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The residual effect of low doses of lantana, pine needles and wheat straw phyto-biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C and 450 °C and enriched with 0, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) of micronutrients and S was studied on the yields, nutrient concentration and uptake of second crop, i.e. rice (Oryza sativa L.) after fodder maize to validate their nutrient slow-release characteristics. The residual effect of phyto-biochars averaged over different RDF increased rice grain yield significantly under lantana and pine needles phyto-biochars pyrolyzed at 300 °C, but decreased with pine needles biochar pyrolyzed at 450 °C as compared to the control. The highest grain yield (9.43 g pot−1) was under pine needles phyto-biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C and enriched initially with 75% of RDF, which was 7.8 per cent higher than that with 75% of RDF applied through conventional fertilizer sources. The residual effect of some treatments significantly increased the readily oxidizable C and extractable Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B and S in the soil after rice harvest. For fodder maize + rice crops together, pine needles phyto-biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C or lantana phyto-biochar pyrolyzed at 450 °C with enrichment of 75% RDF of micronutrients and S gave the higher apparent per cent utilization of Zn, Fe, Mn, and S, but numerically closer per cent utilization values for Cu and B in comparison to the conventional chemical fertilizer sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) owns a pleasant colour, good sensory attributes, high nutritional value, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and medicinal properties. Cultivation of different types of mushroom has been accepted as a short-term income generating avenue under crop production for livelihood of the farmers. The present study was carried out to assess the nutritional quality, anti-oxidant activities and economic benefits of pink oyster mushroom at Research farm of G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand during 2015–18. The fresh whole mushroom was assessed for yield and physical parameters. It was exposed to 60±20C temperature for 8 h to prepare dried mushroom powder. The dried powder was used for proximate composition analysis and anti-oxidant activity study. The cost to benefit ratio was calculated on the basis of gross expenditure and net profit incurred in the trial field. The high contents of protein, fat and carbohydrate along with good anti-oxidant property and biological efficiency revealed the mushroom as a rich source of quality nutrients. The yield of 740.60 g/kg wheat straw with benefit to cost ratio of 2.60 depicted economical viability of mushroom farming. The study concludes that, pink oyster mushroom farming can be explored for nutritional security in alleviating the malnutrition with economic benefits to the farmers in Uttarakhand.

Background: Elevated blood pressure and tobacco consumption have been the top two causes of preventable mortality worldwide. Females in the reproductive age carry a higher health impact for self and the offspring when exposed to one or both these risks. An in-depth assessment of the sociocultural determinants of hypertension and tobacco usage in an aspirational Indian state like Odisha is carried out through secondary analysis of the National Family Health Survey-IV (NFHS-4) dataset. Methods: Data of 30,587 women aged between 15 and 49 years were extrapolated for analysis through frequency, percentage and logistic regression model to determine the predictors of tobacco use and hypertension and to correlate the two in the study population. Results: In Odisha, 12.8% adult women were addicted to tobacco, mostly smokeless form (93.3%). High blood pressure was recorded in 7.3% of the respondent females. Increasing age, urban residence, extremes of wealth index, ever married status, obesity, diabetes, and tobacco usage (more for smokeless) were the predictors of hypertension. Education, caste and occupation had no significant associations. Conclusion: Targeted interventions involving gender, marital status, obesity, residence and other socio-economic profiles may be adopted for risk reduction of non-communicable diseases like hypertension in the reproductive age females.

In this work, the excision of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was studied from an aqueous solution using the chemically modified arecanut leaf sheath (CALS) as a novel bio-adsorbent. The as-prepared adsorbent was characterized by using instrumental methods including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The effect of several factors, including solution pH, contact time, and sorbent dosages were examined to identify the optimum condition for the sorption ability. The optimal pH of Cr(VI) biosorption was 2.0, and equilibrium was reached in 150 min. Adsorption was shown to be pseudo-second-order in kinetic investigations, and the Langmuir isotherm with maximal adsorption efficiency was determined as 109.89 mg/g. The spent biosorbent can be easily regenerated and reused. For the biosorption of oxyanions of chromium, both electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange mechanism play critical roles. From the results, the CALS appears to be a potential low-cost effective sorbent to remove Cr (VI) from water.

