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Internet of Things (IoTs) composed of large number of sensing devices with a variety of features applicable for various applications. In such scenarios, due to low data handling capabilities, limited storage and security aspects, it is quite challenging to protect networks against illegal information access and utilizes storage efficiently. Though researchers provide various solutions for security and data storage, but a few solutions are appropriate for WSNs enabled IoTs. Therefore, a blockchain-based decentralized framework integrated with authentication and privacy preserving schemes is developed for the secure communication in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) enabled IoTs. Registration, certification and revocation process are employed for the communication with sensor nodes and Base Station (BS) in a cloud computing environment. In this scheme cluster heads forward the collected information to the BS. Consequently, BS records all the key parameters on the distributed blockchain and large data is forwarded to clouds for the storage. The revoked certificates of all malicious nodes are eliminated from blockchain by BS. The performance of the proposed scheme is scrutinized in terms of detection accuracy, certification delay, computational, and communicational overheads. The simulated results, comparative analysis and security validation supports the superiority of the proposed solution over the existing approaches.

With climate change, hydro-climatic hazards, i.e., floods in the Himalayas regions, are expected to worsen, thus, likely to affect humans and socio-economic growth. Precisely, the Koshi River basin (KRB) is often impacted by flooding over the year. However, studies on estimating and predicting floods still lack in this basin. This study aims at developing flood probability map using machine learning algorithms (MLAs): gaussian process regression (GPR) and support vector machine (SVM) with multiple kernel functions including Pearson VII function kernel (PUK), polynomial, normalized poly kernel, and radial basis kernel function (RBF). Historical flood locations with available topography, hydrogeology, and environmental datasets were further considered to build flood model. Two datasets were carefully chosen to measure the feasibility and robustness of MLAs: training dataset (location of floods between 2010 and 2019) and testing dataset (flood locations of 2020) with thirteen flood influencing factors. The validation of the MLAs was evaluated using a validation dataset and statistical indices such as the coefficient of determination (r2: 0.546~0.995), mean absolute error (MAE: 0.009~0.373), root mean square error (RMSE: 0.051~0.466), relative absolute error (RAE: 1.81~88.55%), and root-relative square error (RRSE: 10.19~91.00%). Results showed that the SVM-Pearson VII kernel (PUK) yielded better prediction than other algorithms. The resultant map from SVM-PUK revealed that 27.99% area with low, 39.91% area with medium, 31.00% with high, and 1.10% area with very high probabilities of flooding in the study area. The final flood probability map could add a greatt value to the effort of flood risk mitigation and planning processes in KRB.

Objectives of the study The objectives of the study were to assess the mortality among critically ill coronavirus disease (COVID) patients and to look at the factors which could have a bearing on mortality of these patients presenting to our designated tertiary COVID care institute. Method This was a retrospective observational study involving all adult patients admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection between June 30, 2020, and August 31, 2020. We compared patient-related factors and laboratory test results among all survivors vs nonsurvivors in our ICU with an aim to predict the factors which could predict increased risks of mortality among sick patients admitted to our ICU. Results and conclusion The overall ICU mortality in our ICU during the study period was 76.69% and less than 5% of the patients requiring mechanical ventilation within 1 day of admission, survived. More than half of the deaths (54.66%) occurred within 5 days of ICU admission. The best predictors for mortality based upon the Cox proportional hazard ratio are increasing age, neutrophilia, increased D-dimer, prolonged stay in ICU for 1–2 weeks, and those requiring mechanical ventilation. Patients with one or more comorbidities were noted to have 16% of higher risk of death than those without any comorbidity. How to cite this article Rai DK, Sahay N, Lohani P. Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of 293 COVID-19 Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital of Eastern India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(12):1395–1401.

Face recognition is one of the best applications of computer recognition and recent smart house applications. Therefore, it draws considerable attention from researchers. Several face recognition algorithms have been proposed in the last decade, but these methods did not give the efficient outcome. Therefore, this work introduces a novel constructive training algorithm for smart face recognition in door locking applications. The proposed Framed Recurrent Neural Network with Mutated Dragonfly Search Optimization (FRNN-MDSO) Strategy is applied to face recognition application. The steady preparing system has been utilized where the training designs are adapted steadily and are divided into completely different modules. The facial feature process works on global and local features. After the feature extraction and selection process, employ the improved classifier followed by the Framed Recurrent Neural Network classification technique. Finally, the face image based on the feature library can be identified. The proposed Framed Recurrent Neural Network with Mutated Dragonfly Search Optimization starts with a single training pattern using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model. During network training, the Training Data (TD) decrease the Mean Square Error (MSE) while the matching process increases the algorithms generated which are trapped at the local minimum. The training data have been trained to increase the number of input forms (one after the other) until all the forms are selected and trained. An FRNN-MDSO based face recognition system is built, and face recognition is tested using hyperspectral Database parameters. The simulation results indicate that the proposed method acquires the associate grade optimum design of FRNN with MDSO methodology using the present constructive algorithm and prove the proposed FRNN-MDSO method’s effectiveness compared to the conventional architecture methods.

Background: High prevalence, severity, and formidable morbidity have marked the recent emergence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The significant association with the pre-existing co-morbid conditions has increased the disease burden of this global health emergency, pushing the patients, healthcare workers and facilities to the verge of complete disruption. Methods: Meta-analysis of pooled data was undertaken to assess the cumulative risk assessment of multiple co-morbid conditions associated with severe COVID-19. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched from January 1st to June 27th 2020 to generate a well-ordered, analytical, and critical review. The exercise began with keying in requisite keywords, followed by inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction, and quality evaluation. The final statistical meta-analysis of the risk factors of critical/severe and non-critical COVID-19 infection was carried out on Microsoft Excel (Ver. 2013), MedCalc (Ver.19.3), and RevMan software (Ver.5.3). Results: We investigated 19 eligible studies, comprising 12037 COVID-19 disease patients, representing the People’s Republic of China (PRC), USA, and Europe. 18.2% (n = 2200) of total patients had critical/severe COVID-19 disease. The pooled analysis showed a significant association of COVID-19 disease severity risk with cardiovascular disease (RR: 3.11, p < 0.001), followed by diabetes (RR: 2.06, p < 0.001), hypertension (RR: 1.54, p < 0.001), and smoking (RR: 1.52, p < 006). Conclusion: The review involved a sample size of 12037 COVID-19 patients across a wide geographical distribution. The reviewed reports have focused on the association of individual risk assessment of co-morbid conditions with the heightened risk of COVID-19 disease. The present meta-analysis of cumulative risk assessment of co-morbidity from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking signals a novel interpretation of inherent risk factors exacerbating COVID-19 disease severity. Consequently, there exists a definite window of opportunity for increasing survival of COVID-19 patients (with high risk and co-morbid conditions) by timely identification and implementation of appropriately suitable treatment modalities.

