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Anthropogenic activities like heavy metal pollution exert the most devastating effect on agriculture. Siderophores are small peptides capable to chelate iron and different heavy metals; thereby reduce metal toxicity. However, very little information is available about their physiology (siderophore types, effect of temperature, pH, toxic metals), and especially of their gene expression patterns. Here, we have carried out a detailed study on siderophore production dynamics along with their gene expression pattern in Enterobacter sp. DRP3. DRP3 was able to produce two different types of siderophores hydroxamate type (19.81 µg ml -1 ) during early stages and catecholate type (59.52 µg ml -1 ) later stages of its growth, especially at pH-6.8. DRP3 was able to produce similar concentrations of siderophores even under high lead concentrations. Further whole genome analysis has revealed the presence of enterobactin and aerobactin gene clusters. Quantitative real-time PCR observed a 5.02-fold and 1.90-fold overexpression of the enterobactin biosynthesis genes entC and entF, respectively, and a 3.12-fold upregulation of the aerobactin biosynthesis gene iucC in the absence of exogenously added Fe 3+ by DRP3. Our study also highlighted that following root colonization DRP3 is excellent in mitigating Pb(II) stress in rice seedlings while promoting iron content and reducing lead content in plant tissue., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. holds a longstanding reputation as a traditional folk remedy in East Asia, where it has been employed to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions, nephritis, hepatitis and cancer. Despite its extensive use, there exists a paucity of research examining its efficacy in managing thyroid disorders and diabetes. Moreover, the bioactive components responsible for modulating the molecular pathways remain elusive., Objectives: This research aimed to determine the key bioactive components in the ethanolic extract of H. cordata Thunb. (HCEE) responsible for its thyroid-modifying properties and examine its effects on rats with experimentally induced hypothyroidism and diabetes., Methods: Molecular docking was performed to investigate the possible mechanisms of thyroid regulation of HCEE constituents. Researchers induced hypothyroidism in rats by adding 6-propyl-2-thiouracil to their drinking water for a period of four weeks. To induce diabetes, the rats received an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The animals were then given daily oral doses of HCEE (500 mg/kg b.w.), levothyroxine (50 mg/kg b.w.), or glibenclamide (5 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days. Following this treatment, standard methods were employed to measure biochemical parameters in the rats' serum., Results: The results demonstrate that HCEE ameliorated hypothyroidism by increasing serum T3 (14.38%) and T4 (125.96%) levels and decreasing TSH ( p < 0.01; -41.75%) levels. In diabetic rats with induced hypothyroidism, HCEE significantly ( p < 0.001) increased T3 (149.51%) and T4 (73.54%) levels with reduced TSH (-64.39%) levels. In silico analysis demonstrated that the identified bioactive compounds from HCEE may enhance thyroid hormone function through interaction with the thyroid hormone receptor protein TRβ1 (PDB:3GWS), similar to the conventional pharmaceuticals levothyroxine and triiodothyronine (T3)., Conclusions: HCEE exhibits potential as a natural alternative to synthetic medications in the prevention and treatment of thyroid dysfunctions.

Microplastics (MPs) have become ubiquitous in the environment, prompting significant concern among ecotoxicologists due to their potential toxic effects. These particles originate from various sources, including the fragmentation of larger plastic debris (secondary microplastics) and consumer products such as liquid soaps, exfoliants, and cleaning agents. The widespread use of plastics, coupled with inadequate waste management, poses a growing threat to ecosystem health worldwide. MPs are plastic particles composed of high-molecular-weight polymers that exhibit biochemical stability. Plastics break down into MPs and even smaller nanoplastics through various degradation mechanisms, such as exposure to UV radiation from sunlight and other environmental factors. Due to their resemblance to certain types of zooplankton and food particles, MPs are often ingested by fish, entering their digestive systems. Once inside, they do not remain solely in the gut; rather, they infiltrate the fish's circulatory and lymphatic systems, eventually distributing throughout various tissues and organs. Microplastics have been found in fish gills, muscles, liver, heart, swim bladders, ovaries, spinal cords, and even brains. The presence of MPs in these organs has been linked to significant adverse effects, including reproductive, neurological, hormonal, and immune system disruptions. This toxicity extends beyond fish, as bioaccumulation and biomagnification of MPs affect other organisms as well, marking MPs as a major anthropogenic stressor that impacts ecosystems at multiple levels. Research indicates that nearly all aquatic environments globally are at risk of MP contamination. Laboratory and field studies highlight fish as particularly susceptible to MP ingestion, though freshwater species have been less extensively studied than marine counterparts. After exposure, fish may suffer various health issues, either directly from MPs or from their interaction with other contaminants. The broader environmental implications of these laboratory findings and the specific role of MPs in increasing fish exposure to harmful chemicals remain topics of ongoing debate. This review aims to contribute to ecotoxicological insights on fish contamination by MPs and outline areas for future investigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Extended ligand conjugation enhances luminescent thermometry in [Dy 2 (diketone) 6 (bipyrimidine)] SMMs, as substantiated by crystallographic, photoluminescence, and lifetime decay analyses. This conjugation facilitates rare direct energy transfer from the ligands' singlet state to the metal centers, as evidenced by the nanosecond excited-state lifetime of Dy(III).

Ecosystem functioning and management are primarily concerned with addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, which are closely linked to carbon stock and species diversity. This research aimed to quantify forest understory (shrub and herb) diversity, tree biomass and carbon sequestration in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary. Using random sampling methods, data were gathered from six distinct forest communities. The study identified 271 vascular plants from 208 genera and 74 families. A notable positive correlation (r 2 = 0.085, p < 0.05) was observed between total tree density and total tree basal area (TBA), shrub density (r 2 = 0.09), tree diversity (D) (r 2 = 0.58), shrub diversity (r 2 = 0.81), and tree species richness (SR) (r 2 = 0.96). Conversely, a negative correlation was found with the concentration of tree dominance (CD) (r 2 = 0.43). The Quercus leucotrichophora , Rhododendron arboreum and Quercus floribunda (QL-RA-QF) community(higher altitudinal zone) exhibited the highest tree biomass (568.8 Mg ha -1 ), while the ( Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora ) PR-QL (N) community (lower altitudinal zone) in the north aspect showed the lowest (265.7 Mg ha -1 ). Carbon sequestration was highest in the Quercus leucotrichophora , Quercus floribunda and Rhododendron arboreum (QL-QF-RA) (higher altitudinal zone) community (7.48 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ) and lowest in the PR-QL (S) (middle altitudinal zone) community in the south aspect (5.5 Mg ha -1 yr -1 ). The relationships between carbon stock and various functional parameters such as tree density, total basal area of tree and diversity of tree showed significant positive correlations. The findings of the study revealed significant variations in the structural attributes of trees, shrubs and herbs across different forest stands along altitudinal gradients. This current study's results highlighted the significance of wildlife sanctuaries, which not only aid in wildlife preservation but also provide compelling evidence supporting forest management practices that promote the planting of multiple vegetation layers in landscape restoration as a means to enhance biodiversity and increase resilience to climate change. Further, comprehending the carbon storage mechanisms of these forests will be critical for developing environmental management strategies aimed at alleviating the impacts of climate change in the years to come.

