Spatio-temporal distribution and source contributions of the ambient pollutants in Lucknow city, India.

Clean air is imperative to the survival of all life forms on the planet. However, recent times have witnessed enormous escalation in urban pollution levels. It is therefore, incumbent upon us to decipher measures to deal with it. In perspective, the present study was carried out to assess PM10 and PM2.5 loading, metallic constituents, gaseous pollutants, source contributions, health impact and noise level of nine-locations, grouped as residential, commercial, and industrial in Lucknow city for 2019-21. Mean concentrations during pre-monsoon for PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 were: 138.2 ± 35.2, 69.1 ± 13.6, 8.5 ± 3.3 and 32.3 ± 7.4 µg/m3, respectively, whereas post-monsoon concentrations were 143.0 ± 33.3, 74.6 ± 14.5, 12.5 ± 2.1, and 35.5 ± 6.3 µg/m3, respectively. Exceedance percentage of pre-monsoon PM10 over National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) was 38.2% while that for post-monsoon was 43.0%; whereas corresponding values for PM2.5 were 15.2% and 24.3%. Post-monsoon season showed higher particulate loading owing to wintertime inversion and high humidity conditions. Order of elements associated with PM2.5 is Co < Cd < Cr < Ni < V < Be < Mo < Mn < Ti < Cu < Pb < Se < Sr < Li < B < As < Ba < Mg < Al < Zn < Ca < Fe < K < Na and that with PM10 is Co < Cd < Ni < Cr < V < Ti < Be < Mo < Cu < Pb < Se < Sr < Li < B < As < Mn < Ba < Mg < Al < Fe < Zn < K < Na < Ca. WHO AIRQ + ascertained 1654, 144 and 1100 attributable cases per 0.1 million of population to PM10 exposure in 2019-21. Source apportionment was carried out using USEPA-PMF and resolved 6 sources with highest percent contributions including road dust re-entrainment, biomass burning and vehicular emission. It is observed that residents of Lucknow city regularly face exposure to particulate pollutants and associated constituents making it imperative to develop pollution abetment strategies.

Unraveling the intricacies of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein: A comprehensive review.

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is a versatile RNA-binding protein, pivotal in modulating cellular responses to diverse stress stimuli including cold shock, ultraviolet radiation, hypoxia, and infections, with a principal emphasis on cold stress. The temperature range of 32-34 °C is most suitable for CIRP expression. The human CIRP is an 18-21 kDa polypeptide containing 172 amino acids coded by a gene located on chromosome 19p13.3. CIRP has an RNA-recognition motif (RRM) and an arginine-rich motif (RGG), both of which have roles in coordinating numerous cellular activities. CIRP itself also undergoes conformational changes in response to diverse environmental stress. Transcription factors such as hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha and nuclear factor-kappa B have been implicated in coordinating CIRP transcription in response to specific stimuli. The potential of CIRP to relocate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm upon exposure to different stimuli enhances its varied functional roles across different cellular compartments. The different functions include decreasing nutritional demand, apoptosis suppression, modulation of translation, and preservation of cytoskeletal integrity at lower temperatures. This review explores the diverse functions and regulatory mechanisms of CIRP, shedding light on its involvement in various cellular processes and its implications for human health and disease.

1,2-Difunctionalization of Aryne with Sulfenamide and Organohalide: Mild and Metal-Free Access to S-(o-Halo)aryl Sulfilimine.

A mild and metal-free approach has been developed for 1,2-difunctionalization of aryne using sulfenamides as a nucleophile and a halogen source (CX4) as an electrophile to synthesize S-(o-halo)aryl sulfilimines. The late-stage functionalizations of halide handles via Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions exhibit the synthetic utilities of the products. The chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, rapidity, and use of economical CCl4 are the advantages of this protocol.

A Comprehensive Review on Strategies for Enhancing the Performance of Polyanionic-Based Sodium-Ion Battery Cathodes.

The significant consumption of fossil fuels and the increasing pollution have spurred the development of energy-storage devices like batteries. Due to their high cost and limited resources, widely used lithium-ion batteries have become unsuitable for large-scale energy production. Sodium is considered to be one of the most promising substitutes for lithium due to its wide availability and similar physiochemical properties. Designing a suitable cathode material for sodium-ion batteries is essential, as the overall electrochemical performance and the cost of battery depend on the cathode material. Among different types of cathode materials, polyanionic material has emerged as a great option due to its higher redox potential, stable crystal structure, and open three-dimensional framework. However, the poor electronic and ionic conductivity limits their applicability. This review briefly discusses the strategies to deal with the challenges of transition-metal oxides and Prussian blue analogue, recent developments in polyanionic compounds, and strategies to improve electrochemical performance of polyanionic material by nanostructuring, surface coating, morphology control, and heteroatom doping, which is expected to accelerate the future design of sodium-ion battery cathodes.

