Materials Containing Single-, Di-, Tri-, and Multi-Metal Atoms Bonded to C, N, S, P, B, and O Species as Advanced Catalysts for Energy, Sensor, and Biomedical Applications.

Modifying the coordination or local environments of single-, di-, tri-, and multi-metal atom (SMA/DMA/TMA/MMA)-based materials is one of the best strategies for increasing the catalytic activities, selectivity, and long-term durability of these materials. Advanced sheet materials supported by metal atom-based materials have become a critical topic in the fields of renewable energy conversion systems, storage devices, sensors, and biomedicine owing to the maximum atom utilization efficiency, precisely located metal centers, specific electron configurations, unique reactivity, and precise chemical tunability. Several sheet materials offer excellent support for metal atom-based materials and are attractive for applications in energy, sensors, and medical research, such as in oxygen reduction, oxygen production, hydrogen generation, fuel production, selective chemical detection, and enzymatic reactions. The strong metal-metal and metal-carbon with metal-heteroatom (i.e., N, S, P, B, and O) bonds stabilize and optimize the electronic structures of the metal atoms due to strong interfacial interactions, yielding excellent catalytic activities. These materials provide excellent models for understanding the fundamental problems with multistep chemical reactions. This review summarizes the substrate structure-activity relationship of metal atom-based materials with different active sites based on experimental and theoretical data. Additionally, the new synthesis procedures, physicochemical characterizations, and energy and biomedical applications are discussed. Finally, the remaining challenges in developing efficient SMA/DMA/TMA/MMA-based materials are presented.

Evaluation of Gemcitabine and Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles on Benzopyrene Induced Lung Cancer Model Via Intranasal Route: Improved Pharmacokinetics and Safety Profile.

The objective of this study was to create a new treatment for lung cancer using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with gemcitabine (GEM) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) that can be administered through the nose. We analyzed the formulation for its effectiveness in terms of micromeritics, drug release, and anti-cancer activity in the benzopyrene-induced Swiss albino mice lung cancer model. We also assessed the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, biocompatibility, and hemocompatibility of GEM-EGCG SLNs. The GEM-EGCG SLNs had an average particle size of 93.54 ± 11.02 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.146 ± 0.05, and a zeta potential of -34.7 ± 0.4 mV. The entrapment efficiency of GEM and EGCG was 93.39 ± 4.2% and 89.49 ± 5.1%, respectively, with a sustained release profile for both drugs. GEM-EGCG SLNs had better pharmacokinetics than other treatments, and a high drug targeting index value of 17.605 for GEM and 2.118 for EGCG, indicating their effectiveness in targeting the lungs. Blank SLNs showed no pathological lesions in the liver, kidney, and nasal region validating the safety of SLNs. GEM-EGCG SLNs also showed fewer pathological lesions than other treatments and a lower hemolysis rate of 1.62 ± 0.10%. These results suggest that GEM-EGCG SLNs could effectively treat lung cancer.

Observational evidence of changing cloud macro-physical properties under warming climate over the Indian summer monsoon region.

The cloud responses to global warming are captured in various global climate models with distinct inferences on changes in cloud vertical structure as function of surface warming. However, long term observational evidences are scarce to validate the model outputs. Here, we have studied the changes in radiosonde derived cloud macro-physical properties and their association with other atmospheric variables during the period 2000-2019 in response to warming climate over the Indian summer monsoon region. We have observed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of cloudy days (∼13 % decade-1), high-level clouds (HLCs ∼11 % decade-1) and simultaneous decrease in low-level clouds (LLCs ∼8 % decade-1) over the Indian region during the monsoon season. The multiple linear regression, principle component analyses and further correlation analyses suggest significant associations between cloud vertical structure variations and large-scale climate indicators, such as global warming and El Niño-Southern Oscillation. The vertical extension of the tropospheric column and the upward shift of clouds, attributed to global warming, explain the changes observed in both HLCs and LLCs. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay between global climate change and regional cloud dynamics, with implications for weather and climate modeling.

Global and local genomic features together modulate the spontaneous single nucleotide mutation rate.