Integration of different active sites by heterostructure engineering is pivotal to optimize the intrinsic activities of an oxygen electrocatalyst and much needed to enhance the performance of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Herein, a biphasic nanoarchitecture encased in in situ grown N-doped graphitic carbon (MnO/Co-NGC) with heterointerfacial sites are constructed. The density functional theory model reveals formation of lattice oxygen bridged heterostructure with pyridinic nitrogen atoms anchored Co species, which facilitate adsorption of oxygen intermediates. Consequently, the well-designed catalyst with accessible active sites, abundant oxygen vacant sites, and heterointerfacial coupling effects, simultaneously accelerate the electron/mass transfer and thus promotes the trifunctional electrocatalysis. The assembled aqueous ZAB delivers maximum power density of ≈268 mW cm -2 and a specific capacity of 797.8 mAh g zn -1 along with excellent rechargeability and extremely small voltage gap decay rate of 0.0007 V h -1 . Further, the fabricated quasisolid-state ZAB owns a remarkable power density of 163 mW cm -2 and long cycle life, outperforming the benchmark air-electrode and many recent reports, underlining its robustness and suitability for practical utilization in diverse portable applications., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The increasing prevalence of network connections is driving a continuous surge in the requirement for network security and safeguarding against cyberattacks. This has triggered the need to develop and implement intrusion detection systems (IDS), one of the key components of network perimeter aimed at thwarting and alleviating the issues presented by network invaders. Over time, intrusion detection systems have been instrumental in identifying network breaches and deviations. Several researchers have recommended the implementation of machine learning approaches in IDSs to counteract the menace posed by network intruders. Nevertheless, most previously recommended IDSs exhibit a notable false alarm rate. To mitigate this challenge, exploring deep learning methodologies emerges as a viable solution, leveraging their demonstrated efficacy across various domains. Hence, this article proposes an optimized Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for identifying anomalies in network traffic. The presented model uses three optimization methods, i.e., Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), JAYA, and Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA), to optimize the hyperparameters of LSTM. In this study, NSL KDD, CICIDS, and BoT-IoT datasets are taken into consideration. To evaluate the efficacy of the proposed model, several indicators of performance like Accuracy, Precision, Recall, F-score, True Positive Rate (TPR), False Positive Rate (FPR), and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) have been chosen. A comparative analysis of PSO-LSTMIDS, JAYA-LSTMIDS, and SSA-LSTMIDS is conducted. The simulation results demonstrate that SSA-LSTMIDS surpasses all the models examined in this study across all three datasets., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Informed consent: This article is about consent to renewable energy and agricultural research procedures ethics. Ethical approval: No ethical approval is needed., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) are the fastest-growing class in agricultural protection. They target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in pests, stimulating the nervous system at low doses and causing paralysis and death at higher concentrations. NNIs are used in crop protection, seed treatment, forestry, agriculture, and flea control in domestic cattle. Effective at lower concentrations and offering long-term control, NNIs are favoured for their systemic activity. However, due to their water solubility, mobility, and moderate persistence, NNIs easily contaminate adjacent aquatic environments via runoff, leaching, or spray drift. While less toxic to vertebrates, their widespread use poses threats to aquatic and terrestrial organisms, causing neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and reproductive malformations. This review synthesizes research to address knowledge gaps on the environmental impact of NNIs and proposes policies to mitigate their harmful effects on aquatic non-target species., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Herein, the emission characteristics of diammonium N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediammonium (TMPDA) are investigated based on lead iodide (TMPDA)PbI 4 perovskite single crystals correlated with the localized lattice vibrations. Dual emission characteristics are ascribed to the existence of free exciton and bound exciton. The photoluminescence spectra as a function of excitation power and temperature show that structural distortion and exciton-phonon coupling impact emission characteristics substantially. The coupling strength between excitons and phonons in (TMPDA)PbI 4 is estimated as γ ac = 308.96 µeV and γ LO = 62.3 meV, which is much higher than inorganic semiconductors. Further, bound exciton band recombination is significantly suppressed at lower temperatures due to increased localization of carriers. Specific heat deviation from the Dulong-Petit law indicates strong coupling in the lattice. The Debye-Einstein model reveals multiple low-energy localized independent vibrations, leading to phonon coupling with bound excitons. This interplay, along with Bosonic features, significantly influences emission properties. Further, it is observed that photocurrent as a function of the incident intensity follows a law ∝ I 0 α with α = 0.54, attributed to substantial bimolecular recombination of carriers. The findings of the study provide an in-depth understanding of emission characteristics, lattice distortion, and interplay of electron-phonon coupling in DJ phase 2D perovskite system., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) with high-performance and stability is desirable for encouraging the transition of the technology from academia to industries. However, achieving this balance remains a formidable challenge, primarily due to the requirement of robust, earth-abundant reversible oxygen electrocatalyst. The present study introduces a simple strategy to synthesize Co-N x rich nanoalloy with N-doped porous carbon tubes (NiCo@NPCTs). The optimized catalyst is bestowed with high electrochemical surface area, and three dimensional (3D) interwoven N-doped PCTs. Moreover, the presence of dual redox-active sites synergistically promotes rapid mass/charge transfer for oxygen electrocatalysis. These features offer excellent reversibility for oxygen electrocatalysis with a reversible oxygen potential gap (ΔE) of 0.74 V. The NiCo@NPCTs is utilized as an air-electrode for designing ZABs and using the same electrode-material asymmetric supercapacitor device (ASC) is fabricated. The assembled ZAB delivers an impressive peak power density of 298 mW cm -2 and specific capacity of 731mAh g -1 at 50 mA cm -2 , along with high rate-capability, durable round-trip voltaic-efficiency. The as-fabricated ASC also shows exciting performance with negligible fading in capacitance and columbic efficiency after 10,000 continuous charge-discharge cycles at a 10 A/g current density. In addition, ZAB-ASC integrated device is assembled, showing real-time application. Thus, the synthesized electrode-material holds great promise for electrocatalysis and also for diverse energy storage applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Litchi chinensis (Sonn.), belonging to the Sapindaceae family, has historically been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments, including ulcers, gastritis, diarrhea, and infections . Plants in the Sapindaceae family have demonstrated potential anthelmintic effects, while the efficacy of L. chinensis remains barely investigated. L. chinensis seeds are often discarded as waste; however, utilizing these seeds promotes sustainable practices and may provide a natural alternative to conventional anthelmintics. The study aims to investigate the qualitative phytochemicals and evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of L. chinensis seed ethanolic extract (LCSE)., Methods: Fresh L. chinensis fruits were collected from a local market, peeled fruits and removed aril from the seeds and then washed, air-dried and extracted with ethanol. A qualitative phytochemical screening and assessment of the anthelmintic properties of LCSE were conducted using standard procedures. The time required for paralysis and death of adult earthworms ( Eisenia fetida ) was assessed by analyzing each test solution at five distinct dosages (5, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/mL). Albendazole served as the standard, while distilled water functioned as the control. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test in GraphPad Prism version 10.1.2., Results: Qualitative analysis revealed that LCSE is rich in phytochemicals, including alkaloids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, flavonoid, glycosides, proteins and amino acids, phenols, terpenoids, and tannins. The anthelmintic activities of the LCSE and albendazole were dose-dependent, as the time required for paralysis and mortality decreased in proportion to the concentrations increased. LCSE exhibited strong anthelmintic efficacy at a concentration of 100 mg/mL (paralysis 12.67 ± 0.33, death 14 ± 0.58), which was significantly greater than that of albendazole (paralysis 15 ± 1.15, death 17.67 ± 1.15)., Conclusion: This finding suggests that LCSE holds potent anthelmintic properties, making it a promising natural alternative to conventional treatments like albendazole., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute.)

