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The present study focuses on the variation in soil properties and microbial biomass carbon along an elevation gradient in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. Soil was acidic in nature and pH value ranges from 4.37 ± 0.14 to 5.25 ± 0.29. Soil texture varied from sandy to loamy sand. Clay content and available potassium showed a significant negative correlation (p

Abstract Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), known as Kala-azar on the Indian subcontinent, is a parasitic disease caused by the flagellated protozoa Leishmania donovani and can be fatal if left untreated. The sand fly Phlebotomus argentipes is the only proven vector of VL in the Southeast Asia region, and VL control in this region has relied on the use of synthetic insecticides for indoor residual spraying (IRS). The use of DDT in VL control programmes has led to the development of resistance to this insecticide in sand flies, resulting in DDT being replaced with the insecticide alpha-cypermethrin. However, alpha-cypermethrin has a similar mode of action as DDT and, therefore, the risk of resistance development in sand flies increases under the pressure of regular exposure to this insecticide. In the present study we assessed the susceptibility status of wild-caught sand flies and F1 progeny using the CDC bottle bioassay. Methods Sand flies were collected from 10 villages in Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India. Eight of these villages are receiving continuous IRS with alpha-cypermethrin, one village had discontinued IRS with alpha-cypermethrin and one village had never received IRS with alpha-cypermethrin. The collected sand flies were exposed to a pre-determined diagnostic dose for a specific time duration (3 µg/ml for 40 min), and knockdown and mortality at 24 h post-exposure were recorded. Results Knockdown ranged from 91.19% to 99.47% for wild-caught sand flies and from 91.70% to 98.89% for their F1 progeny. At 24 h post-exposure, mortality ranged from 89.34% to 98.93% for wild-caught sand flies and from 90.16% to 98.33% for F1 progeny. Conclusions The results of this study showed that P. argentipes is potentially developing resistance, signalling the need for continuous monitoring and vigilance to sustain the validation of elimination once achieved. Graphical Abstract

Abstract We designed an ultra-broadband graphene absorber structure with the applied resonator design based on the Al-AlSb-Cr structure, and a thin effective layer of graphene is inserted. To develop the role of the graphene in solar absorbers, the current structure investigates above 98% for 1500 nm bandwidth and 2800 nm (overall bandwidth) for 93.68%. In this study, the procedure of the investigated design in flow chat configuration, the multi-step presentation of the developed layers, and the analysis of the used parameters will be involved. The design is optimized using machine learning algorithm. The optimized design shows good performance compared to the other system. The newly investigated graphene design can be absorbed not only in visible places but also in near-infrared energy and ultraviolet zones. The other applications of the light trapping process, photovoltaic devices, and energy harvesting can also be used.

Visceral leishmaniasis derived from Leishmania donovani is transmitted by sand flies (Phlebotomus argentipes) throughout the Indian subcontinent. Although considered anthroponotic, L. donovani infects other mammals susceptible to sand fly bites, including dogs. Aggressive strategies to reduce sand fly populations in India have led to flies seeking nonhuman hosts, so understanding the role of dogs in L. donovani transmission has become critical. Our study investigated L. donovani infection in dogs and the potential for such infections to be transmitted back to sand flies. We performed xenodiagnosis by using P. argentipes on dogs (n = 73) with quantitative PCR–detectible parasitemia in both endemic and outbreak villages. We found that 12% (9/73) of dogs were infectious to sand flies during winter and rainy seasons. Patients with visceral leishmaniasis remain primary sources of L. donovani transmission, but our findings suggest a possible link between canine infection and human exposure.

Manufacturing plays a crucial role in robust economies, and effective optimization of manufacturing processes ensures competitive viability. Multi-hole drilling is a fundamental process in manufacturing, especially in the mass production of boilerplates, food processing separators, drum and trammel screens, and printed circuit boards, where optimizing drill tool paths is crucial for cost competitiveness. Multi-hole drill tool path sequencing is often framed as Traveling Salesman Problems, known for their NP-hard complexity. Researchers employed evolutionary algorithms to tackle the challenges associated with these NP-hard complexities. The recently proposed Discrete Teaching Learning Based Optimization (DTLBO) can address the intricacies of multi-hole drill tool path sequencing. This study proposes the use of DTLBO for multi-hole drill tool path sequencing optimization and highlights the critical distinctions between Canonical and Non-Canonical approaches of the DTLBO. Further, it assesses their performances through a comparative analysis using test problems, investigating the merits and demerits of these approaches. The findings of this investigation provide a foundation for refining the algorithms and improving their practical effectiveness, which will be pursued as future research. Notably, no prior research in the literature has undertaken such a comprehensive comparison.

Abstract Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) integrated with deep learning has been widely used in several military and civilian applications, such as border patrolling, to monitor and regulate the movement of people and goods across land, air, and maritime borders. Amongst these, maritime borders confront different threats and challenges. Therefore, SAR-based ship detection becomes essential for naval surveillance in marine traffic management, oil spill detection, illegal fishing, and maritime piracy. However, the model becomes insensitive to small ships due to the wide-scale variance and uneven distribution of ship sizes in SAR images. This increases the difficulties associated with ship recognition, which triggers several false alarms. To effectively address these difficulties, the present work proposes an ensemble model (eYOLO) based on YOLOv4 and YOLOv5. The model utilizes a weighted box fusion technique to fuse the outputs of YOLOv4 and YOLOv5. Also, a generalized intersection over union loss has been adopted in eYOLO which ensures the increased generalization capability of the model with reduced scale sensitivity. The model has been developed end-to-end, and its performance has been validated against other reported results using an open-source SAR-ship dataset. The obtained results authorize the effectiveness of eYOLO in multi-scale ship detection with an F 1 score and mAP of 91.49% and 92.00%, respectively. This highlights the efficacy of eYOLO in multi-scale ship detection using SAR imagery.

Abstract The fresh and dried rhizomes of Hedychium spicatum are used to treat various ailments. The present work aimed to determine the influence of drying conditions (shade; HSSH, sun; HSS, oven; HSSV30 HSSV50, blower; HSB) on the essential oil profile and antioxidant potential of H. spicatum rhizomes. The oil was extracted by hydrodistillation method. The GC-FID and GC-MS were used to identify compounds, while the antioxidant potential was measured by DPPH radical scavenging, metal ion chelating and H2O2 scavenging methods. To investigate the inhibitory potential, molecular docking simulations were conducted on major compounds targeting NADPH oxidase. Drying significantly enhanced the oil yield of H. spicatum. The dominant compounds identified across all the samples were 1,8-cineole (14.62–53.87%), α-cadinol (10.62–25.06%), elemol (6.56–20.03%), germacrene-4-ol (3.73–11.27%), and α-muurolol (3.32–7.74%). The content of 1,8-cineole increased significantly while the percentage of elemol, germacrene-4-ol, α-muurolol, and α-cadinol decreased significantly in the dried rhizome samples. Among all the drying conditions, HSOV30 exhibited the highest oil yield, antioxidant potential and highest content of 1,8-cineole and elemol (marker components). Docking studies indicated that α-muurolol and α-cadinol exhibited favorable binding affinities and significant hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme’s active site, suggesting their efficacy. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate drying condition to obtain essential oils is important not only in terms of higher yield but also, most importantly, in terms of the percentage of compounds that can bring the essential oils to their sustainable use. It is the first report on the effect of drying on H. spicatum rhizomes.

