Recent nanobiotechnological advancements in lignocellulosic biomass valorization: A review.

Increase in human population, rapid industrialization, excessive utilization of fossil fuel utilization and anthropogenic activities have caused serious threats to the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), global warming, air pollution, acid rain, etc. This destruction in sustainability can be averted by a paradigm shift in the fuel production from fossil resources to bioenergy. Amongst different forms of bioenergy, lignocellulosic biomass can be utilized as an attractive substrate for the production of several high-value products owing to its renewability, easy availability, and abundance. Additionally, utilization of these waste biomasses reduces the environmental hazards associated with its disposal. Impedance of lignin and crystalline nature of cellulose pose major bottlenecks in biomass based energy. Though, several physio-chemicals processes are recommended as mitigation route but none of them seems to be promising for large scale application. In recent years, a right fusion of biological treatment combined with nanotechnology for efficient pretreatment and subsequent hydrolysis of biomass by ubiquitous enzymes seems to be promising alternative. In addition, to overcome these difficulties, nanotechnology-based methods have been recently adopted in catalytic valorization of lignocellulosic biomass. The present review has critically discussed the application of nano-biotechnology in lignocellulosic biomass valorization in terms of pretreatment and hydrolysis. A detailed discussion on the application of various nanoparticles in these processes, enzyme immobilization and end-production utilization is presented in this review. Finally, the review emphasizes the major challenges of this process along with different routes and recommendations to address the issues.

Metal-Free One-Pot Four-Component Cascade Annulation in Ionic Liquids at Room Temperature: Convergent Access to Thiazoloquinolinone Derivatives.

An efficient, eco-friendly, and highly convergent one-pot route to privileged thiazoloquinolinone derivatives has been developed via four-component cascade coupling (4CCC) of α-enolic dithioesters, cysteamine/2-aminothiophenols, aldehydes, and cyclic 1,3-diketones in recyclable [EMIM][EtSO4] ionic liquid at room temperature for the first time. The reaction proceeds via a N,S-acetal formation, Knoevenagel condensation, aza-ene reaction, imine-enamine/keto-enol tautomerization, and intramolecular N-cyclization cascade sequence. The merit of the protocol is highlighted by its efficacy of forming consecutive five new bonds (two C-C, two C-N, and one C-S) and two rings with all reactants being efficiently utilized. The operational simplicity, sustainability, mild conditions, excellent yields, tolerance of wide functional groups, and avoidance of expensive/toxic reagents are additional attributes to this domino four-component protocol. Notably, the products were easily separated from the ionic liquid, and thus the ionic liquid obtained was reused four times without considerable loss of any activity.

Primary Liver Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma following Complete Response for Hepatitis C Infection after Direct Antiviral Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C infection is highly prevalent worldwide and has a well-known association with B-cell lymphoid malignancies. Antiviral therapy has successfully decreased the rate of liver cirrhosis and improved the outcome in patients with hepatitis C-associated lymphomas. However, although there are a few case reports of aggressive lymphomas after successful hepatitis C therapy, the mechanism behind this association remains unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 55-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C infection and liver cirrhosis who received antiviral therapy with sofosbuvir and ribavirin and achieved a sustained complete virological response. One year after successful therapy, there was an unexplained decline of his liver function and atypical liver nodularity, which led to the diagnosis of a primary liver diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. DISCUSSION: We review the evidence supporting possible mechanisms of lymphomagenesis after successful hepatitis C therapy, particularly involving late "second-hit" mutations after viral-induced DNA damage and antiviral therapy facilitating the emergence of latent malignant B-cell clones by decreasing local inflammation and immune surveillance. More reports may help elucidate any association between hepatitis C antiviral therapy and late lymphoid malignancies.

