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Abstract Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive among the tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), and has a dismal prognosis. Altered metabolism, especially the increased rate of aerobic glycolysis promotes rapid proliferation of GBM cells. Here, we investigated the role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 5 family member A1 (ALDH5A1), a mitochondrial enzyme in the aspect of GBM metabolism. We also studied the regulatory mechanisms of altered ALDH5A1 expression in GBM. Approach and results We show that ALDH5A1 is significantly downregulated in GBM patients in a grade dependent manner as compared to control brain and its low expression is associated with poor prognosis. It is significantly downregulated under hypoxia and is a direct target of the hypoxia induced microRNA: miR-210. Ectopic overexpression of ALDH5A1 in GBM cell lines U-87 MG and T98G markedly reduced their proliferation, 3D spheroid forming ability, and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ALDH5A1 upregulation increased the oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and reduced the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) of GBM cells while miR-210 overexpression showed the opposite. A significant downregulation in the transcript levels of LDHA, PDK1, and SLC2A1; coupled with lower glucose uptake and lactate production upon ALDH5A1 overexpression reveals that ALDH5A1 significantly reduces the glycolytic capacity of GBM cells. Total ATP generated in 24 h was more when miR-210 was overexpressed, while a slight decrease in ATP formation was observed upon ALDH5A1 upregulation. Interestingly, we also observed that ALDH5A1 expression is elevated and miR-210 levels are downregulated in IDH-mutant glioma as compared to its wild-type form. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest that miR-210 mediated downregulation of ALDH5A1 plays a critical role in tumor metabolism and helps maintaining a high glycolytic phenotype in GBM.

A profound grasp of the quantitative spatial heterogeneity and distribution of the soil physicochemical attributes is crucial in understanding agricultural landscapes for ensuring the provisioning of soil ecosystem services. However, the analysis of data from remote sensing, like NDVI, can be of help in analysing the capacity of the landscape to provide supporting ecosystem services such as primary productivity. The research investigated and addressed the dispersion of important soil physico-chemical attributes in agricultural lands of the temperate Himalayan region of India using a geostatistical method and combining normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time-series data and the regression Kriging method. A 206 soil samples were gathered and assessed for soil parameters like pH, EC, OC, and available N, P, K, Ca, and Mg from Kishtwar district of Jammu. The coefficient of variation (CV) for pH and electrical conductivity (EC) ranged notably from 8.75 % to 118.98 %, highlighting diverse soil characteristics critical for local management practices. Mean elevation averaged 2743.32 m (m), with a moderate NDVI of 0.15, indicating dynamics in vegetation cover. Soil pH ranged from intensely acidic to marginally alkaline, with varying EC levels. Seemingly high organic carbon (OC), nitrogen (N), and potassium (K) levels, accompanied by medium phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) levels were found in the region. The study employed ordinary kriging (OK) to map the spatial distribution of soil parameters, utilizing mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the Moran’s I index. Exponential models were the best fit models for OC, while spherical models were fit for pH, EC, N, P, and Ca. Mathematical models were best fit for K and Mg. Spatial analysis using spherical and exponential models revealed distinct distribution patterns for pH, N, P, Ca, and Mg. The results of the degree of spatial dependence from the semi-variogram analyses indicated a strong (0.06 %) to moderate (0.51 %) to weak (2.81 %) dependence. The interpolated maps showed a distinct gradient in elevation (1053–4413 m), OC (0.13–2.80 %), NDVI (−0.16–0.54), pH (4.80–8.00), EC (0.03–9.80 dS m−1), N (201.15–993.19 kg ha−1), P (3.00–96.00 kg ha−1), K (124.88–1110.71 kg ha−1), Ca (7.00–46.00 meq 100 g soil−1), and Mg (2.30–21.50 meq 100 g soil−1) at the regional scale, indicating a wide range of spatial soil heterogeneity. The heterogeneity maps of soil parameters generated by this research can be effectively used by land planners and farm managers at a regional scale for crop nutrient management to reduce soil contamination risk. These maps serve as baseline materials and effective tools for suitable land management strategies such as conservation-effective tillage, integrated nutrient management, and organic farming based on the spatial distribution of soil properties and they can significantly enhance the long-term ecological sustainability of agro-ecosystems’ management.

The crop coefficient (Kc) values given in FAO-56 report need to corrected for local conditions due to differences in climate, soil types, and water management practices. Therefore, present study was undertaken to develop growth-stage-specific Kc values of wheat grown under drip irrigated conditions for two years (2022-23 and 2023-24) at Jalandhar, Punjab. The developed Kc values are 0.36, 0.77, 1.05, 0.69, and 0.25 during initial, development, mid, late, and end growth stages, respectively. These average Kc values can be effectively utilized to schedule irrigation for drip-irrigated wheat crops in the Jalandhar region of Punjab. Irrigating wheat crop under drip irrigation with developed Kc values not only enhances grain yield by 36% but also improves IWUE by three times and saves 61% use of irrigation water as compared to conventional irrigation practices (flood irrigation).

Cancer prevention is currently envisioned as a molecular-based approach to prevent carcinogenesis in pre-cancerous stages, i.e., dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Cancer is the second-leading cause of mortality worldwide, and a more than 61% increase is expected by 2040. A detailed exploration of cancer progression pathways, including the NF-kβ signaling pathway, Wnt-B catenin signaling pathway, JAK-STAT pathway, TNF-α-mediated pathway, MAPK/mTOR pathway, and apoptotic and angiogenic pathways and effector molecules involved in cancer development, has been discussed in the manuscript. Critical evaluation of these effector molecules through molecular approaches using phytomolecules can intersect cancer formation and its metastasis. Manipulation of effector molecules like NF-kβ, SOCS, β-catenin, BAX, BAK, VEGF, STAT, Bcl2, p53, caspases, and CDKs has played an important role in inhibiting tumor growth and its spread. Plant-derived secondary metabolites obtained from natural sources have been extensively studied for their cancer-preventing potential in the last few decades. Eugenol, anethole, capsaicin, sanguinarine, EGCG, 6-gingerol, and resveratrol are some examples of such interesting lead molecules and are mentioned in the manuscript. This work is an attempt to put forward a comprehensive approach to understanding cancer progression pathways and their management using effector herbal molecules. The role of different plant metabolites and their chronic toxicity profiling in modulating cancer development pathways has also been highlighted.

Sustainable agriculture plays a critical role in maintaining environmental health and also promotes long-term food security and the preservation of natural resources. We therefore, examined the response of intensified cropping systems over four years across five diverse cropland ecosystems viz. Basmati rice-Wheat-Cowpea, Basmati Rice-Potato-Wheat-Mixed Fodder (Maize + Cowpea + Charni), Basmati Rice-KnolKhol-Potato-Greengram, Basmati Rice-Radish-Green onion-French bean vegetable-Okra, and Rice-Fenugreek-KnolKhol-Green Onion-Dry Onion-Black gram to assess the changes in substrate availability and fertilizer application on nitrogen and phosphorus pools. Soil samples were collected from three different depths (0–5 cm, 5–15 cm, and 15–30 cm) during the kharif season. Significant results were observed in the mean values of mineralizable nitrogen, total nitrogen, ammonical nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and soil microbial biomass nitrogen at the 0–5 cm depth, with the highest values recorded under Rice-Fenugreek-KnolKhol-Green Onion-Dry Onion-Black gram. At the soil depth of 0–5 cm, available phosphorus and labile organic phosphorus exhibited significant differences, with the highest values observed in Basmati Rice-Potato-Wheat-Mixed Fodder. Moderately labile phosphorus reached its maximum values under T2 at both 0–5 cm, and at 5–15 cm depths. The peak values of non-labile organic phosphorus were found in T4 (Basmati Rice-Radish-Green onion-French bean vegetable-Okra) at the 0–5 cm soil depth. On a regional scale, the results suggest that more diversified cropping systems hold promise as sustainable agricultural practices that support nitrogen and phosphorus retention, contributing to overall soil sustainability.

