Arylazo-3,5-diphenylpyrazole Derivatives: Molecular Probes Exhibiting Reversible Light-induced Phase Transitions for Energy Storage and Direct Photolithographic Patterning.

We report azopyrazole photoswitches decorated with variable N-alkyl and alkoxy chains (for hydrophobic interactions) and phenyl substituents on the pyrazoles (enabling π-π stacking), showing efficient bidirectional photoswitching and reversible light-induced phase transition (LIPT). Extensive spectroscopic, microscopic, and diffraction studies and computations confirmed the manifestation of molecular-level interactions and photoisomerization into macroscopic changes leading to the LIPT phenomena. Using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies, the energetics associated with those accompanying processes were estimated. The long half-lives of Z isomers, high energy contents for isomerization and phase transitions, and the stability of phases over an extended temperature range (-60 to 80 oC) make them excellent candidates for energy storage and release applications. Remarkably, the difference in the solubility of the distinct phases in one of the derivatives allowed us to utilize it as a photoresist in photolithography applications on diverse substrates.

Nanoscale probing of surface potential landscape at MoS2/BP van der Waals p-n heterojunction.

2D van der Waals heterostructure paves a path towards next generation semiconductor junctions for nanoelectronics devices in the post silicon era. Probing the band alignment at a real condition of such 2D contacts and experimental determination of its junction parameters is necessary to comprehend the charge diffusion and transport through such 2D nano-junctions. Here, we demonstrate the formation of the p-n junction at the MoS2/Black phosphorene (BP) interface and conduct a nanoscale investigation to experimentally measure the band alignment at real conditions by means of measuring the spatial distribution of built-in potential, built-in electric field, and depletion width using the Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) technique. We show that optimization of lift scan height is critical for defining the depletion region of MoS2/BP with nanoscale precision using the KPFM technique. The variations in the built-in potential and built-in electric field with varying thicknesses of MoS2are revealed and calibrated.

Physical mapping of DNA markers linked to stem rust resistance gene Sr47 in durum wheat.

KEY MESSAGE: Markers linked to stem rust resistance gene Sr47 were physically mapped in three small Aegilops speltoides chromosomal bins. Five markers, including two PCR-based SNP markers, were validated for marker-assisted selection. In durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum), the gene Sr47 derived from Aegilops speltoides conditions resistance to race TTKSK (Ug99) of the stem rust pathogen (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici). Sr47 is carried on small interstitial translocation chromosomes (Ti2BL-2SL-2BL·2BS) in which the Ae. speltoides chromosome 2S segments are divided into four bins in genetic stocks RWG35, RWG36, and RWG37. Our objective was to physically map molecular markers to bins and to determine if any of the molecular markers would be useful in marker-assisted selection (MAS). Durum cultivar Joppa was used as the recurrent parent to produce three BC2F2 populations. Each BC2F2 plant was genotyped with markers to detect the segment carrying Sr47, and stem rust testing of BC2F3 progeny with race TTKSK confirmed the genotyping. Forty-nine markers from published sources, four new SSR markers, and five new STARP (semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR) markers, were evaluated in BC2F2 populations for assignment of markers to bins. Sr47 was mapped to bin 3 along with 13 markers. No markers were assigned to bin 1; however, 7 and 13 markers were assigned to bins 2 and 4, respectively. Markers Xrwgs38a, Xmag1729, Xwmc41, Xtnac3119, Xrwgsnp1, and Xrwgsnp4 were found to be useful for MAS of Sr47. However, STARP markers Xrwgsnp1 and Xrwgsnp4 can be used in gel-free systems, and are the preferred markers for high-throughput MAS. The physical mapping data from this study will also be useful for pyramiding Sr47 with other Sr genes on chromosome 2B.

