas the length of the spores, incubation period, and latent period were negatively and significantly correlated with disease severity. Establishing the aggressiveness of a pathogen is pivotal in studying host‒ interactions. Our study established BSC11 as a highly virulent pathogen isolate that can be used further for comprehensive analysis of wheat‒Bipolaris sorokiniana interactions.

Abstract The enhancement of the photovoltaic performance upon the aging process at particular environment is often observed in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), particularly for the devices with 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N,N‐di(4‐methoxyphenyl)amino)−9,9′‐spirobifluorene (spiro‐OMeTAD) as hole transporting material (HTM). In this work, for the first time the effect of aging the typical n‐i‐p PSCs employing nickel phthalocyanine (coded as Bis‐PF‐Ni) solely as dopant‐free HTM is investigated and as an additive in spiro‐OMeTAD solution. This study reveals that the prolong aging of these devices at dry air condition (RH = 2%, 25 °C) is beneficial for the improvement of their performances. Various bulk and surface characterization techniques are utilized to understand the factors behind the spontaneous efficiency enhancement of the devices after storage. As a result, the changes in properties of the Bis‐PF‐Ni layer are observed and at perovskite/Bis‐PF‐Ni interface, which ultimately improves the charge transport and reduces non‐radiative recombination. In addition, the devices with Bis‐PF‐Ni HTM reveal enhanced long‐term ambient and thermal stability compared to the PSCs based on doped spiro‐OMeTAD.

In agricultural scenario, chitosan, a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitins, has the ability to function as both a bio-stimulant and an elicitor. Chitosan is produced from chitins. It is suitable for a wide range of uses because it is non-toxic, does not contaminate the environment, and is biocompatible with living things. It improves physiological reactions and lessens the negative effects of abiotic stimuli through the stress transduction pathway and the use of secondary messengers. Through nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide-based signalling pathways, chitosan treatment activates antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, it stimulates the production of organic acids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and other metabolites needed for osmotic regulation, stress signalling, and other processes. Additionally, it can combine with heavy metals to produce compounds, and it is used in both phytoremediation and biological remediation of polluted soil. Additionally, this is applied topically to a variety of plants as an anti-transpirant agent, which reduces the quantity of water needed while also providing protection from other negative effects. Due of chitosan's exceptional properties and the way the climate is changing, sustainable farming practises are increasingly incorporating it. Our study is a compendium of current chitosan research that highlights abiotic stress reactions. These responses could be helpful in upcoming initiatives to increase crop productivity.

The increasing emphasis on fostering agri-entrepreneurship in emerging economies is based on the understanding that it holds the potential to drive economic growth and sustainable development. Its impact transcends mere financial indicators, influencing facets such as innovation, job creation, and societal empowerment. This perspective is also relevant in the Indian context, where organizations promoting agri-entrepreneurship often encounter challenges. This study was carried out to identify the constraints faced by various stakeholders involved in providing and accessing entrepreneurial support, also strategizing solutions for the identified bottlenecks. Data was gathered through structured interviews involving about 200 agri-entrepreneurs and 43 extension professionals in selected states. Constraints as well as strategies in the promotion of agri-entrepreneurship were systematically categorized into four dimensions viz. administrative, financial, technical, and socio-cultural which were further ranked through Garett’s ranking method and Analytical Hierarchy Process. Financial and administrative constraints, including lack of priority lending, favoritism, and delays in fund release, emerged as significant hurdles for sustainable entrepreneurship development, other constraints among technical and socio-cultural domains include lack of prototype testing facility and orientation toward conventional ventures, respectively. Experts suggested strategies like post program funding support, timely disbursement of seed funding and transparency in pitch evaluation for mitigating the challenges. The overall consistency ratio of AHP matrix indicates a high level of agreement in suggestions among experts. Incorporating the suggestions through policy changes is expected to promote a sustainable food value chain thereby promoting sustainable agri-entrepreneurship.

Abstract Being able to quantify the phototoxicity of dyes and drugs in live cells allows biologists to better understand cell responses to exogenous stimuli during imaging. This capability further helps to design fluorescent labels with lower phototoxicity and drugs with better efficacy. Conventional ways to evaluate cellular phototoxicity rely on late‐stage measurements of individual or different populations of cells. Here, we developed a quantitative method using intracellular microtubule polymerization as a rapid and sensitive marker to quantify early‐stage phototoxicity. Implementing this method, we assessed the photosensitization induced by organelle dyes illuminated with different excitation wavelengths. Notably, fluorescent markers targeting mitochondria, nuclei, and endoplasmic reticulum exhibited diverse levels of phototoxicity. Furthermore, leveraging a real‐time precision opto‐control technology allowed us to evaluate the synergistic effect of light and dyes on specific organelles. Studies in hypoxia revealed enhanced phototoxicity of Mito‐Tracker Red CMXRos that is not correlated with the generation of reactive oxygen species but a different deleterious pathway in low oxygen conditions.

