Search

Abstract Objective An intensive care unit (ICU) diary is a relatively new concept in low middle-income countries (LMICs). Illiteracy and socio-cultural inhibitions may affect the use and utility of this intervention, which has proven beneficial to patients and their families in high income countries (HICs). We aimed to explore how families of ICU patients experienced ICU diaries in our set up by using the Grounded Theory (GT) approach. A relatively new research tool, this enables exploration of a phenomenon to build theories in areas hitherto uncharted. Method A clinical psychologist did 29 in-depth interviews of relatives of 13 patients admitted in the ICU for > 24 h for whom an ICU diary was being maintained. We used a three-step coding process- open, axial, and selective coding, followed by the formulation of a theory embedded in the data. Results We found that the younger relatives of ICU patients accepted the idea better (age 30, SD 6) Half (48%) had education between 5th to 10th standards. Emergent themes suggested that for the family members, reading and writing the diary brought novelty, acted as a communication enabler, spiritual truss, and improved knowledge leading to change in perspective about the health care system. It also became a bridge to community bonding after patient discharge. Starting with appreciating the novelty of ‘diary entries,’ which was a new and exciting concept, family members used the diaries to communicate with health care workers (to gain information and understanding about the disease and treatment) and the patient to express their love and to maintain a connection. The diary acted as a confessional for hopes, fears, guilt, and faith for many members. As a tool, it enabled them to understand medical personnel as human beings and to appreciate their efforts, effectively improving confidence in the system. Finally, upon returning home, the diary was a crowd puller for extended family and neighbors encouraging discussions and enhancing bonding and information sharing. Conclusions Our findings indicate a good acceptance of ICU diaries by family members in our ICU. With less literate, admitted ‘shy ‘members, in a society where ‘diary writing’ is not culturally rampant, the appreciation for the novel concept was universal. We see a place for these interventions not only at the patient/ family level but also as a means to ‘correct’ the image of health care workers in our society by humanizing ourselves to the end-user- the patient and his family.

Background: The purpose of this study was to gather normative data on the mesio-distal crown dimensions amongst adolescent population of Province II, Nepal, to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment planning in orthodontics. It will also be useful in various clinical disciplines of dentistry including basic dental and anthropological research. Materials and Methods: Samples were selected Full form OPD of M B Kedia Dental College, Birgunj, Nepal. Total numbers of participants were 120, out of which 60 males and 60 females were selected after initial examination aged between 11 to 23 years. Subjects with all permanent teeth erupted (except second and third molar) without any history of previous orthodontic treatment and with no dental anomalies were included in this study. The alginate impressions were made by the well trained dental surgeon. Digital vernier calliper providing measurements to ± 0.01millimeter(mm) was used to measure the mesio-distal dimension of all teeth. Results: The mean, range and standard deviation were calculated for the size of the teeth. Independent t-test was used to compare between male and female population. The significance level was set at p value

Abstract Background Caspase-8, a member of the family of conserved cysteine proteases, plays a crucial role in the initiation phase of the apoptotic death-signaling cascade and thereby attracts interest for its study across the animal species including fish. In India, rohu (Labeo rohita) is an important freshwater fish species; thus, this study on caspase-8 was undertaken to investigate its role during pathogenic invasion. Results The complete cDNA sequence of Labeo rohita caspase-8 (Lrcasp8) consisted of 1746 bp nucleotides (nt) having an ORF of 1440 nt encoding a polypeptide of 480 amino acid (aa) residues with the molecular mass of ∼ 54.8 kDa. Structurally, Lrcasp8 comprised two DED domains (DED11-77aa and DED297-174aa) and one CASc domain230-476aa. Within the CASc domain, various putative motifs, viz., a large subunit (p20237-360aa), a small subunit (p10389-474aa), and a penta-peptide (QACQG354-358aa) active site, were identified. The secondary structure of Lrcasp8 protein comprised seventeen α-helices, eleven β-strands, and twenty-nine coils. Phylogenetically, it is closely related to common carp caspase-8 and exhibits significant (p < 0.05) similarity (88.3%) and identity (78.7 %) in their amino acid sequence. The tissue-specific expression of Lrcasp8 has been analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR assay, and it revealed the highest expression (~ 23-fold) in the blood and lowest in the spleen. In Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda infection and rhabdovirus vaccination, caspase-8 gene expression in rohu fingerlings was significantly (p

Abstract This article unveils the combined impact of heat generation/absorption and Joule heating on MHD flow of Ag-H2O nanofluid into a porous stretching/shrinking divergent/convergent channel with viscous dissipation and solid volume fraction. The mathematical modeling is presented for the existing equations of continuity, momentum, and energy fraction. The reduced boundary value problem is solved numerically employing Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF) method via shooting scheme and then the outcomes are sketched and interpreted. The results explore that the thermal boundary layer thickness of the stretching divergent and the shrinking divergent channels enhance by increasing the value of the Eckert number, while the opposite tendency is scrutinized on the momentum boundary layer thickness by increasing the value of the porosity parameter for the stretching divergent and the shrinking convergent channels.

Background: Repositional manoeuvres are the mainstay in the management of positional vertigo but there are times when there are relapses and these manoeuvres are required multiple times making it a necessity to add some adjuvant like antivertiginous drugs or rehabilitation exercises. Aims and Objectives: Role of Anti Vertiginous drugs in the management of BPPV. Material and Method: It was a prospective double blinded randomized study, on a total of 120 patients with positional vertigo. Patients divided into two groups. Group A of 60 patients received only positional maneuver and Group B received positional maneuver with 5 days course of Tab Betahistine 24 mg twice daily. The results obtained between two groups were compared on the basis of number of repositioning maneuvers specified as number of visits. SPSS v 16.0 software was used to analyse the data obtained. Chi square /Fisher Exact test was used to find the significance of study. Results: Group B faired significantly better. Conclusion: We suggest starting a 5 days course of Tab Betahistine 24 mg twice daily in cases requiring multiple visit.

The real world data are complex in nature and addition to that a large number of features add more value to the complexity. However, the features associated with the data may be redundant and erroneous in nature. To deal with such type of features, feature selection plays a vital role in computational learning. The reduction in the dimensionality of the dataset not only reduces the computational time required for classification but also enhances the classification accuracy by removing the misleading features. This paper presents a Filter Approach using Elitism based Multi-objective Differential Evolution algorithm for feature selection (FAEMODE) and the novelty lies in the objective formulation, where both linear and nonlinear dependency among features have been considered to handle the redundant and unwanted features of a dataset. Finally, the selected feature subsets of 23 benchmark datasets are tested using 10-fold cross validation with four well-known classifiers to endorse the result. A comparative analysis of the proposed approach with seven filter approaches and two conventional as well as three metaheuristic based wrapper approaches have been carried out for validation. The result reveals that the proposed approach can be considered as a powerful filter method for feature selection in various fields. Keywords: Multi-objective, Feature selection, Differential Evolution, Filter approach, Correlation coefficient, Mutual information

