Noninvasive Biomarkers for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease-A Proteomic Related Preliminary Report.

Increased alcohol intake over decades leads to progressive alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and contributes to increased mortality. It is characterized by reduced platelet count. Platelets have a role in protecting vascular integrity and involved in liver regeneration. Alcohol affects the platelet count and its function. Platelet function is regulated by their proteins, released during pathophysiological conditions. Therefore, platelet proteome plays a vital role during ALD. This preliminary study consists of 10 patients with ALD. It includes the preparation of human platelets for the proteomic approach. We performed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the samples. A total of 536 proteins were identified in patients with ALD of which 31 proteins were mentioned as a candidate based on their clinical significance. The advancement of diagnostic or therapeutic tools based on the application of platelet proteins in ALD is still far off. Platform for platelet and its proteome research may give diagnostic and prognostic insights into ALD. Platelet proteomes could possibly be concluded as therapeutic and potential diagnostic or prognostic markers in ALD. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-023-01120-9.

Knowledge on mucormycosis among nursing Indian students in the state of Gujarat.

The disorder known as angio-invasive mucormycosis is characterized by tissue necrosis and infarction. The Mucorales order of saprophytic fungi is responsible for its development. It is unclear how widespread mucormycosis is in India due to a lack of population-based investigations. Diabetes mellitus is the risk factor that occurs the most frequently, followed by solid organ transplant and hematological cancer. The present study has been carried out to assess the knowledge regarding mucormycosis among nursing students from Nootan College of Nursing, Visnagar, Gujarat. For this we have selected 100 students by using the probability sampling technique. Structured questions were used to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding mucormycosis. The Score was categorized as poor, average and good. The results show that 45(45%) of the nursing students having poor knowledge, 35(35%) of them were having average knowledge, 20(20%) of them were having good knowledge. There is an association between gender, program and their level of knowledge. Most of the students having poor knowledge regarding mucormycosis and we need to create awareness regarding mucormycosis to Nursing students.

Awareness on good and bad touch among school children in north Gujarat, India.

It is not common to discuss child sexual assault in open conversation. Hence, it is vital to explain the distinction between good and harmful contact in order to stop harmful touch and preserve the safety of children. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the efficacy of teaching initiatives addressing appropriate and inappropriate touching with a view to reducing child sexual abuse. Thus, an experimental research design was employed. Further, a single group pre-test and post-test design was chosen. The data collected from 60 school children at Visnagar, Gujarat, India. Data shows that the mean post-test knowledge score, which averaged at 16.03, was higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score (5.6). Thus, educational programs on child sexual abuse can significantly improve awareness among school children.

Nanoliposome based biosensors for probing mycotoxins and their applications for food: A review.

Mycotoxins are the most common feed and food contaminants affecting animals and humans, respectively; continuous exposure causes tremendous health problems such as kidney disorders, infertility, immune suppression, liver inflammation, and cancer. Consequently, their control and quantification in food materials is crucial. Biosensors are potential tools for the rapid detection and quantification of mycotoxins with high sensitivity and selectivity. Nanoliposomes (NLs) are vesicular carriers formed by self-assembling phospholipids that surround the aqueous cores. Utilizing their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high carrying capacity, researchers have employed NLs in biosensors for monitoring various targets in biological and food samples. The NLs are used for surface modification, signal marker delivery, and detection of toxins, bacteria, pesticides, and diseases. Here, we review marker-entrapped NLs used in the development of NL-based biosensors for mycotoxins. These biosensors are sensitive, selective, portable, and cost-effective analytical tools, and the resulting signal can be produced and/or amplified with or without destroying the NLs. In addition, this review emphasizes the benefits of the immunoliposome method in comparison with traditional detection approaches. We expect this review to serve as a valuable reference for researchers in this rapidly growing field. The insights provided may facilitate the rational design of next-generation NL-based biosensors.

Imminent threat of rock-ice avalanches in High Mountain Asia.

Upsurge of glacier-related hazards in High Mountain Asia (HMA) has been evident in recent years due to global warming. While many glacial-related hazards are instantaneous, some large landslides were preceded by slow gravitational deformation, which can be predicted to evade catastrophes. Here, we present robust evidence of historical deformation in 2021 Chamoli rock-ice avalanche of Himalaya using space imaging techniques. Multi-temporal satellite data provide evidence of a precursor event in 2016 and expansion of a linear fracture along joint planes, indicating 2021 rock-ice avalanche is a retrogressive wedge failure. The deformation history shows that the fracture propagated at a velocity of ~0.07 m day-1 until September 2020, and with an accelerated velocity (~0.14 m day-1 on average) lately. Analysis of recent similar cases in HMA supported our inference on global warming-induced glacier retreat and thermomechanical effects in enhancing the weakening of fractured rock masses in tectonically active mountain belts. Recent advances in Earth observation and seismic monitoring system can offer clues to the location and timing of impending catastrophic failures in high mountain regions.

