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Obesity, a global health concern, is associated with severe health issues like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory complications. It also increases the risk of various cancers, including melanoma, endometrial, prostate, pancreatic, esophageal adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, renal adenocarcinoma, and pre-and post-menopausal breast cancer. Obesity-induced cellular changes, such as impaired CD8+ T cell function, dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, mild hyperglycemia, and fluctuating levels of leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and IL-6, contribute to cancer development by promoting inflammation and creating a tumor-promoting microenvironment rich in adipocytes. Adipocytes release leptin, a pro-inflammatory substance that stimulates cancer cell proliferation, inflammation, and invasion, altering the tumor cell metabolic pathway. Adiponectin, an insulin-sensitizing adipokine, is typically downregulated in obese individuals. It has antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and antiangiogenic properties, making it a potential cancer treatment. This narrative review offers a comprehensive examination of the molecular interconnections between obesity and cancer, drawing on an extensive, though non-systematic, survey of the recent literature. This approach allows us to integrate and synthesize findings from various studies, offering a cohesive perspective on emerging themes and potential therapeutic targets. The review explores the metabolic disturbances, cellular alterations, inflammatory responses, and shifts in the tumor microenvironment that contribute to the obesity-cancer link. Finally, it discusses potential therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting these connections, offering valuable insights into future research directions and the development of targeted interventions.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB), primarily caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains a significant public health concern globally, particularly in low-resource settings. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), which affects organs beyond the lungs, presents diagnostic and treatment challenges, necessitating improved clinical management strategies. This work was aimed to assess the impact of empirical anti-TB treatment on the outcomes of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis and to analyze the demographic and risk factors associated with EPTB. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted over three years (2020–2023) at PSG Hospitals, Coimbatore. Ninety-two subjects, all with negative microbiological results but symptoms indicative of EPTB, were carefully selected. Results A total of 92 patients were included in the study, all of whom had negative microbiological diagnosis with symptoms suggestive of EPTB. The mean age of patients was 58.14 years, with a male predominance (59.78%). Pleural effusion was the most common EPTB site, with many patients having no co-morbidities. Occupational factors, such as cotton millwork, and lifestyle factors, including alcohol use and malnutrition, were prominent risk factors. Clinical manifestations varied, with fever being the most common symptom. Treatment completion was 65.22%, falling below National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) guidelines, with notable loss to follow-up and mortality rates. Conclusion Empirical treatment for EPTB showed notable improvement in the patient's symptoms and overall health. However, challenges persist in treatment completion, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Early detection, prompt treatment initiation, and comprehensive management are essential to address the multifaceted challenges posed by EPTB effectively.

Background: Disaster mental health is a critical yet neglected aspect in India. Primary care physicians (PCPs) play a crucial role in mitigating mental health challenges following disasters. This study conducted a knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey among PCPs in Karnataka to assess their disaster mental health preparedness. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from February to May 2023 targeting PCPs across 29 districts of Karnataka in a convenient snowball sampling method. The questionnaire review included KAP questions on disaster mental healthcare. A total of 324 PCPs responded. Results: Knowledge scores were moderate (mean: 7.05), attitudes were positive (mean: 9.15), and practices were poor (mean: 0.32). Significant correlations were found between clinical experience and knowledge/attitudes/practices (rho 0.358, P < 0.001; rho 0.147, P = 0.007; rho 0.232, P = 0.003). Conclusion: There is a large gap between theoretical knowledge and practical preparedness in disaster mental health. Training programs and government initiatives are essential to improve preparedness among PCPs.

Background Childhood is the most essential phase in a person’s life as the foundations laid at this stage decide the future. Children are one of the vulnerable groups during any disaster. It is a stressful event that is not easily understood. It is emotionally confusing and frightening and results in children needing significant instrumental and emotional support from adults. Aim To understand the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school-going adolescents. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional research design in which sociodemographic characteristics and the CRIES-13 were administered to all the 312 children studying in 9th and 10th grade from the five selected schools. Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, mean, and percentages were employed to analyse participants’ demographic characteristics. Chi-square, independent t-test, and ANOVA were used for comparison of the data. Results The mean age of the respondents was 15 years (SD 0.98). It was found that most of the children (90.4%) had disturbances in their education, with 10th grade children having more disturbance than 9th grade ones (P value < 0.05). Further, intrusion and arousal were found to be significantly higher among male children than female children (P value < 0.05). Also, intrusion and arousal are significantly higher among 9th grade students, whereas avoidance is higher among 10th grade students (P value < 0.05). Conclusion The study identified that COVID-19 has a profound psychosocial impact on school going-adolescents. This finding highlights the importance of understanding the pandemic’s impact on children from a psychosocial perspective and designing appropriate interventions for them.

