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This study examines the pollen morphology of nine species belonging to the genus Impatiens(Balsaminaceae) in the Garhwal Himalaya of Northwest India, employing light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to discern their characteristics and evaluate their systematic importance. Additionally, this study employs both simple cluster analysis (CA) and a numerical taxonomic approach, including UPGMA cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), to investigate groupings by similarity and to represent visually the hierarchical relationships. The pollen grains of the studied species were monad, isopolar, radially symmetrical, medium-sized, peroblate or oblate in shape, featuring homobrochate reticulate ornamentation and typically having 4-colpate apertures, with the exception of Impatiens chungtienensis(which showed pollen heteromorphism). The findings of multivariate analyses using quantitative and qualitative characters of pollen grains highlight the significance of pollen characteristics, including grain size (polar axis length and equatorial diameter), shape, reticulated stratification variations, and other pertinent factors, for distinguishing Impatiensspecies. Additionally, the analysis showed that I. laxiflora, I. brachycentra, and I. racemosaformed one closely related group, while I. sulcata, I. bicornuta, and I. devendraecomprised another closely related group. In contrast, I. chungtienensis, I. scabrida, and I. balsaminaexhibited an affinity with the second group but formed distinct clusters on their own. In conclusion, this study has bridged an existing knowledge gap and enriched the available database for easy reference and accessibility.

Pomegranate (Punica granatumL.) is an important commercial crop that has been cultivated for economic, ornamental and medicinal purposes since ancient times. In this study, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers were used to speculate the genetic association and mutations in cultivated and indigenous wild pomegranate germplasm. Twenty-two highly polymorphic SSR primers from 102 pairs amplified a total of 46 alleles with an average of 2.14 alleles per locus among the total 60 pomegranate genotypes. The size of the alleles varied from 50 to 300 bp. The primer pairs Pg4 and Pg14 amplified up to three alleles, while the remaining primers amplified only two alleles. The PIC value ranges from 0.03 for PGKVR-11 to 0.50 for Pg4, with an average of 0.27. Cluster analysis divided the pomegranate strains into four groups and further correlated with PCA. The first two major coordinates described the maximum cumulative variation between cultivated and wild genotypes. According to AMOVA analysis, the majority of genetic variation was found within the population that indicated the emergence of cultivated genotypes from the wild types through artificial selection. Furthermore, a mixed analysis performed using Bayesian gene structure and STRUCTURE software with accessions assigned to each of the two gene clusters that showed the existence of two gene pools and the nature of self-pollination of pomegranate crops. The present study revealed evolutionary relationships among cultivated and indigenous wild pomegranate with considerable insights to native resource exploration in various breeding and hybrid development programs.

Morphological and pomological diversity among pear germplasm was assessed for different qualitative and quantitative characteristics. The results emphasized a significant range of diversity. The correlation coefficient unveiled significant correlations among all the morphological and pomological traits. Fruit weight showed highly positive correlation with fruit length, fruit diameter and yield efficiency. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that a satisfactory overview of the data was achieved with seven and eight PCs, explaining 92.74 and 95.84% of the total variance for qualitative and quantitative morphological parameters, respectively. The outcomes of the PCA indicated that examination of morphological and pomological aspects can offer dependable insights into the variability present in pear germplasm. Based on qualitative and quantitative data, utilizing Ward cluster analysis with Euclidean distance, germplasm was categorized into two primary clusters, each further divided into two sub-clusters. Cluster analysis (CA) revealed significant distinctions in both qualitative and quantitative traits among pear germplasm. Integrating molecular techniques alongside traditional morphological methods might enhance the likelihood of obtaining accurate results, making it a more reliable approach. The findings of this study will offer novel perspectives on certain pear germplasm that might be suggested for widespread cultivation and utilization as breeding material in future studies.

Ubiquitin-specific-processing proteases (USPs), the largest deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) subfamily, play critical roles in cancer. However, clinical utility of USPs is hindered by limited knowledge about their varied and substrate-dependent actions. Here, we performed a comprehensive investigation on pan-cancer impacts of USPs by integrating multi-omics data and annotated data resources, especially a deubiquitination network. Meaningful insights into the roles of 54 USPs in 29 types of cancers were generated. Although rare mutations were observed, a majority of USPs exhibited significant expressional alterations, prognostic impacts and strong correlations with cancer hallmark pathways. Notably, from our DUB-substrate interaction prediction model, additional USP-substrate interactions (USIs) were recognized to complement knowledge gap about cancer-relevant USIs. Intriguingly, expression signatures of the USIs revealed clinically meaningful cancer subtypes, where key USPs and substrates cooperatively contributed to significant prognosis differences among subtypes. Overall, this investigation provides a valuable resource to assist mechanism research and clinical utility about USPs.

