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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) causes a debilitating fever and joint pain, with no specific antiviral treatment available. Halogenated secondary metabolites from plants are a promising new class of drug candidates against chikungunya, with unique properties that make them effective against the virus. Plants produce these compounds to defend themselves against pests and pathogens, and they are effective against a wide range of viruses, including chikungunya. This study investigated the interactions of halogenated secondary metabolites with nsP2pro, a therapeutic target for CHIKV. A library of sixty-six halogenated plant metabolites screened previously for ADME properties was used. Metabolites without violation of Lipinski’s rule were docked with nsP2pro using AutoDock Vina. To find the stability of the pipoxide chlorohydrin-nsP2pro complex, the GROMACS suite was used for MD simulation. The binding free energy of the ligand-protein complex was computed using MMPBSA. Molecular docking studies revealed that halogenated metabolites interact with nsP2pro, suggesting they are possible inhibitors. Pipoxide chlorohydrin showed the greatest affinity to the target. This was further confirmed by the MD simulations, surface accessible area, and MMPBSA studies. Pipoxide chlorohydrin, a halogenated metabolite, was the most potent against nsP2pro in the survey.

Purpose: Buckwheat is a major traditional crop of hilly regions, capable of growing in adverse climatic conditions. During the survey, it was reported that prolonged consumption of buckwheat leads to digestive problems and numbness. The present study was conducted to study the effect of γ-irradiations on buckwheat to make them suitable for daily consumption. Materials and methods: Buckwheat seeds were irradiated by 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 Gy doses of γ-radiations, to access the phytoconstituent variability using standard methods. Results: Significant (p < 0.05) increase in total phenol, total flavonoid, total antioxidant activity, rutin, β-carotene, iron, calcium up to 6.23, 16.48, 18.62, 19.06, 8.08, 47.66, 32.74% in common buckwheat and 9.58, 16.66, 39.16, 9.19, 9.00, 53.99, 36.75% in tartary buckwheat was found by increasing doses of γ-radiations up to 800 Gy. Significant decrease was found in phytate, tannin, and oxalate content up to 18.92, 17.95, 15.32% in common buckwheat and 24.73, 19.72, 24.07% in tartary buckwheat. Conclusions: It can be concluded that 800 Gy dose of γ-radiation, maximally increased the nutritional value by significant (p < 0.05) increase in nutrients and their bioavailability. This makes buckwheat more amenable for daily consumption to fulfill RDA, by Himalayan population depending on traditional foods without any digestive problem. Furthermore, significant increase in rutin by γ-radiations will be useful to fulfill the demand of cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. But minimization of reduction loss for some nutrients by γ-radiations is the thrust area for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online interactions have become an essential but understudied aspect of our social lives. The current research investigates self-view in video-based interactions, a key difference from face-to-face interactions. Using computer vision techniques for automated gaze analysis, we assessed the relative frequency with which individuals in online interactions gaze at themselves and investigated its links to personality characteristics. We hypothesized that self-referent gaze frequency may indicate participants' public and private self-awareness and explored correlations with the Big Five and narcissism. We included trait and state measures from self- and other-reports. Surprisingly, self-referent gaze was not reliably related to these variables. We discuss the relevance of these findings for challenging common beliefs about the diagnostic value of self-referent gaze behavior in online interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometrial cancer (EC), endometriosis (ENDO), and obesity (OBY) are interconnected conditions in women that may share underlying genetic pathways. This study aimed to identify shared genetic pathways and differential gene expressions across these conditions to uncover potential therapeutic targets. A bioinformatics pipeline was applied using gene expression datasets from the GEO database, incorporating differential expression analysis, functional and pathway enrichment, PPI network construction, survival analysis, and mutational profiling across 198 samples. The analysis revealed 26 shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with IGF-1, CREBBP, EP300, and PIAS1 identified as key hub genes. Elevated IGF-1 expression was significantly linked to poorer survival outcomes in EC patients (p <.05). Frequent mutations were observed in these hub genes, suggesting their critical role in disease mechanisms. This study highlights genetic links among EC, ENDO, and OBY, emphasizing high IGF-1 expression as a potential prognostic marker in EC and recurrent alterations in hub genes as promising therapeutic targets. These findings provide insights into the shared genetic underpinnings of these conditions and present new avenues for targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Buckwheat, a dicotyledonous crop of Polygonaceae family, is known for its nutritional value and adaptability to adverse climates. Local people reported that prolonged consumption of buckwheat seeds and leaves causes numbness and gastrointestinal problems. The present study was conducted to observe the impact of different doses of γ-radiations on phytoconstituents of buckwheat seeds and leaves, to make them nutritionally superior. Materials and methods: Buckwheat seeds were treated with 5, 10, 15 and 20 kGy doses of γ-radiations and grown in an experimental farm. Various phytoconstituents in seeds and leaves were analyzed. Results: The antioxidant, phenol, flavonoid, β-carotene, iron, calcium, lysine and arginine were increased significantly (<5%) with increasing doses of γ-radiations up to 10 kGy, whereas, anti-nutrients (tannin, phytic acid and oxalate) decreased significantly (<5%). γ-radiation @ 10 kGy is the best for the enhancement of phytoconstituents in buckwheat seeds from a nutrition point of view. Phytoconstituents in buckwheat leaves and irradiated seed progeny were positively co-related with M1 seeds. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the buckwheat seeds treated with a 10 kGy dose of γ-radiation are the best to produce green leaves as hara saag, and progeny seeds for preparation of flour. However, superior mutant selection and effect of by-products from γ-irradiated buckwheat seeds is the thrust area of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted from June-July, 2021 in online mode and a questionnaire was designed at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The study aims to find an association of perceived stress with socio-demographic factors, health profile and physical activity among Indian adults during the second wave of COVID-19. Data on perceived stress was collected through an online cross-sectional survey of 1933 Indian adults based on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Multivariate ordinal regression was conducted to identify the predictors of perceived stress. Indian adults were moderately stressed, with a mean PSS score of 19.7±5.5 during the crisis time of COVID-19. The study population remained moderately active (59.3%) during the lockdown period. Perceived stress was negatively associated with age, education, income, and physical activity and positively associated with random blood sugar levels and sitting time. Odds of perceived stress increased with female gender, separated marital status, having one child or adolescent in the family, graduate or postgraduate as the educational status of the family's head, and increased sitting time. High educational status, retirement, regular employment, middle or lower-class social class, and high physical activity level were negative predictors of perceived stress. The current investigation highlights the role of multiple factors in the perception of stress and the need for tailored interventions for vulnerable groups focusing on education and physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viperin, an antiviral protein, has been shown to contain a CX(3)CX(2)C motif, which is conserved in the radical S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) enzyme family. A triple mutant which replaces these three cysteines with alanines has been shown to have severe deficiency in antiviral activity. Since the crystal structure of Viperin is not available, we have used a combination of computational methods including multi-template homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulation to develop a low-resolution predicted structure. The results show that Viperin is an α-β protein containing iron-sulfur cluster at the center pocket. The calculations suggest that the removal of iron-sulfur cluster would lead to collapse of the protein tertiary structure. To verify these predictions, we have prepared, expressed and purified four mutant proteins. In three mutants individual cysteine residues were replaced by alanine residues while in the fourth all the cysteines were replaced by alanines. Conformational analyses using circular dichroism and steady state fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that the mutant proteins are partially unfolded, conformationally unstable and aggregation prone. The lack of conformational stability of the mutant proteins may have direct relevance to the absence of their antiviral activity.

Social problems have been a part of the society since ages and efforts to address them have been on practice along with. The evolution of knowledge society and the technology have enabled better ways of addressing such problems. In this context, the present study " Design Thinking for Social Innovation" was undertaken by Freshman students of undergraduate engineering students to identify a relevant social challenge and address it with the aid of design thinking process. Inadequate awareness and education about hygienic menstrual practices is one such major but less discussed social problem among the various gender-specific issues. Despite the modern days advancement with digital tools and social media, social taboos, misbeliefs and unwarranted phobias pertaining to the phenomenon are widely prevalent in several sections of the society. The different phases of design thinking: Empathy, Define, Ideate and Prototype were employed for understanding the insights and different dimensions of the challenge. The different stakeholders of the challenge, possible ideas and solutions were generated through the process. Finally an organized solution in the form of designing an informative website and tool-kit containing the key menstrual products and their demonstration was implemented as part of solution. The stakeholders were educated about menstruation, hygienic menstrual practices and their myths were busted as part of the exercise. The student team gained an immersive experience of identifying and addressing a social challenge using design thinking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]