Epilepsia partialis continua (EPC) is a rare form of status epilepticus and often refractory to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Persistent seizure activity may increase pro-inflammatory biomarkers locally, which may respond to adjunctive corticosteroid treatment, especially in central nervous system (CNS) infections. We report four children with refractory EPC and the effect of adjunctive corticosteroid in controlling EPC. The duration of EPC ranged between 3 days and 7 months. One patient had secondary generalized convulsive status epilepticus. Cranial computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging was abnormal in three out of four patients; revealing old infarction in one, tuberculoma in one, and neurocysticercosis in one. Electroencephalography revealed spike and sharp wave discharges on the corresponding cerebral hemisphere. The EPC was refractory to 2-6 AEDs. Following corticosteroid treatment, EPC remitted in two patients with CNS infection, and those with infarction and cryptogenic EPC converted to discrete seizures. In AED-resistant EPC, a short course of corticosteroid may be helpful.

Introduction: Tobacco is the leading causative factor for both oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer. Tobacco use is higher among lower income population. Low-income population of India are majorly employed as industrial workers. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of oral lesions associated with tobacco related habits among industrial workers. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was conducted among 1000 industrial workers using simple random sampling technique. Information on patient demographics, tobacco related (smoke and smokeless) and other deleterious habits, and clinical examination details were recorded in a structured format. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Results were tabulated using frequency distribution and mean with a standard deviation. Multiple logistical regression was used to analyze oral lesions by different variables. Results: Among the 1000 industrial workers screened, smoking habit was observed in 13.20%, while 86.8% were using smokeless tobacco. The prevalence of tobacco related oral lesions among individuals with smoke/smokeless tobacco habit was 13.8%. The study documented tobacco related oral lesions such as leukoplakia (6.5%), oral submucous fibrosis (2%), smoker’s palate (2.7%), tobacco related pigmentation (1.9%), erythroplakia (0.3%), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (0.2%). Conclusion: The study documented potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer among users with tobacco related habits. The results also revealed that higher prevalence of potentially malignant disorders over oral cancer. Thus, preventive programs for early detection of oral precancer and oral cancer such as tobacco cessation, tobacco counselling programs are emphasized for industrial workers.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of NovaMin™ (SHY-NM) and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF) (tooth mousse plus™) on enamel remineralization using DIAGNOdent® and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Methodology: Eighty-six natural permanent maxillary first premolars were selected and randomly divided into two groups of 43 each, Group A (NovaMin™) and Group B (CPP-ACPF). All the samples were assessed using DIAGNOdent® (KaVo) at the baseline, after demineralization, and remineralization after 7 days. Two samples were randomly selected from each group after remineralization to evaluate the surface changes using SEM at × 1000 and × 2000. Results: The mean value of remineralization was highest for Group A NovaMin™ (6.56 ± 0.93) compared to Group B, CPP-ACPF (tooth mousse plus™) (6.02 ± 1.09). The maximum demineralization to remineralization value within the groups showed that the mean values in Group B CPP-ACPF (7.02 ± 3.02) was higher than Group A NovaMin™ (6.42 ± 2.21). The difference in remineralizing potential between the groups and demineralization to remineralization value in within-group comparison was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: On comparing Group A NovaMin™ and Group B CPP-ACPF, Group B CPP-ACPF showed a higher amount of remineralization than Group A NovaMin™. From the present study, it can be inferred that both the experimental groups have the potential for remineralization.

