Warm red light emitting Eu(III) complexes synthesis and analysis including computational methods for photonic applications.

Six luminescent europium organic complexes have been synthesized and studied for their luminescent properties. The synthesized complexes were analyzed through elemental analysis, XRD, SEM, EDAX, FT-IR, NMR and thermogravimetry. The complexes exhibit crystalline behavior and possess decent thermal stability. Photoluminescence study on complexes were conducted in both solid and solution states, the results indicate the characteristic red emission. With the addition of ancillary ligands, water molecules are replaced from inner coordination sphere, leading to enhanced luminescence properties. The colorimetric parameters (CIE, CP%, CCT, u', v') suggest aptness of these complexes in red light illuminating OLEDs. The J-O parameters were calculated experimentally and theoretically with the help of LUMPAC software. Theoretical and experimental results agree well reflecting the efficacy of the outcomes. As a result of red emission, these complexes could have interesting photonics applications. The biological studies indicate the probable use of these complexes in the medical industry.

Detection of real-time deep fakes and face forgery in video conferencing employing generative adversarial networks.

As facial modification technology advances rapidly, it poses a challenge to methods used to detect fake faces. The advent of deep learning and AI-based technologies has led to the creation of counterfeit photographs that are more difficult to discern apart from real ones. Existing Deep fake detection systems excel at spotting fake content with low visual quality and are easily recognized by visual artifacts. The study employed a unique active forensic strategy Compact Ensemble-based discriminators architecture using Deep Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (CED-DCGAN), for identifying real-time deep fakes in video conferencing. DCGAN focuses on video-deep fake detection on features since technologies for creating convincing fakes are improving rapidly. As a first step towards recognizing DCGAN-generated images, split real-time video images into frames containing essential elements and then use that bandwidth to train an ensemble-based discriminator as a classifier. Spectra anomalies are produced by up-sampling processes, standard procedures in GAN systems for making large amounts of fake data films. The Compact Ensemble discriminator (CED) concentrates on the most distinguishing feature between the natural and synthetic images, giving the generators a robust training signal. As empirical results on publicly available datasets show, the suggested algorithms outperform state-of-the-art methods and the proposed CED-DCGAN technique successfully detects high-fidelity deep fakes in video conferencing and generalizes well when comparing with other techniques. Python tool is used for implementing this proposed study and the accuracy obtained for proposed work is 98.23 %.

Targeting sub-cellular organelles for boosting precision photodynamic therapy.

Among various cancer treatment methods, photodynamic therapy has received significant attention due to its non-invasiveness and high efficiency in inhibiting tumour growth. Recently, specific organelle targeting photosensitizers have received increasing interest due to their precise accumulation and ability to trigger organelle-mediated cell death signalling pathways, which greatly reduces the drug dosage, minimizes toxicity, avoids multidrug resistance, and prevents recurrence. In this review, recent advances and representative photosensitizers used in targeted photodynamic therapy on organelles, specifically including the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, nucleus, and lysosomes, have been comprehensively reviewed with a focus on organelle structure and organelle-mediated cell death signalling pathways. Furthermore, a perspective on future research and potential challenges in precision photodynamic therapy has been presented at the end.

Synthesis of dispiro-orthoester via an acetal oxo-carbenium ion.

The first dispiro orthoester via a spiroacetal oxo-carbenium ion is presented. Oxidative dearomatization of phloretic esters results in a bifunctional electrophilic spiroacetal oxo-carbenium ion, which undergoes a double nucleophilic addition by diol delivering a range of unusual dispiro-orthoesters with an excellent diversity.

Two-dimensional Graphene/MoS2 vertical heterostructure for detection of hemoglobin concentration in blood samples.

