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This work presents a comprehensive study of the UV–Visible and fluorescence properties, as well as the redox behavior of the [AuIII(Salen)]Cl complex in acetonitrile. The [AuIII(Salen)]+ complex exhibited intriguing fluorescence and phosphorescence characteristics on an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plate when excited at wavelength λexc ~ 260 nm, with fluorescence emission observed at λems ~ 437 nm and phosphorescence at λems ~ 520 nm. The origin of fluorescence emission was attributed to the intra-ligand charge transfer effect, commonly known as the "Push–Pull" effect. The electrochemical behavior of [AuIII(Salen)]+ on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) revealed a remarkable one-step three-electron reduction process, leading to the reduction of [AuIII(Salen)]+ to Au(0). Furthermore, the reduction of [AuI(Salen)]− to Au(0) resulted in the removal of gold metal from the SalenH2 ligand. The electrochemical results suggested a mixed diffusion-adsorption redox process occurring at the GCE surface, indicating the involvement of both diffusion and adsorption during redox reactions. The cyclic voltammogram demonstrated the non-reversibility of the electrochemical redox reactions. Overall, the redox behavior of the [AuIII(Salen)]Cl complex proved to be intriguing, opening up avenues for further exploration and potential applications of this complex in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two alkaliphilic, Gram‐stain-negative bacterial strains (MEB004T and MEB108T) were isolated from water samples collected from Lonar lake, India. The phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the highest similarity to A. delamerensis DSM 18314T (98.4%), followed by A. amylolytica DSM 18337T and A. collagenimarina JCM 14267T (97.9%). The genome sizes of strains MEB004T and MEB108T were determined to be 3,858,702 and 4,029,814 bp, respectively, with genomic DNA G + C contents of 51.4 and 51.9%. Average Nucleotide Identity, DNA–DNA Hybridization and Amino Acid Identity values between strains (MEB004T and MEB108T) and A. amylolytica DSM 18337T were (82.3 and 85.5), (25.0 and 29.2) and (86.7 and 90.2%). Both novel strains produced industrially important enzymes, such as amylase, lipase, cellulase, caseinase, and chitinase at pH 10 evidenced by the genomic presence of carbohydrate-active enzymes encoding genes. Genomic analyses further identified pH tolerance genes, affirming their adaptation to alkaline Lonar Lake. Dominant fatty acids were Summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), C16:0, Summed feature 3, Sum In Feature 2 and C12:0 3OH. The prevalent polar lipids included phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, and diphosphatidyl glycerol. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. Based on the polyphasic data, we propose the classification of strains MEB004T and MEB108T as novel species within the genus Alkalimonas assigning the names Alkalimonas mucilaginosa sp. nov. and Alkalimonas cellulosilytica sp. nov., respectively. The type strains are MEB004T (= MCC 5208T = JCM 35954T = NCIMB 15460T) and MEB108T (= MCC 5330T = JCM 35955T = NCIMB 15461T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the nuanced perceptions of teacher involvement among adolescents and teachers, shedding light on its distinct impacts on adolescents' behavior and emotional well-being—a relatively under-explored area in the Indian educational landscape. It aims to unravel how differing perceptions of teacher involvement from both parties influence adolescents' behavior and emotional problems. Employing a mixed-methods approach across two studies, involving the same group of participants, the research utilized the Adolescents' Behavioral and Emotional Problems Scale (ABEP) and Teachers Involvement and its Impact Scale (TI) for quantitative analysis, alongside semi-structured interviews with adolescents, teachers, and parents for qualitative insights. Results reveal that while teacher involvement perceived by adolescents significantly affects their behavior and emotional well-being, teachers' assessment of their involvement lacks significant impact. Themes from interviews underscore the pivotal role of teacher behavior, including public critique and preferential treatment, in influencing students' emotional wellness and academic engagement. Additionally, the study underscores the significance of teacher performance evaluation and job security concerns in shaping positive teacher-student dynamics, particularly for academically challenged students, whose difficulties may strain interactions further. The findings stress the importance for educators in Assam to prioritize fostering supportive relationships with students, actively listening to their perspectives, and addressing their individual needs for a conducive learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,2,3-Triazole, 1,3-imidazole, and 1,3-thiazole are a class of organic heterocyclic compounds with notable applications in a diverse range of biological and pharmacological activities. Herein, we report the synthesis of molecules having these three moieties together. Each of the fused molecule was characterized with elemental analysis, melting point determination, FTIR, NMR, and mass spectrometry. The final fused molecules were screened for in vitro biological activities against a wide spectrum of microorganisms, such as gram-positive bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, S. phogenes), gram-negative bacteria (S. typhi, V. cholerae, B. subtilis, C. tetani), as well as fungus (C. albicans, A. niger, and A. Clavatus). Each of the compounds showed moderate to good activity which is comparable to commercially available drugs. Further, the molecular docking study on the crystal structure of the 43K ATPase domain of Thermus thermophilus gyrase B (PDB:1KIJ) and on crystal structure of penicillin-binding protein 4 from Staphylococcus aureus COL (PDB:3HUN) revealed strong binding affinities by the synthesized compounds. The ADME study also showed the drug likeliness of the compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite significant changes in healthcare, work practices, and leisure activity, the proposed precipitating factors for abdominal wall hernias have remained largely unchanged for almost two centuries. We aimed to investigate if there have been shifts in these factors over time by examining patients' perception of precipitating factors for abdominal wall hernia development. This study was conducted in the Royal College of Surgeons In Ireland Department of Surgery, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin, where patients with abdominal wall hernias completed a questionnaire. Results: A total of 277 patients (mean age 55.7; 85.6% male) with abdominal wall hernia completed the questionnaire (66.1% inguinal; 10.8% umbilical; 6.9% paraumbilical; 10.5% epigastric; 3.2% incisional; 1.4% femoral, and 1.1% port-site). One hundred and twenty patients (43.3%) believed their hernia was due to lifting, 71 (25.6%) cited gym activity and 17 (6.1%) cited other sporting activities as the precipitating factor. Traditional factors – chronic cough and constipation - were cumulatively cited only by 11 patients (4.0%), while prostatic obstruction was not cited by any. Conclusion: This study suggests that fitness pursuits may be an increasing contributor to the development of abdominal wall hernia. Greater attention should be paid to the proper use of gym equipment to minimise the risk of hernia development. Key findings: Almost one quarter of patients attributed their hernia to gym activity which should be further explored in prospective studies. This potentially reflects changes in work practice and lifestyle. Traditional causes like chronic cough and constipation were rarely cited, probably reflecting improved healthcare and lifestyle practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates real-world carbon dioxides (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from diesel (Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV)) and petrol/gasoline (BS-IV and BS-VI) cars in Indian driving conditions using a portable emission measurement system (PEMS). The paired sample t-test revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in NOx and CO2 emissions among the three types of cars, except for CO2 emissions (p > 0.05) between BS-IV petrol and BS-VI petrol cars. The highest NOx emission rates were observed in all car types during acceleration (> 1 m/s2) and deceleration (− 2 m/s2). CO2 emission rates were also high during acceleration (> 1 m/s2) for all car types. At low speeds (around 20 kmph), all car types had low emissions of CO2 and NOx, with acceleration and deceleration rates ranging from − 0.5 to 0.5 m/s2. BS-IV