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The rising global demand for sustainable and eco-friendly practices has led to a burgeoning interest in circular bioeconomy, wherein waste materials are repurposed into valuable resources. Lignocellulosic waste, abundant in agricultural residues and forestry by-products, represents a significant untapped resource. This article explores the potential of fungal-mediated processes for the valorisation of lignocellulosic waste, highlighting their role in transforming these recalcitrant materials into bio-based products. The articles delve into the diverse enzymatic and metabolic capabilities of fungi, which enable them to efficiently degrade and metabolise lignocellulosic materials. The paper further highlights key fungal species and their mechanisms involved in the breakdown of complex biomass, emphasising the importance of understanding their intricate biochemical pathways for optimising waste conversion processes. The key insights of the article will significantly contribute to advancing the understanding of fungal biotechnology for circular bioeconomy applications, fostering a paradigm shift towards a more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly approach to waste management and bio-based product manufacturing.

Energy consumption is a major concern in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) as it affects the lifespan of sensor nodes. Battery-based WSNs have a short operating period, which makes them impractical for real-time applications, for instance in agriculture. Energy harvesting and suitable medium access control (MAC) protocols have been used to extend the lifetime of nodes. Receiver-initiated protocols have been proved to be the best solution for energy harvesting WSNs. However, they suffer from a key disadvantage, i.e. an increase in collision rate. These collisions need to be reduced using a multi-layer protocol structure. In such a context, a new solar-based hybrid MAC (SHMAC) protocol relying on receiver-initiation and characterized by a multi-layer structure is proposed. It is an adaptive protocol capable of adapting to changing weather conditions. The nodes with a high energy harvesting rate have a higher level of residual energy and are active for longer time periods compared with those with low energy harvesting characteristics. The proposed work has shown improvements in two major MAC layer parameters, i.e. collision rate and energy neutrality operation ratio (ENO).

Abstract Background Refugees often face psychosocial complexity and multi-dimensional healthcare needs. Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methods have been previously employed in designing health programs for refugee communities and in building strong research partnerships in refugee communities. However, the extent to which these communities are involved remains unknown. Objective To review the evidence on the involvement of refugees in CBPR processes to inform healthcare research. Methods A scoping review was performed, using Arksey & O’Malley’s methodological framework. A literature search in Medline, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, and Policy File Index for articles published until August 2020 was conducted. Articles were included if they focused on CBPR, had refugee involvement, and discussed healthcare/health policy. Results 4125 articles were identified in the database searches. After removal of duplicates, 2077 articles underwent title and abstract review by two authors, yielding an inter-reviewer kappa-statistic of 0.85. 14 studies were included in the final analysis. The purpose of CBPR use for 6 (42.9%) of the articles was developing and implementing mental health/social support interventions, 5 (35.7%) focused on sexual and reproductive health interventions, 1 (7.1%) focused on domestic violence interventions, 1 (7.1%) focused on cardiovascular disease prevention and 1 (7.1%) focused on parenting interventions. In terms of refugee involvement in the various stages in the research process, 9 (64.3%) articles reported refugees having a role in the inception of the research, no articles reported including refugees in obtaining funding, all articles included refugees in the design of the research study, 10 (71.4%) articles reported having refugees involved in community engagement/recruitment, 8 (57.1%) articles reported involvement throughout the data collection process, 4 (28.6%) articles reported involvement in data analysis, 6 (42.9%) articles reported having refugees involved in knowledge translation/dissemination and 1 article (7.1%) reported having refugees contribute to scale up initiatives. Conclusions CBPR has been identified as a methodology with the potential to make substantial contributions to improving health and well-being in traditionally disenfranchised populations. As the needs of refugee communities are so diverse, efforts should be made to include refugees as partners in all stages of the research process.