This study demonstrates the use of computational methods to simulate the molecular dynamics involved in hemoglobin concentration sensing, utilizing Material Studio and the TCAD Silvaco device simulator. A non-invasive and flexible Graphene/MoS2 heterostructure has been proposed for sensing hemoglobin concentration in blood samples. The findings reveal a notable shift in the wavelength-dependent refractive index and extinction coefficient, as well as significant changes in the absorption coefficient and reflectivity of the Graphene/MoS2 heterostructure in response to different hemoglobin concentrations, specifically within an approximate range of 0.3 µm to 1 µm. Moreover, the spectral response of the heterostructure demonstrates that at a particular wavelength of approximately 600 nm, a maximum response is obtained. This wavelength can be considered optimal for detecting various levels of hemoglobin using this heterostructure. The anticipated outcome is a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles, ultimately resulting in the development of an exceptionally sensitive platform for detecting hemoglobin concentration.

Synthesis, Preclinical Toxicity, and Biodistribution of [18F]AVT-011 to Assess the P-Glycoprotein Function.

Introduction: Many studies have reported the role of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in chemoresistance in various pathological conditions such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. In this study, we are reporting the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based purification of fluorine-18 [18F]AVT-011 and its preclinical evaluation. Methods: AVT-011 was labeled with 18F using the nucleophilic substitution method by heating the reaction mixture at 110°C for 10 min, followed by purification using preparative HPLC and C18ec cartridge. The in vitro cell uptake study was carried out in U87 cells with and without an inhibitor. The preclinical toxicity was carried out in CD1 mice in three groups, including control, AVT-011 treated, and [18F]AVT-011 treated. The biodistribution study was done in CD1 mice (n = 12) after intravenous injection of 4-6 MBq [18F]AVT-011, and mice were sacrificed at various time intervals. A dose of 3.7 ± 0.7 MBq of [18F]AVT-011 was injected intravenously in the healthy Swiss albino mice, and the whole-body micro-positron emission tomography was acquired at 0-, 30-, 60-, and 120-min postinjection. Results: The radiochemical purity of [18F]AVT-011 was 97 ± 1.5% as evaluated by radio-HPLC with a yield of 14 ± 2% and was stable up to 95% under in vitro conditions in blood and in vivo conditions up to 4 h. The in vitro cell uptake study showed a significant difference in control (27.4 ± 2.1%) and blocked U987 cells (73.2 ± 3.2%) after incubation of 120 min. The tissue distribution in mice showed the highest uptake in the liver (17.3 ± 2.4%), kidneys (16.6 ± 3.1%), lungs (10.4 ± 2.9%), and spleen (5.6 ± 0.8%) at 15 min, and the activity was washed out with time. The radioactivity cleared through the hepatorenal pathway. The animal imaging study also demonstrates a similar biodistribution pattern. Conclusions: [18F]AVT-011 showed higher specific activity than the cartridge-based method but showed similar biological activity.

Shoden promotes Relief from stress and anxiety: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on healthy subjects with high stress levels.

Background: This randomized placebo-controlled study examined the effect of ashwagandha root and leaf extract 60 mg (AE60) and 120 mg (AE120) (35 % withanolide glycosides, Shoden) in physically healthy subjects with higher stress and anxiety. It is hypothesized that a low dose extract with higher withanolide glycosides would decrease cortisol and increase testosterone thereby reducing stress and anxiety. Methods: This parallel arm study recruited 60 subjects with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1 (AE60:AE120: placebo) for 60 days. Subjects who fulfilled the DSM -IV Criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) with a Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAMA score >20, and morning serum cortisol >25 mcg/dl were included in the study. The participants did not have depression symptoms and were screened using Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The primary outcome measure was HAMA and the secondary measures were morning serum cortisol, testosterone, perceived stress scale (PSS), clinical global impressions scale (CGI), and patient's global impression of change scale (PGIC). Results: After 60 days, significant differences were observed between the treatment groups and placebo. HAMA scores decreased by 59 % in both AE60 and AE120 groups compared to a negligible increase of 0.83 % in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). Morning serum cortisol levels decreased by 66 % in AE60 and 67 % in AE120, compared to a 2.22 % change in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). Testosterone levels increased by 22 % in AE60 and 33 % in AE120, compared to a 4 % increase in males in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). PSS scores decreased by 53 % in AE60 and 62 % in AE120, CGI-severity scores decreased by 72 % in AE60 and 68 % in AE120, and PGIC scores improved by 60 % in both AE60 and AE120 groups, all showing significant differences compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: Ashwagandha extract with 35 % withanolide glycosides (Shoden) at 60 mg and 120 mg was significantly effective in reduced morning serum cortisol and increasing total testosterone. Therefore, it can be recommended for reducing high stress and anxiety. Clinical trial registration: The study was prospectively registered in Clinical Trial Registry, India with registration number CTRI/2022/04/042133 [Registered on: April 25, 2022].

