Search

The current study is aimed at studying the effect of ultrasonication on finger millet and barnyard millet flours which were processed for 10, 15, and 20 min at a constant amplitude of 30% and 30 kHz frequency at a maximum power of 750 W and 220 V. Ultrasonication resulted in modification of functional, structural, color, thermal, and molecular interactions and bioactive properties of millet flours. Ultrasonication resulted in decrement of water absorption capacity (1.51–1.36 and 1.51–1.05 g/g), swelling power (7.68–5.34 and 5.87–4.50 g/g), and foaming stability, while an increment was observed in water solubility index (3.59–8.41% and 3.03–10.94%), oil absorption capacity (1.98–2.16 g/g and 1.93–2.07 g/g), foaming capacity (12.00–17.00% and 18.00–25.00%), and paste clarity (51.20–61.00%T and 58.50–63.60%T) in finger millet and barnyard flours. An increase in bioactive components was observed till 15 min was observed, followed by reduction on further treatment. Ultrasonication triggers cavitation, which causes cell wall fractures and subsequent breakdown, ultimately reducing particle size. The resulting particle size reduction increases the surface area, enhancing functional properties. Ultrasonication reduced the enthalpy of millet flours by disrupting amorphous regions. Concurrently, processing altered surface topography, modified functional groups, and changed crystal structure. Also, the antinutritional factors (phytates and tannins) were reduced linearly on an increase in the time period of ultrasonication. This study shows that ultrasonication improves the functional properties of finger millet and barnyard millet flours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights This study explores the surface modification of carbon fiber (CF) with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes, graphene, and zinc oxide nanoparticles to improve interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber‐reinforced composites. A polydopamine (PDA) layer was used as a coupling agent to enhance the deposition and uniformity of the nanomaterial coatings on CF. The novelty lies in using PDA, which mimics mussel adhesive proteins, offering robust adhesion due to its amine and catechol functional groups. Elemental mapping through energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy, along with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and x‐ray diffraction analyses, confirmed the successful nanomaterial deposition while preserving the CF's graphitic structure. Nanoparticle structures at the nano‐level were examined under a transmission electron microscope. Contact angle measurements showed improved wettability, decreasing from 85.9° to 52.8°, and increasing surface energy from 5.10 to 44.1 J/m2, indicating better adhesion potential. The modified CF surface demonstrated improved interfacial bonding between the matrix and CF making them promising candidates for applications in hydrogen storage systems and energy storage devices, such as structural supercapacitors and batteries. Surface modification of carbon fibers to enhance interfacial properties. Nanomaterials were grown in a two‐step process on catalyst‐pretreated carbon fibers using dip coating. Uniform nanomaterial coating on carbon fibers confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscope analysis. Increased functionality of carbon fibers demonstrated by FTIR spectra. Improved wettability and adhesion confirmed by contact angle and surface energy measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Nowadays, traditional food/ethnic foods have vanished from the diet of majority of young people. There is a need to preserve endangered and rarely used fermented food items to maintain the good health of future generations. Therefore, there is a scope for food industry to make an effort to explore nutrient rich sources out of these rarely used foods. The blending of ethnic and traditional foods in a scientific way could trigger many cumulative foods adding fresh dimensions simultaneously preserving functional properties of these foods and providing health benefits. The Himalayan states harbours more thousands types of fermented foods/ethnic foods being consumed. The majority of food consumed by the population in remote areas of the country includes a variety of ethnic dishes from the Indian Himalayas, such as Sepu Bari, Seera, Salori, Bhaturu, Aenkali, Childa‐bhala, Gundruck, Dhulliachar, Jaanr, Angoori, Chuli, Auria, Jhol, Chhang and Churpi. These foods have seldom been explored for their potential to yield new and health‐promoting microorganisms. For the first time, the aforementioned items have been investigated for the isolation and identification of safe, food‐grade bacteria, paving the way for the development of innovative health foods with functional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role in cancer, influencing both tumor growth and regression. Their intricate involvement in cellular processes underscores the necessity of maintaining a delicate ROS balance for normal cellular function. Intriguingly, while ROS contribute to tumor progression, they also exhibit the potential to selectively kill cancer cells. Emerging therapeutic strategies focus on modulating ROS levels within cancer cells, considering the type of radicals generated, their site of formation, and concentration gradients. This review delves into recent advancements in understanding the impact of ROS on the tumor microenvironment and cancer treatment. By exploring the interplay between ROS dynamics and therapeutic outcomes, this study provides a comprehensive perspective on the pivotal role of oxygen‐related free radicals in cancer therapy and highlights the innovative approaches and insights shaping this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector's shift from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles (EVs) has made enough charging facilities necessary. The converter's architecture has undergone several changes to provide the best possible charging for electric vehicles. For EV charging applications, both isolated and non‐isolated converters are employed. The significant strain on switches and losses in the various converter topologies are among the main problems. To minimize these issues, the current‐fed non‐isolated DC–DC converter is proposed with fewer switching devices. The proposed converter design is validated for the EV charging application in the MATLAB/Simulink tool. Moreover, Coati optimized fractional order proportional integral derivative controller is proposed, which provides optimum switching signals for the converter based on the voltage input. Furthermore, the responses are realized for buck and boost modes of operations. It is verified that zero current switching and zero voltage switching are achieved under boost mode. The results analysis demonstrates that the proposed converter has a higher efficiency of 99.7% and 99.02% in buck and boost mode, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of triathlon exercise on cardiac function are well documented. While Olympic triathlon (swim‐bike‐run) remains the standard format, increasing concerns about water quality in natural waterways present ongoing challenges for open‐water swimming events, highlighting the potential need to consider alternative formats such as duathlon (run‐bike‐run) in some circumstances. An additional run may increase the overall metabolic and cardiovascular demand compared with the swim in triathlon, leading to reduced future performance. Conversely, the majority of EICF research reports reversal of post‐exercise perturbations within 24–7 days of recovery but duathlon has not yet been studied in this context. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the cardiac, autonomic, haemodynamic and biomarker responses during and following two Olympic distance (OD) duathlon separated by 7 days of recovery. Highly‐trained (V O2max >60 mL·kg−1·min−1) male participants (n = 10) completed two lab‐based OD duathlons, either continuous (BD) or with functional measurements after each leg (UD), separated by 7 days of rest. Conventional echocardiography recorded standard and tissue Doppler measures of left ventricular (LV) structure and function. Speckle tracking echocardiography was used to measure global longitudinal strain (GLS). Time and frequency domain analysis of HRV, as well as plasma high sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs‐cTnT) were measured pre and post exercise. In the broken duathlon trial (BD) cardiac measurements and blood samples were also taken between each leg. In the unbroken duathlon (UD) participants performed each leg sequentially. Duathlon exercise resulted in similar cardiac functional and biomarker alterations as previously reported in triathlon and standalone running and cycling exercise. Cardiac troponins were still elevated following 24 h−1 of recovery. However, functional changes were resolved within 24 h−1 of passive recovery and did not impair subsequent duathlon performance, or pre‐exercise measurements 7 days after the first trial. Whether or not elite or recreational athletes experience the same magnitude and reversibility of these changes remains to be elucidated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Aim Methods Results Conclusions Integrating fruit trees is among the promising agroforestry technologies. Intercropping of fruit trees with remunerative crops, particularly vegetables, could generate higher income for farmers.The present study involves the assessment of apple‐based agroforestry systems integrated with various agricultural crops such as black gram, capsicum, tomato, and brinjal and evaluated the effect of integrated farming on soil properties, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities.The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design by considering sole apple, sole tomato, sole brinjal, sole capsicum, sole black gram, apple + tomato, apple + brinjal, apple + capsicum, and apple + black gram as treatments.The study revealed the performance of the agroforestry system where apple and tomato in combination perform better than others and sole cropping. The competition for moisture, nutrients, and other limiting resources in agroforestry system where apple trees are grown in combination with brinjal, capsicum, and black gram resulted in poor plant's growth and yield. This combination of crops also significantly affected the organic carbon, porosity, bulk, and particle densities. The available N, P, and K contents decreased with the increased soil depth. It was observed that microbial biomass in terms of carbon (Cmic), nitrogen (Nmic), and phosphorus (Pmic) was higher where tomato was grown in apple‐based agroforestry systems than in sole cropping. Higher enzymatic activities for acid and alkaline phosphatase, catalase, and dehydrogenase were recorded in agroforestry system where tomatoes were grown in the presence of apple trees.The results reported that a combination of apple and tomato is the most successful system as tomato crop performs better under the apple tree canopy, possibly due to the favorable microenvironment and tree‐crop compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is popular source of plant‐derived low/no‐calorie natural sweeteners (LNCSs), collectively known as steviol glycosides (SGs). Nevertheless, genetic predisposition for targeted biosynthesis of SGs is complex due to multi‐substrate functionality of key uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Here, we created a high‐quality monoploid assembly of 1.34 Gb with N50 value of 110 Mb, 55 551 predicted protein‐coding genes, and ~80% repetitive regions in Rebaudioside‐A (Reb‐A) enriched cultivar of S. rebaudiana. Additionally, a haplotype‐based chromosome assembly consisting of haplotype A and haplotype B with an overall genome size of 2.33Gb was resolved, harbouring 639 634 variants including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), indels and structural variants (SVs). Furthermore, a lineage‐specific whole genome duplication analysis revealed that gene families encoding UGTs and Cytochrome‐P450 (CYPs) were tandemly duplicated. Additionally, expression analysis revealed five tandemly duplicated gene copies of UGT76G1 having significant correlations with Reb‐A content, and identified key residue (leu200val) in the glycosylation of Reb‐A. Furthermore, missense variations identified in the acceptor region of UGT76G1 in haplotype resolve genome, transcriptional and molecular docking analysis were confirmed with resequencing of 10 diverse stevia genotypes (~25X). Gene regulatory network analysis identified key transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, bZIP and AP2‐ERF) as potential regulators of SG biosynthesis. Overall, this study provides haplotype‐resolved chromosome‐level genome assembly for genome editing and enhancing breeding efforts for targeted biosynthesis of SGs in S. rebaudiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) is crucial for regulating and understanding the pathophysiology of hypertension. However, there has been little focus on the breakdown of the active peptide, angiotensin II (AngII). Given that animals lacking aminopeptidase A (APA) exhibit hypertension, it may be concluded that APA is a crucial enzyme in regulating blood pressure by breaking down AngII. It has been also seen that the elevated blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is caused by the activation of the RAS and a concurrent reduction in renal angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) activity. The activity of APA is elevated at the beginning of pre‐eclampsia and decreases below the levels seen during a normal pregnancy as pre‐eclampsia progresses (particularly, in severe cases). The activity of Serum APA is also heightened after hormone replacement treatment (HRT), perhaps as a response to increasing levels of AngII. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the connection between the activation of the RAS, the levels of AngII in the bloodstream, and the presence of APA in hypertension conditions. Summary: Aminopeptidase A (APA) plays a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure by modulating the renin‐angiotensin system. Inhibiting APA offers a novel therapeutic approach to reducing hypertension, particularly, in cases resistant to conventional treatments. This systematic review highlights the growing evidence supporting APA as a promising target for effective hypertension management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current molecular research has shown the several oncogenic pathways that give rise to the peripheral T‐cell lymphoma, not otherwise defined (PTCL, NOS) subtypes, which alter prognosis and might have predictive value. This study was conducted to assess the immunohistochemistry (IHC) algorithm by Amador et al for the subtyping of PTCL, NOS and determine its applicability in relation to the clinicopathological profile. Methods: This study included 43 patients with PTCL, NOS diagnosis. Following the use of IHC for the transcription factors GATA3, TBX21, CCR4, and CXCR3, two pathologists subtyped the samples. Comprehensive clinicopathological correlation was carried out. Results: Applying the algorithm of Amador et al., cases were classified into GATA3 (20), TBX21 (15), and unclassified (8) subtypes. No significant association with clinical parameters of subtypes or CD4/ CD8 positivity was observed. Although a higher proportion of cases in the TBX21 subgroup showed a polymorphic population compared with the GATA3 subgroup, which had a monomorphic population, no significant p‐value (0.111) was observed. Two Lennert lymphomas were classified into the GATA3 subgroup. Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in overall survival (p‐value = 0.105) and progression‐free survival (p‐value = 0.0509) between IHC‐defined subtypes; trends indicate that overall survival and progression‐free survival are worse in the GATA3 subgroup. Conclusion: Although the algorithm is reproducible, a proportion of cases remains unclassifiable and may require additional investigation and gene expression profiling. The GATA3 subgroup was found to have a monomorphic population with a poor overall prognosis and thus requires a larger sample size for validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present case describes the clinical, sonographic and histopathological findings of hydrallantois in bitch. After 55 days of the first mating, nulliparous Golden Retriever bitch was presented with a primary complaint of perceptible abdominal distension and dyspnoea for the last 3‒4 days. Ultrasonography revealed marked uterine distension with well appreciable anechoic to hypoechoic allantoic regions along with fetal stress. During caesarean section, a cumulative 2.75 L of placental fluid was recovered from allantoic portion with an altered electrolyte profile in comparison to maternal plasma. The histopathology examination of one fetal kidney corroborated tubular degeneration, suggesting nephrosis to be the concomitant aetiology. In conclusion, the clinical examination and ultrasonography provided provisional diagnosis of the condition; caesarean section proved to be an ideal option in order to prevent the dystocia or any other complication during whelping in a bitch even if none of the puppies survived. This approach, with supportive therapy ensures comprehensive care post‐treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple Ru(II)‐catalyzed protocol for the alkenylation of isoquinolones with readily accessible allyl alcohols to generate aldehyde bearing isoquinolones has been developed. The use of green solvent like dimethyl carbonate makes this method environment‐friendly. Experimental studies were carried out to support the proposed mechanism. The reaction was scaled up to showcase the application of the current method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) is an obstinate and infectious disease requiring a relatively longer treatment duration than other bacterial infections. The current treatment regime is prolonged and cumbersome, with adverse effects, often leading to nonadherence. The upsurge in TB's multidrug‐resistant and extensively drug‐resistant strains with evolved resistance to existing drugs has compounded the problems. The last two decades witnessed unprecedented progress in developing TB drugs with better efficacy and reduced toxicity. Of late, inhibitors targeting the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme were being explored and developed as antitubercular drugs. A plethora of diverse molecular cores, such as pteridines, diamino heterocycles, diamino triazoles, and nontraditional cores, were developed recently as Mtb‐DHFR targets. Besides the characteristic binding pockets of Mtb‐DHFR, an extended hydrophilic binding pocket was also studied for intermolecular interactions with the designed compounds to assess the enzyme specificity. In this study, prominent DHFR inhibitors developed in the last two decades were reported. Key features of the designed compounds, such as the structural similarities with existing pharmacophores, interactions with binding pockets, enzyme selectivity and specificity, and percentage of inhibition, were evaluated. The authors hope the study will help streamline the pharmacological pipeline of Mtb‐DHFR inhibitors and bring the investigators one step closer to success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring heterojunction formation between conjugated organic polymer and metal‐based semiconductors with promoted charge transfer and efficient spatial charge separation has proven to be quite successful in reinforcing photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Focusing on the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics from water, herein, we report BaTiO3/I@g‐C3N4 Z‐scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for degradation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) pollutant. The optimized heterojunction 25ICN/BT exhibits superior 94.5% removal of SMZ in 90 min, which is nearly 11 and 5 times faster than BT and pristine I@g‐C3N4 under visible light. The good repeatability of 25BT/ICN was proved by four‐cycle experiments. The remarkable improvement in photocatalytic activity was due to effective Z‐scheme transfer, diminished recombination, high charge transfer capacity, and redox capability. This was ascertained by electrochemical experiments and photoluminescence measurements. Furthermore, the degradation intermediates formed during the photocatalytic oxidation of SMZ were detected via liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and a suitable degradation pathway was suggested. The heterojunctions showed excellent performance in river, lake, and tap water and for other antibiotic pollutants. The radical quenching experiments and band structure analysis inferred •O2− radicals as main active species. This work lays down new perspectives on hierarchical heterostructures for the superior removal of noxious antibiotic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple is a perishable fruit due to its higher moisture content, which leads to spoilage and also reduces its shelf life. To improve the storage stability of apples, drying is the most effective and oldest method as it leads to the reduction of water activity. In the present study, dried apple slices were developed from "Golden Delicious" apples. The suggested methodology involves the use of dried apple slices with skin and a thickness of 4.5 mm, pretreated with 1% salt solution for 15 min. The drying process takes place at a temperature of 50°C for 3 h, followed by a temperature of 90°C for 2 h. The water activity of salt‐ and KMS‐pretreated dried apple slices was 0.422 ± 0.00 and 0.438 ± 0.01, respectively, whereas a higher value 0.473 ± 0.01 of water activity was observed in untreated dried apple slices, demonstrating better stability. Also, compared to the control sample, the pretreated slices showed 13% lesser shrinkage due to drying, thereby retaining its shape. The total phenolic content was the lowest in the control sample (101.52 ± 0.37 mg GAE/100 g), while a significant increase was observed in KMS‐pretreated (115.44 ± 4.08 mg/100 g) and salt‐pretreated (131.55 ± 0.58 mg/100 g) dried apple slices. Moreover, antioxidant activity also was higher in salt‐pretreated dried apple slices. Texture profile analysis revealed that the developed apple slices had better crispiness than nonpretreated ones. Thus, pretreatment before drying is of great significance to improve the appearance and quality of products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is an eye disease that damages the optic nerve as a result of vision loss, it is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Due to the time‐consuming, inaccurate, and manual nature of traditional methods, automation in glaucoma detection is important. This paper proposes an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) based model for automatic glaucoma detection using pre‐trained convolutional neural networks (PCNNs) and machine learning classifiers (MLCs). PCNNs are used as feature extractors to obtain deep features that can capture the important visual patterns and characteristics from fundus images. Using extracted features MLCs then classify glaucoma and healthy images. An empirical selection of the CNN and MLC parameters has been made in the performance evaluation. In