Unravelling the potential of low-valent tunable vanadium complexes in the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR).

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to investigate the potential of several hitherto unknown low-valent tripodal vanadium complexes towards conversion of dinitrogen to ammonia as a function of different equatorial (PPr and SPr) and bridgehead groups (B, C and Si). All the newly proposed vanadium complexes were probed towards understanding their efficiency in some of the key steps involved in the dinitrogen fixation process. They were found to be successful in preventing the release of hydrazine during the nitrogen reduction reaction.

'Bhim Kol (Musa Balbisiana)' Wine: Chemical Profiling and Antidiabetic Properties with MD Simulation Insights.

Musa balbisiana (Bhim Kol), an exotic fruit that offers numerous benefits can be fermented to obtain a unique indigenous wine. This study explores the fermentation of Musa balbisiana (Bhim Kol) fruit to produce a unique indigenous wine using strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and sugar over a 21-day period. Chemical profiling via GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of major volatile compounds such as butan-1-ol, propanoic acid, 2-phenylethanol, oxolane-2,5-dione etc.

Carbene-Decorated Geometrically Constrained Borylenes for Bond Activations.

While metal-ligand cooperativity is well-known, studies on element-ligand cooperativity involving main group species are comparatively much less explored. In this study, we computationally designed a few geometrically constrained borylenes supported by different carbenes. Our density functional theory studies indicate that they possess enhanced nucleophilicity as well as electrophilicity, thus rendering them promising candidates for exhibiting borylene-ligand cooperativity.

Whole genome analysis of Human Mastadenovirus D causing Keratoconjunctivitis in India - A multicentre study.

Introduction: Human mastadenovirus (HAdV) types 8, 37, 64 have been considered the major contributors in Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) epidemics, but recent surveillance data have shown the involvement of emerging recombinants, including HAdV-53, HAdV-54, and HAdV-56. In our initial work, positive samples for adenovirus revealed that our strains were closer to HAdV-54 than HAdV-8. Hence, the current study aimed to use whole genome technology to identify the HAdV strain correctly.

Covalent crosslinking chemistry for controlled modulation of nanometric roughness and surface free energy.

Smooth interfaces embedded with low surface free energy allow effortless sliding of beaded droplets of selected liquids-with homogeneous wettability. Such slippery interfaces display low or moderate contact angles, unlike other extremely liquid repellent interfaces ( superhydrophobic). These slippery interfaces emerged as a promising alternative to extremely liquid repellent hierarchically rough interfaces that generally suffer from instability under severe conditions, scattering of visible light because of the hierarchically rough interface, entrapment of fine solid particulates in their micro-grooves and so on.

Indigenous antithymocyte globulin-equine to treat aplastic anaemia in adults: a case series from two centres in northeast India.

Background: Immunosuppressive therapy is the standard management of adults with aplastic anaemia. Antithymocyte globulin is used as first-line treatment of patients not eligible for bone marrow transplantation. This being a rare disease, available evidence in India is scarce.

Mono(Lewis Base)-Stabilized Gallium Iodide: An Unexplored Class of Promising Ligands.

Quantum-chemical (DFT) calculations on hitherto unknown base(carbene)-stabilized gallium monoiodides (LB→GaI) suggest that these systems feature one lone pair of electrons and a formally vacant p-orbital - both centered at the central gallium atom - and exhibit metallomimetic behavior. The calculated reaction free energies as well as bond dissociation energies suggest that these LB→GaI systems are capable of forming stable donor-acceptor complexes with group 13 trichlorides. Examination of the ligand exchange reactions with iron and nickel complexes indicates their potential use as ligands in transition metal chemistry.