Abstract Coagulation factor XII (FXII) conveys various functions as an active protease that promotes thrombosis and inflammation, and as a zymogen via surface receptors like urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). While plasma levels of FXII are increased in diabetes mellitus and diabetic kidney disease (DKD), a pathogenic role of FXII in DKD remains unknown. Here we show that FXII is locally expressed in kidney tubular cells and that urinary FXII correlates with kidney dysfunction in DKD patients. F12-deficient mice (F12 -/- ) are protected from hyperglycemia-induced kidney injury. Mechanistically, FXII interacts with uPAR on tubular cells promoting integrin β1-dependent signaling. This signaling axis induces oxidative stress, persistent DNA damage and senescence. Blocking uPAR or integrin β1 ameliorates FXII-induced tubular cell injury. Our findings demonstrate that FXII-uPAR-integrin β1 signaling on tubular cells drives senescence. These findings imply previously undescribed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to detect or treat DKD and possibly other senescence-associated diseases.

ObjectivesTo conduct a narrative review of the published literature on the localization techniques to identify the best technique for the localization of supernumerary teeth.MethodsAn extensive search of literature published in English between January 1966 and May 2024 was conducted using the “Medline via PubMed” and “Cochrane database” databases. The keywords included in the search were “localization” “radiographs”, and “impacted teeth”, or “un-erupted teeth”, or “supernumerary teeth” or “supernumerary tooth”. The citation lists from the included articles were examined to identify additional reports and a hand search was also conducted. Kappa statistics were used for intra-examiner reliability.ResultsThe initial search yielded 4,864 citations, subsequently examined and supplemented by a hand search to find additional studies. Commonly used techniques for the localization of supernumerary teeth are the horizontal tube shift technique, vertical tube shift technique, vertex occlusal technique, and cone-beam computerized tomography.ConclusionThe most commonly used localization techniques for supernumerary teeth are horizontal tube shift, vertex occlusal, vertical tube shift, and cone-beam computerized tomography. Conventional radiographs only provide two-dimensional views of 3-dimensional structures. Three-dimensional imaging alone can provide accurate data on impacted supernumerary teeth but, the need for this film has to be justified because of the higher radiation exposure.

The peculiarity of Indian cattle lies in milk quality, resistance to diseases and stressors as well as adaptability. The investigation addressed selection signatures in Gir and Tharparkar cattle, belonging to arid ecotypes of India. Double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) yielded nearly 26 million high-quality reads from unrelated seven Gir and seven Tharparkar cows. In all, 19,127 high-quality SNPs were processed for selection signature analysis. An approach involving within-population composite likelihood ratio (CLR) statistics and between-population FST statistics was used to capture selection signatures within and between the breeds, respectively. A total of 191 selection signatures were addressed using CLR and FST approaches. Selection signatures overlapping 86 and 73 genes were detected as Gir- and Tharparkar-specific, respectively. Notably, genes related to production (CACNA1D, GHRHR), reproduction (ESR1, RBMS3), immunity (NOSTRIN, IL12B) and adaptation (ADAM22, ASL) were annotated to selection signatures. Gene pathway analysis revealed genes in insulin/IGF pathway for milk production, gonadotropin releasing hormone pathway for reproduction, Wnt signalling pathway and chemokine and cytokine signalling pathway for adaptation. This is the first study where selection signatures are identified using ddRAD-seq in indicine cattle breeds. The study shall help in conservation and leveraging genetic improvements in Gir and Tharparkar cattle.

Summary: Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have become an important class of anticancer drugs in solid tumors including drug-resistant gynecologic malignancies. TROP2 is a cell surface antigen that is highly expressed in ovarian carcinoma (OC) but minimally expressed in normal ovarian tissues. In this study, we aimed to identify how TROP2-specific ADC, sacituzumab govitecan (SG), modulates DNA damage response pathways in drug-resistant OC. We found that SG induces G2/M arrest, increases RPA1 foci, and decreases replication fork speed, resulting in replication stress in TROP2-positive cells while these were less evident in TROP2-negative cells. In OC in vitro and in vivo models, SN-38 sensitivity and TROP2 expression play key roles in response to either ATR inhibitor or SG alone, or in combination. Additionally, inhibition of translesion DNA synthesis enhances SG and PARP inhibitor (PARPi) sensitivity in PARPi-resistant OC cells. These findings provide mechanistic insights for clinical development of SG in drug-resistant OC.

Abstract Introduction Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently seen in critically ill patients and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. However, the optimal dialysis modality in such patients remains controversial. We examined the hemodynamic tolerability of hemodialysis modalities in critically ill individuals with AKI. Methodology Critically ill patients with AKI who underwent Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), Sustained Low-Efficiency Diafiltration (SLEDD-f), or Sustained Low-Efficiency Dialysis (SLED) dialysis were included in the study. In-hospital mortality, number of dialysis sessions, number of sessions terminated pre-maturely, change in blood pressure during dialysis, and hemodynamic instability during dialysis sessions were noted. Results A total of 264 patients were included, of which 78 received Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), 62 received Sustained Low-Efficiency Diafiltration (SLEDD-f), and 124 received Sustained Low-Efficiency Dialysis (SLED), with a total of 682 sessions among 264 patients. The commonest cause for AKI was septic shock (32.6%, n=43). All CRRT and SLEDD-f sessions were delivered without anticoagulation, and SLED was delivered without anticoagulation in 88.7% of sessions. There was a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure in CRRT compared to other modalities, with higher mortality. However, patients undergoing CRRT were more sicker. There was no significant difference between SLEDD-f and SLED in terms of outcomes. Conclusion SLEDD-f and SLED have good hemodynamic tolerability compared to CRRT. There was no significant difference in hemodynamic disturbances between SLEDD-f and SLED despite a higher proportion of patients on SLEDD-f being more critical.

