Granulosis rubra nasi: A rare dermatosis not limited to nose

Granulosis rubra nasi (GRN) is a rare genodermatosis involving the eccrine glands with an unknown aetiology. It is clinically characterized by localized hyperhidrosis, erythema, papules, pustules, and vesicles over central region of face and usually manifests during early childhood. GRN is asymptomatic, spontaneously resolves during puberty, and treatment options have inconsistent results. We hereby present a case of GRN in 38 years female with sites and dermoscopy findings not defined so far.

Search for Antideuterons of Cosmic Origin Using the BESS-Polar II Magnetic-Rigidity Spectrometer

We searched for antideuterons (d[over ¯]'s) in the 4.7×10^{9} cosmic-ray events observed during the BESS-Polar II flight at solar minimum in 2007-2008 but found no candidates. The resulting 95% C.L. upper limit on the d[over ¯] flux is 6.7×10^{-5}  (m^{2} s sr GeV/n)^{-1} in an energy range from 0.163 to 1.100  GeV/n. The result has improved by more than a factor of 14 from the upper limit of BESS97, which had a potential comparable to that of BESS-Polar II in the search for cosmic-origin d[over ¯]'s and was conducted during the former solar minimum. The upper limit of d[over ¯] flux from BESS-Polar II is the first result achieving the sensitivity to constrain the latest theoretical predictions.

Metabolic syndrome in patients with lichen planus: A case-control study

Background

Lichen Planus (LP) is a chronic dermatosis affecting the skin and mucous membranes. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with LP is a trigger predisposing to Metabolic Syndrome.

Objectives

To study the association of Metabolic Syndrome in patients with LP.

Materials and Methods

A hospital-based prospective case-control study was conducted from April 2021 to January 2023 including 75 histopathologically confirmed patients with LP and 82 age and sex-matched controls according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Metabolic Syndrome was diagnosed using Modified National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, version 26. The chi-square test was used for data analysis.

Results

The majority (30.6%) of the patients belonged to the age group 31-40 years. The mean age of patients with LP was 46.13 ± 14.9 years. Female predominance (69.3%) was observed in our study. Patients with classic LP (54.6%) were predominantly observed. Metabolic Syndrome was significantly prevalent in LP patients than in controls (32% vs. 13.4%, p = 0.005, OR 3.037) and was significantly associated with morphology (only oral mucosal involvement, 61.5%, p 0.027, OR 3.9), severity (severe LP, 58.6%, p < 0.001, OR 7.79), and duration of the disease (≥6 months, 55.5%, p 0.001, OR 5.42). 71% of Metabolic Syndrome was observed in females (p 0.847). Among patients with metabolic syndrome, the majority belonged to the age group between 31 and 40 years (37.5%, p 0.378). Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure values (≥130/85 mm of Hg), Serum Triglycerides (≥150 mg/dl), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (>130 mg/dl) were significantly elevated, and High-Density Lipoprotein (<40 mg/dl) was significantly low in LP than in controls (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study showed a significant association of Metabolic Syndrome in patients with LP. Thus, patients with LP need to be screened to avoid complications associated with Metabolic Syndrome that is, Diabetes Mellitus, Cardiovascular Disease, colorectal cancer, and stroke.

Polyoxometalate-Guanosine Monophosphate Hydrogels with Haloperoxidase-like Activity for Antibacterial Performance

Haloperoxidases represent an important class of enzymes that nature adopts as a defense mechanism to combat the colonial buildup of microorganisms on surfaces, commonly known as biofouling. Subsequently, there has been tremendous focus on the development of artificial haloperoxidase mimics that can catalyze the oxidation of X- (halide ion) in the presence of H2O2 to form HOX. The natural intermediate HOX disrupts the bacterial quorum sensing, thus preventing biofilm formation. Herein, we report a simple method for the formation of supramolecular hydrogels through the self-assembly of Keggin-structured polyoxometalates, phosphotungstic acid, and silicotungstic acid with the small biomolecule guanosine monophosphate (GMP) in an aqueous medium. The polyoxometalate-GMP hydrogels that contained highly entangled nanofibers were mechanically robust and showed thixotropic properties. The gelation of the polyoxometalates with GMP not only rendered manifold enhancement in biocompatibility but also the fibril network in the hydrogel provided high water wettability and the polyoxometalates acted as an efficient haloperoxidase mimic to trigger oxidative iodination, as demonstrated by a haloperoxidase assay. The antifouling activity of the phosphotungstic acid-GMP hydrogel was demonstrated against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which showed enhanced antibacterial performance of the hydrogel as compared to the polyoxometalate alone. We envision that the polyoxometalate-GMP hydrogels may facilitate mechanically robust coatings in a simple pathway that can be useful for antifouling applications.

Improving the Cyclic Reversibility of Layered Li-Rich Cathodes by Combining Oxygen Vacancies and Surface Fluorination

Layered-type Li-rich cathode materials have attracted significant attention for next-generation Li-ion batteries, but the advantage of their high capacity is eclipsed by their poor reversibility upon cycling. Irreversible oxygen redox activity and surface degradation have been deemed as the root cause and direct cause for their poor performance, respectively. We attempted to suppress surface degradation by inserting fluoride ions up to some depth on the surface. By fluorination with NH4HF2 after introducing a significant amount of oxygen vacancies in layered Li1.2Ni0.2Co0.2Mn0.4O2 by using CaH2 as a reducing agent, the reversible capacity reached 268 mAh/g, and the capacity retention after 100 cycles was about 99%. The scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) technique revealed that, in contrast to directly fluorinated samples, our materials exhibit deeper fluorine signals besides surface signals, and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) patterns show ionic and covalent fluorine coordination. These results indicate that the combination of oxygen deficiency introduction and surface fluorination allows some F- ions to occupy near-surface oxygen vacancy sites rather than forming only a LiF layer on the surface, suggesting a new strategy to modify cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Multiple Electrolytes Solution Versus Saline as Bolus Fluid for Resuscitation in Pediatric Septic Shock: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine if initial fluid resuscitation with balanced crystalloid (e.g., multiple electrolytes solution [MES]) or 0.9% saline adversely affects kidney function in children with septic shock.

DESIGN

Parallel-group, blinded multicenter trial.