Background: Village health sanitation and nutrition day (VHSND) was conceived under the National Rural Health Mission to deliver maternal and child health and nutrition services at the village level in the anganwadi center. Multiple challenges, including a lack of convergence of frontline workers, were affecting service delivery at VHSND. As a public–private partnership Piramal Foundation proposed to revive the concept of VHSND. Objectives: The present study was aimed to demonstrate a model of VHSND to provide primary care related to maternal and child health and nutrition at the village level in 25 aspirational districts across seven states of India. Methods: The descriptive study was undertaken as a pilot phase. Of the purposively identified 506 VHSND sites, monitoring data on delivery of six basic primary care services at VHSND, collected as part of routine operations were compared for 229 sites for the month of September 2018 (baseline) and January 2019 (endline). Results: In model sites, there was the increased availability of drinking water and functional toilets; a significant improvement of availability of equipment for providing antenatal care services, immunization, and growth monitoring. However, the supply of drugs at these sites did not show a statistically significant change. There was also a significant improvement in the engagement of the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) in the villages of the model VHSND sites. Conclusion: The model demonstrated the significant changes with effective supervision and participation of VHSNC members, demand generation activities complemented with improved supplies and widening range of services at the VHSND are required to be undertaken.

This paper presents a Hybrid Shunt Active Power Filter (HSAPF) optimized by hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-Grey Wolf Optimization (PSO-GWO) and Fractional Order Proportional-Integral-Derivative Controller (FOPIDC) for reactive power and harmonic compensation under balance and unbalance loading conditions. Here, the parameters of FOPID controller are tuned by PSO-GWO technique to mitigate the harmonics. Comparing Passive with Active Filters, the former is tested to be bulky and design is complex and the later is not cost effective for high rating. Hence, a hybrid structure of shunt active and passive filter is designed using MATLAB/Simulink and in real time experimental set up. The compensation process for shunt active filter is different from predictable methods such as (p-q) or (id-iq) theory, in which only the source current is to be sensed. The performance of the proposed controller is tested under different operating conditions such as steady and transient states and indices like Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Input Power Factor (IPF), Real Power (P) and Reactive Power (Q) are estimated and compared with that of other controllers. The parameters of FOPIDC and Conventional PID Controller (CPIDC) are optimized by the techniques such as PSO, GWO and hybrid PSO-GWO. The comparative simulation/experiment results reflect the better performance of PSO-GWO optimized FOPIDC based HSAPF with respect to PSO/GWO optimized FOPIDC/CPIDC based HSAPF under different operating conditions.

Background: HIV serostatus disclosure plays an important role in reducing the risk of HIV transmission. However, its negative effects may include rejection, assault, separation, divorce, stigma, and discrimination. Objectives: This study was undertaken to find out the proportion of HIV-positive serostatus disclosure to any family member and different factors influencing disclosure among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among all patients aged 18–49 years with confirmed HIV infection registered at the antiretroviral therapy center of a tertiary care hospital in eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, India, for the duration of 1 year, from July 2017 to June 2018. Results: Most of the respondents were aged 30–49 years (79.9%), male (63.2%), married (85.4%), rural residents (60.4%), Hindu (96.5%), literate (84%), employed/driver (61.8%), and belonged to lower/lower middle class (62.6%). The rate of disclosure of HIV-positive status to any family member was quite high in this study (238/288 or 82.6%), among which 92.9% (221/238) to the spouse only. The number of sexual partners before disclosure, educational status, and socioeconomic status of the respondents were found to be independent predictors of disclosure of HIV-positive status to any family member (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study indicates the need of giving more emphasis on creating awareness regarding the importance of HIV serostatus disclosure to any family member, especially to spouse, and encourage all PLWHA in the community to disclose their status. Effective strategies also need to be evolved that will target those not likely to disclose their status to anybody.

Introduction: The present study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of working length using cone-beam computed tomography and Ingle's method and to compare it with actual working length using visual method. Materials and Methods: A total number of 52 single-rooted human teeth mounted on blocks of dental stone were subjected to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) by tracing a line between the apical foramen and the corresponding cusp tip from the scans taken before instrumentation. The measurement was taken in two planes in preoperative periapical radiographs. Working length was calculated using Ingle's method from periapical radiographs. The actual working length was measured using visual method under magnification (×2.5). All the measurement procedures were performed by an endodontist and a radiologist. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 15. Results: One sample t-test was applied to compare between the actual working length determined by the visual method and the working length determined by CBCT, and Ingle's method showed that there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between the groups. Inter-examiner reliability test using Cronbach's alpha showed a good agreement between the radiologist and the endodontist for both periapical radiography and CBCT. Conclusion: The preoperative CBCT is better than Ingle's method in determining working length within a narrow range of ±0.5 mm. If preoperative CBCT scans are available, the dentist should make the use of the scan for determining the working length instead of exposing them for repetitive radiographs.

Background: Cholera is a primordial disease caused by Vibrio cholerae which existed from centuries in different parts of the world and still shows its periodic, endemic and epidemic presence. Thousands of cholera cases are reported from different parts of India and the disease remains endemic throughout the year. At present, we do not have enough knowledge about the phenotypic nature of the circulating V. cholerae strains in this part of the world. Objectives: This study was carried out over a period of 6 years with the aim defer with the changes in the prevalence and distribution of biotypes, serotypes and phage types of V. cholerae clinical isolates from various endemic regions of the country to determine phenotypic characteristics of the circulating strains and also to predict the attributes of cholera strains responsible for causing significant outbreaks in future. Materials and Methods: A total of 1882 V.cholerae O1 isolates from different cholera endemic areas of India were included in this study. V.cholerae strains which were identified as O1 biotype ElTor further analyzed for serotype and phage types using the standard methodologies. Polyvalent O1 and monospecific Inaba and Ogawa antisera were used for serotyping. A panel of five phages of Basu and Mukherjee phage typing scheme and five phages from the new phage typing scheme were used for phage typing analysis following standard methodology. Results: Maximum numbers of strains were isolated from cholera-endemic states like Gujarat and Maharashtra. All the isolates were confirmed as V. cholerae O1 biotype ElTor and majority of them were serotype Ogawa (93.2%). New phage typing scheme resulted in almost 100% typeable V. cholerae O1 strains included in this study and phage type 27 was the predominant type. Although 80% of the strains used in this study were sensitive to all the vibrio phages, S5 phage was found most efficient in lysing cholera strains indicating its broader host range. Conclusion: The current study identified phage type 27 as the most dominant type and serotype Ogawa was found continuous in circulation throughout the year which has caused recent cholera outbreaks in India during the past years. Phage sensitivity data propose an alternative cost-effective approach to prevent cholera outbreak by therapeutic uses of typing phages irrespective of origin or clonality of the strains.

The move towards higher production of quality crops with alternative land use systems i.e. agri-horticulture system in combination with adequate supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur and improved varietal selection can solve the problem of lower productivity. Consequently, the present study illustrated that selection of crop varieties according to land use system with balanced nutrients supply can optimize the crop production in sustainable manner. The study showed that the performance of crop with different varietal selection was influenced by the different levels of nutrients supply. The growth and yield parameters were significantly affected with the application of 60, 30, 30, 30 kg of N, P2O5, K2O and S/ha and produced significantly higher seed yield (675 kg/ha) as compared to 40, 20, 20, 20 kg of N, P2O5, K2O and S/ ha and 20, 10, 10, 10 kg of N, P2O5, K2O, and S/ha among various fertility levels.