Assessment of Diabetes Risk in an Adult Population Using Indian Diabetes Risk Score in an Urban Resettlement Colony of Delhi.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the non-communicable diseases which has become a major global health problem whose prevalence is increasing worldwide and is expected to reach 4.4% by 2030. The risk of diabetes escalates with increase in the number of risk factors and their duration as well. The Indian Diabetic Risk Score (IDRS) is a simple, low cost, feasible tool for mass screening programme at the community level. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk score of diabetes among the study subjects using IDRS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted on adults >30 years (n=580) on both gender in an urban resettlement colony of Delhi during December 2013 to March 2015. A Semi-structured interview schedule consisting of Socio-demographic characteristics, risk factor profile and Indian Diabetes Risk Score was used. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS. RESULTS: Out of 580 subjects, 31 (5.3%) study subjects were not at risk of having diabetes, rest 94.5% were at moderate or high risk of diabetes.A statistically significant association of diabetes risk with marital status(p=0.0001), education(0.005),body mass index(0.049) and systolic blood pressure was seen.(p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: More than 90% of the study subjects were at risk of having diabetes, hence screening is of utmost importance so that interventions can be initiated at an early stage.

Enzymatic polishing of cereal grains for improved nutrient retainment.

Consumer acceptance of food products is largely driven by the dietary and functional quality of their ingredients. Though whole cereal grains are well known for bioactive components, scientists are facing dire need for better technologies to prevent the nutritional losses incurred through the conventional food processing technologies. Application of enzyme for depolymerisation of carbohydrates present in bran layer of grain is becoming an efficient method for phenolic mobilization and dietary fiber solubilisation. The present article emphasizes deep insights about the application of enzyme as an alternative technology for cereal grain processing to improve the product quality while forbidding the nutritional losses in an eco-friendly manner.

The effect of surgeon and hospital volume on shoulder arthroplasty perioperative quality metrics.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant increase in both the incidence of shoulder arthroplasty and the number of surgeons performing these procedures. Literature regarding the relationship between surgeon or hospital volume and the performance of modern shoulder arthroplasty is limited. This study examines the effect of surgeon or hospital shoulder arthroplasty volume on perioperative metrics related to shoulder hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Blood loss, length of stay, and operative time were the main endpoints analyzed. METHODS: Prospective data were analyzed from a multicenter shoulder arthroplasty registry; 1176 primary shoulder arthroplasty cases were analyzed. Correlation and analysis of covariance were used to examine the association between surgeon and hospital volume and perioperative metrics adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. RESULTS: Surgeon volume is inversely correlated with length of stay for hemiarthroplasty and total shoulder arthroplasty and with blood loss and operative time for all 3 procedures. Hospital volume is inversely correlated with length of stay for hemiarthroplasty, with blood loss for total and reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and with operative time for all 3 procedures. High-volume surgeons performed shoulder arthroplasty 30 to 50 minutes faster than low-volume surgeons did. CONCLUSIONS: Higher surgeon and hospital case volumes led to improved perioperative metrics with all shoulder arthroplasty procedures, including reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, which has not been previously described in the literature. Surgeon volume had a larger effect on metrics than hospital volume did. This study supports the concept that complex shoulder procedures are, on average, performed more efficiently by higher volume surgeons in higher volume centers.

A Comprehensive Review on Polyphenols Based Nanovesicular System for Topical Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds having more than one hydroxy functional group. They are ubiquitous secondary plant metabolites possessing a wide range of pharmacological activity. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are the natural source of polyphenols. Majorly, they possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which make them suitable candidates to target skin related disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study is focused to explore the potential of polyphenols loaded nanovesicles for skin related disorders. The aim of the study is to review the applicability and efficacy of different vesicular systems encapsulated with various classes of polyphenols for skin related disorders, thus opening the opportunity for future studies based on these drug delivery systems. METHOD: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus database, and the search engine Google Scholar were accessed for the literature search. The results were then filtered based on the titles, abstracts, and accessibility of the complete texts. RESULTS: The expository evaluation of the literature revealed that various nanovesicles like liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes and transferosomes incorporating polyphenol have been formulated to address issues pertaining to delivery across the skin. These developed nano vesicular systems have shown improvement in the physicochemical properties and pharmacological action. CONCLUSION: Polyphenol based nano-vesicular formulations have proved to be an effective system for topical delivery and henceforth, they might curtail the use of other skin therapies having limited applicability.