Therapeutic implications of toll-like receptors in peripheral neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is a state of chronic pain arising after peripheral or central nerve injury. These injuries can be mediated through the activation of various cells (astrocytes, microglia and Schwann cells), as well as the dissolution of distal axons. Recent studies have suggested that after nerve injury, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) involved in Wallerian degeneration and generation of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, these TLRs are responsible for the stimulation of astrocytes and microglia that can cause induction of the proinflammatory mediators and cytokines in the spinal cord, thereby leading to the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Indeed considering the prevalence of neuropathic pain and suffering of the affected patients, insights into the diverse mechanism(s) of activation of TLR signaling cascades may open novel avenues for the management of this chronic condition. Moreover, existing therapies like antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opiates and other analgesic are not sufficiently effective in reducing the pain. In this review, we present substantial evidences highlighting the diverse roles of TLRs and their signaling pathways involved in the progression of neuropathic pain. Furthermore, an elaborate discussion on various existing treatment regimens and future targets involving TLRs has also been included.

Discerning Near-Isoergic Isomers. A Matrix Isolation Infrared and ab Initio Study of the Propargyl Alcohol Dimers.

This study reports the first infrared spectroscopic investigation of the dimers of propargyl alcohol (PA) using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy and ab initio computations. Computations indicated a number of isomers for the dimer, with the two most stable structures being nearly isoergic. Interestingly, our matrix isolation experiments were able to discern both of these isomers, which were corroborated by computations performed at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level. Identifying these two isomers was significant, since the two most stable and near-isoergic isomers can be expected to play an important role in the structure of the propargyl alcohol ices, an understanding of which is of significant importance in the study of astrochemical environments. The global minimum structure differed from its near-isoergic local minimum, in the dimer architecture; the former making a three-point hydrogen-bonded contact, O-H···O, O-H···π, and C-H···π, and the latter having two. The global minimum had been observed in molecular beam experiments, though not the near-isoergic local minimum. In both isomers, the propargyl alcohol monomer units were in their gauche conformation. AIM and NBO analyses were also performed to understand the nature of interaction in the dimers. The results of this study may well have significant implications in interpreting the PA spectra in astrochemical environments.

Nanosolvated microtubule-modulating chemotherapeutics: a case-to-case study.

About 10% of the drugs in the preclinical stage are poorly soluble, 40% of the drugs in the pipeline have poor solubility, and even 60% of drugs coming directly from synthesis have aqueous solubility below 0.1 mg/ml. Out of the research around, 40% of lipophilic drug candidates fail to reach the market despite having potential pharmacodynamic activities. Microtubule-modulating chemotherapeutics is an important class of cancer chemotherapy. Most chemotherapeutics that belong to this category are plant-derived active constituents, such as vincristine, vinblastine, colchicine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, and noscapinoids. The pKa of a drug considerably affects its solubility in physiological fluids and consequently bioavailability. It usually ranges from 5 to 12 for microtubule-modulating drugs. Hence, the solubility of these drugs in physiological fluids is considerably affected by a change in pH. However, because of unpredictable parameters involved in poor solubility and the low oral bioavailability of these chemotherapeutics during the early phases of drug development, they often have an unusual pharmacokinetic profile. This makes the development process of novel chemotherapeutics slow, inefficient, patient-unfriendly, and very costly, emphasizing a need for more rational approaches on the basis of preclinical concepts. Nanosolvation is a process of increasing the polarity of a hydrophobic molecule either by solvation or cavitization in a hydrophilic macrocycle. The present review therefore focuses on the techniques applied in nanosolvation of microtubule-modulating chemotherapeutics to enhance solubility and bioavailability. The methodologies described will be highly beneficial for anticancer researchers to follow a trend of rational drug development.

Environmental threat and change detection in saline lakes from 1960 to 2021: background, present, and future.

Saline lakes are internationally known for unique chemical compositions, incorporate assorted foliage, and give a few biological system benefits and have high environmental, financial, and social qualities are additionally assigned as the Ramsar site for giving wetlands to migratory birds. The anthropogenic and regular unsettling influences have influenced the water nature of these lakes by immediate or circuitous tainting of various contaminations in releases from refining, mining, and modern locales. The impacts of such exercises bring about changes to the typical attributes of saline lakes, principal limnological changes, and loss of biodiversity that debase the upsides of saline lakes. Saline water bodies are not expected and are perceived as significant inland sea-going environments. To review the present circumstance, there is a need to bring issues to light of the idea of dangers and their effects on the environment. The article remembers the situation with water contamination for some saline lakes and its unfavorable impact on biodiversity. The audit plans to cause notice the broad harm of saline lakes that have now gone through because of contamination from last years.