Abstract This article presents a flexible four-element antenna for X-band applications. The proposed antenna covers the spectrum ranging from 10.6 to 11.9 GHz, including a significant portion of the X-band. The single antenna element comprises a modified E-shaped radiating patch, which is fed by a unique feeding structure consisting of a 50-Ω feeding strip connected with two rectangular stubs on both sides. All antenna elements are printed on a flexible felt 60 mm × 60 mm × 1 mm (2.12 λ × 2.12 λ × 0.035 λ at 10.6 GHz) substrate. The proposed antenna exhibits circular polarization over the desired bans of operation with an axial ratio (

Abstract This paper presented a study on the security constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) of a practical transmission utility grid network (TUGN). The objectives of reduction in the transmission losses of TUGN (TLGN) and to minimize the bus voltage deviations (BVD) are achieved by addition of thermal power plant (TPP) and network restructuring (NR). Identification of best fit node for generation injection is achieved using the method based on hybrid combination of analytic approach and genetic algorithm (GA). Efficacy of the proposed study is evaluated using the computation of energy equivalent to network loss saving, percentage derating of the load (PDOL), voltage profile, bus voltage deviations, and financial analysis (FA). Study is performed without and with contingency (N-1) for the base case network, TUGN with addition of TPP and TUGN with addition of TPP and NR. This is established that addition of TPP, addition of TPP with NR are effective to reduce the TLGN, improve the voltage profile and minimize the bus voltage deviations. This study is more efficient compared to various studies reported in literature.

This study aimed to investigate the histological, histochemical and electron microscopic features of the testes of Mali pigs of Tripura. The samples were collected from fifteen Mali pigs in five different age groups. Collagen, reticular, elastic, and nerve fibers were observed in the tunica albuginea, seminiferous tubules, germinal epithelium, mediastinum testis and blood vessels across all age groups. Spermatids were found in the seminiferous tubules at three months of age. Histochemical studies revealed glycogen, acidic mucopolysaccharides, keratin and pre-keratin activity in various testicular structures, with staining affinities differing among age groups. Scanning electron microscopy showed the structural morphology of the seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissues, and spermatozoa at different stages of development. The parenchyma of dayold piglets exhibited numerous small round seminiferous or sex cords. Well-defined seminiferous tubules were observed at three months of age and defined spermatogenic cells were present in the lumen at five to six months. The morphological characteristics of the testicular tissues in animals aged five to six months were observed to be almost similar. Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and spermatozoa were also visualized in the seminiferous tubules under scanning electron microscopy.

Abstract Swiftly increasing population and industrial developments of urban areas has accelerated the worsening of the water quality in recent years. Groundwater samples from different locations of the Doon valley, Garhwal Himalaya were analyzed to measure concentrations of six potential toxic elements (PTEs) viz. chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) with the aim to study the spatial distribution and associated hazards. In addition, machine learning algorithms have been used for prediction of water quality and identification of influencing PTEs. The results inferred that the mean values (in the units of µg L−1) of analyzed PTEs were observed in the order of Mo (1.066) > Ni (0.744) > Pb (0.337) > As (0.186) > Cr (0.180) > Cd (0.026). The levels and computed risks of PTEs were found below the safe limits. The radial basis function neural network (RBF-NN) algorithms showed high level of accuracy in the predictions of heavy metal pollution index (HPI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), non-carcinogenic (N-CR) and carcinogenic (CR) parameters with determination coefficient values ranged from 0.912 to 0.976. However, the modified heavy metal pollution index (m-HPI) and contamination index (CI) predictions showed comparatively lower coefficient values as 0.753 and 0.657, respectively. The multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP-NN) demonstrated fluctuation in precision with determination coefficient between 0.167 and 0.954 for the prediction of computed indices (HPI, HEI, CI, m-HPI). In contrast, the proficiency in forecasting of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hazards for both sub-groups showcased coefficient values ranged from 0.887 to 0.995. As compared to each other, the radial basis function (RBF) model indicated closer alignments between predicted and actual values for pollution indices, while multilayer perceptron (MLP) model portrayed greater precision in prediction of health risk indices.

Abstract Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common hemoglobinopathy caused by an autosomal recessive genetic disorder leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates. SCD is prevalent in the Tharu community in the lowland (Terai) region of Nepal. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults with SCD is poorly studied. Methodology This prospective cross‐sectional study was conducted at Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, Nepal, among 140 adolescents and adults with SCD, aged 15–60 years. Anthropometric and laboratory data were collected using an assisted questionnaire, and the SPSS software version 23 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize the presence of metabolic syndrome and were stratified in separate analyses by age and sex. National Cholesterol Education Program‐Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome. Aim This cross‐sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among SCD patients with SCD registered at the Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, Nepal. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the study participants was 7.8%. Our study revealed 5% of the patients overweight, and 1.4% obese. In this study, the mean triglyceride level was 118.5 mg/dL, and the mean high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) level was 36.2 mg/dL (men) and 36.7 mg/dL (women). This study found that the mean fasting blood glucose level was 88.6 gm/dL. Similarly, 3.5% of patients had increased systolic blood pressure, and 7.8% had raised diastolic blood pressure. Study shows that changes in triglyceride level (p = 0.013), waist circumference, and HDL level (p = 0.0001 and 0.0048, respectively) are significantly associated with smoking or alcohol consumption; however, change in blood pressure (p = 0.013) and fasting blood sugar level (p = 0.086) are not associated with smoking or alcohol consumption. Conclusion Study concluded that though a lower proportion of SCD patients met the criteria for metabolic syndrome than in studies conducted in developed countries, it is crucial to consider metabolic syndrome while managing patients with SCD. Nevertheless, the authors advocate a more comprehensive study to draw significant conclusions.

Abstract Hypertension is a global health challenge, especially in low‐to‐middle‐income countries, where awareness and control are suboptimal. Despite available treatments, poor medication adherence hampers blood pressure control, leading to adverse outcomes and increased costs. In response, the GOI has initiated national action plans to address noncommunicable diseases, including hypertension. The study aimed to analyze patient retention rates in hypertension treatment across healthcare levels and understand providers' and patients' perspectives on control factors. Using a mixed‐method concurrent design in a North Indian district, retrospective data collection covered hypertensive patients registered from January 2020 to July 2020, followed for a year (August 2020–July 2021). Quantitative data included socio‐demographic characteristics and patient follow‐up rates. Qualitative data comprised focus group discussions (FGD) and in‐depth interviews (IDI) with healthcare providers (HCPs) and patients. Findings identified challenges in patient retention and medication adherence, notably among females and at higher‐level healthcare facilities, leading to substantial loss of follow‐up. Only 63% of hypertensive outpatients maintained controlled blood pressure in the past year. Male patients exhibited more consistent attendance than females. Despite sufficient HCP knowledge, patient retention was better at Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) levels, while blood pressure control was poorer at higher facilities. Barriers such as medication side effects, pill burden, and limited healthcare access hindered hypertension control, highlighting the need for improved primary care services, including extended clinic hours and diagnostic facilities. Improving hypertension control requires addressing medication adherence and healthcare access barriers. Strengthening primary care services and implementing patient‐centered interventions are crucial steps.

