Fabrication of cellulose-collagen based biosorbent as eco-friendly scavengers for uranyl ions.

The aim of the present research is to fabricate a biosorbent using agricultural waste for removal of uranium from contaminated water i.e. "waste to wealth" approach. Cellulose extracted from wheat straw was mercerized and a novel semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) was fabricated through graft copolymerization of polyvinyl alcohol onto hybrid mercerized cellulose + collagen backbone. Response surface methodology was used for optimization of different reaction parameters as a function of % grafting (195.1 %) was carried out. Semi-IPN was found to possess higher thermal stability. Adsorption results revealed that the optimum parameters for the elimination of uranium using semi-IPN were: adsorbent dose = 0.15 g, pH = 6.0, contact time = 120 min and initial U (VI) concentration = 100 µg/L. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model gave the best description of the adsorption equilibrium data as the calculated qe value is nearest to the experimental qe for the different initial U(VI) concentrations. Adsorption experiments followed Langmuir isotherm with R2 = 0.999. Furthermore, recyclability and reusability studies showed that the adsorption efficiency of semi-IPN was 82 % after 5 cycles indicating the superior recycling execution of fabricated biosorbent. Thus, the fabricated ecofriendly device can be used effectively for the removal of uranium from contaminated wastewater sources.

A Study of the Etiology, Clinical Profile, and Diagnosis of Various Types of Central Nervous System Infections in a Tertiary Care Center.

Introduction Infections affecting the central nervous system (CNS) can stem from various sources, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, manifesting as conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, and brain abscesses. Despite significant advancements in diagnosis and treatment, these infections continue to pose substantial risks to life. Several factors contribute to the causes of CNS infections. Demographic and geographic elements, the health status of individuals, their immune system's strength, the availability of diagnostic tools, and local prevention initiatives, all play pivotal roles. Consequently, the necessity of comprehensive local epidemiological data becomes undeniable as it guides the need for further studies and research. Understanding these factors is crucial for enhancing preventive measures and optimizing treatment strategies in tackling CNS infections. Aims and objectives This research aims to study the etiology and clinical features of different CNS infections among hospitalized patients and to diagnose cases of CNS infections based on laboratory and radiological investigations. Material and methods One hundred adults, seeking treatment for neurological impairments at a specialized tertiary care center in Gujarat, India, volunteered for this cross-sectional observational research. The study investigated the etiology, clinical profiles, and diagnoses of different CNS infections. It delved into the prevalence of these infections across age and sex categories while also observing mortality rates. Results In our research, we observed that bacterial causes were the most prevalent among CNS infections. Tubercular meningitis accounted for 36%, tuberculoma 14%, and pyogenic bacterial infections 23%. Following this, fungal infections emerged as the second most frequent, with mucormycosis at 9% and cryptococcus at 1%. Other less common CNS infections included viral encephalitis (4%), neurocysticercosis (3%), and brain abscess (1%). Middle-aged individuals between 41 and 60 years were most commonly affected (43%), followed by those aged 21-40 years (31%). Males accounted for a higher percentage of cases at 58%. Clinical symptoms revealed fever as the predominant feature (80%), with headaches following closely at 67%. Acute presentations were prevalent, representing 83% of cases, while neck stiffness was noted in 62% of patients. Most patients exhibited normal hemoglobin levels (96%) and a majority had a normal total leukocyte count (79%). Notably, 31% of the studied patients were identified as People Living With HIV (PLHIV). Out of 100 patients, 79 survived with appropriate treatment, resulting in a mortality of 21%. Conclusion The study identified various CNS infections, including bacterial (acute pyogenic meningitis, tubercular meningitis, tuberculoma, brain abscesses, and neurosyphilis), viral (viral meningitis and encephalitis), fungal (cryptococcal meningitis and CNS mucormycosis), and parasitic infections (neurocysticercosis and CNS toxoplasmosis). Tuberculous meningitis emerged as the most prevalent, followed by pyogenic meningitis. Clinical symptoms predominantly featured fever, headache, and altered sensorium, with less common occurrences of seizures, vomiting, weakness, and speech disturbances. Elevated CSF proteins and total leukocyte count were common findings in CSF analysis while consistent radiological observations included hypodensities in brain tissue and leptomeningeal enhancement.

