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Rice straw lignin was extracted via alkaline hydrolysis and structurally characterized using FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra. Ethyl acetate extract of acid solubilized lignin was found to contain p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and caffeic acid as major phenolic acids which were isolated and characterized using spectral data. Amides of isolated phenolic acids were synthesized by their reaction with propyl and butyl amines using microwave irradiation and analysed using spectral studies. Phenolic acids and amides were evaluated for their effect on pollen germination and tube growth in pumpkin. Pollen tube length was significantly increased with N-butyl-3-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylamide and N-butyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) acrylamide at 5 ppm concentration than the control. These results could be utilised in increasing pollen tube length of Cucurbita pepo while making interspecific cross between C. moschata and C. pepo in order to transfer hull-less character of C. pepo to virus resistant C. moschata genotypes.

The present work aims to introduce a novel class of submanifolds, namely STCR-lightlike submanifolds, for an indefinite Kaehler statistical manifold with a quarter symmetric non-metric connection. The characterization theorems on totally umbilical and totally geodesic STCR-lightlike submanifolds with respect to the integrability of distributions have been established. Some conditions for a STCR-lightlike submanifold to be a STCR-lightlike product manifold have been derived.

Diabetes mellitus is related to unconstrained high blood sugar and linked with long-term impairment, dysfunction and failure of several organs. Since 1980, the global frequency of diabetes has almost doubled in the adult population. In very rare cases due to poor prevention and management programs, diabetes causes worsening of health and reduced lifespan of the world population, thus impacting on the world’s economy. Supplements, however, help in the improvement of nutritional deficiencies. Phytotherapeutics has the advantage of being economical and easy to access with marginal side effects. So, it is a preferred candidate for the management of diabetes. Currently, a multitude of pharmaceuticals are used which are obtained from natural sources having medicinal properties. The mechanistic approaches are based on the regulation of insulin signaling pathways, translocation of GLUT-4 receptors and/or activation of PPAR γ. These natural compounds include numerous flavonoids which help in preventing glucose absorption by preventing the absorption of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. But to validate the efficacy and safety profile of these compounds, detailed validatory clinical studies are required. This review majorly focuses on the mechanistic approaches of various naturally derived compounds relevant for the condition of Diabetes Mellitus.

In this paper, we analyze dissipative diamagnetism, arising due to dissipative cyclotron motion in two dimensions, in the light of the quantum counterpart of energy equipartition theorem. We consider a charged quantum particle moving in a harmonic well, in the presence of a uniform magnetic field, and coupled to a quantum heat bath which is taken to be composed of an infinite number of independent quantum oscillators. The quantum counterpart of energy equipartition theorem tells us that it is possible to express the mean kinetic energy of the dissipative oscillator as a two-fold average, where, the first averaging is performed over the Gibbs canonical state of the heat bath while the second one is governed by a probability distribution function $P_k(\omega)$. We analyze this result further, and also demonstrate its consistency in the weak-coupling limit. Following this, we compute the equilibrium magnetic moment of the system, and reveal an interesting connection with the quantum counterpart of energy equipartition theorem. The expressions for kinetic energy and magnetic moment are reformulated in the context of superstatistics, i.e. the superposition of two statistics. A comparative study of the present results with those obtained from the more traditional Gibbs approach is performed and a perfect agreement is obtained., Comment: v1: Preliminary version: 11 pages, 5 figures; v2: Minor changes; v3: Substantial changes, figures changed, new section added, title modified; v4: To appear in Physica A