With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things technologies, individuals’ security and privacy concerns increase. There has been a leaky ecosystem webbed by the presence of sensors and devices around us. It has become a threat for the users and raises concerns for its widespread applicability. Many works have been proposed in a similar direction, building innovations for enhancing security. Meanwhile, Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) and Random Number Generators (RNGs) have proved to be the most useful for building security applications, especially in resource restraining devices. The security protocols, including identification, authentication, and key agreement, can be developed using PUFs, while RNGs can produce ephemeral keys and nonces. The true random number generator (TRNG) and PUF as a re-configurable circuit reduce the hardware cost and become favorable in the resource-constrained environment. This paper proposes a low-cost re-configurable TRNG–PUF, which can be used as both TRNG and PUF to harness their benefits. The proposed re-configurable TRNG–PUF is implemented on FPGA to verify the design. We evaluate the proposed scheme against various parameters and compare them with the existing designs, which proves our claim of better performance.

The double gate junctionless transistor (DG-JLT) has become the most promising device in sub nano-meter regime. DGJLT based circuits have improved performance and simpler fabrication than their inversion mode counterparts. This paper demonstrates the design of different analog and digital circuits using DGJLT. Amplifiers and inverters are the basic building block of electronic ICs. A MOS amplifier converts the variation of the gate to source voltage to a small current under transconductance and hence, the output voltage. A single-stage amplifier and differential amplifier have been designed with junctionless-double-gate (JL-DG) MOSFET. Trans-conductance, output voltage, and gain have been investigated using ATLAS 2D device simulator. The inverter is the primary logic gate that can be used to verify the device's response in digital applications. Further, CMOS inverter have been designed using JL-DG MOSFET, and its performance parameters such as switching voltage, noise margin, and logic delay have been analyzed. A switching voltage of 0.43 V, noise margin of 0.265 V, and a delay of 19.18 psec have been obtained for the basic cell. CMOS inverter using JL-DG MOSFET at 20 nm technology node have prompted better performance results. Thus, The JL-DG MOSFET has a bright future in low-power analog and digital applications.

In this paper, we present a novel multiclass-target classification method for mmWave frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar operating in the frequency range of 77 - 81 GHz, based on custom range-angle heatmaps and machine learning tools. The elevation field of view (FoV) is increased by orienting the Radar antennas in elevation. In this orientation, the radar focuses the beam in elevation to improve the elevation FoV. The azimuth FoV is improved by mechanically rotating the Radar horizontally, which has antenna elements oriented in the elevation direction. The data from the Radar measurements obtained by mechanical rotation of the Radar in Azimuth are used to generate a range-angle heatmap. The measurements are taken in a variety of real-world scenarios with various objects such as humans, a car, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), also known as a drone. The proposed technique achieves accuracy of 97.6 % and 99.6 % for classifying the UAV and humans, respectively, and accuracy of 98.1 % for classifying the car from the range-angle FoV heatmap. Such a Radar classification technique will be extremely useful for a wide range of applications in cost-effective and dependable autonomous systems, including ground station traffic monitoring and surveillance, as well as control systems for both on-ground and aerial vehicles.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic skin inflammation. This disease can be associated with several manifestations like red flakes, silver scales, patches, plaques, and silvery-white squams. Approximately 70% of the patients treated with topical dosage forms have a mild-to-moderate form of psoriasis, whereas a moderate-to-severe form of psoriasis is treated with systemic, photo, and biological therapies. Considering the big fraction that topicals cover, we present the current market potential, clinical relevance, and recent advances in the topical delivery of the drug for psoriasis. Though we witnessed several advancements in the recent few decades, delivering new immunomodulatory and biological molecules for topical psoriatic treatment have been proven to be efficient and safe options for the large percentage of patients for whom systemic therapy is not indicated. This article enumerates the promising topical dosage forms at present under assessment for their clinical pertinence. The competency of conventional topicals to reach and transform the world market is enumerated in terms of their success rate after proving the clinical pertinence against psoriasis. However, the entrance of novel drug delivery systems based on advanced topical products in the global market is highly anticipated as they have immense potential to impact the psoriasis treatment in the near future.

PurposeWith a sample of 22 banks, this study examines the significance of the news contents about the privatization of two public sector banks in India. New information does impact the stock markets. This study provides evidence on how the privatization of public sector banks impacted the returns of the Indian banking sector.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs the standard event study methodology with the market model for estimating the normal returns.FindingsThe statistical results indicate that while the private sector banks experienced positive average abnormal returns on the event day, the cumulative effect of the announcement is negatively significant for both private and public sector banks. The statistical results also provide evidence of information leakage, with significant results before the announcement date. The shorter event windows analysis exhibits significant positive returns in the 5-days [−2, +2] window for the private sector banks and the entire sample, signifying a positive short-term impact on the private sector banks.Originality/valueThe event study literature captures the impacts of many events. However, to the best of our knowledge, the impacts of the privatization of the Indian public sector banks have never been examined using the event study methodology. Hence, this study anticipates being the first-ever study to fill this gap and extend the available literature in finance. In addition, although we provide Indian evidence, future studies may be oriented to capture cross-country impacts.

In this paper, an Internet of Energy (IoE) solution for providing optimal charging and control of resources in the era of electric vehicles (EVs) with energy trading and security is considered. A blockchain based security solution is presented by considering the IoE as a distributed energy system with internet of things (IoT). However, by inheriting the security concerns of IoTs, IoE also faces the security challenges and is considered here. Hierarchical key generation is used for cryptographic keys, based on lattice constructions. Along with a consensus tailored with Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT), an additional smart contract is also applied for utilization of energy transfer. The presented solution provides transparency, reliability, availability and failure recovery inheriting from the blockchain aspects. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first attempt in this direction of IoE-EV interface solutions. The experimental results, comparative analysis and security validation affirm the superiority of the proposed solution over the existing approaches.