diesel cars emit significantly higher NOx emissions compared to petrol cars, especially at vehicle-specific power (VSP) bin 0 (deceleration to idling mode) and during VSP bin 7 (acceleration mode). BS-IV diesel cars emit 228% and 530% higher NOx emissions than BS-IV and BS-VI petrol cars at VSP bins 0 and 7, respectively. CO2 emissions from BS-VI petrol cars were 10% lower than those from BS-IV petrol cars across all VSP bins, indicating moderate reductions. Furthermore, diesel cars emit 140% less CO2 emissions than petrol cars across various VSP bins. The findings highlight the need for cleaner technologies and responsible driving practices to address vehicular emission concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the scientific community has shown keen interest in various eco-friendly reducing agents for graphene oxide (GO) reduction due to their cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. In this study, we synthesized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) from graphene oxide using different green reductants, including Tea leaf extract, Miracle (Dupartenga) leaf extract, Tulsi leaf extract, and Garlic extract. Graphene oxide was initially prepared from natural graphite using a modified Hummers method. The synthesized materials were characterization through various spectroscopy techniques. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups in GO and indicated reduction GO by the green reducing agents. XRD patterns revealed distinct interlayer spacing, ranging from 0.86 to 0.40 nm, with GO displaying the largest spacing (0.86 nm) and T-rGO exhibiting the smallest. TEM images depicted the layer-like, highly translucent, and silky surfaces of the rGO samples. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves demonstrated enhanced thermal stability in the rGOs compared to GO, with M-rGO exhibiting the highest stability. The DC electrical conductivity of the rGOs surpassed that of chemically synthesized GO, with M-rGO displaying the highest electrical conductivity. We further explored the sensing capabilities of the synthesized rGOs toward methanol gas vapors at room temperature utilizing a laboratory-made sensor setup. Remarkably, biochemically synthesized T-rGO emerges as an exceptionally sensitive methanol sensor, demonstrating a sensitivity of 27%, which significantly surpasses that of GO (8.7% sensitivity) and other synthesized rGO variants. The sensitivity values followed an ascending order: GO < G-rGO < Tu-rGO < M-rGO < T-rGO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of Costus speciosus (Koen ex. Retz.) Sm. in the degradation of crude oil and reduction of mercury (Hg) from the contaminated soil in pot experiments in the net house for 180 days. C. speciosus was transplanted in soil containing 19150 mg kg−1 crude oil and 3.2 mg kg−1 Hg. The study includes the evaluation of plant biomass, height, root length, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation, and Hg reduction in soil, TPH, and Hg accumulation in plants grown in fertilized and unfertilized pots, chlorophyll production, and rhizospheric most probable number (MPN) at 60-day interval. The average biomass production and heights of C. speciosus in contaminated treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared to the unvegetated control. Plants grown in contaminated soil showed relatively reduced root surface area compared to the uncontaminated treatments. TPH degradation in planted fertilized, unplanted, and planted unfertilized pot was 63%, 0.8%, and 38%, respectively. However, compared to unvegetated treatments, TPH degradation was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in vegetated treatments. A comparison of fertilized and unfertilized soils showed that TPH accumulation in plant roots and shoots was relatively higher in fertilized soils. Hg degradation in soil was significantly (p < 0.05) more in planted treatment compared to unplanted treatments. The fertilized soil showed relatively more Hg degradation in soil and its accumulation in roots and shoots of plants in comparison to unfertilized soil. MPN in treatments with plants was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than without plants. The plant's ability to produce biomass, chlorophyll, break down crude oil, reduce Hg levels in soil, and accumulate TPH and Hg in roots and shoots of the plant all point to the possibility of using this plant to remove TPH and Hg from soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understanding of the external characteristics of objects that need to be grasped is crucial for enhancing the dexterity of a robotic hand. Utilizing ontology-based knowledge representation (KR) approaches in the field of grasping presents novel opportunities for designing effective object recognition modules. This research paper proposes the development of an ontology aimed at recognizing objects that have been grasped. The ontology, named OntOGrasp, encompasses various concepts, attributes, and relationships concerning the kinematics of the hand and the structural components of the object. To generate a dataset for grasp kinematics, a series of grasping experiments were conducted using carefully selected objects. A semantic feature selection approach was then introduced, leveraging the knowledge graph embedding technique, to identify practical features from the ontology. The grasp dataset was processed to extract relevant data pertaining to the selected features, which were subsequently employed to train classification algorithms for the task of object recognition. The integration of semantically suggested features resulted in a significant improvement in recognition accuracy for the classifiers, surpassing the performance achieved by using the complete feature set. The semantic features demonstrated an accuracy increase ranging from 1% to 9% across all classification algorithms, accompanied by a notable reduction in false positives and false negatives during object prediction. This enhanced object recognition accuracy substantiates the importance of knowledge modeling in incorporating practical aspects of a domain described through experimentation, thereby yielding plausible outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant Shillong earthquake of 1897 in the western part of the Shillong Massif profoundly impacted the entire Northeast India region, resulting in extensive devastation at both surface and subsurface levels. Numerous land fissures, sand veins, swampy areas, and land tilting and upliftment were formed during the earthquake in the western part of the Shillong plateau. This study adopts an integrated approach, combining seismic, geophysical, and fluvial geomorphology methods, to quantify the co-seismic subsurface rupture. Multichannel Surface Wave Analyzer (MASW) and resistivity surveys are conducted at fourteen locations along three profiles crossing the Krishnai and Chedrang Rivers in the Chedrang valley. In certain specified locations, significant surface rupture is observed, and the co-seismic surface uplift is measured to be 5 + 1 m on vertical planes at the western end of the rupture of the Oldham fault. The shear wave velocities along the profiles range from 184 to 466 m/s, indicating a platform for intense shallow seismicity triggered by fracture. The region experiences intense seismic activity, with the bottom of the seismogenic zone estimated to be 40 km, mainly dominated by thrust with strike-slip components. The local stress pattern in the Chedrang valley, oriented NE-SW, differs from the regional stress pattern, NNW-SSE, indicating the influence of geodynamic controls. Fluvial-morphometric measurements of the Krishnai and Chedrang Rivers for six different stretches in each case during 1964, 1991, and 2014 reveal a westward shifting of the Krishnai River ranging from 190 to 269 m, while the Chedrang River exhibits variable south-westward avulsion along these stretches, shifting approximately 132–312 m. Detailed fluvial morphological mapping highlights a key site where the stratigraphy of the fault scarp, reaching a height of 13ft, indicates the presence of modern channels, colluviums, gravel, and pebble beds with sand lenses, representing a portion of a mega thrust event. Simultaneously, high-resolution topographic profiles are analyzed using Total Station (GPS based) to observe co-seismic surface uplifts induced by the 1897 earthquake. The simplest deformation model suggests that a majority of the intra-seismic elastic loading east of the Krishnai and Chedrang rivers was uplifted during the 1897 earthquake due to co-seismic and post-seismic rupture, primarily in the western part of the Shillong plateau beneath the Chedrang valley. This energy transfer affected the north–south direction of the Krishnai valley, where the Krishnai river and the 'Mori' (dead) Krishnai