Background: Families of refugee background have complex, multigenerational mental health and developmental needs that are not accounted for in current programming frameworks in Canada. Providing appropriate support services and educational resources that address the unique concerns of families of refugee background will allow for improved family cohesion and developmental outcomes for children. Parenting programs have been shown to be successful in improving parental stress, parental efficacy, and children’s mental health and well-being. This study gathers data about the experiences of caregivers of refugee background in order to develop a novel, multi-dimensional parenting program model using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles. Methodology: This was a qualitative, CBPR study using a formative research framework. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with caregivers of refugee background and service providers that work closely with this population. Data were recorded, transcribed, and coded using deductive and inductive coding methods by two independent coders. Results: A total of 20 IDIs were conducted (7 caregivers and 13 service providers). The main topics that were identified to be incorporated into the program include: features of child development, how to address resettlement issues, child advocacy, and parenting after resettlement. Participants felt that tackling language barriers, addressing the overlapping responsibilities of caregivers attending the sessions, providing incentives, increasing awareness of the program, and using an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach was key to the program’s success. Participants emphasized the need for trauma-informed mental health supports within the program model. Conclusion: This study describes the key considerations for a novel parenting program for families of refugee background, by engaging them as key stakeholders in the program design process. Future iterations of this project would involve a pilot and evaluation of the program.

Objectives: Barriers to in-person mental health care are common in pregnant and postpartum women with depression. We assessed the feasibility of a trial protocol for evaluating the use of secure, in-home synchronous virtual psychiatric care. Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial in Toronto, Canada, women aged ≥18 years, pregnant or 0-12 months postpartum, with Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores >12, were randomized 1:1 to in-person visits only, or to an intervention condition where they were offered the option of video-visits for some or all of their follow-up care. We assessed trial protocol feasibility, and secondarily EPDS score at 12 weeks post-randomization. Results: 63 women were randomized (33 intervention, 30 control) of which 87.9% (n = 29) in the intervention group and 66.7% (n = 20) in control group completed the 12-week follow-up questionnaire. About 48.5% (n = 16) of intervention group participants used video-visits at least once, with high acceptability for participants and providers across a number of domains, and no adverse events. EPDS mean scores decreased from 16.6(SD 5.06) to 11.6(SD 4.77) and 16.9(SD 3.15) to 12.4(SD 3.96) for intervention and control groups, respectively (adjusted mean difference -0.64, 95%CI -2.95 to 1.67). Conclusion: It was feasible to recruit for a protocol evaluating psychiatrist video-visits for perinatal depression. Video-visits were acceptable to users and the psychiatrists providing their healthcare. A future non-inferiority efficacy trial can assess treatment outcome moderators to explore variability in effectiveness by illness severity and other factors, and cost-effectiveness of various types of video-visit strategies for psychiatric care in this population.

Abstract Background The present study was carried out to prepare multi-herbal combination via comparing antioxidant activity and polyphenolic composition of five medicinal plant extracts of Punica granatum L., Putranjiva roxburghii Wall., Swertia chirata Buch.-Ham., Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers and Trigonella corniculata L. Methods The herbs were individually evaluated using in vitro antioxidant assays and analyzed by HPLC-PDA. The resultant data was examined using principal component analysis (PCA). Further, herbal combination was prepared on the basis of PCA. Results The PCA divided the plants into three groups. The leading or primary group contained P. granatum and P. roxburghii with the highest antioxidant activity strongly correlated with high amount of kaempferol. S. chirata was acknowledged as nourisher herb in one and T. cordifolia and T. corniculata were identified as stimulator herbs in other group. The herbal combination exhibited high antioxidant activity as compared to the individual plants. The combination revealed good antiproliferative efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells with IC50 of 75.864 μg/ml. Conclusions The activity observed in vitro with HepG2 cells suggests that the herbal combination can provide therapeutic activity in vivo in future. The study may provide information regarding precise preparation of multi-herbal formulations using PCA as a tool in pharmaceutical industries.

