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Meat adulteration and admixing are prevalent malpractices observed in processed and raw meat samples, where the consumption of adulterated meat has been associated with food allergies, financial losses, and consumer distrust. Meat authentication is pivotal to address these concerns. The meat authenticity can be determined through genetic, protein, and immunological markers and advanced detection methods. However, these methods often target a single species and lack the specificity to distinguish closely related species. Here, in the present study, we have developed a multiplex detection method based on the species-specific primers and probes, that can target four meat species in one reaction. The developed method amplifies the mitochondrial genomic regions of chicken, pork, sheep and goat using TaqMan multiplex probe-based RT-qPCR assay. Unique pairs of species-specific primers and probes that target specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions of each species were designed and screened for specificity and sensitivity. The detection limit for species identification using the designed primers in real-time qPCR assays was 0.1 picogram per microliter (pg/μL) DNA detected in singleplex reaction and facilitates the simultaneous detection of closely related species, such as goat and sheep. Further, DNA-based probes were utilized in a multiplex real-time qPCR assay to identify chicken, pork, sheep and goat DNA in a single tube reaction. The multiplex assay was validated for raw and processed meat products, demonstrating its applications in ensuring the quality of meat products and safeguarding consumer interests.

Abstract Functional unit of many organs like lung, kidney, intestine, and eye have their endothelial and epithelial monolayers physically separated by a specialized extracellular matrix called the basement membrane. The intricate and complex topography of this matrix influences cell function, behavior and overall homeostasis. In vitro barrier function replication of such organs requires mimicking of these native features on an artificial scaffold system. Apart from chemical and mechanical features, the choice of nano-scale topography of the artificial scaffold is integral, however its influence on monolayer barrier formation is unclear. Though studies have reported improved single cell adhesion and proliferation in presence of pores or pitted topology, corresponding influence on confluent monolayer formation is not well reported. In this work, basement membrane mimic with secondary topographical cues is developed and its influence on single cells and their monolayers is investigated. We show that single cells cultured on fibers with secondary cues form stronger focal adhesions and undergo increased proliferation. Counterintuitively, absence of secondary cues promoted stronger cell–cell interaction in endothelial monolayers and promoted formation of integral tight barriers in alveolar epithelial monolayers. Overall, this work highlights the importance of choice of scaffold topology to develop basement barrier function in in vitro models.

In an era of Anthropocene, habitat loss and species extinction due to anthropogenic factors, and the upsurge in animal exploitation force us to reconsider the “animal question” and relationships between humans and animals. All forms of animal abuse violate the subjectivity of the animals by othering them as objects who are mercilessly exploited. Purportedly influenced by the social consciousness of the moral rights of animals and the animal advocacy movement, Sara Gruen’s novel “Water for Elephants” (2006), exposes the horrible reality of animals being mistreated for entertainment in the circus industry through a fictitious description of the events in the Benzini Brothers’ Shows. The framework of this research is based on two arguments: the crucial link between human insensitivity or empathy erosion and animal abuse; and the significance of empathy, in particular, “entangled empathy”, in acknowledging animals as moral subjects, taking care of them, and creating the harmonious human-animal relationship in the novel.

With the world transitioning to an online reality and a surge in social media users, detecting online harassment and threats has become more pressing than ever. Gendered cyber-hate causes women significant social, psychological, reputational, economic, and political harm. To tackle this problem, we develop a dataset and propose a transformer-based model to classify tweets into threats or non-threats that are either sexist or non-sexist. We have developed a model to identify sexist and non-sexist threats from a collection of sexist, non-sexist tweets. BREE-HD performs extraordinarily well with an accuracy of 97% when trained on the dataset we developed to detect threats from a collection of derogatory tweets. To provide insight into how BREE-HD makes classifications, we apply explainable A.I. (XAI) concepts to provide a detailed qualitative analysis of our proposed methodology. As an extension of our work, BREE-HD could be used as a part of a system that could detect threats targeting people specifically tailored to classify them in real-time adequately.

Abstract Breast cancer cells (BCCs) preferentially metastasize to bone. It is known that BCCs remotely primes the distant bone site prior to metastasis. However, the reciprocal influence of bone cells on the primary tumor is relatively overlooked. Here, to study the bone-tumor paracrine influence, a tri-cellular 3-D vascularized breast cancer tissue (VBCTs) model is engineered which comprised MDA-MB231, a triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC), fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. This is indirectly co-cultured with osteoblasts (OBs), thereby constituting a complex quad-cellular tumor progression model. VBCTs alone and in conjunction with OBs led to abnormal vasculature and reduced vessel density but enhanced VEGF production. A total of 1476 significantly upregulated and 775 downregulated genes are identified in the VBCTs exposed to OBs. HSP90N, CYCS, RPS27A, and EGFR are recognized as upregulated hub-genes. Kaplan Meier plot shows HSP90N to have a significant outcome in TNBC patient survivability. Furthermore, compared to cancer tissues without vessels, gene analysis recognized 1278 significantly upregulated and 566 downregulated genes in VBCTs. DKK1, CXCL13, C3 protein and BMP4 are identified to be downregulated hub genes in VBCTs. Together, a multi-cellular breast cancer model and culture protocols are established to study pre-metastatic events in the presence of OBs.