river exist, as evidenced by subsurface deformation and subsequent avulsion of the Krishnai river. The parameters investigated in this study contribute to a better understanding of the geodynamics and seismic hazard assessment of the region, providing valuable insights into the consequences of the 1897 earthquake and its implications for future seismic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we report non-enzymatic glucose oxidation with N, N′-Bis(2-hydroxybenzylidineamino) benzene gold (III) complex on reduced graphene oxide-gold (rGO-Au) nanoparticle coated modified copper (Cu) electrode. Potassium ferricyanide in 50 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) was used as a mediator. The [(Salophen)Au]+ on rGO shows good catalytic property for the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid (GA). The maximum current response produced by Au3+/Au+ redox potential was monitored by the linear sweep voltammetric method (LSV). As glucose concentration increases the current response at Au+3/Au+ redox potential decreases simultaneously. On catalytic oxidation of glucose to GA by the complex [(Salophen)Au]+, the solution pH reduces to 2.75, which results the decrease of current responses at the Au3+/Au+ working potential. Direct oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid is achieved adopting non­enzytnatic technique by rGO based heterogeneous catalyst is reported in the present study. N,N'-Bis (2-hydroxy benzylidineatnino) benzene gold (III) complex on rGO-Au nanoparticles is used to fabricate the tnodified electrode. The oxidation mechanism is demonstrated. This work showed the potential of using [(Salophen)Au]+ Schiff base complex as a non­enzymatic substitute for glucose oxidize enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tracing of cosmic ray origin and building a detailed and comprehensive idea about the sources are very much dependent on measurement of cosmic ray primary mass composition. High-energy cosmic rays produce extensive air showers in the earth’s atmosphere, which in turn produce visible Cherenkov light. Distribution of Cherenkov photons over the observation level may be correlated with primary mass composition. This work aims to analyze the lateral density distribution of atmospheric Cherenkov light for various primary particles over a wide energy range (100 GeV–1 TeV) as well as to parameterize the obtained distributions using Monte Carlo simulation method. The simulations are carried out with CORSIKA (COsmic Ray SImulations for KAscade) 6.990 code. We have defined a new asymmetry parameter suitable for identifying primary mass composition. This parameter and the total number of Cherenkov photons are found to be sensitive in analyzing simulated data using a statistical method, called multiparametric topological analysis (MTA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of cereal grain processing industry sludge through vermicomposting is an emerging prospect for researchers interested in the green economy. This work is designed to enumerate the enzymatic influence of three epigeic earthworm species — Eisenia fetida, Eudrilus eugeniae, and Perionyx excavatus on the industrial sludge. The vermicomposting experiment was conducted in plastic pots by blending the waste materials with 5% cow dung. The dynamics in activities of cellulase, amylase, invertase, phosphatase, protease, dehydrogenase, and urease were studied on 15 days intervals till the harvesting period. The periodical observations confirmed that the enzyme activities (in terms of μg reducing sugar/g/hr) of cellulase (26.45–128.09) amylase (205.43–878.96), invertase (105.32–841.65), phosphatase (85.29–435.54), protease (64.21–359.47), dehydrogenase (111.17–587.72), and urease (94.16–476.71) was low in the first 15 days of the vermicomposting experiment followed by a sharp increase in the next 45 days accompanied by a steady decline until the harvesting is carried out. Emerging statistical tools such as principal component analysis were employed to study the synergistic deviations of the enzymes during the vermicomposting process. The results confirmed that the enzyme activity efficiently influences the bio-oxidation of industrial waste at an individual level as well as synergistic level thereby allowing the vermicompost to mature much before the appearance of any physical symptoms on the surface of the vermireactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unbiased high-throughput sequencing (HTS) has enabled new insights into the diversity of agents implicated in central nervous system (CNS) infections. The addition of positive selection capture methods to HTS has enhanced the sensitivity while reducing sequencing costs and the complexity of bioinformatic analysis. Here we report the use of virus capture-based sequencing for vertebrate viruses (VirCapSeq-VERT) and bacterial capture sequencing (BacCapSeq) in investigating CNS infections. Thirty-four samples were categorized: (1) patients with definitive CNS infection by routine testing; (2) patients meeting clinically the Brighton criteria (BC) for meningoencephalitis; (3) patients with presumptive infectious etiology highest on the differential. RNA extracts from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were used for VirCapSeq-VERT, and DNA extracts were used for BacCapSeq analysis. Among 8 samples from known CNS infections in group 1, VirCapSeq and BacCapSeq confirmed 3 expected diagnoses (42.8%), were negative in 2 (25%), yielded an alternative result in 1 (11.1%), and did not detect 2 expected negative pathogens. The confirmed cases identified HHV-6, HSV-2, and VZV while the negative samples included JCV and HSV-2. In groups 2 and 3, 11/26 samples (42%) were positive for at least one pathogen; however, 27% of the total samples (7/26) were positive for commensal organisms. No microbial nucleic acids were detected in negative control samples. HTS showed limited promise for pathogen identification in presumed CNS infectious diseases in our small sample. Before conducting larger-scale prospective studies to assess the clinical value of this novel technique, clinicians should understand the benefits and limitations of using this modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Predominantly macrofollicular architecture in invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (IEFVPTC-MF) is rare and often a cause of misinterpretation during pre-operative work-up and histopathology evaluation. We comprehensively evaluated the radiological, cytological, gross, microscopic, molecular and follow-up characteristics of four such cases, intending to increase its recognition and add our experience to the limited literature available. Methods: All such histopathologically-proven cases of IEFVPTC-MF were retrieved from the departmental archives. The clinical details, thyroid ultrasound, cytology and thyroid scan findings were reviewed. Allele-specific PCR for BRAF p.V600E, KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS mutations, and FISH assays for ETV6::NTRK3 fusion and RET fusions were performed. Results: There were four cases of IEFVPTC-MF diagnosed between 2021 and 2022, involving two males and two females. The median age at presentation was 27 years, and the duration of the disease was 1–10 years. Thyroid ultrasound was TR1 (benign; n = 1), TR2 (not suspicious; n = 2), or TR4 (moderately suspicious; n = 1). Cytology was categorized as nondiagnostic (n = 1), benign (n = 1), and atypia of undetermined significance (n = 1). The three nodules with available cytology smears showed abundant colloid. Cells were arranged as sheets/microfollicles/clusters. Nuclei were predominantly round with minimal/focal elongation, membrane irregularity, and cellular crowding. On gross examination, cut surfaces of the tumors showed variable amounts of colloid. The tumors were solid-cystic. Histopathology revealed partially encapsulated multinodular tumors. There were prominent pseudopapillae projecting into the lumina of macrofollicles. Nuclei were predominantly round with variable nuclear atypia, including chromatin clearing and multifocal presence of nuclear grooves. Pseudoinclusions were identified in two. Molecular analysis revealed NRAS codon 61 mutation and ETV6::NTRK3 fusion in one case each. Two patients had cervical lymph node and hematogenous metastases. Post-radio-active iodine, the response was structurally incomplete (n = 2), indeterminate (n = 1) and excellent (n = 1). Conclusions: Macrofollicular architecture in invasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is a major pitfall in thyroid oncology practice. Long-standing disease, and ultrasonographic and cytological features that overlap with benign disease, often lead to underdiagnosis during pre-operative evaluation. As patients may consequently develop distant metastases and have inadequate treatment response, there is a need for more vigilant understanding of the spectrum of macrofollicular thyroid disease for accurate diagnosis. ETV6::NTRK3 or other fusions, when found, present opportunities for targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineral composition, organic matter, thermal maturity, and diagenesis control the shale reservoir properties, including the pore distribution, variable fluid distribution, microstructure, heterogeneity, etc. The shale layers of the Cambay Formation and the Raniganj Formation are considered prospective shale gas resources in India. This paper focuses on the detailed analysis of shale from the Cambay Formation (Eocene age) of the Cambay Basin and the Raniganj Formation (Permian age) of the Raniganj Basin, India. The whole rock X-ray diffraction data indicates that quartz is the dominant mineral in both the shales (Raniganj and Cambay shale) of the Raniganj and the Cambay Basin. The main clay minerals are clinochlore, smectite-kaolinite, illite, and kaolinite in the Raniganj shale, while kaolinite, montmorillonite, and illite-smectite are the dominant clay minerals in the Cambay shale. The total organic content (TOC) ranges from 4.97 to 17.88 wt.