Optimized deep maxout for crowd anomaly detection: A hybrid optimization-based model.

Monitoring Surveillance video is really time-consuming, and the complexity of typical crowd behaviour in crowded situations makes this even more challenging. This has sparked a curiosity about computer vision-based anomaly detection. This study introduces a new crowd anomaly detection method with two main steps: Visual Attention Detection and Anomaly Detection. The Visual Attention Detection phase uses an Enhanced Bilateral Texture-Based Methodology to pinpoint crucial areas in crowded scenes, improving anomaly detection precision. Next, the Anomaly Detection phase employs Optimized Deep Maxout Network to robustly identify unusual behaviours. This network's deep learning capabilities are essential for detecting complex patterns in diverse crowd scenarios. To enhance accuracy, the model is trained using the innovative Battle Royale Coalesced Atom Search Optimization (BRCASO) algorithm, which fine-tunes optimal weights for superior performance, ensuring heightened detection accuracy and reliability. Lastly, using various performance metrics, the suggested work's effectiveness will be contrasted with that of the other traditional approaches. The proposed crowd anomaly detection is implemented in Python. On observing the result showed that the suggested model attains a detection accuracy of 97.28% at a learning rate of 90%, which is much superior than the detection accuracy of other models, including ASO = 90.56%, BMO = 91.39%, BES = 88.63%, BRO = 86.98%, and FFLY = 89.59%.

Gender disparities in outcomes of cardiogenic shock secondary to Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) has a preponderance for females, particularly postmenopausal. However, recent data from multicenter registries identified a worse prognosis in male patients, particularly with cardiogenic shock. We aim to investigate gender disparities in outcomes of TTC-associated cardiogenic shock (TTC-CS). Methods: The National Readmission Database (2016-2020) was utilized to identify TTC-CS hospitalizations. Cohorts were stratified by gender. A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) model, which utilized complete Mahalanobis Distance Matching within the Propensity Score Caliper following multivariate regression, successfully matched males and females. Pearson's χ2 test was applied to the propensity-matched cohorts to compare outcomes. Results: Among 12,803 TTC-CS hospitalizations, the majority (74.1 %) were females (N: 9490), and 25.9 % were males (N: 3313). On propensity-matched cohorts (2609), males were found to have higher in-hospital mortality (31 % vs. 26 %, p < 0.001), higher incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (14 % vs. 10.8 %, p < 0.001), endotracheal intubation (52.1 % vs. 48.8 %, p: 0.001), acute liver injury (18 % vs. 15.9 %, p: 0.004), acute stroke (7.2 % vs. 5.8 %, p: 0.004), cardiac arrhythmias (55.1 % vs. 49.3 %, p < 0.001) and acute kidney injury (63.1 % vs. 49 %, p < 0.001); while female patients were found to have higher utilization of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) modalities (16.1 % vs 13.2 %, p < 0.001).Males had a higher adjusted cost of hospitalization ($54,537 vs. $42,805, p < 0.001) with a higher median length of hospital stay (10 vs. 9 days, p < 0.001). The two groups had no significant difference in 30, 90, and 180-day readmission rates (p > 0.05). From 2016 to 2020; mortality has not changed significantly for TTC-CS, while the use of percutaneous coronary angiogram (PCA) and MCS has down-trended (p-trend < 0.05). Conclusion: For TTC-CS hospitalization, males have higher in-hospital mortality and complication rates, along with higher LOS and cost of hospitalization. Despite advances in the management of CS, there was no significant difference in mortality from 2016 to 2020.