Emerging role of tumor suppressing microRNAs as therapeutics in managing non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer (LC) is the second leading cause of death across the globe after breast cancer. There are two types of LC viz. small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all LC cases. NSCLC affects smokers and people who do not smoke and mainly arises in bronchi and peripheral lungs tissue. LC is often characterized by the alterations of key genes such as EGFR, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, ALK, MET, K-Ras and p53 and downstream signaling pathways associated with tumor growth, differentiation, and survival. Numerous miRNAs have been discovered as a result of advances in biotechnology to treat LC. Various miRNAs those have been identified to treat LC include mir-Let7, mir-34a, mir-134, mir-16-1, mir-320a, mir-148a, mir-125a-5p, mir-497, mir-29, mir-133a, and mir-29a-3p. These miRNAs target various signaling pathways that are involved in pathogenesis of LC. However, due to rapid RNAse degradation, quick clearance, and heat instability, associated with necked miRNA leads to less effective therapeutic effect against LC. Therefore, to overcome these challenges nanocarrier loaded with miRNAs have been reported. They have been found promising because they have the capacity to target the tumor as well as they can penetrate the tumors deep due to nanometer size. Some of the clinical trials have been performed using miR-34a and let-7 for the treatment of LC. In the present manuscript we highlight the role miRNAs as well as their nanoparticle in tumor suppression.

Evaluation of Regenerative Efficacy of Amnion and Chorion Membrane in Treatment of Mandibular Molar Furcation Defects: A Clinico-radiographic Study.

AIM: Amnion and chorion membranes possess unique inherited biological properties that enhance wound healing and may accelerate periodontal regeneration. The present study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of amnion and chorion membranes in the treatment of furcation defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients were selected and were randomly allocated to group I and group II with 10 subjects in each group. Amnion and chorion membranes are placental-derived membranes that accelerate regeneration by having natural growth factors with their antimicrobial and inflammation reduction properties. Group I was treated using bone grafting with decalcified freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) and placement of amnion as a membrane for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) whereas group II was treated using bone grafting with DFDBA and placement of chorion as a membrane for GTR. The patients were followed for clinical and radiographic parameters and were evaluated between 3 and 6 months after surgery. RESULT: In intragroup comparison, a significant difference was evident in both the groups for all the clinical and radiographic parameters within the groups. (p = 0.01) This means both amnion and chorion membranes showed statistically significant regenerative efficacy. In intergroup comparison, the results show that all the clinical parameters and radiographic parameters show no significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: The amnion and chorion membranes had similar regenerative efficacy in combination with DFDBA in patients with buccal degree II furcation defects in mandibular molars. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The amnion and chorion membranes have shown significant improvement in clinical and radiographic parameters when used for the treatment of buccal degree II furcation defects in mandibular molars. How to cite this article: Mallapragda S, Gupta R, Gupta S, et al. Evaluation of Regenerative Efficacy of Amnion and Chorion Membrane in Treatment of Mandibular Molar Furcation Defects: A Clinico-radiographic Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(2):160-167.

Bidirectional and cross-lag relationship between social media use and psychological wellbeing: evidence from an Indian adolescent cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: In an online era like today, the relationship between social media and depression among adolescents and young adults is erratic and still continues to be a debatable subject. The study aims to examine the association and bi-directional relationship between social media usage and depressive symptoms among the adolescent boys and girls in India. METHODS: The study uses data from two waves of Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) project survey conducted in two Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Depression was measured by a Patient Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression has been used for analyzing the data comprising the same time period, whereas the bidirectional relationship between two time periods has been evaluated by Cross-Lagged Path Model. RESULT: Findings suggest that the percentage of moderate depressive symptoms increased from 1.7% to 3.0% from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Depression among adolescent girls increased slightly from wave 1 to wave 2 whereas a slight decrement was noticed in the moderate form of depressive symptom among adolescent girls using social media for the two waves. Socioeconomic factors like education, age, gender played an important role in affecting depression among adolescents in both the Wave of the survey. The path relationship reveals that social media users in Wave 1 [ß=0.22, p<0.001] were positively associated with social media users in Wave 2. Similar patterns were observed for depressive symptoms at both the waves of the survey. However, cross lagged relations between social media use and depression could not be established between the survey periods. CONCLUSION: A significant degree of association was found between social media use and depression among adolescent boys and girls in the study. The present study concludes that factors like age, gender and education showed significant relationships with social media use and depression.