Background: The concept of comparing “chronological age” vs. that of “dental age” has been well documented. Considering ethnic variations in dental development, the use of population-specific standards for age estimation has been emphasized. Mandibular maturity markers have been successfully employed to estimate the age of a person at the 18-year threshold. No such data are available for the Chinese population, which represents around one-fifth of the global human population. Aim: The aim of this research project was to analyze and grade mandibular third molars using maturity markers in the Chinese population. Materials and Methods: In total, 882 panoramic radiographs (424 females and 458 males) of 16- to 24-year-old Chinese children and young adults were obtained from patient archives. All patients were graded by a trained and calibrated examiner using stages A-D for mandibular maturity markers including Periodontal Ligament Visibility (PLV) and Root Pulp Volume (RPV). Results: The average Age at Assessment (AaA) ranged from 18.79 years for females in Stage A of PLV to 21.59 years for females in Stage D of PLV. The AaA was not statistically significant between females and males across all the stages, for both PLV and RPV. For PLV, the percentage of females below 18 years was 57.14% in Stage A and 17.14% in Stage D. For males, it was 48.84% in Stage A and 14.93% in Stage D. For RPV, the percentage of females below 18 years was 54.72% in Stage A and 12.73% in Stage D. For males, it was 49.09% in Stage A and 14.81% in Stage D. On average, for PLV, 85.30% of subjects were over 18 years of age in Stages C and D, and for RPV, 82.50% subjects were over 18 years of age in Stages C and D. Conclusions: Both RPV and PLV are considered as reliable maturity markers to estimate the age of Chinese subjects in the 18-year threshold. No difference was observed in the average Age at Assessment of mandibular maturity stages between the sexes.

Background: Studies of schizophrenia and homelessness are minimal from the Indian subcontinent. Women with schizophrenia and homelessness in India remain a highly vulnerable group and there is no data to date regarding their clinical characteristics. Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia remains a major factor determining outcomes in schizophrenia. We examined the cognitive functioning of women with schizophrenia and homelessness (WSH) and compared it to an age-matched group of women with schizophrenia living with their family (WSF). Methods: 36 women with schizophrenia and homelessness, and 32 women with schizophrenia who were living with family were evaluated for psychopathology using Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS)/ Scale for assessment of negative symptoms (SANS). Cognitive function was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA)/Rowland Universal Dementia Scale (RUDAS), and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), disability using World Health Organization - Disability assessment Scale (WHO-DAS) and psychosocial factors using a semi-structured proforma. The groups were compared using t-tests and chi-square for continuous and categorical variables respectively. Results: Women with schizophrenia and homelessness were found to have significantly lower cognitive functioning, and much higher disability. Cognition and disability for women with schizophrenia and homelessness differed by 2–3 standard deviations with the mean for women living with family (i.e. z scores). Women with schizophrenia experiencing homelessness (WSH group) exhibited higher literacy levels and previous work experience compared to their counterparts. Those with family support are likely to face reduced pressures to work or earn, which further suggests that premorbid levels of functioning may not be the primary factors influencing the differences observed in cognitive assessments. Conclusions: The study demonstrates significantly higher cognitive dysfunction in women with homelessness and schizophrenia, raising the possibility of much higher cognitive dysfunction being a predictor for homelessness in Indian women with schizophrenia.

This study focussed on the therapeutic management of non-perforating abomasal ulcers in cattle. A total of 442 cattle having gastrointestinal disorders were screened based on the presence of melena and positive faecal occult blood tests (FOBT). Among these cases, only 15 were identified as non-perforating abomasal ulcers and further confirmation was done by serum pepsinogen. Out of this, 12 cases were selected for the study and cattle were divided into two groups, Group II received Inj. Ranitidine @ 3 mg/kg b.wt intramuscular BID for 5 days and Group III cattle received Inj. Pantoprazole @ 1 mg/kg b.wt intravenous, SID for 5 days. The treatment evaluation by clinical improvement, haematology, serum biochemistry, serum electrolytes, rumen chloride, serum pepsinogen, serum NEFA and blood gas changes were performed on day 0 of pre-treatment and day 5 post-treatment in both groups. Pantoprazole @ 1 mg/kg b.wt SID IV for 5 days showed early recovery as compared to ranitidine against non-perforating abomasal ulcer in cattle.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, a Gram-negative bacterium, presents a concerning challenge in healthcare, notably in NICUs and among immunocompromised patients. These abstract reviews its clinical impact and antibiotic resistance through a case report of a premature infant diagnosed with sepsis and meningitis. Despite susceptibility to levofloxacin, resistance to multiple antibiotics complicates treatment. The discussion emphasizes early diagnosis, multidisciplinary care, and stringent infection control measures to mitigate outbreaks. Enhanced diagnostics and standardized antibiotic testing are crucial for improved patient outcomes. This highlights the evolving threat of E. meningoseptica in healthcare and the necessity for proactive infection control strategies.

