Development of hybrid electrospun alginate-pulverized moringa composites.

The consideration of biopolymers with natural products offers promising and effective materials with intrinsic and extrinsic properties that are utilized in several applications. Electrospinning is a method known for its unique and efficient performance in developing polymer-based nanofibers with tunable and diverse properties presented as good surface area, morphology, porosity, and fiber diameters during fabrication. In this work, we have developed an electrospun sodium alginate (SA) incorporated with pulverized Moringa oleifera seed powder (PMO) as a potential natural biosorbent material for water treatment applications. The developed fibers when observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), presented pure sodium alginate with smooth fiber (SAF) characteristics of an average diameter of about 515.09 nm (±114.33). Addition of pulverized Moringa oleifera at 0.5%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% (w/w) reduces the fiber diameter to an average of about 240 nm with a few spindle-like pulverized Moringa oleifera particles beads of 300 nm (±77.97) 0.5% particle size and 110 nm (±32.19) with the clear observation of rougher spindle-like pulverized Moringa oleifera particle beads of 680 nm (±131.77) at 8% of alginate/Moringa oleifera fiber (AMF). The results from the rheology presented characteristic shear-thinning or pseudoplastic behaviour with a decline in viscosity, with characteristic behaviour as the shear rate increases, indicative of an ideal polymer solution suitable for the spinning process. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) shows the presence of amine and amide functional groups are prevalent on the alginate-impregnated moringa with water stability nanofibers and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with change in degradation properties in a clear indication and successful incorporation of the Moringa oleifera in the electrospun fiber. The key findings from this study position nanofibers as sustainable composites fiber for potential applications in water treatment, especifically heavy metal adsorption.

A Breast Cancer Image Classification Algorithm with 2c Multiclass Support Vector Machine.

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women; however, early identification has reduced the mortality rate associated with the condition. Studies have demonstrated that the earlier this sickness is detected by mammography, the lower the death rate. Breast mammography is a critical technique in the early identification of breast cancer since it can detect abnormalities in the breast months or years before a patient is aware of the presence of such abnormalities. Mammography is a type of breast scanning used in medical imaging that involves using x-rays to image the breasts. It is a method that produces high-resolution digital pictures of the breasts known as mammography. Immediately following the capture of digital images and transmission of those images to a piece of high-tech digital mammography equipment, our radiologists evaluate the photos to establish the specific position and degree of the sickness in the breast. When compared to the many classifiers typically used in the literature, the suggested Multiclass Support Vector Machine (MSVM) approach produces promising results, according to the authors. This method may pave the way for developing more advanced statistical characteristics based on most cancer prognostic models shortly. It is demonstrated in this paper that the suggested 2C algorithm with MSVM outperforms a decision tree model in terms of accuracy, which follows prior findings. According to our findings, new screening mammography technologies can increase the accuracy and accessibility of screening mammography around the world.

Induced Piezoelectricity in Cotton-Based Composites for Energy-Harvesting Applications.

A flexible and easily processable polymer composite is developed from naturally occurring piezoelectric materials for efficient energy-harvesting applications. Tomato peel (TP)- and cotton (CTN)-based poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composites have been prepared and the role of induced electroactive phases have been explored through structural, thermal, and morphological analyses for their applications in energy production. The mechanism of induced piezoelectricity is vividly demonstrated using electromechanical responses and characteristic changes due to induction phenomena. The CTN-based composite generates a maximum output voltage and current of 65 V and 2.1 µA, respectively, as compared to the maximum output voltage and current of 23 V and 0.7 µA in TP-based composites due to the significant induction of the piezoelectric phase in the presence of suitable electroactive cotton. The fabricated device is able to store charges in capacitors and converts the external stress through different motions of the human body to generate a considerable output, which describes the applicability of the material and justifies the potential as an efficient and sustainable biomechanical energy harvester.

