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This study investigates the kinetics and optimization of fluidized bed drying of onion slices using CCRD design by Response Surface Methodology, aiming to enhance drying efficiency and preserve product quality. The effects of drying process parameters viz., drying temperature (43.18, 50,60,70, & 76.82 °C), NaCl concentration (6.59, 10, 15, 20, & 23.41%) and bed thickness (1.636, 3,5, 7, & 8.362 mm) on dehydration ratio, rehydration ratio, color change, ascorbic acid content and overall acceptability were evaluated using multiple response optimization techniques. Optimization analysis revealed that a drying temperature of 70 °C, NaCl concentration of 20%, and bed thickness of 3 mm yielded the highest desirability value of 0.637. Under these optimized conditions, the dehydration ratio, rehydration ratio, color change, ascorbic acid content, and overall acceptability of onion slices were measured at 6.76, 5.87, 4.85, 8.06 and 4.02, respectively. Higher drying temperatures, NaCl concentrations and lower bed thickness were associated with faster drying rates. Various mathematical models, including Page, Logarithmic, Henderson and Pabis, Midilli and Newton models, were employed to characterize the drying kinetics, with the Page Model demonstrating superior fit to experimental data. Furthermore, quality parameters such as moisture content, water activity, ascorbic acid content, color change and crispiness of onion slices stored for three months under optimized conditions and packaged in different materials (LDPE and HDPE) were evaluated. Results indicate that the optimized fluidized bed drying process parameters effectively maintained the quality of onion slices during storage.

The physical characteristics-size (3.12 – 8.98 mm), shape (1.13 – 1.33), test weight (194.66 – 209.66 g), sphericity (0.80 – 0.81) and engineering properties- bulk density (740.33 – 772.20 kg m-3), porosity (22.13 – 30.10 %), angle of repose (42.0 – 43.66°) of commonly grown pea varieties (Arkel, PB-89 and PB-1100) were measured at 8.5 – 9.5 % moisture content to select the design parameters of working components of two row pea planter. The moisture content of the pea varieties ranged from 8.5 – 9.5 per cent. The pea planter comprised of seed hopper, metering disc, handle, furrow opener, row marker and ground wheel. The pea planter was evaluated in terms of variety (Arkel, PB – 89, PB – 1100), metering disc (cup shaped flute metering disc and grooves on periphery metering disc) and depth of seed in the seed hopper (¾, ½ and ¼ full). The optimization of the parameters through response surface methodology (RSD) using design expert 13.0 revealed that operating the pea planter with cup shaped flute metering disc (M1), variety P3 (PB-1100) at ¾th depth of seed in the seed hopper resulted in average seeding spacing of 11.37 cm, missing index 3.45%, multiple index 12.46%, quality of feed index 84.08% and rate of work 0.04 hectare per hour. At optimum condition, the efficiency of the developed prototype of two row pea planter was found to be 82.0 percent. The economic analysis through bill of material revealed the cost of the machine as Rs. 1456, operating cost of 84.20 Rs h-1, benefit cost ratio of 1.30, break-even point of 0.02 ha and pay back period of 57.77 hours. The low-cost portable pea planter can serve as the panacea to pea sowing in the hilly terrain of Kashmir valley.

The study emphasized in understanding the dynamics of vermicomposting in conventional vermi-bed and smart vermicomposting bin using Dal Lake aquatic weed as substrate with turning frequency of 10 days and 20 days and 20, 40 and 60 days degradation period. In vermi-bed method, the materials were turned manually and a spiral mixer was used in smart vermicomposting bin. The results showed that pH, organic carbon and C:N ratio dwindled by 3.28%, 16.36% and 5.57% and there was an increase in EC by 22.39%, N 14.03%, P 37.78% and K 5.85% with 10 days turning frequency in vermi-bed vermicomposting system. In 20 days turning frequency, the values were 3.02, 22.58, 13.96, 42.86, 6.92 and 11.81%, respectively. When the Dal Lake aquatic weed was degraded in smart vermicomposting bin, it was observed that pH, organic carbon and C:N ratio shrunk by 5.63%, 14.94% and 24.88% with an increase in 11.23% N, 26% P, 10.4% K in 10 days turning frequency and 60 days degradation period. In 20 days turning interval, the values recorded were 6.23, 14.29, 24.56, 10.99, 20 and 16.77%, respectively. The cost of preparation of 1 kg of vermicompost was 20 and 13 Indian Rupees in vermi-bed and smart vermicomposting bin. The benefit cost ratio of smart vermicomposting bin was higher (1.78) than vermi-bed process in the second year. The study can help to shift from conventional to smart vermicomposting system to automate the system, reduce the dependence on manual labour and achieve the dream of organic agriculture. Graphical Abstract