In today’s world, there has been a significant increase in the use of devices, gadgets, and mobile applications in our daily activities. Although this has had a significant impact on the lives of the general public, people who are Partially Visually Impaired SPVI, which includes a much broader range of vision loss that includes mild to severe impairments, and Completely Visually Impaired (CVI), who have no light perception, still face significant obstacles when trying to access and use these technologies. This review article aims to provide an overview of the NUI, Multi-sensory Interfaces and UX Design (NMUD) of apps and devices specifically tailored CVI and PVI individuals. The article begins by emphasizing the importance of accessible technology for the visually impaired and the need for a human-centered design approach. It presents a taxonomy of essential design components that were considered during the development of applications and gadgets for individuals with visual impairments. Furthermore, the article sheds light on the existing challenges that need to be addressed to improve the design of apps and devices for CVI and PVI individuals. These challenges include usability, affordability, and accessibility issues. Some common problems include battery life, lack of user control, system latency, and limited functionality. Lastly, the article discusses future research directions for the design of accessible apps and devices for visually impaired individuals. It emphasizes the need for more user-centered design approaches, adherence to guidelines such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the application of e-accessibility principles, the development of more accessible and affordable technologies, and the integration of these technologies into the wider assistive technology ecosystem.

Abstract For people with respiratory disorders who need additional oxygen therapy, oxygen concentrators are vital medical equipment. By concentrating oxygen from the ambient air, they function to give the user a greater flow of oxygen-enriched air. The application of lithium zeolite for oxygen concentration in POCs is the most intense part of this work. One kind of zeolite material that may selectively absorb nitrogen from the air to increase oxygen concentration is lithium zeolite. The capacity, effectiveness, and dependability of a POC fitted with lithium zeolite are all examined in this study, along with its overall performance. The findings show that lithium zeolite, which has benefits including high oxygen purity and low energy consumption, is a potential material for use in POCs. The results of this study aid in the creation of POCs for oxygen therapy that are more effective and efficient. This study suggests utilizing an Arduino microcontroller and an HX710B air pressure sensor to measure the oxygen flow rate in a POC. The POC’s oxygen flow channel incorporates the HX710B sensor to monitor pressure variations, which the Arduino uses to translate into flow rate readings. To verify the accuracy and dependability of the system, its performance is assessed under different flow rate scenarios. Lithium zeolites are well-known for having a high selectivity for nitrogen adsorption, which can enhance the concentrator’s oxygen separation process’s effectiveness. Lithium-zeolite-based oxygen concentrators may have a lower environmental effect than standard concentrators.

Abstract The multi-cohort phase 2 trial NCT02203513 was designed to evaluate the clinical activity of the CHK1 inhibitor (CHK1i) prexasertib in patients with breast or ovarian cancer. Here we report the activity of CHK1i in platinum-resistant high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) with measurable and biopsiable disease (cohort 5), or without biopsiable disease (cohort 6). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes were safety and progression-free survival (PFS). 49 heavily pretreated patients were enrolled (24 in cohort 5, 25 in cohort 6). Among the 39 RECISTv1.1-evaluable patients, ORR was 33.3% in cohort 5 and 28.6% in cohort 6. Primary endpoint was not evaluable due to early stop of the trial. The median PFS was 4 months in cohort 5 and 6 months in cohort 6. Toxicity was manageable. Translational research was an exploratory endpoint. Potential biomarkers were investigated using pre-treatment fresh biopsies and serial blood samples. Transcriptomic analysis revealed high levels of DNA replication-related genes (POLA1, POLE, GINS3) associated with lack of clinical benefit [defined post-hoc as PFS

IntroductionIn the evolving landscape of healthcare and medicine, the merging of extensive medical datasets with the powerful capabilities of machine learning (ML) models presents a significant opportunity for transforming diagnostics, treatments, and patient care.MethodsThis research paper delves into the realm of data-driven healthcare, placing a special focus on identifying the most effective ML models for diabetes prediction and uncovering the critical features that aid in this prediction. The prediction performance is analyzed using a variety of ML models, such as Random Forest (RF), XG Boost (XGB), Linear Regression (LR), Gradient Boosting (GB), and Support VectorMachine (SVM), across numerousmedical datasets. The study of feature importance is conducted using methods including Filter-based, Wrapper-based techniques, and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (Explainable AI). By utilizing Explainable AI techniques, specifically Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanations (LIME) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), the decision-making process of the models is ensured to be transparent, thereby bolstering trust in AI-driven decisions.ResultsFeatures identified by RF in Wrapper-based techniques and the Chi-square in Filter-based techniques have been shown to enhance prediction performance. A notable precision and recall values, reaching up to 0.9 is achieved in predicting diabetes.DiscussionBoth approaches are found to assign considerable importance to features like age, family history of diabetes, polyuria, polydipsia, and high blood pressure, which are strongly associated with diabetes. In this age of data-driven healthcare, the research presented here aspires to substantially improve healthcare outcomes.