this work, a total of 1,865 healthy and 1,590 glaucoma images from different fundus datasets were used. The results on the ACRIMA dataset show an accuracy, precision, and recall of 98.03%, 97.61%, and 99%, respectively. Explainable artificial intelligence aims to create a model to increase the user's trust in the model's decision‐making process in a transparent and interpretable manner. An assessment of image misclassification has been carried out to facilitate future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Nowadays, environmentally sustainable organic synthesis is demanding. In this context, nanoparticles are particularly interesting owing to their green synthesis aspects. Specifically, magnetic nanoparticles have been continuously utilized in organic synthesis for a decade. Among heterocycles, pyrrole and its analogs have a unique place due to its vast spectrum of applications. Derivatives of pyrrole help to find lead structures for new synthetic pharmaceutical compounds and other valuable compounds. Thus, magnetic nanoparticles accelerate organic chemists to develop pyrrole derivatives through green synthesis. Moreover, magnetic nanoparticles in pyrrole scaffold synthesis improve reaction efficiency and sustainability and create unique functional molecular hybrids for many scientific applications. This paper reviews the utilization of magnetic nanoparticles to afford a variety of valuable pyrrole derivatives, with a focus on their environmental friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy‐efficient, high‐specificity gas sensors provide practical suitability for stability and response factors. The recognition of ignitable gases (methane (CH4), propane (C3H8), and hydrogen (H2) and harmful gases (carbon oxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)) in an enclosed and out‐of‐door space are essential to safeguard the human lives and infrastructural spaces. One of the crucial conductive‐type metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors yielding wide applications is zinc oxide (ZnO). This study highlights the various types of ZnO gas sensors, their fabrication techniques, and specific vital characterizations. The devices based on MOS are utilized to sense various target gases through redox reactions. The variation in oxide surface with target gas interactions is transduced to a change of sensor conductance. This review also provides insight into integrating ZnO gas sensors with technologies such as materials engineering, the Internet of things and big data. Moreover, this review addresses ZnO gas sensors’ challenges and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural network (NN), also known as artificial neural network (ANN), provides efficient results in every computation, whether it is pattern recognition, forecasting, customer research, data validation, risk management, data mining, etc. In each computation, NN requires a specific dataset, and according to the datasets, a new NN structure is used to compute the results. Thus, these NN structures mostly depend upon the type of datasets. The current study presents a method that comprises a dedicated architecture known as neuromorphic neural network (NNN), which is made up of optical waveguides that enable high communication and data processing speed at the same time. We have also proposed three algorithms for configuring and building distinct ANN structures from the same architecture. These dedicated structures are not dependent on the datasets and employ the necessary processing element (PE) nodes to function as neurons in the hidden layer. Because specialized resources will be employed to perform operations in the hidden layer, these designs may produce more efficient outcomes than the present logical NN. Furthermore, we assessed our proposed architecture in terms of communication latency, deadlock prevention, energy consumption, and power usage. The simulation results show that deadlocks are avoided to the greatest extent possible, power consumption is reduced by up to 95%, and communicational latency is accomplished in the order of femtoseconds while conversing among PE nodes. The proposed architecture and simulation results promise an alternative for logical NN as well as improved results in terms of speed and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoemulsions derived from unconventional polysaccharides have gained attention as efficient delivery systems for bioactive compounds, helping in their enhanced absorption. Nontraditional sources of starch have been investigated in recent years due to their potential applications. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of extracting starch from faba beans and investigating their structural properties. Furthermore, the nanoemulsion is developed from starch, flax seed oil, and tween 80 and evaluated for different processing methods (temperature, pH, and NaCl). The extracted starch yields 31.20 g/100 g and X‐ray diffraction reveals its semicrystalline structure. The optimized nanoemulsion (N3) has an average droplet size of 108.62 ± 2.78 nm and a surface charge of −27.74 ± 0.12 mV. At different pH levels (2–9), temperature (30, 50, 70, and 90 °C), and ionic strengths (0.5, 1, and 2 m), the N3 nanoemulsion demonstrates significantly greater changes in stability. All the samples show excellent structural properties and stability. Overall, the results suggest that faba bean starch‐based nanoemulsion shows promise as a stable delivery system for bioactive compounds, but its stability is influenced by pH levels and ionic strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nonconventional sources have been explored for the extraction of starch due to their potential applications. Thus, this study investigates the potential of loquat seeds starch and exploring their structural and thermal properties. Moreover, the nanoemulsion is prepared from starch, flax seed oil, and tween 80 which is further utilized as a coating for the shelf‐life improvement of citrus fruits such as strawberries. The yield of loquat seed starch is 30.04% ± 2.19% with a particle size of 160.4 ± 4.06 nm and −16.2 ± 1.45 mV zeta potential. The gelatinization temperature of starch is observed to be 78.75 °C. Starch samples show major peaks at 3287.52, 2929.52, 1642.07, 1339, 1149.68, 1077.79, and 1003.62, 859.62, 573.01, and 526.25 cm−1. X‐ray diffraction reveals the semicrystalline structure of starch. The characterization of nanoemulsion reveals its excellent structural properties and stability. When the nanoemulsion is coated on strawberries, it effectively delays weight loss and also affects the titratable acidity content and total soluble solids, thereby reducing spoilage. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the nanoemulsion exhibits great potential in the shelf‐life improvement of strawberries. Thus, combining oils with starch represents a promising approach to enhance its effectiveness in controlling foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), identified as an invasive pest worldwide, has severely threatened agricultural production and food security in India. To formulate eco‐friendly integrated pest management strategies for S. frugiperda in its new invasive habitat, the basic knowledge about demographic parameters and damage potential of this pest is crucial. The effects of five host crops viz. maize (Zea mays L.), popcorn (Zea mays everta Sturt), sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on the development and food consumption of S. frugiperda were examined. Population projection curves based on life table and consumption rates were drawn on different hosts using computer simulation.The pre‐adult development of S. frugiperda was fastest on popcorn (28.02 days), maize (28.04 days) and sweet corn (28.31 days) but slowest on soybean (34.83 days). The highest net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate of increase and finite rate of increase were observed on maize. The feeding potential of S. frugiperda was also highest on maize. The maximum consumption of the sixth larval instar was observed on maize (19470.47 mm2) while lowest on soybean (9033.67 mm2). In the simulation period of 90 days, the fastest growth of S. frugiperda was expected on maize, popcorn and sweet corn while the slowest on soybean.High larval and pupal survival recorded on the non‐maize hosts (sorghum and soybean) reflects that fall armyworm could be an obstacle in their production as well as in the success of maize‐soybean intercropping system. Simulations based on age‐stage, two‐sex life table could be helpful in predicting the most appropriate time for the pesticide application as well as augmentative releases of egg and larval parasitoids for the control of fall armyworm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes an eco‐friendly NBS‐assisted regioselective synthesis of new 5‐acylfunctionalized 5‐acylfunctionalized 2‐(1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl)thiazoles by condensation of 3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carbothioamide with unsymmetrical 1,3‐diketones under solvent‐free conditions. The structural elucidation of the newly synthesized compounds was accomplished using various spectroscopic techniques viz. FTIR, NMR and mass spectrometry. All the newly synthesized compounds were examined for their in vitro antimicrobial potential against both pathogenic gram positive and gram negative bacterial and fungal species as well as anthelmintic activity against Pheretima posthuma earthworms. The results of antimicrobial activity revealed that all tested compounds 3 a–j showed excellent antimicrobial potential particularly against S. aureus. It was also observed that compounds 3 e and 3 i (MIC=62.5 μg/mL) showed greater potency against E. coli, whereas compounds 3 a and 3 h (MIC=50 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL) demonstrated better activity against P. aeruginosa and compound 3 i (MIC=62.5 μg/mL) exhibited superior activity against S. pyogenus when compared to standard drug Ampicillin (MIC=100μg/mL). Compound 3 e and 3 j revealed remarkable antifungal and anthelmintic activities. To find out binding interactions of target compounds with target proteins and pharmacokinetic parameters of the compounds, in silico investigations involving molecular docking studies and ADMET predictions were also performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Fermentation has a huge potential to improve the nutritional and functional properties by using the biological activity of the grain itself. The current study was performed to optimize the conditions for the fermentation of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) and maize further; the impact of fermentation treatment on the bio‐techno‐functional properties of QPM and maize flour was assessed. Findings: The technological properties, including oil absorption capacity, water solubility index, emulsion activity and stability, foaming capacity and stability, protein solubility, gel consistency, and least gelation concentration, were found to be increased with the fermentation treatment, while water absorption capacity, paste clarity, and swelling power observed a decline. The findings suggested elevated levels of all the bioactive constituents with the fermentation process. The modulations at the molecular level were confirmed by the scanning electron micrographs of fermented flour. Further, changes in the peaks of Fourier transform infrared spectra and the emergence of new peaks were also reported. Conclusions: The fermentation treatment altered the techno‐functional properties, bioactive constituents, macromolecular structure, and molecular interactions of QPM and maize flour. Significance and Novelty: Limited literature is available dedicated to the assessment of the nutritional, techno‐functional, and phytochemical components in QPM and maize as influenced by the fermentation process. Further, changes in the structural and molecular interactions in the flour components due to fermentation treatment have not been studied comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed every aspect of our lives and has become universal in multiple fields from personnel to government and military applications. However, IoT suffers from the inherent limitation of latency and high computational costs, which can be effectively overcome by using a fog computing framework. However, the key challenge in fog computing is to address the problem of service placement among the nodes, thereby providing optimal utilization of resources and minimizing service time. This research work presents a novel service placement technique, by considering the service placement issue as a multi‐objective optimization problem. Here, a two‐level fog computing network comprising a fog master node and fog cells is considered. The master node is responsible for the service placement of the fog nodes, and the service placement is carried out using the Adam‐Ladybug Beetle Optimization (ALBO) algorithm. Further, multiple objectives, like resource utilization, makespan, response time, service time, cost, and energy consumption are considered to enhance service placement. Moreover, the efficiency of the ALBO for service placement (ALBO_SP) is examined considering service cost, energy consumption, and service time and is found to attain values of 19.009, 73.581 J, and 4.854 s, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a potential energy carrier in comparison to conventional fuels due to its high energy content. Methane is an attractive source for 'on‐site' production of hydrogen by using membrane reformer due to its low cost. However, such reformers are not well studied and high temperature operation of steam methane reforming (SMR) makes the integration with membrane separation difficult. Further, the main product of SMR is CO and H2 in which CO has an inhibition effect on the membrane separation process. Therefore, it is vital to synthesize a low temperature and low CO selective catalyst for a suitable integration with membrane reformer. Nickel‐based catalyst is widely used for SMR due to its low cost and high catalytic activity. CeO2 is a favoured support as it mobilizes the lattice oxygen and reduces the coke formation and CO selectivity. Though several studies are reported on CeO2 based support, the effect of CeO2 surface morphology is not studied for SMR. In the current work, Ni/CeO2 of different shapes (nanocube and nanorod) are synthesized. The complete characterization of the support was performed. The effect of support shape, calcination temperature, and reduction temperature on SMR activity is found at different operating temperatures. For each condition conversion, CO, CO2 selectivity, and hydrogen yield are calculated. The results show the CeO2 morphology has a considerable effect on conversion, CO selectivity, and hydrogen yield. It is found that ceria nanocube calcined at 550°C provides better performance at high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of Alternaria blotch in apple orchards was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides, plant extracts and bioagents against Alternaria mali through the development of integrated disease management strategies. Under pot conditions, potential combinations of fungicides, plant extracts and biocontrol agents for mitigating the disease were evaluated. Furthermore, polyhouse studies showed that bioagents such as Trichoderma viride, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens have disease control potential. Moreover, this research explored the impact of fungicides on the production of primary inoculum, highlighting