Nanovaccines: A game changing approach in the fight against infectious diseases.

The field of nanotechnology has revolutionised global attempts to prevent, treat, and eradicate infectious diseases in the foreseen future. Nanovaccines have proven to be a valuable pawn in this novel technology. Nanovaccines are made up of nanoparticles that are associated with or prepared with components that can stimulate the host's immune system. In addition to their delivery capabilities, the nanocarriers have been demonstrated to possess intrinsic adjuvant properties, working as immune cell stimulators. Thus, nanovaccines have the potential to promote rapid as well as long-lasting humoral and cellular immunity. The nanovaccines have several possible benefits, including site-specific antigen delivery, increased antigen bioavailability, and a diminished adverse effect profile. To avail these benefits, several nanoparticle-based vaccines are being developed, including virus-like particles, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, nanogels, lipid nanoparticles, emulsion vaccines, exomes, and inorganic nanoparticles. Inspired by their distinctive properties, researchers are working on the development of nanovaccines for a variety of applications, such as cancer immunotherapy and infectious diseases. Although a few challenges still need to be overcome, such as modulation of the nanoparticle pharmacokinetics to avoid rapid elimination from the bloodstream by the reticuloendothelial system, The future prospects of this technology are also assuring, with multiple options such as personalised vaccines, needle-free formulations, and combination nanovaccines with several promising candidates.

Quality of Life in Oral Cancer Patients Following Surgical Excision and Flap Reconstruction.

Background: Incidence of oral cancer have been increased aggressively in recent years, and many advanced surgical techniques have developed to facilitate the treatment of disease while preserving the patient's quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: The present study aims toward the evaluation of patient's satisfaction toward the current treatment procedure for oral cancer by assessing the QoL preoperatively and postoperatively. In the study period of four years, we had operated 150 patients with oral cancer (Stage III and IVa) by surgical excision and flap reconstruction, and QoL was assessed using the WHO-QoL BREF questionnaire. Results: We found significant improvement after surgery in various aspects of QoL including the physical health, social health, psychological health and environmental health. Conclusions: The present study is evidence of patient satisfaction toward the current treatment protocols  of oral cancer. However, advanced surgical techniques that can enhance the rate of functional rehabilitation can have paramount importance in improving the patient's QoL.

Green-Lighting the Sub-Band Gap Excitation in Two-Dimensional Zinc Oxide.

Solar spectrum and sensitivity of human eyes peak at green wavelength range of visible light, and the materials that can respond to a larger part of the visible spectrum are highly sought after. Two-dimensional graphene-like zinc oxide (gZnO) is a wide band gap semiconductor, but photogeneration of electron-hole pairs in it at visible wavelengths has not been achieved so far. Here, the sub-band gap excitation in 2D zinc oxide layers covered with gold nanoparticles is reported. The sub-band gap excitation and corresponding emission are correlated with oxygen interstitials introduced by AuNP deposition in the gZnO lattice. Attachment of AuNPs on gZnO also leads to increased electron availability at oxygen sites of the gZnO lattice, which translates into greater electron availability for sub-band gap excitation. The plasmonically enhanced trap level to conduction band transition constitutes sub-band gap excitation and manifests itself in local surface potential measurements carried out using a Kelvin probe force microscope.

Role of Ce concentration on the structural and magnetic properties of functional magnetic oxide particles.