In the present work, twelve inorganic thermoluminescence dosimeteric (TLD) materials doped with some rare earth elements (LiF:Sm, LiBaP _2 O _7 :Eu, CaCO _3 :Eu, CaSO _4 :Dy, SrSO _4 :Sm, CdSO _4 :Dy, BaSO _4 :Eu, Li _2 B _4 O _7 :Dy, MgB _4 O _7 :Gd, Al _2 O _3 :Gd, MgAl _2 O _4 :Ce and LiCaAlF _6 :Eu) and three organic TLD materials (C _3 H _7 NO _2 , C _7 H _8 O _2 and C _4 H _6 BaO _4 ) were selected for comparative analysis on the basis of different photon sensing parameters. About nine photon sensing parameters viz. mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), mean free path (mfp), half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), effective atomic number (EAN), effective electron number (EEN), exposure buildup factor (EBF) and energy absorption buildup factor (EABF) were obtained for the selected fifteen TLDs. The simultaneous variation of these photon sensing parameters for the selected TLDs with photon energy and composition has been analyzed. The results of present comparative analysis help radiation physicists to easily select a particular dosimeter for their research laboratory from different existing compositions. All photon sensing parameters viz. MAC, LAC, mfp, HVL, TVL, EAN, EEN, EBF and EABF for selected TLDs strongly depend upon incident energy and chemical composition in lower and higher energy regions. Among the selected TLDs; BaSO _4 : Eu ^3+ offers best results (maximum values for MAC, EAN, EEN; and minimum values for mfp, HVL, TVL, EBF, EABF); whereas MgB _4 O _7 :Gd ^3+ offers EAN value close to tissue and less variation in most of the sensing parameters with respect to photon energy.

Abstract Cancer, the main cause of human deaths in the modern world is a group of diseases. Anticancer drug discovery is a challenge for scientists because of involvement of multiple survival pathways of cancer cells. An extensive study on the regulation of each step of these pathways may help find a potential cancer target. Up-regulated HIF-1 expression and altered metabolic pathways are two classical characteristics of cancer. Oxygen-dependent (through pVHL, PHDs, calcium-mediated) and independent (through growth factor signaling pathway, mdm2 pathway, HSP90) regulation of HIF-1α leads to angiogenesis, metastasis, and cell survival. The two subunits of HIF-1 regulates in the same fashion through different mechanisms. HIF-1α translation upregulates via mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways, whereas HIF-1β through calmodulin kinase. Further, the stabilized interactions of these two subunits are important for proper functioning. Also, metabolic pathways crucial for the formation of building blocks (pentose phosphate pathway) and energy generation (glycolysis, TCA cycle and catabolism of glutamine) are altered in cancer cells to protect them from oxidative stress and to meet the reduced oxygen and nutrient supply. Up-regulated anaerobic metabolism occurs through enhanced expression of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, triosephosphate isomerase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and down-regulation of aerobic metabolism via pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and lactate dehydrogenase which compensate energy requirements along with high glucose intake. Controlled expression of these two pathways through their common intermediate may serve as potent cancer target in future.

This paper presents a survey on the MAC and network layer of Wireless Sensor Networks. Performance requirements of the MAC layer are explored. MAC layer protocols for battery-powered networks and energy harvestingbased networks are discussed and compared. A detailed discussion on design constraints and classification of routing protocols is presented. Several routing protocols are compared in terms of such parameters as: energy consumption, scalability, network lifetime and mobility. Problems that require future research are presented. The cross-layer approach for WSNs is also surveyed.

Among various conventional wireless communication systems, Free Space Optics (FSO) may be distinguished as well, which provides a good level security, high data rates, an enormous bandwidth and negligible susceptibility to electromagnetic interference. The main problem arises with unfavorable weather conditions, which affect the system’s parameters and require an aversion to other paths. The weather conditions discussed are rain and haze. Elimination of their adverse effects is essential for establishing a better communication system. The routing path is a major issue, as its decreased parameters lead to the diversion of the transmitted signal or to its total loss. In this article, increased system path length and proficiency levels are demonstrated by using relays, which are assisted by Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM).

Free Space Optical communication (FSO) has engrossed a large section of researchers in recent times due to its wide bandwidth, effortless deployment and immune links making it appropriate for communication purposes. This wireless optical technique requires clear and non-turbulent atmospheric conditions for efficient transmission. In this paper, authors aim at reducing the effect of turbulent atmospheric conditions like scintillation effect on FSO. Multibeam technique, which uses spatially diverse transmitters for transmission, has been used for increasing the achievable link distance of the FSO system. Parameters like quality factor and bit error rate have been used to check the received signal quality.

3β, hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (Betulinic acid), a pentacyclic lupane-type triterpene has diverse pharmacological functions both in vitro and in vivo. The present study focuses its protective effect on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (7,12- Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene or DMBA) induced alterations in membrane bound ATPases, detoxification enzymes and antioxidant enzymes in stomach and lungs of female Sprague Dawley rats. Healthy female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assorted into six groups and the treatments were given orally for 7 weeks on alternate days. It was observed that betulinic acid facilitated the downregulation of elevated membrane bound ATPases (Na+/K+- ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase) in DMBA administered rats. Likewise, the detoxification enzymes as well as antioxidant enzymes were modulated to normalcy in rats. Overall, betulinic acid was seen to be effective modulator of DMBA induced alterations in biochemical parameters.

The present paper examines the cost efficiency of Indian commercial banks by using a non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis Technique. The cost efficiency measures of banks are examined under both separate and common frontiers. This paper also empirically examines the impact of mergers on the cost efficiency of banks that have been merged during post liberalization period. The present study based on unbalanced panel data over the period 1990-91 to 2007-08. In this paper to test the efficiency differences between public and private both parametric and non-parametric tests are employed. The findings of this study suggest that over the entire study period average cost efficiency of public sector banks found to be 73.4 and for private sector banks is 76.3 percent. The findings of this paper suggest that to some extent merger programme has been successful in Indian banking sector. The Government and Policy makers should not promote merger between strong and distressed banks as a way to promote the interest of the depositors of distressed banks, as it will have adverse effect upon the asset quality of the stronger banks.

The toxicity induced by 7, 12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) has been widely delineated by a number of researchers. This potent chemical damages many internal organs including liver, by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species, DNA-adduct formation and affecting the activities of phase I, II, antioxidant and serum enzymes. Glucosinolate hydrolytic products like isothiocyanates (ITCs) are well known for inhibiting the DNA-adduct formation and modulating phase I, II enzymes. Sulforaphane is ITC, currently under phase trials, is readily metabolized and inter-converted into erucin upon ingestion. We isolated erucin from Eruca sativa (Mill.) Thell. evaluated its hepatoprotective role in DMBA induced toxicity in male wistar rats. The rats were subjected to hepatic damage by five day regular intraperitoneal doses of DMBA. At the end of the protocol, the rats were euthanized, their blood was collected and livers were processed. The liver homogenate was analyzed for phase I (NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, cytochrome P450, cytochrome P420 and cytochrome b5), phase II (DT diaphorase, glutathione-S-transferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase) and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidise, ascorbate peroxidise, glutathione reductase and lactate dehydrogenase). The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, conjugated dienes and reduced glutathione in the liver homogenate was also analyzed. The serum was also analyzed for markers indicating hepatic damage (alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin). Erucin provided significant protection against DMBA induced damage by modulating the phase I, II and antioxidant enzymes. The histological evaluation of liver tissue was also conducted, which showed the hepatoprotective role of erucin.

Agriculture has been significant part of the Indian livelihood since ages. As agriculture rely upon the various aspects such as quality of soil, soil minerals and nematodes present in soil. In the present project of soil nematode diversity is successfully estimated by using nematode extraction method given by Cobb (1918). The experiments were performed on soil sample which were collected from four different sites during the study. These four sites were agricultural fields located in Sri Anandpur Sahib (India) with different crops viz; Site 1: Agricultural field with vegetable crops, Site 2: Agricultural field with oilseed crops, Site 3: Agricultural field with wheat crops, Site 4: Agricultural field with Maize crop. The estimation part of the study was performed at PG Zoology Laboratory of PG Department of Zoology, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College, Sri Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, India. The six nematode species were recorded with 100% frequency along with sixteen species of nematodes with 90% frequency of occurrence in all agricultural sites selected during present study. Additionally, eighteen nematode species were recorded with 80% frequency of occurrence in all sites. Apart from this, the nematode species H. indicus and T. hynchus spp. were recorded with 70% frequency of occurrence. It can be deduced from the present experimental program that the beneficial nematodes were present abundantly in all the soil samples of selected sites. Thus, it can be stated that, to improve the soil fertility the ecofriendly agricultural practices would be an efficient approach as it foster the soil nematode diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]