Background: COVID-19 created an opportunity for using teleconsultation as an alternative way of accessing expert medical advice. Bangladesh has seen a 20-fold increase in the use of teleconsultation during the pandemic., Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the influence of service quality and user satisfaction on the intention to use teleconsultation in the future among users of national teleconsultation services during the pandemic., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2020 among users of the national teleconsultation service-Shastho Batayon for acute respiratory infection. A validated mobile health service quality model based on structural equation modeling and confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze the data with SmartPLS (version 3.0)., Results: Among the 2097 study participants, 1646 (78.5%) were male, 1416 (67.5%) were aged 18-39 years, 1588 (75.7%) were urban residents, 1348 (64.2%) had more than 10 years of schooling, and 1657 (79%) were from middle-income households. From a consumer perspective, the quality of the service platform (β=.946), service interaction (β=.974), and outcome (β=.955) contributed to service quality. Service quality was positively associated with user satisfaction (β=.327; P<.001) and intention to use teleconsultation services (β=.102; P<.001). User satisfaction was positively associated with the intention to use teleconsultation services (β=.311; P<.001)., Conclusions: The increase in the use of teleconsultation during the pandemic indicated that such services were potentially used for emergencies. However, the future use of teleconsultation will be dependent on the quality of service and user satisfaction. Our findings are relevant for low-income contexts where teleconsultation services are used to address gaps in service delivery., (© Fatema Khatun, Novel Chandra Das, Md Rakibul Hoque, Kazi Nazmus Saqeeb, Monjur Rahman, Kyung Ryul Park, Sabrina Rasheed, Daniel D Reidpath. Originally published in JMIR Human Factors (https://humanfactors.jmir.org).)

The acute and chronic toxicity of lead to Anabas testudineus was determined in this study using static replacement bioassay testing. During the chronic toxicity studies, an experiment on the bioremediation of lead toxicity using Ocimum sanctum leaf powder was conducted. The 96 h LC 50 values of lead for Anabas testudineus was 1.08 mg/L. Different biomarkers, such as the hepatosomatic index, gonadosomatic index, and fecundity, were significantly lower in fish subjected to 10% and 20% of the 96 h LC 50 values of lead, compared to controls. The 45-day chronic exposure of fish to lead concentrations of 0.2 mg/L and above significantly lowered the number of total RBC, hemoglobin content, HCT (%), plasma protein, and cholesterol while decreasing the level of total WBC, plasma glucose, creatinine, serum AST and serum ALT. The leaf powder of Ocimum sanctum plays a significant role in ameliorating lead toxicity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

This study analyzes the influences of surface reactions on the natural convective flow, temperature, and oxygen concentration distributions in vertically placed multilayered cavities. A mathematical model for this problem is formulated with proper boundary conditions. At first, the governing equations are made dimensionless using the variable transformations. Then, those are solved utilizing the finite element method (FEM), and the stream function is calculated from the Poisson equation. Numerical results show that the maximum stream function is significantly increased while maximum temperature and remaining oxygen concentration are considerably decreased with higher Rayleigh number. On the contrary, the buoyancy force parameter and the Lewis number cause an increase in maximum values of stream function and temperature but a decrease in remaining concentration. For increasing Lewis number and reactant consumption parameter, the flow structure in cavities significantly changes. In addition, maximum values of stream function and temperature are significantly increased with the increase of the heat release parameter. When the opening heights are wider, maximum stream function and remaining concentration are higher, however maximum temperature first becomes lower and then becomes higher. For any value of the parameters, the maximum flow intensity occurs adjacent to the bottom opening of the top cavity of the multilayered open cavities. However, maximum temperature is seen at the top left corner of the top cavity of the system., Competing Interests: The author declares that he has no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author.)

The relationship between early childhood phthalate exposure and early adiposity rebound (EAR) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between 1.5- and 3-year phthalate exposure and EAR and overweight/obesity in 7.5-year-old Japanese children. A total of 452 mother-child pairs were enrolled from the Aichi Regional Cohort of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. The children were followed up at birth and at 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.5 years of age for physical examination. Human biomonitoring of 16 urinary metabolites of eight phthalates was performed at 1.5 and 3 years of age. Latent class mixed models, binary logistic regression, and quantile g-computation were performed to identify body mass index (BMI) trajectories and investigate the relationships of single or mixed phthalate exposure with EAR and overweight/obesity. A one-unit increase in log 10 -transformed 3-year-old Σdi(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (ΣDEHP) exposure levels was significantly associated with 6-year-old BMI in girls. The 1.5-year mono-iso-butyl phthalate and 3-year Σdi-isodecyl phthalate exposure levels were significantly associated with the repeated measures of longitudinal BMIs in girls. Single phthalate exposure showed null associations with EAR or overweight/obesity in the 7.5-year-old children. Σdi-isononyl phthalate, ΣDEHP, and mono-n-butyl phthalate exhibited the highest proportion of partial positive weights of being in the EAR trajectory after confounder adjustment. Phthalate mixture exposure in 1.5- and 3-year-old children was not significantly associated with EAR. Early childhood phthalate exposure was not related to EAR or overweight/obesity in 7.5-year-old Japanese children. However, few phthalates were positively associated with longitudinal BMIs in girls., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Herein, a self-supported, robust, and noble-metal-free 3D hierarchical interface-rich Fe-doped Co-LDH@MoS 2 -Ni 3 S 2 /NF heterostructure electrocatalyst has been prepared through a controllable two-step hydrothermal process. The resultant electrode shows low overpotential of ~95 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), ~220 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and the two-electrode system requires only a cell voltage of ~1.54 V at 10 mA cm -2 current density, respectively. Extensive ab initio calculations were carried out to find out the overpotential for HER, orbital interaction through the determination of electron density of states and quantification of charge transfer by Bader charge analysis. The computed overpotential matched closely with the experimental data. The superior HER performance of the tri-layer is enhanced due to the charge transfer (1.7444 e) to Fe-doped Co-LDH from Ni 3 S 2 -MoS 2 hybrid. This research strategy paves an effective pathway for affordable green H 2 production and future efficient non-precious bifunctional electrocatalyst design for overall water electrolysis., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The literature review suggested that the audio signal-modified shuttle walk test (SWTSR) was equally reliable and valid when compared to the conventional shuttle walk test. A comparison of SWTSR with the six-minute walk test (6MWT), which is considered the gold standard in walk tests, allowed us to evaluate the SWTSR and determine its validity and reliability as an alternative or supplement to the 6MWT. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between the distances walked during a SWTSR and the 6MWT in healthy, normal adults. The study recruited 42 healthy normal adults who underwent 6MWT and SWTSR on the same day. The correlation was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient, and agreement between the tests was assessed using a Bland-Altman plot. Additionally, the acceptability of the modified test in comparison to the 6MWT was assessed by the Likert scale. The distances walked (mean ± standard deviation) in the 6MWT and SWTSR were 693.8±58.3 and 951.4±139.7 m, respectively (Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.918). The distance covered by the study participants in the 6MWT and SWTSR showed a strong correlation with spirometry results. The SWTSR induced a greater physiological response compared to the 6MWT. The acceptability of the SWTSR was comparable to that of the 6MWT. The distance walked in the SWTSR shows a strong positive correlation with the 6MWT and has comparable acceptability with the 6MWT. The SWTSR may provide a better index of the patient's ability for his activities of daily living and may be a better measure for studying exercise tolerance than the 6MWT in certain clinical settings.