AimThe first comprehensive chart on dental development was published 75 years ago based on Caucasian children and this has been used as a standard dental chart to date. Few population specific charts have been developed recently and updated dental charts on modern subjects can provide more information on dental development patterns. This study aims to construct a comprehensive dental atlas for modern Chinese children and young adults to assist in clinical, forensic, and public health applications.MethodsThe study sample comprised of 2,306 subjects, age ranging from 2 to 24 years belonging to Chinese ethnicity. Dental formation and eruption of permanent teeth and resorption of primary teeth were analyzed separately for females and males. For each age range, the number of teeth (n), and the stage of development was calculated for first (Q1), second (Q2) and third quartiles (Q3). Similar analysis was performed for the position of permanent teeth and the resorption of primary teeth. To determine the variations between the sex, Mann-Whitney U-test was conducted by comparing the median (Q2) stages.ResultsVariations in dental formation and eruption of permanent teeth and resorption of primary teeth were observed between maxillary and mandibular dentitions and between the sex, however the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.535 to p = 1.000). The dental atlas was presented separately for Chinese females and males.ConclusionThis atlas on modern Chinese population serves as a practical tool to assist in clinical diagnosis and treatment planning, in forensic investigations as well as indicators of developments in public health.

In chicken, the left ovary is functional and the right ovary becomes rudimentary in the later stage of the embryonic development. The expression and genetic polymorphism of the DMRT1 and FOXL2 genes are assessed in order to understand the distinct developing process of gonads in male and female embryonic gonads. In the current study, 19th day Kadaknath chicken gonadal tissue samples were collected from the embryos and RT-PCR analysis and DNA sequencing was done. According to the expression studies, the left ovaries relative expression of FOXL2 was 2.14 and 12.65 factor greater than that of the right ovaries and testes, while the right testis relative expression of DMRT1 was 3.78 and 3.83 fold higher than that of the left and right ovaries. DNA sequence analysis in the left ovary identified a nonsynonymous alteration (c.289C>G) involving histidine to aspartic acid at the 289th position in the FOXL2 coding region. The 51st position of exon 6 of DMRT1 has a G→A transition SNP that is not part of the coding sequence (CDS). Males showed higher levels of the DMRT1 gene than females, while females expressed higher levels of FOXL2. It was found that the DMRT1 and FOXL2 genes are polymorphic. The genetic variability in the gonads and the differences in DMRT1 and FOXL2 gene expression allow learning more about the critical mechanisms underlying chicken gonadal development.

Turmeric cultivation primarily thrives in India, with significant presence in Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia. India leads globally in both area (0.19 Mha) and production (0.844 MT) of turmeric. Despite this, there's a recognized gap in research regarding the combined effects of mulching and drip fertigation on turmeric growth in Tamil Nadu conditions. Therefore, this study aims to assess how mulching and drip fertigation impact water usage, turmeric growth, productivity, and post-harvest soil health via field experiments. The treatments comprise of different mulching techniques (M1-25 μm Plastic Mulching, M2-50 μm Plastic Mulching, M3- Organic Mulching, M4-No Mulching) as the main plot, coupled with various irrigation regimes as the sub plot (S1-100% of pan evaporation, S2- 80% of pan evaporation, S3- 60% of pan evaporation), in a split plot design. Findings show that 50-μm Plastic Mulching (M2) notably enhances turmeric growth parameters, including plant height, biomass, leaf count, and yield attributes such as tillers and rhizomes, compared to no mulch. Significantly, when 80% of pan evaporation is utilized in drip irrigation, it showcases the most pronounced plant growth and yield characteristics, with plastic mulch at this level significantly improving water and nutrient use efficiency while increasing beneficial compounds like Curcumin and oleoresin. The highest fresh rhizome yield is observed with 50-μm plastic mulch and 80% pan evaporation (M2S2), displaying a 39.79% increase compared to the control. Additionally, the study notes effects on microbial populations and mulch degradation. Economically, M2S2 exhibits the highest profitability with a benefit-cost ratio of 3.23 compared to other treatments. Implementing these practices not only enhances yields but also conserves water (estimated at 9.15 mm3) while emphasizing the importance of drip irrigation, fertilizer application, and mulching in boosting turmeric productivity, optimizing resource efficiency, and ensuring economic and environmental sustainability.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized, membranous structures secreted into the extracellular space. They exhibit diverse sizes, contents, and surface markers and are ubiquitously released from cells under normal and pathological conditions. Human serum is a rich source of these EVs, though their isolation from serum proteins and non-EV lipid particles poses challenges. These vesicles transport various cellular components such as proteins, mRNAs, miRNAs, DNA, and lipids across distances, influencing numerous physiological and pathological events, including those within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Their pivotal roles in cellular communication make EVs promising candidates for therapeutic agents, drug delivery systems, and disease biomarkers. Especially in cancer diagnostics, EV detection can pave the way for early identification and offers potential as diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, various EV subtypes are emerging as targeted drug delivery tools, highlighting their potential clinical significance. The need for non-invasive biomarkers to monitor biological processes for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes remains unfulfilled. Tapping into the unique composition of EVs could unlock advanced diagnostic and therapeutic avenues in the future. In this review, we discuss in detail the roles of EVs across various conditions, including cancers (encompassing head and neck, lung, gastric, breast, and hepatocellular carcinoma), neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, viral infections, autoimmune and renal diseases, emphasizing the potential advancements in molecular diagnostics and drug delivery.