The study investigated the status of farm mechanization with respect to paddy and apple cultivation system in district Pulwama of Kashmir valley. Twenty-five villages in five blocks: East, West, North, South and Central block were selected. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select blocks, villages and households. The highest production of paddy (64.8 q ha −1 ) and apple (3300 boxes ha −1 or 3.3 boxes m −2 ) was recorded in East block and South block of district Pulwama. In Paddy cultivation, the power per unit area was 11.59 kW ha −1 for field preparation (ML 100%), 4.31 kW ha −1 for puddling (ML 36.2%) and 0.22 kW ha −1 for harvesting operation (ML 6%). The mechanization index was 95.43%, 50.62% and 5.39% in the successive order. The maximum labour requirement of 23 man-days/ha/annum was recorded in threshing with labour power of 12.01 kWh ha −1 . For apple orchards, the power per unit area was 1.31 kW ha −1 for weeding/basin preparation (ML 9.2%), 5.17 kW ha −1 for spraying (ML 100%) and 0.60 kW ha −1 for irrigation (9.6%) with mechanization index of 36.74%, 90.38% and 6.8%, respectively. The maximum labour requirement of 206 man-days/ha/annum was observed in harvesting with labour power of 107.57 kWh ha −1 . The traditional tools like Spade, hand hoe, shovel, rake, sickle, pruning shear, orchard ladder and pruning saw were also used in paddy and apple cultivation system. The study can serve as baseline for the policymakers to prepare a roadmap for bolstering the mechanization level at district, state and national level.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal, vector-borne disease caused by the intracellular protozoa of the genus . Most of the therapeutics for VL are toxic, expensive, or ineffective. Sesquiterpenes are a new class of drugs with proven antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone with potent antileishmanial activity, but with limited access to infected cells, being a highly lipophilic molecule. Association of artemisinin with liposome is a desirable strategy to circumvent the problem of poor accessibility, thereby improving its efficacy, as demonstrated in a murine model of experimental VL. Nanoliposomal artemisinin (NLA) was prepared by thin-film hydration method and optimized using Box-Behnken design with a mean particle diameter of 83±16 nm, polydispersity index of 0.2±0.03, zeta potential of -27.4±5.7 mV, and drug loading of 33.2%±2.1%. Morphological study of these nanoliposomes by microscopy showed a smooth and spherical surface. The mechanism of release of artemisinin from the liposomes followed the Higuchi model in vitro. NLA was free from concomitant signs of toxicity, both ex vivo in murine macrophages and in vivo in healthy BALB/c mice. NLA significantly denigrated the intracellular infection of amastigotes and the number of infected macrophages ex vivo with an IC of 6.0±1.4 µg/mL and 5.1±0.9 µg/mL, respectively. Following treatment in a murine model of VL, NLA demonstrated superior efficacy compared to artemisinin with a percentage inhibition of 82.4%±3.8% in the liver and 77.6%±5.5% in spleen at the highest dose of 20 mg/kg body weight with modulation of cell-mediated immunity towards protective Th1 type. This study is the first report on the use of a liposomal drug delivery system for artemisinin as a promising alternative intervention against VL.