Our previous study explored the bacterial endophytic diversity in a certain quantity of mustard seeds using culture dependent method by development of new isolation strategies. No bacterial colony was initially observed in supernatant obtained after centrifugation of mustard seed suspension. This was later overcome by usage of surfactant whereas pellet part showed presence of bacterial colonies on media. In our present study, presence of bacteria was examined in supernatant and whether the diversity was similar to that of pellet and seeds by culture independent approach. In addition, growth of bacterial colonies on media is explained using GC-MS. In this study, Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phyla followed by Firmicutes in pellet, supernatant and seed. This indicated that bacteria were present in supernatant but may not be viable when plated on media. This is either due to antimicrobial compounds or oil-imposed difficulty during their isolation which might have hindered their survival. GC-MS study revealed the presence of compounds with antimicrobial property as suggested by previous literature. Our research conducts fundamental investigations to address the primary objective of understanding the bacterial diversity in mustard seed, pellet, and supernatant. Further research using workflows of metagenomics and metabolomics approaches can enrich our understanding ofthe diversity of microorganisms in seeds., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose., (© Association of Microbiologists of India 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Background:  Azo dyes featuring one (monoazo) or several intramolecular NQN bonds are utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries. The food azo dye chocolate brown HT (E155) adversely affects hepatic and renal function upon prolonged consumption. This study aimed to assess the carcinogenic potential of E155 in the development of mammary tumors and breast cancer., Methods:  A total of 20 female Long-Evans rats (eight to nine weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups, each consisting of four rats. The control (female control) group received a regular diet, whereas the positive control (female positive control) group received 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. The remaining three groups received 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day E155 for 40 weeks. Tumor development, BW, and biochemical, hematological, and histological data were monitored., Results:  BW decreased significantly with increasing dosages in the female moderate dose (FMD) group. Blood counts indicated potential microcytic anemia and inflammation in the treatment groups, especially in the female high-dose (FHD) group. E155 dose-dependently impaired renal function and increased blood creatinine and uric acid levels. Elevated serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase levels indicate abnormal liver function. FHD animals had more tumors and larger sizes. Higher alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and cancer antigen levels were detected even at low doses. Histopathological analysis revealed that E155 causes mammary gland fibroadenomas, ductal carcinoma in situ, and hyperplasia. It also causes circular layer granulomas, fibrosis, and crypt abscesses in the intestines of FMD and FHD., Conclusion:  The current study suggests that prolonged exposure to E155 may result in a higher incidence of mammary tumors, indicating an elevated risk for the onset of breast cancer., Competing Interests: Human subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve human participants or tissue. Animal subjects: The Ethics Committee of Islamic University Issued protocol number FBS/ERC/IU-2021/05. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: The authors T. M. Tawabul Islam and Mustakin Ahmed Shohel are affiliated with Parul University, India, under the supervision of the author Ivvala Anand Shaker, who has recently transferred to a new institution. Prior to their enrollment at Parul University, they obtained their M.Sc. degrees from Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. Consequently, they maintain affiliations with both Parul University, and Islamic University. The author Abul Kashem Tang, Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, served as a co-supervisor and facilitated access to the animal laboratory of the Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Islamic University, for the conduct of their research., (Copyright © 2024, Islam et al.)

The current research effort is focused on improving the effective use of the multiple disparate sources of data available by proposing a novel maximum likelihood based probabilistic data fusion approach for modeling residential energy consumption. To demonstrate our data fusion algorithm, we consider energy usage by fuel type variables (for electricity and natural gas) in residential dwellings as our dependent variable of interest, drawn from residential energy consumption survey (RECS) data. The national household travel survey (NHTS) dataset was considered to incorporate additional variables that are not available in the RECS data. With a focus on improving the model for the residential energy use by fuel type, our proposed research provides a probabilistic mechanism for appropriately fusing records from the NHTS data with the RECS data. Specifically, instead of strictly matching records with only common attributes, we propose a flexible differential weighting method (probabilistic) based on attribute similarity (or dissimilarity) across the common attributes for the two datasets. The fused dataset is employed to develop an updated model of residential energy use with additional independent variables contributed from the NHTS dataset. The newly estimated energy use model is compared with models estimated RECS data exclusively to see if there is any improvement offered by the newly fused variables. In our analysis, the model fit measures provide strong evidence for model improvement via fusion as well as weighted contribution estimation, thus highlighting the applicability of our proposed fusion algorithm. The analysis is further augmented through a validation exercise that provides evidence that the proposed algorithm offers enhanced explanatory power and predictive capability for the modeling energy use. Our proposed data fusion approach can be widely applied in various sectors including the use of location-based smartphone data to analyze mobility and ridehailing patterns that are likely to influence energy consumption with increasing electric vehicle (EV) adoption., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Bhowmik et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including acenaphthene, pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems by harming vital organisms such as benthic invertebrates. This study evaluated the impact of environmentally relevant concentrations of acenaphthene on Tubifex tubifex, focusing on sublethal acute toxicity and subchronic biomarker responses. Key biomarkers assessed included histopathological changes and the modulation of antioxidant enzymes: catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, the study examined structure-activity relationships and species sensitivity distribution (SSD). Concentrations exceeding the solubility threshold of acenaphthene (3.9 mg/L) triggered distinct, concentration-dependent behavioral responses in Tubifex tubifex, such as clumping, mucus secretion, and body wrinkling. Prolonged exposure exacerbated these behavioral dysfunctions, while subchronic exposure resulted in significant histopathological alterations, including epithelial hyperplasia, inflammation, edema, fibrosis, and degenerative changes. The edematic appearance of the body wall suggested a potential immune response to exposure. Furthermore, increased activities of CAT, SOD, and GST indicated oxidative stress in the worms. The study found a 1.5-fold increase in CAT and GST activity, a fivefold increase in SOD, and a striking 100-fold increase in MDA levels compared to controls, signifying an overwhelmed antioxidant defense system and potential cellular disruption. The SSD curve revealed hazard concentrations (HC50 and HC90), indicating that Tubifex tubifex exhibited lower sensitivity to acenaphthene compared to other taxa. In silico analysis and read-across models confirmed the potential of acenaphthene to induce significant oxidative stress upon exposure. The correlation between biomarker responses and structure-activity relationship analysis highlighted the aromatic nature of acenaphthene as a key factor in generating reactive metabolites, inhibiting antioxidant enzymes, and promoting redox cycling, ultimately contributing to adverse outcomes. These findings, coupled with behavioral responses and SSD curve inferences, underscore the importance of the solubility threshold of acenaphthene as a critical benchmark for evaluating its ecological impact in aquatic environments., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based films have drawn significant attention owing to their potential applications in various industries. The application of wax to PVA films enhanced their resistance to dissolution and water infiltration. Nevertheless, waxed PVA films often exhibit inadequate mechanical properties owing to crack formation. In this study, we evaluated the impact of glycerol as a plasticizer in varying concentrations of Carnauba wax (CW). The addition of glycerol to the PVA/CW blend led to enhanced mechanical properties compared to the blend without glycerol. The functional group and morphology of the blends confirm glycerol compatibility with PVA/CW films. Glycerol was fully dispersed to form a consistent polymer matrix and equally improved the film's contact angle. Furthermore, the thermal property from differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis highlights the plasticizing effect of glycerol in PVA/CW films, potentially broadening their use in food packaging and wrapping applications.