D27-like carotenoid isomerases: at the crossroads of strigolactone and abscisic acid biosynthesis.

Strigolactones and abscisic acid (ABA) are apocarotenoid-derived plant hormones. Their biosynthesis starts with the conversion of trans-carotenes into cis forms, which serve as direct precursors. Iron-containing DWARF27 isomerases were shown to catalyse or contribute to the trans/cis conversions of these precursor molecules. D27 converts trans-ß-carotene into 9-cis-ß-carotene, which is the first committed step in strigolactone biosynthesis. Recent studies found that its paralogue, D27-LIKE1, also catalyses this conversion. A crucial step in ABA biosynthesis is the oxidative cleavage of 9-cis-violaxanthin and/or 9-cis-neoxanthin, which are formed from their trans isomers by unknown isomerases. Several lines of evidence point out that D27-like proteins directly or indirectly contribute to 9-cis-violaxanthin conversion, and eventually ABA biosynthesis. Apparently, the diversity of D27-like enzymatic activity is essential for the optimization of cis/trans ratios, and hence act to maintain apocarotenoid precursor pools. In this review, we discuss the functional divergence and redundancy of D27 paralogues and their potential direct contribution to ABA precursor biosynthesis. We provide updates on their gene expression regulation and alleged Fe-S cluster binding feature. Finally, we conclude that the functional divergence of these paralogues is not fully understood and we provide an outlook on potential directions in research.

Bacterial immunotherapy: is it a weapon in our arsenal in the fight against cancer?

Advances in understanding the genetic basis of cancer have driven alternative treatment approaches. Recent findings have demonstrated the potential of bacteria and it's components to serve as robust theranostic agents for cancer eradication. Compared to traditional cancer therapies like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bacteria mediated tumor therapy has exhibited superior cancer suppressing property which is attributed a lot to it's tumor proliferating and accumulating characteristics. Genetically modified bacteria has reduced inherent toxicity and enhanced specificity towards tumor microenvironment. This anti- tumor activity of bacteria is attributed to its toxins and other active components from the cell membrane, cell wall and spores. Furthermore, bacterial genes can be regulated to express and deliver cytokines, antibodies and cancer therapeutics. Although there is less clinical data available, the pre- clinical research clearly indicates the feasibility and potential of bacteria- mediated cancer therapy.

Changes in discourse on unmet need for family planning among married women in India: evidence from NFHS-5 (2019-2021).