Amending a problem soil in addition to nutrient input is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive soil in the long run. The study aimed at evaluating the long-term impact of manuring and fertilization with or without liming on different soil attributes and crop yield in an acidic Alfisol. Surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected from selected 7 treatments, viz. Control; N; FYM; ½(N+FYM)+PX/2+KY/2; NPK; NPK+L; and P(A-X)K(B-Y)+FYM+L of the Permanent Manurial Trial (PMT) of Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, after the harvesting of rainy (kharif) maize (Zea mays L.) at the 67th crop cycle (2023 and 2024) and assessed for various fractions of soil organic carbon (SOC), available nutrients and yield attributes. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) and replicated thrice. The treatments which received manures either alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers recorded significantly higher amount of all the fractions of SOC, available nitrogen and lower bulk density as compare to the unfertilized plot or treatment with inorganic alone. The study also revealed that, addition of lime helped maintaining an optimum pH level, enhanced microbial activities and nutrient availability in the soil leading to a higher crop yield. Therefore, integrated use of manures and fertilizers in addition to lime for a prolonged period would have significant positive impact on soil health and sustaining its productivity.

Hereditary Multiple Exostoses (HME) is a rare autosomal dominant bone disease. It is characterized with numerous benign osteochondromas, which grow outward from the metaphyses of long bones. In many cases it is asymptomatic but can lead to considerable number of complications, like pressure symptoms, limb deformities, and can cause psychosocial problems. Malignant transformation is rarely seen. Surgery is the main modality of treatment.This paper aims to highlight the role of FNAC in diagnosis of HME.

Abstract Despite the fact that several technologies have been developed to assist healthcare workers in reducing errors and improving accuracy in illness diagnosis, there is still substantial ambiguity regarding the accurate disease diagnosis based on symptoms. The goal of this work is to establish a group decision-making problem in an uncertain situation to assist medical practitioners in generating accurate illness predictions based on symptoms. This study proposes a novel distance measure for Pythagorean fuzzy sets that incorporates the inherent uncertainty of complex, uncertain data by incorporating indeterminacy in the computation. First, we establish the proposed Mabala distance measure by describing it’s properties. Then, the suggested distance measure is applied to solve group decision-making problems in uncertain situations. A case study of disease analysis based on symptoms is presented to illustrate the decision-making procedure involving four medical professionals, five symptoms, and five probable diseases. Furthermore, We have presented two cases of disease analysis using non-standard and standard Pythagorean fuzzy soft matrices. The results suggest that the proposed Mabala’s distance measure has great potential for improving disease analysis. The proposed Mabala distance measure is compared to five existing distance measures using an identical data set of prospective disease symptoms. The comparative analysis indicates that the suggested Mabala distance measure’s result almost coincides with the results of the other distance measurements. A set of sensitivity analysis is provided to analyze the durability and consistency of the proposed distance measurements across different input scenarios.

This study examines AI's role in enhancing guest satisfaction and efficiency in the hotel industry. Employing a mixedmethods approach, it analyzes guest feedback and interviews staff at AI-integrated hotels. The findings aim to identify key AI applications that boost satisfaction and efficiency, and outline challenges and best practices for AI implementation. This research offers a holistic view of AI's influence on hospitality, enriching understanding and guiding industry practices. As the hotel industry continues to evolve, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has become increasingly prevalent, aiming to enhance guest experience. This research investigates the impact of AI integration on guest experience enhancement within the hotel industry. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively explore how AI technologies influence various aspects of guest satisfaction in hotels. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining quantitative analysis of guest feedback data with qualitative methods by interviewing the guests staying in the hotel. Data is collected from a diverse range of hotels that have implemented AI technologies, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the impacts across their establishments. This research is expected to provide valuable insights into the multifaceted effects of AI integration in the hotel industry. Specifically, it aims to identify the specific AI applications that most significantly contribute to guest satisfaction levels. Additionally, the study seeks to uncover potential challenges and limitations associated with AI implementation, as well as best practices for successful integration. This topic lies in its comprehensive examination of AI's impact on both guest experience within the hotel industry. While previous research has explored AI's role in hospitality, few studies have undertaken such a holistic analysis, considering its implications for guests. By addressing this gap, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the transformative effects of AI in the hotel sector, providing practical insights for industry practitioners and stakeholders.