Cultural practices and beliefs followed for new born care in Santhal pargana - A cross sectional study.

Introduction: Newborn care practices and beliefs vary word-wide, country to country and region to region. These care practices play a vital role in morbidity and mortality of newborn. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the newborn care practices and beliefs of newborn care. Methods: Data was collected from 429 post-natal mothers, who delivered in selected government hospitals of Santhal parganas, Deoghar, Jharkhand. Convenience sampling technique was used to collect the data from February 2023 to April 2023. Results: Findings of the study are, 86.9% mothers accepted that they massage the baby with oil before bath, 89.3% participants have given breastfeeding within one hour of delivery, 93.7% have given prelacteal feeds to the newborn. Applying Heeng (Asafoetida) over the umbilicus was found a common practice to cure the abdominal pain, 70.8% accepted that they apply ashes or powder or cow dung on the umbilical cord, and 88.3% rub the dough on baby's skin to remove excess hairs, 99.3% mothers had firm belief that hot and cold foods in their diet could harm the baby. In continuation 98.8% believed that tooth eruption is associated with diarrhoea, 95.6% are applying kajal in the eyes of new born. Majority 98.8% believed that baby's skin should be exposed to sunlight in case of jaundice and 94% avoid dressing of new born with yellow clothes. Conclusion: Continuous Health Education programs must be organized in Community to Educate the people about beneficial and harmful newborn care practices, which will help to reduce morbidity and mortality in newborn.

Understanding pediatric snakebites: Clinical and epidemiological insights from a healthcare center in Bihar, India.

Background: Snakebites are a common medical emergency and occupational hazard for children in India, particularly in rural areas where poverty is prevalent. However, there is limited data on the epidemiology of snakebites on the Indian subcontinent. Objective: This cross-sectional, observational study aims to investigate the epidemiology, major clinical manifestations, and outcomes of snakebites in children under the age of 15 who were admitted to a tertiary care center in Bihar, a state in East India, and draw attention to this public health concern. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics, Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna. The study included all cases of snakebites with features of envenomation involving patients less than 15 years of age who were brought to the department over a 2-year period. Data were collected using a data collection form and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 11.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: A total of 59 cases were recorded, with 62.71% (n = 37) being male and 37.28% (n = 22) being female. Kraits were responsible for 38.9% (n = 23) of cases, vipers for 42.3% (n = 25), and cobras for 5% (n = 3). Fang marks were present in 67.7% (n = 40) of cases, and the majority of bites (84.7%, n = 50) occurred on a lower limb during the day. The age distribution showed that 16.9% (n = 10) were below 5 years old, 44% (n = 26) were between 5 and 10 years old, and 22% (n = 13) were above 10 years old. Traditional treatment was used in 44.7% (n = 22) of cases, with the most common treatments being local incision + tourniquet (22%, n = 13) and no traditional treatment (55.9%, n = 33). The highest number of cases occurred during July-September (35.5%, n = 21). Conclusion: Snakebites are a significant public health issue in Bihar, India, with the majority of cases occurring in rural areas. The study highlights the importance of increased awareness and preparedness among healthcare providers and the general public, particularly during the monsoon season. Early hospital transfer, prehospital management, and prevention should be promoted through regular public health initiatives.

A mathematical correlation between green supply chain management practices and supply chain performance variables: A model of cubical regression.