Delay in treatment of head and neck cancer leads to stage migration and increased morbidity. Due to the COVID-19, surgical care has been severely affected. We continued our oncology services during the pandemic. We present here the pattern of presentation of head and neck cancer patients to the hospital and strategy to continue services. A retrospective audit of patients registered under Head and Neck Disease Management Group during lockdown, 23rd March to 31st May 2020, was done. Four categories were made new registrations, post-surgical patients, emergency department visits and follow-up presentation. Of the 693 patients assessed, a majority were with oral cavity cancer (80%). Seventy-eight percent of patients presented with stage IV disease. There were 382 new registrations, of which 68% were symptomatic. Of the 69 patients that underwent surgery, 17 patients were on adjuvant treatment. A total of 60 patients presented to emergency department during this period, maximum with complaints of dyspnoea (67%). One hundred eighty-nine patients were follow-up patients of which 43% were symptomatic. Among these, 12 patients were diagnosed with recurrence. Various administrative and clinical policies were formulated to continue cancer care during this time. Surgical services need not be halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following scientific rationale and treatment strategies, safe oncosurgical care can be delivered during pandemic.

This work presents a planar ultra-wideband (UWB) monopole antenna with controllable dual-band notches. In the proposed design, the lower and upper notch characteristics are realized by placing an i...

Globally, human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is a burning issue, which the conservationists have attempted to address through various conservation strategies. One of the widely adopted strategies is the provision of compensation for the loss caused by wildlife. The existing mechanism of compensation in Nepal is time-consuming and insufficient. This study, therefore, attempts to assess the feasibility of a community-based insurance scheme (CBIS), which is expected to be time-efficient with no additional burden to farmers. The CBIS scheme is an insurance mechanism to be operated by a locally elected committee and provides compensation to the premium paying farmers only. The study was carried out in the Jhapa District of Nepal, one of the most affected districts by wild elephants. We conducted a household survey using a questionnaire for 509 respondents from the five most affected villages. We chose a choice experiment to determine the preferences of respondents for CBIS. Four activities including compensation for crop damage, and human casualties (serious injuries and death), and fence management were selected under the CBIS. The regression analysis revealed that only the compensation for crop damage was statistically significant. The estimated annual crop damage caused by elephants was worth USD 1.49 million. The estimated premium exceeded the expected insurance payout, indicating the suitability of the scheme. The estimated premium was USD 0.38 per hectare for a 1% increase in damage payout. The total annual premium would be USD 0.136 million for a 25% payment of the damage, while the expected annual insurance payout would be USD 77,788. The annual premium can be lower if the government allocates the budget for the CBIS, out of the existing relief distribution program. The engagement of local municipalities in the CBIS management can make the scheme more viable.

Purpose This paper aims to present the edge scattering dominant circuit modeling. The effect of crosstalk on gate oxide reliability (GOR), along with the mitigation using shielding technique is further studied. Design/methodology/approach An equivalent distributed Resistance Inductance Capacitance circuit of capacitively coupled interconnects of multilayer graphene nanoribbon (MLGNR) has been considered for T Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (TSPICE) simulations under functional and dynamic switching conditions. Complementary metal oxide semiconductor driver transistors are modeled by high performance predictive technology model that drive the distributed segment with a capacitive load of 0.001 fF, VDD and clock frequency as 0.7 V and 0.2 GHz, respectively, at 14 nm technology node. Findings The results reveal that the crosstalk induced delay and noise area are dominated by the overall mean free path (MFP) (i.e. including the effect of edge roughness induced scattering), in contrary to, acoustic and optical scattering limited MFP with the temperature, width and length variations. Further, GOR, estimated in terms of average failure rate (AFR), shows that the shielding technique is an effective method to minimize the relative GOR failure rate by, 0.93e-7 and 0.7e-7, in comparison to the non-shielded case with variations in interconnect’s length and width, respectively. Originality/value Considering realistic circuit modeling for MLGNR interconnects by incorporating the edge roughness induced scattering mechanism, the outcomes exhibit more penalty in terms of crosstalk induced noise area and delay. The shielding technique is found to be an effective mitigating technique for minimizing AFR in coupled MLGNR interconnects.

In this article, we present a novel localization and activity classification method for aerial vehicle using mmWave frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) Radar. The localization and activity classification for aerial vehicle enables the utilization of mmWave Radars in security surveillance and privacy monitoring applications. In the proposed method, Radar’s antennas are oriented vertically to measure the elevation angle of arrival of the aerial vehicle from ground station. The height of the aerial vehicle and horizontal distance of the aerial vehicle from Radar station on ground are estimated using the measured radial range and the elevation angle of arrival. The aerial vehicle’s activity is classified using machine learning methods on micro-Doppler signatures extracted from Radar measurements taken in an outdoor environment. To evaluate performance, various light weight classification models such as logistic regression, support vector machine (SVM), Light gradient boosting machine (GBM), and a custom lightweight convolutional neural network (CNN) are investigated. Based on the results, the logistic regression, SVM, and Light GBM achieve an accuracy of 93%. Furthermore, the custom lightweight CNN can achieve activity classification accuracy of 95%. The performance of the proposed lightweight CNN is also compared with the pre-trained models (VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, ResNet101, and InceptionResNet). The proposed lightweight CNN suits best for embedded and/or edge computing devices.

Introduction Residual pleural opacity (RPO) is a common radiographic sequela in patients with tubercular pleural effusion at the end of the treatment. This study was designed to find out the risk factors associated with residual pleural opacity (RPO). Materials & methods This was a prospective longitudinal study performed to analyse data of 56 patients (46 males & 10 females) who were diagnosed as tubercular pleural effusion and treated for the same between 1st Jan 2019 to 30th March 2020. Chest X-ray posteroanterior & Lateral view was done (performed) at 0 and 6 months of treatment to quantify the amount of pleural effusion and measured the residual pleural opacity at the end of the treatment. RPO included both non resolving pleural effusion as well as residual pleural thickening (RPT). All statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the association of risk factors and Residual pleural opacity. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05 (two-tailed). Results The incidence of Residual pleural opacity (RPO) at the end of 6 months of antituberculosis treatment was 53.57% (30/56)). The study patients were divided into RPO and non- RPO group. Male gender had significantly higher incidence of RPO (93.3% vs 69.2% P = 0.01)). Patients with RPO group had significantly more cough and weight loss as compared to non RPO group (96.6% vs 65.3% P = 0.002 and 60% vs 23% P = 0.005). The proportion of patients who underwent therapeutic aspiration and gained weight of more than 5kg during treatment (19.5% vs 7.6% P = 0.02 & 46.6% vs 7.6% P = 0.001) was significantly higher in RPO group. A significantly lower protein, glucose and higher LDH level in pleural fluid was observed in the RPO group compared to non-RPO group (P = 0.006, P = 0.01, P = 0.001)). No significant difference was found in the pleural fluid ADA, lymphocyte, neutrophil levels between the two groups (p > 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the male gender, low pleural fluid glucose, presence of cough and weight loss were associated with significantly increased risk of residual pleural opacity and thickening (p Conclusion Tubercular pleural effusion is associated with residual pleural opacity in more than half of the patients. Male gender and low glucose levels in pleural fluid was associated with increased risk of residual pleural opacity.