AbstractBackground and aim The fruit of Garcinia is a rich and valuable source of bioactive compounds and is traditionally used for treating wounds and ulcers. The present study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of chromatographically standardized fruit extract of Garcinia cowa (GCE) on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats and its possible mechanisms.Methods The effect of GCE (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was evaluated by determining various gastric ulcer parameters like gastric wall mucus, non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) content, microvascular permeability, endogenous antioxidant enzyme, and gastric histopathological study.Results and conclusions Oral administration of GCE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited significant (p

The fluorinated 5‐membered N‐containing heterocyclic compounds have wide utility in varied fields. The importance of these compounds has encouraged researchers to explore environment‐friendly synthetic techniques for their synthesis. In this context, microwave‐assisted synthesis has proved beneficial for the synthesis of fluorinated 5‐membered N‐heterocycles in an environmentally benign and energy‐efficient manner. Compared to conventional heating, it offers several advantages, including quick heating, short reaction times, higher yields, and fewer side reactions. This article highlights the microwave‐assisted fluorination of 5‐membered N‐heterocyclic compounds along with the synthesis of fluorinated 5‐membered N‐heterocyclic compounds using fluorinated starting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of water availability in sub-humid regions is important due to distinct climatic and environmental conditions. In this study, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) models have been assessed in simulating streamflows in the sub-humid tropical Kabini basin in Kerala, India, spanning 1260 km2. Calibration and validation utilized daily weather data from 1997 to 2015 from the Muthankera gauging station. The study investigated the impact of routing methods on runoff simulation in the ArcSWAT, exploring Muskingum and Variable Storage methods. Evaluation metrics encompassed Nash–Sutcliffe Efïciency (NSE), Coefficient of Determination (R2), Percent bias (PBIAS), RMSE-observations standard deviation ratio (RSR), and Peak Percent Threshold Statistics (PPTS) approach for high-flow values. The result indicates that HEC-HMS outperforms SWAT concerning R2 and NSE values during daily calibration and validation. Monthly simulations showed HEC-HMS closely aligning with SWAT (Variable storage), outperforming SWAT (Muskingum). The PPTS approach proved effective in simulating high-flow values. Both models exhibited proficiency in streamflow analysis within the study area, promising predictive potential for future hydrological studies in sub-humid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the dispersion characteristics of slotted photonic crystal waveguides (SPCWs) have been estimated for any arbitrary set of structural parameters using machine learning-based artificial neural network (ANN). The machine learning-based technique yields faster solutions of the three-dimensional eigenvalue equations, which otherwise require substantial time using the conventional plane wave expansion (PWE)-based numerical simulations. Most importantly, the novel contribution of the work lies in estimating the structural parameters of the SPCWs from the given specifications of the dispersion characteristics through an inverse computation. A simple feed-forward neural network has been employed for both the forward and inverse estimations. The computation performances using both the ANN model and PWE simulations are analyzed and compared. The research offers significant implications for the field of photonics. By employing machine learning techniques, particularly ANNs, researchers and engineers can swiftly and efficiently analyze the dispersion properties of SPCWs, facilitating rapid prototyping and optimization of photonic devices. Additionally, the capability to infer structural parameters from desired dispersion characteristics streamlines the design process, potentially leading to the development of customized waveguides tailored to specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral biochemistry and stress physiology is an underexplored aspect of mangroves, which should be investigated as part of preservation and restoration efforts. A thriving true mangrove tree (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk.) and a threatened mangrove-associate species (Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham.) were studied in the Sundarban region of India for seasonal variations in floral odours, non-volatile phytochemicals, antioxidant enzyme activities, and surface water chemistry in surrounding habitat. Both species were found to exhibit significant differences in floral volatilomes, protein contents, antioxidant enzyme activities, total flavonoids, and total phenolic contents between spring and autumn blooms. The bird-pollinated flowers of B. gymnorrhiza also showed considerable seasonal differences in floral anthocyanin and proline contents, indicating vulnerability of the post-anthesis open flowers to environmental factors. Contrarily to previous findings, B. gymnorrhiza floral bouquet appeared to be enriched in various classes of volatiles – dominated by sulphurous compounds in bud stage and terpenoids in open stage. Floral anthocyanins, contributing to the striking colouration of the calyx, were found to comprise cyanidin and delphinidin derivatives. Other glycosides of cyanidin and delphinidin were detected in H. fomes flowers, contributing to visual guides to potential food rewards for pollinating insects. Floral tissue in H. fomes was found to be protected by densely overlapping layers of stellate