Phylodynamic Pattern of Genetic Clusters, Paradigm Shift on Spatio-temporal Distribution of Clades, and Impact of Spike Glycoprotein Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Isolates from India

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with high morbidity and mortality, with the emergence of numerous variants. The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 with respect to clade distribution is uneven, unpredictable and fast changing. Aims: Retrieving the complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from India and subjecting them to analysis on phylogenetic clade diversity, Spike (S) protein mutations and their functional consequences such as immune escape features and impact on infectivity. Methods: Whole genome of SARS-CoV-2 isolates (n=4,326) deposited from India during the period from January 2020 to December 2020 is retrieved from GISAID and various analyses performed using in silico tools. Results: Notable clade dynamicity is observed indicating the emergence of diverse SARS-CoV-2 variants across the country. GR clade is predominant over the other clades and the distribution pattern of clades is uneven. D614G is the commonest and predominant mutation found among the S-protein followed by L54F. Mutation score prediction analyses reveal that there are several mutations in S-protein including the RBD and NTD regions that can influence the virulence of virus. Besides, mutations having immune escape features as well as impacting the immunogenicity and virulence through changes in the glycosylation patterns are identified. Conclusions: The study has revealed emergence of variants with shifting of clade dynamics within a year in India. It is shown uneven distribution of clades across the nation requiring timely deposition of SARS-CoV-2 sequences. Functional evaluation of mutations in S-protein reveals their significance in virulence, immune escape features and disease severity besides impacting therapeutics and prophylaxis.

Basin-wide flood depth and exposure mapping from SAR images and machine learning models.

Recent years recorded an increasing number of short duration - high-intensity rainfall events in the Indian subcontinent consequent with urban and riverine flash floods. Rapid assessments of flooded areas are key for effective mitigation strategies and disaster risk plans, as well as to prepare operative policies for future events. Herein, we present an integrated methodology for rapidly mapping the flood extent, and depths based on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images and a digital elevation model (DEM). Incessant rain during August 2019 brought heavy riverine flooding in southern India, killed at least 280 people, and displaced about one million inhabitants from low-lying areas. We used SAR images by Sentinel-1 before, and during the flooding, and the MERIT DEM which enabled us to map the flood extent and flood depth of the inundation zones. Because the coverage of Sentinel-1 scene was limited to the Kabini river section during the flood period, flood extent and depth maps for the adjacent basin was generated by mapping the susceptibility for flooding using the training set obtained from the flood time Sentinel-1 images, and a set of predictive variables derived from DEM using random forest model. Qualitative analysis and cross-comparison with a numerical flood model proved the proposed approach is highly reliable with an accuracy value of 90% and 86% respectively for training and validation data, thus allowing a precise, simple, and fast flood mapping. The methodology presented here could be applied to other flooded areas having incomplete inventory in the context of flood risk assessment.

Cold nitrogen plasma modified cuminaldehyde/ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and its application in vegetable juices preservation.

E. coli O157:H7 is one of the most common food-borne pathogens and usually related to contaminated vegetables. This study was to prepare an effective antibacterial agent and applied in vegetable juices. In this study, ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complexof CUM (CUM /ßCD-IC) was prepared using ultrasonication technique and then treated with cold nitrogen plasma (CNP) to observe its effect in the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of CUM/ßCD-IC. Various characterization techniques such as fluorescence, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of IC between CUM and ßCD. Phase solubility and double reciprocal profiles studies proved the enhanced solubility of CUM with increasing amount of ßCD and the guest/host stoichiometry of 1:1. Computational modeling and FT-IR indicated that the phenyl ring with isopropyl chain of CUM is inserted in the hydrophobic ßCD. Investigations of thermal properties proved that the ßCD-IC formation improved the stability of CUM. Antibacterial test results indicated that CNP-CUM/ßCD-IC exhibited better antibacterial activity than CUM/ßCD-IC. After CNP-CUM/ßCD-IC treatment, it was observed by TEM that the cell membrane of E. coli O157:H7 was broken. In addition, the antibacterial activity of CNP-CUM/ßCD-IC in vegetable juices was carried out and the findings revealed that CNP-CUM/ßCD-IC has an excellent antibacterial effect on vegetable juices.

