A worldwide perspective on large carnivore attacks on humans.

Large carnivores have long fascinated human societies and have profound influences on ecosystems. However, their conservation represents one of the greatest challenges of our time, particularly where attacks on humans occur. Where human recreational and/or livelihood activities overlap with large carnivore ranges, conflicts can become particularly serious. Two different scenarios are responsible for such overlap: In some regions of the world, increasing human populations lead to extended encroachment into large carnivore ranges, which are subject to increasing contraction, fragmentation, and degradation. In other regions, human and large carnivore populations are expanding, thus exacerbating conflicts, especially in those areas where these species were extirpated and are now returning. We thus face the problem of learning how to live with species that can pose serious threats to humans. We collected a total of 5,440 large carnivore (Felidae, Canidae, and Ursidae; 12 species) attacks worldwide between 1950 and 2019. The number of reported attacks increased over time, especially in lower-income countries. Most attacks (68%) resulted in human injuries, whereas 32% were fatal. Although attack scenarios varied greatly within and among species, as well as in different areas of the world, factors triggering large carnivore attacks on humans largely depend on the socioeconomic context, with people being at risk mainly during recreational activities in high-income countries and during livelihood activities in low-income countries. The specific combination of local socioeconomic and ecological factors is thus a risky mix triggering large carnivore attacks on humans, whose circumstances and frequencies cannot only be ascribed to the animal species. This also implies that effective measures to reduce large carnivore attacks must also consider the diverse local ecological and social contexts.

Buoyancy-Driven Micro/-Nanomotors: From Fundamentals to Applications.

The progression of self-powered micro/-nanomotors (MNMs) has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, showing applications in various fields such as nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, microfluidics, environmental science, and energy harvesting. Miniaturized MNMs transduce chemical/biochemical energies into mechanical motion for navigating through complex fluidic environments with directional control via external forces fields such as magnetic, photonic, and electric stimuli. Among various propulsion mechanisms, buoyancy-driven MNMs have received noteworthy recognition due to their simplicity, efficiency, and versatility. Buoyancy force-driven motors harness the principles of density variation-mediated force to overcome fluidic resistance to navigate through complex environments. Restricting the propulsion in one direction helps to control directional movement, making it more efficient in isotropic solutions. The changes in pH, ionic strength, chemical concentration, solute gradients, or the presence of specific molecules can influence the motion of buoyancy-driven MNMs as evidenced by earlier reports. This review aims to provide a fundamental and detailed analysis of the current state-of-the-art in buoyancy-driven MNMs, aiming to inspire further research and innovation in this promising field.

Creation of Multi-Principal Element Alloy NiCoCr Nanostructures via Nanosecond Laser-Induced Dewetting.

The multi-principal element alloy nanoparticles (MPEA NPs), a new class of nanomaterials, present a highly rewarding opportunity to explore new or vastly different functional properties than the traditional mono/bi/multimetallic nanostructures due to their unique characteristics of atomic-level homogeneous mixing of constituent elements in the nanoconfinements. Here, the successful creation of NiCoCr nanoparticles, a well-known MPEA system is reported, using ultrafast nanosecond laser-induced dewetting of alloy thin films. Nanoparticle formation occurs by spontaneously breaking the energetically unstable thin films in a melt state under laser-induced hydrodynamic instability and subsequently accumulating in a droplet shape via surface energy minimization. While NiCoCr alloy shows a stark contrast in physical properties compared to individual metallic constituents, i.e., Ni, Co, and Cr, yet the transient nature of the laser-driven process facilitates a homogeneous distribution of the constituents (Ni, Co, and Cr) in the nanoparticles. Using high-resolution chemical analysis and scanning nanodiffraction, the environmental stability and grain arrangement in the nanoparticles are further investigated. Thermal transport simulations reveal that the ultrashort (≈100 ns) melt-state lifetime of NiCoCr during the dewetting event helps retain the constituent elements in a single-phase solid solution with homogenous distribution and opens the pathway to create the unique MPEA nanoparticles with laser-induced dewetting process.

Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy by Zn(II)-Curcumin Complex: Synthesis, Characterization, DFT Calculation, Antibacterial Activity, and Molecular Docking.

The increase in antibacterial drug resistance is threatening global health conditions. Recently, antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has emerged as an effective antibacterial treatment with high cure gain. In this work, three Zn(II) complexes viz., [Zn(en)(acac)Cl] (1), [Zn(bpy)(acac)Cl] (2), [Zn(en)(cur)Cl] (3), where en=ethylenediamine (1 and 3), bpy=2,2'-bipyridine (2), acac=acetylacetonate (1 and 2), cur=curcumin monoanionic (3) were developed as aPDT agents. Complexes 1-3 were synthesized and fully characterized using NMR, HRMS, FTIR, UV-Vis. and fluorescence spectroscopy. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap (Eg), and adiabatic splittings (ΔS1-T1 and ΔS0-T1 ) obtained from DFT calculation indicated the photosensivity of the complexes. These complexes have not shown any potent antibacterial activity under dark conditions but the antibacterial activity of these complexes was significantly enhanced upon light exposure (MIC value up to 0.025 µg/mL) due to their light-mediated 1 O2 generation abilities. The molecular docking study suggested that complexes 1-3 interact efficiently with DNA gyrase B (PDB ID: 4uro). Importantly, 1-3 did not show any toxicity toward normal HEK-293 cells. Overall, in this work, we have demonstrated the promising potential of Zn(II) complexes as effective antibacterial agents under the influence of visible light.

Photoactivated Anticancer Activity of Cobalt(III) Complexes with Naturally Occurring Flavonoids Chrysin and Silibinin.

Photoactive metal complexes of bioessential transition metal ions with natural chelators are gaining interest as photocytotoxic agents for cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT). We report six new cobalt(III) complexes with a mixed-ligand formulation [Co(B)2(L)](ClO4)2 (Co1-Co6), where B represents a N,N-donor α-diimine ligand, namely, phenanthroline (phen; Co1, Co2), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq; Co3, Co4), and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz; Co5, Co6), and L is the monoanionic form of the naturally occurring flavonoids chrysin (chry; Co1, Co3, Co5) and silibinin (sili; Co2, Co4, Co6). Complexes displayed a d-d absorption band within 500-700 nm and exhibited excellent dark and photostability in solution. Cytotoxicity studies indicated significant activity of Co5 and Co6 against cervical (HeLa) and lung (A549) cancer cells under visible light (400-700 nm) irradiation giving low micromolar IC50 values (2.3-3.4 µM, phototoxicity index~15-30). The complexes demonstrated notably low toxicity against normal HPL1D lung epithelial cells. Flow cytometry assay revealed an apoptotic mode of cell damage triggered by the complexes when irradiated. ROS generation assay indicated the involvement of singlet oxygen species in the cell death mechanism when irradiated with light. Overall, complexes Co5 and Co6 with coordinated dipyridophenazine and flavonoid ligands are potential candidates for cancer PDT applications.

Th2-predominant immune response underlies the pathogenesis of Dengue.

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a rapidly emerging pandemic-prone disease, whose manifestations range from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening complications like Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome. This study investigates and compares the immune response in clinically defined cohorts of Dengue with and without warning signs, with the aim of identifying immunological correlates of clinical disease and potential markers of disease severity. METHODS: Blood samples, collected from study participants fulfilling the WHO definition of Dengue with and without warning signs and healthy volunteers, were analyzed using flow cell-based fluorometric methods for cytokines and chemokines. Gene expression analysis, using RT-PCR, was conducted on T helper cell subset-specific transcription factors and cytokines. Demographic details, virological markers, serotype distribution, and hematological parameters were also investigated in all the subjects. RESULTS: The 35 participants recruited in the study, included 11 healthy volunteers and 12 patients each fulfilling the WHO criteria of Dengue with and without warning signs. While the demographic characteristics and serotype distribution was similar in Dengue with and without warning signs cohorts of the disease, platelet counts and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) levels changed significantly between Dengue with and without warning signs patients. Plasma cytokine analysis showed up-regulation of IL-4, IL-10, IP-10, and MCP-1 in Dengue patients compared to healthy volunteers. Disease severity was associated with elevated levels of IL-10, IP-10, IL-4, MCP-1, and MIP-1α. IL-8 and MIP-1α were significantly up-regulated in Dengue with warning sign compared to Dengue without warning signs cases. Transcription factor analysis indicated increased expression of RORα, FoxP3, and GATA3 in Dengue patients. mRNA expression of TGFß and IL-4 was also elevated in Dengue patients. A positive correlation between mRNA expression of IL-4 and plasma IL-4 was observed. CONCLUSION: The study reveals a Th2-predominant immune response in all Dengue patients, regardless of disease severity, with overexpression of IL-8 and MIP-1α being observed in patients with warning signs.