Unmet needs for contraception in India have declined over time but the rate has not been uniform among women across geographies and socio-economic strata. Identifying the characteristics of women in communities where unmet need is still high is important to devise appropriate strategies to ensure access and uptake of modern contraceptive methods. The current study examined whether there was a national decline in unmet need over time and if regional disparities exist in unmet need. Demographic variations in unmet need based on factors such as maternal age, education, religion, caste, wealth index quintile, family size, and access to antenatal care (ANC) were also documented. Our approach was to document the prevalence of total unmet need for family planning and unmet need for spacing among married Indian women and quantify variability based on socio-economic and demographic drivers within a hierarchal framework, thus providing both macro and micro perspectives. We used data from the fourth and fifth rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) collected from all the States and Union Territories (UTs) in India. Quantile regression analysis and multilevel regression techniques were used to understand the predictors for the total unmet need for family planning and the unmet need for spacing. Results show a considerable decline in the prevalence of unmet need for family planning in India from NFHS-4 to 5 (from 12.9 to 9.3%) in the last six6 years. The north-eastern states show a significant reduction in unmet need for family planning in Manipur (17.8%), Nagaland (13.5%), and followed by Sikkim (9.1%). The predictors such as years of schooling, place of residence, caste, religion, wealth quintile, number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, and children ever born have a significant association with unmet needs for family planning and spacing among married women in India. There is a significant association between years of schooling with the total unmet needs for family planning at (q25) quantiles and the unmet need for spacing at (q25, q50) quantiles. Results reveal that the demand for unmet need for spacing and limiting was the highest among the women in the age categories 15-19 (17.8%) and 20-24 (17.3%). The demand for limiting was the highest (6.8%) among Muslim women. Across wealth quantile categories, the overall unmet demand (11.4%) for spacing and limiting was the highest among the women in the lowest socioeconomic groups. We conclude that greater access to frontline health workers among young wives, and significant investment in education in general, will continue to reduce the unmet needs for family planning in India.

N6-Methyladenine Progressively Accumulates in Mitochondrial DNA during Aging.

N6-methyladenine (6mA) in the DNA is a conserved epigenetic mark with various cellular, physiological and developmental functions. Although the presence of 6mA was discovered a few years ago in the nuclear genome of distantly related animal taxa and just recently in mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), accumulating evidence at present seriously questions the presence of N6-adenine methylation in these genetic systems, attributing it to methodological errors. In this paper, we present a reliable, PCR-based method to determine accurately the relative 6mA levels in the mtDNA of Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and dogs, and show that these levels gradually increase with age. Furthermore, daf-2(-)-mutant worms, which are defective for insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) signaling and live twice as long as the wild type, display a half rate at which 6mA progressively accumulates in the mtDNA as compared to normal values. Together, these results suggest a fundamental role for mtDNA N6-adenine methylation in aging and reveal an efficient diagnostic technique to determine age using DNA.

Modified hydrophobic and oleophilic polyurethane sponge for oil absorption with MIL-53.

A hydrophobic composite sponge (HPCS) is developed for the first time using the dip coating and drying method in an effort to remove organic contaminants like toluene and various oils from water. We employed a polyurethane (PU) sponge, which is reasonably priced, easily accessible, high mechanical strength and a suitable porous substrate on which the hydrophobic composite of MIL-53(Al) along with PDMS was anchored. A crystalline metal organic framework (MOF), MIL-53(Al), with adjustable porosity, functionality, and hydrophobicity is used for oil absorption. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is utilized to increase the hydrophobicity of MIL-53(Al). The MIL-53(Al)@PDMS composite was used to the produce a sponge having high hydrophobicity and oleophilicity. In contrast to PU sponge, which has a low water contact angle (79.64°), the hydrophobic composite sponge showed a wide range of oil absorption capacity (12-50.5 g/g), a very low amount of water absorption (0.84 g/g), and water contact angle of 128.13°. This hydrophobic composite performed phenomenally by separating out various oils and solvents from water even in varying ionic strengths. Moreover, the recyclability of the formed composite was also performed resulting into 6-20 cycles for different oils and solvents. The synthesized hydrophobic composite sponge was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, surface area analysis, FESEM, XPS, TG analysis and contact angle measurement. Furthermore, the materials used in the synthesis of composite are non-toxic and do not harm the environment, resulting in no greenhouse gas emissions making our composite environmentally friendly.

Decomposing the Gap in Contraceptive Use Among Female Adolescents and Young Women Aged 15-24 in India: An Analysis of Appended Datasets of NFHS-4 and 5.