Spontaneous mutations are evolutionary engines as they generate variants for the evolutionary downstream processes that give rise to speciation and adaptation. Single nucleotide mutations (SNM) are the most abundant type of mutations among them. Here, we perform a meta-analysis to quantify the influence of selected global genomic parameters (genome size, genomic GC content, genomic repeat fraction, number of coding genes, gene count, and strand bias in prokaryotes) and local genomic features (local GC content, repeat content, CpG content and the number of SNM at CpG islands) on spontaneous SNM rates across the tree of life (prokaryotes, unicellular eukaryotes, multicellular eukaryotes) using wild-type sequence data in two different taxon classification systems. We find that the spontaneous SNM rates in our data are correlated with many genomic features in prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes irrespective of their sample sizes. On the other hand, only the number of coding genes was correlated with the spontaneous SNM rates in multicellular eukaryotes primarily contributed by vertebrates data. Considering local features, we notice that local GC content and CpG content significantly were correlated with the spontaneous SNM rates in the unicellular eukaryotes, while local repeat fraction is an important feature in prokaryotes and certain specific uni- and multi-cellular eukaryotes. Such predictive features of the spontaneous SNM rates often support non-linear models as the best fit compared to the linear model. We also observe that the strand asymmetry in prokaryotes plays an important role in determining the spontaneous SNM rates but the SNM spectrum does not.

A Comparative Study of Elective Sublay Versus Onlay Repair for Non-complex, Small, and Medium-Size Incisional Hernia: Post-operative Complications in a Tertiary Hospital in Ranchi, India.

BACKGROUND: The most difficult hernia surgery is the repair of the ventral hernia, which is caused by aberrant organ or tissue protrusions through the abdominal wall. Factors like obesity, smoking, and chronic medical conditions contribute to their formation. Surgical strategies have evolved from anatomical repair to mesh hernioplasty, with mesh placement playing a significant role in outcomes. The ideal anatomical location for mesh placement remains debated due to varying results. So, the objective of the study is to compare early postoperative complications, surgical site infection, and incidence of recurrence between sublay and onlay mesh placement repair of incisional hernias of <10 cm in diameter, at a tertiary hospital in Ranchi. METHODS:  This retrospective comparative study was conducted over a period of January 2022 to January 2024 at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, Ranchi, India. During the study period, 96 patients were operated on, and their demographic details, along with their position of mesh placement and postoperative complications (seroma formation, wound infection, postoperative hospital stays, and recurrence), were retrieved from the hospital data. Comparisons between onlay and sublay groups in terms of post-operative complications were made. RESULTS: Within the study period, a total of 96 patients were operated on for incisional hernia. In this study, 36 (37.5%) were male and 60 (62.5%) were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.6:1. Out of the total number of patients, 56 (58.4%) had a past history of emergency surgery. It was observed that there was a higher incidence of seroma formation in the onlay group compared to the sublay with a statistical significance p-value of 0.027. The incidence of wound infection was found to be statistically significant (p-value = 0.035) between the onlay and sublay groups. In a period of six-month follow-up, three patients of the total study population had an incidence of recurrent incisional hernia, of which two from the onlay group and one from the sublay group were present, and there was no statistical significance (p-value > 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Based on our retrospective analysis, we can say that there is a lower incidence of postoperative complications and recurrence in sublay repair, along with a shorter postoperative hospital stay, making it a preferred method of repair over onlay.

Effectiveness of Mannheim's Peritonitis Index in Patients With Peritonitis Secondary to Hollow Viscus Perforation in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Jharkhand, India.

Introduction Peritonitis refers to the inflammation of the peritoneum and peritoneal cavity. Causes of peritonitis can be bacterial (gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal), chemical, traumatic, or ischemic. Peritonitis can be localized or diffuse, acute or chronic. Peritonitis can be primary, secondary, or tertiary, according to the pathogenesis. Peritonitis developed secondary to hollow viscus perforation is a life-threatening condition and a common cause of emergency surgery in India. The Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI) is a simple scoring system that can accurately predict the outcome of peritonitis. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MPI in predicting mortality risk or prognosis in patients with peritonitis due to hollow viscus perforation. Materials and methods This observational cross-sectional study at the Department of General Surgery, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, involved 111 patients with peritonitis due to hollow viscus perforation from December 2021 to March 2022. Detailed history, clinical examination, relevant blood tests, and radiological investigations established a diagnosis of perforation peritonitis, followed by a score assessment. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results Patients >50 years had higher mortality (i.e., 18/43) than patients <50 years (i.e., 13/68). Overall mortality was 31, which included one in low risk, 12 in intermediate risk, and 18 in the high-risk group. Mortality was lowest in the low-risk group (i.e., 1/30), highest in the high-risk group (i.e., 18/40), and 12/41 in the intermediate-risk group; the p-value was <0.05, which was highly significant. Mortality was higher in patients presenting after 24 hours, having organ failure, and non-colonic sepsis. Conclusion The MPI scoring system is simple, easy to calculate, cost-effective, precise, and effective in assessing mortality and morbidity risk in patients with peritonitis due to hollow viscus perforation. It can also guide further management strategies.