Crystal structure of a phenoxyl radical complex relevant to the metal site of the galactose oxidase enzyme: A facile one-pot synthesis, evidence for hydrogen atom transfer and DNA cleavage via self-activation.

Copper complexes [Cu(L1H)ClO4] (1) and [Cu(L2)NO3] (2), which are relevant to the metal site of the galactose oxidase enzyme, were synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. L1H2 and L2H2 [where L1H2 stands for 2,2'-((1E,1'E)(2,2'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(2-phenylhydrazin-2-yl-1-ylidene))bis(methanylylidene))diphenol and L2H2 stands for 6,6'-((1E,1'E)-(2,2'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(2-phenylhydrazin-2-yl-1-ylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol), H stands for dissociable proton] are pentadentate ligands. These ligands provide pyridyl N, two imine N, and two non-innocent phenoxyl and phenolato O donors, forming complex 1 as a non-radical complex, while complex 2 is a phenoxyl radical complex. The molecular structures of complexes 1 and 2 were authenticated by X-ray crystallography. Benzyl alcohol oxidation was investigated, and the conversion of 9,10-dihydroanthracene to anthracene was examined to scrutinize the H-atom abstraction reaction. Nuclease activity with complexes 1 and 2 was investigated by self-activated plasmid DNA (pBR322) cleavage. Non-innocent properties of the ligand-containing phenolato function were investigated by DFT calculations.

Crisaborole-Enthused Glycerosomal Gel for an Augmented Skin Permeation.

BACKGROUND: Crisaborole (CB), a boron-based compound, is the first topical PDE4 inhibitor to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (2016) for the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. It is marketed as a 2% ointment (Eucrisa, Pfizer). However, CB is insoluble in water; therfore, CB glycersomes were formulated to enhance its permeation flux across the skin. OBJECTIVE: We developed a glycerosomal gel of CB and compared its in vitro release and permeation flux with the 2% conventional ointment. METHODS: Glycerosomes were prepared using a thin film hydration method employing CB, soya phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol. The formed film was further hydrated employing a mixture of phosphate buffer pH 7.4 /glycerin solution containing varying percentages (20,30, 40, and 50 %) of glycerol. The glycerosomes obtained were characterized by their size, polydispersity index (PDI), and Zeta potential. The entrapment efficiency of the optimized formulation (F 1) was determined. The in vitro release of F1 was compared with its 2% conventional ointment. F1 was further incorporated into carbopol 934 P gel. The gel was characterized by pH, viscosity, spreadability, and drug content. The permeability flux of the glycerosomal gel was compared with its 2% conventional ointment. RESULTS: The optimized CB glycerosomes had a vesicle size of 137.5 ± 50.58 nm, PDI 0.342, and zeta potential -65.4 ± 6.75 mV. CB glycerosomal gel demonstrated a 2.13-fold enhancement in the permeation flux. CONCLUSION: It can thereby be concluded that glycerosomes can be an effective delivery system to enhance the penetration of CB across the skin.