Introduction:Allergic rhinitis (AR), clinically compatible with Vataja pratisyaya, is a highly prevalent global health issue that has a substantial negative effect on quality of life, especially children. In the text Basavarajiyam, Shatyadhi churna is mentioned in the treatment of Pratisyaya (~rhinitis) to be taken along with Ghrita and Guda. The study was undertaken with the objective to evaluate the efficacy of Shatyadhi churna in Vataja pratisyaya w. r. t AR among children of 6–16 year age in comparison with syrup Levocetirizine (LCZ).Methods:Ethically approved trial was two-arm, randomized, open-labeled, controlled, parallel, interventional study with allocation ratio 1:1, conducted at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi on outpatient department basis.Results:In the present study, out of total 30 enrolled participants, 16 patients were assigned to intervention group, Shatyadhi churna (trial period of 4 weeks) and 14 others were assigned to control group, Syrup LCZ (trial period of 2 weeks). Treatment with the trial drug significantly reduced the clinical features, immunoglobulin E level and improved the health-related quality of life among the participants.Conclusion:The anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, analgesic, antioxidant properties and Dipana (digestion enhancer), Ama pachana (metabolism enhancer), Anulomana (regularizing physiological movement), Srotoshodhaka (cleansing of functional channels) and Rasayana (rejuvenation) attributes of each individual drugs are responsible for Doshapratyanika (treatment specified to regulatory functional factors of body) as well as Vyadhipratyanika chikitsa (disease specific treatment) of Shatyadhi churna in the management of Vataja pratisyaya w. r. t AR.

Abstract The phenotype of β‐thalassemia varies widely. The primary determinant is the type of beta‐globin gene mutation; however, there are secondary and tertiary modifiers also as associated alpha mutations, polymorphisms, as well as coinheritance of mutations affecting other related systems. Co‐inheritance of alpha thalassemia mutations is known to ameliorate the severity of HbE‐β thalassemia. However, the role of alpha globin gene alterations (deletions and triplication) is not well illustrated in homozygous β‐thalassemia. Here we evaluated the role of alpha globin gene alterations in 122 β‐thalassemia patients having IVS1‐5 (G > C) homozygous mutation. β‐thalassemia mutations were detected by ARMS PCR and alpha mutations by GAP‐PCR. Gene expression by qRT‐PCR. Out of 122 cases, 15 patients had alpha 3.7 triplications (ααα3.7anti), 24 had alpha 3.7 kb deletion (−α3.7) mutation and three patients had 4.2 kb deletion (−α4.2). Patients were divided into two groups, requiring less than 8 units (NTDT) and more than 8 units (TDT) of blood transfusion per year (≥8U BT/year). The percentage of alpha deletion was significantly (p = 0.0042) high in NTDT (42.1%) as compared with TDT (13.2%). Conversely, the proportion of alpha triplication is high in the TDT as compared with NTDT. Even mean serum ferritin level was found to be significantly high in patients having alpha triplication as compared with those having alpha deletions (p = 0.0184) and normal alpha gene (p = 0.0003). α/β globin ratio was highest in TDT patients with alpha triplication and lowest in NTDT patients with alpha‐del. The results show that concurrent inheritance of alpha gene alterations influences the phenotypic severity of homozygous β‐thalassemia.

Abstract While many studies have documented adverse impact of multiple chronic conditions or multimorbidity on COVID-19 outcomes in patients, there is scarcity of report on how physicians managed these patients. We investigated the experiences and challenges of clinicians in managing patients with multimorbidity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Odisha state, India. To understand the factors influencing illness management and the adaptive responses of physicians alongside the evolving pandemic, we followed a longitudinal qualitative study design. Twenty-three physicians comprising general practitioners, specialists, and intensivists, were telephonically interviewed in-depth. Saldana’s longitudinal qualitative data analysis method was employed for data analysis. COVID-19 pandemic initially diverted the attention of health systems, resulting in reduced care. With time, the physicians overcame fear, anxiety, and feelings of vulnerability to COVID-19 and started prioritising patients with multimorbidity for treatment and vaccination. All physicians recommended teleconsultation and digital health records to benefit chronic illness care during future public health crises. The findings underscore the transformative potential of physician resilience and adaptation during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing patients with multimorbidity, incorporating teleconsultation, and implementing digital health records in healthcare systems to enhance chronic illness care and preparedness for future public health crises.