% and 1.16–7.6% in the Raniganj and Cambay shales respectively. For the studied shale section, the TOC shows a gradual decrease with respect to depth in both shale types. The Raniganj shale has 3.8 to 8.3 percent total porosity, and the Cambay shale contains 1.16 to 6.5% total porosity. The increasing thermal maturity with the higher TOC corresponds to the more developed organic pores in the Raniganj shale. In contrast, the secondary pores are developing in the Cambay shale due to dissolution activities and enhancing the storage capacity. The study infers that the mineral composition and diagenesis are playing a crucial role in the pore system evolution of the shale in both the basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of biomass such as lignocelluloses to an alternative energy source can contribute to sustainable development. Recently, biomass-degrading enzymes are reported to be common resources in insect-microbe interacting systems. Northeast India harbors ample sericigenous insect resources which are exploited for their silk products. Samia ricini Donovan is an economically important poly-phytophagous silkmoth capable of digesting foliage from different plant species, suggesting the versatility of a robust gut system. Here, a gut bacterial profile was determined by 16S rRNA gene characterization across the holometabolous life cycle during the summer and winter seasons, revealing 3 phyla, 13 families, and 22 genera. Comparative analysis among the seasonal gut isolates revealed a high diversity in summer, predominated by the genus Bacillus due to its high occurrence in all developmental stages. Shannon's diversity index demonstrated the second and fourth instars of summer as well as the fifth instar of winter to be relatively better developmental stages for gut bacteria assembly. Bacterial community shifts in concert to host developmental changes were found to be apparent between early instars and late instars in summer, which differed from those of winter. Forty-three and twenty-nine gut bacterial isolates were found to be cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzyme producers, respectively. The present results illustrate the gut microbiota of S. ricini over the seasons and support the holometabolous life cycle effect as the most likely factor shaping the gut bacterial microbiota. These findings may provide leads for the development of new cleaner and environmentally friendly lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder. Interestingly, the majority (75%) of parathyroid tumors are localized to the inferior parathyroid glands. To date, the reason for this natural bias has not been investigated. We assessed the global gene expression profile of superior and inferior glands obtained from forensic autopsies. The genes with significant differential expression between superior and inferior parathyroids were further assessed by RT-PCR in 19 pairs. As an iterative approach, additional genes with an established role in parathyroid disorders, i.e., CASR, MAFB, PAX9, TBCE, TBX1, VDR, MEN1, CCND1, and CDC73 were also evaluated by RT-PCR in all 19 pairs of superior and inferior parathyroid glands. Seven homeobox genes, namely HOXA4, HOXA5, HOXBAS3, HOXB4, HOXB6, HOXB9, IRX1, and one encoding for ALDH1A2 showed a lower expression in the inferior parathyroid glands than in the superior. Conversely, SLC6A1 showed a higher expression in the inferior glands. Of the nine genes with significant differential mRNA expression among superior and inferior glands HOXB9, HOXB4 and IRX1 could be detected by western blotting/mass spectrometry. The study is the first to show the differential expression of nine genes HOXA4, HOXA5, HOXBAS3, HOXB4, HOXB6, HOXB9, IRX1, ALDH1A2, and SLC6A1 in inferior versus the superior parathyroid glands. This could have potential implications for the preferential localization of parathyroid tumors to the inferior parathyroid glands as observed in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the many variants of the retrovirus and it affects the human immune system. HIV integration site (IS) is a key determinant in the entire infection process and in finding a cure for the fatal disease owing to the fact that it is critical in determining the entire latent viral reservoir formation process. The ISs are specific to the retrovirus and in the case of HIV, the integration may take place at any stage of the cell cycle. The extent and process of the rebound of the virus when the antiretroviral therapy is disturbed is also determined by the IS. IS databases are mainly populated by lab-based observations/experiments which are performed for their isolation and analysis of some 'other' related characteristics in an attempt to influence the integration process. This work proposes a unique Deep Learning (DL) approach, using the recently developed Capsule Network along with attention, for the prediction of IS. Retrovirus Integration Database has been used as it is one amongst the few publicly available gold standard databases of retrovirus IS in the human genome and has the cells transfected under lab conditions. This work achieves a performance much better than the existing state-of-the-art method (both with and without additional genomic markers), presented here in terms of the metrics AUC-ROC, AUC-PR and F-score. It looks beyond lab-based studies for HIV IS analysis and suggests that some advanced DL- based automated architecture can help in progressing towards a cure to the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectacularly preserved yet least studied middle to late Eocene Kopili Formation in parts of East Jaintia Hills district, Meghalaya has been documented to understand the provenance, tectonic setting and palaeoweathering employing petrological and geochemical attributes. The Kopili Formation is characterized by alternations of fossiliferous marl-splintery grey to black shale-siltstone and fine to medium grained ferruginous sandstone with occasional coal streaks. Petrographically, Kopili sandstone has been grouped into two categories i.e. subarkose and sublitharenite. Geochemically, Kopili sandstone possesses high SiO2 and relatively low Al2O3 and Fe2O3 confirming to the modal composition Q72.70 F6.57 RF7.01 CT3.12 Mx2.28 M2.07 HM1.82. These are quartz-rich (SiO2 75.96%) clean sandstone depicting strong negative correlation of SiO2 with rest of the major oxide except for CaO which is relatively weak. High SiO2 is in conformity with quartz enrichment (73.50%), does indicate a passive (atlantic type) continental margin set up for the deposition of Kopili Formation. Neo-development of quartz and feldspar in parts reflect high degree of diagenesis. Chemical indices like CIA, CIW, PIA and ICV reveal intense weathering under semi-arid to semi-humid climatic conditions. Besides minor contributions from continent interior, sediments were largely derived from recycled orogen involving rhyolitic / granitic sources containing plagioclase feldspars in the range of An0-An70 as evident from geochemical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing processes play a disruptive role in several industrial sectors. Among them, wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a very promising process for the production of large-scale steel components and structures. As a common characteristic of innovative technologies, this process requires additional research and experimental work in order to understand how its thermal cycles will modify the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the manufactured components. Considering the lack of literature