Exogenous dsRNA-Mediated RNAi: Mechanisms, Applications, Delivery Methods and Challenges in the Induction of Viral Disease Resistance in Plants.

The increasing challenges posed by plant viral diseases demand innovative and sustainable management strategies to minimize agricultural losses. Exogenous double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) represents a transformative approach to combat plant viral pathogens without the need for genetic transformation. This review explores the mechanisms underlying dsRNA-induced RNAi, highlighting its ability to silence specific viral genes through small interfering RNAs (siRNAs).

Congenital Titinopathy: Comprehensive Characterization of the Most Severe End of the Disease Spectrum.

Unlabelled: Congenital titinopathy has recently emerged as one of the most common congenital muscle disorders.

Objective: To better understand the presentation and clinical needs of the under-characterized extreme end of the congenital titinopathy severity spectrum.

Methods: We comprehensively analyzed the clinical, imaging, pathology, autopsy, and genetic findings in 15 severely affected individuals from 11 families.

Gender-Equity Model for Liver Allocation using Artificial Intelligence (GEMA-AI) for waiting list liver transplant prioritization.

Background & Aims: We aimed to develop and validate an artificial intelligence score (GEMA-AI) to predict liver transplant (LT) waiting list outcomes using the same input variables contained in existing models.

Methods: Cohort study including adult LT candidates enlisted in the United Kingdom (2010-2020) for model training and internal validation, and in Australia (1998-2020) for external validation. GEMA-AI combined international normalized ratio, bilirubin, sodium, and the Royal Free Glomerular Filtration Rate in an explainable Artificial Neural Network.

Neuromorphic computing at scale.

Neuromorphic computing is a brain-inspired approach to hardware and algorithm design that efficiently realizes artificial neural networks. Neuromorphic designers apply the principles of biointelligence discovered by neuroscientists to design efficient computational systems, often for applications with size, weight and power constraints. With this research field at a critical juncture, it is crucial to chart the course for the development of future large-scale neuromorphic systems.

Estimating the need for diabetic retinopathy services in north India: evidence from a population-based survey in the catchment population of an eye care provider in central Uttar Pradesh.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retina screening coverage among people with diabetes in the catchment area of a high-volume eye care organisation in north India.

Design: A population-based cross-sectional study using Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness survey, including the DR module.

Setting: A customised rural district in the catchment of Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital in Uttar Pradesh in north India.

Riparian Soil Heavy Metal Contamination and Pollution Assessment and Management Planning Integrating Multiple Indices, Statistical and Geospatial Approaches.

This research assesses heavy metal contamination within the riparian zone of the Danro River, a tributary of the Ganges River basin in India, particularly impacted by sand mining activities. The study conducted analyses on major and trace elements in soil samples, focusing on those identified as ecologically hazardous by the Water Framework Directive of India. Utilizing a combination of indices (Enrichment Factor, Pollution Load Index, and Index of geo-accumulation) and statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the investigation aimed to evaluate contamination severity, ecological risks, and pollution sources.

Microwave-Assisted Cobalt-Catalyzed Synthesis of Quinazolinones via Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling under Neat Condition.

Herein, we present a sustainable and atom-economical approach for the synthesis of quinazolinones via acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) using earth-abundant Co-salt, (CoCl) as the catalyst under neat condition. This method is distinguished by its green credentials, like, solvent-free, microwave-assisted heating, cost-effective, use of renewable alcohols, and generating only H and water as byproducts. Remarkably, this protocol achieves quinazolinone synthesis without the need for external ligands, oxidants, or additional additives.

Long-Range Metal-Sorbent Interactions Determine CO Capture and Conversion in Dual-Function Materials.

Carbon capture and utilization involve multiple energy- and cost-intensive steps. Dual-function materials (DFMs) can reduce these demands by coupling CO adsorption and conversion into a single material with two functionalities: a sorbent phase and a metal for catalytic CO conversion. The role of metal catalysts in the conversion process seems salient from previous work, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive and deserve deeper investigation to achieve maximum utilization of the two phases.

Wide field of view large aperture meta-doublet eyepiece.

Wide field of view and light weight optics are critical for advanced eyewear, with applications in augmented/virtual reality and night vision. Conventional refractive lenses are often stacked to correct aberrations at a wide field of view, leading to limited performance and increased size and weight. In particular, simultaneously achieving a wide field of view and large aperture for light collection is desirable but challenging to realize in a compact form-factor.

Effectiveness of ceftazidime-avibactam versus ceftolozane-tazobactam for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the USA (CACTUS): a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam are preferred treatment options for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, real-world comparative effectiveness studies are scarce. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the agents might affect clinical response rates. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam for treatment of invasive multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa infections.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa extract combination in the management of chronic lower back pain: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Background And Aim: Chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is a major condition that leads to disability and reduced quality of life (QoL). This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a novel Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa combination (CL20192) for the treatment of CLBP.

Material And Methods: Participants with CLBP were randomised to receive either a 300 mg CL20192 capsule (n = 45) or placebo capsule (n = 45) once daily for 90 days.

Association Between Type 2 Diabetes and Hypogonadism in India: An Observational Study.