This research presents the results of a fin heat transfer study of three different models of the motorcycle engine. The objective of this study is to minimize the external body temperature because the optimum design will be found when the heat transfer rate is maximized. The study obtains the procurement of a balance between the outer boundary temperature due to convective heat transfer and air-cooled fin design. Heat transfer coefficient varies according to wind velocity (Km/hr) and Nusselt Number. The analysis was performed on three different engine models, named A, B and C. The optimum design was design B through simulation which has lower temperature gain, lower deformation and lower normal stress. DOE (Design of Experiments) was performed on the optimum design of the engine among all with three parameters thickness of fin, size of fin, and shape of fin, and again analysis was performed according to DOE cases. The material used for manufacturing the models was aluminum alloy 6061 which has a thermal conductivity of 200 W/mK. The study was performed on the designed models by taking the outer boundary temperature of 750oC. The heat transfer coefficient was about 77.28 W/m2K at 40 Km/h velocity.

This particular work is an effort to investigate the propagation of wave in hygrothermoelastic medium in the light of Eringen’s nonlocal theory of elasticity. The coupled wave equations in terms of displacement, temperature and moisture concentration are solved in an analytical way. The phase velocities of longitudinal displacement wave, transverse displacement wave, diffusion wave and thermal wave, under the influence of nonlocal variable, moisture concentration, and diffusion coefficient, in the medium are obtained analytically and presented graphically to show the effect of these parameters on the wave velocities.

Abstract Highly ameliorated phytochemicals from plants are recognized to have numerous beneficial effects on human health. However, obtaining secondary metabolites directly from wild plants is posing a great threat to endangered plant species due to their over exploitation. Moreover, due to complicated structure and stereospecificity chemical synthesis of these compounds is a troublesome procedure. As a result, sustainable and ecofriendly in vitro strategy has been adopted for phytochemicals production. But, lack of fully differentiated cells lowers down cultured cells productivity. Consequently, for enhancing yield of metabolites produced by cultured plant cells a variety of methodologies has been followed one such approach includes elicitation of culture medium that provoke stress responses in plants enhancing synthesis and storage of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, for conclusive breakthrough in synthesizing bioactive compounds at commercial level in-depth knowledge regarding metabolic responses to elicitation in plant cell cultures is needed. However, technological advancement has led to development of molecular based approaches like metabolic engineering and synthetic biology which can serve as promising path for phytochemicals synthesis. This review article deals with classification, stimulating effect of elicitors on cultured cells, parameters of elicitors and action mechanism in plants, modern approaches like metabolic engineering for future advances. Graphical Abstract

ABSTRACTThese days, green composites are getting a lot of attention for their biodegradability, sustainability, and affordability. This study applies polylactic acid as the matrix and untreated and surface-treated kenaf fibers as reinforcement to fabricate kenaf-reinforced PLA-based composites. Kenaf fibers are exposed to three different chemical treatments (sodium hydroxide, potassium permanganate, and potassium dichromate) and investigate the effect of surface modifications on the mechanical properties of kenaf/PLA composites. The surface modified fibers were characterized by FTIR Spectroscopy. The consequences of processing variables such as fiber volume percent ranging from 25% to 50% and molding temperature range of 160°C to 180°C were also examined on the mechanical characteristics of developed composites and are validated using SEM analysis. Surface modifications result in improved tensile and flexural characteristics of developed treated kenaf/PLA composites. Alkali treated woven kenaf fiber composites with greater matrix adhesion have optimum tensile and flexural strength of 72.81 MPa and 94.45 MPa respectively. The present study revealed that composites (fabricated at 170°C molding temperature) have maximal tensile and flexural strength at 35% fiber volume fraction.

As the number of FinTech start-ups continues to rise globally, the utilization of these services by users becomes increasingly crucial, especially considering potential risks. Various factors affect users' utilization of financial technology, with the quality of services offered by FinTech providers standing out as a significant consideration. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the quality of services offered by FinTech payment platforms and the utilization of FinTech services. We develop a novel conceptual model integrating elements from SERVQUAL and TAM (the Technology Acceptance Model) to investigate these dynamics. To gain a comprehensive understanding, we employed a mixed methods research approach. This approach included a quantitative survey analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to examine the proposed framework and the relationships between its constructs. Following the survey, a follow-up focus group discussion with industry experts and academics was conducted to delve deeper into the findings and explore the ''why'' behind the statistical relationships. The findings reveal a significant impact of the quality of services offered by FinTech payment service providers on the utilization of such services. It demonstrates that in the FinTech sector, perceived usefulness does not always dominate perceived ease of use. Moreover, it confirms the profound influence of perceived usefulness in shaping attitudes and subsequent behaviour related to technology use. These insights contribute to an enhanced understanding of the factors driving the utilization of FinTech services.

Wheat is a crucial food crop worldwide, generating straw upon post-harvest. The straw is often burned to enhance soil fertility, leading to massive air pollution. In this study, wheat straw was investigated for the production of Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using the novel isolate Bacillus paranthracis RSKS-3. The wheat straw was pulverized and valorized with different acids (2 % and 4 % H2SO4, acetic acid, and hydrochloric acid) and alkalis (2 % and 4 % NaOH, calcium carbonate, and potassium hydroxide). The validation of carbohydrates was done using the Molisch test by analyzing purple-ring production and the DNS test which concluded 4 % H2SO4 as an effective treatment with a maximal sugar yield of 5.04 mg/mL at P

Water stress is a significant challenge for global food production. Rainfall pattern is becoming unpredictable due to climate change that causes unprecedent water stress conditions in cereals production including wheat which is one of the important staple food crops. To sustain wheat production under water limiting conditions, there is an urgent need to develop drought-tolerant wheat varieties. For this, screening large numbers of wheat genotype for traits related to growth and yield under water stressed conditions is crucial. In this study, we deployed high-throughput phenotyping approaches, including uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)-based multispectral imaging, advanced machine and deep learning regression models. Two separate field experiments, irrigated and rainfed, were conducted comprising 553 wheat genotypes, and collected dataset for traits such as plant height, phenology, grain yield, and timeseries multispectral imaging. UAV-multispectral imagery derived plant height measurements showed a high correlation (R2=0.75) with manual measurements. Vegetation indices derived from multispectral data differentiated growth pattern of genotypes under rainfed and irrigated conditions and were used in yield prediction modeling. Wheat genotypes were effectively ranked, and their response differentiated for water stress tolerance based on yield index, stress susceptibility index, and yield loss%. Importantly, yield prediction in genotypes was computed using four machine learning regression algorithms i.e., linear regression, support vector machine, random forest, and deep learning H2O-3, where H2O-3 was the most accurate model with R2=0.80. Results show that multispectral-driven traits combined with machine learning models effectively phenotyped large wheat population and such approaches can be integrated in crop breeding program to develop varieties tolerant to water stress.