Fluoropolymers and Their Nanohybrids As Energy Materials: Application to Fuel Cells and Energy Harvesting.

The current review article provides deep insight into the fluoropolymers and their applications in energy technology, especially in the field of energy harvesting and the development of fuel cell electrolyte polymeric membranes. Fluoropolymers have gained wide attention in the field of energy applications due to their versatile properties. The incorporation of nanofillers within the fluoropolymer to develop the nanohybrid results in an enhancement in the properties, like thermal, mechanical, gas permeation, different fuel cross-over phenomena through the membrane, hydrophilic/hydrophobic nature, ion transport, and piezo-electric properties for fabricating energy devices. The properties of nanohybrid materials/membranes are influenced by several factors, such as type of filler, their size, amount of filler, level of dispersion, surface acidity, shape, and formation of networking within the polymer matrix. Fluoropolymer-based nanohybrids have replaced several commercial materials due to their chemical inertness, better efficacy, and durability. The addition of certain electroactive fillers in the polymer matrix enhances the polar phase, which enhances the applicability of the hybrid for fuel cell and energy-harvesting applications. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) is one of the remarkable fluoropolymers in the field of energy applications such as fuel cell and piezoelectric energy harvesting. In the present review, a detailed discussion of the different kinds of nanofillers and their role in energy harvesting and fuel cell electrolyte membranes is projected.

An annotated checklist of anomuran species (Crustacea: Decapoda) of India.

An annotated checklist of the anomuran crustaceans recorded from Indian waters is compiled from available published literature. A total of 231 species belonging to 58 genera, 15 families and five superfamilies are listed. The highest number of species was seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ecoregion (114 species, 37 genera, 14 families), followed by the South India Ecoregion (111 species, 41 genera, 14 families), West India Ecoregion (93 species, 36 genera, 14 families), Eastern India Ecoregion (76 species, 29 genera, 12 families), Maldives Ecoregion (34 species, 15 genera, 10 families) and Northern Bay of Bengal Ecoregion (22 species, nine genera, five families). Notes on the questionable identifications and records of some anomuran crabs are also provided.

Structural and Dynamic Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Spike-Protein-Montmorillonite Interactions.

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 has been found to play a decisive role in the cell entry mechanism of the virus and has been the prime target of most vaccine development efforts. Although numerous vaccines are already in use and more than half of the world population has been fully vaccinated, the emergence of new variants of the virus poses a challenge to the existing vaccines. Hence, developing an effective drug therapy is a crucial step in ending the pandemic. Nanoparticles can play a crucial role as a drug or a drug carrier and help tackle the pandemic effectively. Here, we performed explicit all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to probe interactions between S protein and Montmorillonite (MMT) nano clay surface. We built two systems with different counterions (Na+ and Ca2+), namely Na-MMT and Ca-MMT, to investigate the effect of different ions on S protein-MMT interaction. Structural modification of S protein was observed in the presence of MMT surface, particularly the loss of helical content of S protein. We revealed that electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions synergistically govern the S protein-MMT interactions. However, hydrophobic interactions were more pronounced in the Na-MMT system than in Ca-MMT. We also revealed residues and glycans of S protein closely interacting with the MMT surface. Interestingly, N165 and N343, which we found to be closely interacting with MMT in our simulations, also have a critical role in cell entry and in thwarting the cell's immune response in recent studies. Overall, our work provides atomistic insights into S protein-MMT interaction and enriches our understanding of the nanoparticle-S protein interaction mechanism, which will help develop advanced therapeutic techniques in the future.

Efficient Herbicide Delivery through a Conjugate Gel Formulation for the Mortality of Broad Leaf Weeds.