Background: The salivary gland lesions constitute around 3–6% of all head-and-neck lesions and have always posed a diagnostic riddle for the cytopathologists around the world. Since the majority of these lesions need surgical excision, it is, therefore, important to diagnose these lesions with utmost precision to prevent over or under stage procedures. The recent adaption of Milan system of reporting aims to establish a uniform, accurate, and consensual reporting system which bridges the communication between the pathologists and the clinicians. Aims and Objectives: The current study aims to assess the diagnostic application of Milan system and aims to reclassify the lesions according to it. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted at our institute during 1 year period. All salivary gland swellings presenting to the fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) section during this period were included in the study. Along with this, records and slides of cases of salivary gland lesions were retrospectively assessed. All relevant data and radiologic findings were retrieved from the case records. FNAC was done using 23 G needle. The slides were stained with both Leishman and Papanicolaou stain wherever possible. Quantitative data were expressed as mean and standard deviation and percentages. All the 83 lesions were reclassified as per the Milan system. Histopathology was available in 42 cases. Inclusion criteria: All the samples of the patient having salivary gland lesion(s) whose FNAC were performed in the department of pathology. Statistical Analysis: Data were be entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. For quantitative data, mean and standard deviation were calculated. For qualitative data, percentage and proportion were calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, and spearman correlation between FNAC and histopathology were calculated. P

Abstract Background Highly proliferating cancer cells exhibit the Warburg effect by regulation of PKM alternative splicing and promoting the expression of PKM2. Majority of the alternative splicing events are known to occur in the nuclear matrix where various MARBPs actively participate in the alternative splicing events. SMAR1, being a MARBP and an important tumor suppressor, is known to regulate the splicing of various cancer-associated genes. This study focuses on the regulation of PKM alternative splicing and inhibition of the Warburg effect by SMAR1. Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed in breast cancer patient samples to establish the correlation between SMAR1 and PKM isoform expression. Further, expression of PKM isoforms upon modulation in SMAR1 expression in breast cancer cell lines was quantified by qRT-PCR and western blot. The acetylation status of PTBP1 was estimated by immunoprecipitation along with its enrichment on PKM pre-mRNA by CLIP in SMAR1 knockdown conditions. The role of SMAR1 in tumor metabolism and tumorigenesis was explored by in vitro enzymatic assays and functional assays upon SMAR1 knockdown. Besides, in vivo tumor formation by injecting adeno-SMAR1-transduced MDA-MB-231 cells in NOD/SCID mice was performed. Results The expression profile of SMAR1 and PKM isoforms in breast cancer patients revealed that SMAR1 has an inverse correlation with PKM2 and a positive correlation with PKM1. Further quantitative PKM isoform expression upon modulation in SMAR1 expression also reflects that SMAR1 promotes the expression of PKM1 over tumorigenic isoform PKM2. SMAR1 deacetylates PTBP1 via recruitment of HDAC6 resulting in reduced enrichment of PTBP1 on PKM pre-mRNA. SMAR1 inhibits the Warburg effect, tumorigenic potential of cancer cells, and in vivo tumor generation in a PKM2-dependent manner. Conclusions SMAR1 regulates PKM alternative splicing by causing HDAC6-dependent deacetylation of PTBP1, resulting in reduced enrichment of PTBP1 on PKM pre-mRNA. Additionally, SMAR1 suppresses glucose utilization and lactate production via repression of PKM2 expression. This suggests that tumor suppressor SMAR1 inhibits tumor cell metabolism and tumorigenic properties of cancer cells via regulation of PKM alternative splicing.