SETTING

PICUs of four tertiary care centers in India from 2017 to 2020.

PATIENTS

Children up to 15 years of age with septic shock.

METHODS

Children were randomized to receive fluid boluses of either MES (PlasmaLyte A) or 0.9% saline at the time of identification of shock. All children were managed as per standard protocols and monitored until discharge/death. The primary outcome was new and/or progressive acute kidney injury (AKI), at any time within the first 7 days of fluid resuscitation. Key secondary outcomes included hyperchloremia, any adverse event (AE), at 24, 48, and 72 hours, and all-cause ICU mortality.

INTERVENTIONS

MES solution ( n = 351) versus 0.9% saline ( n = 357) for bolus fluid resuscitation during the first 7 days.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The median age was 5 years (interquartile range, 1.3-9); 302 (43%) were girls. The relative risk (RR) for meeting the criteria for new and/or progressive AKI was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.49-0.80; p < 0.001), favoring the MES (21%) versus the saline (33%) group. The proportions of children with hyperchloremia were lower in the MES versus the saline group at 24, 48, and 72 hours. There was no difference in the ICU mortality (33% in the MES vs 34% in the saline group). There was no difference with regard to infusion-related AEs such as fever, thrombophlebitis, or fluid overload between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Among children presenting with septic shock, fluid resuscitation with MES (balanced crystalloid) as compared with 0.9% saline resulted in a significantly lower incidence of new and/or progressive AKI during the first 7 days of hospitalization.

Genome-wide identification and gene expression analysis of GHMP kinase gene family in banana cv. Rasthali

BACKGROUND

The GHMP kinase gene family encompasses ATP-dependent kinases, significantly involved in the biosynthesis of isoprenes, amino acids, and metabolism of carbohydrates. Banana is a staple tropical crop that is globally consumed but known for high sensitivity to salt, cold, and drought stresses. The GHMP kinases are known to play a significant role during abiotic stresses in plants. The present study emphasizes the role of GHMP kinases in various abiotic stress conditions in banana.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We identified 12 GHMP kinase (MaGHMP kinase) genes in the banana genome database and witnessed the presence of the conserved Pro-X-X-X-Gly-Leu-X-Ser-Ser-Ala domain in their protein sequences. All genes were found to be involved in ATP-binding and carried kinase activity confronting their biological roles in the isoprene (27%) and amino acid (20%) biosyntheses. The expression analysis of genes during cold, drought, and salt stress conditions in tissue culture grown banana cultivar Rasthali plants showed a significant involvement of MaGHMP kinase genes in these stress conditions. The highest expression of MaGHMP kinase3 (8.5 fold) was noted during cold stress, while MaGHMP kinase1 (25 fold and 40.01 fold) showed maximum expression during drought and salt stress conditions in leaf tissue of Rasthali.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that MaGHMP kinase1 (MaHSK) and MaGHMP kinase3 (MaGlcAK) could be considered promising candidates for thwarting the abiotic stresses in banana.

Investigating Degradation Mechanisms in PtCo Alloy Catalysts: The Role of Co Content and a Pt-Rich Shell Using Operando High-Energy Resolution Fluorescence Detection X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Low Pt-based alloy catalysts are regarded as an efficient strategy in achieving high activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the desired durability for the low Pt-based catalysts, such as the Pt1Co3 catalyst, has still been considered a great challenge for PEMFCs. In this study, we investigate sub-2.5 nm PtxCoy alloy catalysts with varying Co content and Pt1Co3@Pt core-shell (CS) nanostructure catalysts obtained through a simple displacement reaction. The Pt1Co3@Pt_H catalysts showed a high mass activity (MA) of 1.46 A/mgPt at 0.9 V and 14% MA loss after 10k accelerated degradation test (ADT) cycles, which suggested the improved stability compared with Pt1Co3 catalysts (52% MA loss). To clarify the degradation mechanism, operando high-energy resolution fluorescence detection X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was applied in addition to conventional advanced measurement techniques, including operando conventional XAS, to analyze the electronic state and structure changes during operation potentials. We found that introducing Co improves the catalysts' activity mainly from the strain effect, but an excessive amount of Co leads to increased Pt-oxidation, which accelerates the degradation of the catalysts. The Pt1Co3@Pt_H catalyst shows high tolerance to Pt-oxidation, benefiting both the stability and activity. Our findings demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the degradation mechanism and the importance of designing PtCo CS nanostructures with optimal Co content for enhanced performance in PEMFCs.

Pediatric Trauma Training in India- Need of the Hour

Pediatric trauma is preventable yet every year the number of road accident victims continues to rise. India is facing another epidemic in the form of pediatric trauma. Children less than 14 years account for 11% of accident-related deaths in India. Road traffic injury have multipronged effects on child's mental and physical development. Injury during developing phase can have both long-term and short-term consequences. Currently, India has only 5 Level 1 trauma centers where trauma care providers have mostly undergone training in Adult Trauma Life Support. It is well established that the outcome of pediatric trauma victims is largely dependent on the management received in the golden hour. Yet no standardized pediatric trauma training programme exists in India, and there is a need to address this gap.

Recurrent toxic epidermal necrolysis with two different drugs in a patient with chronic kidney disease-A case report with an atypical presentation

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a dermatologic emergency usually attributed to drugs. Recurrent episodes of TEN are more common in the pediatric population than in adults. Patients carrying susceptible specific haplotypes, cross-reactivity between the drugs, and drug metabolites generated by the Cytochrome P450 are the key factors for the recurrent episodes. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of toxic epidermal necrolysis by altering the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug with comparatively higher mortality in this group of patients. We hereby present an elderly female with 2 episodes of TEN following intake of furosemide at present and Nimesulide 3 years back. Cross-reactivity between these drugs because of the similar stereochemical structure might have triggered the second episode. The second episode of TEN was milder in presentation with a short latency period without any constitutional symptoms as compared to the first episode. Thus, treating physicians should always consider cross-reactivity between the chosen drugs in order to prevent subsequent life-threatening episodes, especially in patients with CKD.