Aspect extraction poses a significant challenge in Natural Language Processing (NLP). Extracting explicit and implicit aspects from online text data remains an ongoing challenge despite significant research efforts. Enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of aspect extraction is an important area for improvement. This research introduces Ensemble BiLSTM, a novel approach to aspect extraction that addresses these challenges. Ensemble BiLSTM leverages the syntactic, semantic, and contextual properties of unstructured texts present in BERT word embeddings, along with their sequential properties captured using an ensemble of Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) models. The proposed Ensemble BiLSTM model was evaluated extensively using the SemEval-2014 Restaurant, SemEval-2015 Restaurant, SemEval-2016 Laptop, and Financial Opinion Mining and Question Answering (FiQA) datasets. The experimental results demonstrate its efficacy in extracting aspects from text, achieving 91.28%, 87.39%, 95.85%, and 94.59% accuracy on the respective datasets. These promising results highlight the effectiveness of the ensemble approach and the incorporation of sequential models combined with BERT embeddings. The contributions of this research lie in the aspect category features extracted by the proposed Ensemble BiLSTM model, which can be expanded upon to generate accurate aspect-level sentiment features in future work.

Abstract The marine food‐processing industries were producing large quantities of shell wastes as a discard. Currently, this waste material was underutilized and leads to the landfill as a significant environmental issue. The outer shells or exoskeletons of mollusks serve as the best source of chitin. Three different allomorphs of chitin (γ, β, and γ) were extracted from different species of crustaceans, mollusks, and fungi. β‐Allomorphs predominantly exist in the shells of mollusks. β‐Chitin and its deacetylated product chitosan has been utilized for its special characteristic features, including biocompatibility, environmental friendly, and nontoxic properties. The extraction of β‐chitin and chitosan from the mollusk shell waste were evaluated in this work. Hence, this review aims to explore edible mollusk shell waste sources and its suitable extraction techniques, characterizations, and functional properties of mollusk‐based β‐chitin and chitosan. Further, the genetic pathway of synthesizing mollusk chitin was discussed. The entire life cycle assessment with techno‐economic aspects were extrapolated to study the bottlenecks and tangible solution for the industrial upscaling of obtaining β‐chitin and chitosan from the edible mollusk shell waste have been reviewed herein.

Background and Aims: Decoding pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma heterogeneity and the consequent therapeutic selection remains a challenge. We aimed to characterize epigenetically regulated pathways involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression. Methods: Global DNA methylation analysis in pancreatic cancer patient tissues and cell lines was performed to identify differentially methylated genes. Targeted bisulfite sequencing and in vitro methylation reporter assays were employed to investigate the direct link between site-specific methylation and transcriptional regulation. A series of in vitro loss-of-function and gain-of function studies and in vivo xenograft and the KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx1-Cre) mouse models were used to assess pancreatic cancer cell properties. Gene and protein expression analyses were performed in 3 different cohorts of pancreatic cancer patients and correlated to clinicopathological parameters. Results: We identify Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4A (HNF4A) as a novel target of hypermethylation in pancreatic cancer and demonstrate that site-specific proximal promoter methylation drives HNF4A transcriptional repression. Expression analyses in patients indicate the methylation-associated suppression of HNF4A expression in pancreatic cancer tissues. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that HNF4A is a novel tumor suppressor in pancreatic cancer, regulating cancer growth and aggressiveness. As evidenced in both the KPC mouse model and human pancreatic cancer tissues, HNF4A expression declines significantly in the early stages of the disease. Most importantly, HNF4 loss correlates with poor overall patient survival. Conclusion: HNF4A silencing, mediated by promoter DNA methylation, drives pancreatic cancer development and aggressiveness leading to poor patient survival.

Droughts typically develop gradually, and early prediction is crucial for the government to formulate effective mitigation plans. Our approach does not involve predicting specific drought index values. Instead, we forecast whether a particular year will experience drought. Insufficient investigation has been carried out regarding variations in additional climatic indicators like shortwave radiation, wind speed, sea level, and pollution in the context of droughts in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. In the study period taken from 1995 to 2020, only three years (2002, 2009, and 2017) experienced drought occurrences, resulting in an imbalanced dataset. To enhance the classification performance of this imbalanced dataset, a weighted dataset is constructed using a feature weighting approach known as the Single Objective Scorer (SOS) based Multi-objective PSO(MPSO) in conjunction with the Gradient Boosting Classifier. The proposed model facilitates objective-based multi-population formation and neighborhood learning. Precision and recall are crucial metrics, particularly in measuring imbalanced dataset classification performance. The application of multi-objective optimization techniques helps to strike a suitable balance between precision and recall. In addition to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), 14 climatic indicators based on land, atmosphere, and sea are utilized. By employing the weighted dataset created with SOS-based MPSO, a significant improvement in recall value of 0.81 is achieved. Based on the weights assigned to the features, it is identified that the Mean Sea Level of the Arabian Sea and CO2 are significant indicators for predicting meteorological drought. The Explainable AI techniques SHAP and LIME are employed for interpreting the drought prediction model, providing insights into its workings.