Comparison of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Corticosteroid Injections for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Plantar fasciitis is a common and debilitating foot condition, with varying treatment options and inconsistent outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess and compare the effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and corticosteroid injections in treating persistent plantar fasciitis. METHODS: In this study, a total of 70 patients suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., one receiving PRP injections (n=35) and the other receiving corticosteroid injections (n=35). The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess pain outcomes, while the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was used to assess functional status. Patients were assessed before the injection and then followed up at 15 days, one month, three months, and six months after the injection. RESULTS: The baseline VAS and AOFAS scores were similar between the two groups. However, the PRP group showed significantly greater improvements in VAS and AOFAS scores compared to the corticosteroid group at the one-month, three-month, and six-month follow-ups (p<0.05). The PRP group had a higher proportion of patients with mild or moderate pain and better functional outcomes at later time points. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous PRP injections are superior to corticosteroid injections in terms of long-term pain alleviation and functional improvement for patients suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis. Platelet-rich plasma should be regarded as a feasible therapeutic choice for this condition, especially in individuals who have not shown improvement with conservative treatment.

Microbial Consortia: Promising Tool as Plant Bioinoculants for Agricultural Sustainability.

In the present scenario, growing population demands more food, resulting in the need for sustainable agriculture. Numerous approaches are explored in response to dangers and obstacles to sustainable agriculture. A viable approach is to be exploiting microbial consortium, which generate diverse biostimulants with growth-promoting characteristics for plants. These bioinoculants play an indispensable role in optimizing nutrient uptake efficiency mitigating environmental stress. Plant productivity is mostly determined by the microbial associations that exist at the rhizospheric region of plants. The engineered consortium with multifunctional attributes can be effectively employed to improve crop growth efficacy. A number of approaches have been employed to identify the efficient consortia for plant growth and enhanced crop productivity. Various plant growth-promoting (PGP) microbes with host growth-supporting characteristics were investigated to see if they might work cohesively and provide a cumulative effect for improved growth and crop yield. The effective microbial consortia should be assessed using compatibility tests, pot experimentation techniques, generation time, a novel and quick plant bioassay, and sensitivity to external stimuli (temperature, pH). The mixture of two or more microbial strains found in the root microbiome stimulates plant growth and development. The present review deals with mechanism, formulation, inoculation process, commercialization, and applications of microbial consortia as plant bioinoculants for agricultural sustainability.

Biomass-derived carbon dots as significant biological tools in the medicinal field: A review.

Early disease detection is crucial since it raises the likelihood of treatment and considerably lowers the cost of therapy. Therefore, the improvement of human life and health depends on the development of quick, efficient, and credible biosensing methods. For improving the quality of biosensors, distinct nanostructures have been investigated; among these, carbon dots have gained much interest because of their great performance. Carbon dots, the essential component of fluorescence nanoparticles, having outstanding chemical characteristics, superb biocompatibility, chemical inertness, low toxicity and potential optical characteristics have attracted the researchers from every corner of the globe. Several carbon dots applications have been thoroughly investigated in recent decade, from optoelectronics to biomedical investigations. This review study primarily emphasizes the recent advancements in the field of biomass-derived carbon dots-based drug delivery, gene delivery and bioimaging, and highlights achievements in two major areas: in vivo applications that involve carbon dots absorption in zebrafish and mice, tumour therapeutics, and imaging-guided drug delivery. Additionally, the possible advantages, difficulties, and future possibilities of using carbon dots for biological applications are also explored.

Effects of Soaking and Germination Treatments on the Nutritional, Anti-Nutritional, and Bioactive Characteristics of Adzuki Beans (Vigna angularis L.) and Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.).