Real-World Data on Treatment Outcome of ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer from an Indian Multicentric Cancer Registry.

Lalatendu Moharana The Anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors (ALKi) represent the standard of care for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EML4-ALK rearrangements. Various ALKi agents are available; however, not all eligible patients receive treatment with them due to various reasons. Given the limited real-world data available in our country, we aimed to assess treatment outcomes through a multicenter collaboration. This retrospective, multi-institutional study was conducted under the Network of Oncology Clinical Trials India and included a total of 67 ALK-positive metastatic lung cancer patients from 10 institutes across India, with a median follow-up of 23 months. In the first line setting, the objective response rate (ORR) with ALKi was 63.6% (crizotinib: 60.7%, ceritinib: 70%, alectinib: 66.6%, p = 0.508), while with chemotherapy, it was 26.1%. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) for the first line ALKi group was significantly higher than that for chemotherapy (19 vs. 9 months, p = 0.00, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17-0.54). The mPFS for crizotinib, alectinib, and ceritinib was 17, 22, and 19 months, respectively ( p = 0.48). Patients who received ALKi upfront or after 1 to 3 cycles of chemotherapy or after 4 or more cycles of chemotherapy had mPFS of 16, 22, and 23 months, respectively ( p = 0.47). ALKi showed superior mPFS compared to chemotherapy in the second line (14 vs. 5 months; p = 0.002) and the third line (20 vs. 4 months; p = 0.009). The median overall survival (OS) was significantly better in patients who received ALKi in any line of therapy (44 vs. 14 months, p < 0.001, HR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04-0.23). Brain progression was higher among those who did not receive ALKi (69.2 vs. 31.5%). In conclusion, the use of ALKi as first line treatment for ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC patients resulted in improved PFS. PFS and ORR did not significantly differ between patients who received ALKi upfront or after initiating chemotherapy. Notably, patients who received ALKi in second or later lines demonstrated significantly better outcomes compared to those receiving chemotherapy. The use of ALKi in any line of therapy was associated with significantly prolonged OS.

Photocatalytic, α-Aminoalkyl Radical-Mediated, Methylene-Extrusive Ring-Closing Transformation of o-Alkynyl and o-Cyano Acrylamides.

Herein we report a visible-light-induced, α-aminoalkyl radical-mediated cascade reaction of 1,7-enynes that establishes a unique ring-closing enyne transformation pathway which occurs with concomitant loss of a methylene moiety. The α-aminoalkyl radical derived from N,N-dimethylaniline was demonstrated to be a traceless promoter of enyne reorganization leading to 4-alkylquinolinones. The reaction can also be extended to nitrile-substituted acrylamide systems, leading to carbostyrils. Experiments with deuterated N,N-dimethylaniline-d6 (PhN(CD3)2) established the involvement of 1,5-H atom transfer in the mechanism.

Hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous medium by ternary nanoadsorbent: A study of kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamic mechanism.

Although many studies have focused on chromium removal from aqueous media by ternary Nano adsorbents, still the integrated kinetics, equilibrium, and thermodynamic mechanisms of chromium removal remain unknown. Thus in this study, we have synthesized a novel ternary oxide nanocomposite comprising iron, manganese, and stannous (Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2) in a facile method as a promising adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from an aqueous medium. The Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 system was firstly characterized by FTIR, XRD, TGA, BET, and SEM/EDX. The effect of parameters, for instance, pH, temperature, initial Cr(VI) intensity, and adsorbent dose, have been examined to optimize the Cr(VI) adsorption performance. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 nanoadsorbent is associated with an adsorption/reduction mechanism. Using an initial Cr(VI) intensity of 50 mg L-1, 200 rpm agitation, 2.5-g L-1 of adsorbent, pH 2, 90 minutes adsorption time, and 298 K temperature, a maximum adsorption capability of 69.2 mg Cr(VI) g-1 for Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 was obtained. Models of pseudo-2nd-order kinetics and Langmuir's isotherm were best suited to the investigated data. Besides, thermodynamic parameters show that Cr(VI) adsorption onto Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 was random and dominated by entropy. The reusability of Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 was found to be consistently high (remaining above 80% for Cr(VI)) over four adsorption-desorption cycles. Chromium adsorption from the tannery wastewater was achieved 91.89% on Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2. Therefore, Fe2O3-MnO2-SnO2 nanoparticles, being easy to be synthesized, reusable and having improved adsorption capability with higher surface area, could be a desirable option for removing Cr(VI) from aqueous environments.