In a multilingual classroom, students come from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They bring various cultural experiences, knowledge, and linguistic resources with them, however, most of the time, these resources remain unutilized as the medium for discourse in the classroom is often the dominant language. As a result, minority languages remain ignored and the students from minority linguistic backgrounds might feel at a disadvantages if they cannot voice their views in the classroom (Mohanty, 2009). Most of the students leave their education for these linguistic reasons, and the dropout rates are quite high among minority students (MacKenzie, 2009). In this scenario, translanguaging can be an alternative strategy to provide space to minority learners in the mainstream classroom where they will be able to communicate more freely. This study was conducted in a school in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. The purpose of the study was to explore how translanguaging promotes learners' space inside the mainstream classroom and how it promotes language practice where learners can bring their creativity and imagination to the classroom. A qualitative approach to content analysis has been adopted to analyze the data. Findings show the active involvement of students in the translanguaging classroom and suggest that translanguaging encourages students' creativity and imagination in a multilingual classroom.

Introduction: Breast carcinoma demands attention as it causes high morbidity and mortality. It is important to recognise benign lesions to distinguish them from in situ and invasive breast cancer and to assess a patient’s risk of developing breast cancer, so that the most appropriate treatment modality for each case can be established. The p63 has been characterised as a reliable marker of myoepithelial cells of lactiferous duct. It is exclusively expressed in myoepithelial cells of normal breast tissue. Hence, p63 can be of great help in the differential diagnosis involving benign lesions. Also, p63 may aid in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions. Aim: To study the Immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression of p63 in benign and malignant breast lesions. Materials and Methods: The prospective study was conducted on 76 breast specimens for a period of one year, from 1st December 2018 to 30th November 2019 in the Department of Pathology, Bhagat Phool Singh, Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan, Sonepat, Haryana, India. IHC assessment for p63 nuclear protein was performed. The intensity of p63 expression was evaluated as continuous positive, discontinuous positive and negative. The extent was scored on the basis of percentage of positive cells and assigned a score of negative (0%), 1 (

In a multilingual classroom, students come from various cultural, linguistic, and racial backgrounds. They have different ideologies, opinions, and needs. In this regard, ‘one size fits all' pedagogy is not only irrelevant but also absurd because the instructions and interactions in the classroom do not cater to the needs of all the students. Therefore, a carefully planned pedagogy that addresses the needs of the individual learners differently in the classroom is needed. In this scenario, implementing multilingual pedagogy in the classroom might be a better idea as it can address the needs of individual learners by making education inclusive and accessible to all. Multilingual pedagogy here is defined as a set of principles that are used to varying degrees in different approaches depending on the teaching context, learners, and curriculum (Neuner, 2004). This paper discusses various approaches, methods, and strategies within the framework of multilingual pedagogy that can be implemented in a classroom consisting of students from diverse linguistic backgrounds. To provide a clear picture of the theoretical ideas, the practical implementation of the ideas in some schools are also discussed. During the implementation, it is indicated that multilingual pedagogy holds the potential to enhance student learning.

Background: Clot formation on foreign surfaces of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems is a frequent event. Herein, we show an approach that mimics the enzymatic process of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) release on the oxygenator membrane via a biomimetic, non-fouling microgel coating to spatiotemporally inhibit the platelet (PLT) activation and improve antithrombotic properties. This study aims to evaluate the potential of this biomimetic coating towards NO-mediated PLT inhibition and thereby the reduction of clot formation under flow conditions. Methods: Microgel-coated (NOrel) or bare (Control) poly(4-methyl pentene) (PMP) fibers were inserted into a test channel and exposed to a short-term continuous flow of human blood. The analysis included high-resolution PLT count, pooled PLT activation via β-Thromboglobulin (β-TG) and the visualization of remnants and clots on the fibers using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: In the Control group, PLT count was significantly decreased, and β-TG concentration was significantly elevated in comparison to the NOrel group. Macroscopic and microscopic visualization showed dense layers of stable clots on the bare PMP fibers, in contrast to minimal deposition of fibrin networks on the coated fibers. Conclusion: Endogenously NO-releasing microgel coating inhibits the PLT activation and reduces the clot formation on PMP fibers under dynamic flow.

BACKGROUND:Occupation was assessed as possible risk factors for prostate (PCa) and pancreatic cancer in a large Canadian worker cohort. METHODS:The Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC) was derived from linking the 1991 Canadian Census Cohort to the Canadian Cancer Database (1969-2010), Canadian Mortality Database (1991-2011), and Tax Summary Files (1981-2011). From the total sample of 1,931,110 persons, we identified and derived two samples of 28,610 men and 3,220 men and women with a past history of PCa and pancreatic cancer diagnoses, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazards ratios and 95% confidence intervals for occupation. RESULTS:In Canadian men aged 24-64 years, the highest elevated risks of PCa were observed for library clerks (HR = 2.36, 95% CI:1.12-4.97), medical radiation technologists (HR = 1.66, 95% CI:1.04-2.65), telecommunications and line cable workers (HR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.22-3.16) and commissioned police officers (HR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10-2.16. The highest elevated risk for pancreatic cancer were observed for commissioned police officers (HR = 4.34, 95% CI: 1.85-10.21), photographic and film processors (HR = 3.97, 95% CI:1.69-9.34), railway and motor transport labourers (HR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.67-9.29), and computer engineers (HR = 3.82, 95%CI: 1.52-9.61). CONCLUSION:These findings emphasize the need for further study of job-related exposures and the potential influence of non-occupational factors such as screening practices.

