First principles insight into CsYZnX (X = Br, I) double perovskite materials for optoelectronic and thermoelectric device applications.

In this study, we utilize first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to examine the structural, electronic, mechanical, optical, and thermoelectric properties of CsYZnX (X = Br, I) materials, with a focus on their potential applications in solar cells and thermoelectric devices aimed at advancing environmentally-friendly perovskite materials. The structural integrity of CsYZnX compounds is confirmed through tolerance factor analysis, which validates their stable cubic perovskite structure. Thermodynamic stability is ensured by calculating the formation energies of both compounds.

ZnO-nanoparticles and stage-based drought tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): effect on morpho-physiology, nutrients uptake, grain yield and quality.

Drought-stressed and zinc-deficient soils are major contributors to reduced wheat yields and low-quality grains, especially in semi-arid regions of the world. Zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are adept enough to avoid these losses if applied under the right dose at the right growth stage of many crops including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Strain-dependent structural, electronic, mechanical, optical and thermoelectric properties of SrNBr perovskites for solar cell applications.

Halide perovskites are a class of materials with excellent potential for solar cell applications due to their excellent optical and electronic properties. In this study, strain-dependent physical properties of SrNBr perovskites are investigated and theoretical results are reported here. The structural properties indicate that SrNBr has a cubic structure.

Remote Ischemic Post-Conditioning (RIC) Mediates Anti-Inflammatory Signaling via Myeloid AMPKα1 in Murine Traumatic Optic Neuropathy (TON).

Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) has been regarded a vision-threatening condition caused by either ocular or blunt/penetrating head trauma, which is characterized by direct or indirect TON. Injury happens during sports, vehicle accidents and mainly in military war and combat exposure. Earlier, we have demonstrated that remote ischemic post-conditioning (RIC) therapy is protective in TON, and here we report that AMPKα1 activation is crucial.

Pesticide exposure promotes disease activity by decreasing lymphoproliferative activity and increasing IL-4 production in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: One of the common findings in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients has been long-term exposure to environmental toxins such as pesticides. However, the data available shows an equivocal association between pesticide exposure and autoimmunity in SSc.

Methods: We investigated the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in blood of 20 SSc patients and 17 healthy controls, and also studied their effect on T lymphocytes and their functional responses.

Therapeutic utility of Perfluorocarbon Oxygent in limiting the severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage in mice.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is the deadliest form of hemorrhagic stroke; however, effective therapies are still lacking. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are lipid emulsion particles with great flexibility and their much smaller size as compared to red blood cells (RBCs) allows them to flow more efficiently within the blood circulation. Due to their ability to carry oxygen, a specific PFC-based emulsion, PFC-Oxygent, has been used as a blood substitute; however, its role in cerebral blood flow regulation is unknown.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Microbial Diagnosis.

Traditional microbial diagnostic methods face many obstacles such as sample handling, culture difficulties, misidentification, and delays in determining susceptibility. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has markedly transformed microbial diagnostics with rapid and precise analyses. Nonetheless, ethical considerations accompany AI adoption, necessitating measures to uphold patient privacy, mitigate biases, and ensure data integrity.

Exosomes in Vascular/Neurological Disorders and the Road Ahead.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), stroke, and aneurysms, are characterized by the abnormal accumulation and aggregation of disease-causing proteins in the brain and spinal cord. Recent research suggests that proteins linked to these conditions can be secreted and transferred among cells using exosomes. The transmission of abnormal protein buildup and the gradual degeneration in the brains of impacted individuals might be supported by these exosomes.

Understanding ureteroscopy complications according to modified Clavien classification system.

Objective: To determine the complications of ureteric stone treatment with semi-rigid uretero-renoscopy in accordance with the modified Clavien classification system.

Methods: The descriptive, prospective study was conducted at the Department of Urology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, from June 30, 2020, to December 29, 2021, and comprised patients of either gender aged 18-70 years having ureteric stones. All patients were subjected to ureterorenoscopy using a semi-rigid ureteroscope under general anaesthesia.

Organochlorine pesticides disrupt T helper cell regulation and reduce IL-2 and IFN-γ favoring infection and production of autoantibodies among pemphigus patients.

The list of environmental factors that trigger autoimmune diseases in genetically susceptible individuals has grown in the recent years and is far from complete. The possible intervention of the environment in triggering these diseases is ever more perceived by the clinicians. This study investigated the effect of environmental factors like organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on proportions of different T lymphocyte subsets and their cytokine secretion in-vitro among pemphigus patients, before and after specific immunosuppressive therapy.

Antimicrobial Resistance: A Growing Serious Threat for Global Public Health.

Antibiotics are among the most important discoveries of the 20th century, having saved millions of lives from infectious diseases. Microbes have developed acquired antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to many drugs due to high selection pressure from increasing use and misuse of antibiotics over the years. The transmission and acquisition of AMR occur primarily via a human-human interface both within and outside of healthcare facilities.