Paragangliomas of spine are rare neuroendocrine tumors. They are World Health Organization grade 1 tumors with common location in cauda equina and filum terminale. We report a case of conus paraganglioma. A 57-year-old lady was admitted with low back pain with radiculopathy without bowel and bladder complaints. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lumbosacral spine showed well-defined round-to-oval extramedullary lesion isointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2-weighted images at the level of L1 vertebra (suggestive of) neurogenic tumor. Intraoperatively reddish-brown capsulated tumor arising from conus with extension to filum and compressing the nerve roots was seen. Gross total excision of tumor was done. Microscopic examination showed well-encapsulated cellular tumor composed of sheets, anastomosing lobules, and nests of small, oval-to-round cells interspersed with blood vessels with mild nuclear atypia and occasional mitosis. Immunohistochemistry analysis was positive for synaptophysin and chromogranin suggestive of paraganglioma. Postoperative period was uneventful. MRI of dorso-lumbar spine showed no residual tumor. Patient was asymptomatic 5 months after surgery. The clinical, radiological, and pathological features of this rare tumor entity is presented.

Introduction: Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is a rare organ-specific autoimmune disease. The overall and renal outcomes of patients have mostly been reported in small-sized cohorts. We aimed to study the clinical profile, overall survival, and renal survival of anti-glomerular basement membrane disease patients at our center. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the data regarding the clinical profile and renal survival of patients diagnosed with anti-GBM disease from October 2019 to March 2022, having a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Results: There were 15 patients in the study, with the mean age of presentation being 51.6 ± 13.7 years. The median duration of symptoms onset to the nephrologist opinion was 15 (10–23) days. The extrarenal manifestations were seen in the respiratory, otorhinolaryngological, and neurological systems. The mean serum anti-GBM titers were 154.5 (14.9–263.5) U/mL. Serum anti-GBM titers were present in 13/15 (86.6%) patients, and 12/13 (92.3%) patients had above the reference range. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA) levels were assessed in 12/15 (80%) patients, and 9/12 (75%) had higher levels. Renal biopsy was available in 14 patients with more than 50% crescents. Along with crescents, necrotizing lesions, rupture of the Bowman’s capsule, and granulomatous lesions were also seen. Among the initial therapies, the steroid pulse was given to 13 (86.6%) patients, whereas membrane plasmapheresis was given to 8 (53.3%) patients. Inj. cyclophosphamide and inj. rituximab were given to 8 (53.3%) and 4 (26.6%) patients, respectively. No difference was seen in clinical characteristics, renal biopsy features, treatment received, and outcomes with ANCA positivity except for age, where patients who were ANCA positive were older compared to patients who were ANCA negative. One-year renal and patient survival was seen in 4 (26.6%) and 6 (40%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: Most patients of anti-GBM disease have active sediments, raised creatinine, and non-specific symptomatology. There is poor renal and patient outcome as most patients present with advanced renal failure.

A field experiment was conducted for three years (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) on 4 years old guava orchard established at 3×2 m spacing with drip irrigation treatments at two locations viz. Udaipur Rajasthan and, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. Plant growth, yield contributing parameters, fruit yield and water use efficiency was significantly affected by different pan evaporation-based drip irrigation levels (70, 80, 90 & 100% of Epan) over local control. In existing climatic conditions of Udaipur and Rewa regions, the daily irrigation water requirement of high-density planting guava tree was varied from 7.8 to 26.3 and 4.5 to 26.5 liter/plant/day, respectively. Among all the pan evaporation-based drip irrigation levels, the irrigation supplied at 80% and 90% of daily pan evaporation were found as best approach for irrigating high density plantation (HDP) guava orchard through drip irrigation in Udaipur & Rewa regions with maximum fruit yield (37.3 & 30.7tha-1), irrigation water use efficiency (0.359 & 0.263tha-1-cm) along with significant water saving (29.2 & 22.2%), respectively over local control. Results will help farmers, policy makers and irrigation managers to conserve available fresh water resources in water scares regions of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Purpose: Comparison of diagnostic capability of macular ganglion cell complex thickness vs. retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out between June 2021 and October 2022 at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Methods: A total of 118 eyes were included in the study with 30 control and the rest 88 eyes with POAG were divided into three groups based on visual field loss Group 1 (30 eyes): early field loss with mean deviation (MD) < −6 dB; Group 2 (30 eyes): moderate field loss with MD −6 to −12 dB; and Group 3 (28 eyes): severe field loss with MD > −12 dB. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans to measure RNFL loss and ganglion cell inferior plexiform layer (GCIPL) loss were taken for each patient. Statistical Analysis Used: Categorical variables were analyzed using either the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. A receiver operating characteristics analysis was calculated to determine optimal cut-off values of superior, inferior, and average GCIPL and RNFL for determining the severity of field loss as compared to controls (30 normal eyes). Results: In the mild field loss group the sensitivity of superior, inferior, and average GCIPL was 86.7, 96.7, and 96.7%, respectively. Similarly, the specificity was 96.7, 93.3, and 100%, respectively. In the same group, the sensitivity of superior, inferior, and average RNFL was 70, 93, and 66%, respectively. Similarly, the specificity was 46.7, 83.3, and 70%, respectively. In the moderate and severe groups, the results were comparable. Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of GCIPL loss are significantly better than that of RNFL parameters in the mild field loss group.

Detecting hazardous substances in the environment is crucial for protecting human wellbeing and ecosystems. As technology continues to advance, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising tool for creating sensors that can effectively detect and analyze these hazardous substances. The increasing advancements in information technology have led to a growing interest in utilizing this technology for environmental pollution detection. AI-driven sensor systems, AI and Internet of Things (IoT) can be efficiently used for environmental monitoring, such as those for detecting air pollutants, water contaminants, and soil toxins. With the increasing concerns about the detrimental impact of legacy and emerging hazardous substances on ecosystems and human health, it is necessary to develop advanced monitoring systems that can efficiently detect, analyze, and respond to potential risks. Therefore, this review aims to explore recent advancements in using AI, sensors and IOTs for environmental pollution monitoring, taking into account the complexities of predicting and tracking pollution changes due to the dynamic nature of the environment. Integrating machine learning (ML) methods has the potential to revolutionize environmental science, but it also poses challenges. Important considerations include balancing model performance and interpretability, understanding ML model requirements, selecting appropriate models, and addressing concerns related to data sharing. Through examining these issues, this study seeks to highlight the latest trends in leveraging AI and IOT for environmental pollution monitoring.