Cholera continues to be a major burden for developing nations, especially where sanitation, quality of water supply, and hospitalization have remained an issue. Recently, growing antimicrobial-resistant strains of Vibrio cholerae underscores alternative therapeutic strategies for cholera. Bacteriophage therapy is considered one of the best alternatives for antibiotic treatment. For the identification of potential therapeutic phages for cholera, we have introduced a comprehensive comparative analysis of whole-genome sequences of 86 Vibrio cholerae phages. We have witnessed extensive variation in genome size (ranging from 33 to 148 kbp), GC (G + C) content (varies from 34.5 to 50.8%), and the number of proteins (ranging from 15 to 232). We have identified nine clusters and three singletons using BLASTn, confirmed by nucleotide dot plot and sequence identity. A high degree of sequence and functional similarities in both the genomic and proteomic levels have been observed within the clusters. Evolutionary analysis confirms that phages are conserved within the clusters but diverse between the clusters. For each therapeutic phage, the top 2 closest phages have been identified using a system biology approach and proposed as potential therapeutic phages for cholera. This method can be applied for the classification of the newly isolated Vibrio cholerae phage. Furthermore, this systematic approach might be useful as a model for screening potential therapeutic phages for other bacterial diseases.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important fuel of life for humans and Mycobacterium species. Its potential role in modulating cellular functions and implications in systemic, pulmonary, and ocular diseases is well studied. Plasma ATP has been used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker owing to its close association with disease’s progression. Several stresses induce altered ATP generation, causing disorders and illnesses. Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) are dynamic oligomers that are dominantly β-sheet in nature. Some important functions that they exhibit include preventing protein aggregation, enabling protein refolding, conferring thermotolerance to cells, and exhibiting anti-apoptotic functions. Expression and functions of sHSPs in humans are closely associated with several diseases like cataracts, cardiovascular diseases, renal diseases, cancer, etc. Additionally, there are some mycobacterial sHSPs like Mycobacterium leprae HSP18 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP16.3, whose molecular chaperone functions are implicated in the growth and survival of pathogens in host species. As both ATP and sHSPs, remain closely associated with several human diseases and survival of bacterial pathogens in the host, therefore substantial research has been conducted to elucidate ATP-sHSP interaction. In this mini review, the impact of ATP on the structure and function of human and mycobacterial sHSPs is discussed. Additionally, how such interactions can influence the onset of several human diseases is also discussed.

Food preservation has been practised in many parts of the world for thousands of years, and it applies to a wide range of foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, and meat. Food preservation techniques are canning, freezing, pickling, curing (smoking or salting), and drying. Food spoilage caused by moisture is caused by the growth of mould, yeast, bacteria, and enzymes in the food. The drying process removes enough moisture from food to significantly reduce the humidity level’s likelihood of these adverse outcomes. The material's content measures how much moisture is present in that substance. The moisture content of fresh food can range from 20 to 90 percent depending on the type of food consumed. There will be no signs of moisture in food that has been thoroughly dried before being chopped. We used the experimental analysis in this study to create a mathematical model that could be used to determine which parameter was most important in the design of a solar dryer. In the future, the model is expected to be a helpful design tool for estimating the short- and long-term performance of a solar dryer under load and overload scenarios. The simulation of a solar dryer system has been performed under conditions such as the gap between the glass and the absorber plate, and the impact of hole size. The optimal hole size and spacing between the glass and the absorber plate are determined.

In the United States, CRC is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Although the incidence of CRC among the Hispanic population has been declining, recently, a dramatic increase in CRC incidents among HL younger than 50 years of age has been reported. The incidence of early-onset CRC is more significant in HL population (45%) than in non-Hispanic Whites (27%) and African-Americans (15%). The reason for these racial disparities and the biology of CRC in the HL are not well understood. We performed this study to understand the biology of the disease in HL patients. We analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from 52 HL patients with mCRC. We compared the results with individual patient clinical histories and outcomes. We identified commonly altered genes in HL patients (APC, TP53, KRAS, GNAS, and NOTCH). Importantly, mutation frequencies in the APC gene were significantly higher among HL patients. The combination of mutations in the APC, NOTCH, and KRAS genes in the same tumors was associated with a higher risk of progression after first-line of chemotherapy and overall survival. Our data support the notion that the molecular drivers of CRC might be different in HL patients.

Aim To develop an accurate lab score based on in-hospital patients’ potent clinical and biological parameters for predicting COVID-19 patient severity during hospital admission. Methods To conduct this retrospective analysis, a derivation cohort was constructed by including all the available biological and clinical parameters of 355 COVID positive patients (recovered = 285, deceased = 70), collected in November 2020-September 2021. For identifying potent biomarkers and clinical parameters to determine hospital admitted patient severity or mortality, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and Fischer’s test analysis was performed. Relative risk regression was estimated to develop laboratory scores for each clinical and routine biological parameter. Lab score was further validated by ROC curve analysis of the validation cohort which was built with 50 COVID positive hospital patients, admitted during October 2021-January 2022. Results Sensitivity vs. 1-specificity ROC curve (>0.7 Area Under the Curve, 95% CI) and univariate analysis (pConclusion The development of proper lab scores, based on patients’ clinical parameters and routine biomarkers, would help physicians to predict patient risk at the time of their hospital admission and may improve hospital-admitted COVID-19 patients’ survivability.

Despite living in a rural country, farmers in India face several challenges. Every year, they suffer significant losses due to agricultural insect infestation. These losses are primarily the result of inadequate field surveillance, crop diseases, and ineffective pesticide management. We need cutting-edge technology that is constantly evolving to maintain control over such major concerns responsible for output reductions year after year. Wireless sensor networks address all of these issues; in fact, wireless sensor network technology is quickly becoming the backbone of modern precision agriculture. We propose a strategy for pest monitoring using wireless sensor networks in this study by simply recognizing insect behaviour using various sensors. We proposed a rapid and accurate insect detection and categorization approach based on five important crops and associated insect pests. This method examines insect behaviour by collecting data from sensors placed in the field. The results show that the proposed work improves the accuracy of the existing work by 3.9 percent.

Abstract Plant biophysical and biochemical properties play important roles to explore the resistance sources against thrips. In this study, we investigated the effect of trichomes and biochemical contents of 11 mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) varieties to search for the most resistant varieties against the incidence and damage of two thrips species, Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips palmi. Resistance was quantified by examining the incidence of the thrips on different plant parts regarding the trichomes and biochemical content of the varieties. Further, the extent of damage by the thrips species and the effects on yield of the selected varieties were examined. All the 11 mung bean varieties were attacked by both the thrips during vegetative and flowering stage, however, lowest incidence occurred in BARI Mung‐7 followed by BARI Mung‐8 and BU Mug 2. The lower incidence was associated with higher trichomes and biochemicals content of the same varieties, as thrips population showed significant negative relationships with trichome density, moisture, chlorophyll(a+b), potassium, and phenol content. Although several biochemicals had negative effects, the increasing total soluble sugar content in leaves increased the incidence of both M. usitatus and T. palmi. There was no variation in phosphorous content in the leaves of the 11 varieties. Significant variations were detected in damaging the flower bud, flower infestation, and shedding by thrips which affected the yield of mung bean. Negative responses of thrips to the increasing trichomes, moisture, chlorophyll, phenol, and potassium in mung bean suggest the significance of these properties to develop resistant varieties against thrips.