Carfentrazone-ethyl is embedded in guar gum to prepare a polymer-herbicide conjugate gel formulation for a sustained release of the active ingredient (a.i.). The sprayable gel formulation was optimized at 0.5% (w/v) concentration. Strong interactions of the prepared composition of the polymer-herbicide conjugate system are shown through spectroscopic techniques, depicting the peak broadening of hydrophilic -OH bonds in the herbicide at 1743 cm-1, shifting to 1730 cm-1 in the polymer-herbicide sample. There is a broadening and shifting of the peak at 329 nm for the n → π* transition at 335 nm in the polymer-herbicide conjugate system in UV spectra. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements show a lowering of endothermic melting peaks to 242 and 303 °C in the polymer-herbicide conjugate. X-ray diffraction studies showed a sharp diffraction peak of the pure polymer at a 2θ of ∼20.3°, while broadening and shifting of the peak position to a 2θ of ∼20.8° were observed after adding the herbicide. Diffusion of the active ingredient in the polymer-herbicide conjugate resulted in much greater coverage (most of the weed leaf stomata (>95%)) than conventional spraying. The efficacy of both the polymer-herbicide formulation and herbicide at different doses in weed nurseries showed significantly higher weed mortality in Anagallis arvensis (95.4%), Chenopodium album (∼97%), and Ageratum conyzoides (93.16%) treated with the polymer-herbicide formulation @ 20 g a.i. ha-1. Narrow SPAD readings range of A. arvensis (0.1-30.6) and that of C. album (0-5) were observed in the polymer-herbicide formulation @ 20 g a.i. ha-1 was at par with the conventional formulation @ 30 g a.i. ha-1. Less regeneration in a weed nursery of A. arvensis (27%), C. album (77%), and A. conyzoides (49%) treated with gel formulations @ 20 g a.i. ha-1 was observed, which was significantly lower than those in conventional herbicides.

A baseline study of meso and microplastic predominance in pristine beach sediment of the Indian tropical island ecosystem.

The global presence and prevalence of microplastic have moved microplastic from an emerging pollutant to a persistent contaminant. Microplastic prevails in almost all spheres of the environment viz. terrestrial, marine and atmosphere the globe abundantly. The prevalence and toxic effects on marine organisms have been studied around the world but the studies are limited to the coastal regime of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI). This study aims to record microplastic prevalence on the tourist beaches of Port Blair, ANI. Three coastal stations namely Cove beach, Quarry beach and Wandoor beach were examined in detail in this regard. Microplastics in the form of lines, fragments, pellets, foams and fibres were found at the sampled sites. Wandoor beach recorded the highest microplastic particles ranging from 105-475 particles kg-1 of sediment with the mean value of 249.82 ± 105.78 particles kg-1. Quarry beach near the municipal waste dumpsite showed the lowest of 72.5-222.5 particles kg-1 with a mean value of 135.625 ± 62.83 particles kg-1. The polymeric forms found were High-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study revealed microplastic input from municipal dump waste near the beach. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed the presence of a new type of polymer namely plasta zinc in the beach sediment, which possibly could be a nanoplastic. Its presence reveals the biological enzymatic degradation of microplastic occurring in the marine environment. Further investigations are required to determine the factors influencing the prevalence of microplastic, its toxic effects on marine habitat and microplastic degradation mechanisms in the marine habitat.

Wearable Sensors with Internet of Things (IoT) and Vocabulary-Based Acoustic Signal Processing for Monitoring Children's Health.