The polyphagous phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing Stem rot disease is a major biotic stress in Brassica, and affects the yield and quality in various crops of agricultural significance. It affects the crop at pre-maturity which causes a reduction in the seed yield and deteriorates the oil quality in rapeseeds and Indian mustard globally. The hemibiotrophic nature and long persistence in the soil as sclerotia have made this pathogen difficult to manage through conventional agronomical practices. Hence, for alternative strategies, it is important to understand the basic aspects of the pathogen and the pathogenesis processes in the host. The current developments in technologies for omics studies including whole-genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes have deciphered various genes, transcription factors, effectors and their target molecules involved in interaction, disease establishment and pathogen progress in the host tissues. The current review encompasses the studies that were conducted to decipher the Brassica-S. sclerotiorum pathosystem and the molecular factors identified through multi-omics studies for their application in building resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot disease in the susceptible cultivars of oilseed Brassica., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is moderately sensitive to salinity. Seed priming and exogenous supplementation are technique that enhances germination, growth, and crop yield by overcoming salt stress. Therefore, this study was designed to understand the role of seed priming and copper (Cu) supplementation in modulating salt tolerance in eggplant. When exposed to salt stress, eggplant seedlings showed significantly higher Na +  content, an increased Na/K ratio, prolonged mean germination time, higher relative water loss, more days to flower bud initiation and first flowering, along with decreased germination rate, growth factors, water content, photosynthetic pigments, ionic contents (K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ), and yield. The results demonstrated that the germination rate, final germination percentage, germination index, germination energy, and seed vigor index significantly improved, while the mean germination time decreased in Cu-primed seeds. The results also revealed that Cu supplementations increased seedling traits, leaf water content, photosynthetic pigment contents, ionic contents (K + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ ), and yield while decreasing the contents of Na + , and Na/K ratio, mean germination time, relative water loss, days to flower bud initiation, and days to 1st flowering under salt stress. Germination of seeds, seedlings growth traits, plant water status, plant pigments, yield, and ionic contents with the NaCl and Cu treatments were found to substantially interact with each other according to both hierarchical clustering and PCA. Overall, Cu seed priming and exogenous supplementation emerged as a promising strategy to enhance salt tolerance and promote germination, growth, and yield by regulating water status, photosynthetic pigments, and ion homeostasis in eggplant seedlings under NaCl stress. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of Cu-mediated stress alleviation in eggplant, with implications for sustainable crop production in saline environments., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study assessed the toxicity of the Sheathmar pesticide on Oreochromis mossambicus. The 96-h median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) was determined using probit analysis, with survivability assessed using general threshold survival models (GUTS). Over 45 days, fish exposed to sublethal Sheathmar doses were studied for changes in growth, blood profiles, and liver enzymes. According to the findings, the LC 50 values of Sheathmar for Oreochromis mossambicus at different time intervals were determined as follows: 3016.64 µg/l at 24 h, 2723.13 µg/l at 48 h, 2415.45 µg/l at 72 h, and 2154.87 µg/l at 96 h. The GUTS-SD model effectively predicted fish survivability after Sheathmar exposure. Sublethal exposure led to significant alterations in growth and hematological, biochemical, and stress enzyme parameters in Oreochromis mossambicus. Moreover, the correlation matrix, integrated biomarker response (IBR), and biomarker response index (BRI) highlighted significant impacts on multiple biomarkers in Oreochromis mossambicus. Thus, the results underscore the harmful effects of Sheathmar on Oreochromis mossambicus, indicating a need for further study and mitigation., Competing Interests: Declarations Consent to Participate Not Applicable. Consent for Publication All authors consented to publish. Conflict of Interest The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Amomum dealbatum Roxb. parts have been traditionally used as remedies for joint pain, diabetes, muscular rheumatism, antiseptic, and abscesses in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura. Ethyl acetate sub-fraction E3 had significantly inhibited the α-glucosidase (IC 50 5.385 μg/mL). The molecular docking revealed quercetin-3-O-galactoside to be the most potent α-glucosidase inhibitor (binding energy -43.214 kcal/mol). Using the QSAR model, the pIC 50 values of myricetin, gallic acid, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and acarbose were predicted to be 5.65235, 4.39858, 5.65235, and 6.03058, respectively. For the first time, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, myricetin, and gallic acid have been isolated from the flowers of A. dealbatum (ADF). E3 decreased blood glucose level to a near-normal concentration (100.60 ± 2.94 mg/dL) in comparison to diabetic control rats (575.20 ± 24.80 mg/dL). The results have strongly suggested the potential of ADF in treating diabetes. This lesser-known plant has the potential to uncover its full medicinal properties through further in-depth research.

We investigated the potential ecological risks and harm to aquatic organisms posed by anionic surfactants such as α-olefin sulfonate (AOS), which are commonly found in industrial and consumer products, including detergents. This study assessed acute (96-h) and subchronic (14-day) responses using antioxidant activity, protein levels, and histopathological changes in Tubifex tubifex exposed to different AOS concentrations (10% of the LC 50 , 20% of the LC 50 , and a control). Molecular docking was used to investigate the potential interactions between the key stress biomarker enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cytochrome c oxidase) of Tubifex tubifex. Acute AOS exposure showed a concentration-dependent decrease in survival, and the general unified threshold (GUTS) model revealed that survivorship is linked to individual response patterns rather than random (stochastic) fluctuations. The GUTS model also revealed dose-dependent toxicity patterns in Tubifex tubifex exposed to α-olefin sulfonate (AOS), with adaptive mechanisms at lower concentrations but significant increases in mortality beyond a certain threshold, emphasizing the role of the AOS concentration in shaping its toxicological impact. Exposure to AOS disrupted antioxidant activity, inducing oxidative stress, with GST and GPx showing positive associations with surfactant concentration and increased lipid peroxidation (elevated MDA levels); moreover, AOS exposure decreased protein concentration, signifying disturbances in vital cellular processes. Histopathological examinations revealed various tissue-level alterations, including cellular vacuolation, cytoplasmic swelling, inflammation, necrosis, and apoptosis. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated interactions between AOS and enzymes (-catalase, superoxide dismutase, and cytochrome c oxidase) in Tubifex tubifex, including hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions, with the potential to disrupt enzyme structures and activities, leading to cellular process disruptions, oxidative stress, and tissue damage. According to the species sensitivity distribution (SSD), the difference in toxicity between Tilapia melanopleura (higher sensitivity) and Daphnia magna (low sensitivity) to AOS suggests distinct toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic mechanisms attributable to more complex physiology in Tilapia and efficient detoxification in Daphnia due to its smaller size., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Objective: The optimal use of oxytocin for preventing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) faces challenges in many low-middle income countries (LMICs) owing to its storage and transportation prerequisites. We demonstrated Heat-Stable Carbetocin (HSC) for PPH prevention through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 15 public health facilities of the Dewas District of Madhya Pradesh (MP) state in India. This study evaluates the feasibility and appropriate utilization of HSC in public health settings., Methods: We analyzed facility-level data collected between August 2022 and July 2023 from selected 15 health facilities, where HSC was introduced. Prior to the introduction of HSC, all healthcare providers received training on Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL), use of HSC, and recording and reporting procedures. The supply of HSC in health facilities was ensured, and a robust mechanism was set up to monitor the progress., Results: A total of 18,497 women were admitted for delivery in the 15 selected facilities. Uterotonic administration within one minute of delivery was almost universal (99.9%). No instance was recorded of using HSC either for induction of labor or management of PPH. In 636 cases (3.43%), HSC was not given for PPH prevention. Pearson's chi-square test was conducted to assess the relationship between HSC usage and the health facility's level. The HSC use was significantly higher in First Referral Unit (FRU) facilities compared to non-FRUs (p < 0.001). Moreover, the administration of HSC within one minute of delivery was also more prevalent in FRU facilities compared to non-FRUs (p < 0.001). The PPH incidence and case referral rates noted in this study were 0.7% and 16.7%, respectively, with no reported adverse drug events or deaths., Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Our study suggests the safe and appropriate use of HSC within India's public health system., Competing Interests: All the authors declare no conflict of interest. USAID provided financial assistance for implementation through IPE Global as an implementation partner., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc., USA.)