Controlled-release casein/cinnamon essential oil nanospheres for the inactivation of Campylobacter jejuni in duck.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is one of the most common foodborne pathogens that cause human sickness mostly through the poultry food chain. Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) has excellent antibacterial ability against C. jejuni growth. This study investigated the antibacterial mechanism of CEO against C. jejuni primarily through metabolism, energy metabolism of essential enzymes (AKPase, ß-galactosidase, and ATPase), and respiration metabolism. Results showed that the hexose monophosphate pathway (HMP) was inhibited, and that the enzyme activity of G6DPH substantially decreased upon treatment with CEO. Analysis of the effect of CEO on the expression of toxic genes was performed by the real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The expression levels of the toxic genes cadF, ciaB, fliA, and racR under CEO treatment were determined. Casein/CEO nanospheres were further prepared for the effective inhibition of C. jejuni and characterized by particle-size distribution, zeta-potential distribution, fluorescence, TEM, and GC-MS methods. Finally, the efficiency of CEO and casein/CEO nanospheres in terms of antibacterial activity against C. jejuni was verified. The casein/CEO nanospheres displayed high antibacterial activity on duck samples. The population of the test group decreased from 4.30 logCFU/g to 0.86 logCFU/g and 4.30 logCFU/g to 2.46 logCFU/g at 4 °C and at 25 °C for C. jejuni, respectively. Sensory evaluation and texture analysis were also conducted on various duck samples.

Encapsulation of essential oil components with methyl-ß-cyclodextrin using ultrasonication: Solubility, characterization, DPPH and antibacterial assay.

Essential oils derived from medicinal plants are prosperous sources of active components having high biological potential. Cuminaldehye and isoeugenol, are hydrophobic essential oil components (EOC), are showing drastic limitations in their applications by low water solubility and the respective volatility. Methyl-ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (MßCD-ICs) were prepared in aqueous solution and in solid state with the EOC via the ultrasonication method, an energy saving, high efficiency and eco-friend technique, aim to extend their aqueous solubility and biological properties. UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and computational simulations confirmed the formation of EOC/MßCD-ICs. Result of solubility studies proved the enhanced solubilization of EOC in the presence of MßCD in aqueous and double reciprocal profiles substantiated the guest/host stoichiometry of 1:1. TGA and DSC studies indicated the improved stability of EOC in MßCD-ICs. The efficiency of ICs in terms of the antioxidant activity was verified and the IC displayed higher antioxidant activity compared to that of free EOC, as determined by free radical scavenging assay. Finally, the antibacterial effect of EOC/MßCD-ICs against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria was demonstrated. Overall results not only revealed the potential of MßCD on the bioavailability, solubility and stability, but also that the intensification caused by the IC may be greater that the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of the selected EOC for this study.

Ultrasound processed cuminaldehyde/2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: Preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity.

Ultrasound is an energy saving, simple, high efficiency and eco-friend physical technology. In this study, the inclusion complex of cuminaldehyde (CUM), a major constituent of cumin essential oil, with 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD) was synthesised with the aid of ultrasound. The solid CUM/HPßCD-IC was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The stability constants were evaluated by phase solubility, absorption and fluorimetry methods, and were found to be 168, 122 and 256 M-1, respectively. FT-IR and molecular modeling studies indicated that the phenyl ring with the aldehyde group of CUM was inserted into the hydrophobic HPßCD cavity. Further, the efficacy of CUM/HPßCD-IC for inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was investigated through plate colony counting method. According to the results, the inactivation was 100 ±â€¯0.06% for both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The results demonstrated the inclusion of CUM within the harmless HPßCD cavity assisted by ultrasound technology, contributing the improvements of water solubility, thermal stability and antibacterial activities.

Functionalisation of fabrics with conducting polymer for tuning capacitance and fabrication of supercapacitor.

Conducting polymer (polypyrrole (PPy) doped with anion) film has been coated on different textile substrates from a mild, room temperature wet in situ chemical polymerisation method exploiting pyrrole as a monomer and ferric chloride as an oxidant and compared their electrochemical capacitive behaviour by assembling as an unit cell supercapacitor. PPy composites were prepared with carbohydrate polymers like cotton, linen (Natural cellulosic fibre), modified cellulosic fibre-viscose rayon and synthetic polymer polyester fabrics to investigate the influence on electrochemical capacitance. The surface morphology and chemistry of these materials were analysed by SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. It reveals that the PPy has greater interaction with the cellulosic fabrics, but whereas surface deposition only has taken place with synthetic fibres. The capacitive behaviour of the PPy coated textiles were evaluated using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy and charge-discharge analysis. A unit cell was fabricated to investigate the capacitive behaviour by assembling two symmetric textile electrodes separated by a solid polymer (PVA/1M H2SO4 gel) electrolyte membrane. The textile electrodes prepared with PPy-Cotton and PPy-Viscose exhibited the highest specific capacitance value of 268 F g(-1) and 244 F g(-1), respectively at a scan rate of 5 mV s(-1). The charge-discharge analysis also shows higher specific capacitance value for PPy-Viscose and PPy-Cotton. The focus of this research is to highlight a successful, simple and reproducible method for fabrication of the textile based supercapacitor and the chemistry of surface interaction of PPy molecule with natural and synthetic fabrics.