Herpes zoster occurring over the site of tinea cruris-A case report based on the model of T-cell exhaustion in the Ruocco's immunocompromised cutaneous district

Immunocompromised district refers to the area of the skin with altered immune response predisposing secondary diseases to develop in an immunocompetent individual. This might be explained by the theory of T-cell exhaustion which is characterized by the impairment of the effector function of antigen-specific T cells due to chronic persistence of the primary antigen. T-cell exhaustion model is not well known; however, it serves as a newer concept in the pathogenesis of diseases occurring simultaneously over the same site. Thus, it is not surprising to have two different infectious or non-infectious dermatoses over the same site one preceding the other as observed in our patient. The concept of immunocompromised district and T-cell exhaustion is a rare phenomenon; however, it should be identified by the treating physicians/dermatologists for the optimum management of the atypical presentation of the diseases.

Development and application of fruit and vegetable based green films with natural bio-actives in meat and dairy products: a review

In recent years, foodborne outbreaks and food plastic waste accumulation in the environment have impelled a hunt for new, sustainable, novel and innovatory food packaging interventions to face microbial contamination, food quality and safety. Pollution caused from wastes generated by agricultural activities is one of chief rising concerns of the environmentalists across the globe. A solution to this problem is effective and economic valorization of residues from agriculture sector. It would ensure that the by-products/residues from one activity act as ingredients/raw materials for another industry. An example is fruit and vegetable waste based green films for food packaging. Edible packaging is a well-researched area of science where numerous biomaterials have been already explored. Along with dynamic barrier properties, these biofilms often exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial properties as function of the bioactive additives (e.g. essential oils) often incorporated in them. Additionally, these films are made competent by use of recent technologies (e.g. encapsulation, nano-emulsions, radio-sensors) to ensure high end performance and meet the principles of sustainability. Livestock products such as meat, poultry and dairy products are highly perishable and depend largely upon the mercy of packaging materials to enhance their shelf life. In this review, all the above-mentioned aspects are thoroughly covered with a view to project fruit and vegetable based green films (FVBGFs) as a potential and viable packaging material for livestock products, along with a discussion on role of bio-additives, technological interventions, properties and potential applications of FVBGFs in livestock products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

New insights into molecular signaling pathways and current advancements in prostate cancer diagnostics & therapeutics

Prostate adenocarcinoma accounts for more than 20% of deaths among males due to cancer. It is the fifth-leading cancer diagnosed in males across the globe. The mortality rate is quite high due to prostate cancer. Despite the fact that advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics have been made, there is a lack of effective drugs. Metabolic pathways are altered due to the triggering of androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways, and elevated levels of dihydrotestosterone are produced due to defects in AR signaling that accelerate the growth of prostate cancer cells. Further, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways interact with AR signaling pathway and act as precursors to promote prostate cancer. Prostate cancer therapy has been classified into luminal A, luminal B, and basal subtypes. Therapeutic drugs inhibiting dihydrotestosterone and PI3K have shown to give promising results to combat prostate cancer. Many second-generation Androgen receptor signaling antagonists are given either as single agent or with the combination of other drugs. In order to develop a cure for metastasized prostate cancer cells, Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is applied by using surgical or chemical methods. In many cases, Prostatectomy or local radiotherapy are used to control metastasized prostate cancer. However, it has been observed that after 1.5 years to 2 years of Prostatectomy or castration, there is reoccurrence of prostate cancer and high incidence of castration resistant prostate cancer is seen in population undergone ADT. It has been observed that Androgen derivation therapy combined with drugs like abiraterone acetate or docetaxel improve overall survival rate in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) patients. Scientific investigations have revealed that drugs inhibiting poly ADP Ribose polymerase (PARP) are showing promising results in clinical trials in the prostate cancer population with mCRPC and DNA repair abnormalities. Recently, RISUG adv (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) has shown significant results against prostate cancer cell lines and MTT assay has validated substantial effects of this drug against PC3 cell lines. Current review paper highlights the advancements in prostate cancer therapeutics and new drug molecules against prostate cancer. It will provide detailed insights on the signaling pathways which need to be targeted to combat metastasized prostate cancer and castration resistant prostate cancer.

Physico-chemical, sensory, and microbiological quality of raw chicken meat: an exploratory study in the Hisar city of Haryana, India

A survey was conducted in Hisar, located in Haryana, India, to assess the quality of raw chicken meat. To ensure comprehensive coverage, healthy broiler chickens were obtained from various meat retail outlets in Hisar city, encompassing the majority of such establishments. Additionally, a sample of control chickens was obtained from the Livestock Farm, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, Haryana, India. The raw chicken meat was grouped into two categories, breast cut and thigh cut. The breast muscles, which include pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, and the thigh muscles, which include the abductor muscles, were chosen as the samples for proximate analysis, which included physico-chemical, sensory, and microbiological analyses of raw chicken meat. The analysis of the raw meat in the laboratory revealed inconsistent variations between the control and retail samples in terms of parameters, such as proximate composition, pH, the water-holding capacity (WHC), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), instrumental color analysis, and sensory evaluation. The moisture content of the control breast sample was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the samples from shops 2, 3, and 5. However, it was statistically similar to that of the samples from shops 1, 4, and 6. The total plate and psychrotrophic counts of the control thigh sample were significantly lower than those of the samples from shops 3, 4, 5, and 6. Among the thigh pH values, the samples from shops 1, 2, 5, and 6 had significantly higher pH values than the control sample. The variations in the various parameters were multifactorial and established the superiority of birds slaughtered under laboratory conditions and grown in university farms compared to the raw chicken meat available in retail outlets in Hisar city.

Utility of C3d and C4d immunohistochemical staining in formalin-fixed skin or mucosal biopsy specimens in diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid and mucous membrane pemphigoid

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) sometimes have overlapping clinical, histopathological, and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) features in the early stages. Complement deposition is an intrinsic component of the patho-mechanism of BP in contrast to MMP. Hence immunohistochemistry (IHC) for C3d and C4d may be helpful in differentiating the two disorders. Seventy-four patients of BP and 18 patients of MMP along with 10 negative controls were enrolled in this study. C3d and C4d IHC was performed in formalin-fixed skin biopsy specimens. C3d IHC staining in BP/MMP had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 59.2%/41.2%, 100%/100%, 100%/100%, 25.6%/50.0%, respectively. C4d IHC staining in BP/MMP had a sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 26.8%/17.6%, 100%/100%, 100%/100% and 16.1%/41.7%, respectively. Receiver operator analysis showed utility of C3d in diagnosing both BP [Area under curve (AUC) = 0.8, p = 0.0001] and MMP (AUC = 0.71; p = 0.001). C4d was useful in diagnosis of BP (AUC = 0.5; p = 0.0001), but not MMP (AUC = 0.6; p = 0.064). Hence, C3d is a better diagnostic modality for BP as compared to C4d, whereas C3d and C4d have lower diagnostic importance in MMP. C3d IHC can be employed in diagnosing BP when a second biopsy for direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is not possible or where a facility for IF microscopy does not exist.