the potential to impede conidial production by the pathogen. Over two cropping seasons, field assessments indicated the efficiency of integrated approaches in managing Alternaria blotch of apples. This study highlights the importance of reducing chemical inputs while ensuring successful disease management, offering important insights into a more sustainable approach to the management of diseases in apple orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wind farm layout optimization problem (WFLOP) is a significant problem in the field of renewable energy. In this development of wind farm, solving the WFLOP is a crucial task, which entails placing the turbines in the wind farm in the best locations to reduce wake effects and enhance predicted power generation. In recent decades, the WFLOP problem has been solved mathematically. Meanwhile, the growing load demand led to an increase in the complexity of WFLOP. The results obtained by mathematical methods were not accurate enough to suit complexity of WFLOP. Nowadays, researchers from a variety of fields are developing nature‐inspired algorithms (NIAs) to solve difficult real‐world problems. This study is an attempt to review the most important innovations in the field of NIAs to solve the WFLOP problem. The classification of the reviewed literature is based on different applied approaches and models. In addition to specific proposals, the advantages and disadvantages of certain domains are also discussed. This study provides a future direction to the fellow researchers who are working in the field of WFLOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopotent hybrid diorganotin(IV) complexes, derived from salicylaldehyde Schiff bases having general formula R2SnL, where LH = (OH)C6H4HC: NCR′(R″)CHR‴OH] [where R = Me or Bu], were logically designed, generated, and characterized using spectroscopic techniques, single‐crystal X‐ray investigations, and DFT studies. Different diorganotin(IV) complexes were synthesized because of interaction between diorganotin(IV) dichloride and sodium salts of Schiff bases of salicylaldehyde ligand in anhydrous refluxing THF at 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratio (Product A and B). The chelating property of Schiff bases replaces organo group from diorganotin(IV) dichloride. It creates an O2SnL type of complex when diorganotin(IV) dichloride and ligand interact in 1:2 ratio, which is this study's most fascinating aspect. The characterization of these complexes is aided by physicochemical and spectroscopic investigations, including IR and NMR (1H, 13C, and 119Sn). Single‐crystal X‐ray investigations, mass spectrum studies, and DFT investigations suggest the dimeric structure of these compounds. These diorganotin(IV) complexes have a dimeric structure containing hexacoordinated central tin atom. Two µ2─O atoms bridge the gap between two Sn(IV) atoms in the dimeric dimethyltin(IV) complexes. The DPPH assay results for radical scavenging activity and IC50 values demonstrate the antioxidative potential of diorganotin(IV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi‐transparent perovskite solar cells (ST‐PSCs) are promising for their application in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). For BIPVs, a light utilization efficiency (LUE) > 2.5 is required which is multiplication of average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). Generally, semitransparency is achieved by reducing film thickness which increases AVT but decreases PCE resulting in lower LUE. Here, an interface engineering strategy is employed on a wide bandgap perovskite thin absorber layer to increase PCE and LUE. The study employs three different alkylamine hydrochlorides molecules with varied alkyl chain length, viz., 2‐chloroethylamine‐hydrochloride, 3‐chloropropylamine‐hydrochloride, and 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride at perovskite/electron transport layer (ETL) interface and investigates their effect on perovskite crystallization. Further, it is demonstrated that 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride can strongly interact with perovskite and suppress non‐radiative recombination facilitating charge transport at the perovskite/ETL interface. Devices post‐treated with 4‐chlorobutyalamine‐hydrochloride interfacial layer, demonstrate a higher LUE of 3.45% (PCE 14.11%) and AVT of ≈25% (400–800 nm), with Voc of 1.23 V. Moreover, the unencapsulated devices retain ≈89% of the initial efficiency after storage for 1500 h under a relative humidity of ≈35–40%. This study provides an efficient approach to improve LUE and stability of ST‐PSCs for the application in energy‐efficient smart windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to expound the effect of psoriasis on salivary glands by evaluating the secretion of saliva and salivary cytokine biomarkers in patients with psoriasis. This study was conducted by recruiting 120 subjects that included 60 patients diagnosed clinically with active psoriasis and 60 healthy controls who were age and gender matched to psoriatic subjects. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from all the subjects by spitting method, and levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), and IL‐10 (IL‐10) were determined via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (BT Lab, Shanghai, China). Secretion of saliva in psoriasis patients was considerably reduced than in healthy controls. The concentrations of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL‐2) were significantly increased, whereas level of anti‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐10) was markedly decreased in the saliva of psoriasis patients with hyposalivation compared to healthy subjects. Our results demonstrated significant negative correlation of salivary flow rates with the disease severity. No significant correlations were obtained between salivary levels of tested cytokines and salivary flow rates in our study. Findings of the study reflect inflammation of salivary glands with reduced salivary flow rates in psoriasis patients. The inflammatory responses in salivary gland tissues by virtue of increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines concentrations together with lower anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels may have a role in affecting the saliva secretion in psoriasis patients. Secretion of unstimulated saliva in psoriasis patients decreases with the severity and duration of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residue behaviour and dietary risk assessment of cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid in broccoli were carried out using the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) technique coupled with LC–MS/MS. The QuEChERS technique was validated on parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, robustness, matrix effects, limit of quantification (LOQ), specificity, retention time and ion ratio as per SANTE (Directorate General for Health and Food Safety) guidelines to attest to the specificity, accuracy and precision of the analytical method in estimating insecticide residues in and on broccoli heads and cropped soil. The LOQ of the method for all three insecticides was 0.01 mg/kg. The initial deposits of cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid reduced to half of its concentration in 1.873–2.354, 1.975–2.484 and 1.371–1.620 days, respectively. No residues were detected in broccoli‐cropped soil at harvest time (30 days after last spray). The proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) of 1.5, 0.5–0.9 and 2.0–3 mg/kg for cyantraniliprole, flubendiamide and acetamiprid were calculated using the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development MRL calculator. The acute and chronic dietary risk assessment of