Abstract Background Salt stress is a prominent abiotic stressor that imposes constraints on grain yield and quality across various crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum). This study focused on assessing the genetic diversity of 20 wheat genotypes categorized as tolerant, moderately tolerant, and sensitive with three genotypes of unknown tolerance. To address salinity stress-related problems, different morpho-physiological, osmoprotectant, biochemical, yield, and grain quality-related parameters were analyzed under control (pH 8.0, EC 3.9) and saline-sodic (pH 9.4, EC 4.02) conditions in field. Results Findings revealed noteworthy variations among the genotypes in response to salinity stress. Greater accumulation of Na+ and lower K+ content were observed in response to salt stress in the sensitive varieties HD1941 and K9162. Proline, a stress indicator, exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater accumulation in response to salinity stress, particularly in the tolerant cultivars KRL210 and KH65. Salt stress induced the most significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in spike length, thousand-grain weight, and hectolitre weight coupled with increased protein content in sensitive varieties, resulting in diminished yield. Conclusion Correlation analysis of parameters under salinity stress showed that SOD, proline, and K+ contents can be used as the most efficient screening criteria for salinity stress during early developmental stages. Principal component analysis revealed that DBW187, DBW303, and DBW222 varieties were tolerant to salinity stress and exhibited an effective antioxidant system against salinity. This study will facilitate salt-tolerant wheat breeding in terms of the identification of tolerant lines by screening for limited traits in a wide range of germplasms.

This viewpoint advocates for significant reforms in the disability certification guidelines for mental illnesses in India. Currently, two years duration of illness is required before certification, which delays essential support. The proposed model emphasizes assessing the functional impact of conditions, aligns with global standards, and suggests regular reassessments to improve accessibility and inclusivity in mental health services.

Abstract Background Myocardial bridging is a cardiac anomaly where a segment of epicardial coronary arteries runs through the myocardium and can rarely cause MI. Takotsubo syndrome is a stress-induced cardiomyopathy that can mimic MI. Catecholamine surge during stress can contribute to Takotsubo syndrome, but whether this surge can trigger an inconspicuous myocardial bridging to manifest symptomatically remains unclear, and alternately, whether a myocardial bridge might cause worsening of Takotsubo syndrome is also a matter that needs further research. Case presentation We report the case of a patient who initially presented with features of acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis and subsequently developed symptoms and ECG features suggestive of acute myocardial infarction. Echocardiography revealed features of takotsubo syndrome, and complete myocardial bridging was revealed via coronary angiography. The patient was managed conservatively with pharmacological treatment, and after a few days, echocardiographic features were reversed. As such, the diagnosis shifted toward Takotsubo syndrome with myocardial stunning due to co-existent myocardial bridging. Conclusion We report a rare case of a patient with acute bronchiectasis exacerbation with features suggestive of acute myocardial infarction who had findings of Takotsubo syndrome and complete myocardial bridging. In the beginning, it was difficult to determine whether the symptoms arose due to acute MI resulting from myocardial bridging or were solely due to takotsubo syndrome because of stress from bronchiectasis. Although myocardial bridging is often overlooked as an etiology for acute MI, this case highlights the importance of expanding the differential diagnosis to myocardial bridging in the work-up for the cause of acute MI and how Takotsubo syndrome can mimic acute MI and pose a diagnostic challenge.

Abstract Introduction Quality of life (QoL) is a subjective measure reflecting individuals’ evaluations based on their personal goals and values. While global research shows the role of neighborhood factors like ethnic diversity and socio-cultural dynamics on QoL, these are unexplored in the Nepali context. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood environment and QoL among Nepali older adults in eastern Nepal. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 847 non-institutionalized older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from two districts in eastern Nepal. QoL was evaluated using the 13-item brief Older People’s Quality of Life questionnaire, where a mean score of

Background: The incidence of meningoencephalitis (ME) in India is poorly understood, and the exact etiological diagnosis is often not possible. This study was planned to elucidate the bacterial and viral etiological diagnosis of ME in children less than 5 years of age. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), Department of Microbiology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, from July 2020 to June 2022. Serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and nose/throat swabs were collected from all the enrolled cases of meningoencephalitis in children below 5 years of age and tested for various etiological agents by ELISA and/or real-time PCR. Results: Of 130 enrolled cases, 50 (38.5%) cases tested positive for one or more etiological agents. Etiological agents of ME detected were Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) (8.46%), adenovirus (6.92%), influenza virus (5.38%), dengue virus (3.85%), Parvo B-19 virus (3.08%), Orientia tsutsugamushi (3.08%), Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) (1.54%), measles virus (1.54%), and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) (1.54%). Rubella virus, Chikungunya virus (CHKV), Mumps virus, Enteroviruses, Parecho virus, John Cunningham virus (JC), BK virus, Nipah virus, Kyasanur Forest Disease virus (KFD), Chandipura virus, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-2), SARS CoV-2, N. Meningitides, and H. Influenzae were tested but not detected in any of the cases. Conclusion: We identified the etiological agents in 50/130 (38.5%) suspected ME cases in children less than 5 years of age, using molecular and ELISA-based diagnostic methods. The four most common pathogens detected were JEV, adenovirus, influenza virus, and dengue virus.

Abstract Background Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, rarely leads to central nervous system involvement. Although intracerebral bleeding is rare due to endemicity and a significant proportion of underdiagnoses, it should be considered a noteworthy differential diagnosis in endemic regions in patients with relevant history and clinical findings. Case presentation We present the case of a 40-year-old Nepali woman who visited the emergency department with complaints of left-sided weakness for 6 hours and an acute febrile illness with an eschar for 7 days and was diagnosed with scrub typhus by immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the serum. Imaging revealed a right-sided frontotemporal hematoma, and further examination revealed pulmonary edema with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The patient was mechanically ventilated and was treated with antibiotics, steroids, vasopressors, and antipyretics. However, the hematoma was treated conservatively, with ongoing neurological recovery at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion Although neurological complications and intracranial hemorrhage are uncommon, physicians must be cautious when making differential diagnoses and initiating appropriate therapies to avoid serious or fatal complications.