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and it is also the most complex organ in the whole biological system, making it the most complex organ on the planet. According to the findings of current studies, modern study that properly characterises the EEG data signal provides a clear classification accuracy of human activities which is distinct from previous research. Various brain wave patterns related to common activities such as sleeping, reading, and watching a movie may be found in the Electroencephalography (EEG) data that has been collected. As a consequence of these activities, we accumulate numerous sorts of emotion signals in our brains, including the Delta, Theta, and Alpha bands. These bands will provide different types of emotion signals in our brain as a result of these activities. As a consequence of the nonstationary nature of EEG recordings, time-frequency-domain techniques, on the other hand, are more likely to provide good findings. The ability to identify different neural rhythm scales using time-frequency representation has also been shown to be a legitimate EEG marker; this ability has also been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for investigating small-scale neural brain oscillations. This paper presents the first time that a frequency analysis of EEG dynamics has been undertaken. An augmenting decomposition consisting of the "Versatile Inspiring Wavelet Transform" and the "Adaptive Wavelet Transform" is used in conjunction with the EEG rhythms that were gathered to provide adequate temporal and spectral resolutions. Children's wearable sensors are being used to collect data from a number of sources, including the Internet. The signal is conveyed over the Internet of Things (IoT). Specifically, the suggested approach is assessed on two EEG datasets, one of which was obtained in a noisy (i.e., nonshielded) environment and the other was recorded in a shielded environment. The results illustrate the resilience of the proposed training strategy. Therefore, our method contributes to the identification of specific brain activity in children who are taking part in the research as a result of their participation. On the basis of several parameters such as filtering response, accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure, the MATLAB simulation software was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed system.

Paralomis White, 1856 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura) from India, with morphological variability in Paralomis indica Alcock amp; Anderson, 1899.

Deep-water king crabs of the genus Paralomis White, 1856 collected during three cruises of the Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel Sagar Sampada in the western Bay of Bengal (528777 m depths), one cruise in the eastern Bay of Bengal off Great Nicobar Island (337 m depth), and four cruises in the southeastern Arabian Sea (3151245 m) were identified. They are referred to Paralomis ceres Macpherson, 1989, recorded for the first time from Indian waters and P. indica Alcock Anderson, 1899, reported for the first time from the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. In addition, this study reports the morphological variability among the P. indica populations in the shape of the carapace and dorsal rostral spines, nature of the branchial and cardiac regions and abdominal marginal spines, and the relative lengths of pereopods 24. Mitochondrial Cytochrome oxidase I (594 base pairs) and 16S rRNA (503 bp) gene sequences of P. ceres and P. indica (602 and 497 bp, respectively) revealed that they formed distinct lineages. A key to the Indian Ocean species of Paralomis is provided.

Zika Virus Prediction Using AI-Driven Technology and Hybrid Optimization Algorithm in Healthcare.

The Zika virus presents an extraordinary public health hazard after spreading from Brazil to the Americas. In the absence of credible forecasts of the outbreak's geographic scope and infection frequency, international public health agencies were unable to plan and allocate surveillance resources efficiently. An RNA test will be done on the subjects if they are found to be infected with Zika virus. By training the specified characteristics, the suggested Hybrid Optimization Algorithm such as multilayer perceptron with probabilistic optimization strategy gives forth a greater accuracy rate. The MATLAB program incorporates numerous machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence methodologies. It reduces forecast time while retaining excellent accuracy. The projected classes are encrypted and sent to patients. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and TRIPLE Data Encryption Standard (TEDS) are combined to make this possible (DES). The experimental outcomes improve the accuracy of patient results communication. Cryptosystem processing acquires minimal timing of 0.15 s with 91.25 percent accuracy.

Two new species of the genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from the Andaman Sea, India.

Two new species of the galatheid squat lobster genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 are described from the Andaman Sea, India. Galathea nicobarica sp. nov. closely resembles G. rubromaculata Miyake & Baba, 1967a, but differs in the armature of the branchial carapace margin and shape of the dactylus of the third maxilliped. Galathea tirmiziae sp. nov. is allied to G. consobrina De Man, 1902 and G. tagaro Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, but is distinguished by the merus of the third maxilliped lacking a disto-extensor spine and the proportionally more slender merus of the second pereopod.

Yoga and music intervention to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress during COVID-19 outbreak on healthcare workers.