Thin sheets of Ti-6Al-4V alloy of thickness 1 mm were butt welded using a pulsed Nd-YAG low-power laser setup. The goal of this research is to explore the influence of pulsation on the microstructure and mechanical properties. In addition to that, annealing at different temperatures has been performed to compare the results of pulsation and heat treatment. The results indicate that after annealing at 980 °C, the structure completely transformed into an equiaxed structure. When annealed at 1010 °C, almost the total area is composed of an equiaxed α phase, and the grains are coarse as compared to the previous. This suggests that the grain size becomes thicker when the annealing temperature is raised above 980 °C. The volume fraction of the equiaxed structure is maximum. It can be deduced that the volume–fraction is dependent on the annealing temperature. The volume fraction of the equiaxed structure increases as the annealing temperature increases. A higher tensile strength value of the sample annealed at 980 °C was found as compared with the overlapped sample (A-2). The fusion zone overlapped sample (A-2) shows high hardness with a value of 397 HV1. In the FZ sample, annealing at 980 °C has a hardness of 386 HV1. The (A-2) sample indicates higher (3–4%) hardness as compared to the annealed sample at the FZ. The β phase is increased by 16% in the XRD analysis of the overlapped samples. Hence, it is evident that the amount of β phase has increased during heating, and a complete transformation has taken place at a temperature of 958 °C.

The “Green Revolution” (GR) technology-induced agricultural intensification has transformed India from food scarcity to a food surplus country. However, this has also resulted into several adverse repercussions. Increased application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides with stagnating/declining crop productivity has dovetailed with uncertain market conditions and climate change effects which has resulted in un-remunerative agriculture. Consequently, farmers have fallen into the debt trap due to the rising cost of crop production apart from health hazards due to serious exposure to harmful chemical pesticides. Natural Farming (NF), an agro-ecological approach to farming is believed to be an effective way to counter some of these challenges. The present paper presents field-level farmers’ experiences of NF adoption in three states of India—Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The study was conducted during February–March 2019 by surveying 295 NF adopted and 170 non-NF adopted farmers. It was found that NF practice has been followed by some farmers for more than 10 years but others have adopted during the recent past. There is variation in the practice followed by the NF farmers. There are farmers who are using Farm Yard Manure (FYM). A solid form of jeevamritha (liquid concoction of microbial inoculants) called as ghanajeevamritha was also found to be used by farmers in Andhra Pradesh. It was observed that non-NF yields are superior to NF yield without FYM. In most crops, however, NF with FYM had a greater yield than NF without FYM and non-NF farms. There has been a decrease in the variable cost and a marginal increase in the market price of NF produce. The study suggests that natural farming may be seen as one of the alternative practices which has potential to rejuvenate the agro-ecosystem, besides cost saving for the individual farmers.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major problem and an immediate alternative to antibiotics is the need of the hour. Research on the possible alternative products to tackle bacterial infections is ongoing worldwide. One of the most promising alternatives to antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages (phage) or phage-driven antibacterial drugs to cure bacterial infections caused by AMR bacteria. Phage-driven proteins, including holins, endolysins, and exopolysaccharides, have shown great potential in the development of antibacterial drugs. Likewise, phage virion proteins (PVPs) might also play an important role in the development of antibacterial drugs. Here, we have developed a machine learning-based prediction method to predict PVPs using phage protein sequences. We have employed well-known basic and ensemble machine learning methods with protein sequence composition features for the prediction of PVPs. We found that the gradient boosting classifier (GBC) method achieved the best accuracy of 80% on the training dataset and an accuracy of 83% on the independent dataset. The performance on the independent dataset is better than other existing methods. A user-friendly web server developed by us is freely available to all users for the prediction of PVPs from phage protein sequences. The web server might facilitate the large-scale prediction of PVPs and hypothesis-driven experimental study design.

Increased soil salinity poses serious limitations in crop yield and quality; thus, an attempt was made to explore microbial agents to mitigate the ill effects of salinity in rice. The hypothesis was mapping of microbial induction of stress tolerance in rice. Since the rhizosphere and endosphere are two different functional niches directly affected by salinity, it could be very crucial to evaluate them for salinity alleviation. In this experiment, endophytic and rhizospheric microbes were tested for differences in salinity stress alleviation traits in two rice cultivars, CO51 and PB1. Two endophytic bacteria, Bacillus haynesii 2P2 and Bacillus safensis BTL5, were tested with two rhizospheric bacteria, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans W19 and Pseudomonas fluorescens 1001, under elevated salinity (200 mM NaCl) along with Trichoderma viride as an inoculated check. The pot study indicated towards the presence of variable salinity mitigation mechanisms among these strains. Improvement in the photosynthetic machinery was also recorded. These inoculants were evaluated for the induction of antioxidant enzymes viz. CAT, SOD, PO, PPO, APX, and PAL activity along with the effect on proline levels. Modulation of the expression of salt stress responsive genes OsPIP1, MnSOD1, cAPXa, CATa, SERF, and DHN was assessed. Root architecture parameters viz. cumulative length of total root, projection area, average diameter, surface area, root volume, fractal dimension, number of tips, and forks were studied. Confocal scanning laser microscopy indicated accumulation of Na+ in leaves using cell impermeant Sodium Green™, Tetra (Tetramethylammonium) Salt. It was found that each of these parameters were induced differentially by endophytic bacteria, rhizospheric bacteria, and fungus, indicating different paths to complement one ultimate plant function. The biomass accumulation and number of effective tillers were highest in T4 (Bacillus haynesii 2P2) plants in both cultivars and showed the possibility of cultivar specific consortium. These strains and their mechanisms could form the basis for further evaluating microbial strains for climate-resilient agriculture.

A rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion battery is an encouraging alternative for grid-scale energy storage applications, owing to its advantages of high safety, low cost, and environmental benignity. Since MnO2 is found to be one of the most efficient intercalation cathode materials for ZIBs, the layered type δ-MnO2 polymorph exhibits reversible intercalation/de-intercalation of Zn2+ ions with a high capacity. Unfortunately, the δ-MnO2 cathode suffers from poor cyclability, low-rate capability, and structural degradation during charge–discharge cycles. Therefore, δ-MnO2 with Pom-Pom Flower-like morphology have been synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method. The unique morphology of δ-MnO2 provides a high surface area with numerous reaction sites, leading to excellent electrochemical performance. The obtained results revealed that the δ-MnO2 electrode retained ~99% of its initial capacity even after 250 cycles, which can be ascribed to the reversible Zn2+ insertion/de-insertion from the current unique morphology of the layered δ-MnO2 nanostructure. In addition, the electrochemical and structural investigation also indicates a two-step co-insertion of H+ and Zn2+ ions into the interlayer of δ-MnO2 during the discharge process. Thus, the superior electrochemical performances of the δ-MnO2 cathode paves a way for the high capacity and a long lifespan of zinc-ion batteries.