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) and adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) are some of the most nutritious underutilized pulses that are significant in being used as basic ingredients for the preparation of various food products. The present study aimed to determine the impact of soaking and germination on nutritional and bioactive components, in vitro protein digestibility, reducing power, metal chelating capacity, antioxidant activity, and anti-nutritional components of lima and adzuki beans. The findings showed that during the germination treatment, the in vitro protein digestibility of lima and adzuki beans increased by 14.75 and 10.98%, respectively. There was an increase in the antioxidant activity of lima beans by 33.48% and adzuki beans by 71.14% after 72 h of germination, respectively. The reducing power assay of lima and adzuki beans indicated an increase of 49.52 and 36.42%, respectively, during germination. Similarly, the flavonoid and metal chelating activity increased in lima and adzuki beans after 72 h of germination. In contrast, the anti-nutrients, such as phytic acid, tannin content, and trypsin inhibitor activity, decreased significantly p < 0.05 after 72 h of germination. These results are encouraging and allow for utilizing the flour obtained from the germinated beans in functional bakery products, which can contribute to eradicating protein deficiency among some population groups. At the same time, promoting soaking and germination of the beans as a way to enhance the nutritional quality and reduce anti-nutrients can contribute to the interest in these underutilized pulses. They could be seen as an additional tool to improve food security.

A Descriptive Study of the Demographic and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Individuals With Gallstone-Induced Pancreatitis in a Tertiary-Level Hospital in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

BACKGROUND: Gallstones are a major cause of acute pancreatitis, which is associated with high recurrence, morbidity, and mortality. Careful consideration of demographic and clinicopathological features is required to understand the association between the cause and severity of pancreatitis in various populations, and such crucial information is lacking for Jharkhand's population. Here, we sought to describe the demographic and clinicopathological features of gallstone-induced acute pancreatitis at a tertiary hospital in Ranchi. METHODS: This hospital-based descriptive study was conducted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi. The hospital records of patients admitted to the surgical unit with acute gallstone-induced pancreatitis from January 2023 to December 2023 were analyzed. The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 72 patients admitted with acute gallstone-induced pancreatitis (mean age: 42.5 years), 46 (64%) were males and 26 (36%) were females. All 72 patients had abdominal pain and 44 (61%) were vomiting. The severe vs. non-severe pancreatitis groups differed significantly in age (≥40) and male gender (p = 0.013 and 0.031, respectively). A total of 45 (62.5%) patients had severe gallstone-induced pancreatitis, and the most common complication was acute kidney injury, followed by pleural effusion (18 (25%) and 13 (18.1%) cases, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that gallstone-induced pancreatitis was more common in males and that age and gender were significantly associated with severity. However, late presentation to the hospital may have influenced our study, resulting in more severe cases being reported, with the most common complication being acute kidney injury. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the demographic, clinicopathological, and outcome data of acute gallstone-induced pancreatitis in Ranchi. These results can guide hospital policy development to improve patient outcomes.

Exploring Chitosan Lactate as a Multifunctional Additive: Enhancing Quality and Extending Shelf Life of Whole Wheat Bread.

The shelf life of whole wheat bread (WWB) significantly impacts its freshness and overall quality. This research investigated the impact of chitosan lactate (CL) on various characteristics influencing the shelf life of WWB, including its physical, chemical, textural, antimicrobial, and sensory attributes. These characteristics were evaluated by conducting various experiments such as physical inspection, moisture, impedance, swelling, color, texture, FTIR, microbiological, and sensory analysis. CL with different concentrations was incorporated into WWB formulations: P0.0 (0.0% w/w CL, control), P0.5 (0.5% w/w CL), P1.0 (1.0% w/w CL), P2.0 (2.0% w/w CL), and P3.0 (3.0% w/w CL). The inclusion of CL promoted the Maillard reaction (MR) compared to P0.0. The promotion of MR resulted in the formation of a shinier crust, which increased as the CL content was increased. P0.5 comprised large-sized pores and exhibited increased loaf height. CL-containing WWB formulations showed an increased moisture content and decreased impedance values compared to the control. FTIR analysis of P0.5 demonstrated the enhanced interaction and bonding of water molecules. P0.5 demonstrated optimal textural, colorimetric, and antimicrobial properties compared to other formulations. The sensory attributes of WWBs remain unchanged despite CL addition. In conclusion, P0.5 exhibited optimal characteristics associated with better quality and prolonged shelf life.