Introduction: Hypogonadism is a common comorbidity associated with several metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes (T2D) that can remain undetected without proper screening. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of hypogonadism in Indian male patients with T2D with or without obesity.

Methods: In this prospective, observational study, male patients with T2D and hypogonadism were evaluated symptomatically using the androgen deficiency in ageing male (ADAM) questionnaire at baseline and confirmed on the basis of total testosterone (TT) levels (<300 ng/dL) at Days 5-7 (Visit 2) and 9-14 (Visit 4) assessed after 12 hours of fasting between 8 AM and 10 AM.

Regulating IL-2 Immune Signaling Function Via A Core Allosteric Structural Network.

Human interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a crucial cytokine for T cell regulation, with therapeutic potential in cancer and autoimmune diseases. However, IL-2's pleiotropic effects across different immune cell types often lead to toxicity and limited efficacy. Previous efforts to enhance IL-2's therapeutic profile have focused on modifying its receptor binding sites.

Covalent inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 NiRAN domain via an active-site cysteine.

The kinase-like NiRAN domain of nsp12 in SARS-CoV-2 catalyzes the formation of the 5' RNA cap structure. This activity is required for viral replication, offering a new target for the development of antivirals. Here, we develop a high-throughput assay to screen for small molecule inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 NiRAN domain.

Photonic advantage of optical encoders.

Light's ability to perform massive linear operations in parallel has recently inspired numerous demonstrations of optics-assisted artificial neural networks (ANN). However, a clear system-level advantage of optics over purely digital ANN has not yet been established. While linear operations can indeed be optically performed very efficiently, the lack of nonlinearity and signal regeneration require high-power, low-latency signal transduction between optics and electronics.

Direct observation of ultrafast cluster dynamics in supercritical carbon dioxide using X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy.

Supercritical fluids exhibit distinct thermodynamic and transport properties, making them of particular interest for a wide range of scientific and engineering applications. These anomalous properties emerge from structural heterogeneities due to the formation of molecular clusters at conditions above the critical point. While the static behavior of these clusters and their effects on the thermodynamic response functions have been recognized, the relation between the ultrafast cluster dynamics and transport properties remains elusive.

Identification and characterization of vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor antagonists with high-affinity and potent anti-leukemia activity.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide involved in tumor growth and immune modulating functions. Previous research indicated that a VIP antagonist (VIPhyb) enhances T-cell activation and induces T-cell-dependent anti-leukemic activity in mice. We created a combinatorial library of VIPhyb C-terminal sequence variations to develop a more potent VIP-receptor (VIP-R) antagonist, hypothesizing that specific amino acid substitutions would improve receptor binding and plasma stability.

How smectic-A and smectic-C liquid crystals resolve confinement-induced frustration in spherical shells.

The layered structure of smectic liquid crystals cannot develop unobstructed when confined to spherical shells with layers extending in the radial direction, since the available cross section area increases from the inside to the outside of the shell yet the number and thickness of layers must be constant. For smectic-A (SmA) liquid crystals, with the layer normal parallel to the director , the frustration breaks up the texture into spherical lune domains with twist deformations of alternating sense, overlaid with a herringbone-like secondary modulation and mediated localized bend regions where the boundary conditions are violated. The SmC phase has more degrees of freedom to resolve the frustration thanks to its non-zero tilt angle between and , but its response to tangential shell confinement was never studied.

Reduction of Nitrite in an Iron(II)-Nitrito Compound by Thiols and Selenol Produces Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes via an {FeNO} Intermediate.

Reaction of an Fe(II) complex, [Fe(6-COO-tpa)] (), with PhE and NO produced [Fe(6-COO-tpa)(EPh)] (E = S, ; Se, ) and [Fe(6-COO-tpa)κO,O'-NO)] (), respectively (6-COOH-tpa is bis(2-pyridylmethyl)(6-carboxyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine). Treatment of with 2 equiv of PhEH (E = S, Se) produced NO in ∼40% yields, respectively, along with and the DNICs, [Fe(EPh)(NO)] (E = S, Se). Treatment of with excess PhEH produced NO in similar yields, while was converted to the same DNICs and / (instead of ).

Development and Validation of Hospital Mental Health Screen to Detect Psychiatric Morbidity in Medically Ill Patients in India.

Background: Psychiatric morbidities often go unnoticed in medically ill patients. It is essential to screen patients with medical morbidity so that they can be referred to psychiatrists for early interventions in general hospitals in India. There is a potential lacuna in terms of the availability of a scale that can aptly identify psychiatric symptoms in medically ill patients beyond depression or anxiety, especially in low-resource settings like India.

Regulating translation in aging: from global to gene-specific mechanisms.

Aging is characterized by a decline in various biological functions that is associated with changes in gene expression programs. Recent transcriptome-wide integrative studies in diverse organisms and tissues have revealed a gradual uncoupling between RNA and protein levels with aging, which highlights the importance of post-transcriptional regulatory processes. Here, we provide an overview of multi-omics analyses that show the progressive uncorrelation of transcriptomes and proteomes during the course of healthy aging.