Protection Against Absorption Passivation on Platinum by a Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Shell for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In polymer electrolyte type fuel cells, the platinum-based catalysts are applied for the oxygen reduction reaction. However, the specific adsorption from the sulfo group in perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers has been considered to passivate the active sites of the platinum. Herein, we present platinum catalysts covered by an ultrathin two-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon shell (CN_x) layer to protect the platinum from the specific adsorption of perfluorosulfonic acid ionomers. Such coated catalysts were obtained by the facile polydopamine coating method, which is available to tune the thickness of the carbon shell by tuning the polymerization time. The coated catalysts that possess a CN_x with a thickness of 1.5 nm demonstrated superior ORR activity and comparable oxygen diffusivity when compared to the commercial Pt/C. These results were supported by the changes in the electronic statements observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and CO stripping analyses. Furthermore, the oxygen coverage, CO displacement charge, and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) tests were employed to identify the protection effect of CN_x in coated catalysts compared with the Pt/C catalysts. In summary, the CN_x could not only suppress the oxide species generation but also prevent the specific adsorption of the sulfo group in the ionomer.

Wheat derived glucuronokinase as a potential target for regulating ascorbic acid and phytic acid content with increased root length under drought and ABA stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana

Glucuronokinase (GlcAK) converts glucuronic acid into glucuronic acid-1-phosphate, which is then converted into UDP-glucuronic acid (UDP-GlcA) via myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX) pathway. UDP-GlcA acts as a precursor in the synthesis of nucleotide-sugar moieties forming cell wall biomass. GlcAK being present at the bifurcation point between UDP-GlcA and ascorbic acid (AsA) biosyntheses, makes it necessary to study its role in plants. In this study, the three homoeologs of GlcAK gene from hexaploid wheat were overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. The GlcAK overexpressing transgenic lines showed decreased contents of AsA and phytic acid (PA) as compared to control plants. Root length and seed germination analyses under abiotic stress (drought and abscisic acid) conditions revealed enhanced root length in transgenic lines as compared to control plants. These results indicate that the MIOX pathway might be contributing towards AsA biosynthesis as evident by the decreased AsA content in the GlcAK overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Findings of the present study will enhance the understanding of the involvement of GlcAK gene in MIOX pathway and subsequent physiological effects in plants.

Overexpression of banana GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) modulates the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in Arabidopsis thaliana

l-Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a potent antioxidant and essential micronutrient for the growth and development of plants and animals. AsA is predominantly synthesized by the Smirnoff-Wheeler (SW) pathway in plants where the GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) gene encodes the rate-limiting step. In the present study, AsA was estimated in twelve banana cultivars, where Nendran carried the highest (17.2 mg/100 g) amount of AsA in ripe fruit pulp. Five GGP genes were identified from the banana genome database, and they were located at chromosome 6 (4 MaGGPs) and chromosome 10 (1 MaGGP). Based on in-silico analysis, three potential MaGGP genes were isolated from the cultivar Nendran and subsequently overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana. Significant enhancement in AsA (1.52 to 2.20 fold) level was noted in the leaves of all three MaGGPs overexpressing lines as compared to non-transformed control plants. Among all, MaGGP2 emerged as a potential candidate for AsA biofortification in plants. Further, the complementation assay of Arabidopsis thaliana vtc-5-1 and vtc-5-2 mutants with MaGGP genes overcome the AsA deficiency that showed improved plant growth as compared to non-transformed control plants. This study lends strong affirmation towards development of AsA biofortified plants, particularly the staples that sustain the personages in developing countries.

Pediatric Trauma - A Silent Epidemic

Trauma is the leading cause of preventable deaths in children all over the world. In the majority of cases, children are innocent victims of road traffic accidents. They suffer from both short-term and long-term impacts of trauma. Deaths from road traffic accidents can be prevented by adopting simple road safety measures and the use of protective equipment. Worldwide programs have been initiated to curb this ever-rising menace; however, the success of these programs depends on their outreach and acceptance among the population in general. Golden hours in trauma management is the initial hour post-trauma, the success of resuscitation depends on the appropriate management of pediatric trauma victims in hospitals dedicated to the management of pediatric trauma victims. The current review highlights the epidemiology, pattern of injury, road safety measures, and global health initiatives for the prevention of accident-related injury in children. The shortcomings of this review are as follows- Firstly pediatric trauma is an exhaustive topic, it is impossible to cover all aspects of pediatric trauma. Thus, the review might have missed some important aspects of pediatric trauma. Secondly, the concept of a pediatric trauma registry is nonexistent in almost all developing countries; hence a true picture of pediatric trauma epidemiology and injury patterns is missing. Thirdly not much work has been done on pediatric trauma in developing countries leading to insufficient data from these countries.

Remediation plan of nano/microplastic toxicity in food

Microplastic pollution is causing a stir globally due to its persistent and ubiquitous nature. The scientific collaboration is diligently working on improved, effective, sustainable, and cleaner measures to control the nano/microplastic load in the environment especially wrecking the aquatic habitat. This chapter discusses the challenges encountered in nano/microplastic control and improved technologies like density separation, continuous flow centrifugation, oil extraction protocol, electrostatic separation to extract and quantify the same. Although it is still in the early stages of research, biobased control measures, like meal worms and microbes to degrade microplastics in the environment have been proven effective. Besides the control measures, practical alternatives to microplastics can be developed like core-shell powder, mineral powder, and biobased food packaging systems like edible films and coatings developed using various nanotechnological tools. Lastly, the existing and ideal stage of global regulations is compared, and key research areas are pinpointed. This holistic coverage would enable manufacturers and consumers to reconsider their production and purchase decisions for sustainable development goals.