An experiment was conducted during 2022 and 2023 at Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Punjab to study the response of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to 3 irrigation levels [I1, 70%; I2, 85% and I3, 100% of IWR] and 3 nitrogen fertilization levels [N1, 70%; N2, 85% and N3, 100% of RDN] in split plot design. On individual effect basis, the fruit yield first increased with the increase in amount of applied irrigation water in I2 (95.6 t/ha) and then decreased in I3 (93.5 t/ha). Irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was the highest in I2 (3.73 t/ha-cm). Plant growth, tomato yield and IWUE were significantly higher in N2 than that were found in N1 and N3. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) decreased with increasing nitrogen levels (N2 and N3) but it increased with increasing amount of water applied (I3). The treatments having deficit irrigation level as I1 and I2, significantly enhanced the lycopene content (27 to 33 µg/g) and reduced the nitrate content (74 to 95 mg/kg) in the fruit over full irrigation level I3. Nitrate content was highest in N3 (100 mg/kg). Among all the combination of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization levels the interaction of I2N2 (85% of IWR and RDN) was found the best to grow the drip-irrigated tomato crop. This combination gave optimum plant growth (87.5 cm), fruit yield (100 t/ha), IWUE (3.93 t/ha-cm), NUE (0.79 t/kg) and good quality fruit. The findings can be utilized for irrigation planning and nitrogen management in tomato cultivation and to conserve available fresh water resources in water scare regions of Punjab. In order to promote trickle fertigation at village level, the awareness programs for farmers could be conducted.

The Aschner-Dagnini reflex, also known as the Oculocardiac Reflex (OCR) or Trigeminovagal Reflex (TVR), is characterised by a reduction in heart rate due to direct pressure on the globe or traction on the Extraocular Muscles (EOM). It was first described in 1908 and is observed during strabismus surgery. However, it has also been reported following other ophthalmic procedures such as pterygium surgery or gonioscopy, as well as after facial trauma or regional anaesthesia. Sinus bradycardia is the most common presentation, accompanied by nausea and dizziness in conscious patients. In severe cases, it may also result in reduced blood pressure and life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrhythmias and arrest. Hereby, the authors present a rare case report of a 34-year-old male with delayed onset OCR following pterygium surgery under topical anaesthesia. The case was managed conservatively, as described in the case report, and the patient had a good recovery. To the best of authors’ knowledge, the present is the first reported case of OCR in the early postoperative period, following pterygium surgery.

Plants, being sessile, are continuously exposed to varietal environmental stressors, which consequently induce various bio-physiological changes in plants that hinder their growth and development. Oxidative stress is one of the undesirable consequences in plants triggered due to imbalance in their antioxidant defense system. Biochemical studies suggest that nanoparticles are known to affect the antioxidant system, photosynthesis, and DNA expression in plants. In addition, they are known to boost the capacity of antioxidant systems, thereby contributing to the tolerance of plants to oxidative stress. This review study attempts to present the overview of the role of nanoparticles in plant growth and development, especially emphasizing their role as antioxidants. Furthermore, the review delves into the intricate connections between nanoparticles and plant signaling pathways, highlighting their influence on gene expression and stress-responsive mechanisms. Finally, the implications of nanoparticle-assisted antioxidant strategies in sustainable agriculture, considering their potential to enhance crop yield, stress tolerance, and overall plant resilience, are discussed.

A 40 years old male reported with gross diminution of vision right eye for 6 months. He gave a history of trauma to the right eye at the age of 10 years with a broomstick. On examination his vision as 1/60. Careful slit lamp examination revealed a small linear leucomatous grade mature white cataract with intact anterior capsule and “sinking cortex” sign. Patient underwent pars plana lens extraction and multipiece intraocular lens placement by a vitreo-retinal surgeon. Post operatively the vision recovered to 6/6. This clinical image highlights the importance of meticulous slit lamp examination in mature cataracts for signs like sinking cortex sign and also reports the incidence of late onset post traumatic cataract after 30 years of initial injury.

Abstract Arachis hypogaea is an allotetraploid crop widely grown in the world. Wild relatives of genus Arachis are the rich source of genetic diversity and high levels of resistance to combat pathogens and climate change. The accurate identification and characterization of plant resistance gene, nucleotide binding site leucine rich repeat receptor (NLRs) substantially contribute to the repertoire of resistances and improve production. In the current study, we have studied the evolution of NLR genes in genus Arachis and performed their comparative genomics among four diploids (A. duranensis, A. ipaensis, A. cardenasii, A. stenosperma) and two tetraploid (wild: A. monticola and domesticated: A. hypogaea) species. In total 521, 354, 284, 794, 654, 290 NLR genes were identified from A. cardenasii, A. stenosperma and A. duranensis, A. hypogaea, A. monticola and A. ipaensis respectively. Phylogenetic analysis and classification of NLRs revealed that they belong to 7 subgroups and specific subgroups have expanded in each genome leading towards divergent evolution. Gene gain and loss, duplication assay reveals that wild and domesticated tetraploids species have shown asymmetric expansion of NLRome in both sub-genome (AA and BB). A-subgenome of A. monticola exhibited significant contraction of NLRome while B-subgenome shows expansion and vice versa in case of A. hypogaea probably due to distinct natural and artificial selection pressure. In addition, diploid species A. cardenasii revealed the largest repertoire of NLR genes due to higher frequency of gene duplication and selection pressure. A. cardenasii and A. monticola can be regarded as putative resistance resources for peanut breeding program for introgression of novel resistance genes. Findings of this study also emphasize the application neo-diploids and polyploids due to higher quantitative expression of NLR genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that studied the effect of domestication and polyploidy on the evolution of NLR genes in genus Arachis to identify genomic resources for improving resistance of polyploid crop with global importance on economy and food security.

Purpose This study aimed to determine the clinicoepidemiological profile and prognostic factors in children with neurotuberculosis. Methods An observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital on 50 children diagnosed with neurotuberculosis. The demographic profile, clinical details, and all investigations were recorded on a predetermined form and datasheet for analysis, and disability severity was graded using the modified Rankin Scale. Results Fifty patients were enrolled (male-to-female ratio, 1.08:1). Younger children (1 to 3 years) were more commonly affected. Most patients were malnourished, and only 58% had been immunized with the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine. Fever was the most common symptom (96%) followed by headache, altered consciousness, vomiting, seizures, and abnormal posture. On cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, 87% of patients showed pleocytosis with lymphocytic predominance. More than 80% of patients had CSF protein levels >100 mg/dL and CSF glucose levels

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare the outcome of tunica albuginea urethroplasty (TAU) and buccal mucosa graft (BMG) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture. Methods: Thirty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomised into two groups: TAU (Group A) and BMG urethroplasty (Group B). Surgical outcome was evaluated with pre- and post-operative work-up involving retrograde urethrogram, voiding cystourethrogram, uroflowmetry, and urethroscopy. Patients were followed up till 1 year. Results: Mean duration of surgery was statistically significant between two groups (p=0.0005). Maximum urine flow rate was comparable when compared between two groups (p=0.22) but statistically significant when compared pre- and post-operatively (p

This paper investigated different control Techniques of Permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive with open loop, voltage/frequency (V/F) control, closed-loop Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) control, and sensor-less Modified Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (MSVPWMM) control with MATLAB/Simulink. The different applications of commercial use require different control schemes due to cost-effectiveness. In a small commercial application where not much precision is required, open-loop or V/F control is used, due to their easy calculation and implementation and becomes a low-cost product outcome. Where their high precision has required closed-loop control is being adopted. In this paper, closed-loop SVPWMM and sensor-less MSVPWM techniques are proposed. The algorithm has a much faster response in the switching of the inverter that is used provides better output has fewer harmonic contents. Fractional order controllers can provide more flexibility in tuning and can better adapt to complex and nonlinear systems. This often leads to improved control performance, especially in systems with unknown or time-varying dynamics. It helps to reduce steady-state error compared to integer order PI controllers. By adjusting the fractional order exponent, the system's characteristics matched better with the controller's response. Also, the FO-PI controllers allow for smoother transitions between different control modes or set points and help to reduce overshoot and rise time in dynamical systems, as they allow for more precise control of the transient response and Constant speed response available at desired load. The control techniques have been modeled and simulated in MATLAB simulation software. The proposed scheme provides efficient performance in steady-state and dynamic load conditions.

