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Starch-casein composite (solid matter content) based bioactive films incorporated with micellar pomegranate peel extract (MPPE) at different concentrations (10, 25, 50, and 100 wt% with respect to base solid matter content) were developed. The extract-free film was used as a control. The bioactive films were characterized for physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, structural, thermal, and bioactive properties. Decreased ζ-potential and surface tension, increased particle size, and improved rheological properties of MPPE added film-forming dispersion (FFD) were recorded. Among all the physical properties of bioactive films, only contact angle was reduced. An increase in MPPE concentration exhibited less hardness, more extensibility, and an excellent barrier to water vapor permeability than the control film. Increased MPPE concentration showed a decline in transparency (%) and lightness (L*) resulting into distinct color to the film. Structural compactness and integrity of the films were confirmed by SEM and XRD patterns. Improved functional interaction and thermal reliability of bioactive films were noted. The interaction patterns between starch-casein composite and MPPE bioactives indicated the development of covalent links. Excellent bioactivities with the slow release of bioactives in hydroalcoholic environment, confirmed by the kinetic study. Remarkable antibacterial effect was noted against E. coli and S. aureus by the films. Overall, increasing the concentration of MPPE in bioactive film showed improved physicochemical strength; hence, prepared bioactive films could be used as food coatings.

Interfacial materials in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) between the absorber layer and charge selective layers are stimulants to boost performance and stability. Incorporation of a low-temperature processed passivating agent at electron selective layer/perovskite interface can enhance the performance of PSCs; however, the interface at SnO2/(FAPbI3)0.85(MAPbBr3)0.15 suffers from surface phenomena that retard the overall performance of the PSCs. By adopting a synergistic approach, drift–diffusion simulation, and experimental validation, we unravel the interaction of the passivation layer at the electron selective layer/perovskite. Firstly, we elucidated the impact of defect density (Nt) at electron selective layer/perovskite and the conduction band of SnO2 using drift–diffusion simulation to yield a power conversion efficiency of 23.18 %. Secondly, we validate the simulation trend experimentally by depositing the Cs2CO3 passivation layer on the top of the electron selective layer. The impact of Cs2CO3 on electro-optical properties, charge collection, and recombination rate at the interfaces of PSCs was unraveled. The PSC fabricated with Cs2CO3 treatment achieves a higher open-circuit voltage, Voc ∼ 1090 mV. Our findings put forward a combinatorial protocol of drift–diffusion simulation and experimental studies to address the interfacial issues in PSCs.

Considered as the weight bearer body, the hip joint is one of the major joints in the human body. The proper functioning of this joint is very important without which the body will cease to function normally. When the hip joint is damaged completely, replacement surgery of the whole joint needs to be done in order to restore its functioning, which is known as total hip arthroplasty (THA). THA is done with the help of implants designed for the purpose with different biomaterials such as polymers, metals and ceramics. Biomaterials have evolved through the generations to ensure the proper requirements are met. The main concerns regarding the use of different biomaterials are the response of the body’s mechanism to the wear debris. In this review the different biomaterials used in THA till date and the biomaterials that are evolving is discussed along with the wear behaviour and mechanism. Also, the different properties of the biomaterials are discussed along with the potential advantages and disadvantages of their use. Further the combinations of different biomaterials in the articulating surfaces are analysed and the problems concerning their use are evaluated.