the tested insecticides identified no appreciable dietary risk to the Indian population from the consumption of broccoli heads. The findings of no dietary risk highlight the importance of informed pesticide usage in broccoli and the proposed MRL derived from this study offers crucial guidelines for the regulatory authorities, ensuring the safety of broccoli consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acrylamide is a hazardous chemical mainly synthesized during the thermal processing of foods representing a significant concern within the broader issue of food contaminants and their impact on public health. Acrylamide can be absorbed by the human body through dietary intake, respiration, dermal contact, and mucosa. The metabolic conversion of acrylamide into mercapturic acid metabolites and glycidamide results in several adverse and toxic effects. Therefore, this review explores the formation, toxicity, and metabolism of acrylamide. Hence, it is crucial to detect and ensure product quality via risk evaluation. Traditional analytical techniques for acrylamide detection often require expensive instrumentation and complex sample preparation, prompting the exploration of alternative, cost‐effective, sustainable methods. Here, we propose the utilization of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) synthesized through green approaches as a novel solution. CQDs display their immense potential for diverse applications due to their valuable properties such as biocompatibility, photocatalysis, and strong fluorescence. This review highlights the distinct potential of CQDs as a fluorescence probe for detecting acrylamide, showcasing their efficacy in addressing food safety concerns. In addition, various extraction and purification techniques for acrylamide such as QuEChERS, solid phase extraction, Carrez clarification, and dispersive liquid‐liquid microextraction are comprehensively reviewed. QuEChERS is regarded as a most promising technique for the extraction of acrylamide owing to its cost‐effective, rapid, and higher recovery rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttrium oxide (Y2O3)$( {{{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3} )$ has the potential to be used as a host material for creating polycrystalline transparent ceramics (PTCs). This paper presents an experimental study on opto‐electrical properties of Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ using zirconium oxide (ZrO2)$( {{\mathrm{ZrO}}_2} )$ and lanthanum oxide (La2O3)$({\mathrm{La}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3)$ as sintering aids via the co‐precipitation technique. The sintering aids improve the properties, sintering process, and lower the sintering temperature. Five different compositions of Y2O3(((Y1−xZr0.02Lax)2O3),wherex=0,3,6,and9at.%)${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3\ ( {({{( {{{\mathrm{Y}}}_{1 - x}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.02}{\mathrm{La}}_x} )}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3} ),{\mathrm{\ where\ }}x = 0,\ 3,\ 6,{\mathrm{\ and\ }}9{\mathrm{\ at}}.{\mathrm{\% }})$ were synthesized and they were then used to analyze for their structural, morphological, physio‐chemical, and electrical characteristics. For the system studied, the addition of ZrO2${\mathrm{ZrO}}_2$ and La2O3${\mathrm{La}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ does not change the phase of pure Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$, but an increase in the crystal and grain size from 31.2$31.2$ to 42.5nm$42.5{\mathrm{\ nm}}$ and 10.2 µm to 16.4 µm was noticed. The thermal characterization over thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal calorimetry (TGA/DSC) determines the temperature at which pure Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ undergoes a phase transition, specifically over 700°C. A reduction in the band gap due to strain induced by the dopant resulted in a decrease in energy from 5.54$5.54$ to 4.8eV$4.8{\mathrm{\ eV}}$. The dielectric constant of Y2O3${{\mathrm{Y}}}_2{{\mathrm{O}}}_3$ doped with 9at.%La$9{\mathrm{\ at}}.{\mathrm{\% \ La}}$ exhibits a significant increase of ∼50%${\sim}50\%$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this paper, a decoupling mechanism is discussed for different mode excitations in the cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (cDRA) by utilizing absorbing surface wall. In the cDRA, the fundamental radiating mode is HE11δ. Another higher order mode for radiation purpose in cDRA is HE12δ. Both HE11δ and HE12δ create broadside radiation. To analyze multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) performance, two different dual‐port DRAs are proposed. Each antenna structure consists of two DRA with dual similar ports supporting the same mode. Therefore, two different antenna structures are proposed for two different modes. For each antenna, two 2 × 3 absorber array walls are designed, and they are placed in between the DRA to reduce the mutual coupling. When the absorber array walls are placed in between the antenna elements, they blocked the free‐space electromagnetic (EM) field interaction in between the DRA. Due to the reduction of free‐space radiation interaction, the mutual coupling between the ports is improved tremendously. For both HE11δ and HE12δ modes, the mutual coupling is reduced by more than 10 dB. To analyze efficacy of the proposed method, the antenna structure featuring the HE11δ mode is fabricated and experimentally tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to evaluate the salivary levels of tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), and IL‐10 in patients with active psoriasis and compare them with those in healthy control subjects. This study included 60 subjects who were clinically diagnosed cases with active psoriasis (categorized further into 33 mild to moderate and 27 severe cases based on the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score) and 60 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy control subjects. Levels of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐2, and IL‐10 in the unstimulated saliva of subjects were determined via enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (BT Lab). The salivary levels of TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and IL‐2 were significantly higher, whereas IL‐10 concentration was significantly reduced in psoriatic patients in comparison to controls, and the difference increased with the progressing severity of the disease. Assessment of cytokine profiles in psoriasis patients is significant for diagnostic validation and monitoring the disease severity. Saliva offers an alternate, noninvasive, and readily available biological sample for evaluating cytokine levels. Extensive research in this field has been recommended for better scientifically proven conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using aqueous extracts of five plants viz., Ocimum americanum, Azadirachta indica, Allium sativum, Eucalyptus hybrida, Zingiber officinale were evaluated for their antifungal property against Penicillium digitatum, a green mould pathogen of citrus fruits. The five plant species were selected from a screening of aqueous extracts from 16 plant species. The efficacy of aqueous extracts, at 50 % concentration, ranged from 14.44–68.52 % inhibition in mycelia growth of P. digitatum. Among SNPs, O. americanum was found most efficacious, at 1000 ppm concentration, with 80.7 % mycelial inhibition followed by A. indica with 77.4 % mycelial growth inhibition of fungal pathogen. Further, physical and structural characterization of SNPs of O. americanum and A. indica was carried out. The characterization analysis executed via transmission and scanning electron microscope revealed size distribution and nanoparticles