PURPOSE: Owing to the reproductive health needs of the budding adolescent and young population, the present study aims to determine the factors associated with and decomposing the gap in contraceptive use among adolescents and young women in India. DESIGN: Cross sectional design.SettingThe present study is based in India using the appended datasets (IV and V rounds) of the Indian Demographic Health Survey (DHS), also known as National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 2015-16 and 2019-21. SAMPLE: The adequate sample size was 475,294 adolescents and young women in NFHS-4 and 229,705 in NFHS-5, totaling 704,999 adolescents (appended for NFHS-4 and 5) for the present study. MEASURES: Sociodemographic, sexual and reproductive history and contraceptive measures. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model were executed. Additionally, a decomposition technique called Fairlie decomposition was employed to identify the primary causes of the difference in the prevalence of contraceptive use between the two survey periods. RESULTS: Almost 96% of young women aged 15-24 knew about contraception, but only 12% used it. Regression analysis revealed that contraceptive use was associated with higher age (AOR 1.09), higher education (AOR 1.28), married adolescents (AOR 4.08), richest wealth quantile (AOR 2.95), joint decision making (AOR 4.40), knowledge of ovulatory cycle (AOR 1.47), interaction with a health worker about any methods of family planning (AOR 3.29) and three and above children ever born (AOR 18.54). Decomposition analysis showed that factors like decision-making of contraception, age, interaction with family planning worker, the intention of last pregnancy, place of residence and age at first sex contributed to increasing the probability of contraceptive use from NFHS-4 to 5. CONCLUSION: A target-based approach dedicated to understanding the mindset of adolescents and keeping up with their unique needs is the need of the hour.

Downregulation of transposable elements extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Mobility of transposable elements (TEs) frequently leads to insertional mutations in functional DNA regions. In the potentially immortal germline, TEs are effectively suppressed by the Piwi-piRNA pathway. However, in the genomes of ageing somatic cells lacking the effects of the pathway, TEs become increasingly mobile during the adult lifespan, and their activity is associated with genomic instability. Whether the progressively increasing mobilization of TEs is a cause or a consequence of ageing remains a fundamental problem in biology. Here we show that in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the downregulation of active TE families extends lifespan. Ectopic activation of Piwi proteins in the soma also promotes longevity. Furthermore, DNA N6-adenine methylation at TE stretches gradually rises with age, and this epigenetic modification elevates their transcription as the animal ages. These results indicate that TEs represent a novel genetic determinant of ageing, and that N6-adenine methylation plays a pivotal role in ageing control.

Prevalence and determinants of socioeconomic inequality in caesarean section deliveries in Bangladesh: an analysis of cross-sectional data from Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey, 2017-18.

BACKGROUND: Caesarean section deliveries, which involve incisions in the abdomen and uterus of the mother, have been a widespread event among women with obstructed labour. The current study not only estimated the socioeconomic and demographic factors of caesarean deliveries in Bangladesh but also decomposed the existing socioeconomic inequality in caesarean deliveries. DATA AND METHODS: 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) data was used for this study. The adequate sample size for the analysis was 5,338 women aged 15-49 years who had given birth at a health facility for three years preceding the survey. Explanatory variables included women's age, women's educational level, women's working status, mass media exposure, body mass index (BMI), birth order, Ante Natal Care (ANC) visits, place of delivery, partner's education and occupation, religion, wealth index, place of residence, and divisions. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with the outcome variable. Concentration index and concentration curve were made to measure the socioeconomic inequality in caesarean births in Bangladesh. Further, Wagstaff decomposition analysis was used to decompose the inequalities in the study. RESULTS: About one-third of the deliveries in Bangladesh were caesarean. Education of the women and the family's wealth had a positive relationship with caesarean delivery. The likelihood of caesarean delivery was 33% less among working women than those who were not working [AOR: 0.77; CI: 0.62-0.97]. Women who had mass media exposure [AOR: 1.27; CI: 0.97-1.65], overweight/obese [AOR: 1.43; CI: 1.11-1.84], first birth order, received four or more Antenatal check-ups (ANC) [AOR: 2.39; CI: 1.12-5.1], and delivered in a private health facility [AOR: 6.69; CI: 5.38-8.31] had significantly higher likelihood of caesarean delivery compared to their counterparts. About 65% of inequality was explained by place of delivery followed by wealth status of the household (about 13%). ANC visits explained about 5% of the inequality. Furthermore, the BMI status of the women had a significant contribution to caesarean births-related inequality (4%). CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic inequality prevails in the caesarean deliveries in Bangladesh. The place of delivery, household wealth status, ANC visits, body mass index, women's education and mass media have been the highest contributors to the inequality. The study, through its findings, suggests that the health authorities should intervene, formulate specialized programs and spread awareness about the ill effects of caesarean deliveries amongst the most vulnerable groups of women in Bangladesh.