Clinical and Immunological Profiles of HIV/AIDS Patients With First-Line Antiretroviral Treatment Failure Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Objectives Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased morbidity and mortality among HIV/AIDS-infected patients; however, many patients experience treatment failure. The present study aims to evaluate HIV-infected patients' clinical and immunological profiles with first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) failure (immunological and clinical) at tertiary care hospitals in Northeast India and explore related treatment failure factors. Methods The hospital-based observational study was conducted among HIV-infected patients with first-line ART failure attending a tertiary care hospital from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

Skeletally substituted aluminium and gallium carbenoids: a computational exploration.

Comprehensive computational investigations were carried out to understand the electronic and ligand properties of skeletally substituted β-diketiminate stabilized Al(I) and Ga(I) carbenoids as well as to probe their potential in small molecule activation. All of the proposed group 13 carbenoids possess a stable singlet ground state, and the majority of them have a significantly enhanced electron donation ability compared to the experimentally reported systems. The evaluation of the energetics associated with the splitting of various strong bonds such as H-H, N-H, C-F, and B-H by these carbenoids indicates that many of the proposed Al and Ga carbenoids may be considered as suitable candidates for small molecule activation.

Cooperative Activation of Small Molecules by Base-Stabilized Borylenes.

Computational investigations were carried out using density functional theory (ωB97XD(toluene)/6-311+G*) on a series of base-stabilized borylenes to understand their ligand properties and potential toward the activation of enthalpically strong E-H bonds (E = H, NH, SiHPh, and CH) as well as binding with small molecules such as CO and CNMe. The calculated reaction free energies and activation barriers suggest the ability of hitherto unexplored carbene-stabilized borylenes to not only split such bonds but also bind with CO and CNMe. A detailed mechanistic study of these bond activation processes reveals the noninnocent behavior of the carbene moiety attached to the boron center, thereby leading to cooperative splitting of the bonds of interest.

Delayed Death Due to Lightning: An Autopsy Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic and Medicolegal Issues.

The incidences of lightning strikes are not infrequent. The electric discharge of the lightning strike produces extreme heat and high amperage current, but fatality is reported in only about 10% to 30% of lightning cases. The spectrum of injuries due to lightning strikes can vary from no external injuries to typical external injuries.

Microliter spotting and micro-colony observation: A rapid and simple approach for counting bacterial colony forming units.

For enumerating viable bacteria, traditional dilution plating to count colony forming units (CFUs) has always been the preferred method in microbiology owing to its simplicity, albeit being laborious and time-consuming. Similar CFU counts can be obtained by quantifying growing micro-colonies in conjunction with the benefits of a microscope. Here, we employed a simple method of five to ten microliter spotting of a diluted bacterial culture multiple times on a single Petri dish followed by determining CFU by counting micro-colonies using a phase-contrast microscope.

Mixed Dentition Analysis in and around Kanpur City: An Existential and Illustrative Study.

Context: Mixed dentition space analysis helps in determining the discrepancy between the available and required space in each dental arch during the mixed dentition period; further, it helps to diagnose and plan the treatment of developing malocclusion.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the applicability of Tanaka and Johnston's and Moyer's methods of predicting the size of permanent canines and premolars and compare the tooth size between the right and left sides between males and females, and also to compare the predicted values of mesiodistal widths of permanent canines and premolars from Tanaka and Johnston and Moyer's method with the measured values.

Materials And Methods: The sample consisted of 58 sets of study models, of which 20 were girls and 38 were boys, that were collected from the children of the 12-15 year age-group.

Efficacy and safety of biosimilar romiplostim in Indian patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia: A multicentric retrospective study.

Context And Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of biosimilar romiplostim in Indian patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Settings And Design: Multicentre, retrospective observational study.

Methods And Material: Patients with chronic ITP who received biosimilar romiplostim from July 2019 to March 2020 across 3 major hospitals in Guwahati, India, were included.

An empirical experimental investigation on the effect of an external electric field on the behaviour of laser-induced cavitation bubbles.

This study is an attempt to empirically investigate the behaviour of laser-induced cavitation bubbles under the influence of an external electric field. As such two targets (copper and iridium) were subjected to a high-power Nd:YAG laser beam while being submerged in a liquid. Three different liquids were chosen for this purpose acetone, ethanol, and distilled de-ionized water.