Antimony selenide (Sb _2 Se _3 ) has emerged as a promising absorber material for thin film solar cell (TFSC) application. In this work, a (120) oriented substrate-configured Sb _2 Se _3 based TFSC has been fabricated using the thermally evaporated Sb _2 Se _3 thin films. Pre-synthesized bulk Sb _2 Se _3 was used as a source material and the films were subjected to post-deposition selenization. TFSCs were fabricated in a device configuration of Glass/Mo/Sb _2 Se _3 /CdS/ITO/Ag. It was found that there is a significant increment in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) with increased V _oc and J _sc in the devices, wherein the Sb _2 Se _3 absorber films were subjected to post-deposition selenization compared to the devices made with as-deposited films. TFSC with as grown Sb _2 Se _3 film was showing an efficiency of ∼ 1% with V _oc ∼ 208 mV, J _sc ∼16 mA cm ^−2 and fill factor (FF) ∼ 29.9%. The device with selenized Sb _2 Se _3 films showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.38% with V _oc , J _sc and FF values of 362 mV, 18.54 mA cm ^−2 and 50.39%, respectively. The increase in PCE for selenized films is attributed to better grain growth and suppression of selenium vacancy defects. Overall, the findings of this work demonstrate the potential prospects of Sb _2 Se _3 as an absorber material for TFSCs applications and suggest that post-deposition selenization plays a significant role in the enhancement of device efficiency. The obtained results are contributive in the understanding and development of low-cost Sb _2 Se _3 -based TFSCs.

Deriving hyperlocal information about fine particulate matter (PM _2.5 ) is critical for quantifying exposure disparities and managing air quality at neighborhood scales in cities. Delhi is one of the most polluted megacities in the world, where ground-based monitoring was limited before 2017. Here we estimate ambient PM _2.5 exposure at 100 m × 100 m spatial resolution for the period 2002–2019 using the random forest model. The model-predicted daily and annual PM _2.5 show a ten-fold cross-validation R ^2 of 0.91 and 0.95 and root mean square error of 19.3 and 9.7 μ g m ^−3 , respectively, against coincident ground measurements from the Central Pollution Control Board ground network. Annual mean PM _2.5 exposure varied in the range of 90–160 μ g m ^−3 in Delhi, with shifts in local hotspots and a reduction in spatial heterogeneity over the years. Mortality burden attributable to ambient PM _2.5 in Delhi increased by 49.7% from 9188 (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 6241–12 161) in 2002 to 13 752 (10 065–19 899) in 2019, out of which only 16% contribution was due to the rise in PM _2.5 exposure. The mortality burden in 2002 and 2019 are found to be higher by 10% and 3.1%, respectively, for exposure assessment at 100 m scale relative to the estimates with 1 km scale. The proportion of diseases in excess mortality attributable to ambient PM _2.5 exposure remained similar over the years. Delhi can meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 target of reducing the non-communicable disease burden attributable to PM _2.5 by one-third in 2030 relative to 2015 by reducing ambient PM _2.5 exposure below the World Health Organization’s first interim target of 35 μ g m ^−3 . Our results demonstrate that machine learning can be a useful tool in exposure modelling and air quality management at a hyperlocal scale in cities.

Ranidhan is a popular late-maturing rice variety of Odisha state, India. The farmers of the state suffer heavy loss in years with flash floods as the variety is sensitive to submergence. Bacterial blight (BB) disease is a major yield-limiting factor, and the variety is susceptible to the disease. BB resistance genes Xa21, xa13, and xa5, along with the Sub1 QTL, for submergence stress tolerance were transferred into the variety using marker-assisted backcross breeding approach. Foreground selection using direct and closely linked markers detected the progenies carrying all four target genes in the BC1F1, BC2F1, and BC3F1 generations, and the positive progenies carrying these genes with maximum similarity to the recipient parent, Ranidhan, were backcrossed into each segregating generation. Foreground selection in the BC1F1 generation progenies detected all target genes in 11 progenies. The progeny carrying all target genes and similar to the recipient parent in terms of phenotype was backcrossed, and a total of 321 BC2F1 seeds were produced. Ten progenies carried all target genes/QTL in the BC2F1 generation. Screening of the BC3F1 progenies using markers detected 12 plants carrying the target genes. A total of 1270 BC3F2 seeds were obtained from the best BC3F1 progeny. Foreground selection in the BC3F2 progenies detected four plants carrying the target genes in the homozygous condition. The bioassay of the pyramided lines conferred very high levels of resistance to the predominant isolates of bacterial blight pathogen. These BB pyramided lines were submergence-tolerant and similar to Ranidhan in 13 agro-morphologic and grain quality traits; hence, they are likely to be adopted by farmers.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) enhance plant growth, as well as protect plants from several biotic and abiotic stresses through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, the exploitation of PGPB in agriculture is feasible as it offers sustainable and eco-friendly approaches to maintaining soil health while increasing crop productivity. The vital key of PGPB application in agriculture is its effectiveness in colonizing plant roots and the phyllosphere, and in developing a protective umbrella through the formation of microcolonies and biofilms. Biofilms offer several benefits to PGPB, such as enhancing resistance to adverse environmental conditions, protecting against pathogens, improving the acquisition of nutrients released in the plant environment, and facilitating beneficial bacteria–plant interactions. Therefore, bacterial biofilms can successfully compete with other microorganisms found on plant surfaces. In addition, plant-associated PGPB biofilms are capable of protecting colonization sites, cycling nutrients, enhancing pathogen defenses, and increasing tolerance to abiotic stresses, thereby increasing agricultural productivity and crop yields. This review highlights the role of biofilms in bacterial colonization of plant surfaces and the strategies used by biofilm-forming PGPB. Moreover, the factors influencing PGPB biofilm formation at plant root and shoot interfaces are critically discussed. This will pave the role of PGPB biofilms in developing bacterial formulations and addressing the challenges related to their efficacy and competence in agriculture for sustainability.

Abstract Cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS), a maternally inherited trait, provides a promising means to harness yield gains associated with hybrid vigor. In pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth], nine types of sterility‐inducing cytoplasm have been reported, of which A2 and A4 have been successfully deployed in hybrid breeding. Unfortunately, molecular mechanism of the CMS trait is poorly understood because of limited research invested. More recently, an association between a mitochondrial gene (nad7) and A4‐CMS has been demonstrated in pigeonpea; however, the mechanism underlying A2‐CMS still remains obscure. The current investigation aimed to analyze the differences in A2‐CMS line (ICPL 88039A) and its isogenic maintainer line (ICPL 88039B) at transcriptome level using next‐generation sequencing. Gene expression profiling uncovered a set of 505 genes that showed altered expression in response to CMS, of which, 412 genes were upregulated while 93 were downregulated in the fertile maintainer line vs. the CMS line. Further, gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analyses revealed association of CMS in pigeonpea with four major pathways: glucose and lipid metabolism, ATP production, pollen development and pollen tube growth, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Patterns of digital gene expression were confirmed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) of six candidate genes. This study elucidates candidate genes and metabolic pathways having potential associations with pollen development and male sterility in pigeonpea A2‐CMS. New insights on molecular mechanism of CMS trait in pigeonpea will be helpful to accelerate heterosis utilization for enhancing productivity gains in pigeonpea.