A field experiment was conducted at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab for two years (2022 and 2023) to study the response of tomato crop to drip irrigation scheduling based on climatological approach viz. Penman-Monteith, Blaney-Criddle and pan evaporation. Result revealed that, the all treatments of irrigation scheduling were found feasible for optimizing tomato yield (30.8 to 44.6 t ha-1), water saving (27 to 50.7%) and water use efficiency (1.31 to 1.61 t ha-1-cm) under drip irrigation over soil moisture depletion approach. In selected region the average daily ET0 (4.4 to 9 mm day-1) and ETC (2.5 to 10.8 mm day-1) varies with different growth stages and results varying crop water demand of tomato. This water demand can successfully meet out by applying water at 100 % ET0 based on Penman-Monteith method with significant crop yield (44.6 t ha-1) and water use efficiency (1.33 t ha-1-cm). Correlation analysis indicated that, in case of other regions where the availability of weather parameters will be limited for irrigation scheduling, the farmer could irrigate their tomato crop at 90% ET0 based on daily pan evaporation method under drip irrigation. In selected region, the Blaney-Criddle method was found ineffective and shows under and overestimated values of daily ETo during mid stage and late stage which gives more water saving (up to 51%) but reduces significant tomato yield over Pan Evaporation method.

Microbial cellulases are an important industrial enzyme having diverse applications in biotechnology, environmental challenges, industrial products and processes. Extremophiles like thermophillic bacteria are a good source of industrially important cellulases as these can withstand industrially rigorous procedures like paper deinking, fabric material softening, bio stoning, paper and pulp, biopolishing cloth material, animal feed and juice. Identification of novel cellulases or improving them through biotechnological interventions has remained a challenge for researchers. Genetic manipulation of thermophilic bacteria for increased cellulase production or synthetic biology approaches for cellulase gene/gene cluster extraction from thermophilic bacteria and expression in appropriate hosts for improved cellulase synthesis. The classic and high-throughput technologies like genomics, metagenomics and bioinformatics could be exploited to isolate cellulase genes from a variety of thermophilic bacteria and further processing. Keeping in view the ultimate requirement of extremophilic cellulases in industries, present study is a compilation of various aspects related to extremophilic cellulases their sources, production, biotechnological interventions and challenges.

The escalation of harmful pollutants, including heavy metals, due to industrialization and urbanization has become a global concern. To mitigate the negative impacts of heavy metal stress on germination and early plant development, growth regulators have been employed. This study aimed to evaluate the response of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) to zinc stress in the presence of brassinosteroids, focusing on seedling growth and antioxidant potential. Mung bean seedlings were treated with three concentrations of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 PPM) with or without zinc. Results demonstrated that the application of brassinosteroids, combined with zinc stress, significantly enhanced germination percentage (about 47.06, 63.64, and 120%), speed of germination (about 39.13, 50, and 100%), seedling growth (about 38% in case of treatment combined 0.4 PPM 24-EBL and 1.5 mM ZnSO4) and seedling vigor index (204% in case of treatment combined 0.4 PPM 24-EBL and 1.5 mM ZnSO4) compared to zinc-treated seedlings alone after 24 h. The activities of antioxidative enzymes (catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase) and total soluble protein content decreased, while lipid peroxidation and proline content exhibited a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) when compared to the control. However, the negative effects induced by heavy metal stress on these parameters were significantly mitigated by EBL application. Notably, the most effective concentration of EBL in overcoming zinc stress was found to be 0.4 PPM. These findings underscore the potential of exogenously applied brassinosteroids as a valuable tool in phytoremediation projects by ameliorating heavy metal stress.

Abstract Maize is the world's most produced cereal crop, and the selection of maize cultivars with a high stem elastic modulus is an effective method to prevent cereal crop lodging. We developed an ultra-compact sensor array inspired by earthquake engineering and proposed a method for the high-throughput evaluation of the elastic modulus of maize cultivars. A natural vibration analysis based on the obtained Young’s modulus using finite element analysis (FEA) was performed and compared with the experimental results, which showed that the estimated Young’s modulus is representative of the individual Young’s modulus. FEA also showed the hotspot where the stalk was most deformed when the corn was vibrated by wind. The six tested cultivars were divided into two phenotypic groups based on the position and number of hotspots. In this study, we proposed a non-destructive high-throughput phenotyping technique for estimating the modulus of elasticity of maize stalks and successfully visualized which parts of the stalks should be improved for specific cultivars to prevent lodging.

Abstract Actinobacteria represent one of the largest bacterial phyla harboring many species of high medical, biotechnological and ecological relevance. Prophage elements are major contributors to bacterial genome diversity and were shown to significantly shape bacterial fitness and host-microbe interactions. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of prophage elements in 2406 complete actinobacterial genomes. Overall, 2106 prophage elements were predicted to be present in about 50% (1172/2406) of the analyzed datasets. Interestingly, these identified sequences compose a high prevalence of cryptic prophage elements, indicating genetic decay and domestication. Analysis of the sequence relationship of predicted prophages with known actinobacteriophage genomes revealed an exceptional high phylogenetic diversity of prophage elements. As a trend, we observed a higher prevalence of prophage elements in vicinity to the terminus. Analysis of the prophage-encoded gene functions revealed that prophage sequences significantly contribute to the bacterial antiviral immune system, but no biosynthetic gene clusters involved in the synthesis of known antiphage molecules were identified in prophage genomes. Overall, the current study highlights the remarkable diversity of prophages in actinobacterial genomes, with highly divergent prophages in actinobacterial genomes and thus provides an important basis for further investigation of phage-host interactions in this important bacterial phylum.

