Cellulose nanocrystals for gelation and percolation-induced reinforcement of a photocurable poly(vinyl alcohol) derivative.

Nanomaterials are regularly added to crosslinkable polymers to enhance mechanical properties; however, important effects related to gelation behavior and crosslinking kinetics are often overlooked. In this study, we combine cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with a photoactive poly(vinyl alcohol) derivative, PVA-SbQ, to form photocrosslinked nanocomposite hydrogels. We investigate the rheology of PVA-SbQ with and without CNCs to decipher the role of each component in final property development and identify a critical CNC concentration (1.

Malposition of Central Venous Catheter Inserted under Ultrasound Guidance in Intensive Care Unit: A Case Series.

Malposition of central venous catheter tip inserted into the subclavian and internal jugular vein is a rare unavoidable complication that can be decreased if inserted under ultrasound guidance. We report case series of three patients, two of subclavian and another of internal jugular inserted central venous catheter, in which the catheter malpositioned into ipsilateral internal jugular and subclavian vein respectively but had no effect on patient management. From this, we want to emphasize that the effect of malposition of central venous catheter tip depends upon the indication for which central venous catheter was inserted; it can be detected bedside by ultrasound and flush test.

Effect of licorice on patients with HSD11B1 gene polymorphisms- a pilot study.

The positive association of HSD11B1 gene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetic conditions has been revealed. In the current study, we assessed the effectiveness of licorice on the clinical profile of the patients with HSD11B1 gene polymorphism. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) is a competitive inhibitor of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) enzyme and has been traditionally reported as an anti-ulcer, anti-pyretic, anti-thirst, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agent.

Spectroscopic Study on Biofilm in the Presence of the Aptamer-DNA Scaffolded Silver Nanoclusters.

We report the effectiveness of silver nanocluster (Ag-NC) against the biofilm of (PA). Two DNA aptamers specific for PA and part of their sequences were chosen as templates for growing the Ag-NC. While circular dichroism (CD) studies determined the presence of secondary structures, UV/Vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopic studies confirmed the formation of the fluorescent Ag-NC on the DNA templates.

Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome in a lactating mother with breast abscess: A case report.

Introduction: The highest risk for Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome are female patients with pre-existing Staphylococcal vaginal colonization who frequently use contraceptive sponges, diaphragms or tampons. In addition patients with burns, soft tissue injures, retained nasal packing, post-abortion, post-surgical, post intrauterine device placement and abscess formation are also at high risk.

Case Presentation: A 19 years old female complaint of high fever with altered level of consciousness.

Intra- and intermolecular atomic-scale interactions in the receptor binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: implication for ACE2 receptor binding.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a severe threat to human health with unprecedented social and economic disruption. Spike (S) glycoprotein in the SARS-CoV-2 virus is pivotal in understanding the virus anatomy, since it initiates the early contact with the ACE2 receptor in the human cell. The subunit S1 in chain A of S-protein has four structural domains: the receptor binding domain (RBD), the n-terminal domain (NTD) and two subdomains (SD1, SD2).

Bioprospecting plant growth promoting endophytic bacteria isolated from Himalayan yew (Taxus wallichiana Zucc.).

The present study aims to investigate the endophytic bacteria, isolated from the roots of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. and designated as GBPI_TWL and GBPI_TWr, for their plant growth promoting traits. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular characters, the bacteria are identified as species of Burkholderia and Enterobacter, respectively.

Fertilization-Defective Gametophytic Mutant Screening: A Novel Approach.

Gametophytic mutants share very small proportion of the total mutants generated by any mutagenic approach; even rarer are the fertilization-defective gametophytic mutants. They require an efficient and targeted strategy instead of 'brute force' screening approach. The classical gametophyte mutant screening method, mainly based on the segregation distortion, can distinguish gametophytic mutants from the others.

Substituent Effects on Temperature Dependence of Kinetic Isotope Effects in Hydride-Transfer Reactions of NADH/NAD Analogues in Solution: Reaction Center Rigidity Is the Key.

Substituent effects on the temperature dependence of primary kinetic isotope effects, characterized by Δ = - , for two series of the title reactions in acetonitrile were studied. The change from Δ ≈ 0 for a highly rigid system to Δ > 0 for systems with reduced rigidities was observed. The rigidities were controlled by the electronic and steric effects.

Anterior Spinal Artery Syndrome: Rare Precedented Reason of Postoperative Plegia After Spinal Deformity Surgery: Report of 2 Cases.

Background: Complications in spinal deformity surgery vary from insignificant to severe. Apart from direct mechanical insult, ischemia can also cause spinal cord injury. Ischemic injury may be detected during surgery or may manifest itself postoperatively.

Rhodopsin and melanopsin contributions to human brightness estimation.

We examined the contributions of rhodopsin and melanopsin to human brightness estimation under dim lighting. Absolute brightness magnitudes were estimated for full-field, rhodopsin-, or melanopsin-equated narrowband lights (${\lambda _{\rm max}}:\;{462}$λ:462, 499, 525 nm). Our data show that in scotopic illumination ($ - {5.

Research Note: Effect of organic acid mixture on growth performance and Salmonella Typhimurium colonization in broiler chickens.

Feed additives can be alternatives to antibiotics for routinely encountered pathogens in the poultry production. The objective of this study was to understand effects of organic acid mixture on growth parameters and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) colonization in broilers. Organic acid mixture is a feed-grade buffered formic acid and sodium formate mixture (Amasil NA).