Predicting the in vivo developmental toxicity of fenarimol from in vitro toxicity data using PBTK modelling-facilitated reverse dosimetry approach.

In vitro methods are widely used in modern toxicological testing; however, the data cannot be directly employed for risk assessment. In vivo toxicity of chemicals can be predicted from in vitro data using physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) modelling-facilitated reverse dosimetry (PBTK-RD). In this study, a minimal-PBTK model was constructed to predict the in-vivo kinetic profile of fenarimol (FNL) in rats and humans. The model was verified by comparing the observed and predicted pharmacokinetics of FNL for rats (calibrator) and further applied to humans. Using the PBTK-RD approach, the reported in vitro developmental toxicity data for FNL was translated to in vivo dose-response data to predict the assay equivalent oral dose in rats and humans. The predicted assay equivalent rat oral dose (36.46 mg/kg) was comparable to the literature reported in vivo BMD10 value (22.8 mg/kg). The model was also employed to derive the chemical-specific adjustment factor (CSAF) for interspecies toxicokinetics variability of FNL. Further, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to predict the population variability in the plasma concentration of FNL and to derive CSAF for intersubject human kinetic differences. The comparison of CSAF values for interspecies and intersubject toxicokinetic variability with their respective default values revealed that the applied uncertainty factors were adequately protective.

Ascorbic acid: a metabolite switch for designing stress-smart crops.

Plant growth and productivity are continually being challenged by a diverse array of abiotic stresses, including: water scarcity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal exposure, and soil salinity. A common theme in these stresses is the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which disrupts cellular redox homeostasis causing oxidative damage. Ascorbic acid (AsA), commonly known as vitamin C, is an essential nutrient for humans, and also plays a crucial role in the plant kingdom. AsA is synthesized by plants through the d-mannose/l-galactose pathway that functions as a powerful antioxidant and protects plant cells from ROS generated during photosynthesis. AsA controls several key physiological processes, including: photosynthesis, respiration, and carbohydrate metabolism, either by acting as a co-factor for metabolic enzymes or by regulating cellular redox-status. AsA's multi-functionality uniquely positions it to integrate and recalibrate redox-responsive transcriptional/metabolic circuits and essential biological processes, in accordance to developmental and environmental cues. In recognition of this, we present a systematic overview of current evidence highlighting AsA as a central metabolite-switch in plants. Further, a comprehensive overview of genetic manipulation of genes involved in AsA metabolism has been provided along with the bottlenecks and future research directions, that could serve as a framework for designing "stress-smart" crops in future.

Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy Against Melanoma through Exosomal Delivery of Hesperidin.

