Leave No One Behind: AI-Powered Inclusive Development for Viksit Bharat 2047

Vikasit Bharat 2047 envisions a socially and economically developed India. However, achieving this goal requires addressing the challenges faced by underprivileged sections too. This paper explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool for inclusive development and examines how AI can empower marginalised communities in areas like education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities etc, particularly in rural areas. The article acknowledges the importance of responsible AI development, ensuring inclusivity and mitigating potential biases, particularly in the Indian heterogeneous society. By harnessing the power of AI responsibly, it is possible to build a more equitable and prosperous India, leaving no one behind on the path to Vikasit Bharat 2047

Thyroid dysfunction in human immuno-deficiency virus infected patients: a non-randomized, cross-sectional, single-center study

Background: Increasing prevalence of thyroid dysfunction has been reported in human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine thyroid screening of asymptomatic individuals. Hence, this study was undertaken in an attempt to resolve these issues. Objectives of this non-randomized, cross-sectional, single-center study was to study thyroid function in HIV positive patients at various stages of disease. Methods: This single-center study was carried out at Al-Ameen Medical College Hospital and Government District Hospital Bijapur, Karnataka, India from December 2020 to December 2022. The final selected study population included newly diagnosed adult and adolescent (17-60 years) HIV+ patients was composed of 100 participants of either gender. Patients were interviewed and enrolled in the study after examining in detail according to the proforma and then by taking their written consent and explaining the purpose of the study. The thyroid hormone assays (S. TSH, FT3 and FT4) were done by chemiluminescence immuno assay (CLIA) using ADVIA Centaur-equipment. Results: Overall mean age was 36 years (range in years: 17–66 years) and 66 patients (66%) were males. Male: female ratio of 1.94:1 was recorded. In the 50 patients having acquired immuno-deficiency virus (AIDS), FT3 levels ranged from 0.230 to 4.0 picogram/ml with a mean of 2.131+0.9826 picogram/ml. In 50 patients having AIDS, the FT4 levels ranged from 0.30 to 1.90 nanogram/dI with a mean 1.179±0.4484 nanogram/dl. Conclusions: All forms of thyroid dysfunction were observed

Impact of heat treatment analysis on the wear behaviour of al-14.2si-0.3mg-tic composite using response surface methodology

Al-14.2Si-0.3Mg Alloy reinforced with hard phased TiC coarse particulates (10 wt-%) was contrived using the liquid metallurgy route. The so fabricated aluminium metal matrix composites was made to undergo solutionising at 5250C for 12 hours in a heat treatment furnace and was subsequently water quenched to room temperature. The developed composite was then kept for age hardening at varying temperatures and time for enhanced tribological properties. A pin on disc Tribometer (ASTM-G99) was utilised to study the wear properties of the fabricated composite. Aging temperature (0C), applied load (N) and Aging time (hours) were chosen as the process parameters for analysing the material\u27s resistance to wear. Using response surface methodology the influence of reinforcement in the wear properties of the composite was studied. The design of the regression equation was prepared and the impact of each experimental parameter was scrutinized. Results depict that with an increase in the aging temperature, aging time and load, there observed a variation in the materials wear properties. The worn-out surface of the metal matrix composite was then investigated with the help of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Phytochemical screening, antibacterial and allelopathic effects of few invasive plants of Kerala

Invasive species are often regarded as a threat to native flora. Many of them curtail the normal physiological functioning abilities of the native plants by growing over them, or by producing certain metabolites which control their growth potentials and seed germination abilities. The present study aims to find out the different bioactive compounds like alkaloids and terpenoids responsible for the vast spread of Eupatorium odoratum, Vernonia cinerea, Mikania micrantha, Tridax procumbens, Pilea microphylla and Cuscuta reflexa which are some of the major invasive plants of Kerala. Apart from these negative roles attributed to invasive plants, whether they possessed any beneficial roles was the prime concern of this study. Our study brings to light the allelopathic effects of invasive plants upon legume seeds. Different phytochemicals which are known to produce such effect were present in all these plants. Greatest allelopathic effects were exhibited by C. reflexa and E. odoratum. Against Escherichia coli bacteria, E. odoratum and M. micrantha showed highest zone of inhibition (20 mm, 15 mm) while against Proteus vulgaris bacteria, C. reflexa, M. micrantha and T. procumbens produced inhibition zones of 21 mm, 15 mm and 12 mm. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, C. reflexa, M. micrantha and E. odoratum produced inhibition zones of 16 mm, 13 mm and 12 mm. Alcoholic extract of V. cinerea showed comparatively high inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (10 mm). V. cinerea showed inhibitiory effects against E. coli, S. aureus and P. vulgaris (11 mm, 10 mm and 9 mm). Similarly, P. microphylla showed inhibition only against P. vulgaris and P. aeruginosa (10 mm and 8 mm)