on the properties of WAAM components from specific steel alloys, the present work proposes a benchmark evaluation of five different steel filler metals based on their mechanical properties and operational parameters when applied for additive manufacturing. The mechanical properties, such as the tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, Charpy impact toughness, and hardness, were evaluated together with operational parameters such as cost, printability, spatter, and fume formation during manufacturing, defect-free printing, and heat input. These were analyzed in order to obtain a full evaluation and comparison of the five filler metals. The experimentally determined results of every above-mentioned aspect were higher or similar to the values found in the literature for generic steel filler metals used in additive manufacturing. This means that a designer or welding engineer can select the WAAM steel filler metal for further testing based on the welding wire datasheet. Besides that, a comparison was performed between blocks manufactured by WAAM with some frequently used base metals, in plate format, confirming its applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) fracturing as an alternative to hydrofracturing is one of the most effective fracking techniques for shale gas extraction. As the water-based fracturing fluid can cause formation damage, clay swelling, and water blocking in shale, it is essential to replace it with CO2 fracturing fluids. The CO2 fracturing technique utilizes comparatively fewer chemicals and water, and has a high capacity for adsorbing CO2 with CH4. The CO2 fracturing technique is an appropriate fracturing technique as compared to other fracturing fluids. As the shale reservoirs are heterogenous, fracturing techniques are controlled by several parameters. Therefore, the shale reservoirs need to analyze adequately at a different scale. 3D modeling is essential to understand the efficacy of fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. The present study demonstrates the 3D geo-mechanical model through reservoir simulation techniques, and we estimate the gas recovery for a shale reservoir. The multi-stage fracturing tests were conducted on the unconventional reservoir using the fracture model to assess the heterogeneity, and change in the distance between the fractures. This study also analyzes the effects due to the space distance and fracture conductivities. The simulation study is conducted under different conditions by using CO2 as a fracturing fluid. The results suggest that the shale gas recovery rate increased by approximately 3 to 7% with the changes in fracture half-length, spacing, and fracture numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast MRI is the imaging modality of choice in patients with palpable breast lesions unequivocal on mammography and ultrasonography. This study aims to evaluate the role of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping in the characterization and differentiation of various palpable breast lesions. This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital between July 2019 and June 2021. Sixty-six patients with palpable breast lesions were undergone MRI scans of the breasts. The various palpable breast lesions were categorized according to the 5th edition BI-RADS lexicon. The sensitivity of ADC mapping and DCE-MRI was determined for differentiation of various palpable breast lesions according to the BI-RADS category and gold standard histopathological findings. Results: Of 66 patients with palpable breast lesions, 36 patients (54.5%) were benign and 30 patients (45.5%) were malignant lesions. Malignant palpable breast lesions had a mean ADC value of 0.939 ± 0.166[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s, and benign lesions had 1.891 ± 0.524[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s where unpaired Student t-test showed statistically significant difference of P value 0.0005. BI-RADS 2 lesions had a mean ADC value of 2.056 ± 0.471[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s, BI-RADS 3 had 1.314 ± 0.151[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s, BI-RADS 4 had 0.935 ± 0.119[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s, and BI-RADS 5 had 0.930 ± 0.943[SD] × 10−3 mm2/s. BI-RADS 2 category showed optimal cutoff mean ADC of 1.508 × 10−3 mm2/s with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 94.7%, BI-RADS 3 lesions had 1.208 × 10−3 mm2/s with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 55.2%, BI-RADS 4 lesions had 1.064 × 10−3 mm2/s with a sensitivity 80% and specificity of 67.9%, and BI-RADS 5 lesions had 1.013 × 10−3 mm2/s with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 82.6%. Conclusions: Breast MRI is superior to the other imaging modalities for the characterization and differentiation of various palpable breast lesions. The combined use of ADC mapping and DCE-MRI had more sensitivity than conventional MRI, ADC mapping or DCE-MRI alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrazole and oxadiazole are pharmacologically important heterocyclic cores. Nowadays, these cores are present in a great variety of therapeutics, such as the antipsychotic CDPPB, antidepressant Fezolamide, antiphlogistic Celecoxib, H2-receptor agonist Betazole, HIV integrase inhibitor Reltregravir, antiretroviral Zibotenten, antibacterial Furamizole, antihypertensives tiodazosin and nesapidil, etc. In this review, we describe some synthetic approaches to pyrazole and oxadiazole derivatives along with their pharmacological activities. The review also covers the synthesis of heterocyclic composed of a pyrazole ring fused with an oxadiazole ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2O/Cu nanocatalyst was prepared by simple in situ gas phase H2O/O2 stimulating approach via deposition of Cu2O on the surface of Cu nanoparticles (NPs) using aqueous extract of papaya peel. The synthesized hybrid copper catalyst offers an efficient methodology for Pd-free Sonogashira and Chan–Lam cross-coupling reactions. A site-selective type catalytic activity was observed in Sonogashira coupling reaction by performing a controlled experiment using Cu (0) and the hybrid Cu2O/Cu nanocatalyst. It is characterized by solid UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR spectroscopy), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD and XPS analysis confirmed the formation of the Cu (0) and Cu2O NPs. The Cu2O/Cu NPs appear two different phases distributed like a lamellar sheet stacked one above the other. The presence of Cu2O phase in hybrid nano catalyst provides an attractive advantage highlighting a Cu (I)-Cu (0) synergistic interaction in the respective cross-coupling reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the diversity of diazotrophic bacteria of orchid Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume and its potential application in plant growth promotion were evaluated. About 183 nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated to screen various plant growth-promoting traits viz. phosphate solubilization,IAA, siderophore, HCN, biofilm and ammonia production. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis Achromobacter, Arthrobacter, Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Curtobacterium, Erwinia, Kosakonia, Lysinibacillus, Klebseilla, Microbacterium, Mixta, Pantoea, Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas isolates were selected and showed positive results for PGP traits. Overall, genus Pantoea, Brevibacterium, Achromobacter, Arthrobacter, Klebsiella, Mixta, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas had the most pronounced PGP characteristics and acetylene reduction among the screened isolates. BOX PCR fingerprinting analysis showed variation in polymorphic banding patterns among diazotrophic strains. PCR amplification of nifH gene and the presence of 37 kDa nitrogenase reductase enzyme band in western blot indicated presence of nitrogenase activity. Our study showed that orchid R. retusa diazotroph interaction helps orchid plant to fix nitrogen, essential nutrients, and control pathogen entry. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on characterization of diazotrophic bacterial community from aerial roots of R. retusa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidiota mansueta Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) is a major pest of field crops at Majuli river island, Assam, India. Sampling carried out covering ten endemic villages for three successive years (2017–2019) revealed that the larval population of L. mansueta larvae remained the sameunder both pre and post-flood situations, indicating that submergence conditions had no detrimental effect on its population. In a confirmation trial based on a simulation model, it was further recorded that mortality was highly correlated (r2 = 0.846, P < 0.001) with duration of inundation with maximum mortality occurring only at 21 days (44%) and 28 days (60%) post inundated conditions. Further, scanning light microscopy and electron microscope sections showed cuticular modifications for spiracular respiration which lacks a closing aperture. The grub had peripneustic respiratory system with 9 pairs of functional spiracles. The absence of a conventional spiracular opening but the presence of a convex projecting central bulla in place of the opening, a sclerotized and smooth sieve plate with ultramicroscopic aeropyles might provide protection against entry of water into the tracheoles, allowing only gaseous exchange. Perhaps, the surface tension of the film of water over the sieve plate also prevents the flow of water into the tracheae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of a green tissue-specific promoter of the Rubisco small subunit gene from Arabidopsis (AraSSU) was studied using transgenic chickpea lines. We generated transgenic chickpea lines expressing an AraSSU promoter-driven cry2Aa gene through the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Lines with AraSSU expressed the gene in all green tissues at high levels (> 90 ng/mg of fresh weight tissue) compared to lines generated using CaMV35S (< 10 ng/mg FW). We used vertical cross sections of various tissues of homozygous progeny using microtome for immunolocalization. The immunolocalization showed the expression of the cry2Aa gene in the green mesophyll cells of the leaves of both AraSSU and CaMV35 chickpea lines. Moreover, the accumulation of AraSSU-regulated Cry2Aa protein was also observed in vascular tissues, including enucleate sieve elements and their companion cells. However, no expression was observed in the roots of AraSSU lines. In the case of CaMV35 lines, the transgene expression was observed in all the tissues. Since our data indicated that the AraSSU promoter is active in non-green tissues such as vascular bundles. Therefore, we validated this by RT-PCR. We found Cry2Aa RNA transcripts in leaves, stems without epidermis (for vascular tissues), and roots with and without epidermis. Thus, the AraSSU promoter is active in all above-ground tissues of the chickpea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maturity of vermicomposted end products obtained from citronella bagasse (CB) and a mixture of citronella bagasse and paper mill sludge (CB + PMS) was determined employing the epigeic earthworm species Eisenia fetida. Two of the primary biological indicators—enzyme assay and germination index—were used for evaluation of vermicompost maturity. The enzyme assay includes the changes in dehydrogenase and urease activities in the final products. The test for germination index was performed on two economically important plant species Abelmoschus esculentus and Solanum melongena. The results revealed a significant increase in dehydrogenase and urease activities in the vermicompost samples over the raw materials and traditional compost. The enhancement was recorded 215.63–225.63% in dehydrogenase and 149.89–249.31% for urease in the end products obtained after 45 days of experimental trials. Further, the higher values of germination index in the vermicompost treatments as against the control confirm the suitability and stability of the vermicomposted final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to distinguish hadron initiated air showers from those initiated by primary gamma photons in detecting high energy gamma point sources using ground-based particle detector array. In this work, we have studied some methods of gamma hadron separation using the distribution of Cherenkov photons associated with cosmic ray air showers applying Monte Carlo method. Simulation is done corresponding to observation level for HAGAR (High Altitude GAmma Ray) telescope array using CORSIKA simulation code. Formation of a hump in the Cherenkov lateral distribution is found to be a distinguishing feature for a gamma initiated shower. In this paper, we propose a new parameter in distinguishing gamma from hadrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensemble learning method exhibits a high level of performance which is very much essential and useful in various domains. Random Forest (RF) is an ensemble learning technique which creates many trees on the subset of the data and combines the output of all the trees thereby it reducing overfitting problem in decision trees and also the variance thereby improving the performance. Despite of its high-performance, RF is black box in nature which hinders the transparency and interpretability of the predictive model. A transparent system with less decision rules makes a system efficient, user convincing and manageable to a greater extent in fields like medical, business, banking etc. The expression of the decision rules into flowchart like representation makes the system transparent, explicitly understandable and closely resemblance to human reasoning. Therefore, to overcome the drawback of black box nature of the RF and to make it an efficient interpretable decision-making system, this paper proposes a Transparent Rule Generator Random Forest (TRG-RF), which extracts the significant decision rules making the RF transparent, interpretable and comprehensible. The performance of the proposed TRG-RF is compared with the performances of a simple DT as well as simple RF, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Naïve Bayes in terms of classification accuracy, precision, recall and F1 score measures. Moreover TRG-RF is compared with RuleFit and RF + DHC which are also rule-based methods. The performance of the proposed TRG-RF is validated with 12 well known UCI datasets and the experimental results showed that the proposed TRG-RF is more efficient transparent and interpretable decision-making system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct one-pot three-component reaction of 4-acetyl-N-benzylbenzamide, ethyl acetoacetate or methyl acetoacetate, and aromatic aldehydes under microwave irradiation afforded a series of new cyclo-hexenone derivatives. The proposed procedure has the advantages of one-pot reaction, high efficiency, short reaction time, and simple workup. The antimicrobial activity of the obtained cyclohexenone derivatives was tested against a variety of bacteria (E. coli, S. aureus, S. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa) and fungi (C. albicans, A. niger, A. clavatus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Irish Traveller population are an endogamous, traditionally nomadic, Irish population. Irish Travellers practice consanguinity in the majority of marriages, thus resulting in a higher rate of rare autosomal recessive conditions within the population due to homozygous variants. Herein, we outline the clinical phenotypes associated with metabolic conditions seen in this population presenting in the neonatal period, infancy and childhood. Although Irish Travellers are traditionally based in Ireland and the UK, there are populations also living in mainland Europe and the USA. While there is generally an understanding amongst Irish paediatricians of the recessive conditions seen with this population in Ireland, they may be less commonly encountered abroad. It is important to consider a non-genetic aetiology alongside any consideration for a metabolic disorder. Conclusion: This paper acts as a comprehensive review of the metabolic conditions seen and provides a guide for the investigation of an Irish Traveller child with a suspected metabolic condition. What is Known: • The Irish Traveller population are an endogenous population. • There are higher rates of inherited metabolic conditions in this population compared to the general population in Ireland. What is New: • This paper is a comprehensive review of all known inherited metabolic conditions encountered in the Irish Traveller population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, green, bio-inspired synthesis of miracle leaf extracts reduced graphene oxide (m-rGO) nanosheets was explored. Here, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared using modified Hummers method from graphite powder and then reduced by miracle leaf extracts to produce m-rGO. The prepared m-rGO and chemically prepared GO was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and UV–Visible Spectroscopy. The XRD, FTIR, and Raman confirm the oxidation and reduction process. SEM and TEM images showed wrinkled sheet structure for green-synthesized reduced graphene oxides. The synthesized m-rGO products were investigated as a methanol gas sensor at ambient temperature using laboratory-made sensor setup. The sensing characteristics were monitored by measuring the change in electrical resistivity on exposure to methanol vapor at different concentrations. It is observed that the electrical response and % sensitivity of m-rGO toward methanol vapor is found to be a highly sensitive (254.7) than that of GO (27.7). The basic mechanism of the interaction between methanol and GO is believed to be hydrogen bonding and π–π interaction. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted on miracle leaf extracts reduced graphene oxide (m-rGO) using this environment friendly green method for application of methanol gas sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a potentially fatal condition of neonate occurring due to alveolar surfactant deficiency causing inefficient gaseous exchange and leading to hampered respiratory function. Purpose of our study is to investigate the role of Doppler indices in antenatal prediction of clinical Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in late preterm and early term foetuses using Main pulmonary artery (MPA) Doppler indices. The current study was conducted on 342 pregnant women between 34 and 39 weeks of gestational age, who came for routine third trimester ultrasound examination. The standard foetal biometric parameters, gestational age and estimated foetal weight were first obtained. The MPA Doppler indices like pulsatility index (PI), resistivity index (RI), peak systolic velocity (PSV), systolic/diastolic ratio and acceleration time/ejection time (At/Et) were recorded and correlated with the postnatal development of RDS. Results: Of the 342 foetuses, neonatal RDS was diagnosed in 47 foetuses. Foetuses diagnosed with RDS had statistically higher PI and RI values, whereas At/Et ratio and PSV were lower. At/Et ratio, PI and RI, PSV showed significant correlation with gestational age and the most statistically significant correlation was found with At/Et ratio. A cut-off value of 0.2865 (sensitivity 89.45%, specificity 94.79%) and 0.3155 (sensitivity 93.22%, specificity 96.78%) correlated strongly with development of RDS in late preterm foetuses and early term infants. Conclusion: Foetal MPA indices like PSV, RI, PI and especially Foetal At/Et ratio is a promising non-invasive tool which helps in identifying foetuses at risk and may be very useful to plan delivery in complicated pregnancies and also for better post-natal care of the neonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) has posed a challenge worldwide due to the sophisticated and costly diagnostics tools, which include DRE, TRUS, GSU, PET/CT scan, MRI, and biopsy. These diagnostic techniques are very helpful in the detection of PCs; however, all the techniques have their serious limitations. Biosensors are easier to fabricate and do not require any cutting-edge technology as required for other imaging techniques. In this regard, point-of-care (POC) biosensors are important due to their portability, convenience, low cost, and fast procedure. This review explains the various existing diagnostic tools for the detection of PCs and the limitation of these methods. It also focuses on the recent studies on biosensors technologies as an alternative to the conventional diagnostic techniques for the detection of PCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liposomal drug delivery systems are emerging as a unique class of drug delivery platforms that are non-toxic, increase the accumulation of drug at the target site and has the ability to respond to various stimuli to perform dynamic functions. To enhance controlled drug release, they have been exploited in depth using nanotechnology strategy utilizing external stimuli like pH, heat, light, enzyme etc. Among them, the photo-responsive behaviour of liposomes is getting attention for its non-invasiveness. Here, in this paper, we have developed a nanocomposite system, synthesized from Phosphatidylcholine vesicles (liposome) and azobenzene nanocluster (a type of carbon nanoparticles) for the first time and studied its drug loading and subsequent UV light-sensitive drug release. The successful formation of nanocomposite of Phosphatidylcholine vesicles (liposome) and azobenzene nanocluster was confirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). In this work, doxorubicin is used as a model drug. It was observed that Phosphatidylcholine-azobenzene nanocomposite vesicles show a maximum drug loading of 84.68% when compared with only Phosphatidylcholine vesicles (32.25%). Moreover, the Phosphatidylcholine-azobenzene nanocomposite vesicles also demonstrate sustained release in presence of UV (365 nm) light. In presence of UV light, the nanocomposite demonstrated a release of 77.33% in comparison to pure vesicles release of ~ 3.3%. Thus Phosphatidylcholine-azobenzene nanocomposite vesicles provide an example of a photo-responsive liposomal drug delivery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a correction to a study on optimizing cold spray parameters for high entropy alloy coatings. It addresses errors in Table 5 and Figure 10, as well as changes in units of measurement for thickness per pass. The study compares coating properties produced via mechanically alloyed powder with atomized powders. The corrected article is available online and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. [Extracted from the article]

Water pollution has created an urgent need for eco-friendly and sustainable technologies to remediate water contaminated with emerging pollutants such as nitrophenols and pathogens. In this study, we developed a Z-scheme photocatalytic system using In2S3 and Ag2S semiconductors to treat water contaminated with 4-nitrophenol and bacterium Escherichia coli. The Ag2S-In2S3 (AI) composite was synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The phase purity and oxidation states of the elements in the catalysts were analysed using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The formation of the composite facilitated the effective separation of charge carriers, as demonstrated by time-resolved fluorescence analysis. Compared to pure Ag2S or In2S3, the AI composite exhibited superior activity in the inactivation of bacteria and achieved nearly complete degradation of 4-NP within 1 h. The mechanism of photocatalysis was elucidated through combined analyses using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The band gap was determined by DRS, while the band edges were obtained from UPS. Additionally, radical trapping experiments confirmed that hydroxyl radicals were the primary active species, followed by photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals, responsible for the photodegradation of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on optimizing the cold spray (CS) process parameters for depositing Fe20Cr20Mn20Ni20Co20 (Cantor alloy) coatings using mechanically alloyed (MA) powder. A two-step design of experiments approach was employed, beginning with the initial screening of input variables using the L8 Taguchi method, followed by the refinement of process parameters through the Box–Behnken design of experiments. Key performance indicators included deposition efficiency (DE), coating thickness per pass, and microstructural parameters including porosity, cracks, and interfacial defects/delamination. The study identified process gas temperature as the primary factor influencing both DE and thickness per pass. Higher gas temperature and pressure, combined with increased scanning speed, resulted in higher DE. The DE of the MA Cantor alloy powder peaked at around 14-15%, with a deposit density greater than 99% achieved at the highest process gas temperature and pressure (1000 °C and 60 bar, respectively). The average hardness of the optimal CS coating deposited using MA powder was found to be 679 ± 17 HV0.1, which is approximately 90% greater than the average hardness reported for CS coatings deposited using atomized powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the added-value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in the preoperative assessment of carcinoma cervix. Methods: This prospective study was carried out on histopathologically proven 45 patients of carcinoma cervix presented to a tertiary care hospital with bleeding per vagina between August 2017 and July 2018. Relevant local per vaginal examination and MRI examination of the pelvis were performed. Results: A total of 45 patients with carcinoma of the cervix, having 11 patients (24.4%) in Stage-I, 22 patients (48.9%) in Stage-II, 3 patients (6.7%) in Stage-III and 9 patients (20%) in stage-IV, were included in this study sample. The mean ADC value of the carcinoma of cervix was 0.802 ± 0.123 [SD] × 10–3 mm2/s. The stage-I carcinoma cervix had a mean ADC value of 0.915 ± 0.109 [SD] × 10–3 mm2/s, Stage-II 0.778 ± 0.099 [SD] × 10–3 mm2/s, Stage-III 0.762 ± 0.123 [SD] × 10–3 mm2/s and Stage-IV 0.737 ± 0.116 [SD] × 10–3 mm2/s. ROC curve analysis showed the percentage of signal intensity changes within cervical tumor on arterial phase of DCE-MRI had a threshold value of 42.25 in differentiating Stage-I carcinoma of cervix from other stages with a sensitivity of 81.8% and specificity of 44.1%. Conclusion: The DWI and DCE-MRI added valuable inputs over conventional MR sequences in the early diagnosis and preoperative staging of carcinoma cervix. DCE-MRI had a high accuracy for assessing the cervical stromal and parametrial invasions, which helps in selecting the optimal therapeutic protocol and prognostication in gynecological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the correlation of the citation count and Mendeley readership score of the articles by the Sri Lankan authors was studied. The study presents how the correlation exists among different Web of Science (WoS) subject categories and in different Mendeley user categories. Nine thousand one hundred thirty articles of Sri Lankan authors are collected from the WoS database, with a minimum of 5 citation counts, and analyzed to trace their correlation with Mendeley readership from different aspects. Quantitative methods were applied in the study. A strong correlation exists between the citation count and Mendeley readership. 