were spherical to irregularly shaped ranging from 22.8–250 nm in O. americanum and 26.5–500 nm in A. indica. In UV‐visible spectrophotometer, the absolute absorption peak was recorded at 448 nm and 442 nm for O. americanum and A. indica, respectively. FTIR analysis of SNPs of A. indica and O. americanum confirmed the presence of carboxyl, amide group and secondary amines which were the main constituent of proteins. The novelty of the present study is in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles with potential in the management of postharvest pathogens of fruit crops. The synthesis of SNPs used in this study is simple, environmentally benign and cost‐effective using aqueous extract of native plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental and theoretical studies over the recent years have shown that noncovalent interactions play a crucial role in diverse chemical and biological processes. Noncovalent interactions have been recognized as significantly contributing towards stabilizing various supramolecular species. We have attempted to interpret computationally the nature of various noncovalent interactions between the aromatic surfaces of 6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine and biphenyl with polar as well as non‐polar molecules such as H2O, HCl, HF, CO2, and so forth and adding the inter‐aromatic rings π‐stacking, using the r2SCAN‐3c/DEF2‐mTZVPP model chemistry. Energy decomposition analysis with the SAPT method shows that the electrostatics and dispersion components play crucial roles in stabilizing these complexes whereas induction and polarization play minor roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity lies at the core of debilitating brain disorders such as epilepsy and traumatic brain injury, culminating in neuronal death and compromised brain function. Overcoming this challenge requires a unique approach that selectively restores normal neuronal activity and rescues neurons from impending damage. However, delivering drugs selectively to hyperexcitable neurons has been a challenge, even upon local administration. Here, we demonstrate the remarkable ability of a novel, scalable, generation‐two glucose‐dendrimer (GD2) made primarily of glucose and ethylene glycol building blocks, to specifically target hyperexcitable neurons in primary culture, ex vivo acute brain slices, and in vivo mouse models of acute seizures. Pharmacology experiments in ex vivo brain slices suggest GD2 uptake in neurons is mediated through glucose transporters (GLUT and SGLT). Inspired by these findings, we conjugated GD2 with a potent anti‐epileptic drug, valproic acid (GD2–VPA), for efficacy studies in the pilocarpine‐mouse model of seizure. When delivered intranasally, GD2–VPA significantly decreased the seizure‐severity. In summary, our findings demonstrate the unique selectivity of glucose dendrimers in targeting hyperexcitable neurons, even upon intranasal delivery, laying the foundation for neuron‐specific therapies for the precise protection and restoration of neuronal function, for targeted neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic occurs across the world in freshwater and marine environments, menacing the survival of aquatic organisms. Organic and inorganic forms of this substance can be found, in which the inorganic form is more hazardous than the organic form. Most aquatic bodies contain inorganic arsenic species, but organic species are believed to be the dominant form of arsenic in the majority of fish. Natural and anthropogenic both are the sources of water contamination with arsenic. Its bioaccumulation and transfer from one trophic level to another in the aquatic food chain make arsenic a vital environmental issue. Continuous exposure to low concentrations of arsenic in aquatic organisms including fish leads to its bioaccumulation, which may affect organisms of higher trophic levels including large fishes or humans. Humans can be exposed to arsenic through the consumption of fish contaminated with arsenic. Hence, the present review facilitates our understanding about sources of arsenic, its bioaccumulation, food chain transfer, and its effect on the fish health. Also, "Poison in the Water: Arsenic's Silent Assault on Fish Health" serves as a wake‐up call to recognize the pressing need to address arsenic contamination in water bodies. By understanding its devastating impact on fish health, we can strive to implement sustainable practices and policies that safeguard our precious aquatic environments and ensure the well‐being of both wildlife and human communities that depend on them. Arsenic poses a global threat to aquatic organisms. Natural and manmade sources pollute water with arsenic. Continuous exposure to low arsenic concentrations causes its bioaccumulation, which can harm larger fish or humans. This review explains arsenic sources, bioaccumulation, food chain transfer, and fish health effects. By comprehending its negative effects on fish health, we can establish sustainable practices and regulations to protect aquatic habitats and preserve the well‐being of animals and human communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products have always served as an important source of drugs for treating various diseases. Among various privileged natural product scaffolds, the benzopyrone class of compounds has a substantial presence among biologically active compounds. One of the pioneering anticoagulant drugs, warfarin approved in 1954 bears a benzo‐α‐pyrone (coumarin) nucleus. The widely investigated psoriasis drugs, methoxsalen, and trioxsalen, also contain a benzo‐α‐pyrone nucleus. Benzo‐γ‐pyrone (chromone) containing drugs, cromoglic acid, and pranlukast were approved as treatments for asthma in 1982 and 2007, respectively. Numerous other small molecules with a benzopyrone core are under clinical investigation. The present review discusses the discovery, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion properties, and synthetic approaches for the Food and Drug Administration‐approved and clinical‐stage benzopyrone class of compounds. The role of the pyrone core in biological activity has also been discussed. The present review unravels the potential of benzopyrone core in medicinal chemistry and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted therapy of the highest globally incident breast cancer shall resolve the issue of off‐target toxicity concurring with augmented killing of specific diseased cells. Thus, the goal of this study was to prepare a peptide‐drug conjugate targeting elevated expression of HER2 receptors in breast cancer. Towards this, the rL‐A9 peptide was conjugated with the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) through a N‐succinimidyl‐4‐(N‐maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane‐1‐carboxylate (SMCC) linker. The synthesized peptide‐drug conjugate, rL‐A9‐DOX, was characterized by mass spectrometry. Molecular docking studies, based on binding energy data, suggested a stronger interaction of rL‐A9‐DOX with the HER2 receptor in comparison to the unconjugated peptide, rL‐A9. The cytotoxic effect of the rL‐A9‐DOX conjugate was observed to be higher in HER2‐positive SKOV3 cells compared to HER2‐negative MDA‐MB‐231 cells, indicating selective cell killing. Cellular internalization of the rL‐A9‐DOX conjugate was evident from the flow cytometry analysis, where a noticeable shift in mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) was observed for the conjugate compared to the control group. This data was further validated by confocal microscopy, where the fluorescent signal ascertained nuclear accumulation of rL‐A9‐DOX. The present studies highlight the promising potential of rL‐A9‐DOX for targeted delivery of the drug into a defined group of cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]