Abstract Background Ziziphus species particularly Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus nummularia constitute an important part of genetic resources in India. They contribute economically as a fruit crop with lots of morphological and pomological variability. In current study, 48 accessions belonging to two wild Ziziphus species, i.e., Z. mauritiana and Z. nummularia, were characterized using SSR markers. In addition, external features were also examined using stereomicroscope. Results Present investigation was done to explore the genetic structure of North Indian jujube. In total, 23 SSR markers detected 57 SSR alleles with an average of 2.47 alleles. Highest number of alleles (4) were detected by three primers, namely BFU1178, BFU479, and ZCMS14, while lowest number of alleles (2) were detected by fifteen primers. Highest Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was 0.500 and shown by two primers, namely BFU528 and BFU1248, while lowest PIC (0.041) was observed in primers BFU286 with mean value of 0.443. Similarly, highest value of marker index (MI) was detected by primer BFU1178 i.e. 1.969, and lowest value of marker index was observed in primer BFU286 i.e. 0.021. Dendrogram generated using SSR markers data and principal component analysis showed two major groups of the analyzed germplasm with intermixing. STRUCTURE analysis also clustered all the accessions into two groups. We did not found correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Conclusions The preliminary results suggest that there is high level of gene pool mixing in these species which can be attributed to their cross-pollination habit. However, more such studies with large numbers of samples are required in future to gain concrete insights of the genetic structure in these species.

The current review focuses on the plant Bacopa monnieri, one of prominent medical herbs in Indian ayurvedic system. The plant is well known for its cognitive and memory enhancing capabilities. The plant contains many useful alkaloids and secondary metabolites. Studies have shown that it has various promising pharmacological properties which have the potential to treat many illnesses and disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism also in for renal disease, water retention, blood cleaning etc. This leads to the over exploitation of the plant which puts a stress on the naturally available stock of the plant, therefore, it becomes a necessity to find optimum methods for mass production of the plant and its important secondary metabolites. This review attempts to compile and to discuss the advancements in methods and techniques including type of culture vessels, plant growth regulators (PGRs), effect of stress, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) interactions; for in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri and the enhanced production of its important bioactive (bacoside) for its sustainable exploitation.

The present study was carried out at Technology Park of College of Technology and Engineering, Udaipur, Rajasthan for two years (2019 and 2020) with 6 irrigation treatments and four replications in RBD. Among all the treatments, the treatment T2 (Irrigation at 85% field capacity of soil, based on soil moisture sensor based drip irrigation system) was found best in selected areas for growing okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] crop under sensor based drip irrigation with maximum crop yield and biomass. In other water scarce regions of Rajasthan, the use of a simulation model can be a better option to predict the crop yield and biomass with respect to different irrigation levels. Therefore, calibration and validation of the AquaCrop model was done with the help of various data which were collected from field experiments during the study period (2019–20). The cut off temperature and base temperature were set as 32.5–100C, respectively. The model was successfully calibrated and validated with minimum prediction error, mean absolute error (MAE: 0.34–0.56), root mean square error (RMSE: 0.38–0.60) and maximum model efficiency (E ranges 0.8–0.95) and coefficient of correlation (R2 > 0.9). The overall result indicate good performance of the model and can help in decision making as well as for irrigation water management for okra crop under the given conditions of Udaipur district of Rajasthan. It can be used to assess the influence of various environmental factors and management practices on okra crop growth.

Abstract Plant, animal and protist genomes often contain endogenous viral elements (EVEs), which correspond to partial and sometimes entire viral genomes that have been captured in the genome of their host organism through a variety of integration mechanisms. While the number of sequenced eukaryotic genomes is rapidly increasing, the annotation and characterization of EVEs remains largely overlooked. EVEs that derive from members of the family Caulimoviridae are widespread across tracheophyte plants, and sometimes they occur in very high copy numbers. However, existing programs for annotating repetitive DNA elements in plant genomes are poor at identifying and then classifying these EVEs. Other than accurately annotating plant genomes, there is intrinsic value in a tool that could identify caulimovirid EVEs as they testify to recent or ancient host-virus interactions and provide valuable insights into virus evolution. In response to this research need, we have developed CAULIFINDER, an automated and sensitive annotation software package. CAULIFINDER consists of two complementary workflows, one to reconstruct, annotate and group caulimovirid EVEs in a given plant genome and the second to classify these genetic elements into officially recognized or tentative genera in the Caulimoviridae. We have benchmarked the CAULIFINDER package using the Vitis vinifera reference genome, which contains a rich assortment of caulimovirid EVEs that have previously been characterized using manual methods. The CAULIFINDER package is distributed in the form of a Docker image.

This work investigates bioethanol production from wastepaper via acid and enzymatic hydrolysis with the aim to attain the highest possible yield, including an evaluation of energy consumption of the production processes and costs involved. A mathematical model was designed using MATLAB software, in which pre-calculated chronological stages have been specified with the parameters that significantly affect the bioethanol yield, including type and number of consumables, reaction temperature and residence time. The independent variables have been decided based on recommended values found in the literature and are provided as suggestions to the user, who is also given the choice to manually input the values. Mass and energy balance are carried out for each process stage of bioethanol production in order to calculate the energy consumption of the chemical reactions. The model also calculates the bioethanol yield per 100 g of lignocellulosic biomass and the related costs. A comparison between enzymatic and acid hydrolysis bioethanol is presented by a line chart on the software interface, helping the understanding of the effects of the independent variable parameters. As a result, the most optimal conditions to produce the highest yield of bioethanol and therefore increasing the efficiency of a process is obtained. The model is expected to aid in the reduction of laboratory-based experiments being conducted, saving time, human errors, costly microorganisms and other consumables.

To analyze the variation in audiological results with oto-acoustic emission (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) of term newborns with those at risk (preterm and newborns with hyperbilirubinemia). Auditory screening was conducted in 746 infants born in zonal hospital in western Maharashtra from May 2019 to May 2020. The cases included 633 healthy term, 71 preterm infants managed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and 42 newborns with hyperbilirubinemia. Hearing impairment was confirmed through a primary screening by OAE response followed by ABR. Based on these findings, we divided infants into pass and refer. 16 patients in ‘refer' group were identified through our protocol out of 746 newborns. The incidence of the refer group was 11 out of 633 in term newborns, 3 out of 71 in preterm and 2 out of 42 in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia after OAE. Refer groups were subjected to further evaluation by ABR which was able to remove false positives and a final tally of 8 out of 11 term newborns, 2 out of 3 preterm were found to have hearing loss. Hence, we conclude that incidence of hearing loss detected by OAE in preterm and hyperbilirubinemia newborns was more as compared to term newborns and is significant. OAE followed by ABR is a good modality of audiological assessment in ruling out false positive cases. [J Med Allied Sci. 2022; 12(2):52-57]

