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Plasmodium sporozoites are infective to mammalian hepatocytes. Prior to entry into the cell, sporozoites release proteins from their apical cell organelles called micronemes and rhoptries. The secreted proteins contact the hepatocyte membrane to create a structure called a moving junction (MJ) that progressively invaginates inside the cell, utilizing the parasite’s actomyosin molecular motor. This activity finally culminates in establishing an intracellular vacuole that harbors the parasite. As MJ is crucial for intracellular infection, targeting the components of this complex has implications in reducing malaria infection. We show that a rhoptry resident protein, RON6, is required for the invasion of merozoites and sporozoites, together with a role in the development of parasites in the hepatocytes. Consistent with its probable role in hepatocyte invasion, the RON6 is localized to the sporozoite membrane, with its C-terminal domain being extracellular. Our observations reveal that RON6 maintains the virulence of the parasite, and mutants lacking RON6 enhance host survival and induce hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly.

In contrast to traditional laboratory glucose monitoring, recent developments have focused on blood glucose self-monitoring and providing patients with a self-monitoring device. This paper proposes a system based on ultrasound principles for quantifying glucose levels in blood by conducting an in-vitro experiment with goat blood before human blood. The ultrasonic transceiver is powered by a frequency generator that operates at 40 kHz and 1.6 V, and variations in glucose level affect the ultrasonic transceiver readings. The RVM probabilistic model is used to determine the variation in glucose levels in a blood sample. Blood glucose levels are measured simultaneously using a commercial glucose metre for confirmation. The experimental data values proposed are highly correlated with commercial glucose metre readings. The proposed ultrasonic MEMS-based blood glucometer measures a glucose level of 257 ± 21 mg/dl. In the near future, the miniature version of the experimental model may be useful to human society.

Hexagonal wurtzite structure Er-substituted ZnO dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) thin films have been deposited on sapphire/silicon substrate [(ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon ] using DC sputtering technique at room temperature in oxygen-plasma atmosphere and studied their electronic/local atomic-structure and correlated with their magnetic behaviors. Incorporation of Er +3 -ion in ZnO-lattice [(ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon ] and formation of Zn +2 /O − vacancies (V Zn /V 0 ) at the bonding between Zn and O 2 may induces room temperature ferromagnetism. Magnetic M-H loops of pure-ZnO shows diamagnetic behaviour, whereas (ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon are ferromagnetic in nature. Moreover, (ZnO: Er) sapphire is higher ferromagnetic (saturation magnetization, M S ≈2.3 emu/g, coercivity, H C ≈63 Oe) than (ZnO: Er) silicon (M S ≈0.5 emu/g, H C ≈15 Oe). Incorporation of Er +3 -ion and formation of V Zn /V 0 vacancies were observed from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy analysis. The peak positions of Zn 3 p and O 1 s in XPS spectrum of (ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon thin films are shifted at higher energy levels compared to pure ZnO, indicating that the behaviors of (ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon thin films are substrate dependent. XANES study of Zn K -edge/Zn L 3 -edge shows the transition of Zn 1 s →4 p / Zn 2 p → Zn 4 s 3 d in antibonding states of Zn; whereas Er L 3 -edge is the transition of 2 p →5 d states of Er upon x-ray absorption that demonstrates the local atomic structure around Er in the (ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon thin films. These transitions reveal the host-lattice in Zn-sites is substituted with Er 3+ -ions to preserve the symmetry with negligible distortion. The O K -edge shows the transition of O 2 p - Zn 4 s hybridized states through charge transfer the oxygen bands (Er-O-Zn) that reduced slightly atomic radius of Zn-O/Er-O/Zn-Zn found from extended x-ray absorption fine structure study, implies (ZnO: Er) sapphire is higher ferromagnetic behaviour than (ZnO: Er) silicon . The defect emission bands also identified through Er-substitution indicated that the emissions changed the diamagnetic-ZnO into room temperature ferromagnetic DMSs (ZnO: Er) sapphire/silicon thin film that could be useful for optoelectronic/magnetic applications.

Prior to the year 2000, air conditioning was not common in many cities throughout the world. However, today, 20 years later, air conditioning is common. This circumstance has a negative impact on the climate. Additionally, the situation regarding energy usage as a result of this is alarming. For a healthy and pleasant livelihood, indoor temperature and air flow must be controlled. False partitions with insulating layers have been used to regulate the temperature inside rooms, but they are unable to regulate the variation in humidity caused by the exchange of water between interior and exterior walls. In this manuscript, we provide a sensory system that can automatically detect relative humidity and temperature. Temperature is sensed at each layer of the false partition using an LM35-based integrated circuit and humidity is detected by an FA–ZnO nano-composite layer through an indoor false partition owing to changes in the material’s resistance. Depending upon the change in resistance based on the fluctuation in temperature, the corresponding current responds by arduino microcontroller, and thus triggers the automated ON and OFF switch for air conditioning. Living and non-living bodies both lead pleasant and healthy lives when indoor units are managed properly.