Impact of Deltoid Computer Tomography Image Data on the Accuracy of Machine Learning Predictions of Clinical Outcomes after Anatomic and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: Despite the importance of the deltoid to shoulder biomechanics, very few studies have quantified the three-dimensional shape, size, or quality of the deltoid muscle, and no studies have correlated these measurements to clinical outcomes after anatomic (aTSA) and/or reverse (rTSA) total shoulder arthroplasty in any statistically/scientifically relevant manner. Methods: Preoperative computer tomography (CT) images from 1057 patients (585 female, 469 male; 799 primary rTSA and 258 primary aTSA) of a single platform shoulder arthroplasty prosthesis (Equinoxe; Exactech, Inc., Gainesville, FL) were analyzed in this study. A machine learning (ML) framework was used to segment the deltoid muscle for 1057 patients and quantify 15 different muscle characteristics, including volumetric (size, shape, etc.) and intensity-based Hounsfield (HU) measurements. These deltoid measurements were correlated to postoperative clinical outcomes and utilized as inputs to train/test ML algorithms used to predict postoperative outcomes at multiple postoperative timepoints (1 year, 2-3 years, and 3-5 years) for aTSA and rTSA. Results: Numerous deltoid muscle measurements were demonstrated to significantly vary with age, gender, prosthesis type, and CT image kernel; notably, normalized deltoid volume and deltoid fatty infiltration were demonstrated to be relevant to preoperative and postoperative clinical outcomes after aTSA and rTSA. Incorporating deltoid image data into the ML models improved clinical outcome prediction accuracy relative to ML algorithms without image data, particularly for the prediction of abduction and forward elevation after aTSA and rTSA. Analyzing ML feature importance facilitated rank-ordering of the deltoid image measurements relevant to aTSA and rTSA clinical outcomes. Specifically, we identified that deltoid shape flatness, normalized deltoid volume, deltoid voxel skewness, and deltoid shape sphericity were the most predictive image-based features used to predict clinical outcomes after aTSA and rTSA. Many of these deltoid measurements were found to be more predictive of aTSA and rTSA postoperative outcomes than patient demographic data, comorbidity data, and diagnosis data. Conclusions: While future work is required to further refine the ML models, which include additional shoulder muscles, like the rotator cuff, our results show promise that the developed ML framework can be used to evolve traditional CT-based preoperative planning software into an evidence-based ML clinical decision support tool.

Biomechanical evaluation of a unicortical button versus interference screw for subpectoral biceps tenodesis.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the biomechanical properties of a unicortical button with an interference screw used for subpectoral biceps tenodesis. We also describe the anatomic dangers of bicortical button use in the subpectoral location. METHODS: Twenty-eight fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders with a mean age of 52 years were studied. The specimens were randomly divided into 4 experimental biceps tenodesis groups (n = 7): unicortical button, interference screw, bicortical suspensory button, and bicortical suspensory with interference screw (Arthrex, Naples, FL). Each tenodesis specimen was mounted on a mechanical testing machine, preloaded for 2 minutes at 5 N, cycled from 5 to 70 N for 500 cycles (1 Hz), and loaded to failure (1 mm/s). We determined the mode of failure and computed the ultimate load to failure, yield load, pullout stiffness, and displacement at peak load. Calculations of the distance between the axillary and radial nerves with respect to the bicortical buttons were also calculated in 6 specimens. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference (P > .05) among groups in terms of age, ultimate load to failure, pullout stiffness, or displacement at peak load. Suture-tendon interface failure was the most commonly observed mode of failure. The axillary nerve was on average 7.8 mm from the bicortical button; however, in 6 specimens the nerve was less than 3 mm away. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a unicortical button for subpectoral biceps tenodesis provides biomechanical properties similar to the use of an interference screw. In addition, the use of a bicortical button in this area of the proximal humerus puts the axillary nerve at risk. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Using a unicortical button subpectoral biceps method may provide a surgeon with a safe and technically easy and reproducible technique while providing similar biomechanical properties to a known standard implant.

Comparative analysis of solid-state bioprocessing and enzymatic treatment of finger millet for mobilization of bound phenolics.

The present work investigates the probable bioprocessing technique to mobilize the bound phenolics naturally found in finger millet cell wall for enriching it with dietary antioxidants. Comparative study was performed between the exogenous enzymatic treatment and solid-state fermentation of grain (SSF) with a food grade organism Rhizopus oryzae. SSF results indicated that at the 6th day of incubation, total phenolic content (18.64 mg gallic acid equivalent/gds) and antioxidant property (DPPH radical scavenging activity of 39.03 %, metal chelating ability of 54 % and better reducing power) of finger millet were drastically enhanced when fermented with GRAS filamentous fungi. During the enzymatic bioprocessing, most of the phenolics released during the hydrolysis, leached out into the liquid portion rather than retaining them within the millet grain, resulting in overall loss of dietary antioxidant. The present study establishes the most effective strategy to enrich the finger millet with phenolic antioxidants.