Aims: This study aims to assess glycemic and lipid derangement in acute and chronic liver disorders. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 patients diagnosed with acute or chronic liver disorder. Acute liver disease (ALD) patients were 40 and chronic liver disease (CLD) patients were 64. Results: The mean value of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in patients with ALD was 91.8 ± 5.4 mg/dl and in CLD was 115.7 ± 17.9 mg/dl, the difference was significant. The mean value of A1c was 4.3 ± 0.6 in ALD and 6.1 ± 0.8 in CLD, the difference was significant. In patients with CLD mean cholesterol was higher 177.4 ± 28.8 mg/dl when compared to ALD 140 ± 35.1 mg/dl, but the difference was not significant. ALD patients' high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was 50.4 ± 5.1 mg/dl, and in CLD patients, HDL was 44.4 ± 6.1 mg/dl. In CLD mean triglyceride (T) was 148.9 ± 6.4 mg/dl while in ALD T was 134.8 ± 14.2 mg/dl, the difference was significant. Conclusions: CLD is associated with glycemic derangement demonstrated by deranged FPG and A1c. In patients of ALD, no metabolic derangement was observed.

This paper attempts to read Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel The Palace of Illusions as a feminist interpretation of the Indian epic The Mahabharata. In the Indian scenario, women have been encouraged to follow the ideal women of the past: Sita, Savitri, Draupadi but their stories are given to us by the male writers from a male perspective. One wonders what these women would have had to say about their lives and here comes into focus Divakaruni’s novel. The paper seeks to look at the delineation of the character of Draupadi and the textual strategies used to give prominence to the voice and thoughts of one of the central figures of this great epic. The paper seeks to answer whether The Palace of Illusions is a resistant text or a revisionist one, and how far it includes women in storytelling which hitherto has been male-centred. The paper uses the method of discourse and context analysis to arrive to the conclusion that Divakaruni has ably articulated the thoughts and voice of Draupadi and has successfully brought the story to the audience from a female’s point of view.