AIM: To investigate impact of Yoga and Music Intervention on anxiety, stress, and depression levels of health care workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: This study was conducted to assess psychological responses of 240 healthcare workers during COVID-19 outbreak. We used Yoga and Music Intervention in normal and abnormal subjects based on Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42). RESULTS: Of all 209 participants, 105 (50.23%) had symptoms of depression (35.88%), anxiety (40.19), and stress (34.92%) alone or in combination. The data suggest that there is significant improvement in test scores after intervention. Majority of persons with abnormal score exhibited improved DASS-42 score on combined interventions of Yoga and music compared to control group. Even subjects without abnormalities on DASS-42 score also showed improved DASS-42 scores in intervention (n = 52) group compared to nonintervention (n = 52) group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted the significance of easily available, simple, inexpensive, safe nonpharmacological interventions like Yoga and Music therapy to overcome stress, anxiety, and depression in present times.

Metagenomics Analysis of Thrombus Samples Retrieved from Mechanical Thrombectomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the microbiota in middle cerebral artery thrombi retrieved in mechanical thrombectomy arising out of symptomatic carotid plaque within 6 hours of acute ischemic stroke. Thrombi were subjected to next-generation sequencing for a bacterial signature to determine their role in atherosclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 4 human middle cerebral artery thrombus samples (all patients were male). The median age for the patients was 51±13.6 years. Patients enrolled in the study from Pacific Medical University and Hospital underwent mechanical thrombectomy in the stroke window period. All patients underwent brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and circle of Willis and neck vessel MRA along with the standard stroke workup to establish stroke etiology. Only patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis and tandem lesions with ipsilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion were included in the study. Thrombus samples were collected, stored at -80 degrees, and subjected to metagenomics analysis. RESULTS: Of the 4 patients undergoing thrombectomy for diagnosis with ischemic stroke, all thrombi recovered for bacterial DNA in qPCR were positive. More than 27 bacteria were present in the 4 thrombus samples. The majority of bacteria were Lactobacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Finegoldia. CONCLUSION: Genesis of symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid plaque leading to thromboembolism could be either due to direct mechanisms like acidification and local inflammation of plaque milieu with lactobacillus, biofilm dispersion leading to inflammation like with pseudomonas fluorescence, or enterococci or indirect mechanisms like Toll 2 like signaling by gut microbiota.

Effect of an ionic environment on membrane fouling: a molecular dynamics study.

The effect of the ionic environment on membrane fouling was investigated for polyamide (PA) and graphene oxide (GO) membranes using equilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For each of these membranes, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was considered as the model foulant. The effect of the foulant on the membranes is investigated at seawater concentration and also in a normal aqueous environment. We investigated the translational and rotational motion of the protein relative to the membrane, interaction energy between the protein and the membrane surface, structural changes in the protein, and ion distribution around the protein and the membrane surface for all the systems. We found that the effects of ions were very different on both the membranes. Specifically, with an increase in ionic strength, the repulsion between the protein and membrane was observed in the case of GO, while for PA, no significant changes were observed for the same. Also, the ion distribution around the protein and the membrane surface were found to be different. In particular, for GO, there were more number of chloride ions around the protein and the membrane than that of sodium ions, which was probably the reason for the repulsion in the case of GO. However, in the case of PA, the membrane surface did not exhibit any affinity towards a specific ion, and the protein in the case of PA was surrounded by more number of sodium ions than chloride ions.

What governs the nature of fouling in forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO)? A molecular dynamics study.