Association of mutation and expression of the brother of the regulator of imprinted sites (BORIS) gene with breast cancer progression.

Introduction: The BORIS, 11 zinc-finger transcription factors, is a member of the cancer-testis antigen (CTA) family. It is mapped to chromosome number 20q13.2 and this region is genetically linked to the early onset of breast cancer.

Molecular Signaling in Stroke.

We have reached the end of the Special Issue on Molecular Signaling in Stroke in [...

Conventional methods and future trends in antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is an essential task for selecting appropriate antimicrobial agents to treat infectious diseases. Constant evolution has been observed in methods used in the diagnostic microbiology laboratories. Disc diffusion or broth microdilution are classical and conventional phenotypic methods with long turnaround time and labour-intensive but still widely practiced as gold-standard.

FOXO3 gene hypermethylation and its marked downregulation in breast cancer cases: A study on female patients.

Background: FOXO3, a member of the FOX transcription factor family, is frequently described as being deregulated in cancer. Additionally, notable role of FOXO3 can be easily recognized in the process of ageing and survival. Even though various studies have been done to acknowledge the tumour-suppressive or oncogenic role of FOXO3 in cancer, still there exist a lack of understanding in terms of cancer prognosis and treatment.

Deregulated phenotype of autoreactive Th17 and Treg clone cells in pemphigus vulgaris after in-vitro treatment with desmoglein antigen (Dsg-3).

The loss of balance between regulatory T (Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) causes loss of tolerance against desmoglein (Dsg)-3 leading to pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an autoimmune bullous skin disorder associated with autoantibodies against Dsg-3. We aimed to elucidate the complex relationship of Th17 and Treg cells, their molecules, and the underlying mechanism in the development of PV disease. Using cytokine secretion assays, Th17 and Treg cells were sorted by FACS Aria-III within Dsg-3-responsive PBMC population and homogeneous T cell clones were generated in-vitro.

Immunological consequences of compromised ocular immune privilege accelerate retinal degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary retinal disease which leads to visual impairment. The onset and progression of RP has physiological consequences that affects the ocular environment. Some of the key non-genetic factors which hasten the retinal degeneration in RP include oxidative stress, hypoxia and ocular inflammation.

Nephroprotective effects of polyherbal extract via attenuation of the severity of kidney dysfunction and oxidative damage in the diabetic experimental model.

In view of many complications of diabetes, kidney failure is considered as one of the main complications. The oxidative stress-induced due to persistent hyperglycemic conditions is the major cause of kidney disease. The present study was designed to explore the nephroprotective efficacy of polyherbal (PH) extract in a diabetic model induced by streptozotocin (STZ).

epitope-based vaccine design against influenza a neuraminidase protein: Computational analysis established on B- and T-cell epitope predictions.

Objective: Influenza A virus belongs to the most studied virus and its mutant initiates epidemic and pandemics outbreaks. Inoculation is the significant foundation to diminish the risk of infection. To prevent an incidence of influenza from the transmission, various practical approaches require more advancement and progress More efforts and research must take in front to enhance vaccine efficacy.

Prevalence of adenoviruses as ocular disease causatives in Saudi Arabia.

Although Human Adenoviruses outbreaks are rare, there still could be a potential chance for those viruses to mutate and spread quickly in human populations with severe public health and socioeconomic consequences. Outbreaks often spread fairly quickly with considerable morbidity/mortality. Saudi Arabia's geopolitical and religious significance bring with it, millions of pilgrims, and tourists yearly.

Iridium-Catalyzed C-H Borylation of CF-Substituted Pyridines.

Iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation of CF-substituted pyridines is described in this paper. The boronic ester group can be installed on the α, β, or γ position of pyridine by an appropriate substitution pattern. Sterically governed regioselectivity provides convenient access to a variety of CF-substituted pyridylboronic esters.

Gene Downregulation and Promoter Methylation Exhibits Significant Correlation With Clinical Parameters in Indian Breast Cancer Patients.

Forkhead box "O" one which is member of Forkhead box family of transcription factors is known to play key role in different physiological processes including cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis. is defined to play tumor suppressive role in various malignancies including breast cancer and its Dysregulation is frequently reported. However, the evaluation of promoter methylation and its expression at mRNA and protein level in different stages of breast cancer and its association with different clinical parameters is still not studied.

Isolation of Thioinosine and Butenolides from a Terrestrial Actinomycetes sp. GSCW-51 and Their in Silico Studies for Potential against SARS-CoV-2.

In our continuous screening for bioactive microbial natural products, the culture extracts of a terrestrial Actinomycetes sp. GSCW-51 yielded two new metabolites, i. e.