Suprascapular nerve anatomy during shoulder motion: a cadaveric proof of concept study with implications for neurogenic shoulder pain.

BACKGROUND: The suprascapular nerve (SSN) carries sensory fibers which may contribute to shoulder pain. Prior anatomic study demonstrated that alteration in SSN course with simulated rotator cuff tendon (RCT) tears cause tethering and potential traction injury to the nerve at the suprascapular notch. Because the SSN has been implicated as a major source of pain with RCT tearing, it is critical to understand nerve anatomy during shoulder motion. We hypothesized that we could evaluate the SSN course with a novel technique to evaluate effects of simulated RCT tears, repair, and/or release of the nerve. METHODS: The course of the SSN was tracked with a dual fluoroscopic imaging system in a cadaveric model with simulated rotator cuff muscle forces during dynamic shoulder motion. RESULTS: After a simulated full-thickness supraspinatus/infraspinatus tendon tear, the SSN translated medially 3.5 mm at the spinoglenoid notch compared to the anatomic SSN course. Anatomic footprint repair of these tendons restored the SSN course to normal. Open release of the transverse scapular ligament caused the SSN to move 2.5 mm superior-posterior out of the suprascapular notch. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that the dynamic SSN course can be evaluated and may be altered by a RCT tear. Preliminary results suggest release of the transverse scapular ligament allowed the SSN to move upward out of the notch. This provides a biomechanical proof of concept that SSN traction neuropathy may occur with RCT tears and that release of the transverse scapular ligament may alleviate this by altering the course of the nerve.

Cochlear Implant in cochlear Hypoplasia type 4 with Chiari Malformation- Case Report.

Cochlear hypoplasia type IV is a rare cochlear malformation with hypoplastic middle and apical turns while basal turn develops normally, it often coexist with other genetic mutations. We present a case of 4 year old with chiari malformation type 1 along with bilateral Cochlear hypoplasia type IV who underwent cochlear implantation.

The baneful alliance of COVID-19 and mucormycosis: Histopathological concerns.

Background: Mucormycosis, once a rare fungal disease, has now shown a surge in cases, and its epidemiology in India is intriguing. Rising incidence confers the necessity of defining the demography of the population at risk, early diagnosis, and recommendations for the management of mucormycosis in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Aims: To study the clinico-epidemological profile, risk factors, and histopathological features of COVID-19-associated Mucormycosis (CAM). Setting and Design: This is a retrospective observational study. Material and Methods: Fifty-six biopsy specimens taken from patients of COVID-19 with clinical suspicion of mucormycosis were included. Results: Diabetes mellitus, corticosteroids, and oxygen therapy were the most common risk factors associated with CAM. The mean duration between the onset of symptoms of COVID-19 and onset of CAM was 25.2 ± 15.3 days. Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) was present in 24.5% of the cases, with a survival rate of 58.3%. Histopathology showed tissue invasion by branching broad-based, pale, fungal hyphae consistent with mucor in 49 (87.5%) cases. Inflammation was acute neutrophilic type in 61.2% of the patients with a survival rate of 63.33%. The survival rate with chronic non-granulomatous and chronic granulomatous was 100% and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Keeping a high index of suspicion for mucormycosis in COVID-19 by all medical fraternities of the health community in the existence of risk factors is the need of the hour for prompt diagnosis. Biopsy of antral necrotic tissue should be performed immediately after suspicion for histopathological study to confirm the diagnosis of mucormycosis and predict prognosis depending on the type of inflammation incited, fungal morphology, load, and necrosis.

Cochlear implantation in children with congenital inner ear malformations - Our experience.