Management of Gingival Recession by Coronally Advanced Flap with and Without Amniotic Membrane: A Clinical Study.

Purpose: Recently, human amniotic membrane (AM) has been reported to have regenerative potential that facilitate repair in the field of oral and periodontal surgeries.

Methods: Eighteen subjects with bilateral Miller's class I gingival recession defects were selected. Subjects were allocated randomly to treatment with coronally positioned flap + amnion allograft (test group) and coronally positioned flap alone (control group).

Unravelling the Potential of Ylides in Stabilizing Low-Valent Group 13 Compounds: Theoretical Predictions of Stable, Five-Membered Group 13 (Aluminum and Gallium) Carbenoids Capable of Small-Molecule Activation.

Computational investigations provide evidence toward the remarkable ability of strongly electron-donating ylidic functionalities in stabilizing singlet group 13 carbenoids with promising ligand properties. All of the proposed carbenoids are found to be considerably nucleophilic and possess significant singlet-triplet energy separation values. The calculated activation barriers and reaction free energies obtained for the cleavage of different enthalpically strong bonds by these carbenoids are found to be either comparable to or lower than those of the experimentally evaluated aluminum and gallium carbenoids, thereby indicating their potential in small-molecule activation.

Evaluation of different pre-treatment behaviour modification techniques in 4-7-year olds: A randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of five pre-treatment behaviour modification techniques in 4-7-year olds in reducing dental anxiety by evaluating pulse rate, partial pressure of oxygen, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, salivary flow rate, salivary pH, and through modified facial anxiety scale.

Material And Methods: Using simple random sampling technique (drawing of lots), 125 children were equally distributed into 5 groups of 25 each: Group 1: tell-show-do (control); Group 2: tell-show-play-doh; Group 3: Playmobil Dentist; Group 4: mobile dentist games; Group 5: role play as dentist. Samples in each group were treated in a single appointment after using the behaviour modification techniques.

A study of risk factors associated with Newcastle disease and molecular characterization of genotype XIII Newcastle disease virus in backyard and commercial poultry in Assam, India.

The continuous emergence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) poses a persistent threat to the poultry industry. Recent increasing outbreaks of NDV in the North East region of India have highlighted the need to closely monitor and analyze the potential risk factors for Newcastle disease (ND) outbreaks. In the present study, an attempt was made to genotype the circulating Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in the backyard and commercial poultry flocks in Assam, India.

Probing the Potential of Hitherto Unexplored Base-Stabilized Borylenes in Dinitrogen Binding.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Felipe Fantuzzi, Holger Braunschweig, Ashwini K. Phukan and co-workers at the University of Kent, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and Tezpur University. The image depicts a borylene "fishing" for a molecule of nitrogen.

Probing the Potential of Hitherto Unexplored Base-Stabilized Borylenes in Dinitrogen Binding.

Computational investigations were carried out to probe the potential of several dicoordinate, singly base-stabilized borylenes of the form [L→BR] (L=neutral Lewis base) in dinitrogen binding. The calculated reaction free energies and activation barriers associated with the formation of mono- and diborylene-N adducts suggest the presence of thermally surmountable kinetic barriers towards their possible isolation. Our results show that the exergonicity of dinitrogen activation and fixation is linearly dependent on the natural charge at the boron center, which can be tuned to design novel boron-based compounds with potential applications to small-molecule activation.

A study on viral haemorrhagic fever due to dengue, chikungunya and Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever virus among patients attending tertiary care hospital in North East India.

Purpose: The present study was undertaken with the objective to study the common etiology of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) among patients attending tertiary health care centre in NE India and also to study the clinico-demographic profile of such patients. The agents of VHF included in the study were dengue, chikungunya and Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. The inclusion of CCHF was based on evidence of seroprevalence in livestock (bovine, sheep and goat) in various North Eastern states.