Membrane fouling is a performance hampering phenomenon, which impacts forward osmosis (FO) and reverse osmosis (RO) differently. Experiments have found that the fouling layer structure for FO and RO is very different, but the reasons are not yet very clear, and hence a mechanistic understanding of the fouling in FO and RO is indispensable. Here we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the nature of fouling in FO and RO. Lysozyme and layered graphene oxide (GO) were used as typical representatives of the model foulant and desalination membrane, respectively. It was found that protein-solvent and protein-ion interactions are at the core of the structural differences between RO and FO. In particular, we suggest hydration repulsion and charge screening as probable mechanisms, which lead to different fouling layer structures in FO and RO. Also, a probable mechanism of lysozyme adsorption on the GO surface is proposed, which is based on the transport of protein towards the surface due to hydraulic pressure and Coulombic interactions induced between basic residues of lysozyme (arginine, lysine) facing the surface and oxygen-rich functional groups present on the GO surface. Both hydraulic pressure and Coulombic interactions acted synergistically, which led to lysozyme adsorption on the GO surface. Furthermore, the effect of initial protein orientation on protein-membrane interaction was also explored and was found to be an important factor in determining the nature of interaction and the time scale within which an adsorption event could be observed. This study facilitates the current understanding of the fouling in FO and RO and provides a probable molecular mechanism of how fundamental forces such as hydration repulsion and electrostatic interaction make fouling structurally different in FO and RO.

The effect of the stoichiometric ratio of zinc towards the fibrillation of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA): A mechanistic insight.

Fibrillation of proteins is a major cause of various neurodegenerative diseases and its exact mechanism of formation is yet unclear instead of extensive research. However, the role of metal ions influencing fibrillation of proteins is gaining more attention recently. Herein, we have investigated the role of various concentrations of the transition metal, Zn(II), on the fibrillation of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) at the physiological pH 7.4. Several biophysical and simulation techniques were employed in order to analyze the same. Thioflavin T intensity and residual protein investigations revealed that fibrillation of BSA was significantly decelerated and accelerated at 1:3 and 1:4 ratios of BSA-Zn(II), respectively; while it was found to be independent at other ratios (1:1 and 1:2). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the transition of BSA from α-helical conformation to the ß-sheet rich structure is greatly resisted at 1:3 ratio, however, the same is promoted at 1:4 ratio. Similarly, dynamic light scattering and field emission transmission electron microscopy analyses further confirmed the above observations. Furthermore, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry revealed the interaction of Zn(II) towards four binding sites of BSA with preferential affinities. Molecular dynamics studies predicted that at 1:3 ratio, the C- and N-terminal zones of BSA were least flexible owing to more stable conformation. Moreover, the solvent accessible surface area and structural analyses showed increase in hydrophilicity and more conserved secondary structure, respectively at 1:3 ratio. We propose that BSA fibrillation is indeed dependent on particular Zn(II) concentration, the temperature of the microenvironment of BSA, the number of binding sites exposed due to unfolding and the conformation after metal binding.

Retracted Article: A bio-based piezoelectric nanogenerator for mechanical energy harvesting using nanohybrid of poly(vinylidene fluoride).

A bio-based piezoelectric egg shell membrane (ESM) is used for energy harvesting applications in the form of two and three-component nanohybrids. A bio-waste piezo-filler in a piezoelectric polymer matrix was designed through an induced ß-phase nucleation in the matrix using an organically modified two-dimensional nanoclay. Structural alteration (α to ß-phase) in the presence of the nanoparticles was also manifested by morphological changes over spherulite to a needle-like morphology; thus, these nanohybrid materials are suitable for energy harvesting applications. ESM-based nanogenerators were fabricated with local ordering of piezo phases, as revealed via atomic force microscopy, leading to the generation of mostly electroactive phases in the whole nanohybrid. The voltage outputs from the optimized device were measured to be ∼56 and 144 V in single and multiple stacks (five), respectively, with corresponding power densities of 55 µW cm-2 and 100 µW cm-2. The efficiency of the device was verified using a variety of body movements, e.g. bending, twisting, walking, and foot tapping, causing mechanical energy dissipation, which eventually transformed into energy storage. The underlying mechanism of high conversion of energy is explained by the synergistically induced piezo-phase in the polymer matrix together with the floppy piezo-filler. The mechanical stability, durability and repeated energy conversion of the hybrid device make it a robust nanogenerator. The biocompatibility of the nanogenerator was verified through cellular studies, demonstrating its appropriate use in powering biomedical devices/implants.