Post Covid Juvenile Dermatomyositis with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in a Child: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), a rare multisystemic autoimmune disease of unknown cause, leads to chronic inflammation of both striated and smooth muscles. SARS - Co V2 virus infection in children generally remain asymptomatic. However, in some children it leads to a detailed immunological response named as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Post recovery, occasionally, children are susceptible to other autoimmune disorders.

CASE PRESENTATION

Our case post MIS-C developed JDM. 8-year-old malnourished child developed proximal myopathy of both upper and lower limbs post recovery from COVID 19. His disease severity increased within a short span of time and he went on to develop contractures and deformity of both upper and lower limbs. He developed an uncommon complication of JDM in form of highgrade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of long-term complications of COVID-19 in children which would gradually evolve in the next few years.

Yoga as a Preventive Intervention for Cardiovascular Diseases and Associated Comorbidities: Open-Label Single Arm Study

Aim

Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is a standardized yoga protocol authored by experts from all over the world under the aegis of the Ministry of AYUSH, Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy (AYUSH). The potential of CYP can be determined as a cost-effective lifestyle modification to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods

In this prospective trial, we compared the effect of CYP at baseline and after 1 month. A total of 374 yoga-naïve participants performed CYP under the supervision of experienced trainers. Physiological [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, percent oxygen saturation], biochemical (fasting blood glucose and lipid profile), and neurocognitive parameters were measured before and after the intervention.

Results

At day 30 of yoga practice, serum levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were found significantly improved as compared to the baseline levels observed at the time of enrollment. Similarly, the lipid profile was also obtained from experienced trainers and found to be significantly different from those of yoga-naïve volunteers. When the intervention was compared between the healthy yoga-naïve participants with yoga-naïve participants suffering from medical issues, it was found that cholesterol profile improved significantly in the healthy-naive group as compared to the diseased group (hypertension, diabetes, underwent surgery, and CVD).

Conclusion

These results highlight the need for further research to better understand the effects of yoga on the primary prevention of CVD.

Peritonsillar abscess due to temporomandibular joint septic arthritis: an uncommon cause of a common disease

Peritonsillar abscess is a common presentation of complicated acute tonsillitis. The temporomandibular joint septic arthritis is an uncommon clinical entity while its complications are further rare. We present a case of a man in his late 30s who presented with a painful swelling in the left preauricular region along with increasing trismus. A diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess due to septic arthritis was made based on clinical history and examination. Patient recovered fully after antibiotic and abscess drainage. This is the first case report of temporomandibular septic arthritis leading to peritonsillar abscess.

A randomised clinical trial to assess the adjuvant potential of methotrexate to corticosteroids in mucosal or limited mucocutaneous pemphigus vulgaris

Glucocorticoids are the mainstay of treatment for pemphigus vulgaris (PV). However, the requirement of high doses for long durations often leads to serious adverse events. Methotrexate as an adjuvant has shown potential in retrospective studies but randomized trials are lacking. The objective of the study was to assess the adjuvant potential of methotrexate in mucosal/limited mucocutaneous PV. In this randomised prospective study, 44 patients with mucosal/limited mucocutaneous PV were randomised (1:1) to receive either prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day (later fixed at a maximum dose of 60 mg/day) alone or with methotrexate 0.3 mg/kg/week for 9-months study period. Prednisolone dose was tapered once there was an 80% reduction in Pemphigus Disease Activity Index. Outcome measures were total cumulative dose of prednisolone, the proportion of patients achieving disease control, time taken for disease control and remission on minimal treatment, and adverse effects. No significant difference in the total cumulative dose of prednisolone among the groups was observed (p = 0.68). Disease control was achieved in 95.5% and 86.4% of patients in the prednisolone alone group, and prednisolone and methotrexate group respectively (p = 0.61). No statistically significant difference was observed among the groups with respect to the proportion of patients achieving remission, time taken for disease control and remission, and the number of adverse events. Our study showed no additional benefit of methotrexate to prednisolone in the treatment of mucosal/limited mucocutaneous PV.

Trial registration: CTRI/2018/07/015002; Registered on 23/07/2018]; Trial Registered Retrospectively. http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=24964&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2724964det%27.

Circumferential subannular tympanoplasty: surgical and hearing outcome in 224 ears with subtotal perforation

BACKGROUND

Subannular tympanoplasty is a newer technique with limited research articles in the literature. These articles have limitation in terms of sample data. We reviewed outcome of subannular tympanoplasty performed during last five years in our center.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the surgical and hearing outcome of circumferential subannular tympanoplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was performed in a tertiary care academic center involving 224 subjects with mucosal chronic otitis media who underwent circumferential subannular type 1 tympanoplasty.

RESULTS

Complete neo-tympanum was found in 213 cases (95.1%) at the end final follow period of 12 months after surgery. Eleven tympanic membranes did not take up the graft and considered failure at the end of 6 months after surgery. All of them were subjected for revision surgery and showed intact neo-tympanum after 12 months of surgery. The hearing outcome showed significant improvement in air conduction thresholds from 42.54 ± 13.04 dB to 30.48 ± 10.61 dB at the end of one year. No surgical complication was observed in the study group.

CONCLUSION

The circumferential subannular tympanoplasty carries good surgical success and should be preferred in large and subtotal perforations. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to overcome the limitations in the present study.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is the first study showing outcome of subannular tympanoplasty in large sample size of more than 200.

Direct Patterning of CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals via Electron-Beam Lithography

Lead-halide perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals have proven themselves as an interesting material platform due to their easy synthesis and compositional versatility, allowing for a tunable band gap, strong absorption, and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). This tunability and performance make LHP nanocrystals interesting for optoelectronic applications. Patterning active materials like these is a useful way to expand their tunability and applicability as it may allow more intricate designs that can improve efficiencies or increase functionality. Based on a technique for II-VI quantum dots, here we pattern colloidal LHP nanocrystals using electron-beam lithography (EBL). We create patterns of LHP nanocrystals on the order of 100s of nanometers to several microns and use these patterns to form intricate designs. The patterning mechanism is induced by ligand cross-linking, which binds adjacent nanocrystals together. We find that the luminescent properties are somewhat diminished after exposure, but that the structures are nonetheless still emissive. We believe that this is an interesting step toward patterning LHP nanocrystals at the nanoscale for device fabrication.