Melanoma, characterized as the most aggressive and metastatic form of skin cancer, currently has limited treatment options, predominantly chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, the drawbacks associated with parenterally administered chemotherapy underscore the urgent need for alternative compounds to combat melanoma effectively. Hesperidin (HES), a flavonoid present in various citrus fruits, exhibits promising anticancer activity. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of HES is hindered by challenges such as poor water solubility, a short half-life, and low oral bioavailability. In response to these limitations, we introduced a novel approach by formulating HES-loaded exosomes (Exo-HES). Isolation of exosomes was achieved through the ultracentrifugation method, and HES was efficiently loaded using the sonication method. The resulting formulations displayed a desirable particle size (∼106 nm) and exhibited a spherical morphology, as confirmed by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. In vitro studies conducted on B16F10 cell lines demonstrated higher cytotoxicity of Exo-HES compared to free HES, supported by enhanced cellular uptake validated through coumarin-6-loaded exosomes. This superior cytotoxicity was further evidenced by DNA fragmentation, increased generation of free radicals (ROS), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and effective inhibition of colony formation. The antimetastatic properties of Exo-HES were confirmed through wound healing and transwell migration assays. Oral pharmacokinetics studies revealed a remarkable increase of approximately 2.5 times in oral bioavailability and half-life of HES when loaded into exosomes. Subsequent in vivo experiments utilizing a B16F10-induced melanoma model in Swiss mice established that Exo-HES exhibited superior anticancer activity compared to HES after oral administration. Importantly, no biochemical, hematological, or histological toxicities were observed in tumor-bearing mice treated with Exo-HES. These findings suggest that exosomes loaded with HES represent a promising nanocarrier strategy to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of hesperidin in melanoma treatment.

Characterizing the Microparticles Deposition Structure and its Photonic Nature in Surfactant-Laden Evaporating Colloidal Sessile Droplets.

This work presents a simple method to create photonic microstructures via the natural evaporation of surfactant-laden colloidal sessile droplets on a flat substrate. In the absence of dissolved surfactant, the evaporating colloidal droplet forms a well-known coffee ring deposition. In contrast, the presence of surfactant leads to the formation of multiple ring structures due to the repetitive pinning-depinning behavior of the droplet contact line (CL). It is found that the multiring structure shows vibrant iridescent structural colors while the coffee ring lacks a photonic nature. This difference in the structural color for the presence and absence of the surfactant is found to be dependent on the arrangement of the particles in the deposition structure. The particle arrangement in the multirings is monolayered and well-ordered. The ordering of the particles is strongly influenced by the particle dynamics, contact angle (CA), and CL dynamics of the evaporating colloidal solution droplet. Furthermore, the iridescent nature of the multiring deposition is demonstrated and explained. The dependence of the multiring deposition structure on the concentration of the dissolved surfactant and the suspended particles is also studied. The findings demonstrate that an intermediate surfactant concentration is desirable for the formation of a multiring structure. Further, the pinning-depinning CL dynamics that causes the formation of the multiring deposition structure is discussed. Finally, we demonstrate the applicability of the approach to smaller droplet volumes.

Visible and Red Light-Triggered Anticancer Profile of a Ferrocene-Re(I)-Tricarbonyl Conjugate: Experimental and Theoretical Studies.

We have red-shifted the light absorbance property of a Re(I)-tricarbonyl complex via distant conjugation of a ferrocene moiety and developed a novel complex ReFctp, [Re(Fctp)(CO)3Cl], where Fctp = 4'-ferrocenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. ReFctp showed green to red light absorption ability and blue emission, indicating its potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application. The conjugation of ferrocene introduced ferrocene-based transitions, which lie at a higher wavelength within the PDT therapeutic window. The time-dependent density functional theory and excited state calculations revealed an efficient intersystem crossing for ReFctp, which is helpful for PDT. ReFctp elicited both PDT type I and type II pathways for reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and facilitated NADH (1,4-dihydro-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) oxidation upon exposure to visible light. Importantly, ReFctp showed effective penetration through the layers of clinically relevant 3D multicellular tumor spheroids and localized primarily in mitochondria (Pearson's correlation coefficient, PCC = 0.65) of A549 cancer cells. ReFctp produced more than 20 times higher phototoxicity (IC50 ∼1.5 µM) by inducing ROS generation and altering mitochondrial membrane potential in A549 cancer cells than the nonferrocene analogue Retp, [Re(CO)3(tp)Cl], where tp = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine. ReFctp induced apoptotic mode of cell death with a notable photocytotoxicity index (PI, PI = IC50dark/IC50light) and selectivity index (SI, SI = normal cell's IC50dark/cancer cell's IC50light) in the range of 25-33.