Functional magnetic oxide particles offer exceptional GHz frequency capabilities, which can significantly enhance the utility of communication and signal processing devices. In the present work, we have investigated the structural and magnetic properties of rational multifunctional oxide Y2.9-x Ce x Bi0.1Fe5O12 particles - a full series with x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 via a conventional solid-state route. The X-ray diffraction pattern validated the Ia3̄d cubic garnet phase in all samples. From Rietveld refinement, it is observed that the ceric oxide (CeO2) impurity increases with an increase of Ce concentration, evincing a partial substitution of cerium (Ce) element into the garnet structure. The magnetic oxide particles with Ce concentration x = 0.4 showed a better crystallite size, dodecahedral site occupancy and solubility of cerium in the garnet phase. The morphological visualization of random shaped grains in the micrometer range was performed using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The static magnetic properties showed that the saturation magnetization (M s) decreases up to 43% and coercivity increases up to 59% with the increase of Ce concentration. The dynamic investigation on these oxide particles exhibits various intriguing and novel properties. Various intrinsic material parameters such as saturation magnetization (M s), gyromagnetic ratio (γ), Gilbert damping constant (α) and extrinsic contribution (ΔH o) to linewidth were determined from the fitting of resonance field (H r) and field linewidth (ΔH r) data. We ascertained that the damping constant increases with the increase of Ce concentration, which can be explained in terms of two magnon scattering and local defects caused by CeO2 inhomogeneity. The proposed doped garnets can be a potential candidate for high frequency microwave applications and spin-transfer-torque devices.

Guinness world record attempt as a method to pivot the role of Yoga in Diabetes management.

BACKGROUND: Attempts for Guinness world record have continued worldwide but these attempts were rarely aimed to promote public health. Diabetes is one of the rapidly growing lifestyle disorders in India which requires awareness reinforcements among the local population. In recent studies, Yoga has proved to be useful in lifestyle modification and Diabetes management. However, most individuals from rural and urban localities in the country are unaware of this fact. PURPOSE: The purpose was to organizing a nationwide attempt under the Niyantrit Madhumeh Bharat (NMB) programme to break the world record to be the largest Diabetes lesson, to spread awareness among general population. METHODS: Present article represents the perspective of the Chandigarh chapter of NMB programme and its experience in Guinness world record attempt. Diabetes awareness lesson was organized in the city as per the standards defined by the Guinness Book and outcomes of the entire campaign were assessed at the end of the campaign. RESULT: Total 498 individuals participated in the campaign. Among them, 268 participants were questioned at the end of the campaign about the role of Yoga in Diabetes. 247 participants (92%) were agreed that Diabetes can be modified by Yoga and 9 participants (3%) disagreed. The remaining 12 participants (5%) did not give any response. CONCLUSION: We noticed that most of the participants became aware of the role of Yoga in Diabetes.

Creating a role model for "Academicians" Social Responsibility (ASR) synergizing with Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan: A campus hygiene initiative by PGIMER, Chandigarh.

BACKGROUND: The state of disarray from unhygienic conditions and excessive litter throughout urban highways, alleyways, and byways across rural and urban localities of India is abysmal. Such unsanitary conditions impinge upon the future health and welfare of its citizens, tourists and economic development. PURPOSE: The NRL volunteered PGIMER's campus hygiene initiative" is a pioneering effort spearheaded in compliance with Indian Prime Minister's call that citizens of India work together to establish a cleaner and healthier environment. METHODS: A group of 15 highly motivated students in the Neuroscience Division of the PGIMER, worked together vigorously 2 hours a week to affect a cleaner urban environment in the city. RESULT: The results were national Kayakalp and Skoch award to PGIMER as the cleanest hospital in the country, the vendors or patients no longer litter around the campus, the pot holes have been converted into greener patches, signs board adorn the campus. CONCLUSION: To inspire citizens through faculty- student led sanitation programs.

Steroidogenesis and VEGF Production Doesn't Alter in Leydig Cells within the Homeostatic Range of Testicular Temperature.

CONTEXT: Physiologically defined homeostatic temperature range for human testis falls within 32°C-37°C and any deviation outside that range can result in impaired steroidogenesis. However, whether temperature deviation within the homeostatic range can affect the steroidogenesis, is still a question of the investigation. AIM: In the present study, we investigated the production of progesterone, testosterone, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) within the homeostatic temperature range of testis, i.e., 32°C-37°C. SETTING AND DESIGN: We used mouse Leydig tumor cells-1 (MLTC-1) cell line as a model in the present study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Progesterone and testosterone production by MLTC-1 cells was measured by radioimmunoassay and VEGF production was measured using ELISA. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software version 7.04. Student's t-test and ANOVA were used to calculate the P value. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study indicate that there is no significant difference in production of progesterone, testosterone, and VEGF within the homeostatic range of the testicular temperature. Thus, we concluded that testicular cells are able to regulate the steroidogenesis and VEGF production under the homeostatic range of the testicular temperature.