Background: Given the limited availability of critical care resources in our country, it is important to identify reliable predictors of hypoxia in patients with COVID-19 infection. We thus sought to compare differential predictive values of demographic, clinical, and laboratory measures and identify predictor for hypoxia in COVID-19 infection. Materials and Methods: This is single-center retrospective analysis of patient admitted at AIIMS Patna between 15th June and 15th Aug. All the patients who had oxygen saturation less than 94% grouped under hypoxic group while ≥94% in non-hypoxic group at room air. Statistical analysis: Logistic regression model used to determine the predictor of hypoxia in COVID-19 infection. Results: Total 73 were used for analysis. Study patients had a mean age of 55.05 ± 12.7 year, of whom 78.08% were male (57/73). 39 (53.42%) patients were found hypoxic at time of admission while 34 (46.56%) were non-hypoxic. Presence of dyspnoea significantly found more frequently in hypoxic patients (P = 0.0003). Patients with O2 saturation of less than 94% have more likely to have diabetes (P = 0.002) and hypertension (P = 0.02). Analysis of laboratory variables showed that leucocytosis (P = 0.007) and neutrophilia (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in hypoxic group compare to non-hypoxic group. Univariate regression model showed patient with any one comorbidities, diabetes, or hypertension was found as strong risk factor for hypoxia after COVID-19 infection (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is the first study to identify predictor of hypoxia in COVID-19 infection. Patient with any one comorbidities, diabetes, or hypertension was found strong risk factor for hypoxia after COVID-19 infection. Among lab variable, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, and CRP (>27.5 mg/L) were found as predictor of hypoxia in COVID infection.

The advancements in cancer treatment have no significant effect on ovarian cancer [OC]. The lethality of the OC remains on the top list of gynecological cancers. The long term survival rate of the OC patients with the advanced stage is less than 30%. The only effective measure to increase the survivability of the patient is the detection of disease in stage I. The earlier the diagnosis, the more will be the chances of survival of the patient. But due to the absence of symptoms and effective diagnosis, only a few % of OC are detected in stage I. A valid, reliable having a high acceptance test is imperative to detect OC in its early stages. Currently, the most used approach for the detection of OC is the screening of CA-125 and transvaginal ultrasonography together. This approach has an efficacy of only 30-45%. A large number of biomarkers are also being explored for their potential use in the early screening of OC, but no success is seen so far. This review provides an overview of the biomarkers being explored for early-stage diagnosis of OC and increasing the current long-term survival rates of OC patients.

Oral submucous fibrosis is a scourge of Southeastern Asia since a long time resulting in significant health and social problems. Mainstay of the treatment is concentrated on attempts to improve mouth opening and relieve the symptoms by medicinal or surgical means. In moderate to severe cases, release of fibrous bands is advocated followed by placement of graft. The present study was conducted to evaluate the use of collagen-silicone bilayer membrane as a mucosal substitute in its management. Study consisted of 12 clinically and histologically proven cases of OSMF. After the incision and release of fibrous bands, a collagen membrane was placed and secured over the raw area by placement of a silicone sheet of adequate thickness. Parameters were assessed pre-operatively, intra-operatively, and post-operatively at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. The data was recorded and statistical analysis was done. Pre-operatively, the mean values of inter-incisal opening, cheek flexibility, and width of oral commissure were 16.92, 24.58, and 53.17 mm respectively whereas at 3 months post-operatively, it was 27.67, 26.58, and 55.00 mm, which was statistically significant. No incidence of infection was noted. The study concludes that the use of collagen membrane along with silicone sheet can be an alternative to other graft materials in context of reduced donor site morbidity as well as significant increase in inter-incisal opening. However, study with more sample size is needed to assess the long-term efficiency and surgical outcome of this material.

In this article, we present a novel machine learning based angle estimation and field of view (FoV) enhancement techniques for mmWave FMCW radars operating in the frequency range of 77 - 81 GHz. Field of view is enhanced in both azimuth and elevation. The Elevation FoV enhancement is achieved by keeping the orientation of antenna elements in elevation. In this orientation, radar focuses the beam in vertical direction there by enhancing the elevation FoV. An Azimuth FoV enhancement is achieved by mechanically rotating the radar horizontally, which has antenna elements in the elevation. With the proposed angle estimation technique for such rotating radars, root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.56 degrees is achieved. These proposed techniques will be highly useful for several applications in cost-effective and reliable autonomous systems such as ground station traffic monitoring and control systems for both on ground and aerial vehicles.

In this study, an experimental investigation of the engine performance parameters has been performed for the 5% water-emulsified fuel, 50 ppm CNT, and 50 ppm Al2O3-CNT (25 ppm each) hybrid nano-additive fuels on the DICI engines with differing engine speed and load. The parameters BTE, exergy destruction rate (EDR), exergy efficiency, and engine sustainability have escalated with enhancing engine speed and load for every fuel sample. The BTE of the DICI engine at 1500 rpm speed and 5.6 kW of engine power with 5% water-emulsified fuel, 5% water-emulsified-CNT, and 5% water-emulsified fuel—Al2O3-CNT nano-fuel is 1.49%, 2.86%, and 3.07% higher, and the exergy efficiency is 1.85%, 4.16%, and 5.21% higher than pure diesel. The rate of fuel exergy with 5%WiDE, 5%WiDE-Al2O3-CNT, and 5%WiDE-CNT nano-additive is 3.95%, 5.98%, and 6.40% lower than pure diesel. The exergy-based sustainability for 5%WiDE-CNT fuel is highest at speed 2000 rpm and full engine load. The exergy destruction rate (EDR) and entropy generation rate (EGR) with pure diesel are 1.42% higher than 5%WiDE fuel. However, the EDR and EGR with 5%WiDE-CNT and 5%WiDE- Al2O3 -CNT nano-additive fuels are 3.14% and 4.15%, respectively, higher with respect to pure diesel. The influences of engine load, engine speed, water emulsification, and incorporation of nano-additive on the exergy-based performance characteristics are comparable with the energy-based characteristics, but the exergy characteristics are found lower than the energy characteristics. The comparative study of energy and exergy parameters for all mentioned fuels used in the DICI engine revealed that the best performance of DICI engines is found with 5%WiDE-CNT fuel.