Background: Holarrhena antidysenterica is a deciduous shrub/small-tree having bioactive alkaloids such as conessine, known for astringent, antidysenteric, anthelmintic, stomachic, febrifugal, tonic and anti-acetylcholinesterase properties. Dementia is an age related neurodegenerative syndrome with Alzheimer’s disease, the most prominent cause, which has limited therapeutic options available. Objective: The present study aimed to explore the potential benefits of H. antidysenterica in the management of dementia. Method: Aqueous and methanol extracts of powdered bark of H. antidysenterica were prepared, concentrated and conessine concentration was estimated using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method. Methanol extract of H. antidysenterica (MEHA) was administered at doses 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg (i.p.) to mice (20-30 g) for 14 consecutive days. Scopolamine (Scop; 1 mg/kg) and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 250 μg/kg) were given (i.p.) before behavioural trials to induce memory impairment. Learning and memory functions in mice were evaluated. Brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, glutathione (GSH) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive substances (TBARS) levels were estimated. Results: MEHA markedly increased learning and memory of mice. Scop or LPS caused a significant decline of spatial memory in mice, which was attenuated by MEHA (100 and 200 mg/kg). Furthermore, LPS conspicuously increased the lipid peroxidation and compromised antioxidant levels in mice brains. MEHA pre-treatment significantly increased GSH content and decreased TBARS level in the brain of LPS administered mice. AChE activity was significantly decreased by MEHA in the brain of mice. Conclusion: The methanol extract of H. antidysenterica may prove to be a useful remedy in the management of dementia.

Food security has become a major concern worldwide in recent years due to ever increasing population. Providing food for the growing billions without disturbing environmental balance is incessantly required in the current scenario. In view of this, sustainable modes of agricultural practices offer better promise and hence are gaining prominence recently. Moreover, these methods have taken precedence currently over chemical-based methods of pest restriction and pathogen control. Adoption of Biological Control is one such crucial technique that is currently in the forefront. Over a period of time, various biocontrol strategies have been experimented with and some have exhibited great success and promise. This review highlights the different methods of plant-pathogen control, types of plant pathogens, their modus operandi and various biocontrol approaches employing a range of microorganisms and their byproducts. The study lays emphasis on the use of upcoming methodologies like microbiome management and engineering, phage cocktails, genetically modified biocontrol agents and microbial volatilome as available strategies to sustainable agricultural practices. More importantly, a critical analysis of the various methods enumerated in the paper indicates the need to amalgamate these techniques in order to improve the degree of biocontrol offered by them.

Background:: In the past two decades, the human coronavirus (HCoV) outbreaks have gripped the international communities almost six times in different forms [HCoV-OC43 (2001); HCoV-NL63 (2004); SARS-CoV (2003); HCoV HKU1 (2005); MERS- CoV (2012); SARS-CoV- -2 (2019)]. These emerging pathogens have been proven very challenging from medical perspectives, economic conditions, and psychological impact on human society. Introduction:: SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus, has evidenced a historic yet troublesome pandemic across the globe. In humans, its clinical manifestations may range from asymptomatic, severe pneumonia to mortality. Bats are the natural reservoirs of a variety of viruses belonging to the family Coronaviridae. Most of the bats harboring coronaviruses mainly reside in Asian and African regions. Objective:: The objective was to describe the various characteristic features of all coronaviruses, clinical manifestations, and complications associated with SARS-CoV-2. The major goal was to highlight the involvement of the strong immune system of bats in the cross-species transmission of coronaviruses in intermediate hosts and, finally, zoonotic transmission in humans. Methodology:: A systematic literature search was conducted for high quality research and review articles. We searched the databases for articles published between the year 1972 to 2020 with search terms zoonosis, coronaviruses, zoonotic transmissions, clinical manifestations, and the immune system of bats. Conclusion:: The domestic and non-domestic animals come in closer contact with humans. Some requisite measures should be taken to decrease the contact with livestock to prevent further threatening viral transmissions. Furthermore, the remarkable immune system of bats is required to inquire thoroughly to develop novel therapeutics to conquer the evolving coronaviruses in the future.