A novel NiVP/Pi-based flexible sensor for direct electrochemical ultrasensitive detection of cholesterol

A novel non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor was constructed to achieve a highly selective and ultrasensitive detection of cholesterol to address the problems related to serious coronary heart disease. The NiVP/Pi-based sensor exhibited ultra-high sensitivity of 5510.18 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 and 36.8 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 for 1 nM to 10 μM and 100 μM to 10 mM of cholesterol, respectively, with an ultra-low detection limit of 1 aM, along with superior selectivity for cholesterol when exposed to various interferents such as ascorbic acid, glucose and uric acid. Also, a novel NiVP/Pi-based flexible sensor coated onto Whatman filter paper was developed and displayed superior sensitivity, even with a human blood serum sample at physiological pH.

Fluorine-Rich Zinc Oxoclusters as Extreme Ultraviolet Photoresists: Chemical Reactions and Lithography Performance

The absorption of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation by a photoresist strongly depends on its atomic composition. Consequently, elements with a high EUV absorption cross section can assist in meeting the demand for higher photon absorbance by the photoresist to improve the sensitivity and reduce the photon shot noise induced roughness. In this work, we enhanced the EUV absorption of the methacrylic acid ligands of Zn oxoclusters by introducing fluorine atoms. We evaluated the lithography performance of this fluorine-rich material as a negative tone EUV photoresist along with extensive spectroscopic and microscopic studies, providing deep insights into the underlying mechanism. UV-vis spectroscopy studies demonstrate that the presence of fluorine in the oxocluster enhances its stability in the thin films to the ambient atmosphere. However, the EUV photoresist sensitivity (D ₅₀) of the fluorine-rich oxocluster is decreased compared to its previously studied methacrylic acid analogue. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to gain insights into the chemical changes in the material responsible for the solubility switch. The results support decarboxylation of the ligands and subsequent radical-induced polymerization reactions in the thin film upon EUV irradiation. The rupture of carbon-fluorine bonds via dissociative electron attachment offers a parallel way of generating radicals. The mechanistic insights obtained here will be applicable to other hybrid materials and potentially pave the way for the development of EUV materials with better performance.

Fabrication of NiFeB flexible electrode via electroless deposition towards selective and sensitive detection of dopamine

The abstract should be a single paragraph that summarises the content of the article A novel cost effective and eco-friendly flexible electrochemical sensor was designed to deal with the problems...

Interventional Study Designs

Interventional studies are specifically designed to evaluate direct impact of therapeutic or preventive measures on outcomes by assigning participants into treatment/intervention or control group. Main types of interventional study designs are: single-arm interventional studies, non-randomized controlled trials, cross-over trials, randomized controlled trials, and cluster randomized trials. Each of these study designs has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which need to be assessed and reviewed in the design phase of the study to choose the most appropriate design. Purpose of this article is to provide concept and processes of various interventional study designs along with their utility and limitations.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensors for dopamine and cholesterol: recent advances, challenges and strategies

The rapid and accurate determination of the dopamine (neurotransmitter) and cholesterol level in bio-fluids is significant because they are crucial bioanalytes for several lethal diseases, which require early diagnosis. The level of DA in the brain is modulated by the dopamine active transporter (DAT), and is influenced by cholesterol levels in the lipid membrane environment. Accordingly, electrochemical biosensors offer rapid and accurate detection and exhibit unique features such as low detection limits even with reduced volumes of analyte, affordability, simple handling, portability and versatility, making them appropriate to deal with augmented challenges in current clinical and point-of-care diagnostics for the determination of dopamine (DA) and cholesterol. This feature article focuses on the development of ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensors for the detection of cholesterol and DA for real-time and onsite applications that can detect targeted analytes with reduced volumes and sub-picomolar concentrations with quick response times. Furthermore, the development of ultrasensitive biosensors via cost-effective, simple fabrication procedures, displaying high sensitivity, selectivity, reliability and good stability is significant in the impending era of electrochemical biosensing. Herein, we emphasize on recent advanced nanomaterials used for the ultrasensitive detection of DA and cholesterol and discuss in depth their electrochemical activities towards ultrasensitive responses. Key points describing future perspectives and the challenges during detection with their probable solutions are discussed, and the current market is also surveyed. Further, a comprehensive review of the literature indicates that there is room for improvement in the miniaturization of cholesterol and dopamine biosensors for lab-on-chip devices and overcoming the current technical limitations to facilitate full utilization by patients at home.

Nickel Iron Phosphide/Phosphate as an Oxygen Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for High-Power-Density Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries

The evolution of an effective oxygen electrocatalyst is of great importance for the widespread application of Zn-air batteries but remains an immense challenge. Thus, an efficient catalyst toward the oxygen evolution reaction and oxygen reduction reaction (OER and ORR) is highly essential for high-performance Zn-air batteries. Here, we have reported bifunctional nickel iron phosphide/phosphate (NiFeP/Pi) catalysts with various Ni/Fe ratios toward oxygen electrocatalysis in alkaline media. These catalysts are highly active toward OER and ORR, wherein NiFe(1:2)P/Pi exhibits a low OER overpotential of 0.21 V at 10 mA cm-2 and a high ORR onset potential (0.98 V vs RHE) with the lowest potential difference (ΔE = E10 - E1/2) of 0.62 V, which surpasses that of the benchmark Pt/C and RuO2 catalyst as well as those of most previously reported bifunctional catalysts. Furthermore, the NiFe(1:2)P/Pi-based Zn-air battery demonstrates a very high power density of 395 mW cm-2 and outstanding discharge capacity of 900 mAh g-1@10 mA cm-2 along with steady cyclability, maintaining 98% of the round trip efficiency over 300 cycles. These results are helpful for a good understanding of the composition-activity relation with a certain band gap toward high-performance Zn-air batteries.