Tru-cut (core needle) biopsy has many advantages over open biopsy. It is quick and easy to perform, may be carried out in the outpatient department, avoids incision through previously irradiated skin and has few complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the two available biopsy techniques that are Tru-cut biopsy and incisional biopsy in achieving prompt diagnosis of maxillofacial pathology. A prospective study was conducted in 25 patients reported to our department. The Tru-cut biopsy was performed by using 14 gauge disposable Tru-cut biopsy needles (Baxter, made in the USA) by means of two successive insertions with different angulations of the needle into the core of the lesion followed by incisional biopsy. The diagnostic criteria which were evaluated include: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Tru-cut biopsy had sensitivity of 68.42%; specificity of 83.33%; PPV of 92.86%; NPV of 45.45% with accuracy rate of 72%. The Tru-cut biopsy method was evaluated as a very helpful method for prompt diagnosis of maxillofacial pathology since it is practical to perform, causes minimum trauma to the tissue, decreases the metastatic risk of malignant lesions during the procedure and relatively free from complications.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii affecting about one third of the world’s population. It can be asymptomatic to fatal toxoplasmic encephalitis depending on the immune status of infected individuals. Among HIV/AIDS patients, it usually manifest as life-threatening condition. We, therefore, studied the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among HIV/AIDS patients in Nepal and this report constitutes the first report from Nepal. A total of 45 HIV/AIDS patients were included in this study. The serum samples collected and stored at -20°C were tested for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies at National Public Health Laboratory, Teku, Kathmandu using Snibe Maglumi 1000 Fully Automated Immunoassay Analyzer and the results were expressed in AU/ml. The blood put into the EDTA tube was used for CD4 count using BD FACS Calibur Flow Cytometer. In this study, 33.3% (15/45) HIV infected patients were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG. However, none of them were positive to anti- T. gondii IgM. Most of the patients (36 out of 45 patients) had 0.05).

Background and aims Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is used to diagnose diseases of the tracheobronchial tree and to obtain samples. Methods used for awake flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) to anaesthetize the airway include local anaesthetic nebulization, gargles, lozenges, sprays, and airway blocks. The aim is to compare the effect of fentanyl and dexmedetomidine nebulization as an adjuvant to lignocaine during awake FFB. Methods Ninety patients were recruited and were randomized into 3 groups. Group I Patients were nebulised with a mixture of 4% lignocaine 4 ml and fentanyl 2 μg/kg, Group II with a mixture of 4% lignocaine 4 ml and dexmedetomidine 1 μg/kg, and Group III with 4% lignocaine 4 ml and saline. Results Cough score was lower in Group II (1.6 ± 0.67) than Group I (2.5 ± 0.68) and Group III (2.7 ± 0.59). This difference between Group II and the rest of the group was highly significant (P Conclusion Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to lignocaine nebulization provides a better condition for bronchoscopy than fentanyl or lignocaine alone.

Nowadays, physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are emerging as one of the key building blocks for device authentication and key generation. Although PUF is very useful in the area of hardware security, it is vulnerable to machine learning modelling attacks (ML‐MA) by modelling the challenge‐response pairs (CRPs) behaviour. To this end, this study proposes a novel PUF named MARPUF, which gives good resistance to machine learning (ML) attacks. The study proposed a MARPUF design, where the mapping of CRPs is randomized by implementing two‐round challenges to meet the randomness requirements for ML resistance. Ssome of the popular ML techniques are used to test the ML attack resistance and compare the results with some existing PUFs. We evaluate the performance of the PUF against various parameters like reliability, uniformity, uniqueness, etc. The hardware cost analysis shows that MARPUF requires lesser hardware than the existing ML‐MA resistant PUFs.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function, present for > 3 months, with implications for health. In India, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD), ranges from 0.79 % to 1.4 %. Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the less recognized reasons of anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we evaluated the role of SHPT as a cause of anaemia, and correlation of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on haemodialysis and also in CRF patients who are not on haemodialysis. METHODS This is an observational cross-sectional study done in the department of medicine in BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, over a period of one year among a total of 101 patients. All patients underwent detailed clinical history, clinical examination & relevant biochemical investigations. RESULTS Parathyroid hormone level was found elevated in 82.2 % CRF patients in our study; out of these 76.2 % patients were severely anaemic. CONCLUSIONS Anaemia mainly normocytic & normochromic is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. Hormonal failure in CRF patients is very commonly reflected as anaemia & mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Parathyroid hormone was found elevated in most (82.2 %) of the CRF patients with anaemia. KEY WORDS Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), Intact Parathyroid Hormone (iPTH), Secondary Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Restoration and improvement of soil quality is the prerequisite for ensuring agricultural productivity and food security in India. Although intensification enhanced food production, it led to a decline in factor productivity, health of environment, and an impairment in soil quality. The declined soil quality is manifested through impaired ecosystem services and also loss in yield and profitability. Soil organic C (SOC) is considered as the panacea for maintaining the soil quality through improved microbial activities, water availability and nutrient use efficiency. The present review emphasizes the need for maintenance of SOC content in Indian soils challenged with high oxidative loss out of high temperature, good moisture and cultivation led soil perturbations. Importance of balanced fertilization through soil test, integrated nutrient management, and adoption of innovative farming practices such as conservation agriculture for enhancement of SOC storage and consequent improvement in soil quality even under intensive cultivation in various agro-climatic regions of the country is emphasized.