The study conducted an exploratory analysis using the cubical regression technique to determine the Influence of various green supply practices on supply chain performance. Specifically, the study aimed to establish a relationship between green practices and performance, with the Indian leather industry serving as the context for a cross-case analysis. Through five case studies, the research examined five propositions, focusing on different green practices and their impact on performance parameters in the industry. The study's main objective was to identify essential green practices that top management should consider in handling performance parameters. The research analyzed the Influence of these practices on critical performance parameters and used a cubical regression model to represent performance parameters against various green techniques graphically. The findings revealed that eco-friendly approaches significantly enhance product quality, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency. Additionally, the study outlined factors that can affect green supply chain management. Finally, a cubical regression model was plotted on a curve to identify the Model that most strongly correlates with the Indian leather industry's multiple performance indicators concerning green supply practices. Overall, the study offers valuable insights into the impact of green practices on performance parameters and guides top management in adopting eco-friendly approaches to enhance their supply chain performance.

Emphasizing Patient-centered Outcomes and Improved Exclusion Criteria in Randomized Controlled Trials for Clinical Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients.

How to cite this article: Sundarsingh V, Kumar M. Emphasizing Patient-centered Outcomes and Improved Exclusion Criteria in Randomized Controlled Trials for Clinical Nutrition in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(8):804-805.

Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Recipients of Solid Organ Transplants and Liver Cirrhosis: A Propensity-Matched Analysis of National Readmission Data.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to grow in the United States. There are limited data on recipients of solid organ transplant (SOT) and patients with liver cirrhosis who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR). Our study aims to evaluate outcomes in these populations. Using the national readmission database (2016 to 2020), we identified recipients of SOT and patients with liver cirrhosis without previous liver transplants who were admitted for severe aortic stenosis and underwent either TAVR or surgical AVR (SAVR). We used multivariable regression for adjusted analysis and the propensity score matching model, implementing complete Mahalanobis distance matching within the Propensity Score Caliper (0.2) to match TAVR and SAVR cohorts for outcomes. Of 3,394 hospitalizations for AVR in recipients of SOT, 2,181 underwent TAVR, and 1,213 underwent SAVR. On propensity-matched analysis, SAVR was associated with more adverse events than was TAVR, including in-hospital mortality (5.2% vs 1.1%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.49, p <0.001), acute kidney injury (43.7% vs 10.2%, p <0.001), cardiogenic shock (9.0% vs 1.6%, p <0.001), sudden cardiac arrest (15.9 vs 6.0%, p <0.001), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (28% vs 10.4%, p <0.001), and net adverse events (72.8 vs 37.6%, p <0.001). A greater median length of stay (10 vs 2 days, p <0.001) and adjusted cost ($80,842 vs $57,014, p <0.001) were also observed. The readmission rates were the same for both cohorts after a 6-month follow-up. Similarly, in 14,763 hospitalizations for AVR in liver cirrhosis, 7,109 patients underwent TAVR, and 7,654 underwent SAVR. In propensity-matched cohorts (n = 2,341), SAVR was found to be associated with greater adverse events, including in-hospital mortality (19.8% vs 10%), stroke (6.7% vs 2%), acute kidney injury (67.7% vs 30.3%), cardiogenic shock (41.9% vs 19.9%), sudden cardiac arrest (31.8% vs 13.2%, aOR 2.89), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (66.2% vs 35.7%), and net adverse events (86% vs 59.5%) (p <0.001). A greater median length of stay (16 vs 3 days) and cost ($500,218 vs $263,383) were also observed (p <0.001). However, the rate of readmissions at 30-day (9% vs 11.1%) and 180-day intervals (33.4% vs 39.8%) was lower for the SAVR cohort (p <0.05). In recipients of SOT and patients with liver cirrhosis, SAVR is associated with greater short-term mortality, adverse events, and healthcare burden than is TAVR. TAVR is a relatively safer alternative to SAVR in these patient populations, although further studies are warranted to compare the long-term outcomes.

A review on e-waste contamination, toxicity, and sustainable clean-up approaches for its management.