Soil properties vary spatially over short distances and sometimes prove detrimental to crop productivity in farmlands even after uniform application of balanced nutrients. In the present study, spatial variability of micronutrients was studied in Chakroi farm of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu (SKUASTJammu) during 2016 and 2017. Results indicated that mean concentrations of micronutrients were in the order of Fe > Mn > Cu > Zn both in surface and sub-surface layers. Exponential model was the best fit for all micronutrients in surface soil layer. Linear model was best fit for Cu and Gaussian model for Mn in the sub-surface layer. Whereas for Zn and Fe, the best fit was defined by exponential model. All the four micronutrients showed strong spatial dependence in surface layer, whereas in sub-surface layer Mn and Zn showed strong spatial dependence as compared to Cu. More than 60% of the area in the surface layer had Cu in the range of 2.0–2.8 mg/kg of soil. A very small area was under high range on the eastern side of the farm while in the sub-surface layer, Cu was unevenly distributed. The soil maps of Zn showed that it is above the critical value in surface layer while in sub-surface layer nearly 40% of the area had Zn in the deficient range. Fe was unevenly distributed and in the sub-surface layer it was higher in the southern and north-western parts of the farm. Mn was above the critical limit in both surface and sub-surface soils of the farm.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disability disease with predominant involvement of hands and feet. It is highly important to detect early findings of the disease so that treatment can be started as early as possible. The high cost, poor accessibility and long waiting time for Magnetic Resonanace Imaging (MRI) as compared to Ultrasound (USG) results in delayed pick up of early RA findings. Aim: To compare the radiological parameters of wrist and hand by USG and MRI in clinically diagnosed patients of early RA. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020 in the Department of Radiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla. A total of 25 diagnosed patients of early RA were enrolled in the study. USG and MRI were used to evaluate distal Distal Radioulnar (RU), Radiocarpal (RC), Ulnocarpal (UC), Metacarpo phalangeal (MCP) and other hand joints with clinical symptoms. The following parameters were assessed on both MRI and USG: Joint space, Joint effusion, Synovitis, Tenosynovitis, Bone erosions. Bone marrow oedema was assessed only on MRI. The categorical variables of the two groups were compared using the chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the study group was 44.96±11.58 years. There were 18 female and 7 male patients with preponderance of female patients. MRI was better than USG in picking up findings of joint space narrowing, synovial thickening, synovial vascularity and bone erosions with p-value of

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation faces multipronged challenges of low farm productivity, poor economic returns, and soil health deterioration in the hilly ecosystem of India. Hence, the development of a cost-effective and soil-supportive French bean cultivation technology is highly warranted. Thus, a field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons in the Sikkim region of the Indian Himalayas to assess the impact of different organic nutrient sources on the production potential, profitability, and soil health of French bean. Eight organic nutrient management practices, viz., farmers' practice, 100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through FYM, 100% RDN through mixed compost (MC), 100% RDN through vermicompost (VC), 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDN through MC, 50% RDN through FYM + 50% RDN through VC, 50% RDN through MC + 50% RDN through VC, and 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC, were assigned in a three times replicated randomized complete block design. The results revealed that the supply of 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC 33% recorded the highest pod yield (8.30 and 8.00 Mg ha−1) and net returns (1,831 and 1,718 US$ ha−1). Furthermore, the supply of 33% RDN through FYM + 33% RDN through MC + 33% RDN through VC 33% also had a positive impact on soil health. It was shown that an equal supply of RDN through FYM + MC + VC increases soil pH by 8.35%, SOC by 5.45%, available N by 6.32%, available P by 16%, available K by 9.92%, and micronutrients by 5–7% over farmers' practice. Thus, the supply of RDN through the integration of FYM + MC + VC in equal proportion is an economically robust and soil-supportive nutrients management practice for organic French bean production in the hilly ecosystem of North East India.

By 2050, aviation-related carbon emissions are expected to quadruple to over 3000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, so finding sustainable alternative solutions to minimise pollution is a key scientific challenge. Aviation gasoline and kerosene are currently used to power most jet engines. While battery-powered planes and planes that could utilise a cleaner fuel, such as hydrogen, are possible, the time scale required to improve and implement these technologies is distant, with air fleet turnover taking some 30 years. Existing jet engines could be modified to run on biodiesel, and considering the close similarity in fuel density to kerosene, could be a less disruptive approach to the industry. The sheer volume of biodiesel required remains a challenge, and certainly, using plant-derived oils grown on arable land is not acceptable, as it competes with food production. However, high-lipid-yielding microalgae (where productivity is an order of magnitude greater than oilseeds), grown on marginal land, such as desert or semi-desert areas of the world, could be possible. Indeed, to replace 30% of fossil fuel with algal-derived biodiesel would require 11,345 km2 of land. Biodiesel preparation is well understood, but what is lacking is proven technology aimed at optimising microalgal production of oil at a much larger scale. Here, a synergic review of the current state-of-the-art in algal production, that includes strain selection, possible production sites, culturing costs, and harvesting to identify the bottlenecks in meeting the ASTM specifications for the aviation industry, is presented.

Scrub typhus (caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi) is a neglected and underdiagnosed disease due to its non-specific clinical presentation and challenging diagnostics. We document the first study of direct diagnosis of scrub typhus from the blood sample of a patient by full-length 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon analysis using Oxford Nanopore sequencing.

Primary pancreatic lymphoma is a rare disease. It comprises less than 0.5 % of pancreatic neoplasm and 0.1% of malignant lymphoma. It should be differentiated from pancreatic adenocarcinoma because management differs. At computed tomography, 2 types of morphology of primary pancreatic lymphoma have been described- a localized well-circumscribed tumoral form and another diffuse enlargement infiltrating or replacing most of the pancreatic gland. Here, we are presenting computed tomography (CT) imaging features of a case of primary pancreatic lymphoma in a 27 year old female who presented with a complaint of abdominal pain radiating to the back for 3 months and yellowish discoloration of sclera and skin for the last 15 days. In contrast-enhanced computed tomography an exophytic homogenously hypoenhancing mass arising from head and neck region of pancreas was seen. Involvement of common bile duct (CBD) and duodenum was there. The main pancreatic duct was not dilated. Common hepatic artery was encased by mass without arterial luminal narrowing or distortion. Diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma was suggested on basis of imaging findings and further confirmed with fine-needle aspiration cytology.

The present study was carried out at Lovely Professional university, Phagwara, Punjab during 2019 to study the performance of okra under irrigation levels and mulching methods under drip irrigation. The treatment comprised of 3 irrigation levels (1.0 ETc, 0.8 ETc and 0.6 ETc) and 5 mulch methods (black plastic mulch, silver plastic mulch, straw mulch, soil mulch and no mulch) laid out in split plot design replicated thrice. The growth and yield attributes were significantly influenced by irrigation levels and mulching methods. The irrigation level I2 (0.8 ETc) significantly exhibited maximum plant height (100.45 cm), number of branches per plant (1.77), and yield per plant (216.59 g) whereas irrigation level I1 (1.0 ETc) recorded maximum pod yield (15.59 tonnes/ha) which is at par with irrigation level I2 (15.36 tonnes/ha). The black plastic mulch was found significantly superior over no mulch treatments in terms plant height, number of branches, pod yield per plant, pod yield (19.09 tonnes/ha). The maximum water use efficiency (0.41 tonnes/ha-cm) was recorded in irrigation treatment I3 and in black plastic mulch (0.46 tonnes/ha-cm). The interaction effect of irrigation and mulching not showed significant difference on pod yield but significantly affected water use efficiency. At interaction effect, the maximum water use efficiency (0.56 tonnes/ha-cm) in combination of I3 and M1. Maximum B:C ratio was recorded in irrigation level I1 (3.49) which is at par with I2 (3.40). Black plastic mulch recorded higher B:C ratio (3.40). The interaction effect did not showed significant effect on B:C ratio. Looking the higher yield of crop, water use efficiency and higher B:C ratio, it can be recommended that okra crop showed good performance under irrigation level I2 and black plastic mulch.