Analysis of BH3-only proteins upregulated in response to oxygen/glucose deprivation in cortical neurons identifies Bmf but not Noxa as potential mediator of neuronal injury

Stress signaling in response to oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) and ischemic injury activates a group of pro-apoptotic genes, the Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3)-only proteins, which are capable of activating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Targeted studies previously identified the BH3-only proteins Puma, Bim and Bid to have a role in ischemic/hypoxic neuronal injury. We here investigated the transcriptional activation of pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins after OGD-induced injury in murine neocortical neurons. We observed a potent and early upregulation of noxa at mRNA and protein level, and a significant increase in Bmf protein levels during OGD in neocortical neurons and in the ipsilateral cortex of mice subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Surprisingly, gene deficiency in noxa reduced neither OGD- nor glutamate-induced neuronal injury in cortical neurons and failed to influence infarct size or neurological deficits after tMCAO. In contrast, bmf deficiency induced significant protection against OGD- or glutamate-induced injury in cultured neurons, and bmf-deficient mice showed reduced neurological deficits after tMCAO in vivo. Collectively, our data not only point to a role of Bmf as a BH3-only protein contributing to excitotoxic and ischemic neuronal injury but also demonstrate that the early and potent induction of noxa does not influence ischemic neuronal injury

Melamine formaldehyde-metal organic gel interpenetrating polymer network derived intrinsic Fe-N-doped porous graphitic carbon electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

Fe, N doped porous graphitic carbon electrocatalyst (Fe-MOG-MF-C), obtained by pyrolysis of an Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) comprised of melamine formaldehyde (MF as hard segment) and Metal-Organic Gel (MOG as soft segment), exhibited significant Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) activity in alkaline medium. BET surface area analysis of Fe-MOG-MF-C showed high surface area (821 m2 g-1), while TEM, Raman and XPS results confirmed Fe and N co-doping. Furthermore, a modulated porous morphology with a higher degree of surface area (950 m2 g-1) has been accomplished for the system (Fe-MOG-MFN-C) when aided by a sublimable porogen, such as naphthalene. XPS results further demonstrated that these systems exhibited a better degree of distribution of graphitic N and an onset potential value of 0.91 V vs. RHE in 0.1 M KOH solution following an efficient four-electron ORR pathway. The electrocatalytic activity of Fe-MOG-MFN-C is superior to that of Fe-MOG-MF-C by virtue of its higher graphitic N content and surface area. Thus, the study presents a new class of IPN derived MF-MOG nanocomposites with the potential to generate extended versions of in situ Fe-N doped porous graphitic carbon structures with superior ORR activity

CMFRI Research Vessel R.V. Cadalmin-I

The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with its 3 regional, 7 research and 15 field centres spread along the Indian coast is involved in marine fisheries research operated through 10 divisions. The Institute was established by Government of India on Feb. 3rd 1947 under the Ministry of Agriculture and later became a part of the ICAR in 1971. During the course of 65 years glorious journey, the Institute has emerged as a global leader in tropical marine fisheries research. The Institute is involved in marine capture fisheries research and maintained several fishing and research vessels

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

ROS-generating NADPH oxidase NOX4 is a critical mediator in oncogenic H-Ras-induced DNA damage and subsequent senescence

Activated Ras oncogene induces DNA-damage response by triggering reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and this is critical for oncogene-induced senescence. Until now, little connections between oncogene expression, ROS-generating NADPH oxidases and DNA-damage response have emerged from different studies. Here we report that H-RasV12 positively regulates the NADPH oxidase system NOX4-p22phox that produces H2O2. Knocking down the NADPH oxidase with small interference RNA decreases H-RasV12-induced DNA-damage response detected by γ-H2A.X foci analysis. Using HyPer, a specific probe for H2O2, we detected an increase in H2O2 in the nucleus correlated with NOX4-p22phox perinuclear localization. DNA damage response can be caused not only by H-RasV12-driven accumulation of ROS but also by a replicative stress due to a sustained oncogenic signal. Interestingly, NOX4 downregulation by siRNA abrogated H-RasV12 regulation of CDC6 expression, an essential regulator of DNA replication. Moreover, senescence markers, such as senescence-associated heterochromatin foci, PML bodies, HP1β foci and p21 expression, induced under H-RasV12 activation were decreased with NOX4 inactivation. Taken together, our data indicate that NADPH oxidase NOX4 is a critical mediator in oncogenic H-RasV12-induced DNA-damage response and subsequent senescence