OBJECTIVE: To share our experience of the surgical challenges faced in cochlear implanted patients with inner ear malformation and to assess the auditory and speech perception outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Clinical records of 502 cochlear implant procedures were reviewed and data of 122 patients who had inner ear malformations were enrolled in the study. Their auditory and speech performances were evaluated post implantation for 3 years. RESULT: Cerebrospinal fluid gusher was encountered during opening of cochlea in 42 patients (34.4%) and one patient was re-explored within 24 h. In 30.3% of cases facial anomaly was found. Significant improvement in average performance was seen in all malformation types except in cochlear hypoplasia at 12 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Surgical challenges can be overcome with expertise and giving special attention to preoperative imaging. Our experience suggests that outcomes are favourable in patients with inner ear malformations too.

Comparative Study Between Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia Morphine and Computerized Ambulatory Delivery Device Epidural Morphine for Post Operative Analgesia for Nuss Procedure in Pectus Excavatum: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pectus deformities are commonly seen in chest wall deformities among the pediatric age group. Pectus deformities occur due to defective growth of the sternum and its surrounding cartilage. The Nuss procedure is the technique of choice for correcting the deformity surgically which includes placing a convex bar under the sternum without resection or injury to costal cartilages. Adequate pain control is utmost to improve wound healing, patient satisfaction, short hospital stays, and decrease the financial burden on attendants. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate which analgesic method is more advantageous for the Nuss procedure. OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic effects of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) morphine versus computerized ambulatory delivery device (CADD) epidural morphine on acute post-operative pain management in Nuss procedures. METHODS: A retrospective study was done at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer and Research Hospital, New Delhi from 2015 to 2020 to assess the efficacy and safety between IVPCA morphine and CADD epidural for post-operative analgesia following pectus excavatum repair. A total of 34 cases of Nuss procedures were taken with 17 cases in each group. Group 1 (intravenous PCA morphine) was given 39 ml normal saline + 6 ml morphine (total 45 ml, 2 mg/ml morphine), set at demand dose 0.5 ml, i.e. 1 mg, lockout interval 7 minutes, doses per hour was six and Group 2 (CADD epidural morphine) was given 42 ml normal saline + 3 ml morphine (1 mg/ml morphine) with continuous infusion at the rate of 0.5 ml/hr. Demand dose 0, lockout interval nil. Visual analog pain scores using a scale of 0-10 and Ramsay Sedation Score (RSS) scores were obtained on arrival at the post-anesthesia care unit, at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours throughout the subsequent hospital stay. RESULTS: This study yielded positive information about our experience with the pectus post-operative pain management. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was lower in Group 1 compared to Group 2 but significantly different at 12 and 72 hours only. The mean RSS score was comparable between groups. The mean hospital stay (days) and requirement of rescue analgesia doses were 3.47±0.51 and 0.12±0.33 in Group 1 and 4.76±0.44, 0.59±1.12 in Group 2. CONCLUSION:  Both IVPCA morphine and CADD morphine were effective in controlling post-surgical pain in the Nuss procedure, but IVPCA morphine was better as compared to CADD morphine in this regard because it was noninvasive, safe, and cost-effective with non-significant complications.

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Co-infections During the Second Wave in Sub-Himalayan Region, India.

Introduction The second wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in India, which started from April 2021, has been more severe and deadly than the first wave. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the possibility of other respiratory pathogens contributing towards the severity and hospitalization in the current second wave. Materials and methods Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples were collected and processed for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These samples were further processed for detection of co-infection in SARS CoV-2 patients by BioFire® Filmarray® 2.0 (bioMérieux, USA). Results We screened 77 COVID-19-positive patients admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh and found cases of co-infections in five (6.49 %) patients. Conclusion Our finding suggests that co-infections had no or minimal role in augmenting the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, and the emergence of new variants may be the probable cause.

Probing the mechanism of Baylis-Hillman reaction in ionic liquids.

The kinetic data for a Baylis-Hillman reaction in certain ionic liquids possessing ethylsulfate anion [EtSO(4)](-) demonstrate that the rate determining step (RDS) is second order in aldehyde, but first order in acrylate and DABCO. This observation is similar to the one made by McQuade et al., who carried out this reaction in an aprotic polar solvent like DMSO. However, this is in contrast to the general observation that RDS is first order in aldehyde, acrylate, and DABCO in organic solvents.