Abstract Background Improving the rate of genetic gain of cereal crop will rely on the accelerated crop breeding pipelines to allow rapid delivery of improved crop varieties. The laborious, time-consuming traditional breeding cycle, and the seasonal variations are the key factor restricting the breeder to develop new varieties. To address these issues, a revolutionized cost-effective speed breeding protocol for large-scale rice germplasm advancement is presented in the present study. The protocol emphasises on optimizing potting material, balancing the double-edged sword of limited nutritional dose, mode and stage of application, plant density, temperature, humidity, light spectrum, intensity, photoperiod, and hormonal regulation to accelerate rice growth and development. Results The plant density of 700 plants/m2, cost-effective halogen tubes (B:G:R:FR-7.0:27.6:65.4:89.2) with an intensity of ∼ 750–800 µmol/m2/s and photoperiod of 13 h light and 11 h dark during seedling and vegetative stage and 8 h light and 16 h dark during reproductive stage had a significant effect (P

Abstract Accounting potential zones for recharging groundwater is a prerequisite before the implementation of the springshed conservation program. Many studies have suggested that the resurgence of the springs in the Himalayan region is waning due to anthropogenic and Climate Change impacts. Typical physical methods of recharge zone explorations are manpower & fiscal-intensive and find limited applicability in areas with steep slopes and undulating topography. The deliberated study is an attempt towards the identification of potential recharge zones using topographical and meteorological indices via two MCDM methods, namely, AHP and Fuzzy AHP for the Saryu watershed of Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Twelve thematic layers following the assignment of suitable weights were overlayed for the development of the groundwater recharge potentiality map. The findings indicated that following AHP 6%, 86.89%, 7.10% & 0.01% of the study area demonstrates low, moderate, high, and very high potentiality for groundwater recharge, while, FAHP suggests these indices to be 19.23%, 76.77%, 3.55%, & 0.45%, respectively. Further, FAHP demonstrates the redundancy of a few input layers for the adopted scale of the input data. The study also furnishes a brief description of opportune recharge structures based on the groundwater recharge potentialities.

Forests contribute significantly in mitigating the effects of climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon in biomass and soil. To comprehend carbon stock and sequestration, forest degradation, and climate change mitigation, precise calculation biomass is needed. The present study in Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India, used Landsat OLI spectral variables, land surface temperature, and field inventory data to estimate aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stock in selected forest types. The stepwise multilinear regression model was developed using Landsat-derived spectral data, land surface temperature, and soil moisture The stand density varies from 122 individual ha−1 to 833 individual ha−1 . The estimated AGB density varies from 2.64 t ha−1 to 534.21 t ha−1 among the sample plots. The mean land surface temperature was 14.41°C. The predictive integrated model showed that the mean AGB ranged from 9.45 t ha−1 to 330 t ha−1 and dense forest recorded the maximum mean AGB (239.34 t ha−1). Akaike information criteria (AIC) and Bayesian information criteria (BIC) were utilised to evaluate the predictive model, and the AIC (176.13) and BIC (184.58) were omparatively lower than other regression models.To evaluate the accuracy of the integrated model (IM), the linear regression was performed between the predicted and observed AGB. The findings of the study will be useful in formulating site-specific suitable management plan.

This article presents a four-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) flexible antenna design for Ultrawideband (UWB) application using Polydimethylsiloxanes substrate. The single UWB antenna structure consists of modified circular radiator with elliptical slot and partial ground plane. To achieve high isolation among antenna element, a Defective Ground Structure (DGS) is adopted to decouple the low frequency band. DGS comprises a centrally placed square shape slotted structure connected by horizontal and vertical lines, achieving isolation below −20 dB. The proposed antenna has a dimension of 56×41×1.6mm3(0.41λ×0.3λ×0.0117λ), bandwidth of 3.4–11.8 GHz (110.5 %) and 4.3 dBi peak gain. Simulation and measurement findings show that the antenna performs well under bending situations with different curvature radius. At 4 GHz and 8.1 GHz, W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for 1/10 g tissue is examined. A low value of SAR is obtained at both the resonating frequencies. Additionally, an analysis is conducted on the diversity parameters, and the antenna demonstrates comparatively good results having mean effective gain (MEG) ratio 9.99 dB, implying that it's appropriate for wearable MIMO applications.

In this work, ZnO has been synthesized by co-precipitation method and mixed with 0.5 % of polyvinyl alcohol for the preparation of thin film. These ZnO thin films have been irradiated with lithium (Li) and nickel (Ni) beams of energy 50 MeV and 80 MeV respectively, at different fluence. XRD pattern reveals that the crystallite size varies from 41 nm to 21 nm for Li-irradiated ZnO and to 16 nm for Ni irradiated ZnO compared to pure ZnO. From UV–Visible spectroscopy, the bandgap of Li-irradiated ZnO to a fluence of 5 × 1012 ions/cm2 is found to be 3.20 eV However, for Ni-irradiated ZnO bandgap varies from 3.11 to 3.08 eV Upon investigation of PL spectra, it has been observed that broadening in the defect region is observed on increasing the Li fluence. However, Ni-ions lead to enhancement of defects with increase in fluence. Electrical properties reveal the enhancement of current in order of three for both the ions irradiated ZnO. Li irradiation leads to reduction in resistivity whereas Ni irradiation leads to the enhancement in ZnO resistivity. This suggests that the ion beam induced modification in ZnO lattice could be useful for tuning the optoelectronic properties & can be used for organic light emitting diodes.

This study aimed to assess the chemical composition and pesticidal activities of essential oils (EOs) from Cautleya spicata rhizomes and aerial parts. The EOs were assessed against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) by mortality and hatchability bioassays and the phytotoxicity of the EOs was determined against Raphanus raphanistrum subspp. Sativus (radish) and Cichorium intybus (chicory) seeds. In-silico screening of the primary constituents of EOs and five chosen target proteins of the nematode was conducted to predict the expected mechanism of action of these oils. p-Cymene and β-pinene were the key compounds in the EOs from the rhizomes and aerial parts. The EO from the aerial parts (LC50 value = 0.555 µL/mL for nematode mortality assay and IC50 value = 0.016 µL/mL for nematode egg hatchability after 96 h) exhibited significantly higher nematicidal activity than the rhizome EO. However, rhizome EO showed higher phytotoxic activity against radish (R. raphanistrum) with lower IC50 values (0.157 and 0.123 µL/mL for RLI and SLI, respectively) and chicory (C. intybus) seeds (100% inhibition at 1.0 µL/mL concentration). Docking studies revealed the strongest inhibitory actions of β-selinene against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and cytochrome c oxidase (CytC), spathulenol against glutathione S-transferase (GST-1), and β-eudesmol against heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and odorant response gene-3 (ODR3) proteins. The study unveiled the chemical diversity present in both the EOs and rhizomes of C. spicata along with their considerable potential as plant-based pesticidal agents effective against nematodes and weed species.