Green Light-Triggered Photocatalytic Anticancer Activity of Terpyridine-Based Ru(II) Photocatalysts.

The relentless increase in drug resistance of platinum-based chemotherapeutics has opened the scope for other new cancer therapies with novel mechanisms of action (MoA). Recently, photocatalytic cancer therapy, an intrusive catalytic treatment, is receiving significant interest due to its multitargeting cell death mechanism with high selectivity. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of three photoresponsive Ru(II) complexes, viz., [Ru(ph-tpy)(bpy)Cl]PF6 (Ru1), [Ru(ph-tpy)(phen)Cl]PF6 (Ru2), and [Ru(ph-tpy)(aip)Cl]PF6 (Ru3), where, ph-tpy = 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and aip = 2-(anthracen-9-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline, showing photocatalytic anticancer activity. The X-ray crystal structures of Ru1 and Ru2 revealed a distorted octahedral geometry with a RuN5Cl core. The complexes showed an intense absorption band in the 440-600 nm range corresponding to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) that was further used to achieve the green light-induced photocatalytic anticancer effect. The mitochondria-targeting photostable complex Ru3 induced phototoxicity with IC50 and PI values of ca. 0.7 µM and 88, respectively, under white light irradiation and ca. 1.9 µM and 35 under green light irradiation against HeLa cells. The complexes (Ru1-Ru3) showed negligible dark cytotoxicity toward normal splenocytes (IC50s > 50 µM). The cell death mechanistic study revealed that Ru3 induced ROS-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells via mitochondrial depolarization under white or green light exposure. Interestingly, Ru3 also acted as a highly potent catalyst for NADH photo-oxidation under green light. This NADH photo-oxidation process also contributed to the photocytotoxicity of the complexes. Overall, Ru3 presented multitargeting synergistic type I and type II photochemotherapeutic effects.

Heavy metals and trace minerals in commonly available shark species from North East Arabian Sea: A human health risk perspective.

Shark is a seafood commodity that is a good source of minerals and accumulates heavy metals and trace elements through biomagnification, which can pose health risk if taken above the permissible limit. A study was conducted on commonly landed eleven shark species (Scoliodon laticaudus, Rhizopriodon oligolinx, Sphyrna lewini (CR), Carcharhinus macloti, Carcharinus limbatus, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides, Carcharhinus sorrah, Carcharinus falciformes(VU), Glaucostegus granulatus, Chiloscyllium arabicum, Loxodon macrorhinus) and analyzed for their heavy metal content, Hazard Index, Total Hazard Quotient, Metal Pollution Index, and also calculated the health risk associated with the consumption. Most of the heavy metals and trace minerals were found to be within the acceptable limit. The Targeted Hazard Quotient (THQ) and the Hazard Index (HI) of all the species except two were less than 1 (HI ≤ 1.0). The Metal Pollution Index (MPI) is showing either no impact or very low contamination. An overall study on hazard identification and health risk characterization in terms of heavy metals shows contamination of some heavy metals in sharks, but there is no potential human health risk associated with consumption.

Growth kinetics and morphology characterization of binary polymeric fluid under random photo-illumination.

We present a comprehensive study using dissipative particle dynamics simulations to investigate phase separation kinetics (PSK) in three-dimensional (3d) polymeric fluids under random photo-illumination. We consider two scenarios: polymer blends with active radicals at one end of each immiscible chain and block copolymer (BCP) melts with photosensitive bonds linking incompatible blocks. The phase separation (PS) is induced by temperature quench of the initial homogeneously mixed system. Simultaneously, the system experiences random photo-illumination, simulated by two concurrent random events: (a) the recombination of active radicals in polymer blends and (b) the breaking of photosensitive bonds in BCP chains. Variations in the bond-breaking probability, Pb, mimic the change in light intensity. The length scale follows power law growth, R(t) ∼ tϕ, where ϕ represents the growth exponent. Increasing Pb results in a gradual transition in growth kinetics from micro-PS to macro-PS, accompanied by corresponding transition probabilities for both systems. Micro-PSK dominates the evolution process at low Pb values. The scaling functions exhibit data overlap for most scaled distances, indicating the statistical self-similarity of evolving patterns. Our study enhances the understanding of PSK in polymeric fluids, revealing the impact of photosensitive bonds and active radicals. Furthermore, it suggests the potential for designing novel polymeric materials with desired properties.