Humanity has faced three recent outbreaks of novel betacoronaviruses, emphasizing the need to develop approaches that broadly target coronaviruses. Here, we identify 55 monoclonal antibodies from COVID-19 convalescent donors that bind diverse betacoronavirus spike proteins. Most antibodies targeted an S2 epitope that included the K814 residue and were non-neutralizing. However, 11 antibodies targeting the stem helix neutralized betacoronaviruses from different lineages. Eight antibodies in this group, including the six broadest and most potent neutralizers, were encoded by IGHV1-46 and IGKV3-20. Crystal structures of three antibodies of this class at 1.5-1.75-Å resolution revealed a conserved mode of binding. COV89-22 neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern including Omicron BA.4/5 and limited disease in Syrian hamsters. Collectively, these findings identify a class of IGHV1-46/IGKV3-20 antibodies that broadly neutralize betacoronaviruses by targeting the stem helix but indicate these antibodies constitute a small fraction of the broadly reactive antibody response to betacoronaviruses after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Although substantial quantities of toxic wastes are generated from textile industries, the characteristics of textile processing wastes (TPWs) have yet scantily been investigated from ecological and agricultural perspectives. Here, the eco-geological consequences of TPWs are evaluated by considering three types of sludges (i.e., silk fibre sludge (SFS), dye mixed silk processing sludge (DSPS), and cotton processing wastewater sludge (CPWS)). The predominance of certain components between different wastes (e.g., fibrous substances in silk industry wastes (i.e., SFS and DSPS) and amorphous materials in cotton processing wastes (i.e., CPWS)) is accounted for by the use of different raw materials in different industries. According to the FTIR and other characterization analyses, all three types of TPWs were rich in carbonaceous compounds and nutrients (e.g., CNPK) because of their biological origin. Further, high accumulation of toxic metals (e.g., Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Mn) was apparent with chemical-processing routes. The principal component analysis indicated strong relationships between certain environmental variables (e.g., moisture content and bulk density) and bioavailability of several metals (e.g., Cd, Zn, Cu, and Mn), while C levels in TPWs were tightly associated with Cr levels. According to the Visual MINTEQ model, the dissolution-precipitation dynamics of potentially toxic elements (e.g., Pb, Cr, and Zn) in TPWs are predicted to be controlled by the levels of phosphates/chlorides/sulphates in line with the textile processing steps employed in different factories. The great toxicity potential of CPWS (e.g., relative to SFS and DSPS) is recognized to pose significant metal-induced hazards to ecosystems and human health over time. Among the three TPWs, SFS could be prescribed for agricultural application after proper treatment (e.g., via valorization techniques) with the aid of its benign nature and high nutrient (Total N: 3.83%; available P: 118.6 mg kg

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is nearly ubiquitous in adults. EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with B cell lymphomas, epithelial cell malignancies, and multiple sclerosis. The EBV gH/gL glycoprotein complex facilitates fusion of virus membrane with host cells and is a target of neutralizing antibodies. Here, we examined the sites of vulnerability for virus neutralization and fusion inhibition within EBV gH/gL. We developed a panel of human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that targeted five distinct antigenic sites on EBV gH/gL and prevented infection of epithelial and B cells. Structural analyses using X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy revealed multiple sites of vulnerability and defined the antigenic landscape of EBV gH/gL. One mAb provided near-complete protection against viremia and lymphoma in a humanized mouse EBV challenge model. Our findings provide structural and antigenic knowledge of the viral fusion machinery, yield a potential therapeutic antibody to prevent EBV disease, and emphasize gH/gL as a target for herpesvirus vaccines and therapeutics.

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 are promising immunotherapeutic agents for treatment of HIV-1 infection. bNAbs can be administered to SHIV-infected rhesus macaques to assess their anti-viral efficacy; however, their delivery into macaques often leads to rapid formation of anti-drug antibody (ADA) responses limiting such assessment. Here, we depleted B cells in five SHIV-infected rhesus macaques by pretreatment with a depleting anti-CD20 antibody prior to bNAb infusions to reduce ADA. Peripheral B cells were depleted following anti-CD20 infusions and remained depleted for at least 9 weeks after the 1

Bispecific (bs) antibodies (Abs, bsAbs) are engineered immunoglobulins that contain two different antigen-binding sites in one molecule. bsAbs can be divided in two molecular formats; the IgG-like and non-IgG like. The structural elements of each format have implications for engaging the immune system. Elimination of HIV will need sophisticated approaches with immunotherapies being one of the strategies under investigation. Furthermore, HIV genetic variability and functional compromise of the adaptive CTL response complicate the potential usefulness of some immunotherapeutic strategies. Inclusion of novel HIV neutralizing Abs with high potency and breadth as components of bsAbs could represent alternative strategies for virus elimination by harnessing the adaptive immune response in vivo.

The goal of this study was to compare the global gene expression profile in cardiac tissues of pig infected with porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) to that of healthy cells. Since PCV2 infection causes severe cardiovascular lesions, the myocardial tissue model was chosen for this study. In High-throughput transcriptome analysis, DESeq2 and CLC genomics workbench analyses revealed a total of 196 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (p-value 0.05). Furthermore, 194 transcripts were upregulated, while only two were downregulated (HSPA6 and DNAJA1), with fold changes ranging from 16.293 to -10.002. Among the KEGG canonical pathways targeted by the DEGs in the functional analysis, adrenergic signalling in cardiomyocytes, Cardiac Muscle Contraction, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) tends to be enriched. The differentially expressed highly connected (DEHC) biomarker genes in pathogenicity of PCV2 infection, such as LDB3, MYOZ2, CASQ2, TNNT2, MLC2V, MYBPC3, ACTC1, TCAP, TNNI3, TRDN, CSRP3, MYL3, RYR2, LMOD2, MYH7, etc., were identified using protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The study might provide detailed information on the dysregulated genes and biological pathways in infected myocardial tissues that may be essential for PCV2-related heart pathology.