Rootstock as grafting material mitigates sodium chloride (NaCl) stress by altering physiological, metabolite, and gene expression patterns across different genotypes, cultivars, or species. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and metabolic responses of sweet orange cultivar Pusa Sharad (PS) grafted onto various rootstocks: Jatti Khatti (JK), X–639 (X9), CRH–12 (C12), NRCC–1 (N1), NRCC–2 (N2), NRCC–3 (N3), NRCC–4 (N4), NRCC–5 (N5), Troyer citrange (TC), CRH–47 (C47), and Cleopatra mandarin (CM). These responses were assessed under different salinity stress levels. Biochemical parameters, including sugars, proline, phenol, soluble protein, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radicals (O2–), lipid peroxidation, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POD), vitamin C, vitamin E, organic acids, and fatty acids were analysed. Results demonstrated that the accumulation of H2O2, O2–, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was upregulated in PS grafted onto the TC, JK, N2, and C12 rootstocks. Conversely, the CAT, SOD, APX, vitamin C, and vitamin E contents were notably higher in PS grafted onto CM, X9, and C47 under 60 mM NaCl stress. Metabolomic analysis indicated that trehalose, raffinose, sucrose, D-galactose, myo-inositol, piperazine, acetic acid, malonic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and pentanoic acid played crucial roles in metabolic adjustments under increasing NaCl stress. Furthermore, PS grafted onto CM, C47, X9, N1, or N3 showed greater tolerance to NaCl compared to those grafted onto JK, C12, N2, N4, N5, or TC, making these combinations adaptable upto 60 mM NaCl concentrations. This study highlights the role of potential metabolites and its use in enhancing NaCl tolerance through grafting onto tolerant rootstocks.

Climate change, coupled with the rising human population and increased demand for food, pose significant challenges for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of zero hunger, no poverty, and good health and well-being. These intertwined challenges demand urgent action to identify and promote un-popularized, underutilized, and unexplored climate-smart crops that can ensure food and nutritional security. The present study aimed to investigate the nutraceutical potential of Glycine soja, a wild ancestor of cultivated soybean that has been used traditionally as food and medicine in Indian Himalayas. Seed samples of wild and cultivated soybeans were collected from different locations in Uttarakhand, India, and screened for their phytochemical and biochemical contents using standard methods. The results of the study revealed that wild soybean contains a significant quantity of total phenols (27.44 ± 0.836 mg/g dw), flavonoids (3.319 ± 0.305 mg QE/g dw), and antioxidant activity (3.56 ± 1.090 mg AAE/g dw). Additionally, the species is a rich source of minerals such as zinc (4.68 ± 0.101 mg/100 g dw), vitamins, and amino acids such as histidine (0.95 ± 0.071 mg/100 g dw), isoleucine (1.74 ± 0.108 mg/100 g dw), leucine (2.94 ± 0.044 mg/100 g dw), lysine (2.13 ± 0.082 mg/100 g dw), methionine (0.53 ± 0.044 mg/100 g dw), threonine (0.67 ± 0.196 mg/100 g dw) etc. than the cultivated soybean. This study is the first to comprehensively compare phytochemicals, antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, anthocyanins, and mineral content of wild and cultivated soybean seed quality traits. From the results of the present study, the inclusion of wild soybean in the cultivation system and daily diets might help to achieve livelihood, food and nutritional security.

Reconstruction of complex chest wall defects is often challenging for plastic surgeons as it demands both framework repair and stable soft tissue cover to protect internal organs. There are many synthetic and autologous options for skeletal reconstruction, and latissimus dorsi (LD) is the workhorse flap for soft tissue reconstruction. However, for larger chest wall defects, the availability of a skin paddle in the LD flap is a problem. Multiple modifications of skin harvest methods have been reported to overcome this problem. One of them is the kiss flap or double skin paddle technique, which is widely reported in the reconstruction of breasts, but has limited evidence of its use in chest wall defects. We present a case of composite anterior chest wall defect, which is covered by polypropylene mesh and a double skin paddle LD flap.

Solar stills represent a crucial technology in the quest to provide clean and accessible water, particularly in regions facing water scarcity and limited energy resources. This study investigates various solar still designs, exploring their advantages and limitations in water purification. Through an analysis of the current global landscape of solar still usage and ongoing research endeavors, this study aims to highlight the potential of solar stills and propose modifications to enhance their efficiency. The study also investigates various extensive analysis of diverse solar still designs and their performance metrics, including factors like reflectors, wick materials, absorber plates, and air velocity, this study elucidates key strategies to augment water output and energy utilization. Reflectors and pebbles, variations in wick materials, and modifications in absorber plate design have shown promising results in increasing productivity. Additionally, insights into the impact of environmental variables such as solar radiation, wind velocity, and ambient temperature on solar still performance are provided, informing the design optimization process. Through an analysis of global usage patterns and ongoing research efforts, this study highlights the untapped potential of solar stills and proposes strategies to enhance their performance. Furthermore, it suggests avenues for future research, including the integration of heat storage materials and the development of advanced modeling and control algorithms, to further enhance the performance of solar stills. Through these efforts, solar stills can emerge as a sustainable and reliable solution for water purification, contributing significantly to global efforts to combat water scarcity.

Objectives: Monitoring of Leishmania transmission is considered a strategic priority for sustaining elimination of visceral leishmaniasis as a public health problem in the Indian subcontinent. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether serological surveys can distinguish between communities with and without Leishmania transmission, and to assess which serological marker performs best. Methods: Seven villages were selected from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh state, India, and categorized as either currently endemic (CE), previously endemic (PE) or nonendemic (NE). Blood samples were analyzed with the rK39 RDT, direct agglutination test (DAT), and rK39 ELISA. Results: Contrary to the rK39 RDT and DAT, the rK39 ELISA showed a significant difference between all three categories of endemicity, with a seroprevalence of 5.21% in CE villages, 1.55% in PE villages, and 0.13% in NE villages. Even when only looking at the seroprevalence among children aged

Background: The biggest barriers to the reconstruction of soft-tissue defect in the distal part of the lower limb are the paucity of local vascularized soft tissue and the mechanical demands of the region. Advancements in microsurgery techniques and low complication rates have made free tissue transfer the method of choice. However, the option of microsurgery may not be available at all centers. The reverse sural artery flap (RSAF) provides a reliable alternative for covering soft-tissue defects of the distal parts of the lower extremity. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the versatility and efficacy of RSAF for providing coverage for soft-tissue defects over the distal parts of the lower limb. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational, and descriptive study was performed through a data survey of medical records of patients treated between August 2020 and January 2023. Results: A total of 25 patients underwent surgery, 21 males and 4 females. The age range of patients was from 18 to 55 years. Tissue defects following trauma constituted majority of the cases. Four patients had partial flap necrosis. No case of total necrosis of flap was recorded. The average duration of hospital stay was 15.6 days. Conclusion: The reverse-flow fasciocutaneous sural flap proved to be a feasible, easily reproducible, and reliable option for reconstruction of distal lower-limb defects.