Fluorescent Labeling to Investigate Nanopatterning Processes in Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography uses 13.5 nm light to reach the sub-20 nm resolution. However, the process of pattern formation induced by this high-energy light is not well-understood. In this work, we provide an inorganic EUV photoresist with fluorescence properties by introducing a carbazole derivative as a ligand, and we study its effect on the patterning process. Using the fluorescence properties, changes in the emission of the material after EUV exposure could be tracked by means of spectroscopy and microscopy. The resist sensitivity was substantially reduced by the incorporation of the carbazole benzoate ligands, which is attributed to hole trapping and steric hindrance. After EUV irradiation of the resist films, infrared, UV-visible absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopies showed that the carbazole units were still mostly intact, although their fluorescence intensity was lowered. Our work shows that fluorescent labeling can provide relevant mechanistic insights in the patterning process of resists, potentially with a molecular resolution.

Application of Encapsulation Technology in Edible Films: Carrier of Bioactive Compounds

Nutraceuticals, functional foods, immunity boosters, microcapsules, nanoemulsions, edible packaging, and safe food are the new progressive terms, adopted to describe the food industry. Also, the rising awareness among the consumers regarding these has created an opportunity for the food manufacturers and scientists worldwide to use food as a delivery vehicle. Packaging performs a very imminent role in the food supply chain as well as it is a consequential part of the process of food manufacturing. Edible packaging is a swiftly emerging art of science in which edible biopolymers like lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, resins, etc. and other consumable constituents extracted from various non-conventional sources like microorganisms are used alone or imbibed together. These edible packaging are indispensable and are meant to be consumed with the food. This shift in paradigm from traditional food packaging to edible, environment friendly, delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds have opened new avenues for the packaging industry. Bioactive compounds imbibed in food systems are gradually degenerated, or may change their properties due to internal or external factors like oxidation reactions, or they may react with each other thus reducing their bioavailability and ultimately may result in unacceptable color or flavor. A combination of novel edible food-packaging material and innovative technologies can serve as an excellent medium to control the bioavailability of these compounds in food matrices. One promising technology for overcoming the aforesaid problems is encapsulation. It can be used as a method for entrapment of desirable flavors, probiotics, or other additives in order to apprehend the impediments of the conventional edible packaging. This review explains the concept of encapsulation by exploring various encapsulating materials and their potential role in augmenting the performance of edible coatings/films. The techniques, characteristics, applications, scope, and thrust areas for research in encapsulation are discussed in detail with focus on development of sustainable edible packaging.

Natural Antimicrobials as Additives for Edible Food Packaging Applications: A Review

Edible packaging is a swiftly emerging art of science in which edible biopolymers like lipids, polysaccharides, proteins, resins, etc., and other consumable constituents extracted from various non-conventional sources are used alone or imbibed together. Edible packaging with antimicrobial components had led to the development of the hypothesis of active packaging which safeguards the quality of foods as well as health of consumers. Natural antimicrobial agents (NAMAs) like essential oils from spices, bioactive compounds derived from vegetables and fruits, animal and microorganism derived compounds having antimicrobial properties can be potentially used in edible films as superior replcement for synthetic compounds, thus serving the purpose of quality and heath. Most of the natural antimicrobial agents enjoy GRAS status and are safer than their synthetic counterparts. This review focuses on updated literature on the sources, properties and potential applications of NAMAs in the food industry. This review also analyzes the biodegradability and biocompatibility and edibility properties of NAMAs enriched films and it can be concluded that NAMAs are better substitutes but affect the organoleptic as well as the mechanical properties of the films. Despite many advantages, the inclusion of NAMAs into the films needs to be investigated more to quantify the inhibitory concentration without affecting the properties of films and exerting potential antimicrobial action to ensure food safety.

Bottom-Up Nanofabrication with Extreme-Ultraviolet Light: Metal-Organic Frameworks on Patterned Monolayers

The fabrication of integrated circuits with ever smaller (sub-10 nm) features poses fundamental challenges in chemistry and materials science. As smaller nanostructures are fabricated, thinner layers of materials are required, and surfaces and interfaces gain a more important role in the formation of nanopatterns. We present a new bottom-up approach in which we use the high optical resolution offered by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography to print patterns on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Upon radiation, low-energy electrons induce chemical changes in the SAM so that the projected image is transferred to the substrate surface. We use the chemical differences between exposed and unexposed regions to promote a selective growth of hybrid structures that can act as an etch-resistant layer for further pattern transfer or can be used as functional nanostructures. The EUV doses required to promote selective growth on exposed areas are close to industrial requirements. Furthermore, this method allows for the independent tuning of different steps in the EUV lithography process (photo-induced chemistry, spatially resolved chemical contrast, and formation of nanopatterns), an advantage over current resists, in which the same material plays all roles.

Climate Responsive Strategy Matrix for Designing Buildings in India

The starting point for a good design of any building project is the analysis of the macroclimate and microclimate of the building site that encompasses an understanding of temperature, radiation, wind, precipitation, topography, vegetation, ground cover, etc., which together describe the site climate. Although urban context somewhat unifies, climate and topography prevalent in India are varied and diverse. Most part of the country is hot, while some regions are dry throughout the year, some are humid and some others are composite. The building design features, therefore, need to vary with the diversity to provide comfortable environments naturally. The context and the requirements for thermal comfort provide the basis for building siting, selection of building form and envelope, fenestration design, choice of materials, and other aspects. The paper proposes and discusses the various climate-responsive design strategies that are best adapted for the different climatic zones of India and presents such design interventions and features as a comparative matrix. Such a comparative presentation is novel, convenient, easy to comprehend, and provides a useful toolkit for building designers. The climate-responsive interventions in building design proposed in this study have the potential to enhance built environments naturally, thereby mitigating the adverse environmental impact. The proposed strategies are also validated through a sample field survey responded by building professionals from various climatic zones of the country.

