Assessment of Flexural and Compressive Strengths of EQUIA, GC Gold Hybrid, and Conventional GIC Restorative Materials.

Objectives: This in vitro research was performed to assess the flexural and compressive strengths of EQUIA, GC Gold Hybrid (GH), and conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC) restorative materials. Materials and methods: This study compares three restorative. Materials: group I-EQUIA Forte GIC, group II-GC GH, and group III-conventional GIC for compressive and flexural strength evaluation. With a specially made Teflon mold, thirty-six cylindrical test specimens measuring 4 mm × 5 mm in dimension were created. They were then placed in 20 mL of deionized water and kept at 37°C for 3 hours every day for 30 days. Later, they were subjected to compressive strength and flexural strength using the universal testing machine. Statistics were used to examine each and every result. Result and Conclusion: EQUIA had the highest average compressive strength and flexural strength, whereas traditional GIC restorative material had the lowest.

A Novel Dielectric Modulated Gate-Stack Double-Gate Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor-Based Sensor for Detecting Biomolecules.

In this article, the performance of n-type junctionless (JL) double-gate (DG) MOSFET-based biosensors with and without gate stack (GS) has been studied. Here, the dielectric modulation (DM) method is applied to detect biomolecules in the cavity. The sensitivity of n-type JL-DM-DG-MOSFET and n-type JL-DM-GSDG-MOSFET-based biosensors have also been evaluated. The sensitivity (ΔVth) improved in JL-DM-GSDG MOSFET/JL-DM-DG-MOSFET-based biosensors for neutral/charged biomolecules is 116.66%/66.66% and 1165.78%/978.94%, respectively, compared with the previously reported results. The electrical detection of biomolecules is validated using the ATLAS device simulator. The noise and analog/RF parameters are compared between both biosensors. A lower threshold voltage is observed in the GSDG-MOSFET-based biosensor. The Ion/Ioff ratio is higher for DG-MOSFET-based biosensors. The proposed GSDG-MOSFET-based biosensor demonstrates higher sensitivity than the DG-MOSFET-based biosensor. The GSDG-MOSFET-based biosensor is suitable for low-power, high-speed, and high sensitivity applications.

Expanding repertoire of SARS-CoV-2 deletion mutations contributes to evolution of highly transmissible variants.

The emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine breakthrough infections globally mandated the characterization of the immuno-evasive features of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we systematically analyzed 2.13 million SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 188 countries/territories (up to June 2021) and performed whole-genome viral sequencing from 102 COVID-19 patients, including 43 vaccine breakthrough infections. We identified 92 Spike protein mutations that increased in prevalence during at least one surge in SARS-CoV-2 test positivity in any country over a 3-month window. Deletions in the Spike protein N-terminal domain were highly enriched for these 'surge-associated mutations' (Odds Ratio = 14.19, 95% CI 6.15-32.75, p value = 3.41 × 10-10). Based on a longitudinal analysis of mutational prevalence globally, we found an expanding repertoire of Spike protein deletions proximal to an antigenic supersite in the N-terminal domain that may be one of the key contributors to the evolution of highly transmissible variants. Finally, we generated clinically annotated SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences from 102 patients and identified 107 unique mutations, including 78 substitutions and 29 deletions. In five patients, we identified distinct deletions between residues 85-90, which reside within a linear B cell epitope. Deletions in this region arose contemporaneously on a diverse background of variants across the globe since December 2020. Overall, our findings based on genomic-epidemiology and clinical surveillance suggest that the genomic deletion of dispensable antigenic regions in SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to the evasion of immune responses and the evolution of highly transmissible variants.

Normative blood pressure data for Indian neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the normative blood pressure (BP) values in healthy Indian neonates using oscillometric method, and to develop BP percentile charts. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Neonatal unit of a teaching hospital in Eastern India. PARTICIPANTS: 1617 hemodynamically stable inborn neonates without birth asphyxia, major congenital anomaly, maternal complications (e.g. preeclampsia, hypertension, diabetes) or critical neonatal illness. PROCEDURE: Quite state measurements of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded by oscillometric method on day 4, 7 and 14 of postnatal life. The averages of three readings at 2-minute intervals were used. RESULTS: Percentile charts (providing 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th, and 99th percentile values) have been developed. SBP, DBP and MAP showed a steady rise from day 4 to day 14, and were comparable between males and females, but were significantly lower in preterms than in term neonates. CONCLUSIONS: Normative neonatal BP data along with gestational age-wise percentile charts shall be of help for decision-making and planning for sick newborns.

Antifungal Activity of Narceine Methyl Ester and Narceine Isolated from Corydalis longipes Against Some Phytopathogenic Fungi.

Narceine methyl ester and narceine are potent alkaloids which were isolated from Corydalis longipes were found effective in vitro at very low concentration, i.e., 100~500 ppm against spore germination of some test plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, A. tagetica, Cercospora abelmoschi, Curvularia maculans, Erysiphe cichoracearum, E. pisi, Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium oryzae, H. penniseti, Ustilago cynodontis). Among the test, phytopathogens the spores of F. udum, C. maculans and H. penniseti were highly sensitive at 200 ppm. However, spores of E. pisi, A. solani and A. tagetica were less sensitive at low concentration followed by other test fungi. Most of the fungi showed zero or nearly zero percent spore germination at 400 and 500 ppm.