Correlation Between Radiological and Functional Outcomes Following Operative and Nonoperative Management of Acetabular Fractures: A Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: The management of acetabular fractures is a complicated orthopedic procedure that has been advancing with time. Newer radiological tools like CT scans help surgeons to identify and manage these fractures more attentively. The study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with acetabular fractures managed either conservatively or by open reduction and internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was done on 35 patients aged 18-60 years, with acetabular fractures treated either surgically or conservatively. Clinical scorings and radiological scoring were only taken and noted at three- and six-month intervals using Matta's radiographic scoring and modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel clinical hip scoring. Clinico-radiological variables and complications were compared between the two groups. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analyses using IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 2.0 version software (Chicago, IL, USA) at a level of significance being p<0.05. RESULTS:  Out of a total of 35 patients, 19 were treated surgically and 16 conservatively. In patients belonging to the surgical treatment group, a maximum of 57.9% were aged 40-50 years, whereas the maximum patients (50%) of the conservative treatment group were aged <40 years, with male predominance in both groups. The type of fracture was recorded according to Judet and Letournel in both groups. Merle d'Aubigne's scoring and Matta's hip score were recorded at three and six months in both groups. A positive correlation was seen between radiological and functional outcomes at three and six months, which means that the higher the radiological scoring, the better the functional outcome of the patient managed either conservatively or surgically in the entire cohort. CONCLUSION:  Our study revealed that surgically managed patients had better functional and radiological outcomes than the patients who were conservatively managed at six months of follow-up. However, this is associated with more complications depending on fracture complexity and initial presentation of hip dislocation. The higher the radiological scoring, the better the functional outcome of the patient managed either conservatively or surgically in the entire cohort.

Indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles as Engineered Materials for Optoelectronic Applications: Synthesis, Structural Insights, and Computational Screening.

The biological and medicinal importance of indolocarbazoles has been known for the past several decades. However, in recent times, these compounds have been emerging as potential candidates for optoelectronic applications, although several challenges are associated with their synthesis. We report here a Pd(II)-catalyzed process for the synthesis of indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles. The reaction proceeded under neat conditions and in the presence of aqueous nonmetallic oxidant TBHP, and the products were purified directly after the completion of the reaction. Also, the possibility of employing the present method for reaction with gram-scale feed was investigated. A detailed single-crystal analysis of several indolo[3,2-a]carbazoles revealed how the molecular arrangement can be tuned by altering the functionalization. Finally, the developed molecules were screened computationally to assess their potential for possible use as hole transport materials (HTMs) for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).

Transcriptional activation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence-associated small RNA MTS1338 by the response regulators DosR and PhoP.

MTS1338, a distinctive small RNA in pathogenic mycobacteria, plays a crucial role in host-pathogen interactions during infection. Mycobacterial cells encounter heterogeneous stresses in macrophages, which highly upregulate MTS1338. A dormancy regulatory factor DosR regulates the intracellular abundance of MTS1338. Herein, we investigated the interplay of DosR and a low pH-inducible gene regulator PhoP binding to the MTS1338 promoter. We identified that DosR strongly binds to two regions upstream of the MTS1338 gene. The proximal region possesses a threefold higher affinity than the distal site, but the presence of both regions increased the affinity for DosR by > 10-fold. PhoP did not bind to the MTS1338 gene but binds to the DosR-bound MTS1338 gene, suggesting a concerted mechanism for MTS1338 expression.

Physiological and biochemical effects of 24-Epibrassinolide on drought stress adaptation in maize (Zea mays L.).

Maize production and productivity are affected by drought stress in tropical and subtropical ecologies, as the majority of the area under maize cultivation in these ecologies is rain-fed. The present investigation was conducted to study the physiological and biochemical effects of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBR) as a plant hormone on drought tolerance in maize. Two maize hybrids, Vivek hybrid 9 and Bio 9637, were grown under three different conditions: (i) irrigated, (ii) drought, and (iii) drought+EBR. A total of 2 weeks before the anthesis, irrigation was discontinued to produce a drought-like condition. In the drought+EBR treatment group, irrigation was also stopped, and in addition, EBR was applied as a foliar spray on the same day in the drought plots. It was observed that drought had a major influence on the photosynthesis rate, membrane stability index, leaf area index, relative water content, and leaf water potential; this effect was more pronounced in Bio 9637. Conversely, the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased in both hybrids under drought conditions. Specifically, Vivek hybrid 9 showed 74% higher CAT activity under drought conditions as compared to the control. Additionally, EBR application further enhanced the activity of this enzyme by 23% compared to plants under drought conditions. Both hybrids experienced a significant reduction in plant girth due to drought stress. However, it was found that exogenously applying EBR reduced the detrimental effects of drought stress on the plant, and this effect was more pronounced in Bio 9637. In fact, Bio 9637 treated with EBR showed an 86% increase in proline content and a 70% increase in glycine betaine content compared to untreated plants under drought conditions. Taken together, our results suggested EBR enhanced tolerance to drought in maize hybrids. Hence, pre-anthesis foliar application of EBR might partly overcome the adverse effects of flowering stage drought in maize.