Abstract Megaselia scalaris, commonly known as the scuttle fly, is a cosmopolitan species in the family Phoridae. It is an easily cultured fly species that is an emerging model organism in the fields of genetics and developmental biology. Its affinity for carrion and its predictable life cycle makes it useful in the field of forensic science for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) of human remains. Cases of human myasis caused by M. scalaris have also been reported in the medical literature. Despite its ubiquitous prevalence and its relevance across multiple fields, its morphology has not been adequately characterized. Here, we report the complete morphological characterization of all lifestages of M. scalaris, ranging from egg to adult. Scanning electron microscopy has enabled us to uncover morphological features and developmental processes that have previously not been reported in the literature. Our data lays the groundwork for future genetic studies: a morphological characterization of the wild type must be performed before mutants displaying different phenotypes can be identified. In this vein, we also report the observation of a acephalic, or 'headless’, adult phenotype whose study could yield insights into the process of cephalogenesis. Finally, all morphological features observed have been compiled into an ’atlas’ that should be of use to all workers in the field.

Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is a rare autosomal recessive or X-linked congenital brain malformation with strong genetic heterogeneity. Other neurological features of JBTS include hypotonia, ataxia, developmental delay, and cognitive impairment. Hearing loss with JBTS has been reported in the literature. We present the case of a 3.5-year-old boy born to a healthy consanguineous South Indian couple who was presented with ataxic cerebral palsy (CP) and hearing impairment; medical reports confirmed typical brain malformations of JBTS. Hearing impairment was screened by audiological assessment, which confirmed the presence of severe-profound hearing loss with outer hair cell dysfunction. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to know the molecular aspects of the condition and to detect any novel mutations. The homozygous mutation AHI1 c.2023G > A associated with JBTS type 3 and GJB2 c.71G > A mutation associated with hearing impairment were identified. Sanger sequencing was performed to validate the result and it identified heterozygous AHI1 c.2023G > A and GJB2 c.71G > A in the patient's parents. This study confirms the diagnosis of JBTS by WES helps identify the genetic causes of hereditary disorders that accelerate genetic evaluation and counseling for at-risk families.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) show cytotoxicity in homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) seen in BRCA-mutant ovarian cancer (OvCa). Despite initial responses, resistance often develops. The reintroduction of different PARPis, such as niraparib or rucaparib, has shown some clinical activity in BRCA mutation-associated OvCa patients with prior olaparib treatment, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate the differential sensitivity to different PARPis, we established an olaparib-resistant BRCA1-mutant OvCa cell line (UWB-OlaJR) by exposing UWB1.289 cells to gradually increasing concentrations of olaparib. UWB-OlaJR exhibited restored HR capability without BRCA1 reversion mutation or increased drug efflux. We examined cell viability, DNA damage, and DNA replication fork dynamics in UWB-OlaJR treated with various PARPis. UWB-OlaJR exhibits varying sensitivity to PARPis, showing cross-resistance to veliparib and talazoparib, and sensitivity with increased cytotoxicity to niraparib and rucaparib. Indeed, DNA fiber assay reveals that niraparib and rucaparib cause higher replication stress than the others. Moreover, S1 nuclease fiber assay shows that niraparib and rucaparib induce greater DNA single-strand gaps than other PARPis, leading to increased DNA damage and cell death. Our study provides novel insights into differential PARPi sensitivity in olaparib-resistant BRCA-mutant OvCa, which requires further investigation of inter-agent differences in large prospective studies.

Abstract Background Staphylococcus aureus is part of normal flora and also an opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections in both humans and animals. Livestock-associated S. aureus (LA-SA) has gained importance in recent years due to its increased prevalence in recent years, becoming a worry in public health view. This study aimed to study the epidemiology of LA-SA strains in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods A total of 255 samples were collected from bovine and other small ruminants like goats and sheep nares (n = 129 and n = 126 respectively). Nasal swab samples were collected from study animals with sterile sample collecting cotton swabs (Hi-Media, Mumbai). Samples were transported to the lab in Cary-Blair Transport media for further analysis. The samples were tested for S. aureus using antibiotic selection and PCR-based assays. The pathogenicity of the bacteria was assessed using chicken embryo models and liver cross-sections were used for histopathology studies. Results The prevalence rate in bovine-associated samples was 42.63% but relatively low in the case of small ruminants associated samples with 28.57% only. The overall prevalence of S. aureus is found to 35.6% and MRSA 10.98% among the study samples. The antibiogram results that LA-SA isolates were susceptible to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines but resistant to β-lactam drugs. The biofilm formation results showed that the LA-SA isolates are weak to high-capacity biofilm formers. The enterotoxigenic patterns revealed that most of the isolated strains are enterotoxigenic and possess classical enterotoxins. The survival analysis of chicken embryos suggested that the Bovine-associated strains were moderately pathogenic. Conclusion The study concluded that economically important livestock animals can act as reservoirs for multi-drug resistant and pathogenic which in-turn is a concern for public health as well as livestock health.