The main objective of the present study was isolation, purification, and characterization of actinomycetes from soil samples, having antimicrobial activity against 12 selected pathogenic strains. Soils samples were taken from different niche habitats of Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. These samples were serially diluted and plated on actinomycete isolation agar media. Potential colonies were screened, purified, and stored in glycerol stock. Isolates were morphologically and biochemically characterized. These isolates were subjected to extraction for production of the antibacterial compound. Antibacterial activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the purified extract of isolates were evaluated. Totally 31 actinomycete isolates were tested for antagonistic activity against 12 pathogenic microorganisms. Isolates AS14, AS27, and AS28 were highly active, while AS1 showed less activity against the pathogenic microorganisms. Isolate AS7 exhibited the highest antagonistic activity against Bacillus cereus (24 mm) and AS16 showed the highest activity against Enterococcus faecalis (21 mm). MIC was also determined for actinomycete isolates against all the tested microorganisms. MIC of actinomycete isolates was found to be 2.5 mg/ml against Shigella dysenteriae, Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, and was 1.25 mg/ml for Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus xylosus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. All actinomycetes isolates showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus, while they showed less activity against S. dysenteriae. These isolates had antibacterial activity and could be used in the development of new antibiotics for pharmaceutical or agricultural purposes.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are one of the most broadly used engineered nanomaterials. The toxicity potential of ZnO NPs has been explored in several studies; however, its neurotoxicity, especially its molecular mechanism, has not been studied in depth. In this study, we have used a cellular model of neuronal differentiation (nerve growth factor differentiated PC12 cells) to compare the effect of ZnO NPs exposure on neuronal (differentiated or mature neurons) and non-neuronal (undifferentiated) cells. Our studies have shown that the noncytotoxic concentration of ZnO NPs causes neurite shortening and degeneration in differentiated PC12 cells. Brain-specific microRNA (miRNA) array and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are used to carry out profiling of miRNAs and proteins in PC12 cells exposed with ZnO NPs. Exposure of ZnO NPs produced significant deregulation of a higher number of miRNAs (15) and proteins (267) in neuronal cells in comparison to miRNAs (8) and proteins (207) of non-neuronal cells (8). In silico pathway analysis of miRNAs and proteins deregulated in ZnO NPs exposed differentiated PC12 cells have shown pathways leading to neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondrial dysfunctions are primarily targeted pathways. Further, a bioenergetics study carried out using Seahorse XFp metabolic flux analyzer has confirmed the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunctions in ZnO NPs exposed differentiated PC12 cells. In conclusion, differentiated PC12 cells (neuronal) were found more vulnerable than undifferentiated (non-neuronal PC12 cells) toward the exposure of ZnO NPs and deregulation of miRNAs and mitochondrial dysfunctions play a significant role in its toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP-binding cassette transporters represent a superfamily of dynamic membrane-based proteins with diverse yet common functions such as use of ATP hydrolysis to efflux substrates across cellular membranes. Three major transporters—P-glycoprotein (P-gp or ABCB1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1 or ABCC1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP or ABCG2) are notoriously involved in therapy resistance in cancer patients. Despite exhaustive individual characterizations of each of these transporters, there is a lack of understanding in terms of the functional role of mutations in substrate binding and efflux, leading to drug resistance. We analyzed clinical variations reported in endometrial cancers for these transporters. For ABCB1, the majority of key mutations were present in the membrane-facing region, followed by the drug transport channel and ATP-binding regions. Similarly, for ABCG2, the majority of key mutations were located in the membrane-facing region, followed by the ATP-binding region and drug transport channel, thus highlighting the importance of membrane-mediated drug recruitment and efflux in ABCB1 and ABCG2. On the other hand, for ABCC1, the majority of key mutations were present in the inactive nucleotide-binding domain, followed by the drug transport channel and membrane-facing regions, highlighting the importance of the inactive nucleotide-binding domain in facilitating indirect drug efflux in ABCC1. The identified key mutations in endometrial cancer and mapped common mutations present across different types of cancers in ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCG2 will facilitate the design and discovery of inhibitors targeting unexplored structural regions of these transporters and re-engineering of these transporters to tackle chemoresistance.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) raises a serious concern as it contributes to the global mortality by 5 million deaths per year. The overall impact pertaining to significant membrane changes, through broad spectrum drugs have rendered the bacteria resistant over the years. The economic expenditure due to increasing drug resistance poses a global burden on healthcare community and must be dealt with immediate effect. Nanoparticles (NP) have demonstrated inherent therapeutic potential or can serve as nanocarriers of antibiotics against multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. These carriers can mask the antibiotics and help evade the resistance mechanism of the bacteria. The targeted delivery can be fine-tuned through surface functionalization of Nanocarriers using aptamers, antibodies etc. This review covers various molecular mechanisms acquired by resistant bacteria towards membrane modification. Mechanistic insight on ‘NP surface-bacterial membrane’ interactions are crucial in deciding the role of NP as therapeutic. Finally, we highlight the potential accessible membrane targets for designing smart surface-functionalized nanocarriers which can act as bacteria-targeted robots over the existing clinically available antibiotics. As the bacterial strains around us continue to evolve into resistant versions, nanomedicine can offer promising and alternative tools in overcoming AMR.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the aberrant aggregation and phosphorylation (ser129) of α-synuclein (α-syn, a presynaptic protein) which leads to the formation of pathogenic Lewy bodies. A critical factor in the pathogenesis of PD is the disruption of the cellular protein quality control system, where molecular chaperones and their co-chaperones are integral for mitigating proteotoxic stress. Although the role of molecular chaperones in PD and other protein aggregation diseases has been extensively investigated, the in vivo investigation of disaggregation chaperones, including HSP70, HSP105, and co-chaperone DNAJBs, remains relatively limited. The present study aims to elucidate the expression dynamics of the disaggregation molecular chaperones within the substantia nigra pars compacta of the rotenone-induced Parkinsonian rat model and its association with α-syn aggregation. The rotenone-treated rats exhibited significant behavioural symptoms, α-syn aggregation and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, confirming the development of Parkinsonism. Significant upregulation of α-syn expression/phosphorylation and co-localization in TH+ve neurons in the SNpc of treated rats was observed. Further, the gene and protein analysis of HSP70, DNAJB6, and HSP105 were found to be upregulated and TH+ve neurons showed their co-localization with p-α-syn ser129 expression. The total proteomic analysis of SNpc correlated the altered cellular processes with cellular homeostasis imbalance. The observations of the present study provide an in vivo analysis of disaggregation-associated molecular chaperones in Parkinsonian or α-syn related conditions. The study can be helpful for further manipulation in the expression or activity of disaggregation-related chaperones for advanced therapeutic strategies and mechanistic studies in protein aggregation-associated diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)