Comparison of depth of electrode insertion between cochleostomy and round window approach: a cadaveric study.

INTRODUCTION: Round window approach and cochleostomy approach can have different depth of electrode insertion during cochlear implantation which itself can alter the audiological outcomes in cochlear implant. OBJECTIVE: The current study was conducted to determine the difference in the depth of electrode insertion via cochleostomy and round widow approach when done serially in same temporal bone. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology in conjunction with Department of Anatomy and Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology over a period of 1 year. 12-electrode array insertion was performed via either approach (cochleostomy or round window) in the cadaveric temporal bone. HRCT temporal bone scan of the implanted temporal bone was done and depth of insertion and various cochlear parameters were calculated. RESULT: A total of 12 temporal bones were included for imaging analysis. The mean cochlear duct length was 32.892 mm; the alpha and beta angles were 58.175° and 8.350°, respectively. The mean angular depth of electrode insertion via round window was found to be 325.2° (SD = 150.5842) and via cochleostomy 327.350 (SD = 112.79) degree and the mean linear depth of electrode insertion via round window was found to be 18.80 (SD = 4.4962) mm via cochleostomy 19.650 (SD = 3.8087) mm, which was calculated using OTOPLAN 1.5.0 software. There was a statically significant difference in linear depth of insertion between round window and cochleostomy. Although the angular depth of insertion was higher in CS group, there was no statistically significant difference with round window type of insertion. CONCLUSION: The depth of electrode insertion is one of the parameters that influences the hearing outcome. Linear depth of electrode insertion was found to be more in case of cochleostomy compared to round window approach (p = 0.075) and difference in case of angular depth of electrode insertion existed but not significant (p = 0.529).

Circulating serotypes and genotypes of dengue virus in North India: An observational study.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: This study reports observation on circulating serotypes and genotypes of Dengue Virus in North India. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from suspected cases of dengue referred to the virus diagnostic laboratory during 2014 to 2022. All samples were tested for anti-dengue virus IgM antibodies and NS1Ag by ELISA. NS1Ag positive samples were processed for serotyping and genotyping. RESULTS: Total 41,476 dengue suspected cases were referred to the laboratory of which 12,292 (29.6%) tested positive. Anti-Dengue Virus IgM antibodies, NS1Ag, both IgM and NS1Ag, were positive in 7007 (57.4%); 3200 (26.0%) and 2085 (16.0%) cases respectively. Total 762 strains were serotyped during 9-year period. DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4 serotypes were found in 79 (10.37%), 506 (66.40%), 151 (19.82%) and 26 (3.41%) cases respectively. DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 were in circulation throughout. Total 105 strains were genotyped. Genotype IV of DENV-1 serotype was circulating till 2014 which was later replaced by genotype V. A distinct seasonality with increase in number of cases in post-monsoon period was seen. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-3 were found to be in circulation in North India. Predominant serotype/genotype changed at times, but not at regular intervals.