Ecosystems and human health are being negatively impacted by the growing problem of electrical waste, especially in developing countries. E-waste poses a significant risk to ecological systems because it can release a variety of hazardous substances into the environment, containing polybrominated diphenyl ethers and heavy metals, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and dioxins. This review article provides a critical assessment of the toxicological consequences of e-waste on ecosystems and human health and data analyses from scientific journals and grey literature on metals, BFRs, PBDEs, PCDFs, and PAHs in several environmental compartments of commercial significance in informal electronic trash recycling. The currently available techniques and tools employed for treating e-waste are sustainable techniques such as bioremediation, chemical leaching, biological leaching, and pyrometallurgy have been also discussed along with the necessity of implementing strong legislation to address the issue of unregulated exports of electronic trash in recycling practices. Despite the ongoing hurdles, implementing environmentally sustainable recycling methods have the potential to address the detrimental impacts of e-waste and foster positive economic development.

Statistical and geospatial assessment of trace and toxic elements distribution in ground and surface water of northern parts of the Indo-Gangetic plains: Source identification and health risk assessment.

This study focusses on ground and surface water resources in the northern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The study aims to identify potential contaminants, analyse their distribution, trace their origins, and evaluate associated health risk. Samples from 80 locations; groundwater (n = 69) and surface water (n = 11) were analysed for nineteen trace and toxic elements using ICP-MS. Eight elements in groundwater (Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, As, Tl, U and Se) and six in surface water (Al, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, and Tl) exceeded WHO (2011) and BIS (2012) limits in certain areas. The geospatial analysis reveals hotspots of trace and toxic element concentration, with higher levels detected in the southeast and western regions of the study area. Correlation matrices revealed a robust correlation (∼>0.75-0.99, p < 0.01) among all trace and toxic elements (excluding Li, Be, As, Ag, and U) in surface water samples when compared to groundwater samples. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) (explains 70.09 cumulative percent for total 6 of factors) of groundwater chemistry indicates that Zn, Ni and Tl contamination may originate from industrial activities (metallurgical processes and manufacturing). The potential sources of Mn may be both geological and human-induced, while Fe, Se, As and U can originate from specific geological formations or human-related activities like over-extraction and leaching of excess fertilizers into aquifers. For surface water, PCA (explains 92.92 cumulative percent for total 5 of factors) identifies industrial activities as the main source of Mn, Fe, Tl, Ni, and Zn, while Al originates from both geological and anthropogenic sources. The water quality index indicated poor to very poor water quality in the western and central regions, whereas the northern and eastern regions exhibited excellent water quality. Health risk assessment reveals HI values for groundwater water: 3.85 (adults), 7.70 (children); surface water: 1.52 (adults), 3.05 (children), emphasizing the urgent need for remediation measures.

Phenotypic and transcriptomics characterization uncovers genes underlying tuber yield traits and gene expression marker development in potato under aeroponics.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Transcriptome analysis in potato varieties revealed genes associated with tuber yield-related traits and developed gene expression markers. This study aimed to identify genes involved in high tuber yield and its component traits in test potato varieties (Kufri Frysona, Kufri Khyati, and Kufri Mohan) compared to control (Kufri Sutlej). The aeroponic evaluation showed significant differences in yield-related traits in the varieties. Total RNA sequencing was performed using tuber and leaf tissues on the Illumina platform. The high-quality reads (QV > 25) mapping with the reference potato genomes revealed statistically significant (P < 0.05) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) into two categories: up-regulated (> 2 Log2 fold change) and down-regulated (< -2 Log2 fold change). DEGs were characterized by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Collectively, we identified genes participating in sugar metabolism, stress response, transcription factors, phytohormones, kinase proteins, and other genes greatly affecting tuber yield and its related traits. A few selected genes were UDP-glucose glucosyltransferase, glutathion S-transferase, GDSL esterase/lipase, transcription factors (MYB, WRKY, bHLH63, and BURP), phytohormones (auxin-induced protein X10A, and GA20 oxidase), kinase proteins (Kunitz-type tuber invertase inhibitor, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1-associated receptor kinase 1) and laccase. Based on the selected 17 peptide sequences representing 13 genes, a phylogeny tree and motifs were analyzed. Real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis was used to validate the RNA-seq results. RT-qPCR based gene expression markers were developed for the genes such as 101 kDa heat shock protein, catechol oxidase B chloroplastic, cysteine protease inhibitor 1, Kunitz-type tuber invertase inhibitor, and laccase to identify high yielding potato genotypes. Thus, our study paved the path for potential genes associated with tuber yield traits in potato under aeroponics.