Abstract Surface enhanced Resonance Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) is a powerful technique for enhancing Raman spectra by matching the laser excitation wavelength with the plasmonic resonance and the absorption peak of biomolecules. Here, we propose a tunable Tamm plasmon polariton (TPP) cavity based on a metal on distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) as a scalable sensing platform for SERRS. We develop a gold film-coated ultralow-loss phase change material (Sb2S3) based DBR, which exhibits continuously tunable TPP resonances in the optical wavelengths. We demonstrate SERRS by matching the TPP resonance with the absorption peak of the chromophore molecule at 785 nm wavelength. We use this platform to detect cardiac Troponin I protein (cTnI), a biomarker for early diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, achieving a detection limit of 380 fM. This scalable substrate shows great promise as a next-generation tunable biosensing platform for detecting disease biomarkers in body fluids for routine real-time clinical diagnosis.

The eye is an essential sensory organ that allows us to perceive our surroundings at a glance. Losing this sense can result in numerous challenges in daily life. However, society is designed for the majority, which can create even more difficulties for visually impaired individuals. Therefore, empowering them and promoting self-reliance are crucial. To address this need, we propose a new Android application called “The Eye” that utilizes Machine Learning (ML)-based object detection techniques to recognize objects in real-time using a smartphone camera or a camera attached to a stick. The article proposed an improved YOLOv5l algorithm to improve object detection in visual applications. YOLOv5l has a larger model size and captures more complex features and details, leading to enhanced object detection accuracy compared to smaller variants like YOLOv5s and YOLOv5m. The primary enhancement in the improved YOLOv5l algorithm is integrating L1 and L2 regularization techniques. These techniques prevent overfitting and improve generalization by adding a regularization term to the loss function during training. Our approach combines image processing and text-to-speech conversion modules to produce reliable results. The Android text-to-speech module is then used to convert the object recognition results into an audio output. According to the experimental results, the improved YOLOv5l has higher detection accuracy than the original YOLOv5 and can detect small, multiple, and overlapped targets with higher accuracy. This study contributes to the advancement of technology to help visually impaired individuals become more self-sufficient and confident. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-05-011 Full Text: PDF

Abstract We report an intriguing anomalous behavior observed in the temperature-dependent Raman spectra of mono-, bi-, and trilayer molybdenum disulfide samples with sulfur vacancies, measured at high temperatures ranging from room temperature to 463 K. In contrast to existing reports, we observed a decrease in the FWHM of the A $$_{1g}$$ 1 g phonon mode, along with an increase in the relative intensity of the A $$_{1g}$$ 1 g mode to the E $$_{2g}^1$$ 2 g 1 mode, as the temperature increased. This trend becomes less prominent as the layer number increases from monolayer, disappearing entirely in few-layer samples. Additionally, we observed an intensity enhancement in the photoluminescence spectra of MoS2 samples at high temperatures (up to 550 K), which depends on the layer number. These observations are explained by considering the presence of sulfur vacancies, their interaction with the environment, electron density reduction, and a phonon-mediated intervalley charge transfer at elevated temperatures. Our results unambiguously establish that the effect of defects (sulfur vacancies) is more prominently reflected in the temperature dependence of FWHM and the relative intensity of the Raman modes rather than in the Raman peak positions.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) usually affect the population living in poverty, especially in low- and middle-income countries located in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to assess the awareness of NTDs and willingness to participate in prevention and control measures and their associated factors among healthcare students in Asian countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting healthcare students from Asia mainly Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Syria. Data was collected via online Google form and analyzed in both descriptive and general linear model by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: A total of 1115 respondents participated; among them, 66.1% were medical and the majority (>70%) of the respondents revealed their willingness to participate in the prevention and control programmes. Being a medical student (B = 2.00, P

Abstract Sensing the mechanical properties of the substrates or the matrix by the cells and the tissues, the subsequent downstream responses at the cellular, nuclear and epigenetic levels and the outcomes are beginning to get unraveled more recently. There have been various instances where researchers have established the underlying connection between the cellular mechanosignalling pathways and cellular physiology, cellular differentiation, and also tissue pathology. It has been now accepted that mechanosignalling, alone or in combination with classical pathways, could play a significant role in fate determination, development, and organization of cells and tissues. Furthermore, as mechanobiology is gaining traction, so do the various techniques to ponder and gain insights into the still unraveled pathways. This review would briefly discuss some of the interesting works wherein it has been shown that specific alteration of the mechanical properties of the substrates would lead to fate determination of stem cells into various differentiated cells such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, tenocytes, cardiomyocytes, and neurons, and how these properties are being utilized for the development of organoids. This review would also cover various techniques that have been developed and employed to explore the effects of mechanosignalling, including imaging of mechanosensing proteins, atomic force microscopy (AFM), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation measurements (QCMD), traction force microscopy (TFM), microdevice arrays, Spatio-temporal image analysis, optical tweezer force measurements, mechanoscanning ion conductance microscopy (mSICM), acoustofluidic interferometric device (AID) and so forth. This review would provide insights to the researchers who work on exploiting various mechanical properties of substrates to control the cellular and tissue functions for tissue engineering and regenerative applications, and also will shed light on the advancements of various techniques that could be utilized to unravel the unknown in the field of cellular mechanobiology. Graphical Abstract