Association between Usage of Prophylactic AYUSH Medicines and Disease Severity in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Prior vaccination is often studied for its impact on individuals' post-infection prognosis. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) medicines, advised by the Government of India as prophylaxis during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, were consumed by the masses in 2020. A study was therefore undertaken to observe any association between the prior usage of AYUSH prophylactic medicines and post-infection severity as reported by recovered COVID-19 individuals. METHODS: This was a retrospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in 21 cities of India from 5th August to 30th November 2020. Data from recovered COVID-19 patients, of either sex or any age, captured information about AYUSH prophylactic medicines intake prior to infection, disease severity, symptomatology, duration of complaints, etc. The study participants were grouped into AYUSH intake and non-intake. Primary composite outcome was the disease clinical course. Secondary clinical outcomes were the rate of and time to clinical recovery. RESULTS: Data of 5,023 persons were analysed. Ayurveda or homeopathic prophylactic medicines were consumed by more than half of the study participants: that is, 56.85% (n = 1,556) and 56.81% (n = 1,555) respectively. The overall adjusted protective effect (PE) of AYUSH prophylactic intake against moderate/severe forms of COVID-19 disease was 56.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.7 to 63.50; p < 0.001). Adjusted PE for homeopathy and Siddha was 52.9% (95% CI, 42.30 to 61.50; p < 0.001) and 59.8% (95% CI, 37.80 to 74.10; p < 0.001), respectively. A statistically significant association was found between AYUSH prophylactic medicine intake and clinical recovery more frequently by the 3rd day of illness (χ2 = 9.01; p = 0.002). Time to resolution of symptoms in the AYUSH intake group was on average 0.3 days earlier than in the non-intake group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: AYUSH prophylactics were associated with statistically significant levels of protection against COVID-19 disease severity. Amongst these, previous intake of homeopathy or Siddha medicines was associated with some protection against moderate/severe illness and with a somewhat quicker clinical recovery. Prospective studies with experimental research design are needed to validate the findings of this study. STUDY REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI/2020/08/027000).

Interactions between work-related factors, perceived fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders among handicraft artisans: structural equation model analysis.

The cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between work-related factors, perceived work fatigue (PWF) and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among handicraft artisans. 364 artisans participated in a questionnaire survey, and a structural equation model (SEM) was developed to explore the direct and indirect relationships between these factors using partial least squares analysis. The SEM explained 98.2% of the variance in MSDs and revealed that exposure to biomechanical factors had a direct impact on PWF and MSDs, with PWF mediating the effect of biomechanical factors on MSDs. Additionally, job demand was found to be positively associated with MSDs, while job control and social support reduced the risk of MSDs. The findings underscore the importance of strategic initiatives to mitigate the risk of developing MSDs among artisans. The study also highlights the potential of SEM as a novel framework for understanding the complex pathogenesis of MSDs in occupational health research.Practitioner summary: The study sought to comprehensively examine the intricate relationships among work-related factors, PWF, and MSDs. To achieve this, an SEM approach was employed to capture both direct and indirect relationships between these factors, employing partial least squares analysis. Findings revealed SEM as an innovative framework for understanding the intricate development of MSDs.

A Draft Transcriptome Announcement of Anguina tritici.

Anguina tritici, the wheat seed gall nematode, causes the 'ear-cockle' or seed gall disease of wheat (Triticum sp.), leading to an extensive decline of yield (30-70%) in underdeveloped wheat cultivating countries of the world. The nematode is known to survive in anhydrobiotic conditions for up to 32 years. Here, we present the first transcriptome assembly of A. tritici, which will be a valuable resource for understanding the genes responsible for nematode survival and above-ground plant parasitism. The final 133.2 Mb assembly consists of 105606 open reading frames (including isoforms) with the following BUSCO scores against Nematoda database: 80.3% complete (16.4% single copy and 63.9% duplicated), 2.1% fragmented, and 17.6% missing.

Antibiotic Resistant Biofilms and the Quest for Novel Therapeutic Strategies.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major leading causes of death around the globe. Present treatment pipelines are insufficient to overcome the critical situation. Prominent biofilm forming human pathogens which can thrive in infection sites using adaptive features results in biofilm persistence. Considering the present scenario, prudential investigations into the mechanisms of resistance target them to improve antibiotic efficacy is required. Regarding this, developing newer and effective treatment options using edge cutting technologies in medical research is the need of time. The reasons underlying the adaptive features in biofilm persistence have been centred on different metabolic and physiological aspects. The high tolerance levels against antibiotics direct researchers to search for novel bioactive molecules that can help combat the problem. In view of this, the present review outlines the focuses on an opportunity of different strategies which are in testing pipeline can thus be developed into products ready to use.