ChatGPT for Veterinary Anatomy Education: An Overview of the Prospects and Drawbacks / ChatGPT para la Educación en Anatomía Veterinaria: Una Descripción General de las Perspectivas y los Inconvenientes

SUMMARY: The integration of artificial intelligence in veterinary medical education has the potential to revolutionize the way students learn veterinary anatomy. ChatGPT, launched by OpenAI in November 2022, has been the fastest-growing artificial intelligence (AI) application as a learning tool in the past few months. ChatGPT is a virtual assistant that provides students with detailed and relevant anatomical knowledge based on internet sources. Apart from the advantages of ChatGPT in veterinary anatomy education, the challenges and limitations must also be considered, as highlighted in this letter. Further research and evaluation are necessary to ensure the optimal integration of the ChatGPT tool into veterinary anatomy education. ChatGPT can provide students with valuable insights and educational support but cannot replace hands-on experiences; dissection-based laboratory sessions remain essential for developing practical skills and spatial understanding in veterinary anatomy education.

La integración de la inteligencia artificial en la educación médica veterinaria tiene el potencial de revolucionar la forma en que los estudiantes aprenden anatomía veterinaria. ChatGPT, lanzado por OpenAI en noviembre de 2022, ha sido la aplicación de inteligencia artificial (IA) de más rápido crecimiento como herramienta de aprendizaje en los últimos meses. ChatGPT es un asistente virtual que brinda a los estudiantes conocimientos anatómicos detallados y relevantes basados en fuentes de Internet. Además de las ventajas de ChatGPT en la educación en anatomía veterinaria, también se deben considerar los desafíos y las limitaciones, como se destaca en esta carta. Se necesitan más investigaciones y evaluaciones para garantizar la integración óptima de la herramienta ChatGPT en la educación en anatomía veterinaria. ChatGPT puede proporcionar a los estudiantes información valiosa y apoyo educativo, pero no puede reemplazar las experiencias prácticas. Las sesiones de laboratorio basadas en disecciones siguen siendo esenciales para desarrollar habilidades prácticas y comprensión espacial en la educación de la anatomía veterinaria.

Discovery of a Novel Stem Rust Resistance Allele in Durum Wheat that Exhibits Differential Reactions to Ug99 Isolates.

Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. & E. Henn, can incur yield losses in susceptible cultivars of durum wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (Desf.) Husnot. Although several durum cultivars possess the stem rust resistance gene Sr13, additional genes in durum wheat effective against emerging virulent races have not been described. Durum line 8155-B1 confers resistance against the P. graminis f. sp. tritici race TTKST, the variant race of the Ug99 race group with additional virulence to wheat stem rust resistance gene Sr24 However, 8155-B1 does not confer resistance to the first-described race in the Ug99 race group: TTKSK. We mapped a single gene conferring resistance in 8155-B1 against race TTKST, Sr8155B1, to chromosome arm 6AS by utilizing Rusty/8155-B1 and Rusty*2/8155-B1 populations and the 90K Infinium iSelect Custom bead chip supplemented by KASP assays. One marker, KASP_6AS_IWB10558, cosegregated with Sr8155B1 in both populations and correctly predicted Sr8155B1 presence or absence in 11 durum cultivars tested. We confirmed the presence of Sr8155B1 in cultivar Mountrail by mapping in the population Choteau/Mountrail. The marker developed in this study could be used to predict the presence of resistance to race TTKST in uncharacterized durum breeding lines, and also to combine Sr8155B1 with resistance genes effective to Ug99 such as Sr13 The map location of Sr8155B1 cannot rule out the possibility that this gene is an allele at the Sr8 locus. However, race specificity indicates that Sr8155B1 is different from the known alleles Sr8a and Sr8b.