Eosinophilic Cholecystitis presenting with Common Bile Duct Sludge and Cholangitis: A Case Report.

Eosinophilic cholecystitis is a rare post-cholecystectomy inflammatory histopathological condition characterized by more than 90% eosinophilic infiltrate in the gallbladder. We present a case of 27-year female presented with abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, altered mental status, shock, leucocytosis, deranged liver function test, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Biochemically Defined Moderate to Severely Anemic patients in a Tertiary Care Centre.

Introduction: Anemia due to iron deficiency and chronic diseases is common occurrence in developing country like Nepal, the latter seen in patients with various inflammatory, autoimmune, and malignant disorders . The Intensive method of marrow iron examination, which this study has employed, provides clinically useful iron status classification in cases of functional iron deficiency. The aim of the study is to find out the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in biochemically defined moderate to severe anemic patients in tertiary care center.

Positive Allosteric Modulation of the 5-HT Receptor by Indole-Based Synthetic Cannabinoids Abused by Humans.

The nonmedical (i.e., recreational) misuse of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) is a worldwide public health problem.

Thin layer drying behavior of L. leaves with respect to Ginkgolide A and Bilobalide content and microbial load.

Influence of drying temperature (30-50 °C) and relative humidity (RH: 30-80%) on moisture content, energy requirement and quality of leaves with respect to chemical markers namely Ginkgolide A (GA) and Bilobalide (BB), and microbial load of dried materials has been analyzed. Leaves were dried in climate control chamber with varying temperature and relative humidity (RH). Total time required for attaining equilibrium was higher for low temperature at all the RH levels as well as for high RH at all the temperatures.

CpG-SNP site methylation regulates allele-specific expression of MTHFD1 gene in type 2 diabetes.

The interaction of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms is one of the underlying causes of phenotypic variability in complex diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D). To explore the influence of genetic and epigenetic changes in T2D, we examined the effect of methylation of CpG-SNP sites on allele-specific expression (ASE) in one-carbon metabolism pathway genes in T2D. Case-control study was conducted on 860 individuals (430 T2D and 430 controls).

Advances and Challenges in Bacterial Spot Resistance Breeding in Tomato ( L.).

Bacterial spot is a serious disease of tomato caused by at least four species of . These include (race T1), (race T2), (races T3 and T4), and with the distinct geographical distribution of each group. Currently, and are two major bacterial pathogens of tomato in North America, with (race T4) dominating in east-coast while dominating in the Midwest.

Fertilization in flowering plants: an odyssey of sperm cell delivery.

In light of the available discoveries in the field, this review manuscript discusses on plant reproduction mechanism and molecular players involved in the process. Sperm cells in angiosperms are immotile and are physically distant to the female gametophytes (FG). To secure the production of the next generation, plants have devised a clever approach by which the two sperm cells in each pollen are safely delivered to the female gametophyte where two fertilization events occur (by each sperm cell fertilizing an egg cell and central cell) to give rise to embryo and endosperm.

Conserved defense responses between maize and sorghum to Exserohilum turcicum.

Background: Exserohilum turcicum is an important pathogen of both sorghum and maize, causing sorghum leaf blight and northern corn leaf blight. Because the same pathogen can infect and cause major losses for two of the most important grain crops, it is an ideal pathosystem to study plant-pathogen evolution and investigate shared resistance mechanisms between the two plant species. To identify sorghum genes involved in the E.

The first reported case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from Nepal.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) can also be diagnosed in a resource-limited setting through good clinical analysis. The diagnosis of CJD should be considered in patients with rapidly evolving neurological signs associated with cognitive disturbances even in countries with limited available sophisticated tools and where CJD was never reported before.

Boric acid catalyzed chemoselective reduction of quinolines.

Boric acid promoted transfer hydrogenation of substituted quinolines to synthetically versatile 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines (1,2,3,4-THQs) was described under mild reaction conditions using a Hantzsch ester as a mild organic hydrogen source. This methodology is practical and efficient, where isolated yields are excellent and reducible functional groups are well tolerated in the N-heteroarene moiety. The reaction parameters and tentative mechanistic pathways are demonstrated by various control experiments and NMR studies.

Distinct inactive conformations of the dopamine D2 and D3 receptors correspond to different extents of inverse agonism.

By analyzing and simulating inactive conformations of the highly homologous dopamine D and D receptors (DR and DR), we find that eticlopride binds DR in a pose very similar to that in the DR/eticlopride structure but incompatible with the DR/risperidone structure. In addition, risperidone occupies a sub-pocket near the Na binding site, whereas eticlopride does not. Based on these findings and our experimental results, we propose that the divergent receptor conformations stabilized by Na-sensitive eticlopride and Na-insensitive risperidone correspond to different degrees of inverse agonism.

Studying nanoscale structural alterations in cancer cells to evaluate ovarian cancer drug treatment, using transmission electron microscopy imaging.

Understanding nanoscale structural changes can provide information about the physical state of cells/tissues. It has now been shown that increases in nanoscale structural alterations are associated with the progress of carcinogenesis in most cancer cases, including early carcinogenesis. Anti-cancerous therapies are designed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells; however, it is challenging to detect the efficacy of such drugs in the early stages of treatment.