Study Region: State of Odisha, a data-scarce tropical savanna region in eastern India. Study Focus: This study evaluated the temporal variability in depth to groundwater (DTW) in the study region with heavily stressed aquifers during 1995–2015 using the modified Mann Kendall test. Subsequently, Shannon’s entropy assessed spatial variability in DTW and determined the dominant Hydrological, Geological, and Climatological (HGC) factor regulating the observed spatio-temporal variability taking land use/ land cover (LULC), geomorphology, lithology, topography, and rainfall as HGC factors. New Hydrological Insights: The overall and seasonal trend analysis revealed that the study region possessed both rising and declining trends with a slightly higher percentage of wells with a rising trend. The spatial distribution of trends and the associated magnitude accentuated the unforeseen groundwater temporal variability and higher-order susceptibility of DTW to rising and declining trends. The marginal entropy revealed the higher-order spatial variability associated with deeper DTW and vice versa. Evaluation of the HGC factors revealed that LULC could explain the maximum variability in the DTW as a dominant HGC factor. It was found that the impact of LULC features on DTW variability is not straightforward, necessitating impact assessment studies in the location with significant to highly significant trends. This formulated approach can immensely contribute to the planning and management in attaining groundwater sustainability in data-scarce regions.

In the course of human history, we encountered several devastating waves of pandemics, affecting millions of lives globally and now the rapid and progressive spread of the novel SARS-CoV-2, causing Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created a worldwide wave of crisis. Profoundly straining national health care systems, it also significantly impacted the global economic stability. With the introduction of COVID-19 measures, mainly driven by immunization drives, casualties due to the virus were reported to decrease considerably. But then comes into play the post-Covid morbidities, along with their short and long-term effects on the elderly and the co-morbid population. Moreover, the pediatric population and the otherwise healthy cohort of the young athletes were also reported being largely affected by the varying amount of post-recovery virus-induced Cardiac manifestations, in the subsequent waves of the pandemic. Therefore, here we thrived to find answers to the seemingly unending series of questions that popped up with the advent of the disease, nevertheless, there still lies a blind spot in understanding the impacts of the disease on the Cardiovascular Health of an individual, even after the clinical recovery. Thus, along with the current data related to the diverse cardiovascular complications due to SARS-COV-2 infection, we suggest long-term ‘Cardiac surveillance' for the COVID-19 recovered individuals.

Purpose We describe here a multicentric community-dwelling cohort of older adults (>60 years of age) established to estimate incidence, study risk factors, healthcare utilisation and economic burden associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in India.Participants The four sites of this cohort are in northern (Ballabgarh), southern (Chennai), eastern (Kolkata) and western (Pune) parts of India. We enrolled 5336 participants across 4220 households and began surveillance in July 2018 for viral respiratory infections with additional participants enrolled annually. Trained field workers collected data about individual-level and household-level risk factors at enrolment and quarterly assessed frailty and grip strength. Trained nurses surveilled weekly to identify acute respiratory infections (ARI) and clinically assessed individuals to diagnose acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) as per protocol. Nasal and oropharyngeal swabs are collected from all ALRI cases and one-fifth of the other ARI cases for laboratory testing. Cost data of the episode are collected using the WHO approach for estimating the economic burden of seasonal influenza. Handheld tablets with Open Data Kit platform were used for data collection.Findings to date The attrition of 352 participants due to migration and deaths was offset by enrolling 680 new entrants in the second year. All four sites reported negligible influenza vaccination uptake (0.1%–0.4%), low health insurance coverage (0.4%–22%) and high tobacco use (19%–52%). Ballabgarh had the highest proportion (54.4%) of households in the richest wealth quintile, but reported high solid fuel use (92%). Frailty levels were highest in Kolkata (11.3%) and lowest in Pune (6.8%). The Chennai cohort had highest self-reported morbidity (90.1%).Future plans The findings of this cohort will be used to inform prioritisation of strategies for influenza and RSV control for older adults in India. We also plan to conduct epidemiological studies of SARS-CoV-2 using this platform.

In India, the medical system is developed in terms of “Ayurveda.” It is an unconventional medicinal system developed in India many years ago, now being practiced as alternative medicine worldwide. The understanding of medicinal plants has been gathered for hundreds of years, based on different curative methods such as Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. The field of dentistry has also started making use of the medicinal properties of herbal plants for the purpose of relieving dental pain, periodontal problems, and canker sores. Antiseptics, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, and analgesic agents derived from plants are of extensive interest in dentistry. Herbal plant extracts are also available in many forms which can be utilized. As the herbal medicines do not cause addiction or allergic reactions, they can be used for a long time with properly prescribed dosage and time. However, some of the herbal plants may also cause some side effects to the human population.

Genetics is considered a branch of science dealing with the study of heredity and variation in genes and genotype. A hybrid subspecialty of genetics and public health has come up in recent years. Public health genetics involves the application of genetics and molecular biotechnology in the improvement of community health and disease prevention. The Centers for Disease Control developed a framework comprising four essential public health functions and three critical issues associated with individual function. This review aims to highlight the integration of discoveries in genetic into public health. Scientific approach is required to study the impact of genetic discoveries on community health. Judicious assessment of the utility of genetic tests and development of standards and guidelines for reassuring superior genetic testing are critical steps in the process. Strong public health leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate disease intervention strategies is required for utilizing the advances in genetics for disease prevention. The critical issues that affect each function are partnerships and coordination; ethical, legal, and social issues; and education and training. An integrated and comprehensive scheme is required for the control of genetic diseases. Public health professionals shall help evolve, study, and propagate the scientific knowledge that would serve as a guide for public health action.

Scene classification aims to classify various objects and land use classes such as farms, highways, rivers, and airplanes in the remote sensing images. In recent times, the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based models have been widely applied in scene classification, due to their efficiency in feature representation. The CNN based models have the limitation of overfitting problems, due to the generation of more features in the convolutional layer and imbalanced data problems. This study proposed Gaussian Mutation–Spider Monkey Optimization (GM-SMO) model for feature selection to solve overfitting and imbalanced data problems in scene classification. The Gaussian mutation changes the position of the solution after exploration to increase the exploitation in feature selection. The GM-SMO model maintains better tradeoff between exploration and exploitation to select relevant features for superior classification. The GM-SMO model selects unique features to overcome overfitting and imbalanced data problems. In this manuscript, the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) is used for generating the augmented images, and the AlexNet and Visual Geometry Group (VGG) 19 models are applied to extract the features from the augmented images. Then, the GM-SMO model selects unique features, which are given to the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network for classification. In the resulting phase, the GM-SMO model achieves 99.46% of accuracy, where the existing transformer-CNN has achieved only 98.76% on the UCM dataset.