We describe a less time consuming and scalable thermal plasma process for the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles. In this process, argon is used as the plasmagen gas to form argon plasma. In the presence of argon plasma magnesite powder was decomposed to form nano magnesia within ten minutes. This as-synthesised magnesia has been analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) for phase, morphology and presence of surface functional groups, respectively. The phase and average crystallite size of the as-synthesised powder was determined from XRD pattern. Further, Raman spectroscopy was used to observe the phase and phase purity. Finally, the spherical shape of the as-formed magnesia powder was observed using TEM.

In India, there are approximately 41 million diabetics to date. Impaired glucose tolerance or pre-diabetes may occur as early as adolescence.

Sabia campanulataWall. subsp. ritchieae(Rehder & E.H. Wilson) Y.F. Wu, an endemic species from China is recorded for the first time to the flora of India from Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh, India. Detail description, illustration, habitat, flowering and fruiting period along with field photographs are provided for easy identification. A note has also been provided on the population status of the taxon in India.

Electroless Nickel-Phosphorus (ENi-P) coating is well-known in surface engineering techniques and is preferred in various mechanical, chemical and electronic industries view its extraordinary resistance to wear and corrosion. The paper summerizes the effect of surfactant on the mechanical properties of electroless Nickel-Phosphorus (Ni-P) alloy coating obtained from an acidic bath. The endeavor of this study is to analyse the influence of surfactant Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) concentration on the microhardness, surface roughness and wettability of ENi-P deposit on AZ91 Mg alloy substrate. It was observed that there was significant improvement in the rate of deposition, microhardness and wettability, along with reduction in surface roughness (Ra) by addition of ALS surfactant in the chemical bath.

A novel synthesis for CuO nanomaterials and its biological applications. The synthesized nanoparticles would provide a potential alternative to antibiotics for controlling some of the microorganisms causing urolithiasis.

AbstractThe composition of essential oils obtained from the seeds of Foeniculum vulgareMill. and Cuminum cyminumL. were analysed using GC and GC-MS. The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were conducted by disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by agar dilution method. The essential oils of the seeds of F. vulgareshowed maximum zone of inhibition 33 mm against S. typhimuriumand 28 mm against E. colirespectively, while C. cyminumshowed zone of inhibition 22 mm and 17 mm against S. typhimuriumand E. colirespectively.MICs of essential oils were tested at concentration ranging from 2.0 to 0.0075 % (v/v). The F. vulgareessential oil showed lowest MIC values 0.031 and 0.062 % (v/v) against S. typhimuriumand E. colirespectively,while C. cyminumshowed MIC vaules 0.125 and 0.250 % (v/v) against S. typhimuriumand E. colirespectively. The results showed that essential oil of F..vulgareis more effective than C. cyminumand S. typhimuriumis more susceptible for the tested spices as compared to E.coli.The GC-MS data showed the main component found in F. vulgareMill essential oil was identified as trans-anethole (50.4 %), methylchavicol (22.4 %), limonene (11.4 %) and fenchone (11.1 %) whereas γ-terpin-7-al (22.9 %), γ-terpinene (22.6 %), β-pinene (22.2 %) and cuminaldehyde (13.1 %) were the major compounds in C. cyminumL.

In this paper, our aim was to the control the Rotary crane by using Fuzzy logic. For this one must obtain the mathematical model of the crane. After obtaining the model, the dynamics of the crane is identified. The Rotary crane is to be controlled in such a manner to increase the system speed without compromising the stability and safety of the whole system. Also the load is transferred to desired location accurately. The main advantage of Fuzzy based control is that no parameter identification is required as compare to other control strategies available. There are some applications where the conventional control strategies cannot provide the desired response up to certain level. But the fuzzy logic based control is capable of enhance the response, since it has learning capability which helps to create the accurate rules for each separate conditions. Also this fuzzy based control will reduce oscillations of payload to prevent hazards for people and equipments in the work place, industries.

•The species accumulation curve (SAC) predicts higher species richness than the observed species richness in the study area (Abies pindrowdominant Humkhani forest, Sainj valley, western Himalaya).•Tree species low density and high basal area (BA) in studied forest is an indicative of old and climax forest that has maintained good regeneration status and reproductive success over the ages.•Aesculus indica, Abies pindrowand Juglans regiashowed more relative density in higher DBH classes than the lower DBH classes is a matter of concern for the Himalayan forests.•The current trend of regeneration is an indicative of changes in the structure and composition of tree species in future.

ABSTRACTSalmonella entericasubsp. arizonaeis a common gut inhabitant of reptiles, with snakes as the most common reservoir. Though human cases due to this organism are exceedingly rare, it may infect young infants and immunocompromised individuals with a history of intimate associations with reptiles. Gastroenteritis is the most common presentation; others include peritonitis, pleuritis, osteomyelitis, meningitis, and bacteremia. We report a fatal case of S. entericasubsp. arizonaegastroenteritis in a 3-month-old child with microcephaly, with a review of earlier cases and problems encountered in identification of this rare human pathogen.