Background: Psychosocial interventions, crucial for recovery in patients with schizophrenia, have often been developed and tested in high income countries. We aimed at developing and validating home-based a booklet based psycho-social intervention with inputs from stakeholders: patients, families, and mental health professionals (MHP) for patients with schizophrenia and related disorders in low resource settings. Methods: We developed a preliminary version of psychosocial intervention booklets based on six themes derived from focus group discussions conducted with patients, families, and MHP. Initially, quantitative assessment of content validity was done by MHP on overall and Content Validity Index of individual items of the specific booklets, followed by in-depth interviews about their views. The booklets were modified based on their inputs. Further, pilot testing of manuals was done on the users - nine pairs of patients and caregivers followed by development of a final version of psycho-social intervention. Results: The percentage content validity of individual modules and overall booklets was ≥78.5% indicating good validity. Most MHP reported that the manuals were relevant and easy to use but were text-heavy, and lengthy. On pilot testing of modified manuals with patients and their family caregivers, majority (77.8%) of them found booklets useful and suggested that there should be separate booklets for both patients and caregivers for providing information and entering separate response for the activities, integrating helpful tips. Language should be simple. Finally, two sets of booklets (“info book” and “workbook”) named ‘Saksham’ (meaning empowered) were created with specific modules (viz., ‘Medicine adherence’, ‘Daily routine’, ‘Eating right’, ‘Physical activity’, ‘Physical health monitoring’, ‘Self-reliance’, and ‘Psychoeducation’) for patients and caregivers each, in two languages (Hindi and English). Conclusion: Booklets with modules for psychosocial interventions for patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers were developed after establishing content validity and pilot testing.

The vagina is an essential component of the female reproductive system and is responsible for providing female sexual satisfaction. Vaginal smooth muscle contraction plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including sexual arousal, childbirth, and urinary continence. In pathophysiological conditions, such as pelvic floor disorders, aberrations in vaginal smooth muscle function can lead to urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. A set of cellular and sub-cellular physiological mechanisms regulates the contractile properties of the vaginal smooth muscle cells. Calcium influx is a crucial determinant of smooth muscle contraction, facilitated through voltage-dependent calcium channels and calcium release from intracellular stores. Comprehensive reviews on smooth muscle biophysics are relatively scarce within the scientific literature, likely due to the complexity and specialized nature of the topic. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of alterations in the cellular physiology of vaginal smooth muscle contraction. The benefit associated with this particular approach is that conducting a comprehensive examination of the cellular mechanisms underlying contractile activation will enable the creation of more targeted therapeutic agents to control vaginal contraction disorders.

Abstract ZnO based piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG) hold immense potential for harvesting ambient vibrational mechanical energy into electrical energy, offering sustainable solutions in the field of self-powered sensors, wearable electronics, human–machine interactions etc. In this study, we have developed flexible ZnO-based PENGs by incorporating ZnO microparticles into PDMS matrix, with ZnO concentration ranging from 5 to 25 wt%. Among these, the PENG containing 15 wt% ZnO exhibited the best performance with an open-circuit output voltage/short-circuit current of ~ 42.4 V/2.4 µA. To further enhance the output performance of PENG, p-type NiO was interfaced with ZnO in a bulk hetero-junction geometry. The concentration of NiO was varied from 5 to 20 wt% with respect to ZnO and incorporated into the PDMS matrix to fabricate the PENGs. The PENG containing 10 wt% NiO exhibits the best performance with an open-circuit output voltage/short-circuit current of ~ 65 V/4.1 µA under loading conditions of 30 N and 4 Hz. The PENG exhibiting the best performance demonstrates a maximum instantaneous output power density ~ 37.9 µW/cm2 across a load resistance of 20 MΩ under loading conditions of 30 N and 4 Hz, with a power density per unit force and Hertz of about ~ 0.32 µW/cm2·N·Hz. The enhanced output performance of the PENG is attributed to the reduction in free electron concentration, which suppresses the internal screening effect of the piezopotential. To assess the practical utility of the optimized PENG, we tested the powering capability by charging various commercial capacitors and used the stored energy to illuminate 10 LEDs and to power a stopwatch displays. This work not only presents a straightforward, cost-effective, and scalable technique for enhancing the output performance of ZnO-based PENGs but also sheds light on its underlying mechanism.