This study encompasses the grain size distribution of the playa lakes (Pachpadra, Pokhran, and Didwana) of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. The grain size of sediment particles is the most fundamental feature, giving essential information regarding their origin, transport history, and depositional conditions. The aeolian and fluvial transport processes were evaluated through environmentally sensitive grain size subpopulations to identify the differential sedimentary sources and dynamics in the playas. End-member modelling further determined the sediment grain size distribution through statistical analysis. The playa sediments mainly consist of very fine sand (46–54%) and very coarse silt (22–37%). The results show that the average fine fraction of Pachpadra, Pokhran, and Didwana playa was 46.29%, 66.11%, and 66.28%, respectively. In contrast, the average coarser fraction deposition in Pachpadra, Pokhran, and Didwana corresponds to 53.71%, 33.89%, and 33.72%, respectively. This suggests that the playas mostly contain aeolian sediment rather than fluvial sediment transported by dust/sand storms. Additionally, the textural pattern and depositional distribution of the sediments determined through the Passega CM diagram and bivariate plots indicate that 82% of the samples were poorly sorted, and 18% were very poorly sorted. Furthermore, an environmentally sensitive grain size component (ESGSC) was also assessed to identify the spatial variability and transport processes of sediment between these playas. Three ESGSCs in Pokhran (250 µ, 31 µ, and 2 µ) and Pachpadra (125 µ, 31 µ, and 4 µ), while two ESGSCs in Didwana playa (125 µ and 16 µ) were identified, indicating sediment deposition with moderate velocity in a low energy environment with a mixed sediment population transported by aeolian and fluvial activities.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multidimensional phenomenon. The environment acts as a mixing pot of drug-resistant bacteria from many sources such as pharmaceutical, biomedical, veterinary, and agricultural sectors. In this study, we analysed the existing AMR-related policies/guidelines/legislations in India in the above domains and how the current practices are being guided by them. Methods: We used a convergent parallel mix method design. Quantitative data were collected through a review of policies/guidelines/legislations in the said domains and analysed using the SWOT tool parallelly supported by key informant interviews of domain-specific stakeholders. Results: Altogether, 19 existing AMR policies/guidelines/legislations were identified. The existence of few policies/guidelines in each domain indicated the evolving environment for policy interventions. However, the lack of capacity among farmers, inadequate provision for structured capacity building, high cost of alternatives to antimicrobials, and lack of provision of incentivisation in case of crop failure were identified as the major weaknesses prevalent across the domains. Opportunities for policy refinements/the introduction of new policies are ample. However, easy access to antimicrobials and injudicious use imposes threats to AMR containment in all sectors. Conclusions: Despite having a few policies for the containment of AMR, their implementation witnesses challenge due to the lack of collaborative approaches, the existence of policies disjointed from ground reality, infrastructural issues, and the lack of capacity and resources.

An entirely unknown species of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak occurred in December 2019. COVID-19 has already affected more than 180 million people causing ~3.91 million deaths globally till the end of June 2021. During this emergency, the food nutraceuticals can be a potential therapeutic candidate. Curcumin is the natural and safe bioactive compound of the turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) plant and is known to possess potent anti-microbial and immuno-modulatory properties. This review paper covers the various extraction and quantification techniques of curcumin and its usage to produce functional food. The potential of curcumin in boosting the immune system has also been explored. The review will help develop insight and new knowledge about curcumin's role as an immune-booster and therapeutic agent against COVID-19. The manuscript will also encourage and assist the scientists and researchers who have an association with drug development, pharmacology, functional foods, and nutraceuticals to develop curcumin-based formulations.

BackgroundHospitalized preterm infants with compromised skin barrier function treated topically with sunflower seed oil (SSO) have shown reductions in sepsis and neonatal mortality rate (NMR). Mustard oil and products commonly used in high-mortality settings may possibly harm skin barrier integrity and enhance risk of infection and mortality in newborn infants. We hypothesized that SSO therapy may reduce NMR in such settings.Methods and findingsThis was a population-based, cluster randomized, controlled trial in 276 clusters in rural Uttar Pradesh, India. All newborn infants identified through population-based surveillance in the study clusters within 7 days of delivery were enrolled from November 2014 to October 2016. Exclusive, 3 times daily, gentle applications of 10 ml of SSO to newborn infants by families throughout the neonatal period were recommended in intervention clusters (n = 138 clusters); infants in comparison clusters (n = 138 clusters) received usual care, such as massage practice typically with mustard oil. Primary analysis was by intention-to-treat with NMR and post-24-hour NMR as the primary outcomes. Secondary analysis included per-protocol analysis and subgroup analyses for NMR. Regression analysis was adjusted for caste, first-visit weight, delivery attendant, gravidity, maternal age, maternal education, sex of the infant, and multiple births. We enrolled 13,478 (52.2% male, mean weight: 2,575.0 grams ± standard deviation [SD] 521.0) and 13,109 (52.0% male, mean weight: 2,607.0 grams ± SD 509.0) newborn infants in the intervention and comparison clusters, respectively. We found no overall difference in NMR in the intervention versus the comparison clusters [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.11, p = 0.61]. Acceptance of SSO in the intervention arm was high at 89.3%, but adherence to exclusive applications of SSO was 30.4%. Per-protocol analysis showed a significant 58% (95% CI 42% to 69%, p < 0.01) reduction in mortality among infants in the intervention group who were treated exclusively with SSO as intended versus infants in the comparison group who received exclusive applications of mustard oil. A significant 52% (95% CI 12% to 74%, p = 0.02) reduction in NMR was observed in the subgroup of infants weighing ≤1,500 g (n = 589); there were no statistically significant differences in other prespecified subgroup comparisons by low birth weight (LBW), birthplace, and wealth. No severe adverse events (SAEs) were attributable to the intervention. The study was limited by inability to mask allocation to study workers or participants and by measurement of emollient use based on caregiver responses and not actual observation.ConclusionsIn this trial, we observed that promotion of SSO therapy universally for all newborn infants was not effective in reducing NMR. However, this result may not necessarily establish equivalence between SSO and mustard oil massage in light of our secondary findings. Mortality reduction in the subgroup of infants ≤1,500 g was consistent with previous hospital-based efficacy studies, potentially extending the applicability of emollient therapy in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants along the facility-community continuum. Further research is recommended to develop and evaluate therapeutic regimens and continuum of care delivery strategies for emollient therapy for newborn infants at highest risk of compromised skin barrier function.Trial registrationISRCTN Registry ISRCTN38965585 and Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2014/12/005282) with WHO UTN # U1111-1158-4665.