Lenalidomide Augments Differentiation of Cultured Hair Follicle Derived Melanocyte Stem Cells Into Functional Melanocytes.

INTRODUCTION: Melanocyte progenitors are embryonically derived from the neural crest and subsequently get localized in hair follicles and epidermis to provide hair and skin pigmentation. These progenitor cells in hair follicles repeatedly proliferate and differentiate to maintain pigmentation. Vitiligo, a pigmentary disorder, is associated with loss of melanocytes. Repigmentation of vitiligo lesions mainly depends upon the proliferation, migration and differentiation of melanocyte stem cells (MelSCs) into functional melanocytes. The current study is designed to check the efficacy of lenalidomide, an imide drug in the differentiation of MelSCs into functional melanocytes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to check the effect of lenalidomide in the proliferation, migration of cultured hair follicle derived melanocyte stem cells and their differentiation into functional melanocytes. METHODS: Primary culture of MelSCs was established from whisker hair of C57BL/6 mice. Proliferation and migration of cultured cells were done by MTT assay and Boyden's chamber migration assay, respectively. Effect of lenalidomide on the MelSCs differentiation was checked at gene level by qPCR and protein expression was checked by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: A significant increase in the migration of MelSCs in comparison to control was also observed. Lenalidomide treatment significantly increased the expression of melanocyte specific genes in cultured MelSCs as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: From the results we concluded that lenalidomide induce the proliferation and migration of MelSCs and accelerate the differentiation of MelSCs into functional melanocytes.

The burden of unintended pregnancies among Indian adolescent girls in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: findings from the UDAYA survey (2015-16 & 2018-19).

BACKGROUND: Unintended pregnancy severely affects the health and welfare of women and children, specifically if women are young and vulnerable. This study aims to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy and its determinants among adolescent girls and young adult females in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. We believe the present study is unique as it examines the association between unintended pregnancy and sociodemographic factors among young female population in two states of India from 2015-19. METHODS: The data for the present study is derived from the two-wave longitudinal survey "Understanding the lives of adolescents and young adults" (UDAYA) conducted in 2015-16 (Wave 1) and 2018-19 (Wave 2). Univariate, bivariate analysis along with logistic regression models were employed. RESULTS: The results revealed that 40.1 per cent of all currently pregnant adolescents and young adult females reported their pregnancy as unintended (mistimed and unwanted) in Uttar Pradesh at Wave 1 of the survey, which decreased to 34.2 per cent at Wave 2. On the contrary, almost 99 per cent of all currently pregnant adolescents in Bihar reported their pregnancy as unintended at Wave 1, which decreased to 44.8 per cent at Wave 2. The sociodemographic factors like age, caste, religion, education, wealth, media and internet use, knowledge and effective contraception highly impacted unintended pregnancy in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The longitudinal results of the study revealed that place of residence, internet use, number of wanted children, heard about contraception and SATHIYA, use of contraception, side effects of contraception, and the confidence in getting contraceptives from ASHA/ANM did not appear significant predictors at Wave 1. However, they emerge significant over time (Wave 2). CONCLUSIONS: Despite many recently launched policies for adolescents and the youth population, this study comprehended that the level of unintended pregnancies in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh stands worrisome. Therefore, adolescents and young females need more comprehensive family planning services to improve their awareness and knowledge about contraceptive methods and use.

Interdigitated electrodes-based Au-MoS2hybrid gas sensor for sensing toxic CO and NH3gases at room temperature.