Environmental pollution, resource dwindling, and soil degradation questioned the sustainability of contemporary agricultural production systems. Organic farming is advocated as a sustainable solution for ensuring food security without compromising environmental sustainability. However, poor farm productivity quizzed the sustainability of organic production systems. Hence, a field study was carried out in the Sikkim region of the Indian Himalayas to assess the efficacy of conservation-effective tilling and diversified cropping on system productivity, profitability, environmental quality, and soil nutrient balance in organic farming. Three tillage systems, namely, (i) conventional tillage (CT), (ii) reduced tillage (RT), and (iii) zero tillage (ZT), and four maize based diversified cropping systems (maize–black gram–toria, maize–black gram–buckwheat, maize–rajmash–toria, and maize–rajmash–buckwheat) were tested using a three times replicated split-plot design. The ZT system recorded 13.5 and 3.5% higher system productivity over CT and RT, respectively. Of the four diversified cropping systems, the maize–rajmash–buckwheat system recorded the maximum system productivity (13.99 Mg ha−1) and net returns (3,141 US$ ha−1) followed by the maize–black gram–buckwheat system. Among the tillage practices, ZT recorded the significantly high eco-efficiency index (EEI; 1.55 US$ per kg CO2-eq emission) and the lowest greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI; 0.15 kg CO2-eq per kg production). Of the diversified cropping systems, the maize-rajmash-buckwheat registered the lowest GHGI (0.14 CO2-eq per kg production) and the highest EEI (1.47 US$ per kg CO2-eq emission). Concerning soil nutrient balance, after three cropping cycles, the soil under ZT recorded significantly higher available N (340.0 kg ha−1), P (16.6 kg ha−1), and K (337.3 kg ha−1) over the CT system at 0–10 cm soil depth. Similarly, the soil under the maize–black gram–buckwheat system had the maximum bio-available NPK. Thus, the study suggests that the cultivation of the maize–black gram/rajmash–buckwheat systems under ZT and/or RT would increase farm productivity, profitability, and soil fertility with minimum GHGI in organic farming under the Eastern Himalayan region of India.

The study of cardiac electrophysiology is built on experimental models that span all scales, from ion channels to whole-body preparations. Novel discoveries made at each scale have contributed to our fundamental understanding of human cardiac electrophysiology, which informs clinicians as they detect, diagnose, and treat complex cardiac pathologies. This expert review describes an engineering approach to developing experimental models that is applicable across scales. The review also outlines how we applied the approach to create a set of multiscale whole-body experimental models of cardiac electrophysiology, models that are driving new insights into the response of the myocardium to acute ischemia. Specifically, we propose that researchers must address three critical requirements to develop an effective experimental model: 1) how the experimental model replicates and maintains human physiological conditions, 2) how the interventions possible with the experimental model capture human pathophysiology, and 3) what signals need to be measured, at which levels of resolution and fidelity, and what are the resulting requirements of the measurement system and the access to the organs of interest. We will discuss these requirements in the context of two examples of whole-body experimental models, a closed chest in situ model of cardiac ischemia and an isolated-heart, torso-tank preparation, both of which we have developed over decades and used to gather valuable insights from hundreds of experiments.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging has revolutionized the evaluation of acute onset sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This study was carried out with an aim to diagnose the causes of acute onset SNHL with an attempt to compare the accuracy of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) T2-weighted sequences with postcontrast 3D volumetric T1-weighted imaging. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and fifty-five cases of acute onset SNHL were evaluated using noncontrast sequence for brain and 3D DRIVE for seventh and eight cranial nerves. Postcontrast 3D volumetric T1 sequence was done for the whole brain. Results: Poor visualization of the semicircular canal (confirmed as labyrinthitis ossificans on computed tomography) was the most common cause of acute onset SNHL, followed by vestibular schwannoma. 3D DRIVE sequence was not able to detect seven cases of small intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma and enhancement of the seventh-eighth cranial nerves. However, these cases were detected on postcontrast sequence. Conclusion: As the sensitivity of the 3D DRIVE sequence was only 74.1%, it cannot be used as a screening tool for the evaluation of acute onset SNHL. 3D postcontrast sequence will detect even small vestibular schwannomas and inflammatory/infective causes of acute onset SNHL, which might have an impact on the management of the patient.

Objective: To study the epidemiological characteristics of the pandemic by describing the clinical profile of the COVID-19 patients presenting to a super specialty hospital. Methods: This was a descriptive study using medical records of patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction between 17th March and 15th January 2021 while maintaining confidentiality. The clinical and demographic data of all the patients were entered in a Microsoft Excel and statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21 software. Regression analysis was performed and a P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 3534 patients were enrolled in this study aged 9–96 years. Among patients with symptoms, fever and cough were the most common presenting symptoms, while 5.6% of the patients were asymptomatic. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (37%), while no comorbidities were present in 43.0% of the participants and this was statistically significant for age (P = 0.000). Among patient outcomes, >50% of patients were in home isolation, while 11% of patients had a fatal outcome. Elder age group had a higher proportion of expiry among outcomes (P

Abstract Accurately predicting red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirements in cardiothoracic (CT) surgery could improve blood inventory management and be used as a surrogate marker for assessing hemorrhage risk preoperatively. We developed a machine learning (ML) method to predict intraoperative RBC transfusions in CT surgery. A detailed database containing time-stamped clinical variables for all CT surgeries from 5/2014–6/2019 at a single center (n = 2410) was used for model development. After random forest feature selection, surviving features were inputs for ML algorithms using five-fold cross-validation. The dataset was updated with 437 additional cases from 8/2019–8/2020 for validation. We developed and validated a hybrid ML method given the skewed nature of the dataset. Our Gaussian Process (GP) regression ML algorithm accurately predicted RBC transfusion amounts of 0 and 1–3 units (root mean square error, RMSE 0.117 and 1.705, respectively) and our GP classification ML algorithm accurately predicted 4 + RBC units transfused (area under the curve, AUC = 0.826). The final prediction is the regression result if classification predicted

Purpose: To evaluate and analyze the outcomes of sutureless and glue-free limbal-conjunctival autografting in cases of primary as well as recurrent pterygium. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out between February 2019 and February 2020 at a tertiary care hospital in North India. A total of 70 patients with pterygium underwent sutureless and glue-free limbal-conjunctival autograft. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 patients with primary pterygium (n = 45), group 2 patients with recurrent pterygium (n = 25). The patients were followed up till 12 months postoperatively. Results: The mean age of the patients in group 1 and group 2 was 37.04 ± 8.69 years and 32.52 ± 6.49 years, respectively (P = 0.04). Postoperatively, no recurrence was recorded in group 1. Recurrence was noticed in two patients (8%) of group 2. The BCVA changed from 78.73 ± 9.86 letters to 80.15 ± 7.29 letters (P = 0.45) and from 79.6 ± 6.44 letters to 79.8 ± 5.86 letters (P = 0.45) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Graft edema was found in seven (15.55%) cases of group 1 and four (16%) cases of group 2. Graft retraction was found in two (4.44%) cases of group 1 and three (12%) cases of group 2. Conclusion: Sutureless and a glue-free limbal-conjunctival autograft is a safe and effective treatment option for primary as well as recurrent pterygium.