Role of low-energy electrons in the solubility switch of Zn-based oxocluster photoresist for extreme ultraviolet lithography

The electron-induced chemistry of a resist material for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) consisting of Zn oxoclusters with methacrylate (MA) and trifluoroacetate (TFA) ligands (Zn(MA)(TFA)) has been studied. Electron energies of 80 eV and 20 eV mimic the effect of photoelectrons released by the absorption of EUV photons and low-energy secondary electrons (LESEs) produced by those photoelectrons. The chemical conversion of the resist is studied by mass spectrometry to monitor the volatile species that desorb during electron irradiation, combined with reflection absorption infrared spectra (RAIRS) measured before and after irradiation. The observed reactions are closely related to those initiated upon EUV absorption. Also, the conversion of the Zn(MA)(TFA) resist layer that is required in EUVL is achieved by a similar energy input upon electron irradiation. The dominant component of the desorbing gas is CO2, but CO detection also suggests Zn oxide formation during electron irradiation. In contrast, species deriving from the ligand side chains predominantly remain within the resist layer. RAIRS gives direct evidence that, during electron irradiation, C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bonds of the MA ligands are more rapidly consumed than the carboxylate groups. This supports that chain reactions occur and contribute to the solubility switch in the resist in EUVL. Remarkably, 20 eV electrons still evolve roughly 50% of the amount of the gas that is observed at 80 eV for the same electron dose. The present results thus provide complementary and new insight to the EUV-induced chemistry in the Zn(MA)(TFA) resist and point towards the important contribution of low-energy electrons therein.

Highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor surpassing water oxidation interference

An electrochemical non-enzymatic sensor based on a NiVP/Pi material was developed for the selective and sensitive determination of glucose. The novel sensor showed a high sensitivity of 6.04 mA μM-1 cm-2 with a lowest detection limit of 3.7 nM in a wide detection range of 100 nM-10 mM. The proposed sensor exhibited a superior selectivity without any interference from the oxygen evolution reaction during glucose sensing. We also found that this glucose sensor showed negligible interference from various interferents, such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, dopamine and sodium chloride. Additionally, a novel flexible sensor was developed by coating the NiVP/Pi over Whatman filter paper, which exhibited two linear ranges of 100 nM to 1 μM and 100 μM to 10 mM with an ultra-sensitivity of 1.130 mA μM-1 cm-2 and 0.746 mA μM-1 cm-2, respectively, in 0.1 M NaOH. The proposed sensor was tested with human blood serum samples demonstrating its practical application. Our findings provide a new route by fine tuning the composition of nickel and vanadium that sheds new light on better understanding the processes. This NiVP/Pi-based sensor offers a new approach towards the electrochemical detection of glucose, enabling glucose monitoring in a convenient way.

Catalytic C-H Bond Activation and Knoevenagel Condensation Using Pyridine-2,3-Dicarboxylate-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks

Three 1D coordination polymers (CPs) [M(pdca)(H2O)2] n (M = Zn, Cd, and Co; 1-3), and a 3D coordination framework {[(CH3)2NH2][CuK(2,3-pdca)(pa)(NO3)2]} n (4) (2,3-pdca = pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate and pa = picolinic acid), have been synthesized adopting a solvothermal reaction strategy. The CPs have been thoroughly characterized using various spectral techniques, that is, elemental analyses, FT-IR, TGA, DSC, UV/vis, and luminescence. Structural information on 1-4 was obtained by PXRD and X-ray single-crystal analyses, whereas morphological insights were attained through FESEM, AFM, EDX, HRTEM, and BET surface area analyses. Roughness parameters were calculated from AFM analysis, whereas dimensions of small domains and interplanar spacing were defined with the aid of HRTEM. CPs 1-3 are 1D isostructural networks, whereas 4 is a 3D framework. Moreover, 1-4 display moderate luminescence at rt. In addition, 1-4 have been applied as economic and efficient porous catalysts for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction and C-H bond activation under mild conditions with good yields (95-98 and 97-99%), respectively. Notably, 1-3 can be reused up to seven cycles, whereas 4 can be reused up to five catalytic cycles with retained catalytic efficiency. Relative catalytic efficacy toward the Knoevenagel condensation reaction follows in the order 2 > 1 > 3 > 4, whereas 2 > 4 > 1 > 3 for C-H activation. The present result demonstrates synthetic, structural, optical, morphological, and catalytic aspects of 1-4.

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (HD-CCD1A and B) contribute as strong negative regulators of β-carotene in Indian bread wheat (cv. HD2967)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most common cereal crop that is considered to be deficient in provitamin A carotenoids. Carotenoids are prone to degrade into apocarotenoids by the activity of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs). Hence, in this study, multiple CCDs were cloned from commercial Indian wheat cultivar HD2967 to understand their role in provitamin A carotenoids degradation. The homoeolog specific expression of HD-CCD1 and HD-CCD4 at different grain filling stages revealed the higher expression of transcripts arising from the A and B subgenomes of HD-CCD1. Furthermore, the grain development stages showed a strong negative correlation of HD-CCD1A (r = - 0.969) and B (r = - 0.970) homoeologs expression to that of β-carotene accumulation. It suggested that they could be potentially involved in deciding the turn-over of β-carotene in wheat grain. Three-dimensional (3D) structures for all six homoeologs of HD-CCD1 and HD-CCD4 were predicted using maize VP14 template to gain better insight into their molecular mechanism. Ramachandran plot assessment revealed that ~ 90% of residues are in the most favoured region. Docking studies with various carotenoid substrates revealed the higher affinity of HD-CCD1A and B for β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin. Bacterial complementation analysis validated the functional role of all six homoeologs with HD-CCD1B showing the highest activity followed by HD-CCD1A for β-carotene degradation. Results of this study provide valuable insights into the characteristics of HD-CCDs in wheat and thereby justifying them (HD-CCD1A and B) as the candidate genes for employing genome editing tools for developing β-carotene enriched wheat grains.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02775-y.

Molecular characterization of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor from Bemisia tabaci

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic ligand gated channels that are highly permeable to calcium ions. In insects, NMDARs are associated with glutamatergic neurotransmission governing diverse physiological and biological processes like vitellogenesis and ovarian development. Therefore, NMDAR may act as attractive target for insect pest control. In present study, we performed structural and functional characterization of NMDARs in Bemisia tabaci, a highly invasive crop pest and potent virus vector. We identified that NMDAR consists of three subunits each encoded by single gene in whiteflies which are highly conserved among different insect orders. Expression analysis suggests that subunit 1 (BtNR1) and subunit 2 (BtNR2) are the main functional units. External supplementation of NMDAR ligand or BtNRs silencing was lethal to insects, which suggested that NMDAR function is highly balanced in whiteflies.