Introduction The history of wounds dates back to the evolution of mankind. Throughout the centuries, management modalities of wounds have undergone drastic changes. With the advent of technology, we have multiple options for wound care, but none of them can be called the gold standard of wound care. Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is one of the most routinely performed procedures in aesthetic surgery. Fat grafting has shown beneficial effects in the healing of wounds. The regenerative potential of autologous fat is contributed by the adipose-derived stem cells present within the stromal vascular fraction, which are capable of differentiating into multiple cell types. This study aims to analyze the usefulness of AFG in cutaneous wound healing.

Abstract Background The lack of stable-high yielding and direct-seeded adapted varieties with better germination ability from deeper soil depth and availability of molecular markers are major limitation in achieving the maximum yield potential of rice under water and resource limited conditions. Development of high-throughput and trait-linked markers are of great interest in genomics-assisted breeding. The aim of present study was to develop and validate novel KASP (Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR) markers associated with traits improving germination and seedling vigor of deep sown direct seeded rice (DSR). Results Out of 58 designed KASP assays, four KASP assays did not show any polymorphism in any of the eleven genetic backgrounds considered in the present study. The 54 polymorphic KASP assays were then validated for their robustness and reliability on the F1s plants developed from eight different crosses considered in the present study. The third next validation was carried out on 256 F3:F4 and 713 BC3F2:3 progenies. Finally, the reliability of the KASP assays was accessed on a set of random 50 samples from F3:F4 and 80–100 samples from BC3F2:3 progenies using the 10 random markers. From the 54 polymorphic KASP, based on the false positive rate, false negative rate, KASP utility in different genetic backgrounds and significant differences in the phenotypic values of the positive (desirable) and negative (undesirable) traits, a total of 12 KASP assays have been selected. These 12 KASP include 5 KASP on chromosome 3, 1 on chromosome 4, 3 on chromosome 7 and 3 on chromosome 8. The two SNPs lying in the exon regions of LOC_Os04g34290 and LOC_Os08g32100 led to non-synonymous mutations indicating a possible deleterious effect of the SNP variants on the protein structure. Conclusion The present research work will provide trait-linked KASP assays, improved breeding material possessing favourable alleles and breeding material in form of expected pre-direct-seeded adapted rice varieties. The marker can be utilized in introgression program during pyramiding of valuable QTLs/genes providing adaptation to rice under DSR. The functional studies of the genes LOC_Os04g34290 and LOC_Os08g32100 possessing two validated SNPs may provide valuable information about these genes.

Background Giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath (GCTTS) of the hand are considered the second most common benign tumors of the hand after ganglion cysts. Excision biopsy is considered the standard treatment at present. They are notorious for having a very high rate of recurrence as given in many studies. Many factors are said to be associated with recurrence of the tumors. The goal of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of a series of 48 patients operated on at a single institute and to find out if there is any correlation between the proposed risk factors with recurrence.

Introduction: While ascariasis is typically asymptomatic or presents with mild gastrointestinal symptoms, it can lead to severe complications, such as intestinal obstruction and volvulus, particularly in children with a high worm burden. Case presentation: A 9-year-old girl presented to the pediatric emergency department with four days of central abdominal pain, repeated bilious vomiting containing worms, increasing abdominal distension, constipation, and a low-grade fever. She was taken to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy for suspected bowel obstruction. Intraoperatively, 300 mL of pus was found in the peritoneal cavity, along with a 360-degree gangrenous volvulus of small bowel involving most of the small bowel, from 80 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz to 20 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. Adhesions and fibrin deposits were noted throughout the peritoneum. The purulent fluid was suctioned out, and the ischemic bowel was completely resected. A large burden of Ascaris worms was found in the lumen of the bowel and was completely removed. We did a jejunostomy and an ileal mucous fistula. Postoperatively, the patient received intravenous ceftriaxone, metronidazole, potassium supplements, and maintenance fluids. Due to the high output of the jejunostomy, we decided to take down the jejunostomy shortly after the initial operation. The ostomy closure was complicated by an anastomotic leak. We explored her and found a pin hole on the antimesenteric side of the anastomosis. We repaired the leak primarily, but the patient developed a recurrence of the leak shortly thereafter, at which time we decided tore-create the jejunostomy and the mucous fistula. Before we could provide further care, her parents decided to leave the hospital against medical advice. We eventually contacted the parents and learned that she died at another institution 10 days after leaving our hospital. The cause of her death was not disclosed. Conclusion: Even though intestinal infestations are generally mildly symptomatic, Ascariasis and other parasitic infestations should be included in the differential diagnosis of children who live in endemic areas and develop acute abdominal conditions.

Climate change and biodiversity conservation are two of the most urgent challenges of the twenty-first century. Current global climate models indicate that climate-related events will continue to increase in frequency and intensity, leading to severe impacts on ecosystems, particularly plant diversity. Despite the 2015 Paris Agreement, efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and secure adequate climate financing remain unsatisfactory. In addition, the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plans (NBSAPs), a core mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), have faced issues in implementation at the national level. Many NBSAPs lack clear and measurable biodiversity targets, which limits their effectiveness. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of these urgent issues, highlighting the significant challenges and deficiencies in current climate and biodiversity conservation policies. It evaluates the effectiveness of the Kew conservation strategy as a model for protecting and conserving plant diversity. Furthermore, this review underscores the pivotal role of plant tissue culture (PTC) technology in achieving plant conservation targets within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This review strongly supports the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the integration of PTC into global plant conservation strategies to meet the ambitious 30-by-30 targets. This review also advocates for the establishment of the Kew-Wide Mechanism (KWM) to bolster climate resilience, reduce anthropogenic impacts on plant diversity, revitalize global conservation efforts, and accelerate ecosystem restoration in the face of ongoing climate change. Proposed as a comprehensive approach to plant conservation, the KWM offers a strategic, innovative, and scalable solution as the global economy transitions toward decarbonization.

Key Clinical Message Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder. This case highlights rare isolated neurologic finding in a TSC patient emphasizing the need for heightened suspicion even in the absence of any cutaneous findings and family history.

Food security is the situation in which all people around the globe, in all circumstances must maintain constant physical and financial access to adequate nutritious, clean, and safe food. This is why food security is regarded as a major global issue. Domestically and internationally, many factors affect food production and quality; these include environmental climate change conditions, disasters, emerging new diseases, political issues, and shifts in the global economy. Additionally, rapid population growth necessitates adjustments to food and crop production. The current agricultural production strategies negatively affect soil fertility and cause many defects such as desertification, deforestation, and increased soil salinity. Additionally, the high use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides affects human health and food production. The production of numerous strategic crops, including rice, maize, soybeans, and wheat, was reduced due to the aforementioned factors. The global hunger index increased, and millions of people were placed in the food insecurity red zone. Governments and societies attempted to address the problem by creating a new one: a higher yield of low-quality main food crops, which can give rise to hidden hunger, a serious issue that violates people’s rights to a healthy and nutritious diet and inevitably causes food insecurity. In an attempt to end hunger, the Green Revolution produced high-yielding varieties of crops; however, this came at the expense of massive amounts of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and other agricultural activities and practices that ignored the negative effects on the environment and nutritional value. Yet, billions of people worldwide suffer from iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A deficiency, making hidden hunger, malnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies a severe and widespread nutritional issue in developing nations. The most common nutritional condition affecting poor and rural populations, especially those in low-income developing countries, is iron and zinc deficiency. To decrease and close the gap between crop production and food consumption, there is a need to increase agricultural productivity. Here we discussed the current status of food insecurity and malnutrition status where many research efforts and developments to enhance food quality and production for food crops with the help of genome editing tools and applications for sustainable food production.