In the quest to create effective sensors that operate at room temperature, consume less power and maintain their stability over time for detecting toxic gases in the environment, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and MoS2-based hybrids have emerged as potent materials. In this context, the current work describes the fabrication of Au-MoS2hybrid gas sensor fabricated on gold interdigitated electrodes (GIEs) for sensing harmful CO and NH3gases at room temperature. The GIEs-based Au-MoS2hybrid sensors are fabricated by decorating MoS2nanoflowers (MNF) with varying size of Au nanoparticles using an inert gas evaporation technique. It is observed that by varying the size of Au nanoparticles, the crystallinity gets modified, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction and Micro-Raman spectroscopy (µRS). The gas sensing measurements revealed that the best sensing response is found from the Au-MoS2hybrid (with an average particle size of 10 nm). This particular hybrid shows a 79% response to CO exposure and a 69% response to NH3exposure. The measurements are about 3.5 and 5 times higher than the bare MoS2when exposed to CO and NH3at room temperature, respectively. This enhancement in sensing response is attributed to the modified interfacial interaction between the Au nanoparticles and MNF gets improved, which leads to the formation of a Schottky barrier, as confirmed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. This enables the development of efficient gas sensors that respond quickly to changes in the gas around them.

A Scalable High-Throughput Isoelectric Fractionation Platform for Extracellular Nanocarriers: Comprehensive and Bias-Free Isolation of Ribonucleoproteins from Plasma, Urine, and Saliva.

Extracellular nanocarriers (extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipoproteins, and ribonucleoproteins) of protein and nucleic acids mediate intercellular communication and are clinically adaptable as distinct circulating biomarkers. However, the overlapping size and density of the nanocarriers have so far prevented their efficient physical fractionation, thus impeding independent downstream molecular assays. Here, we report a bias-free high-throughput and high-yield continuous isoelectric fractionation nanocarrier fractionation technique based on their distinct isoelectric points. This nanocarrier fractionation platform is enabled by a robust and tunable linear pH profile provided by water-splitting at a bipolar membrane and stabilized by flow without ampholytes. The linear pH profile that allows easy tuning is a result of rapid equilibration of the water dissociation reaction and stabilization by flow. The platform is automated with a machine learning procedure to allow recalibration for different physiological fluids and nanocarriers. The optimized technique has a resolution of 0.3 ΔpI, sufficient to separate all nanocarriers and even subclasses of nanocarriers. Its performance is then evaluated with several biofluids, including plasma, urine, and saliva samples. Comprehensive, high-purity (plasma: >93%, urine: >95% and saliva: >97%), high-yield (plasma: >78%, urine: >87% and saliva: >96%), and probe-free isolation of ribonucleoproteins in 0.75 mL samples of various biofluids in 30 min is demonstrated, significantly outperforming affinity-based and highly biased gold standards having low yield and day-long protocols. Binary fractionation of EVs and different lipoproteins is also achieved with similar performance.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene in an important staple crop, potato.

The gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system has become an important biotechnological tool for studying gene function and improving crops. In this study, we have used CRISPR/Cas9 system for editing the phytoene desaturase gene (PDS) in popular Indian potato cultivar Kufri Chipsona-I. A construct (pHSE401) carrying two target gRNAs with glycine tRNA processing system under the control of Arabidopsis U6 promoter and the Cas9 protein was constructed and transformed in potato plants using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformations. The regeneration efficiency of 45% was observed in regenerated plants, out of which 81% of the putative transformants shoot lines exhibited mutant or bleached phenotype (albinism). The deletion mutations were detected within the StPDS gene in the genotyped plants and a mutation efficiency of 72% for gRNA1 and gRNA2 has been detected using Sanger sequencing. Hence, we set up a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing protocol which is efficient and generates mutations (deletions) within StPDS gene in potato. The bleached phenotype is easily detectable after only few weeks after Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. This is the first report as a proof of concept for CRISPR/Cas9-based editing of PDS gene in Indian potato cv. Kufri Chipsona-I. This study demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to edit genes at high frequency within the genome of the potato for various traits. Therefore, this study will aid in creating important mutants for modifying molecular mechanisms controlling traits of agronomic importance.