There is a pressing need for drug discovery against visceral leishmaniasis, a life-threatening protozoal infection, as the available chemotherapy is antiquated and not bereft of side effects. Plants as alternate drug resources has rewarded mankind in the past and aimed in this direction, we investigated the antileishmanial potential of Cinnamomum cassia. Dichloromethane, ethanolic and aqueous fractions of C. cassia bark, prepared by sequential extraction, were appraised for their anti-promastigote activity along with apoptosis-inducing potential. The most potent, C. cassia dichloromethane fraction (CBD) was evaluated for anti-amastigote efficacy in infected macrophages and nitric oxide (NO) production studied. The in vivo antileishmanial efficacy was assessed in L. donovani infected BALB/c mice and hamsters and various correlates of host protective immunity ascertained. Toxicity profile of CBD was investigated in vitro against peritoneal macrophages and in vivo via alterations in liver and kidney functions. The plant secondary metabolites present in CBD were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). CBD displayed significant anti-promastigote activity with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 33.6 μg ml-1 that was mediated via apoptosis. This was evidenced by mitochondrial membrane depolarization, increased proportion of cells in sub-G0-G1 phase, ROS production, PS externalization and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay). CBD also inhibited intracellular amastigote proliferation (IC50 14.06 μg ml-1) independent of NO production. The in vivo protection achieved was 80.91% (liver) and 82.92% (spleen) in mice and 75.61% (liver) and 78.93% (spleen) in hamsters indicating its profound therapeutic efficacy. CBD exhibited direct antileishmanial activity, as it did not specifically induce a T helper type (Th)-1-polarized mileu in cured hosts. This was evidenced by insignificant modulation of NO production, lymphoproliferation, DTH (delayed type hypersensitivity), serum IgG2a and IgG1 levels and production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) along with restoration of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines (INF-γ, IL-12p70) to the normal range. CBD was devoid of any toxicity in vitro as well as in vivo. The chemical constituents, cinnamaldehyde and its derivatives present in CBD may have imparted the observed antileishmanial effect. Our study highlights the profound antileishmanial efficacy of C. cassia bark DCM fraction and merits its further exploration as a source of safe and effective antieishmanial compounds.

JAK/STAT signaling pathway is one of the important regulatory signaling cascades for the myriad of cellular processes initiated by various types of ligands such as growth factors, hormones, and cytokines. The physiological processes regulated by JAK/STAT signaling are immune regulation, cell proliferation, cell survival, apoptosis and hematopoiesis of myeloid and non-myeloid cells. Dysregulation of JAK/STAT signaling is reported in various immunological disorders, hematological and other solid malignancies through various oncogenic activation mutations in receptors, downstream mediators, and associated transcriptional factors such as STATs. STATs typically have a dual role when explored in the context of cancer. While several members of the STAT family are involved in malignancies, however, a few members which include STAT3 and STAT5 are linked to tumor initiation and progression. Other STAT members such as STAT1 and STAT2 are pivotal for antitumor defense and maintenance of an effective and long-term immune response through evolutionarily conserved programs. The effects of JAK/STAT signaling and the persistent activation of STATs in tumor cell survival; proliferation and invasion have made the JAK/STAT pathway an ideal target for drug development and cancer therapy. Therefore, understanding the intricate JAK/STAT signaling in the pathogenesis of solid malignancies needs extensive research. A better understanding of the functionally redundant roles of JAKs and STATs may provide a rationale for improving existing cancer therapies which have deleterious effects on normal cells and to identifying novel targets for therapeutic intervention in solid malignancies.

The study was aimed to develop a characterized polyherbal combination as an immunomodulator containing Phyllanthus emblica L., Piper nigrum L., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, and Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. Through response surface methodology (RSM), the ratio of aqueous extracts of four plant materials was optimized and comprised 49.76% of P. emblica , 1.35% of P. nigrum , 5.41% of W. somnifera , and 43.43% of T. cordifolia for optimum immunomodulatory activity. The optimized combination showed antioxidant potential and contains more than 180 metabolites, out of which gallic acid, quercetin, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, kaempferitrin, and p -coumaric acid are some common and significant metabolites found in plant extracts and in polyherbal combination. Treatment with the polyherbal combination of different doses in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed mice significantly (p < 0.01) enhanced the subsets of immune cells such as natural killer (NK) cells (60%), B cells (18%), CD4 cells (14%), and CD8 cells (7%). The characterized polyherbal combination exhibited potent immunomodulatory activity, which can be further explored clinically for its therapeutic applicability.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles is becoming a method of choice for biological research due to its environmentally benign outcomes, stability and ease of synthesis. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using stem (S-AgNPs), root (R-AgNPs) and mixture of stem and root (RS-AgNPs) of Delphinium uncinatum . The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by standardized techniques and evaluated for their antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, cytotoxic and antimicrobial potentials. The AgNPs exhibited efficient antioxidant activities and considerable enzyme inhibition potential against alpha amylase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. S-AgNPs showed strong cytotoxicity against human hepato-cellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and high enzyme inhibitory effect (IC50 values 27.5μg/ml for AChE and 22.60 μg/ml for BChE) compared to R-AgNPs and RS-AgNPs. RS-AgNPs showed significant inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aspergillus flavus and exhibited higher biocompatibility (<2% hemolysis) in human red blood cells hemolytic assays. The present study showed that biologically synthesized AgNPs using the extract of various parts of D. uncinatum have strong antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials.