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Context Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial in promoting a better understanding of collaborative practices within the healthcare system. Unfortunately, healthcare professionals are still working in isolation. To address this issue, a study was conducted to develop a module-based teaching and learning activity focusing on sports injuries and to promote IPE. Aims The aim of the study was to develop, implement, and evaluate an IPE module. Settings and Design An educational mixed-method study was conducted on 25 facilitators and 108 students. Methods, Materials and Statistical Analysis The facilitators were interviewed for an assessment of the need for the IPE module. Qualitative analysis was done on the interview data. An interprofessional team was created to develop the sports injury prevention module (SIPM). The SIPM consisting of 11 objectives was developed and validated by experts. After the implementation of SIPM students’ performance was analysed with the help of pre and post-tests. The perception of students and facilitators about IP SIPM were recorded with the help of questionnaires. Results Need assessment data showed that the facilitators were not very familiar with the concept of IPE. There was a significant increase in students’ performance with a P value ≤ 0.05 after learning with SIPM. Both facilitators and students agreed that module-based IPE increases students’ attentiveness and learning. Conclusions For effective interprofessional educational collaboration for training students of the healthcare profession, there is a need for an interprofessional educational module. SIPM can enhance the learning of musculoskeletal anatomy and create awareness about sports injuries among students.

Abstract Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) is a challenging clinical problem associated with high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular interventions have been the cornerstone of treatment whenever possible. It is estimated that CLTI represents

Introduction: Nutritional status during pregnancy is a determining factor for maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Protein is an essential nutrient for foetal development. If pregnancy is associated with an improper diet leading to protein deficiency, the prospects for maternal and foetal outcomes may be catastrophic. An electrophoretic study of serum protein patterns in pregnancy can help identify pregnancy-specific protein markers and facilitate the monitoring of feto-maternal health. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess serum protein levels and their fractions (albumin, alpha-1 globulin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin, and gamma globulin) using gel electrophoresis in healthy pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medical Biochemistry in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sultania Zanana Hospital, associated with Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, between January 2021 and February 2021. Fifty normal non-pregnant women of childbearing age and 50 normal pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy attending an antenatal clinic were enrolled and followed-up through the second and third trimesters for investigations. Serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were estimated using a fully automated chemistry analyser, and the electrophoretic patterns of serum protein fractions were analysed using an automated gel electrophoresis apparatus. Epi-Info statistical software was used for the statistical analysis of data, with p

Introduction The effect of the second wave of COVID-19 was immense in India, specifically in the form of vicious COVID-19-associated mucormycosis. A higher number of radical debridements are required for disease control in combination with antifungal drugs in cases of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, which results in complex maxillofacial defects. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with rhino-orbito-maxillary defects due to COVID-19-associated mucormycosis undergoing a single stage delayed free flap reconstruction.

Perhaps the most traumatic experience for a parent is watching their child suffer in front of their eyes. Parenting, by its very nature, is a stressful activity; however, the stress of caring for an autistic child along with the myriad challenges it brings, can take a toll on parents’ health. To meet the complex demands of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), families can suffer from emotional, financial, and even physical burdens, which in turn leave them with little time for self-care and can lead to mounting sleep deprivation. In this review, an attempt has been made to understand the various challenges and stresses faced by the parents of a child with ASD. This review specifically focuses on mental health challenges, lack of sufficient time for self-care, problems related to communication, challenges associated with caring for an autistic child, stigmatisation related to mental health disorders, and the financial burdens faced by the parents of autistic children.

Abstract Background Septoria tritici blotch (STB) disease causes yield losses of up to 50 per cent in susceptible wheat cultivars and can reduce wheat production. In this study, genomic architecture for adult-plant STB resistance in a Septoria Association Mapping Panel (SAMP) having 181 accessions and genomic regions governing STB resistance in a South Asian wheat panel were looked for. Results Field experiments during the period from 2019 to 2021 revealed those certain accessions, namely BGD52 (CHIR7/ANB//CHIR1), BGD54 (CHIR7/ANB//CHIR1), IND92 (WH 1218), IND8 (DBW 168), and IND75 (PBW 800), exhibited a high level of resistance. Genetic analysis revealed the presence of 21 stable quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) associated with resistance to STB (Septoria tritici blotch) on all wheat chromosomes, except for 2D, 3A, 3D, 4A, 4D, 5D, 6B, 6D, and 7A. These QTNs were predominantly located in chromosome regions previously identified as associated with STB resistance. Three Quantitative Trait Loci (QTNs) were found to have significant phenotypic effects in field evaluations. These QTNs are Q.STB.5A.1, Q.STB.5B.1, and Q.STB.5B.3. Furthermore, it is possible that the QTNs located on chromosomes 1A (Q.STB.1A.1), 2A (Q.STB_DH.2A.1, Q.STB.2A.3), 2B (Q.STB.2B.4), 5A (Q.STB.5A.1, Q.STB.5A.2), and 7B (Q.STB.7B.2) could potentially be new genetic regions associated with resistance. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the importance of Asian bread wheat as a source of STB resistance alleles and novel stable QTNs for wheat breeding programs aiming to develop long-lasting and wide-ranging resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici in wheat cultivars.

Abstract Studies on concrete dam breach are limited compared to earthen and other types of dams. With an increase in the construction of concrete dams, particularly in the developing world, it is imperative to have a better understanding of the dam breach phenomena and the identification of the most influential breach parameters. This study aims to contribute to this gap by taking the case of the concrete arch dam proposed for the 1200 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project located in central Nepal. This study carries special significance for Nepal, primarily because of the increasing number of under construction and proposed large dams for water resources development in the country. We carry out dam breach analysis of the Budhigandaki dam using HEC-RAS 2D model to calculate the flood discharge peaks, time to peak, water surface elevation and the extent of inundation for two scenarios (with and without probable maximum flood) to estimate the damage on four downstream settlements. We carry out sensitivity analysis of the breach parameters on the flood magnitudes and severity. Results show that all the study locations lie in the high flood hazard zone. Flood peaks can reach as high as 286,000 m3s− 1 to 511,000 m3s− 1 in the considered settlements. The time to peak ranges from 11.3 to 17 h after the breach at these locations. We estimate that if a breach should happen, it would most likely inundate around 150,000 buildings, impact nearly 672,000 lives and flood 3,500 km of road downstream. Furthermore, dam breach elevation is found to be the most sensitive parameter to downstream floods. Hence, rather than structural measures, it is recommended that non-structural measures are implemented for minimizing the impacts of flood disasters at the study locations. The findings could be a useful reference for future dam projects in Nepal and other areas with similar hydrological and topographical conditions.

Introduction: This study aimed to study on clinical outcomes of single-stage (laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] and laparoscopic common bile duct [CBD] exploration using flexible videobronchoscope) versus dual-stage (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy) for cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis-prospective study in a tertiary care centre (BRACE STUDY-Bronchoscope-Assisted CBD Exploration [CBDE] Study). Patients and Methods: Between April 2022 and April 2023, patients who underwent LC with laparoscopic CBDE and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by LC participated in this single-centre prospective research. The Institute Ethics Committee granted its approval after receiving an ethical review. The primary endpoint of the proposed research was the removal of the gall bladder and CBD stones. The secondary outcomes studied were complications using the Clavien-Dindo score, cost-effectiveness, patient satisfaction score and post-procedure duration of hospital stay. Results: A total of 168 patients were included in the study. The success rate of LC with laparoscopic CBD exploration using a flexible videobronchoscope (Group 1) was significantly higher as compared to ERCP f/b LC (Group 2) (96.4% vs. 84.5%, P value = 0.02). Out of the 84 patients in Group 1, direct choledochotomies were performed on 83 of them. Group 1 had a considerably shorter hospital stay (4.6 ± 2.4 vs. 5.3 ± 6.2 days; P = 0.03). Both the cost (P = 0.002) and the number of procedures per patient (P < 0.001) were considerably higher in Group 2. Major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and above) were significantly higher in Group 2 (P = 0.04). Patient satisfaction in Group 1 scored more favourably than those in Group 2 (2.26 ± 0.3 vs. 1.92 ± 0.7; P = 0.006). Conclusion: For concurrent gall bladder and CBD stones, single-stage management by LCBDE using a flexible videobronchoscope has a significantly better primary outcome and lower major complications than dual-stage management. The single-stage strategy also has advantages in terms of a shorter hospital stay, the need for fewer procedures, cost efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Abstract Background Individuals may experience a range of symptoms after the clearance of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This condition is termed long COVID (LC) or Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Despite the appreciable number of symptoms documented to date, one key challenge remains in the robust characterization of LC outcomes. This review aimed to assess the properties, identify gaps, and provide recommendations for relevant descriptive and evaluative Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement (PROM) instruments that can be used to comprehensively characterize LC. Methods To achieve this objective, we identified and reviewed descriptive and evaluative PROM instruments that have been developed and validated to date with people living with LC. Our review assessed their properties, identified gaps, and recommended PROMs suitable for characterizing LC. To ensure a comprehensive and robust characterization of LC, we next identified, reviewed, and selected (with the input of patient partners) PROMs associated with the most frequently reported LC symptoms. The evaluation criteria included psychometric evidence, mode of delivery, cost, and administration time. Results Traditional matrix mapping revealed Post-COVID Functional Status Scale (PCFS) as a choice instrument for capturing LC outcomes largely because of the comprehensive domains it covered, and the number of psychometric evidence reported in literatures. This instrument can be effectively paired with the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Headache Impact Test (HIT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and DePaul Symptom Questionnaire (DSQ-PEM) to characterize fatigue, cognitive impairment, depression/anxiety, headache, sleeplessness, and post-exertional malaise respectively. Conclusion Our paper identified appropriate PROM instruments that can effectively capture the diverse impacts of LC. By utilizing these validated instruments, we can better understand and manage LC.

Abstract Epileptic seizure (ES) detection is an active research area, that aims at patient-specific ES detection with high accuracy from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The early detection of seizure is crucial for timely medical intervention and prevention of further injuries of the patients. This work proposes a robust deep learning framework called HyEpiSeiD that extracts self-trained features from the pre-processed EEG signals using a hybrid combination of convolutional neural network followed by two gated recurrent unit layers and performs prediction based on those extracted features. The proposed HyEpiSeiD framework is evaluated on two public datasets, the UCI Epilepsy and Mendeley datasets. The proposed HyEpiSeiD model achieved 99.01% and 97.50% classification accuracy, respectively, outperforming most of the state-of-the-art methods in epilepsy detection domain.

Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk. (Asteraceae) is a high value medicinal plant which possesses diverse medicinal properties. It is an important herb for the treatment of various disorders, and is primarily used as a hepatoprotectant. Its major biochemical constituents include wedelolactone and dimethyl-wedelolactone (coumestans), which possess anti-hepatotoxic properties. Due to its numerous medicinal properties, it is in high demand by the pharmaceutical industry and therefore requires urgent biotechnological interventions for its improvement. Therefore, the present study was constructed with the aim of developing an efficient genetic transformation protocol for E. alba, which will help in the mass production of the active compounds found in E. alba. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404, containing vector pBI121, was used to genetically transform the plant, and the effect of various factors such as infection type, light cycle effect, effect of pH, among others, on the genetic transformation efficiency was analyzed. Regenerated transformed shoots were confirmed using the standard Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR method. Kanamycin-resistant and beta- glucurosidaseGUS-positive shoots indicated the development of transgenic shoots in E. alba. Amplification of nptll and uidA genes confirmed the integration of t-DNA transgenic shoots. In conclusion, various factors affecting the transformation efficiency were analyzed, and a reliable A. tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation protocol was developed.

Purpose: The metal present in the implant creates artifacts during the treatment simulation, which impacts the treatment planning and delivery of the prescribed dose to the target and sparing normal tissues. This retrospective study evaluated the uncertainties in the planning and delivery of doses for prosthesis cases with dedicated phantom. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 11 patients with a hip prosthesis having cervix carcinoma were selected. Two treatment plans were generated on treatment planning system (TPS) for each case. Plan_No_Res was without any beam restriction, and Plan_exit_only was the plan with restricted beam entry through the metallic implant. An indigenous phantom was utilized to verify the accuracy of the treatment. In the phantom, some groves were present, which could be filled by implants that mimic the patient’s geometries, like left, right and bilateral femur implants. The delivered doses were recorded using optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs), which were placed at different positions in the phantom. The plans were further calculated using megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) scans acquired during treatment. Results: The patient data showed no significant dose changes between the two planning methods. The treatment time increases from 412.18 ± 86.65 to 427.36 ± 104.80 with P = 0.03 for Plan_No_Res and Plan_exit_only, respectively. The difference between planned and delivered doses of various points across phantom geometries was within ± 9.5% in each case as left, right, and bilateral implant. The variations between OSLDs and MVCT calculated doses were also within ± 10.8%. Conclusion: The study showed the competency of tomotherapy planning for hip prosthesis cases. The phantom measurements demonstrate the errors in dosimetry near the implant material, suggesting the need for precise methods to deal with artifact-related issues.

Gene therapies, which include viral-vector gene delivery, genome editing, and genetically modified cell therapy, are innovative treatments with the potential to address the underlying genetic causes of disorders and to provide life-changing value in terms of curing disease. Although adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is one of the most advanced types of gene therapy, far fewer AAV-based gene therapy studies have been conducted in Asia than in North America and Europe. The 6th Asia Partnership Conference of Regenerative Medicine (APACRM) was held on April 20, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. APACRM Working Group 3 comprehensively analyzed the regulatory processes that occur prior to the initiation of clinical trials as well as the regulatory requirements for AAV-based gene therapies for six Asian countries or regions (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan). In this article, we report the outcomes of this conference, summarizing the regulatory requirements for initiating clinical trials for AAV-based gene therapies in terms of the laws, regulations, and guidelines for gene therapy; consultations or reviews required by the health authorities; points to consider for scientific reviews by the health authorities; and specific challenges to address when developing gene therapy products in these locations. Finally, we present several policy recommendations, including simplifying the regulatory review system for multiple scientific review areas; simplifying the regulatory consultation system; and providing training programs and regulatory guidance to support the advancement of gene therapy development in Asia.

Background: Fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum) constitutes a traditionally acclaimed herbal remedy for many human ailments including diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, and reproductive disorders. It is also used as an effective anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal agent. The seed of the plant is especially enriched in several bioactive molecules including polyphenols, saponins, alkaloids, and flavonoids and has demonstrated potential to act as an antidiabetic phytotherapeutic. A novel patented formulation (Fenfuro®) was developed in our laboratory from the fenugreek seeds which contained >45% furostanolic saponins (HPLC). Objective: A placebo-controlled clinical compliance study was designed to assess the effects of complementing Fenfuro® on a randomized group of human volunteers on antidiabetic therapy (Metformin and sulphonylurea) in controlling the glycemic index along with simultaneous safety assessment. Study methodology and trial design: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 42 individuals (21 male and 21 female volunteers) in the treatment group (out of 57 enrolled) and 39 individuals (17 male and 22 female volunteers) in the placebo group (out of 47 enrolled), all on antidiabetic therapy with Metformin/Metformin with sulphonyl urea within the age group of 18–65 years were administered either 1,000 mg (500 mg × 2) (Fenfuro®) capsules or placebo over a period of 12 consecutive weeks. Fasting and postprandial glucose along with glycated hemoglobin were determined as primary outcomes to assess the antidiabetic potential of the formulation. Moreover, in order to evaluate the safety of the formulation, C-peptide and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels as well as immunohematological parameters were assessed between the treatment and placebo groups at the completion of the study. Results: After 12 weeks of administration, both fasting as well as postprandial serum glucose levels decreased by 38 and 44% respectively in the treatment group. Simultaneously, a significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin by about 34.7% was also noted. The formulation did not have any adverse effect on the study subjects as there was no significant change in C- peptide level and TSH level; liver, kidney, and cardiovascular function was also found to be normal as assessed by serum levels of key immunohematological parameters. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: This clinical compliance study re-instated and established the safety and efficacy of Fenfuro® as an effective phytotherapeutic to treat hyperglycemia.

Abstract Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from adult bone marrow are the most commonly used cells in clinical trials. MSCs from single donors are the preferred starting material but suffer from a major setback of being heterogeneous that results in unpredictable and inconsistent clinical outcomes. To overcome this, we developed a method of pooling MSCs from different donors and created cell banks to cater clinical needs. Initially, the master cell banks (MCBs) were created at passage 1 (P1) from the bone marrow MSCs isolated from of nine different donors. At this stage, MCBs from three different donors were mixed in equal proportion and expanded till P3 to create working cell banks. Further, the pooled cells and individual donor MSCs were expanded till P5 and cryopreserved and extensively characterised. There was a large heterogeneity among the individual donor MSCs in terms of growth kinetics (90% Coefficient of variation (CV) for cell yield and 44% CV for population doubling time at P5), immunosuppressive ability (30% CV at 1:1 and 300% CV at 1:10 ratio), and the angiogenic factor secretion potential (20% CV for VEGF and71% CV for SDF-1). Comparatively, the pooled cells have more stable profiles (60% CV for cell yield and 7% CV for population doubling time at P5) and exhibit better immunosuppressive ability (15% CV at 1:1 and 32% CV at 1:10 ratio ) and consistent secretion of angiogenic factors (16% CV for VEGF and 51% CV for SDF-1). Further pooling does not compromise the trilineage differentiation capacity or phenotypic marker expression of the MSCs. The senescence and in vitro tumourigenicity characteristics of the pooled cells are also similar to those of individual donor MSCs. We conclude that pooling of MSCs from three different donors reduces heterogeneity among individual donors and produces MSCs with a consistent secretion and higher immunosuppressive profile.

Background Early detection of free flap compromise is critical for salvage of the flap. Various methods of free flap monitoring have been described, but clinical assessment is the standard method for among all. In this study, role of infrared thermography is evaluated for free flap monitoring.

The initiation of the first crack mainly determines the criteria for glass failure. However, the extended consequences of cracking, with the formation of multiple cracks merging, result in fallout conditions under varying thermal loads that become more critical. Point-supported glass arrangements are globally used in high-rise and energy-efficient buildings for architectural ingenuity aimed at a low budget. However, the formation of cracks due to thermal load resulting in glass breakage could infuriate the overall fire dynamics of the enclosed area. Therefore, experimental study and prediction of glass failure become very crucial. The present experimental study focuses on finding the most critical parameter that may quantify the cause of glass failure and further breakage in fallout conditions under varying thermal loads. 45 experiments were carried out on float glass of 300 × 300 mm2 with 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 12 mm with continuous fuel supply arrangements. Critical parameters analysed were the time of crack initiation, glass temperature at the time of cracking, maximum temperature difference at glass failure, and thermal strain caused by the temperature difference on the glass surface. The range of minimum and maximum temperature difference recorded on the glass surface for the present study was between 30–35°C and 55–60°C at the breakage time for all the experiments. The Maximum temperature difference measured was 56.99°C on the 12 mm glass surface, and the corresponding maximum thermal strain found was 482 × 10−6 mm/mm. The maximum heat release rate was found to be approximately 200 kW. Maximum heat flux was found in the range of 10.33 kW/m2 to 21.14 kW/m2. A correlation was also developed using the least square method for all the thicknesses, which is well correlated with the glass thickness per unit length.

Introduction: Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect millions of people worldwide, leading to severe consequences ranging from disability to mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women in a district of Nepal. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study involving postmenopausal women from Nuwakot, Dhading, and Rasuwa districts in Nepal was conducted at Trishuli Hospital, Nuwakot. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board of Nepal Health Research Council (Reference number: 1768). The prevalence of osteoporosis was determined, and the associated factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (GE-Lunar Prodigy) was used to measure Bone Mineral Density (g/cm2) at the proximal femur and lumbar spine. Various factors related to osteoporosis were also analyzed. Results: There were 384 postmenopausal women and the prevalence of osteoporosis was 82 (21.35%; 95% CI: 17.25%-25.45%)e. The mean age of female with osteoporosis was 67.52±8.84 years and that without osteoporosis was 55.70±7.69 years (p

Background: A bibliometric analysis was performed to map the current status and development trends in medical research in Nepal. It aims to visualize research hotspots within this field and provide effective guidance for future research directions. Methods: A systematic search of the Scopus database was performed to identify high-cited papers (HCPs) on medical research in Nepal between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 2023. Bibliometrics techniques were applied to analyze the publication dates, countries, institutions, journals, authors, and research hotspots. Statistical analysis and visualization were carried output by MS-Excel and VOSviewer software. Results: A total of 326 HCPs were identified that have received 100 to 10719 citations and registered 223.05 Citations Per Paper (CPP). The 47.54% and 95.40% share of the 326 HCPs have received external funding support and are involved in international collaboration, respectively. The 15892 (417 from Nepal) authors, affiliated to 12830 (177 from Nepal) organizations and published in 138 journals participated in 326 HCPs from Nepal. USA (60.45% share) and India. (51.45% share) were the most collaborative countries, while Spain (1609.15 CPP) and Mexico (1597.08 CPP) made the largest citation impact in collaboration with Nepal. C.L. Ranabhat (n=27) and B. Sathian (n=26) were the most productive authors, while D. Acharya (3652.29 and 16.5), and S. Bhattarai (2880.11 and 13.01) registered the highest citation impact (CPP and RCI). Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu (n=72) and Nepal Health Research Council, Kathmandu (n=34) were the most productive organizations, while Kathmandu University (3652.29 and 16.5) and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur (2941.67 and 13.29) registered the highest citation impact (CPP and RCI). The Lancet (n=75) and British Medical Journal (n=11) were the most productive journals, while The Lancet Neurology (1749.5 CPP), and The Lancet (1371.13 CPP) registered the highest average citations impact. B. Basnyat has the most citation as first author in health and medical research. Conclusions: The present study offers an overview of research characteristics and trends of medical research output in Nepal. It identifies main contributors, core journals, and significant subject topics. The study hopes to assist researchers and practitioners in comprehending the development and trends of medical research in Nepal and discovering potential directions for future research. Keywords: Bibliometric methods; citations; collaboration; high-cited papers; medical research.

Abstract Organic–inorganic hybrid thermoelectric (TE) materials have attracted tremendous interest for harvesting waste heat energy. Due to their mechanical flexibility, inorganic‐organic hybrid TE materials are considered to be promising candidates for flexible energy harvesting devices. In this work, enhanced TE properties of Tellurium (Te) nanowires (NWs)‐ poly (3‐hexylthiophene‐2, 5‐diyl) (P3HT) hybrid materials are reported by improving the charge transport at interfacial layer mediated via controlled oxidation. A power factor of ≈9.8 µW (mK2)−1 is obtained at room temperature for oxidized P3HT‐TeNWs hybrid materials, which increases to ≈64.8 µW (mK2)−1 upon control of TeNWs oxidation. This value is sevenfold higher compared to P3HT‐TeNWs‐based hybrid materials reported in the literature. MD simulation reveals that oxidation‐free TeNWs demonstrate better templating for P3HT polymer compared to oxidized TeNWs. The Kang–Snyder model is used to study the charge transport in these hybrid materials. A large σE0 value is obtained which is related to better templating of P3HT on oxygen‐free TeNWs. This work provides evidence that oxidation control of TeNWs is critical for better interface‐driven charge transport, which enhances the thermoelectric properties of TeNWs‐P3HT hybrid materials. This work provides a new avenue to improve the thermoelectric properties of a new class of hybrid thermoelectric materials.

ABSTRACT Legumes have various types of active constituents with disinfection and disease‐prevention properties. They are highly nutritious, providing carbohydrates, proteins, fibre, vitamins, copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and phosphorus. They are free of saturated fats and cholesterol. The Fabaceae or Leguminosae is regarded as legume family, which includes a major group of plant resources in the north‐western Himalayan region, primarily used as food as well as medicine. The term ‘Nutraceutical’ is derived from two words ‘nutrient’ means nourishing food component and ‘pharmaceutical’, which means a medicinal drug. It refers to any product derived from food resources having extra health benefits and nutritional value. These include minerals, vitamins, herbs and their extracts, which provide us with health benefits and play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of various diseases like diabetes, renal disorders, gastrointestinal ailments, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, allergies, eye conditions, obesity and so forth. Therefore, nutraceuticals may contribute to preventing chronic diseases, improving health, postponing the ageing process and increasing life expectancy by supporting the functions and integrity of the body. The north‐western Himalayan region has several species of legumes of utmost significance due to their nutraceutical and therapeutic potential. Among these, major legumes are lentil, chickpea, soybean, kidney bean and groundnut, while several others legumes have rather limited commercial significance. Various parts, that is, young pods, fresh or mature seeds, leaves and flowers, of these legume plants are used for human consumption. In this article, efforts have been made to compile the nutraceutical and medicinal inferences of leguminous plants of north‐west Himalaya. The information provided also pertains to the nutritional benefits, antinutritional properties and distribution of legumes in various regions of north‐western Himalaya through the analysis of different works available in the literature.

Introduction: Moringa oleifera Lam. (MOL), sometimes known as the drumstick tree or horseradish tree, has been extensively studied for its pharmacological properties and nutritional benefits. Recently, there has been an increased interest in using this versatile plant in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) procedures. This comprehensive analysis investigates Moringa oleifera's therapeutic potential in TCM, focusing on its traditional usage, phytochemical composition, pharmacological activity, and possible applications in managing various health disorders. Methods: We looked up online databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Elsevier, ACS, Springer, CNKI) and novels for literature on Moringa oleifera Lam. and its pharmacological activity, using keywords like Moringa oleifera, biological properties of Moringa, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Results: We address Moringa oleifera's function in TCM formulations, its synergistic effects with other herbal constituents, and its compatibility with TCM principles through a literature review. Furthermore, we look at the problems and potential for bringing Moringa oleifera into TCM practice, such as quality control, standardisation, and cultural adaptation. Discussion: This study emphasises the need for additional research and clinical investigations to fully understand Moringa oleifera's medicinal potential in TCM and allow its integration into modern healthcare systems. However, further research in animal models is needed to determine their efficacy and safety.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging RNA virus that is known to cause ocular and neurological abnormalities in infants. ZIKV exploits autophagic processes in infected cells to enhance its replication and spread. Thus, autophagy inhibitors have emerged as a potent therapeutic target to combat RNA viruses, with Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) being one of the most promising candidates. In this study, we synthesized several novel small-molecule quinoline derivatives, assessed their antiviral activity, and determined the underlying molecular mechanisms. Among the nine synthesized analogs, two lead candidates, labeled GL-287 and GL-382, significantly attenuated ZIKV replication in human ocular cells, primarily by inhibiting autophagy. These two compounds surpassed the antiviral efficacy of HCQ and other existing autophagy inhibitors, such as ROC-325, DC661, and GNS561. Moreover, unlike HCQ, these novel analogs did not exhibit cytotoxicity in the ocular cells. Treatment with compounds GL-287 and GL-382 in ZIKV-infected cells increased the abundance of LC3 puncta, indicating the disruption of the autophagic process. Furthermore, compounds GL-287 and GL-382 effectively inhibited the ZIKV-induced innate inflammatory response in ocular cells. Collectively, our study demonstrates the safe and potent antiviral activity of novel autophagy inhibitors against ZIKV.

Purpose: COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic and all age groups were equally affected. Coronavirus had devastating effects worldwide due to the emergence of new variants till vaccination was adopted to eradicate the transmission of the virus and restore normalcy. However, children were not included in the initial phase of vaccination. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of perception, attitude, and practice among parents toward the COVID-19 vaccination drive in children 10–12 years of age. Design and Study: The present research is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey including parents of children aged 10–12 years as participants. The survey was conducted between May 2022 and July 2022 with a sample size of 320. Results: A high willingness (80%) among parents was found for getting their children vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines were perceived to be safe by the parents (59%) and efficacious (75%) for their children. Parents (67%) felt that the benefits of getting their children vaccinated against COVID-19 prevail over the risks of the vaccine. Parents 214 (67%) feel the need of getting their child vaccinated for sending them to school followed by availing of daycare facilities after school 54 (17%) among working parents. A significant association (P < 0.05) was seen between the variables of practice being followed by parents and their children as per COVID-19 norms. Parent’s negative attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination was associated with availability of no/unclear safety information (36%), fear of adverse effects of vaccine (3%), and false belief of having long-term immunity due to natural infection (32%). The positive attitude of parents was due to trust in positive information/news about the vaccine (42%), belief in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine (5%), acceptability for mild adverse effects (1%), and the necessity of vaccine to send children to schools (1%). Conclusion and Recommendations: The awareness of parents regarding COVID-19 vaccination for children was limited, high level of acceptance for vaccination was seen in our study. We recommend to continuing educational programs through mass campaigns to increase increasing awareness among parents for getting COVID-19 vaccination for their children. Vaccine hesitancy including vaccine safety concerns of parents should be addressed by presenting myths and facts related to COVID-19 vaccine using television, radio, and social media platforms.

Abstract In recent years, the growth spurt of medical imaging data has led to the development of various machine learning algorithms for various healthcare applications. The MedMNISTv2 dataset, a comprehensive benchmark for 2D biomedical image classification, encompasses diverse medical imaging modalities such as Fundus Camera, Breast Ultrasound, Colon Pathology, Blood Cell Microscope etc. Highly accurate classifications performed on these datasets is crucial for identification of various diseases and determining the course of treatment. This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of four subsets within the MedMNISTv2 dataset: BloodMNIST, BreastMNIST, PathMNIST and RetinaMNIST. Each of these selected datasets is of diverse data modalities and comes with various sample sizes, and have been selected to analyze the efficiency of the model against diverse data modalities. The study explores the idea of assessing the Vision Transformer Model’s ability to capture intricate patterns and features crucial for these medical image classification and thereby transcend the benchmark metrics substantially. The methodology includes pre-processing the input images which is followed by training the ViT-base-patch16-224 model on the mentioned datasets. The performance of the model is assessed using key metrices and by comparing the classification accuracies achieved with the benchmark accuracies. With the assistance of ViT, the new benchmarks achieved for BloodMNIST, BreastMNIST, PathMNIST and RetinaMNIST are 97.90%, 90.38%, 94.62% and 57%, respectively. The study highlights the promise of Vision transformer models in medical image analysis, preparing the way for their adoption and further exploration in healthcare applications, aiming to enhance diagnostic accuracy and assist medical professionals in clinical decision-making.

Abstract Background Mortality estimates at the subnational level are of urgent need in India for the formulation of policies and programmes at the district level. This is the first-ever study which used survey data for the estimation of life expectancy at birth ( $$ {\text{e}}_{0}$$ ) for the 640 districts from NFHS-4 (2015-16) and 707 districts from NFHS-5 (2019-21) for the total, male and female population in India. Methods This study calculated annual age-specific mortality rates from NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 for India and all 36 states for the total, male and female population. This paper constructed the abridged life tables and estimated life expectancy at birth $$({e_0})$$ and further estimated the model parameters for all 36 states. This study linked state-specific parameters to the respective districts for the estimation of life expectancy at birth $$({e_0})$$ for 640 districts from NFHS-4 and 707 districts from NFHS-5 for the total, male and female population in India. Results Findings at the state level showed that there were similarities between the estimated and calculated $${e_0}$$ in most of the states. The results of this article observed that the highest $${e_0}$$ varies in the ranges of 70 to 90 years among the districts of the southern region. $${e_0}$$ falls below 70 years among most of the central and eastern region districts. In the northern region districts $${e_0}$$ lies in the range of 70 years to 75 years. The estimates of life expectancy at birth $$({e_0})$$ shows the noticeable variations at the state and district levels for the person, male, and female populations from the NFHS (2015-16) and NFHS (2019-21). In the absence of age-specific mortality data at the district level in India, this study used the indirect estimation method of relating state-specific model parameters with the IMR of their respective districts and estimated $${e_0}$$ across the 640 districts from NFHS-4 (2015-16) and 707 districts from NFHS-5 (2019-21). The findings of this study have similarities with the state-level estimations of $${e_0}$$ from both data sources of SRS and NFHS and found the highest $${e_0}$$ in the southern region and the lowest $${e_0}$$ in the eastern and central region districts. Conclusions In the lack of $${e_0}$$ estimates at the district level in India, this study could be beneficial in providing timely life expectancy estimates from the survey data. The findings clearly shows variations in the district level $${e_0}$$ . The districts from the southern region show the highest $${e_0}$$ and districts from the central and eastern region has lower $${e_0}$$ . Females have higher $${e_0}$$ as compared to the male population in most of the districts in India.

Background and Objectives: Humanity’s gravest issue is environmental pollution, the main source of illness and death in humans and animals. The rapid exploitation of natural resources, urban effluents, and growing industrial waste result from the industrial and technological revolution, resulting in pollution. In the last few decades, the conventional technologies and processes used to remove the contaminants have typically been ineffective, expensive and harmful to the environment. Methods: The study’s available resources were compiled from internationally recognized scientific databases. Results: The use of phytoremediation for sustainable recovery of areas contaminated with toxic heavy metals has gained higher status since the discovery of hyper-accumulator plants. Numerous species of aquatic plants are effective in removing organic and inorganic pollutants. However, choosing plant species is of primary importance for successful phytoremediation. Other novel approaches, like different bio-absorbents and their modified versions, such as nano-composites and carbonaceous materials, might also be helpful for the sequestration of heavy metals in soil. Conclusion: The microbiological adsorbents and modified agriculture biomass composites effectively render heavy metals inert in soil and water with greater performance, stability, and reusability. The modified composites encapsulated bio-absorbents for cleaning up contaminated water and soil can be a better alternative and must be explored for future use.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a potential source of somatic cells for cell therapies due to their ability to self-renew and differentiate into various cells of the body. To date, the clinical application of hiPSCs has been limited due to safety issues. The present study aims to standardize the safety procedure of the derivation of GMP-compliant induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from human fibroblasts. The hiPSC lines were generated using the nonintegrative Sendai virus method to incorporate Yamanaka reprogramming factors (OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC) into cells. A constant temperature was maintained during the cell culture, including all stages of the culture after transduction with Sendai virus. Pluripotency was proved in six independently generated hiPSC lines from adult female (47 years old) and male (57 years old) donors’ derived fibroblasts via alkaline phosphatase live (ALP) staining, qPCR, and immunocytochemistry. The hiPSC lines showed a gradual decrease in the presence of the virus with each subsequent passage, and this reduction was specific to the hiPSC line. The frequency and probability of chromosomal aberrations in hiPSCs were dependent on both the iPSC clone identity and sex of the donor. In summary, the generation of hiPSC for clinical applications requires safety standards application (biosafety protocol, quality control of hiPSC lines, viral and genetic integrity screening) from the first stages of the clonal selection of hiPSC from the same donor.

Abstract Ferroelectric thin films incorporating different compositional layers have emerged as a promising approach for enhancing properties and performance of electronic devices. In recent years, superlattices utilizing various interactions between their constituent layers have been used to reveal unusual properties, such as improper ferroelectricity, charged domain walls, and negative capacitance in conventional ferroelectrics. Herein, we report a symmetry scheme based on the interface engineering in which the inherent cell-doubling symmetry allowed atomic distortions (phonons) in any vertically aligned superlattice activate novel interface couplings among atomic distortions of different symmetries and fundamentally improve the ferroelectric properties. In a materialized case, the ionic size difference between Hf4+ and Ce4+ in the HfO2/CeO2 (HCO) ferroelectric/paraelectric superlattice leads to these couplings. These couplings mitigate the phase boundary between polar and non-polar phases, and facilitate polarization switching with a remarkably low coercive field ( $${E}_{c}$$ E c ) while preserving the original magnitude of the bulk HfO2 polarization and its scale-free ferroelectric characteristics. We show that the cell-doubled distortions present in any vertical superlattice have unique implications for designing low-voltage ferroelectric switching while retaining bulk-strong charge storing capacities in Si-compatible memory candidates.

Zero-dose children pose a key challenge in immunization programs due to their association with access to the health system and primary healthcare services. Examining zero-dose aids an in-depth understanding of healthcare disparities among children and caregivers. The disparity in utilization of maternal and child health services raises concerns about the potential consequences of unintended pregnancies on vaccine uptake. The National Family Health Survey 2019–21 (NFHS-5) served as the data source, and the study analyzed information from 43,247 children aged 12–23 months. Sociodemographic variables such as birth order, wealth quintile, gender, social group, religion, residence, mother education, and delivery-related factors were considered. Statistical analysis involved weighted estimates, chi-square tests, and multivariate multinomial logistic regression. The results show that 9.14% of children from unintended pregnancies were zero-dose for the DPT vaccine, compared to only 6.69% of children from intended pregnancies in India, indicating a higher prevalence of zero-dose associated with unintended pregnancies. The regression analysis shows the adjusted odds among children from an unintended birth − 1.21 times higher for the zero-dose DPT vaccine as compared to the intended birth (AOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.06,1.38). Zero-dose immunization has become a crucial metric of childhood immunization performance, gaining prominence in national agendas, the IA 2030 framework, and Gavi’s 2021–25 strategy. The study findings highlight a significant association between unintended pregnancy and zero-dose DPT vaccination. The results provide compelling evidence that unintended pregnancies could be a potential risk factor for zero-dose DPT vaccination in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Widespread use of Mancozeb (MZ) fungicide in endemic areas having high levels of arsenic (As+3) in the groundwater is likely to cause toxicosis in humans and animals. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the hepatotoxic effect of MZ and As+3 interaction in Wistar rats and mitigating potential of quercetin and catechin on such toxicity. Methods: Sixty adult rats were randomly divided into 10 groups of 6 animals each. Group I served as control and group II was exposed to MZ (800 mg kg-1, PO). Groups III, IV, and V were provided drinking water containing As+3 at the rate of 10, 50 and 100 µg L-1, respectively. Groups VI, VII, and VIII were given drinking water containing As+3 at 10, 50 and 100 µg L-1, respectively, along with MZ. Groups IX and X received drinking water contaminated with 100 µg L-1, As+3 and MZ along with quercetin or catechin (50 mg kg-1 each), respectively. Results: Significant (p

The present study aimed to determine the attenuating properties of Juglans regia hull extract (JRHE) in mitigating isoprenaline (ISO) induced cardiorenal dysfunctions in Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated to five groups with six animals in each group. Group I served as control; group II animals were administered ISO and group III received JRHE alone whereas group IV and V received JRHE and quercetin along with ISO, respectively. Administration of ISO in rats induced cardiac and renal tissue damage as reflected by significantly (p < 0.05) increased plasma activities of creatine kinase-myocardial band, lactate dehydrogenase, acetylcholinesterase, arylesterase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine along with altered antioxidant biomarkers viz. total antioxidant status, total thiols, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and increased (p < 0.05) lipid and protein peroxidation in cardiac and renal tissues. Histopathological findings corroborated that ISO has inflicted significant damage on cardiac and renal tissues. Repeated administration of JRHE significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the severity of ISO-induced alterations in blood, cardiac and renal biomarkers. In addition to restoring the levels of altered cardio-renal antioxidant enzymes, JRHE also ameliorated histopathological lesions in cardiac and renal tissues in ISO-treated rats.

AbstractSustainability in tourism has become one of the concerns of the travel industry. More research is required to establish a scientific basis for Sustainable Tourism (ST). In order to develop the field structure on sustainable tourism from 2013 to 2023, the study examines the existing situation using bibliometric analysis. The ‘Scopus’ database was explored on the ‘sustainable tourism’ theme in order to achieve the goal. The original search yielded a total of 701 papers, which were subsequently filtered to 619 documents. For the articles relating to ST, the most cited papers, significant authors, co-citation of references, and sources were all looked into. This study found that research into sustainable tourism has grown recently. Three research with 1512 citations were found by the authors, and they also found two publications with over 500 ‘Scopus’ citations. The study highlights the gap and identifies the conceptual sub-domains, such as biodiversity, economic, environmental issues, and local community engagement, which might be crucial in subsequent studies.

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.

Key Clinical Message Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome is a rare, congenital abnormality. Early identification and treatment can improve patient prognosis and quality of life and prevent adverse effect on growth and development. The patient described is an 8‐year‐old child with a history of short stature.

Background: India became the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region (SEAR) to introduce the rotavirus vaccine (RVV) in the Universal immunization programme (UIP) in 2016 with nationwide expansion by 2019. It was a landmark move to reduce the diarrheal disease burden in under-five children. To assess the implementation process of introduction of RVV, Post Introduction Evaluation (PIE) was conducted in March 2022. Methods: The evaluation was conducted across 14 states, 28 districts and 28 health facilities to obtain a nationwide geographical inclusion. Stakeholders involved in program decision-making, planning, training, vaccine delivery, logistics, and communication from all levels (National, state, district, health facility, health worker, caregiver) were interviewed using standardized data collection tool for PIE (adapted from the standard WHO PIE questionnaire) and scripted on a digital tool. Results: A total of 260 interviews were conducted. Political willingness, well-planned preparedness activities, securing vaccines timely, strong supply chain monitoring, availability of domestic RVV products, quality trainings and intense communication activities were the key factors identified for the successful RVV introduction. Key activities during the introduction included cold chain space assessment, trainings of healthcare workforce, dissemination of job aids, updation of recording & reporting formats and strengthening of AEFI surveillance. Lack of community awareness for immunization in a few areas, fear of AEFI amongst some caregivers and local issues with Alternate Vaccine Delivery (AVD) were some reported challenges in achieving high coverage for RVV. Conclusions: Overall, the nationwide roll-out of RVV was smooth and the vaccine has been well-accepted in the community. The assessment emphasizes on having a well-strategized operational and communication planning, which is very crucial for any new vaccine introduction.

Background and aims: The Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) introduction is a landmark event in the history of Indian public health as for the first time a novel, low-cost indigenous vaccine was introduced in a short timeline between 2016 and 2019. As per WHO mandate, post-introduction evaluation (PIE) be conducted within 6 to 12 months of vaccine introduction to provide an understanding of the operational aspects of the program. For RVV PIE, an innovative approach to developing and deploying a digitized tool was employed. The present study aims to document the processes followed for digitizing the data collection and analysis tools. Methods: The development of the RVV-PIE digital tool was undertaken in two phases. In the first phase, conceptualization and iteration of the modified WHO PIE tool were undertaken. Questions were organized sequentially to ensure natural progression in responses. The finalized questionnaire was converted to a digital version and extensive dummy data was entered to improve automated qualitative data analysis. Phase 2 involved updating the draft tool and incorporating changes to provide a field-tested version for deployment. Results: The digital version of the tool was successfully developed. The GPS functionality of the tool allowed live tracking of data collection making the process more accountable. The tool was prepopulated with reference materials and data points for easy reference and retrieval by the evaluators. The digitization of the tool also allowed easy visualization of data through maps, charts, and graphs on a real-time user-friendly dashboard. Conclusions: The digitization of the PIE tool for RVV in India has been a great learning experience where the dire situation of an ongoing pandemic catapulted us towards a more efficient and comprehensive process innovation. The RVV PIE tool could serve as a customizable digital PIE tool for other health programs heralding an era of a more effective and proficient process of PIE.

ABSTRACT Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) is considered an underutilized legume but has drawn considerable attention to researchers in recent years owing to its good nutritional value, lower glycemic index, and numerous health benefits. Despite the dietary importance of mung bean as well as starch, the starch extraction processes from moth bean seeds remain inadequately understood. This review discusses recent developments in starch extractability, physico‐chemical and structural characteristics, and different food and non‐food application to utilize moth bean as potential starch source. The starch properties depend mainly on its composition (amylose and amylopectin) and branched chains distribution. Moth bean starch (MBS) exhibited around 15% amylose content and a typical C‐type crystalline structure with granules of diverse sizes and shapes. Different studies exhibited a positive correlation among amylose content and different characteristics of MBS including pasting profile, thermal properties, and its cooking quality. The modification of MBS has been done using some chemical treatments for functionality improvement. MBS possesses good techno‐functional properties that can be exploited for different food product development and non‐food applications. Owing to the promising potential exhibited by native and modified MBS, these can be explored as valuable functional ingredients in various food and non‐food products. Finally, an outlook on potential utilization of MBS in the future is given.

Abstract Cancer, being the most formidable ailment, has had a profound impact on the human health. The disease is primarily associated with genetic mutations that impact oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). Recently, growing evidence have shown that X‐linked TSGs have specific role in cancer progression and metastasis as well. Interestingly, our genome harbors around substantial portion of genes that function as tumor suppressors, and the X chromosome alone harbors a considerable number of TSGs. The scenario becomes even more compelling as X‐linked TSGs are adaptive to key epigenetic processes such as X chromosome inactivation. Therefore, delineating the new paradigm related to X‐linked TSGs, for instance, their crosstalk with autosome and involvement in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis becomes utmost importance. Considering this, herein, we present a comprehensive discussion of X‐linked TSG dysregulation in various cancers as a consequence of genetic variations and epigenetic alterations. In addition, the dynamic role of X‐linked TSGs in sex chromosome–autosome crosstalk in cancer genome remodeling is being explored thoroughly. Besides, the functional roles of ncRNAs, role of X‐linked TSG in immunomodulation and in gender‐based cancer disparities has also been highlighted. Overall, the focal idea of the present article is to recapitulate the findings on X‐linked TSG regulation in the cancer landscape and to redefine their role toward improving cancer treatment strategies.

Aluminum metal–matrix composites (AMMCs) were prepared by dispersing TiO2 dispersoids of different volume fractions into an AA6063 matrix via stir casting and subjected to process–structure correlation studies. Four different samples based on weight ratio were considered herein: 99Al-1TiO2, 97Al-3TiO2, 95Al-5TiO2, and the as-received AA6063. Their mechanical properties namely, microhardness, tensile strength, and tribological behavior, were determined. In addition, the microstructure of the samples was also analysed. It was observed that the addition of 5% TiO2 particles enabled the AA6063 matrix to accommodate a higher strain energy while providing the required driving force to generate dislocations and substructures. Therefore, considering the plastic deformation, the ultimate tensile strength σut increased gradually with the addition of TiO2 (in weight%). The flow curves of the 95Al-5TiO2 sample showed the highest value of σut, whereas the as-received AA6063 matrix exhibited the lowest value. For linear elastic deformation, AA6063 showed the lowest yield strength (σys) as compared to the AMMC samples for all TiO2 weight% values; however, the variation in σys among the AMMC samples was minimal. The microhardness of the samples increased gradually with the addition of TiO2, and the percentage reduction in area at the fracture was largest for 95Al-5TiO2. The Taguchi’s L9 array and variance analysis of the process parameters indicated that the material wear was largely affected by the normal load, followed by weight% of TiO2 and sliding speed. Wear surface characteristics, such as microvoids, delamination, microcracks, and wear debris, were qualitatively observed in all the AMMC samples. The overall strength improvement was attributable to the effects of addition of the dispersoids. During melt solidification, the TiO2 particles surpassed/pinned and hindered the grain growth, resulting in grain-size refinement.

Hundreds of bacteria, viruses, eukaryotes, and archaea comprise the human intestinal microbiota, which constitutes a complex ecology. Recent years have established the significance of the gastrointestinal microbiome in the study of biological microorganisms. Diverse techniques for cultural extraction and analysis make it difficult to cultivate intestinal gut bacteria species. To determine the causative microorganism, it is necessary to investigate microbes and bacteria. Novel and efficacious remedies for illnesses are required. Bioinformatics and next-generation sequencing can assist in the analysis of enormous quantities of sequenced data for bacterial investigations, thereby expanding sequencing. However, advancements in sequencing technology have broadened the scope of bioinformatics identification and analysis. With next-generation sequencing techniques such as metagenomic, 16S rRNA, and meta-transcriptomic sequencing, experimental data regarding the immunological response of the intestinal gut microbiome to genetic manipulation seems to be helpful in identifying the diseases. Despite significant progress over the past two decades, there is still a lack of understanding about the ecology of diseases and treatments. The present review highlights how microbial gene sequencing and analysis of sequencing information can help manage human gut issues.

Summary: Background: Emerging research indicates growing concern over long COVID globally, although there have been limited studies that estimate population burden. We aimed to estimate the burden of long COVID in three districts of Haryana, India, using an opportunity to link a seroprevalence study to follow-up survey of symptoms associated with long COVID. Methods: We used a population-based seroprevalence survey for COVID-19 conducted in September 2021 across Haryana, India. Adults from three purposively selected districts (Rohtak, Gurugram, and Jhajjar) were eligible to participate; 2205 of 3213 consented to participate in a survey on health status. Trained investigators administered a structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, self-reported symptoms of illness in the last six months before the survey, mental health, and history of COVID-19. Findings: Unadjusted regression estimates indicated positive correlations between symptomatic complaints and COVID-19 exposure, suggesting lingering effects of COVID-19 in this population. The overall physical morbidity index was higher among those who tested positive for COVID-19, as was the incidence of new cases. However, both morbidity and incidence became statistically insignificant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Cough emerged as the only statistically significant individual persistent symptom. Sex-stratified analyses indicated significant estimates only for physical morbidity in women. Interpretation: This study is one of the first from India that uses a large population-based sample to examine longer term repercussions of COVID infections. The burden of long COVID should primarily be addressed in clinical settings, where specialised treatment for individual cases continues to evolve. Our analyses also provide insight into the size and nature of studies required to assess the population-level burden of long COVID. Funding: This paper was produced under the auspices of the Lancet COVID 19 Commission India Task Force, which was supported financially by the Reliance Foundation. The Lancet COVID 19 Commission was set up in July 2020 and submitted its final report by October 2022. This report by the India Task Force was prepared during the same period.