Background: Neutrophils, the most abundant leukocytes circulating in blood, contribute to host defense and play a significant role in chronic inflammatory disorders. They can release their DNA in the form of extracellular traps (NETs), which serve as scaffolds for capturing bacteria and various blood cells. However, uncontrolled formation of NETs (NETosis) can lead to excessive activation of coagulation pathways and thrombosis. Once neutrophils are migrated to infected or injured tissues, they become exposed to mechanical forces from their surrounding environment. However, the impact of transient changes in tissue mechanics due to the natural process of aging, infection, tissue injury, and cancer on neutrophils remains unknown. To address this gap, we explored the interactive effects of changes in substrate stiffness and cyclic stretch on NETosis. Primary neutrophils were cultured on a silicon-based substrate with stiffness levels of 30 and 300 kPa for at least 3 h under static conditions or cyclic stretch levels of 5% and 10%, mirroring the biomechanics of aged and young arteries., Results: Using this approach, we found that neutrophils are sensitive to cyclic stretch and that increases in stretch intensity and substrate stiffness enhance nuclei decondensation and histone H3 citrullination (CitH3). In addition, stretch intensity and substrate stiffness promote the response of neutrophils to the NET-inducing agents phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Stretch-induced activation of neutrophils was dependent on calpain activity, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signalling and actin polymerization., Conclusions: In summary, these results demonstrate that the mechanical forces originating from the surrounding tissue influence NETosis, an important neutrophil function, and thus identify a potential novel therapeutic target., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: With recent advancements in bronchoscopic procedures, data on the best modality to sample peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) is lacking, especially comparing bronchoscopy with computed tomography-guided transthoracic biopsy or needle aspiration (CT-TBNA)., Methods: We performed a meta-analysis, pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis on studies reporting diagnostic yield and complications with the use of CT-TBNA, radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS), virtual bronchoscopy (VB), electromagnetic navigation (EMN) or robot-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) to sample PPLs. The primary outcome was diagnostic yield and the secondary outcome was complications. We estimated the relative risk ratios using a random-effects model and used the frequentist approach for the network meta-analysis. We performed extensive analysis to assess the heterogeneity including reporting bias, publication bias, subgroup and meta-regressional analysis. We assessed the quality of the studies using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) and QUADAS-Comparative (QUADAS-C)., Results: We included 363 studies. The overall pooled diagnostic yield was 78.1%, the highest with CT-TBNA (88.9%), followed by RAB (84.8%) and the least with rEBUS (72%). In the pairwise meta-analysis, only rEBUS showed inferiority to CT-TBNA. The network meta-analysis ranked CT-TBNA as likely the most effective approach followed by VB, EMN and RAB, while rEBUS was the least effective, with a low-GRADE certainty. CT-TBNA had the highest rate of complications., Conclusion: Although CT-TBNA is the most effective approach to sample PPLs, RAB has a comparable diagnostic yield with a lesser complication rate. Further prospective studies are needed comparing CT-TBNA and RAB., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: All authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

An increase of cholesterol concentration within the artery obstructs arterial blood flow once it deposits alongside the arterial wall. This results in atherosclerosis. Carcinogenesis causes a quicker clearance of vascular cholesterol to meet the demands of tumour cell development. Both illnesses have an increased concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood. To search the comparative characteristics of cholesterol and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis, a comprehensive online survey using MEDLINE, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar was conducted for relevant journals with key search term cholesterol and cytokines in atherosclerotic and cancerous patients. According to reports, hypercholesterolaemia related dyslipidemia causes atherosclerosis in blood arteries and hypercholesterolaemia in cell nucleus is a reason for developing carcinogenesis. It is also noted that pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in both of the aforementioned pathogenesis. Changes in anti-inflammatory cytokines are only the characteristic features of each kind. Thus, Cholesterol and pro-inflammatory cytokines are intensely interlinked in the genesis of atherosclerotic and carcinogenic consequences., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Objective: Robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (RAB) has emerged as an advanced technology for lung cancer diagnosis. This review explores the three approved robotic bronchoscopy systems: Ion™ Endoluminal (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA), Monarch™ (Johnson & Johnson, Redwood City, CA, USA), and Galaxy System™ (Noah Medical, San Carlos, CA, USA), and their different operational systems. This narrative review aims to summarize their findings and outcomes for sampling peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) suspected of lung cancer., Methods: A search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted for articles and abstracts published between January 2018 to May 2024 using the terms "robotic bronchoscopy" or "robotic-assisted bronchoscopy" for biopsy of PPL., Key Content and Findings: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The introduction of RAB aims to improve the feasibility and safety of sampling PPL. Current literature describes high diagnostic yields with low risk of complications, allowing concurrent hilar and mediastinal staging within the same procedure. RAB can potentially improve early diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary malignancies and survival rate in long term, while progressing towards therapeutic applications in the near future., Conclusions: As RAB evolves, its potential as a "one-stop shop" for diagnosis, staging, and treatment can positively impact lung cancer detection, focusing on improved patient-centered outcomes and reducing multiple diagnostic and therapeutic procedures., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/jtd-24-456/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Journal of Thoracic Disease. All rights reserved.)