Background The existence of multidrug-resistant organisms, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), is on rise across the globe and is becoming a severe problem. Knowledge of the prevalence and antibiogram profile of such isolates is essential to develop an appropriate treatment methodology. This study aimed to study the prevalence of Gram-negative isolates exhibiting ESBL at a tertiary care hospital and study their antibiogram profile. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal, from June 2018 to November 2018. A total of 770 clinical samples were collected and identified using the conventional biochemical tests following the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the standardized Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The screening test for ESBL producers was performed as recommended by the CLSI and the confirmatory test was performed phenotypically using the E-test. Results Out of the 92 isolates, 84 (91.3%) were multidrug-resistant, and 47 (51.1%) were found to be potential ESBL producers. Of these, 16 isolates were confirmed ESBL producers by the E-test. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the predominant isolates and were also the major ESBL producers. Besides polymyxin B (100% sensitive), meropenem and imipenem showed high efficacy against the ESBL producers. Conclusion Multidrug resistance was very high; however, ESBL production was low. Polymyxin B and carbapenems are the choice of drugs against ESBL producers but should be used only as the last line drugs.

Supernumerary kidney is an accessory kidney with its own vasculature, collecting-system and encapsulated parenchyma with about 100 cases reported in the literature. However, there is no report of supernumerary kidney associated with horseshoe malformation with ureteric stricture. We report a rare case of 20 months old female admitted with left-sided abdomen lump and mild abdominal pain. During surgery, supernumerary kidney with horseshoe component with grossly-dilated left-sided pelvicalyceal system and proximal 1-cm of left-ureter, distal to which whole of left-ureter was noncanalized, was seen. Right-ureter was normal. Distal dilated part of left-ureter was anastomosed to bladder-dome after excision of strictured segment of left-ureter with placement of nephrostomy.

With over 1·3 million Anganwadi centres (AWC) (meaning ‘courtyard shelter’), the Indian government runs a nationwide intervention providing nutrition supplement to pregnant mothers to improve the health of their children. Using two successive rounds of the nationally representative cross-sectional National Family Health Survey data (collected during 2005–2006 and 2015–2016) of India, we assessed whether nutrition supplements given to pregnant mothers through AWC were associated with select child health indicators – extremely low birth weight (ELBW), very low birth weight (VLBW), low birth weight (LBW) and neonatal mortality (death during day 0–27) stratified by death during day 0–1, day 2–6 and day 7–27. A total of 148 019 children and 205 593 children were eligible for analysing birth weight and neonatal mortality, respectively. OR with 95% CI, estimated from multivariate logistic regression models, suggest that receipt of nutrition supplements was associated with decreased risk of VLBW (OR: 0·73, 95% CI 0·63, 0·83, P < 0·001), LBW (OR: 0·92, 95% CI 0·88, 0·96, P < 0·001), but not ELBW (OR: 0·80, 95% CI 0·56, 1·15, P = 0·226). Women who always received nutrition supplements during their pregnancy saw lower risk of death of their neonates (OR: 0·67, 95% CI 0·61, 0·73, P < 0·001), including death on day 0–1 (OR: 0·66, 95% CI 0·58, 0·74, P < 0·001), day 2–6 (OR: 0·69, 95% CI 0·58, 0·82, P < 0·001) and day 7–27 (OR: 0·68, 95% CI 0·53, 0·87, P = 0·002). Therefore, nutritional supplementation to pregnant mothers appears to be helpful in deterring various stages of neonatal mortality, VLBW and LBW, though it might not be effective in mitigating ELBW. Findings were discussed considering possible limitations of the study.

Introduction Outcome assessments have emerged as an effective method for determining whether or not hearing aids are working to achieve positive results in rehabilitating the hearing impaired. Present study aims to assess the satisfaction level of clientele using hearing aids. Material and Methods One hundred and fourteen (114) hearing handicapped patients, fitted with government-provided hearing aids at various clinics spread over Gangetic plains were included in this prospective observational study for outcome analysis. Follow up was done at 2 weeks and 45 days when they were further motivated to continue using the aid, comfortable fitting of mould was ensured along with minor trouble shooting. Four and half months later, their satisfaction level was assessed by analysing their response to Clientele Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results Fifty percent of the patients were motivated by their family members to try the aid whereas 50% were self motivated. Better communication with family members and immediate social circle was the common motive. Majority (85%) reported high level of satisfaction in terms of hearing benefit. Patients with severe degree of hearing loss were more satisfied and used the aid for longer duration in a day. Handling the aid was not as much of a problem as tolerating the noise produced by aid itself. Cost of battery was a concern for 80% of our clientele. Conclusion Proper fitting of hearing aid improved the quality of life of majority of our hearing handicapped clientele by overcoming their psychosocial problems.

Clinical trials are complicated, time-consuming and costly. From the initial screening, informed consent and recruitment of the participants’ to study completion, the sponsor must undertake a wide array of complex and closely monitored operations, complying with international standards for human subject research and local requirements. Conducting these studies in an underdeveloped country, with limited resources, infrastructure, and experience with regulated clinical trials adds to this complexity. The initial site selection, set up and preparatory activities for the clinical trial are crucial to minimizing the risks to both participants and to successful completion during the subsequent study execution. In this paper, we describe the experience and lessons learned of building clinical trial site capacity in terms of infrastructure and human resource development for a Phase III vaccine clinical trial. We believe that sharing the experience of setting up a clinical trial in a resource-limited country will enable other entities contemplating clinical research in these countries, to prepare and plan ahead, to minimize the impact of barriers, and to contribute to bringing more studies to the countries where people live with the burden of vaccine-preventable, poverty-associated diseases.

Employees’ job satisfaction is a leading factor in determining their organizational commitment. The organizational commitment level affects the employees’ decision to leave or remain in their organization. The banking sector of Nepal has been facing a problem of high employee mobility from one bank to another. In the backdrop of this context, this survey intends to examine the effect of satisfaction with colleagues, promotion, and the nature of work on the three dimensions of organizational commitment using the Ordinary Least Squares model in the context of private bank employees in Nepal. This study used a survey method to collect data from 199 employees working in private banks in Nepal, using a standardized questionnaire. The collected data were coded, entered, and processed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. The outcomes of the study – satisfaction with the colleagues, promotion, and the nature of the work – had a significant positive impact on the affective and normative commitment of the employees, but the regressors had an insignificant effect on continuance commitment. The employees’ satisfaction from their colleagues, promotion, and the nature of work positively improves their affective and normative commitment. Nevertheless, this study found the predictor variables as irrelevant factors for explaining the continuance commitment of the employees in the context of the study. This study’s contribution is the idea of how satisfaction with colleagues, promotion, and work nature contribute to the three dimensions of organizational commitment among Nepalese private bank employees.