Internet Addiction and Its Association with Demographic Variables, Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Well-being in College Students.

Background: Internet is an integral part of the daily life of everyone. Internet addiction (IA) is one of the major concerns, specifically among young adults. The association between IA, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being (PWB) is least studied in young adults. Purpose: To evaluate IA and its association with psychological morbidity and PWB in a larger sample size. In addition, to examine the factors that are associated with IA. Methods: A total of 1287 young students were evaluated in the present study. Participants were evaluated on the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Psychological Well-Being Index-22. Results: The mean age of the study's participants is 19.5 years. The majority were female (68.9%), from nuclear families (61.8%), and belonged to urban localities (61.5%). On IAT, 15.9% had a presence of IA with a cut-off score of 50. 27.4% and 20.5% had a presence of depression and anxiety with a cut-off score of 10 on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Approximately two-thirds (66.7%) reported poor PWB. IA had a significant positive association with depression and anxiety and a negative association with PWB. Male students, the presence of depression, anxiety, and poor PWB were independent factors associated with IA. Conclusion: Internet addiction is highly prevalent among college students and has a significant association with anxiety, depression, and poor PWB. There is a need to develop a structured plan, educational strategy, and program to minimize IA in young adults.

To Study the Distress, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Essential Workers.

Essential care workers like police personnel, social workers, and office and administrative staff of health institutions are also at increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure along with healthcare workers. The present study aims to estimate the distress, anxiety, depression, and sleep impact of COVID-19 pandemic on essential workers through an online survey. This cross-sectional study (included 369 participants) was conducted in Chandigarh through an online survey using three psychological scales: Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI), Insomnia Severity Index, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Three-hundred-sixty-nine frontline warriors from hospital and community settings were included in the study. The respondents include police personnel (274; 73.66%), office staff (24; 6.45%), social workers (53; 14.24%), and media staff (21; 5.65%). Maximum distress was reported by media/transport officials on duty (85.7%). The majority of them scored high (>14), and slightly less than one-fourth (23.8%) scored significantly abnormal (>23) on PDI. About 42.9% reported moderate insomnia, 52.4% exhibited severe anxiety, and 33.3% of media/transport participants reported severe depression. Psychological morbidity is high in media/transport and social workers working in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ferroelectric Properties of Polymer-Semiconductor Hybrid Material or Composite under Optical Excitation.

Polymer-semiconductor hybrid materials or composites have been investigated with respect to their microstructure, optical, photoconductive, and ferroelectric properties. For this purpose, either CdSe quantum dots or (Cd:Zn)S microparticles were dispersed in poly(vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene) solution and hot pressed to films. In both material systems, the electrical conductivity and the polarization behavior could be controlled by the intensity of the optical excitation. The simultaneous high optical transparency of the CdSe quantum-dot-based hybrid materials makes them particularly interesting for applications in the field of flexible, high-resolution sensors.

Self-assembled molecular network with waterwheel-like architecture: experimental and theoretical evaluation toward electron transport capabilities for optoelectronic devices.

In recent times, self-assembled electron transport materials for optoelectronic devices, both solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), have been gaining much interest as they help in fabricating high-efficiency devices. However, designing organic small molecular materials with star-shaped self-assembled networks is a challenge. To achieve this sort of target, we chose triazine and benzene-1,3,5-tricarbonyl cores for developing such architecture, and we developed four molecular systems, vizTCpCN, TCmCN, TmCN, and TpCN. Successful isolation of single crystals followed by structural analysis of TmCN revealed interesting molecular arrangements in the solid state resulting in the formation of a waterwheel type architecture with an extended network bearing characteristic voids. Theoretical calculations was carried out to check their electron transportability. The natural transition orbital calculation helped in understanding the locally excited and charge transfer excited states. The low electron reorganization energies of these molecules indicated that these materials may have potential to be used in electron transport layers of optoelectronic devices, particularly in OLEDs. Moreover, the assembled networks have a relatively wide surface area and linked structures, which are advantageous for the conduction of carriers with poor electron recombination inside the ETL, and these may offer a straightforward channel for electron conduction to the emissive layer. Finally, the fabricated electron-only device indicated that the synthesized materials may be used as ETMs in the electron transport layer of optoelectronic devices.