trichomes containing sesquiterpenoids as phytoprotectants. Comparison of the two floral species suggested that H. fomes flowering is optimized to oligohaline (but not freshwater) vernal conditions; whereas B. gymnorrhiza blooms are adapted for biologically enriched (including abundant herbivores and microbial growth), mesohaline forest habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human gait analysis is a practical approach in medicine and rehabilitation for determining the effect and progression of neurological diseases that cause neuromotor abnormalities. Motion-capturing devices and markers are used in the gold standard methods. These systems, however, have drawbacks: they are costly, time-consuming, and may interfere with the naturalness of the gait. For these reasons, much effort has been devoted to investigating and developing marker-less videography-based systems for gait analysis in recent years. Unfortunately, only a few researchers have statistically compared marker-less and marker-based systems. This research describes two vision-based VGG-GA (Visual Geometry Group-based Gait analysis, version VGG-19) and MS-GA (Marker-less Gait Analysis) for estimating gait parameters. We further validate our predictions by performing a comparative analysis with a reference marker-based approach. Comparing the two gait patterns revealed a high degree of correlation for all joints, with the maximum positive correlation achieved for knee angle being 0.9902 and 0.9886; for shank angles being 0.9754 and 0.9907; and for thigh angle being 0.9952 and 0.9955 using VGG-GA and MS-GA, respectively. Compared to existing marker-based gait analysis methodologies, the presented method enables quantitative measurement of lower limb motions in the sagittal plane, minimizing the experimental setting and lowering costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous fluoride ( F - ) pollution is a global threat to potable water security. The present research envisions the development of novel adsorbents from indigenous Limonia acidissima L. (fruit pericarp) for effective aqueous defluoridation. The adsorbents were characterized using instrumental analysis, e.g., TGA-DTA, ATR-FTIR, SEM–EDS, and XRD. The batch-mode study was performed to investigate the influence of experimental variables. The artificial neural network (ANN) model was employed to validate the adsorption. The dataset was fed to a backpropagation learning algorithm of the ANN (BPNN) architecture. The four-ten-one neural network model was considered to be functioning correctly with an absolute-relative-percentage error of 0.633 throughout the learning period. The results easily fit the linearly transformed Langmuir isotherm model with a correlation coefficient (R 2) > 0.997. The maximum F - removal efficiency was found to be 80.8 mg/g at the optimum experimental condition of pH 7 and a dosage of 6 g/L at 30 min. The ANN model and experimental data provided a high degree of correlation ( R 2 = 0.9964), signifying the accuracy of the model in validating the adsorption experiments. The effects of interfering ions were studied with real F - water. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model showed a good fit to the equilibrium dataset. The performance of the adsorbent was also found satisfactory with field samples and can be considered a potential adsorbent for aqueous defluoridation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tamarind Kernel Powder (TKP) and its biosorbents that went through chemical modification are crucial for removing heavy metals from industrial effluents including Fe2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Zn2+. TKP is a natural polymer that is fully non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable and belongs to the group of natural gums. It has a matrix made of hydrophilic polysaccharides, which has been utilized for the generating chelating resins. The chelating resin, based on tamarind kernel powder and containing a 6-Amino hexanoic acid, has been created in the current work. FTIR, TGA, SEM, ion exchange capacity and other physicochemical characteristics were used to characterize the TAMHA resin. At different pH the preferences, the "Kd" values of these dangerous metal ions were also computed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral leukoplakia (OLP) is one the most common potentially malignant disorders account 0.2 to 4.9% of malignant transformation and dysplastic lesions vary from 3-6% this rate of malignant conversion depends on the different grades of epithelial dysplasia. Recent literature suggests that increased levels of COX-2 in potentially malignant disorders and malignant tumors show prominent genetic evidence in tumorigenesis. Assessment of Cyclooxygenase-2 - 2 (COX-2) immunohistochemical expression in different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia. Material and Methods: A total of forty formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were obtained from departmental archives which are histopathological diagnoses of different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia each grade ten samples was included. Stained with COX-2 and positive cells were counted and tabulated for statistical analysis. Results: Comparison between genders in oral leukoplakia males was more when compared with females. The mean age in mild epithelial dysplasia was more when compared with moderate and severe epithelial dysplasia. Expression of COX-2 was increased from mild to severe epithelial dysplasia increases. The mean number of positive cells was increased. A comparison of all groups was not statistically significant (p=0.05). Conclusion: Oral leukoplakia (OLP) is one the most common potentially malignant disorders which accounts for 0.2 to 4.9% of malignant transformation. COX-2 can be used for early detection and prognostic makers in different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]