Aims: Present study is aimed to find out the association between maternal thyroid hormone at delivery and weight of delivered fetus. Study Design: This is a case-control study in which low birth weight was cases and appropriate for gestational age were considered as control. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at National Institute of Pathology (ICMR), New Delhi and Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly from July 2018 to July 2020. Subjects and Methods: A total of 193 maternal blood samples were collected and fetal parameters were recorded as per inclusion criteria. Quantitative estimation of Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) was done in the separated serum samples by pre-coated ELISA kits and data analysis was performed using SigmaStat. Cases include women having full-term deliveries with birth weight < 2.5Kg i.e. Low Birth Weight (LBW) and Controls includes women having Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) delivery with birth weight > 2.5Kg. Results: No significant difference was observed in maternal age as well as age at marriage and other demographic parameters, while maternal weight and BMI is significantly less in LBW as compared to AGA i.e. 49.62±5.34 & 53.96±6.92 and 21.32±4.01 and 22.66±1.57 respectively having P

Tungstate based phosphor materials are very much promising because of their emerging application in various fields including optoelectronic devices, display devices, sensors, anti-counterfeiting, bioimaging, etc. In the present work, Er3+: MgWO4 phosphors have been synthesized via conventional solid state reaction method. The phase formation of the phosphors is confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The vibrational modes and phonon frequency of the prepared phosphors have been investigated by FTIR analysis. Upon 980 nm diode laser excitation, the Er3+: MgWO4 phosphors exhibit several upconversion (UC) emission bands peaking at ∼489 nm, ∼523 nm, ∼545 nm, ∼655 nm and ∼800 nm. The pump power dependent UC emission study of the Er3+: MgWO4 phosphors has been carried out. The responsible mechanisms for the UC emission in the present phosphors have been explained by schematic energy level diagram. The reason behind the concentration quenching phenomenon has been discussed. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of the present phosphors have been calculated using GoCIE software. Thus, the synthesized phosphors can be suitably applicable in NIR to visible upconverter, temperature sensing, security ink and solid state lighting purposes.

The most common lung problem faced by a post-COVID patient is lung fibrosis. Clinical recovery is generally complete in mild-to-moderately severe COVID-19 cases but a small proportion of patients with severe disease may go on to develop lung fibrosis. Patient groups at the highest risk to develop lung fibrosis are the elderly, especially those requiring ICU stay and mechanical ventilation. No definitive therapy for managing this pulmonary fibrosis exists as of date, even though various options are being explored. This case series highlights three cases of post-COVID lung fibrosis and reviews the existing literature.

Lanthanide doped crystalline materials has gathered an immense impression to develop highly efficient upconverting phosphors for industrial as well as biomedical applications. The interaction between the electron cloud of the lanthanides and the crystal field of different host matrices affects the transition probabilities between the energy levels of lanthanide ions. Here, we have investigated the structural and optical properties of Er3+ doped YVO4 phosphors with the irradiation of 980 nm continuous wave diode laser. A twin efficient green band peaking at ∼ 525 nm and ∼ 554 nm has been observed along with a relatively low intense red band at ∼ 660 nm. The radiative/non radiative transitions between energy levels of Er3+ ions are well understood with the help of energy level diagram. The pump photons required to populate the green and red levels have been calculated. The colour coordinate of the prepared phosphors has been calculated by CIE chromaticity diagram. The present lanthanide-based phosphors have an efficient and bright upconversion emission, with applications spanning optical sensing, biological imaging, solid state lighting and LEDs.

Background: The traditional healthcare systems are being avidly looked into in the quest for effective remedies to tackle the menace of COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This was a prospective randomized, controlled open-label, blinded end point (PROBE) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed ayurvedic regimen (FAR) as an add-on to conventional treatment/standard of care (SOC) in the management of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection. Methodology: A total of 68 patients were recruited who consumed either FAR + SOC (n = 35) or SOC only (n = 33) for 28 days. Primary outcomes assessed were mean time required for clinical recovery and proportion of patients showing clinical recovery between the groups. Secondary outcomes assessed included mean time required for testing SARS-CoV-2 negative, change in clinical status on World Health Organization (WHO) ordinal scale, number of days of hospitalization, change in disease progression and requirement of oxygen/intensive care unit admission/ventilator support/rescue medication, health status on WHO quality of life (QOL) BREF, and safety on the basis of occurrence of adverse event/serious adverse event (AE/SAE) and changes in laboratory parameters. Results: Patients consuming FAR as an add-on SOC showed faster clinical recovery from the day of onset of symptoms by 51.34% (P < 0.05) as compared to SOC group. A higher proportion of patients taking FAR recovered within the first 2 weeks compared to those taking only SOC. It was observed that 5 times more patients recovered within 7 days in FAR group when compared to SOC (P < 0.05) group. An earlier clinical recovery was observed in clinical symptoms such as sore throat, cough, loss of taste, and myalgia (P < 0.05). Improvement in postclinical symptoms such as appetite, digestion, stress and anxiety was also observed to be better with the use of FAR. Requirement of rescue medications such as antipyretics, analgesics, and antibiotics was also found to be reduced in the FAR group (P < 0.05). FAR showed a significant improvement in all the assessed domains of QOL. None of the AEs/SAE reported in the study were assessed to be related to the study drugs. Further, FAR did not produce any significant change in the laboratory safety parameters and was assessed to be safe. Conclusion: FAR could be an effective and safe add-on ayurvedic regimen to standard of care in the management of mild and moderate COVID-19 patients. CTRI number: CTRI/2020/09/027914.

Fossil fuels are depleting day by day due to exhaustive utilization in the industrialization. The scientist working in the field of energy had forecasted that the dependency on the fossil fuel should be replaced by some alternative source of energy. The biofuel, derived from renewable biological sources has believed to be one of the promising candidates to replace fossil fuels. Biodiesel produced from algal biomass is among the potential biofules. This review article summarizes the processes of biodiesel production from algal biomass.