More than 15 tick-borne diseases have been recognized in the United States (US) (Eisen (2020). Collectively, TBDs have been linked to seven different tick species in the US. Climate change, urbanization, and host migration exacerbate the threat of increasing TBD incidence and the expanding geographic distribution of ticks. Furthermore, data suggests that less than a tenth of the reportable TBDs were reported to the CDC annually. Studies from a national survey and high incidence states for Lyme disease provided evidence that healthcare providers have knowledge gaps about TBD epidemiology and diagnostics, which has yet to be examined in Indiana to our knowledge.An anonymous survey of 597 Indiana healthcare providers was conducted between February 28th and April 10th,2020 to assess knowledge about ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The survey comprised 22 discrete and ordinal questions and one open-ended question. The study revealed that 92% of the respondents reported Doctor of Medicine (MD) (71%), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) (8%), Physician Assistant (PA) (12%) and Registered nurse (RN) (1%) as their highest level of training and practiced in a diversity of settings including Primary care office (28%), Specialty care office (23%) and Hospital (inpatient) (20%). Analyses revealed that 39% of respondents had practiced for more than 25 years, consulted between 1-25 patients with confirmed or suspected TBD per year, and predominantly served both rural and urban communities (62% respondents). Seventy percent of respondents recognized the clinical signs and symptoms of TBDs endemic to Indiana and 96% of DOs, 94% of PAs, and 91% of MDs were aware of the limitations of the erythema migrans (EM) rash as a diagnostic criteria for Lyme disease (LD), the most common TBD in Indiana and the U.S. The majority of respondents (75%) reported using fine tip tweezers, considered best practice for the removal of an attached tick. Among respondents who used online resources to obtain information regarding diagnostic and treatment guidelines, 25-45% visited federal (CDC) and state (Indiana Department of Health, IDOH) websites. Survey data revealed several potential knowledge gaps among Indiana state providers. Respondents reported that they were unsure about the following topics: (1) the tick species capable of disease transmission in IN (47% unsure), (2) the geographic distribution of the black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, the vector of LD in the U.S. (56% unsure), (3) northwest Indiana as the region of the state associated with highest LD risk (49% unsure), and (4) May-July as the months considered highest risk for TBD transmission (48% unsure or answered incorrectly). These findings provided evidence to support the hypothesis under investigation in the present study that Indiana healthcare providers lack knowledge of tick vectors and TBDs risks specific to the state. Qualitative analysis was conducted for open-ended question (Q23) and resulted in coding of 597 responses into six major categories (Healthcare provider, Healthcare system, Patient Knowledge, Disagreement, Education and Not applicable) and 15 associated subcategories. Coding analyses revealed that healthcare providers are aware of their shortcomings and are receptive to online interventions. Here we present the first focused study to assess provider knowledge of ticks and TBD in Indiana. Taken together, the survey findings provide information to guide development of region-specific educational material and guidelines about ticks and TBDs for healthcare providers. We provide evidence to suggest that a continued provider education program may improve diagnosis and treatment of TBDs.

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) IV is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which is characterized by a decrease in the number of myelinated and non-myelinated nerve fibers of peripheral nerves which causes diminished or absent pain sensation leading to increase in self-mutilative habits. A retrospective study of eight cases ranging from age group of 4 to 17 years for oral and digital signs and symptoms is presented. All the patients showed congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis. Oral self-mutilations, such as autoextraction of teeth and severe bite injuries (with resultant scarring) of the finger tips and oral soft tissues (tongue, lip, and buccal mucosa) were found in most patients. Our study suggests that early diagnosis and specific treatment plan are important for prevention of characteristic of the oral as well as digital trauma associated with this disorder.

Literature in Indian language must be classified for its easy retrieval. In Punjabi literature classifier, five different categories: nature, romantic, religious, patriotic and philosophical, are manually populated with 250 poems. These poems are pre-processed through data cleaning, tokenization, bag of word, stop word identification and stemming phases. Due to unavailability of Punjabi stop words in public domain, manual collection of 256 stop words are done from poetry and articles. After stemming, 184 unique stemmed words are identified. Based on part of speech tagging, 184 stop words are categorized into 98 adverbs, 7 conjunctions, 43 verbs, 24 pronouns and 12 miscellaneous words. These unique 184 stemmed words are being released for other language processing algorithm in Punjabi. This paper concentrates on providing better and deeper understanding of Punjabi stop words in lieu of Punjabi grammar and part of speech based word class categorization.