Plateletpheresis donor deferral patterns at a tertiary care hospital in North India: A need for rethink of haemoglobin cutoff.

INTRODUCTION: The donor deferral criteria for blood or apheresis donations are established for two main reasons: (i) to ensure the safety of the blood donor (non-maleficence); (ii) to obtain safe blood of standard quality that has therapeutic benefit for the patient (beneficence). This study was planned to assess the various causes and patterns of plateletpheresis donor deferral in our hospital and to subsequently assess whether any evidence based changes can be done in the current plateletpheresis donor deferral criteria in India to maximize the platelet donor pool without compromising donor safety. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted from May 2021 till June 2022 in the department of transfusion medicine of a tertiary care hospital in North India. The first part of the study was conducted from May 2021 till March 2022 to assess the various causes of donor deferral by analysing the plateletpheresis donor deferral data during the corresponding period. The second part of the study was conducted from April 2022 till June 2022, to assess: (i) average decrease in haemoglobin after plateletpheresis procedure; (ii) red blood cell loss during plateletpheresis procedure; (iii) to determine whether any correlation exists between donor haemoglobin and platelet yield. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 260 donors were screened for plateletpheresis, out of which 221 (85%) donors were accepted and 39 (15%) donors were deferred for various reasons. Out of the 39 deferred donors, 33 (84.6%) were temporary deferrals, while 6 (15.4%) were permanent deferrals. Low haemoglobin (Hb < 12.5 g/dl) was a cause of deferral in 12.8% (n = 5) of the deferred donors. 192 (73.9%) out of the 260 donors were replacement donors. The calculated mean decrease in haemoglobin as a result of plateletpheresis procedure was 0.4 g/dl. No correlation was seen between donor pre-donation haemoglobin and platelet yield (p = 0.86, r = 0.06, R2 = 0.003). The calculated mean red cell loss as a result of plateletpheresis procedure was 28 ml. CONCLUSION: Low haemoglobin (<12.5 g/dl) is a significant cause of temporary plateletpheresis donor deferral in India. In view of the advancement in plateletpheresis technology, which has resulted in minimal red cell loss with the current generation apheresis devices, haemoglobin cutoff of 12.5 g/dl needs to be reconsidered. Perhaps, after performing a multi-centric trial, a consenscus can be reached for revision of haemoglobin cutoff for plateletpheresis donations.

Synergistic C-TiO2/ZIF-8 type II heterojunction photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

Zinc imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) have been extensively studied as photocatalysts and have shown remarkable potential. In this study, we report the synthesis of a type II heterojunction photocatalyst based on carbon-doped TiO2 (C-TiO2) and ZIF-8 as a potentially improved material for solar light-harvested methylene blue (MB) degradation. Pure ZIF-8 has a wide band gap of 4.9 eV, due to which the application of this material to visible light-assisted photocatalytic performance is a challenging task. Therefore, C-TiO2 has been chosen as a composite material with ZIF-8 owing to its narrow band gap compared to TiO2. This enables the free radical-initiated photocatalytic reaction to shift into the visible region instead of the ultraviolet region. To construct the C-TiO2/ZIF-8 heterostructure, the zinc-based ZIF matrix has been built upon the exterior of C-TiO2 nanoparticles. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-DRS) corroborated the decrease in the band gap of ZIF-8 after the fabrication of C-TiO2/ZIF-8, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated a decrease in average d-spacing and average crystallite size of the synthesized photocatalyst. Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the synthesized samples were also performed to further understand their chemical structure and elemental content. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analyses were performed to understand the valence band (VB) states and the morphology of C-TiO2/ZIF-8. The comparison between pure ZIF-8 and C-TiO2/ZIF-8 in the photocatalytic degradation of MB under visible light has also been drawn. A possible charge-transfer mechanism for the same has also been proposed. It is concluded that the synergistic effect of C-TiO2 and ZIF-8 in C-TiO2/ZIF-8 produces an effective material for photocatalytic dye degradation.