Background: Ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) comprises neoplasm arising from the ocular surface, which includes conjunctiva, cornea, and limbus and ranges from mild dysplasia to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Purpose: The aim of this work was to study the spectrum of OSSN based on histopathological analysis. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study comprising 776 histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSSN from January 2004 to December 2014. Results: The mean age of presentation of OSSN was 45 years (median, 45 years; 2 to 87 years) with male preponderance (74%). The most common age group of presentation was 41-60 years (n = 299; 39%). The most common type of OSSN was invasive squamous cell carcinoma seen in 50% (n = 383) eyes followed by severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ in 31% (n = 250) eyes. Tumor infiltration at base was seen in 16% (n = 124), positive margins in 32% (n = 248), scleral infiltration in 14% (n = 109), intraocular extension in 3% (n = 23), and orbital extension in 4% (n = 26) eyes. OSSN was associated with actinic keratosis in 21% (n = 165) cases. Conclusion: Based on histopathology, invasive squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of OSSN in the Asian Indian population.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) endophthalmitis is a serious threat to the whole spectrum of therapeutic procedures associated with the risk of managing and preventing vision loss. We have earlier shown the interplay of immune mediators in patients with MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) endophthalmitis leading to worse outcome. Expanding on these findings, a murine model of endophthalmitis was developed to explore the effects of drug resistance on the pathogenesis by analyzing the temporal changes in retinal morphology along with its transcriptomic signatures. Clinical isolates of susceptible ( S-PA ) and multidrug-resistant PA ( MDR-PA ) were injected intravitreally in C57BL/6 mice followed by enucleation at 6 and 24 h time points postinfection. Disease progression and retinal changes were monitored by clinical and histological assessment and transcriptome analysis in a pair-wise manner. Histological assessment of MDR-PA eyeball revealed higher disease severity ( p < 0.05), CD45+ cells ( p = 0.007), MPO+ cells ( p = 0.01), GFAP+ ( p = 0.02), along with higher retinal cell death in mice infected with MDR-PA ( p = 0.008). Temporal transcriptome analysis revealed differential expression of nearly 923 genes at 6 h p.i. and 2,220 genes at 24 h p.i. (FC ≥2, adjusted p -value <0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis identified differential regulation of chemokine- and cytokine-mediated, MAPK, and NF-кβ signaling pathways. In conclusion, rapid deterioration of retinal architecture and immune exacerbation was significantly associated with the MDR endophthalmitis, suggesting the need for immunomodulatory agents to strengthen host cell functions and support antibiotics to save the retinal structure from inevitable deterioration and restoration of the vision.

The conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction technique is used to synthesize aluminosilicate ceramics of three different compositions (Al0.70Si0.30O, Al0.73Si0.27O, Al0.75Si0.25O). These aluminosilicate ceramics are systematically investigated by XRD, FTIR, SEM, dielectric, electrical, and UV–visible analysis. The polycrystalline ceramics are well synthesized at a sintering temperature of 1450 °C, confirmed from XRD studies. The IR interferogram reveals the presence of mullite (3Al2O3⋅2SiO2)-type molecules in these aluminosilicate ceramics. The SEM images show the formation of homogeneous microstructures with appreciable density. The room temperature dielectric constant values for Al0.70Si0.30O, Al0.73Si0.27O, Al0.75Si0.25O ceramics are 1.5, 1.8, and 1.7 at 1 MHz frequency with dielectric loss values of 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06 respectively. The ac conductivity spectrum of these samples obeys the Arrhenius equation and the classical correlated barrier hopping model governs the conduction mechanism in these ceramics. Complex impedance analysis confirms the contribution of both grain and grain boundary towards transport processes in these ceramics. The UV–visible spectrum reveals that the synthesized ceramics, Al0.70Si0.30O, Al0.73Si0.27O, and Al0.75Si0.25O have a wide-band-gap of the order of 3.45 eV, 3.42 eV, and 3.39 eV respectively. These ceramics can be preferably used as electronic substrates, packaging material for high-frequency circuits, and infrared transmitting window materials.

Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasm (OSSN) is the neoplasia arising from the conjunctiva, cornea and limbus. OSSN ranges from mild, moderate, severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Recent findings on cancer stem cells theory indicate that population of stem-like cell as in neoplasia determines its heterogeneity and complexity leading to varying tumor development of metastatic behavior and recurrence. Cancer stem cell markers are not much explored in the cases of OSSN. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the expression of stem cells using stem cell markers mainly p63, ABCG2, c-KIT (CD117) and CD44 in OSSN tissue, which could have prognostic significance. The present study tries for the first time to explore expression of these stem markers in the cases of OSSN. These cases are subdivided into two groups. One group comprises of carcinoma in situ (n = 6) and the second group comprises of invasive carcinoma (n = 6). The mean age at presentation was 52 years; with 53 years for CIS group and 52 years for SCC group. From each group section from the paraffin block were taken for the IHC staining of p63, c-Kit, ABCG2 and CD44. Our experiments show high expression of P63 and CD44 in the cases of CIN and SCC. Both CIS and SCC displayed positive staining with p63, with more than 80% cells staining positive. However minimal expression of c-kit in both CIN and SCC. But surprisingly we got high expression of ABCG2 in cases of carcinoma in situ as compared to that of invasive squamous cell carcinoma. More than 50% of cells showed CD44 positivity in both CIS and SCC groups. Our results show for the first time that these four stem cells especially the limbal epithelium stem cells play a vital role in the genesis of OSSN but we need to explore more cases before establishing its clinical and biological significance.

Face masks are essential pieces of personal protective equipment for preventing inhalation of airborne pathogens and aerosols. Various face masks are used to prevent the spread of virus contamination, including blue surgical and N95 filtering masks intended for single use. Traditional face masks with self-sanitisation features have an average filtration efficiency of 50% against airborne viruses. Incorporating nanomaterials in face masks can enhance their filtration efficiency; however, using nanomaterials combined with thermal heaters can offer up to 99% efficiency. Bacterial contamination is reduced through a self-sterilisation method that employs nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties and thermoregulation as a sanitisation process. By combining functional nanomaterials with conductive and functional polymeric materials, smart textiles can sense and act on airborne viruses. This research evaluates the evidence behind the effectiveness of nanomaterials and thermoregulation-based smart textiles used in self-sanitising face masks, as well as their potential, as they overcome the shortcomings of conventional face masks. It also highlights the challenges associated with embedding textiles within nanomaterials. Finally, it makes recommendations regarding safety, reusability, and enhancing the protection of the wearer from the environment and underscores the benefits of reusable masks, which would otherwise pollute the environment. These self-sanitising face masks are environmentally sustainable and ideal for healthcare, the food industry, packaging, and manufacturing.

Purpose: Our study aimed to evaluate the utility of the anterior segment morphometry for objectively assessing anterior segment architectural changes of corneal clouding in the mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) cohort and to investigate whether these measurements correlate with the slit-lamp findings on the cornea and early diagnosis of glaucoma. Methods: This retrospective study involved 70 eyes of 35 children with cloudy cornea due to MPS variants. Anterior segment architectural alterations were measured using anterior segment imaging and biometry in MPS children and compared with controls. Results: Mean age of the cohort at the time of assessment was 7.9 ± 4.5 years. Males constituted two-thirds of the cohort. Variants of MPS with cloudy cornea were as follows: Type I (62%), Type IV (11%), and Type VI (22%). Morphometric measurements were available in 22 eyes of 11 MPS children and an age-matched healthy control group. There were significant differences between MPS cohort and controls in refraction in Diopters (5.03 ± 0.39 and 0.01 ± 0.04; P < 0.0001), axial length (AXL) in mm (21.39 ± 0.28 and 23.04 ± 0.28; P = 0.0002), average keratometry in Diopters (40.67 ± 0.44 and 42.83 ± 0.44; P < 0.0001), anterior chamber depth (ACD) in mm (2.92 ± 0.07 and 3.65 ± 0.07; P < 0.0001), and intraocular pressure (IOP) in mmHg (25.2 ± 2.0 and 14.1 ± 2.3; P = 0.0003). Secondary glaucoma was observed in 28% of the MPS cohort. Conclusion: The anterior segment morphometry in the cloudy cornea due to MPS provides an objective measurement of anterior segment architectural changes, thus diagnosing early-onset secondary glaucoma. These findings highlight that cloudy cornea due to MPS variants merits close monitoring throughout life.