Bioinformatic elucidation of conserved epitopes to design a potential vaccine candidate against existing and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 poses a significant adverse effects on health and economy globally. Due to mutations in genome, COVID-19 vaccine efficacy decreases. We used immuno-informatics to design a Multi epitope vaccine (MEV) candidate for SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Hence, we predicted binders/epitopes MHC-I, CD8+, MHC-II, CD4+, and CTLs from spike, membrane and envelope proteins of VOCs. In addition, we assessed the conservation of these binders and epitopes across different VOCs. Subsequently, we designed MEV by combining the predicted CTL and CD4+ epitopes from spike protein, peptide linkers, and an adjuvant. Further, we evaluated the binding of MEV candidate against immune receptors namely HLA class I histocompatibility antigen, HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, and TLR4, achieving binding scores of -1265.3, -1330.7, and -1337.9. Molecular dynamics and normal mode analysis revealed stable docking complexes. Moreover, immune simulation suggested MEV candidate elicits both innate and adaptive immune response. We anticipate that this conserved MEV candidate will provide protection from VOCs and emerging strains.

Furfural as a low-volume, high-value asset from agricultural residues: A review on production, agricultural applications and environmental sustainability.

This comprehensive review explores furfural production from agricultural residues, focusing on its significance as a low-volume, high-value asset crucial for environmental sustainability. It covers diverse production technologies, recent advancements, and applications in agriculture, evaluating furfural's potential to enhance crop resilience and yield. Showing its role in a circular economy, the review discusses how furfural can replace conventional petrochemical processes, thereby reducing environmental impact. Case studies, such as successful implementations with cotton biomass byproducts, illustrate furfural's practical applications and environmental benefits. The study underscores the need for ongoing research, supportive policies, and furfural's growing role in sustainable agriculture and industry. It is focused on furfural's essential contribution to promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. By examining furfural's role as a value-added product from agricultural residues, this review provides insights into its economic viability and potential challenges.

The Experimental Pain Experienced in a Cold Pressor Task Is Influenced by Hemoglobin Levels in Young Adult Females.

INTRODUCTION: The intensity of pain perceived for the same noxious stimulus is different in different persons, depending on the biological, psychological, and social factors related to the individual. In clinical practice, it is important to know the factors influencing pain perception. The presence of anemia may affect pain perception. METHODS: This study was conducted on 73 female subjects of whom 25 were non-anemic, 24 had mild, and 24 had moderate anemia. Experimental pain was produced by cold pressor task (CPT). Pain response was evaluated in terms of cardiovascular reactivity (CVR - changes in blood pressure and heart rate), and pain sensitivity (PS - pain threshold, pain tolerance, and pain rating). RESULTS: Anemic subjects showed higher CVR to stress. The average increase in systolic blood pressure was 5.28 mm of Hg in non-anemic, compared to 3.25 in mildly anemic and 9.00 mm of Hg in moderately anemic subjects. The average increase in diastolic blood pressure was 2.24 mm of Hg in non-anemic, 2.5 in mildly anemic, and 4.83 mm of Hg in moderately anemic subjects. The average increase in heart rate was 2.88 beats per minute (bpm) in non-anemic, 4.83 in mildly anemic, and 7 bpm in moderately anemic subjects. Pain rating was higher in anemic subjects (average 7.21) compared to the non-anemic subjects (average 6.44). CONCLUSION: CPT-induced pain causes greater cardiovascular reactivity in anemic patients. The average pain rating is higher in anemic subjects.