Objectives Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), prolonged skin-to-skin care of the low birth weight baby with the mother plus exclusive breastfeeding reduces neonatal mortality. Global KMC coverage is low. This study was conducted to develop and evaluate context-adapted implementation models to achieve improved coverage.Design This study used mixed-methods applying implementation science to develop an adaptable strategy to improve implementation. Formative research informed the initial model which was refined in three iterative cycles. The models included three components: (1) maximising access to KMC-implementing facilities, (2) ensuring KMC initiation and maintenance in facilities and (3) supporting continuation at home postdischarge.Participants 3804 infants of birth weight under 2000 g who survived the first 3 days, were available in the study area and whose mother resided in the study area.Main outcome measures The primary outcomes were coverage of KMC during the 24 hours prior to discharge and at 7 days postdischarge.Results Key barriers and solutions were identified for scaling up KMC. The resulting implementation model achieved high population-based coverage. KMC initiation reached 68%–86% of infants in Ethiopian sites and 87% in Indian sites. At discharge, KMC was provided to 68% of infants in Ethiopia and 55% in India. At 7 days postdischarge, KMC was provided to 53%–65% of infants in all sites, except Oromia (38%) and Karnataka (36%).Conclusions This study shows how high coverage of KMC can be achieved using context-adapted models based on implementation science. They were supported by government leadership, health workers’ conviction that KMC is the standard of care, women’s and families’ acceptance of KMC, and changes in infrastructure, policy, skills and practice.Trial registration numbers ISRCTN12286667; CTRI/2017/07/008988; NCT03098069; NCT03419416; NCT03506698.

Alongside antibiotic resistance, co-selection of antibiotics, biocides, and metal resistance is a growing concern. While hospital wastewater is considered a hotspot for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs), the scenario in India, one of the biggest consumers of antibiotics, remains poorly described. In this study, we used metagenomic sequencing to characterize ARGs and biocide/metal resistance genes (BMRGs) in four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Jaipur City of India. We observed a significantly lower richness and abundance of ARGs in the influent of a WWTP exclusively receiving hospital wastewater when compared to other three WWTPs involving municipal wastewater treatment. Several tetracycline and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistance genes were enriched in influents of these three municipal wastewater-related treatment plants, whereas hospital wastewater had a higher abundance of genes conferring resistance to disinfectant-related compounds such as synergize and wex-cide-128, reflecting the patterns of antibiotic/disinfectant use. Of note, in the wastewater system with more chemicals, there was a strong correlation between the numbers of ARGs and BMRGs potentially harbored by common hosts. Our study highlights significant influxes of ARGs from non-hospital sources in Jaipur City, and thus more attention should be paid on the emergence of ARGs in general communities.

Shrimp culture economics has a significant influence on the socio-economic status of coastal communities in Bangladesh. Here, we investigated the shrimp farmers' financial and perceptual reactions to analyze shrimp farming's direct impact on their socio-economic status, sustainability, resilience, and the cultural environment. Our outcomes alluded that the farming community's satisfaction level was higher than their concern for environmental impacts. Local shrimp farming communities expressed satisfaction about their present income from shrimp farming compared to pre-farming socio-economic status. Recently, shrimp farming has improved the financial gains of farming communities than in the past, which encouraged them to excel in shrimp culture than agriculture. The household construction style and materials used improved after shrimp farming. The shrimp farmers (56 %) expressed salinity and abridged rice production as the leading reason for the shift to shrimp farming. The income level showed a 72 % satisfaction level among the farmers. Profitability and daily fish demand were the positive impacts, while the lack of fodder and destroying vegetation were listed as negative impacts of shrimp farming. There was a decline in livestock and homegrown poultry farming and trees, which could also be linked with increasing shrimp farming activities. Shrimp farming helped increase the income level from 26 % to 36 % for the income range groups of USD 101–150 and > USD 150. The 78 % of participants strongly agreed that shrimp farming was more profitable than rice culture, while 60 % expressed a preference for shrimp farming on freshwater fish culture, especially for better production. In conclusion, shrimp farming has brought socio-economic improvements in the household and lifestyles of the shrimp farming communities in Bangladesh's southern coastal communities. This example is of great learning for the marginalized and financially threatened coastal communities in developing and underdeveloped nations.

The rice variety ‘Swarna’ is highly popular in the eastern region of India. The farmers of eastern India cultivate mainly rainfed rice and face the adverse effects of climate change very frequently. Rice production in this region is not stable. Swarna variety is highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) disease and flash floods, which cause a heavy reduction in the yield. Transfer of five target genes/QTLs was targeted into the variety, Swarna by adopting marker-assisted backcross breeding approach. Direct markers for Sub1A, OsSPL14, and SCM2 QTLs and closely linked markers for xa5 and Xa21 BB resistance genes were screened in the backcross progenies. Swarna-Sub1, CR Dhan 800, and Swarna–Habataki near-isogenic lines (NILs) were used as donor parents in the breeding program. True multiple F1 plants were identified for backcrossing, and 796 BC1F1 seeds were generated. Foreground selection detected all the five target genes in six progenies in BC1F1 generation. The progeny containing all the target genes and more similar with the recipient parent was backcrossed, and a total of 446 BC2F1 seeds were produced. Foreground screening detected four BC2F1 plants carrying the five target genes. A total of 2,145 BC2F2 seeds were obtained from the best BC2F1 progeny. Screening of the progenies resulted in one plant with all five desirable genes, three plants with four, and another three progenies carrying three genes in homozygous conditions. The pyramided lines showed higher BB resistance and submergence tolerance than the recipient parent, Swarna. Culm strength of the pyramided lines showed higher breaking force than the recipient parent, Swarna. The pyramided line, SSBY-16-68-69 yielded the highest grain yield of 7.52 t/ha followed by the lines SSBY-16-68-511 (7.34 t/ha) and SSBY-16-68-1633 (7.02 t/ha). The best-pyramided line showed a yield advantage of 18% over the recipient parent and 6.8% over the yield component donor parent. Seven pyramided lines showed higher yield than the recipient parent, while five lines were better yielders than the yield component donor parent. The pyramided line SSBY-16-68-69 produced 365 grains/panicle, while the recipient had 152. The main morphologic and grain quality features of the recipient parent were retained in the pyramided lines.

Background: Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the mucosal lining of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The ability of Vitamin D (VD3) to augment innate and adaptive immune responses has sparked interest in its immunologic role in the treatment of CRS. In this study, the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in CRS patients was compared to normal population and the beneficial role of Vitamin D supplementation in its treatment was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective 1-year study of 200 CRS patients with Vitamin D deficiency. The patients were divided into two groups, i.e. 100 patients were given oral Vitamin D supplements and the other group of 100 patients were treated as placebo. Both Vitamin D levels and the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) were assessed at the start and end of the study period. Results: Of the 200 subjects with CRS, 100 were given oral vitamin D supplementation in the form of Cholecalciferol 60000IU weekly once for 3 months and the other group were treated with placebo. Before the treatment, the average level of serum Vitamin D was 12.31 ng/ml. After 3 months, it increased significantly to 29.71 ng/ml. Similarly, the pretreatment TNSS score was on average 11.92. After 3 months, the scores fell by an average of 10.65 points, a significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in CRS patients and that vitamin D supplementation in these patients went a long way in alleviating their symptoms.