Background: Cissus quadrangularis is an indigenous medicinal herb which belongs to the family Vitaceae & commonly found in tropical and subtropical xeric wood. This plant is prescribed in the ancient Ayurvedic literature as a general tonic with excellent bone fracture healing properties. Different analytical approaches must be used to characterise the extracts to ascertain the therapeutic efficacy of different solvent-based plant extracts. Aim: Different extracts of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) were screened by TLC, antioxidant activity and HPTLC. Methods: In the present study, the preliminary phytoconstituents’ analysis of sequential extracts of CQ; Petroleum ether extract (PECQ), Chloroform extract (ChCQ), Ethanol extract (EtCQ) and Water extract (WCQ) has been done by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Additionally, the usage of derivative reagents and the reaction mechanism between derivative reagents and phytoconstituents were used to confirm the kind of phytoconstituents. The extracts were also evaluated by antioxidant activity that was accessed by the DPPH assay. The extract with the highest antioxidant activity was standardised by HPTLC. Results: Terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, coumarin, steroidal (phytoestrogen) and other phenolic/polyphenolic phytoconstituents were found to be present in extracts of Cissus quadrangularis. EtCQ showed the highest radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 31.71±0.30 µg/ml which was significantly higher than PECQ, ChCQ and WCQ extract with an IC50 of 84.82±0.35 µg/ml, 79.16±0.35 µg/ml and 215.06±0.25 µg/ml respectively. EtCQ was standardized by HPTLC to quantify the marker constituent. Conclusion: This publication is the first to describe the in-depth analysis of Cissus quadrangularis extracts using thin-layer chromatography, as well as potential detection pathways using different reagents. TLC profiling also justifies the antioxidant behaviour of different extracts.

In the context of developing countries like Nepal, enhancing road traffic safety (RTS) requires prioritizing aspects such as road safety management, infrastructure improvement, vehicle safety, and promoting safer road user behavior. Importantly, establishing a conducive legal framework and ensuring effective enforcement are crucial for improving RTS. This study aims to analyze the enforcement status of road traffic regulatory factors and provide suggestions for improvement. A set of structured questionnaires comprising thirty items measuring six dimensions of road traffic regulation was developed to gather data from 396 Nepal traffic police officers. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was employed to construct the measurement model. The statistical analysis revealed that road traffic regulatory factors such as seatbelt, helmet, and license laws, along with insufficient penalties for violations related to drunk and distracted driving, speeding, and mobile phone use contribute to road traffic accidents. The findings highlight the pressing need for effective implementation of traffic regulations. To improve road safety in Nepal stricter penalties for drunk driving, speeding, and mobile phone use, advancing vehicle safety technology, formulating transportation safety policies, accrediting pre-hospital care providers, and safety auditing in road planning, construction, and operation are vital. The model developed herein provides valuable insights to policymakers to reinforce prevailing regulations for reducing traffic-related fatalities not only for Nepal but also for other countries encountering similar road safety challenges.

A new bidentate Schiff base ligand (C16H16Cl2N4), condensation product of ethylene diamine and 4-chloro N-phenyl formamide, and its metal complexes [M(C16H16Cl2N4)2(OAc)2] (where M = Mn(II) and Zn(II)) were synthesized and characterized using various analytical and spectral techniques, including high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), elemental analysis, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, AAS, molar conductance, 1H NMR, and powder XRD. All the compounds were non-electrolytes and nanocrystalline. The synthesized compounds were assessed for antioxidant potential by DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assay, with BHT serving as the positive control. Inhibitory concentration at 50% inhibition (IC50) values were calculated and used for comparative analysis. Furthermore, the prepared compounds were screened for antibacterial activity against two Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and two Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi) using disk-diffusion methods, with amikacin employed as the standard reference. The comparison of inhibition zones revealed that the complexes showed better antibacterial activity than the ligand. To gain insights into the molecular interactions underlying the antibacterial activity, the ligand and complexes were analyzed for their binding affinity with S. aureus tyrosyl–tRNA synthetase (PDB ID: 1JIL) and S. typhi cell membrane protein OmpF complex (PDB ID: 4KR4). These analyses revealed robust interactions, validating the observed antibacterial effects against the tested bacterial strains.

COVID-19 pandemic due to SARS-CoV-2 has been one of the major global health issues of this aeon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 cycle threshold (Ct) values with multiple factors among COVID-19 patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Sudurpashchim province of Nepal. A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of randomly selected COVID-19 cases among the total RT-qPCR tested patients from March 2020 to April 2022. The Ct values at the time of patient admission and their clinical outcomes (discharge or death) were compared. Among the COVID-19 patients, survivor group had significantly higher initial Ct value compared to non-survivors [median Ct values 23.21 and 24.39 (P < 0.0001)]. Selected haematological parameters; white blood cells (P

Abstract Rice output has grown globally, yet abiotic factors are still a key cause for worry. Salinity stress seems to have the more impact on crop production out of all abiotic stresses. Currently one of the most significant challenges in paddy breeding for salinity tolerance with the help of QTLs, is to determine the QTLs having the best chance of improving salinity tolerance with the least amount of background noise from the tolerant parent. Minimizing the size of the QTL confidence interval (CI) is essential in order to primarily include the genes responsible for salinity stress tolerance. By considering that, a genome-wide meta-QTL analysis on 768 QTLs from 35 rice populations published from 2001 to 2022 was conducted to identify consensus regions and the candidate genes underlying those regions responsible for the salinity tolerance, as it reduces the confidence interval (CI) to many folds from the initial QTL studies. In the present investigation, a total of 65 MQTLs were extracted with an average CI reduced from 17.35 to 1.66 cM including the smallest of 0.01 cM. Identification of the MQTLs for individual traits and then classifying the target traits into correlated morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects, resulted in more efficient interpretation of the salinity tolerance, identifying the candidate genes and to understand the salinity tolerance mechanism as a whole. The results of this study have a huge potential to improve the rice genotypes for salinity tolerance with the help of MAS and MABC.

For a prime p and a positive integer e, let $\mathbb {F}_{p^{e}}$ be the finite field of order $p^{e}$ and $\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } $ be a non-chain ring given by $\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } :=\mathbb {F}_{p^{e}}[v]/\langle v^{\ell } -1\rangle,~\ell \gt 1$ . This study presents the $(\theta _{1},\delta _{1},\beta _{1})$ -cyclic codes over $\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } $ and $(\theta _{i},\delta _{i},\beta _{i})$ -cyclic codes over $\mathbb {F}_{p^{e}}\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } $ for $i=0,1$ . Further, we study the application of these codes in the construction of quantum codes. Towards this, we define a Gray map to find images of the elements of $\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } $ and $\mathbb {F}_{p^{e}}\mathfrak {R}_{\ell } $ over the copies of $\mathbb {F}_{p^{e}}$ , and then establish the dual-containing conditions for these codes. Finally, using the CSS construction and a propagation rule, we find many non-binary quantum and classical codes with better parameters.

Coleus aromaticus Benth. (Family: Lamiaceae) is a huge perennial, aromatic and succulent herb native to the Indian subcontinent. The dried leaves have an oregano-like texture making them a perfect culinary food supplement to be used as herbal seasoning for meat and other food products. The present study aimed to identify the bioactive components in the essential oil collected from the fresh aerial parts of Coleus aromaticus Benth. Using GC/MS analysis, 12 terpenoid components were identified, accounting for 97.5% of the overall oil content. Thymol (69.6%), p-cymene (3.9%), (E)-caryophyllene (3.7%), carvacrol (3.2%), α-thujene (3.2%), γ-terpinene (2.9%), and carvacrol methyl ether (2.3%) were identified to be the primary constituents in the oil, which was determined to be dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes (72.8%). Additionally, at the highest dose, CAEO showed significant pesticidal activity, inhibiting the egg hatchability of Meloidogyne incognita by 96.9%, immobilizing it by 52.3%, insecticidal activity on Spodoptera litura by 71.13%, and phytotoxic activity on Raphanus raphanistrum seeds by 97.75%. For speculating the potential method of action of CAEO components, the proteins/enzymes namely acetylcholinesterase (PDB ID: 6XYS), carboxylesterase (PDB ID: 5IVH), and acetohydroxyacid synthase (PBD ID: 1YHZ) were employed. The novel aspect of this study was that the herbal spice material was collected during its vegetative stage from the Tarai region of Pantnagar (India) in order to bio-evaluate its nematicidal, herbicidal, and insecticidal effectiveness. It was found that CAEO is an effective alternative source of natural pesticides and opens the way for additional research on its mechanistic techniques and field tests to determine its pesticidal studies.

Background & objectives: This study reports observation on circulating serotypes and genotypes of Dengue Virus in North India. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from suspected cases of dengue referred to the virus diagnostic laboratory during 2014 to 2022. All samples were tested for anti-dengue virus IgM antibodies and NS1Ag by ELISA. NS1Ag positive samples were processed for serotyping and genotyping. Results: Total 41,476 dengue suspected cases were referred to the laboratory of which 12,292 (29.6%) tested positive. Anti-Dengue Virus IgM antibodies, NS1Ag, both IgM and NS1Ag, were positive in 7007 (57.4%); 3200 (26.0%) and 2085 (16.0%) cases respectively. Total 762 strains were serotyped during 9-year period. DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 serotypes were found in 79 (10.37%), 506 (66.40%), 151 (19.82%) and 26 (3.41%) cases respectively. DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 were in circulation throughout. Total 105 strains were genotyped. Genotype IV of DENV-1 serotype was circulating till 2014 which was later replaced by genotype V. A distinct seasonality with increase in number of cases in post-monsoon period was seen. Interpretation & conclusion: DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 were found to be in circulation in North India. Predominant serotype/genotype changed at times, but not at regular intervals.

Agriculture is the ultimate imperative and primary source of origin to furnish domestic income for multifarious countries. The disease caused in plants due to various pathogens like viruses, fungi, and bacteria is liable for considerable monetary losses in the agriculture corporation across the world. The security of crops concerning quality and quantity is crucial to monitor disease in plants. Thus, recognition of plant disease is essential. The plant disease syndrome is noticeable in distinct parts of plants. Nonetheless, commonly the infection is detected in distinct leaves of plants. Computer vision, deep learning, few-shot learning, and soft computing techniques are utilized by various investigators to automatically identify the disease in plants via leaf images. These techniques also benefit farmers in achieving expeditious and appropriate actions to avoid a reduction in the quality and quantity of crops. The application of these techniques in the recognition of disease can avert the disadvantage of origin by a factious selection of disease features, extraction of features, and boost the speed of technology and efficiency of research. Also, certain molecular techniques have been established to prevent and mitigate the pathogenic threat. Hence, this review helps the investigator to automatically detect disease in plants using machine learning, deep learning and few shot learning and provide certain diagnosis techniques to prevent disease. Moreover, some of the future works in the classification of disease are also discussed.

Introduction: Staging laparoscopy (SL) plays an important role in avoiding unnecessary non-therapeutic laparotomy in radiologically resectable hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) malignancy patients. The limitation of SL is to detect deep-seated malignancy. The addition of laparoscopic ultrasonography for identifying metastatic lesions or locally unresectable disease improves the diagnostic yield of SL. Patients and Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted in a single unit of the tertiary care centre between 2017 and 2019. All the patients of HPB malignancy who were radiologically resectable underwent SL and laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasonography. Metastatic disease patients were either underwent palliative bypass procedures or abandoned depending on the condition of the patient. Patients who had resectable disease underwent standard surgical procedures. Results: Forty patients of HPB malignancy with potentially resectable on radiological imaging underwent SL and diagnostic ultrasonography. Out of 40, 21 patients had periampullary, 14 had carcinoma gallbladder and 5 patients had distal cholangiocarcinoma. Metastatic lesions were identified on laparoscopy in eight patients and the diagnostic yield of SL is 20%. Addition of laparoscopic ultrasonography identified one haemangioma which was false positive on laparoscopy and underwent the radical standard procedure. Four patients were unresectable so the procedure was abandoned and another three patients underwent a bypass procedure. Conclusion: Laparoscopic ultrasonography during SL can detect deep-seated metastatic lesions and decide the management in resectable disease.

Robust Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are increasingly necessary in the age of big data due to the growing volume, velocity, and variety of data generated by modern networks. Metaheuristic algorithms offer a promising approach to enhance IDS performance in terms of optimal feature selection. Combining these algorithms along with Machine learning (ML) for the creation of an IDS makes it possible to improve detection accuracy, reduce false positives and negatives, and enhance the efficiency of network monitoring. Our study proposes using metaheuristic algorithms along with machine learning classifiers for feature selection to optimize the number of features from the data set of computer network traffic. We have tested several combinations of algorithms viz., Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) along with ML algorithms viz., Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB) and Logistic Regression (LR). The combinations of algorithms have been tested over the NSS-KDD and kddcupdata_10% data sets. We have drawn several insights on feature selection scores with respect to test scores, FI scores, recall and precision for various algorithm combinations. The feature selection time has also been highlighted to showcase the fastest-performing algorithm combinations. Ultimately, we have presented three combinations of algorithms depending on organizational IDS requirements and provided separate solutions for each.