The current study investigates the severe effects of commonly employed chemicals, such as phenol, on the freshwater bottom-dwelling annelids of Tubifex tubifex . In an acute toxicity test, phenol's 96-hour LC 50 value against Tubifex tubifex was identified to be 221.552 mg/L. Using the GUTS simulation, which places the GUTS-SD model on top of the GUTS-IT model, it was possible to confirm that the test organism would survive an acute exposure to phenol overall. After 14 days of treatment with 10 % and 20 % of the phenol's 96-hour LC 50 values, long-term bioassays revealed changes in protein levels and in oxidative stress enzyme levels. Total protein concentration dropped during the bioassay, but levels of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GST, SOD, and MDA) increased. The Pearson correlation matrix and the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index were used for examining the relationship between biomarkers, toxicants, and phenol-induced stress. The results show that exposure to phenol is detrimental to the survival and general health of Tubifex tubifex., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The ear ossicles transmit sound from the external ear to the inner ear. The aplasia, hypoplasia, erosion, and trauma to the ear ossicles cause conductive deafness, which can be corrected by ossiculoplasty, for which detailed knowledge of morphometry of the ear ossicles is very essential. So, the study was carried out. The aim of the study is to analyze the morphometric data and correlate it with clinical significance. The study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy using 47 malleus, 46 incus, and 10 stapes of known age, sex, and side. The various parameters of these ossicles were measured with vernier calipers. The parameters were compared with other studies, and associated clinical significance was elaborated. The means in mm of the total length, length of handle, length, and width of the head of the malleus are 6.8 ± 0.5, 4.4 ± 0.4, 2.7 ± 0.3, and 2.6 ± 0.3, respectively. The mean of the total length, width, length of long process and short process of incus in mm are 6.7 ± 0.5, 4.7 ± 0.4, 3.7 ± 0.3, and 2.7 ± 0.4, respectively. The mean of the total height, length, and width of the foot plate of stapes in millimeters are 3.2 ± 0.4, 2.7 ± 0.2, and 0.8 ± 0.3, respectively. The various parameters associated with ear ossicles of different populations were found to vary on the right and left sides and also in different sexes. The data will be of immense use in ossiculoplasty and the designing of prostheses to restore hearing., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Background: Worldwide, a significant number of girls become mothers during adolescence. In Bangladesh, adolescent childbirth is highly prevalent and has adverse effects on children's health and undernutrition. We aimed to identify the relationship between the undernutrition of children and adolescent motherhood, the factors associated with adolescent mothers' age at first birth, and to examine the programmatic factors and gaps influencing children's undernutrition in Bangladesh., Methods: We analysed the 'Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey' BDHS-17-18 data and desk review. To examine the factors associated with adolescent motherhood and its impact on child undernutrition, data from 7,643 mother-child pairs were selected. Child stunting, wasting, and underweight were measured according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) median growth guidelines based on z-scores - 2. Univariate, bivariate, simple, and multiple logistic regressions were used for analyse. We followed the systematic procedures for the literature review., Results: Approximately, 89% of adolescents aged ≤ 19 years were married and 71% of them gave their first childbirth. Children of adolescent mothers (≤ 19 years) were significantly 1.68 times more wasted (aOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.08 to 2.64), 1.37 times more underweight (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.86) and either form 1.32 times more stunting, wasting or underweight (aOR:1.32; 95% Cl: 1.05 to 1.66) compared to the children of adult mothers (> 19 years) after adjusting potential confounders. The factors associated with mothers' first childbirth during adolescence were the age gap between husband and wife 5-10 years (aOR: 1.81; 95% Cl: 1.57-2.10) and age gap > 10 years (aOR: 2.41; 95% Cl: 1.96-2.97) compared with the age group < 5 years, and husbands' education (aOR: 1.29; 95% Cl: 1.04-1.61) compared with the uneducated husbands. In the literature review, we found potential gaps in focusing on the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) program in Bangladesh, from thirty-two programmes only half of them focused on adolescents aged 10-19 years, and eleven programmes focused only on girls., Conclusion: Children of adolescent mothers are at risk of wasting, underweight, and any form of undernutrition. For effective policies and interventions in Bangladesh, it is important to emphasise delaying adolescent pregnancy and prioritising child undernutrition., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A new pyrazole based thiosemicarbazone ligand, 5-methyl-3-formylpyrazole-N(4)-isopropylthiosemicarbazone, (HMP z NHPr i ) (compound I), and its cobalt(III) and nickel(II) complexes, [Co(MP z NHPr i ) 2 ]Cl (compound II) and [Ni(HMP z NHPr i ) 2 ]Br 2 (compound III), respectively, have been synthesized and characterized through various physico-chemical and spectroscopic studies. Both the reported Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes are cationic in nature and behave as 1:1 and 1:2 electrolytes in MeOH, respectively. Electronic spectral features of the complexes have classified them as distorted octahedral ones. IR spectral data (4000-450 cm -1 ) have suggested a monoprotic tridentate (NNS) function of compound I coordinating to the Co(III) ion via the pyrazolyl (tertiary) ring nitrogen, azomethine nitrogen and thiolato sulphur atom; while for compound III, compound I has been found to act as neutral NNS tridentate one, coordinating to Ni(II) via the pyrazolyl iminic nitrogen, azomethine nitrogen and thioketo sulphur. Structural features of all the compounds are confirmed by the single crystal X-ray data. All the compounds reported here have been found to exhibit significant photocatalytic activity towards degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) under UV radiation. Anticancer activity of all the three compounds against cancer cell lines (HeLa and A549) and a normal cell line (HEK293) have been investigated. Compound II has been found to be more efficient against the human cervical cancer cell (HeLa) and the lung cancer cell (A549) than compounds I and III. The ligand and both the complexes display potential activities against both gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis MTCC 7193) and gram-negative bacteria (E. coli MTCC 1610)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There is no potential conflict of interest to be disclosed., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This study aimed to understand the effects of freshwater acidification, driven by industrial runoff, agricultural activities, and atmospheric deposition, on the freshwater mollusk Bellamya bengalensis. By systematically investigating the impact of two common carboxylic acids, acetic acid (AA) and benzoic acid (BA), this research employed diverse toxicological, pathological, and ecological assessments. We explored survival predictions through the generic unified threshold model of survival (GUTS-SD), examined oxidative stress responses, and investigated hepatopancreatic alterations. In the experimental design, Bellamya bengalensis were subjected to environmentally relevant sublethal concentrations (10%, 20% LC50) of AA (39.77 and 79.54 mg/l) and BA (31.41 and 62.82 mg/l) over 28 days. Acute toxicity tests revealed increased LC50 values, indicating heightened toxicity with prolonged exposure, particularly due to the greater potency of benzoic acid compared to acetic acid. The GUTS-SD model provided accurate predictions of time-specific effects on populations, presenting long-term exposure (100 days) LC50 values for AA (263.7 mg/l) and BA (330.9 mg/l). Sequentially, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) analysis across study intervals highlighted the 28-day interval as the most sensitive, with GST emerging as the most responsive enzyme to oxidative stress induced by AA and BA. Histopathological and ultrastructural assessments of the hepatopancreas showed severe alterations, including necrosis, vacuolation and disrupted micro-villi, which were especially pronounced in higher BA exposure concentrations. These findings highlight the health and survival impacts of carboxylic acid toxicity on Bellamya bengalensis, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate acidification in aquatic ecosystems. The broader ecological implications underscore the importance of effective management and conservation strategies to address ongoing environmental challenges., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) on Oreochromis mossambicus, a freshwater fish species. Probit analysis was used to determine the lethal concentration (LC 50 ) of BAC for different exposure periods (24, 48, 72, and 96 h). The viability of fish exposed to BAC was assessed using the general threshold survival models (GUTS) and confirmed with relevant datasets to evaluate model accuracy. Experimental groups of fish were exposed to BAC concentrations equivalent to 10% and 20% of the 96-h LC 50 for 45 days. The study revealed significant alterations in various parameters during sublethal BAC exposure. These effects included decreased specific growth rate (SGR), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Ht) value, plasma protein, and albumin levels, as well as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in both gills and liver. Additionally, an increase in gastrosomatic index (GSI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), plasma glucose and creatinine concentrations, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymatic activities, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were observed in the exposed fish's gills and liver. Furthermore, the study found that glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels initially increased and then decreased in both gills and liver after exposure to BAC. Correlation matrix analysis, multivariate multiple regression (MMR), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), integrated biomarker response (IBR), and biomarker response index (BRI) were utilized to assess the impact of BAC on fish, highlighting significant effects on multiple biomarkers in O. mossambicus following surfactant exposure. Thus, the study provides valuable insights into the toxic effects of BAC on this fish species, emphasizing the importance of monitoring such pollutants in aquatic environments., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Failure of conventional mosquito control strategies to curb the population of vectors have made the humans vulnerable to serious medical problems transmitted by them. This effect has been compounded by global climate change enabling the mosquitoes to cross geographical boundaries and cause trouble in regions where they were initially not found. As such, the scientific community has been compelled to devise alternative and innovative strategies of mosquito control that can be integrated with the conventional practices to implement multi-phasic approach of vector management. Culex quinquefasciatus is one such mosquito species that is reported to be one of the primary vectors of lymphatic filariasis and many other diseases of global health concern. However, not much is known about its breeding habitat ecology and microbial properties that have enabled the species to achieve reproductive success in urbanized habitats. The current investigation was carried out at Digha, West Bengal, India. The region, despite being endemic for lymphatic filariasis, has rarely been explored for its mosquito diversity and/or their breeding habitat characteristics. Therefore, these were attempted. For survey and sampling, seven villages were chosen, namely, Duttapur, Jatimati, Champabani, Padima, Gobindabasan, Bhagibaharampur and Palsandapur. The study showed that Cx. quinquefasciatus is the dominant mosquito species at the sampling sites with the highest density of their larvae being recorded from man-made structures like drains and pools close to human habitations and livestock. The study was, therefore, restricted to Cx. quinquefasciatus. Seasonal abundance showed that they were most prevalent in the monsoon followed by summer. The physicochemical characterization showed their larvae to prefer almost neutral pH (6.9 to 7.3), low chloride concentration (98 to 258 ppm) and turbidity. As far as other parameters are concerned, they were tolerant towards a wide range allowing them to adapt varied habitats in the study areas. The bacterial profiling of their natural habitat waters revealed the presence of Paenibacillus nanensis DGX1(OQ690670), Bacillus cereus DGX2(OQ690675), Bacillus sp. DGX3(OQ690700) and Escherichia coli DGX4(OQ690701). Bacillus cereus was found to have high oviposition attractant properties in oviposition assays. Bacillus cereus was also obtained from the midgut of third instar larvae indicating that they had entered from the surrounding medium and colonized the larval gut. Subsequent tests exhibited the roles of B. cereus in larval development. Numerous plant products have been reported either as insecticides for killing larvae or adult mosquitoes or as repellents for mosquito biting and the best alternatives for mosquito control. Larvicidal potential of emulsified neem oil formulation against the field collected 3rd instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito under laboratory conditions was also evaluated. The information thus obtained can be pooled to generate larval source markers and larval source management practices by altering their habitats that cannot be removed. Furthermore, the time of implementation of these strategies can also be planned., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