Introduction: Inflammation is the forerunner to fibrosis and premature aging in various systemic diseases. Hence, we hypothesized that idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) may exhibit accelerated senescence, and the serum myostatin (MSTN):follistatin system may be a reflection of early senescence events in the muscle. Methods: Patients with IIM (ACR/EULAR criteria) were recruited (2017–2019) for comparison with healthy and disease controls (DCs). Those with active infection, pregnancy, renal dysfunction, or chronic kidney disease were excluded from the study. MSTN and follistatin were estimated in sera using ELISA (R&D systems, USA). Juvenile myositis and young adults (18–40 years) were subsequently analyzed separately. Nonparametric tests were used for paired and unpaired analysis. Results expressed as median and interquartile range. Results: A total of 84 myositis (3 juvenile myositis, 40 DM, 30 PM, 11 overlap) patients (68 females) with median age 38 (27–47.0) years and median disease duration of 0.9 (2.3–5.1) years were included. Serum MSTN was lower in IIM than in healthy control (149.3 vs. 243.6 P < 0.0001) but higher in IIM as compared with DCs (149.3 vs. 85.11, P = 0.0174). MSTN levels were higher in active as compared with inactive myositis in young adults (189.6 vs. 115.8, P = 0.0349). Serum MSTN correlated with height (r = 0.3, P = 0.003) and weight (r = 0.2, P = 0.047) but not MMT8 or muscle enzymes. On follow-up, the serial MSTN estimation paralleled change in disease activity. Conclusion: Elevated serum MSTN levels in active myositis raise the possibility of accelerated senescence in the inflamed muscle tissues which need further investigation.

The additive manufacturing is a revolution of manufacturing industries and industry 4.0. Friction stir additive manufacturing is a part of additive manufacturing which comprises the joint operation of friction stir processing and additive manufacturing. This paper reviews the work done in the field of friction stir additive manufacturing is on the different materials. The present works also focused on the variable and non-variable process parameters of friction stir additive manufacturing related to material selection, tool type and tool geometry etc. In addition to it, the mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength reported by various authors are also discussed in detail. Furthermore, the scope, challenges and potential of this technology are discussed, considering the requirements of industries in both desired properties and cost-effective.

Despite availability of commercially available cell lines, primary cultures of cells remain the best available natural resource for in vitro research work. However, establishing primary cultures is challenging and despite availability of many protocols for primary cell cultures reproducibility is lacking either due to cumbersome protocol, need for special reagents, and requirement of training. Herein, we present our simplistic least manipulative protocols for establishing primary human dermal fibroblasts, human pancreatic stellate cells, and human peritoneal fibroblasts that may be followed by other research laboratories for in vitro studies.

A burn is an injury which is caused by application of heat or chemical substances to the external or internal surfaces of the body, which causes destruction of tissues. Thermal deaths are those which result from the effects of systemic and/ or localized exposure to excessive heat and cold The present study has been carried out on 150(39 males and 111 females) cases of death due to burn, brought to the mortuary of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj for medico legal autopsy during the study period of one year extending from 01 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. Female outnumbered males i.e. 111(74.00%) females and 39(26.00%) males. Maximum number of burn deaths i.e., 56(37.33%) cases occurred in the young age group 21–30. Accidental burn injuries can be reduced by bringing about regulations to develop safer cooking appliances, promoting less inflammable fabrics to be worn at home and educating the community especially women.

Endophytes represent microorganisms residing within plant tissues without typically causing any adverse effect to the plants for considerable part of their life cycle and are primarily known for their beneficial role to their host-plant. These microorganisms can in vitro synthesize secondary metabolites similar to metabolites produced in vivo by their host plants. If microorganisms are isolated from certain plants, there is undoubtedly a strong possibility of obtaining beneficial endophytes strains producing host-specific secondary metabolites for their potential applications in sustainable agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other industrial sectors. Few products derived from endophytes are being used for cultivating resilient crops and developing non-toxic feeds for livestock. Our better understanding of the complex relationship between endophytes and their host will immensely improve the possibility to explore their unlimited functionalities. Successful production of host-secondary metabolites by endophytes at commercial scale might progressively eliminate our direct dependence on high-valued vulnerable plants, thus paving a viable way for utilizing plant resources in a sustainable way.

This study investigated the effect of job satisfaction and perceived democratic leadership style of the managers on the organizational commitment of the employees working in the private banks in Nepal. The population in this study was all employees working in the private banks in Nepal. A hybrid instrument, which comprised pre-tested instruments, was used to collect the data. The analytical method used to test the hypothesis of the research was multiple regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 25, was used for analyzing the data. The study's findings- job satisfaction of the employees and their perception of the democratic leadership style of their managers, had a significant positive impact on their organizational commitment. This study's originality is that this study shows how the employees' perception of their manager's democratic leadership style and their job satisfaction affect their organizational commitment to the Nepalese context.

Context: Functional constipation which has no underlying organic causes is difficult to be allopathic treatment for long term due to its side effects and undeniable effect, thus a natural balanced and compatible formulation needs to be validated. Objectives: Current study aimed to assess a poly-herbal formulation in management of functional constipation. Material and Methods: This study was 28 days, two armed, randomized, open labeled, prospective clinical study. 60 clinically confirmed cases of functional constipation patients randomized to receive orally either 2 teaspoonful of PP/JLN/107/09-10 Syrup or 1 teaspoonful of 5- 6 gm of Isabgol powder. Results were analyzed as per Rome II criteria and other associated symptoms like headache, acidity, belching, barborgysmy, flatulence and abdominal dis tension or bloating which are recorded on VAS score. Results: PP/JLN/107/09-10 scored over Isabgol on four out of six parameters of Rome II Criteria viz., frequency of bowel movement, straining at defecation, lumpy I har dstool formation, feeling of incomplete evacuation, feeling of ano-rectal blockage and manual maneuvers (p less than 0.001). Trial drugs showed comparable effects (p > 0.05) in reducing the mean scores of associated symptoms like headache, acidity, belching, borgorgysmy, flatulence and abdominal distension. However, trial drug was found to perform statistically significant result in more number of parameters in comparison to Isabgol. Conclusion: PP/JLN/107/09-10 was found to be effective and safe in reliving functional constipation.

Private investment in public equity firms (PIPE) is growing exponentially across the globe, and most of the theoretical and empirical works are accessible for the U.S. and European settings. There ...