Pan-India influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance: epidemiological, clinical and genomic analysis.

Background: Over time, COVID-19 testing has significantly declined across the world. However, it is critical to monitor the virus through surveillance. In late 2020, WHO released interim guidance advising the use of the existing Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) for the integrated surveillance of influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Methods: In July 2021, we initiated a pan-India integrated surveillance for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 through the geographically representative network of Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) across 26 hospital and laboratory sites and 70 community sites. A total of 34,260 cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) were enrolled from 4 July 2021 to 31 October 2022. Findings: Influenza A(H3) and B/Victoria dominated during 2021 monsoon season while A(H1N1)pdm09 dominated during 2022 monsoon season. The SARS-CoV-2 "variants of concern" (VoC) Delta and Omicron predominated in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Increased proportion of SARI was seen in extremes of age: 90% cases in < 1 year; 68% in 1 to 5 years and 61% in ≥ 8 years age group. Approximately 40.7% of enrolled cases only partially fulfilled WHO ILI and SARI case definitions. Influenza- and SARS-CoV-2-infected comorbid patients had higher risks of hospitalization, ICU admission, and oxygen requirement. Interpretation: The results depicted the varying strains and transmission dynamics of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses over time, thus emphasizing the need to continue and expand surveillance across countries for improved decision making. The study also describes important information related to clinical outcomes of ILI and SARI patients and highlights the need to review existing WHO ILI and SARI case definitions.

Molecular docking analysis of Omt-A protein model from Aspergillus flavus with synthetic compounds.

Aflatoxin is a potent mycotoxin of Aspergillus flavus that has been classified as a Group I carcinogen. O-methyltransferase A (Omt-A) is a critical enzyme in the formation of aflatoxin. It catalyzes the methylation of norsalic acid to form the highly toxic intermediate averantin. The ligand-protein interaction of Omt-A was performed with piperlonguminin and blasticidins. The maximum affinity of -10.6 was found for the 5ICC_A piperlonguminine at site1 (X,Y,Z: -15.282, 21.785, 5.672). Compounds such as Blasticidin S, Neoeriocitrin, Blasticidin S - hydrochloric acid, 6,6''-Bigenkwanin, Pipernomaline, and Eriodictyol were found to have binding features to protein residues, as shown by computational interaction at the molecular level.

An Unexpected Finding of Isolated Hydatidosis of the Spleen With Concomitant Visceromegaly in an Elderly Female.

Hydatidosis of the spleen is a rare zoonotic clinical entity. The occurrence of isolated splenic hydatid cysts in the absence of these cysts in any other portion of the body is referred to as primary splenic hydatidosis. It is a rare disorder that accounts for only 2% of the burden of hydatid disease worldwide. After the liver and the lungs, the spleen is the organ that is most frequently affected by this condition.

A Review of miRNA Regulation in Japanese Encephalitis (JEV) Virus Infection.

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne disease that causes neuronal damage and inflammation of microglia, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. JE infection can resist cellular immune responses and survive in host cells. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infects macrophages and peripheral blood lymphocytes. In addition to regulating biological signaling pathways, microRNAs in cells also influence virus-host interactions. Under certain circumstances, viruses can change microRNA production. These changes affect the replication and spread of the virus. Host miRNAs can contain viral pathogenicity by downregulating the antiviral immune response pathways. Simultaneous profiling of miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) could help us detect pathogenic factors, and dual RNA detection is possible. This work highlights important miRNAs involved in human JE infection. In this study, we have shown the important miRNAs that play significant roles in JEV infection. We found that during JEV infection, miRNA-155, miR-29b, miRNA-15b, miR-146a, miRNA-125b-5p, miRNA-30la, miR-19b-3p, and miR-124, cause upregulation of human genes whereas miRNA-432, miRNA-370, microRNA-33a-5p, and miRNA-466d-3p are responsible for downregulation of human genes respectively. Further, these miRNAs are also responsible for the inflammatory effects. Although several other miRNAs critical to the JEV life cycle are yet unknown, there is currently no evidence for the role of miRNAs in persistence.

Visible Light Mediated Co-Catalyzed Isocyanide Insertion with Sulfonyl Azide: Synthesis of Sulfonyl Carbamimidic Azide and Sulfonyl Aminotetrazole via Carbodiimide Intermediate.