'Chemistry', 'Public, Environmental & Occupational Health' and 'Engineering' were observed as the highly indexed subjects in the category-wise analysis, though it does not affect the readership and citation. Subjects with a higher Mendeley readership score strongly correlate with a citation in different user categories, and articles with less than 200 readership scores mostly tend to show a negative correlation. Mendeley is more prevalent among researchers, Ph.D. students and master's students than in other user categories, and in all the user categories, correlation is more or less favourable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt has been made to estimate the site amplification factors of different geomorphological units in Shillong city, northeastern India, based on the distribution of peak ground acceleration (PGA) due to maximum credible earthquakes that originated in nearby major faults. Empirical relations are used to determine the amount of shaking at base rock as a function of the magnitude of the earthquake (Mw), source depth (km), fault dimension (intraplate/interplate), velocity structure of medium and the distance from the source (km). The computed PGA values are convolved with the average shear wave velocity (Vs30) values at various geomorphological units of Shillong to ascertain the degree of amplification while travelling from base rock to the surface. The amplification for the highly dissected land in the city is found to be the maximum within a range of 2.77–2.92, while the high plateau segment is characterized by least values (2.01–2.16). Simultaneously, the effective ground motion mapped on the surface indicates the maximum value of 0.6–0.94 g for a probable earthquake of Mw 8.1 due to Dauki fault. Similarly, Dhubri and Kopili faults might produce a ground motion of 0.05–0.08 and 0.22–0.33 g for a maximum credible earthquake of Mw~7.0, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, fluorescent nanodiamonds (FNDs) have been developed significantly as a new member in the nanocarbon family. The surface of FNDs is embedded with some crystallographic defects containing color centres which surmount the properties of other fluorochromes including up conversion and down conversion nanoparticles, quantum dots, nano tubes, fullerenes, organic dyes, silica etc. Some of the intriguing properties like inevitable photostability, inherent bio-compatibility, outstanding optical and robust mechanical properties, excellent magnetic field, and electric field sensing potentiality make FNDs appealing to some benevolent applications in numerous fields like bio-imaging, delivering drugs, fighting cancer, spin electronics, imaging of magnetic structure at nanoscale and as promising nanometric temperature sensor. The structure of FNDs has certain point defects on the surface among which negatively charged nitrogen vacancy centre (NV−) is the most investigated color centre. The production of NV− fluorescence nanodiamonds is the most challenging task as substitution of carbon atoms is required to create vacancies by causing irradiation from an electron beam which is followed by high temperature annealing. Thus, this review points out the relative advantages of FNDs containing negatively charged nitrogen vacancy centres produced from HPHT method or CVD method with those nanodiamonds produced through detonation process or pulsed laser ablation (PLA) method. The steps involved in the fabrication of FNDs are described along with the major challenges and struggles underwent during the process in this review. This review also summarizes the recent developments made in the functionalization and applications predominantly made in the field of biological science and it is understood that depending on the defect color centres they can exhibit different emitted wavelengths ranging from UV–visible to near infrared with broad or narrow bandwidths. This review also highlights some of the fluorescent NDs that emit stable and strong red or green photoluminescence from the defect centers of NV− which are implanted in the crystal lattice. This critical and extensive review will be useful for the further progress in this futuristic field of FNDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied dark matter (DM) phenomenology, neutrinoless double beta decay (NDBD) and realized low scale leptogenesis in an extension of Standard Model (SM) with three neutral fermions, a scalar doublet and a dark sector incorporating a singlet scalar and a Dirac singlet fermion. A generic model based on A 4 × Z 4 flavor symmetry including five flavons is used to explain both normal and inverted hierarchy mass patterns of neutrino and also to accommodate the dark matter mass. In this extension of the ν 2HDM, the effective neutrino mass observed in 0 ν β β is well within the experimental limit provided by KamLAND-ZEN. In order to validate DM within this model, we have checked relic abundance and free streaming length of the dark sector component, i.e. a Dirac singlet fermion constraining its mass in keV range. More importantly we have also realised low scale leptogenesis simultaneously within this framework and also the Dirac CP phase gets constrained with the results. Bound from LFV is also incorporated in order to constrain the Yukawa couplings. More importantly, we have analyzed the dependence of various phenomenology with decay parameter for different choice of arbitrary complex angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Proterozoic black shales of Rohtas Subgroup in Vindhyan basin are analyzed to assess their hydrocarbon generation potential. A total of 50 core samples of shales and limestones were collected from borehole core of Rohtasgarh limestone in Amehta mine, Vindhyan basin located in Katni district, Madhya Pradesh. The petrographic analysis, X-Ray diffraction, rock eval pyrolysis and maceral studies were carried out on separated black shales from the carbonates. The study presents that the Rohtas Subgroup of Semri Group consists of greyish to black limestone, greyish to greyish black shales, calcareous shales, silicified shales, pyritic shales and dark black shales alterations with limestones. XRD study reveals the presence of quartz (23.4%), plagioclase feldspar (21.9%), siderite (10.9%), aragonite (2.93%), calcite(1.9%), hematite (4.23%), illite (1.27%), kaolinite (3.2%), pyrite (3.86%), dolomite (8.2%), chlorite (2.43%), gypsum (4.02%), albite (3.4%), potassium feldspar (1.9%) in the samples, where smectite is dominating clay and feldspar in the form of potassium and plagioclase feldspar is the chief constituent among the detrital framework grains. The total organic content (TOC) of the shale units ranges from 0.22 wt. % to 1.08 wt.%, whereas hydrogen index (HI) ranges from 11 to 90 mg HC/g TOC, oxygen index (OI) ranges from 1.08 to 31.82 mg CO2/gTOC, Tmax ranges from 431 to 525°C, production index (PI) ranges from 0.11–1.0. Unstructured organic matters are extracted through maceration techniques, which infer thermal maturity stages of the shales. The dark brown to black in colour of the studied palynomorphs extracted from the Rohtasgarh shales inferred strong thermal alternation of the source rock over geological time. High thermal alteration index (TAI) of Rohtasgarh shales (3.5) suggests the presence of post maturated organic matters with gas prone type III & IV kerogen. The organic richness, kerogen type, thermal maturity of Rohtasgarh limestone in the study area signify poor to fair hydrocarbon generation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]