Abstract We study the possibility of generating light Dirac neutrino mass via scotogenic mechanism where singlet-doublet fermion Dark Matter (DM) plays non-trivial role in generating one-loop neutrino mass, anomalous magnetic moment of muon: (g − 2) μ as well as additional relativistic degrees of freedom ∆N eff within reach of cosmic microwave background (CMB) experiments. We show that the Dirac nature of neutrinos can bring interesting correlations within the parameter space satisfying the (g − 2) μ , DM relic density and the effective relativistic degrees of freedom ∆N eff. While we stick to thermal singlet-doublet DM with promising detection prospects, both thermal and non-thermal origin of ∆N eff have been explored. In addition to detection prospects of the model at DM, (g − 2) μ and other particle physics experiments, it remains verifiable at future CMB experiments like CMB-S4 and SPT-3G.

In the present study, a functionally graded cantilever beam has been analyzed to observe its deformation behavior and stress variations. While the material properties (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rigidity, and density) have been varied along the height of the beam, Poisson’s ratio has been considered a constant. The governing equations have been derived using Hamilton’s Principle in the framework of higher-order beam theory. The derived equations are then simplified to a single equation, which is similar to that of isotropic beams. However, the work is extended to include a few higher-order terms and to study the effect of the incorporation of these terms on the resulting FG beam behavior. The development of a single governing equation for studying the statics and dynamics of an FG beam with the incorporation of higher-order terms is a unique part of the report. The solution of the governing equation is approached using approximate methods; in this work, the B-spline collocation technique is used to arrive at the results. A sixth-order B-spline basis function is used as an approximating polynomial, and the Greville abscissa has been used to generate collocation points. The obtained results have been verified against standard literature to find a satisfactory match. The results include comparative plots for normalized bending and transverse shear stresses, with and without the inclusion of higher-order terms. The results are then extended to study the effect of material index on the deformation and stress behavior of FG beams. The effect of aspect ratio on results is also studied for comparison of various beam theories.

Microorganisms (MOs) are prominent in ecological functioning and balance. The rhizosphere is considered one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth and serves as a breeding spot for many MOs. Rhizosphere microbial diversity changes according to plant species, genotype, and the nature of the soil. The current study reports the possible use of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Azadirachta indica for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The physicochemical characterization and antibacterial activity of these green synthesized AgNPs are also reported. The gene (16S rRNA) sequence of bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere showed a maximum similarity of 99.25% with Bacillus subtilis. After incubation, the colorless reaction mixture transformed to brown, which indicates the formation of AgNPs, and UV-vis spectral analysis also confirmed the biosynthesis of AgNPs. Compared to lower temperatures, the efficiency of AgNP synthesis was high at the higher temperature. The scanning electron microscope image demonstrated spherical-shaped AgNPs with sizes ranging from 18 to 21 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis established the elemental analysis of synthesized AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs showed strong bactericidal properties against pathogenic bacteria Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract Background The moderate deep inspiratory breath hold (mDIBH) is a modality famed for cardiac sparing. Prospective studies based on this are few from the eastern part of the world and India. We intend to compare the dosimetry between mDIBH and free-breathing (FB) plans. Methods Thirty-two locally advanced left breast cancer patients were taken up for the study. All patients received a dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions to the chest wall/intact breast, followed by a 10-Gy boost to the lumpectomy cavity in the case of breast conservation surgery. All the patients were treated in mDIBH using active breath coordinator (ABC). The data from the two dose volume histograms were compared regarding plan quality and the doses received by the organs at risk. Paired t-test was used for data analysis. Results The dose received by the heart in terms of V5, V10, and V30 (4.55% vs 8.39%) and mean dose (4.73 Gy vs 6.74 Gy) were statistically significant in the ABC group than that in the FB group (all p-values < 0.001). Also, the dose received by the LADA in terms of V30 (19.32% vs 24.87%) and mean dose (32.99 Gy vs 46.65 Gy) were significantly less in the ABC group. The mean treatment time for the ABC group was 20 min, while that for the free-breathing group was 10 min. Conclusions Incorporating ABC-mDIBH for left-sided breast cancer radiotherapy significantly reduces the doses received by the heart, LADA, and left and right lung, with no compromise in plan quality but with an increase in treatment time.