Herein, we report an operationally simple and efficient protocol to prepare sulfonyl carbamimidic azide and N-sulfonyl aminotetrazole via Co-catalyzed three component coupling of sulfonyl azide (acts as nitrene source), isocyanide, and TMS-azide at room temperature under visible light. Initially, the carbamimidic azide is formed, which cyclizes only in the presence of base to deliver N-sulfonyl aminotetrazole in very good yields. The sulfonyl aminotetrazole can also be synthesized directly without isolating the carbamimidic azide in the presence of base. The sulfonyl azide is anticipated to generate nitrene and reacts with isocyanide to produce carbodiimide. Subsequent addition of azide (TMS-N3 ) to carbodiimide results in the formation of carbamimidic azide.

Interaction between Cfd1 and Nbp35 proteins involved in cytosolic FeS cluster assembly machinery deciphers a stable complexation in Leishmania donovani.

Leishmania donovani is the causative unicellular parasite for visceral leishmaniasis (VL); and FeS proteins are likely to be very essential for their survival and viability. Cytosolic FeS cluster assembly (CIA) machinery is one of the four systems for the biosynthesis and transfer of FeS clusters among eukaryotes; Cfd1 and Nbp35 are the scaffold components for cytosolic FeS cluster biogenesis. We investigated the role of CIA machinery components and purified Cfd1 and Nbp35 proteins of L. donovani. We also investigated the interactive nature between LdCfd1 and LdNbp35 proteins by in silico analysis, in vitro co-purification, pull down assays along with in vivo immuno-precipitation; which inferred that both LdCfd1 and LdNbp35 proteins are interacting with each other. Thus, our collective data revealed the interaction between these two proteins which forms a stable complex that can be attributed to the cellular process of FeS clusters biogenesis, and transfer to target apo-proteins of L. donovani. The expression of Cfd1 and Nbp35 proteins in Amp B resistant parasites is up-regulated leading to increased amount of FeS proteins. Hence, it favors increased tolerance towards ROS level, which helps parasites survival under drug pressure contributing in Amphotericin B resistance.

A quantum chemical study: thoughtful exploration for optimal donors in Y-type dual donor-based dye sensitizers.

This research explores the influence of different dual donors on the effectiveness of dye sensitizers. We selected 35 diverse donors to construct Y-type dual donor-based dyes, connecting them with thiophene as the π-spacer and cyanoacrylic acid as the acceptor. Density functional theory calculations indicate that these dual donor-based dyes exhibit superior optoelectronic properties compared to their single donor counterparts. Notably, significant variations in charge distribution among the different dual donors affect their donor capabilities. Our calculations specifically highlight the enhanced thermodynamic parameters, including light harvesting efficiency (LHE), the free energy of dye injection (ΔGinject), and regeneration (ΔGreg), for donor moieties containing nitrogen atoms, such as NS-3 (N,N-dimethylaniline), NS-5 (diphenylamine), NS-6 (triphenylamine), and NS-8 (4-methoxy-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenylaniline). These results suggest that nitrogen-containing donor moieties act as promising candidates for donors for efficient dye sensitizers. However, further experimental validation in the near future will be necessary to confirm our findings.

Cascade Cyclizations Triggered by Photochemically Generated Carbamoyl Radicals Derived from Alkyl Amines.

We report on a visible light-mediated cascade carbamoylation/cyclization of acrylamides using dihydropyridyl carbamoyl donors derived from alkyl amines. Diversely selected acrylamides including 2-cyano-N-arylacrylamides, indolyl- and benzimidazolyl acrylamides, and 2-alkynyl-N-aryl acrylamides participate in this reaction, providing products in good yields. The highlights of this photochemical method include the application of alkyl amine-derived carbamoyl donors, peroxide-free reaction conditions, and a broad scope.

Visible-light mediated, oxygen-promoted regioselective cross-dehydrogenative coupling of coumarins and dimethylanilines.

Herein, we report a regioselective, photocatalytic C3 α-aminoalkylation of coumarins via a cross-dehydrogenative coupling of dimethylanilines and coumarins. Molecular oxygen was utilized as the oxidizing agent in this transformation, which exhibits a wide substrate scope and affords the products in good yields. It was established that 4-amino-substituted coumarin reacts via a different mechanism compared to coumarin derivatives that are unsubstituted at the 4-position.

Photocatalytic, Intermolecular Olefin Alkylcarbofunctionalization Triggered by Haloalkyl Radicals Generated via Halogen Atom Transfer.