Successful Obstetric Outcome in Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus and Moderate Pulmonary Hypertension- Rare Case.

Situs inversus is a rare congenital anomaly, which is characterized by right sided heart (Dextrocardia) and inversely rotated visceral organs of abdomen. In present case, the patient reported with G3p2l2, 34 weeks of gestational period along with breathlessness accompanied and labour pains. On further investigation, she was diagnosed as dextrocardia with situs inversus and moderate pulmonary artery hypertension along with severe iron deficiency anaemia. Patient had normal vaginal delivery with intra-partum and post-partum period. Normally, any patient having situs inversus has a normal life expectancy and is not associated with any significant morbidity or mortality.

The Wheat Snn7 Gene Confers Susceptibility on Recognition of the Parastagonospora nodorum Necrotrophic Effector SnTox7.

Parastagonospora (syn. ana, Stagonospora; teleo, Phaeosphaeria) nodorum (Berk.) Quaedvleig, Verkley & Crous is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen that causes the disease Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum). The fungus produces necrotrophic effectors (NEs) that cause cell death when recognized by corresponding host genes, which ultimately leads to disease. To date, eight host gene-NE interactions have been described in the wheat-P. nodorum system. Here, we report the identification and partial characterization of a ninth interaction involving a P. nodorum-produced NE designated SnTox7 and a wheat gene designated Snn7. SnTox7 is a small protein with an estimated size less than 30 kDa and largely resistant to heat and chemical treatment. The Snn7 gene governs sensitivity to SnTox7 and was delineated to a 2.7-cM interval on the long arm of wheat chromosome 2D. The Snn7-SnTox7 interaction explained 33% of the variation in disease among a segregating population, indicating that the interaction plays a prominent role in the development of SNB. The Snn7 sensitivity allele was identified in the hexaploid wheat cultivar Timstein, but evaluation of a set of 52 hexaploid lines of diverse origin indicated that few genotypes harbored a functional Snn7 allele, thus indicating that Snn7 is relatively rare. The identification of the Snn7-SnTox7 interaction adds to our knowledge of the wheat-P. nodorum pathosystem, which has become a model for necrotrophic specialist fungal pathogens and their interactions with plants leading to necrotrophic effector-triggered susceptibility.

Bleomycin sulphate loaded nanostructured lipid particles augment oral bioavailability, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells.

In present investigation, bleomycin sulphate loaded nanostructured lipid particles (BLM-NLPs) were constructed to enhance the oral bioavailability by overwhelming the first pass hepatic metabolism. The particles size and nanoencapsulation efficiency of BLM-NLPs were measured to be 17.4±5.4nm and 45.3±3.4%, respectively. Our studies indicated that the drug was molecularly dispersed in the lipid nanocoacervates, with amorphous geometry, without altering the chemical structure, as ascertained by spectral studies. The nanoformulation, BLM-NLPs was analyzed for dissolution testing, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cellular uptake in human cervical cancer cell line, HeLa cells. BLM-NLPs released the drug with first order kinetic in simulated intestinal fluid (pH∼6.8±0.1), characterized by initial burst and followed by slow release. Further, an enhanced cytotoxicity (∼5.6 fold lower IC50), improved intracellular concentration (∼4.38 fold) and greater degree of apoptosis was induced by BLM-NLPs in HeLa cells, as compared to BLM alone. Moreover, BLM-NLPs also showed dose-dependent internalization, as evinced by cellular uptake study. The in vivo study indicated a significantly (P<0.0001) smaller elimination rate constant (KE), volume of distribution (Vd) and clearance rate (CLTotal) for BLM-NLPs, as compared to BLM solution in post-oral administrations. This clearly depicts the retention and stability of tailored nanoformulation in intestinal absorption pathway. In addition, our nanoformulation, BLM-NLPs documented significantly (P<0.0001)∼3.4 fold (66.20±2.57%) higher bioavailability than BLM solution (19.56±0.79%). In conclusion, our in vitro and in vivo results warrant the safety, efficacy and potency of tailored nanoformulation in clinical settings.