An organophotoredox-catalyzed alkoxyallylation of feed-stock olefins, through thianthrenation using a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct as an allylating agent, is described. Site-selective addition of MeOH to an alkene-thianthrenium salt and its subsequent conversion into a nucleophilic radical species forms the basis of this unique difunctionalization strategy. The scope is also expanded into radical aryl allylation.

Temperature is an important control factor for biologics biomanufacturing in precision fermentation. Here, we explored a highly responsive low temperature-inducible genetic system (LowTempGAL) in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two temperature biosensors, a heat-inducible degron and a heat-inducible protein aggregation domain, were used to regulate the GAL activator Gal4p, rendering the leaky LowTempGAL systems. Boolean-type induction was achieved by implementing a second-layer control through low-temperature-mediated repression on GAL repressor gene GAL80, but suffered delayed response to low-temperature triggers and a weak response at 30°C. Application potentials were validated for protein and small molecule production. Proteomics analysis suggested that residual Gal80p and Gal4p insufficiency caused suboptimal induction. 'Turbo' mechanisms were engineered through incorporating a basal Gal4p expression and a galactose-independent Gal80p-supressing Gal3p mutant (Gal3Cp). Varying Gal3Cp configurations, we deployed the LowTempGAL systems capable for a rapid stringent high-level induction upon the shift from a high temperature (37-33°C) to a low temperature (≤30°C). Overall, we present a synthetic biology procedure that leverages 'leaky' biosensors to deploy highly responsive Boolean-type genetic circuits. The key lies in optimisation of the intricate layout of the multi-factor system. The LowTempGAL systems may be applicable in non-conventional yeast platforms for precision biomanufacturing., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

The eminence of transitioning from traditional fossil fuel-based energy resources to renewable and sustainable energy sources is most evidently crucial. The potential of hydrogen as an alternative energy source has specifically focuses the electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS) as a promising technique for generating hydrogen. Development of efficient electrocatalysts to facilitate the EWS process while rationalizing the limitations of noble metal catalysts like platinum has become one of the daunting tasks. Consequently, porous functional materials such as metal complexes (MCs) and graphene oxide (GO) can act as potential catalysts for EWS. Therefore, a composite of GO and a mononuclear bismuth metal complex is synthesized through in situ facile synthesis, which is further utilized as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Several potential electrocatalytic MC@GO composite (BMGO-3,5,7) materials were prepared with compositional variation of GO (3, 5, and 7 wt %). The experimental results demonstrate that the BMGO5 composite exhibits excellent HER activity with a low overpotential value of 105 mV at 10 mA cm -2 and a low Tafel slope of 44 mV dec -1 in 1 M KOH solution. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation on the potentiality of the BMC -GO composite for hydrogen evolution from river water splitting was performed in order to address the issue of freshwater depletion. Inclusion of a mononuclear MC for facile synthesis of functional GO-based efficient electrocatalyst material is very scanty in the literature. This unique approach could assist future research endeavors toward designing efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable renewable energy generation. This is one of the first of its kind, where mononuclear MCs were utilized to develop GO-based functional composite materials for efficient electrocatalysis toward sustainable renewable energy generation.

Aims: Study of rhizospheric microbiome-mediated plant growth promotional attributes currently highlighted as a key tool for the development of suitable bio-inoculants for sustainable agriculture purposes. In this context, we have conducted a detailed study regarding the characterization of phosphate solubilizing potential by plant growth-promoting bacteria that have been isolated from the rhizosphere of a pteridophyte Dicranopteris sp., growing on the lateritic belt of West Bengal., Methods and Results: We have isolated three potent bacterial strains, namely DRP1, DRP2, and DRP3 from the rhizoids-region of Dicranopteris sp. Among the isolated strains, DRP3 is found to have the highest phosphate solubilizing potentiality and is able to produce 655.89 and 627.58 µg ml-1 soluble phosphate by solubilizing tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and Jordan rock phosphate, respectively. This strain is also able to solubilize Purulia rock phosphate moderately (133.51 µg ml-1). Whole-genome sequencing and further analysis of the studied strain revealed the presence of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent glucose dehydrogenase gdh gene along with several others that were well known for their role in phosphate solubilization. Further downstream, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR-based expression study revealed 1.59-fold upregulation of PQQ-dependent gdh gene during the solubilization of TCP. Root colonization potential of the studied strain on two taxonomically distinct winter crops viz. Cicer arietinum and Triticum aestivum has been checked by using scanning electron microscopy. Other biochemical analyses for plant growth promotion traits including indole acetic acid production (132.02 µg ml-1), potassium solubilization (3 mg l-1), biofilm formation, and exopolymeric substances productions (1.88-2.03 µg ml-1) also has been performed., Conclusion: This study highlighted the active involvement of PQQ-dependent gdh gene during phosphate solubilization from any Enterobacter group. Moreover, our study explored different roadmaps for sustainable farming methods and the preservation of food security without endangering soil health in the future., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)