A visible-light-mediated, haloalkyl-radical-initiated, three-component olefin difunctionalization is reported. The application of haloalkyl radicals generated via halogen atom abstraction by α-aminoalkyl radicals has been demonstrated for accessing a new halogenated chemical space. Overall, the alkylcarbofunctionalization of styrenes was accomplished by employing them as (poly)haloalkyl radical acceptors and subsequent C-C bond formation with quinoxalinones.

Polynaphthalene-Based Oxazaborinine Complexes Formulated as Red Light Emitters and High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

Developing a solid organic emitter based on an oxazaborinine complex with improved photophysical characteristics has become essential to fulfilling the rising need for optical and electrochemical technology. Two oxazaborinine complexes (TNB (a tri-naphthalene boron complex) and DNB (a di-naphthalene boron complex)) decorated with naphthalene and triphenylamine have been developed, which show emission in the red light region in the solid phase. Their effectiveness as asymmetric supercapacitor electrodes in aqueous electrolytes is also being studied. Polynapthaldimine-substituted DNI (di-naphthalene imine) and TNI (tri-naphthalene imine) have been initially synthesized and converted to a N,O-linked boron complex. TNB in solids (λem 660 nm) and the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite (λem 632 nm) emit pure red light. The optimized structure has been generated, and the HOMO-LUMO energy was calculated with the help of density functional theory (DFT). Due to the higher conjugation effect and lower HOMO-LUMO energy difference, TNB could be used as a supercapacitor electrode. In a three-electrode configuration, TNB has a maximum specific capacitance of 896.25 F/g. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor device (ASC) was fabricated in an aqueous electrolyte using TNB as a positive electrode having a high specific capacitance of 155 F/g. Even in an aqueous electrolyte, the ASC device reached the operating potential window of 0 to 1.4 V with an enhanced energy density of 42.19 W h/kg and ∼96% cyclic stability after 10 000 cycles. The reported oxazaborinine complex and its electrochemical efficiency in aqueous electrolytes make it ideal for supercapacitor applications and directly impact the development of advanced electrodes for next-generation supercapacitors.

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence among patients enrolled at the opioid substitution therapy center in Bihar: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a major public health challenge in Indian settings due to its huge population and easy transmissibility of HCV among individuals who inject drugs (PWID, which is increasing in India). The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), India has started the Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centers to improve the health status of opioid dependent PWID and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among them. We conducted a cross-sectional study to find out the HCV sero-positive status and associated determinants in patients attending the OST centre in the ICMR-RMRIMS, Patna. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized the routinely collected (as a part of the National AIDS Control Program) and de-identified data from the OST center from 2014 to 2022 (N = 268). We abstracted the information for exposure variables (such as socio-demographic features and drug history) and outcome variable (HCV serostatus). The association of exposure variables with HCV serostatus was examined using robust Poisson regression. RESULTS: All the enrolled participants were male and the prevalence of HCV seropositivity was 28% [95% confidence interval (CI): 22.7% - 33.8%)]. There was a rising prevalence of HCV seropositivity with number of years of injection use (p-trend <0.001) and age (p-trend 0.025). Approximately, 6.3% participants were injecting drugs for >10 years and reported the maximum prevalence of HCV seropositivity (47.1%, 95% CI: 23.3%-70.8%). In adjusted analyses, being employed compared to unemployed patients [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.38-0.89]; graduated patients compared to illiterate patients [aPR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02-0.78]; and patients with education up to higher secondary compared to illiterate patients [aPR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.43-0.94] had significantly lesser HCV seropositivity. A-one year increase in injection use [aPR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04-1.10] was associated with 7% higher prevalence of HCV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: In this OST center-based study of 268 PWIDs residing in Patna, ~28% of patients were HCV seropositive, which was positively associated with years of injection use, unemployment, and illiteracy. Our findings suggest that OST centers offer an opportunity to reach a high-risk difficult to reach group for HCV infection and thus support the notion of integrating HCV care into the OST or de-addiction centres.

Ni-Catalyzed Mild Synthesis of Sulfonylurea via Tandem Coupling of Sulfonyl Azide, Isocyanide, and Water.

An efficient, mild, and novel route is developed to synthesize sulfonylurea via the nickel-catalyzed tandem coupling of sulfonyl azide, isocyanide, and water in aqueous media. The sulfonyl azide is expected to act as a nitrene precursor, which upon reaction with isocyanide generates carbodiimide. Herein, water acts as a nucleophile and reacts with carbodiimide to deliver the product. The protocol uses an inexpensive nickel catalyst, environmentally friendly water (as the nucleophile), and room temperature and provides products in moderate to good yields.