Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR)-based probes are gaining traction as sensors for the detection of various analytes. Here, we have synthesized L-tyrosine-capped silver nanoparticles, which are more affordable and have a longer shelf life than gold nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles have also been used to detect Mg2+ ions in water at a basic pH (10–13). The Mg2+ ions were detected by naked-eye colorimetry, smartphone digital image analysis, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The shape and size of the synthesized nanoparticles were also studied at various stages of detection using HR-TEM images and DLS, which clearly showed nanoparticle aggregation upon binding to Mg2+ ions. The limit of detection values were observed to be 4.56 ± 0.06 µM (digital image analysis) and 1.17 ± 0.11 µM (UV-Visible spectroscopy), both well below the permissible limit. The L-TyrAgNPs were also able to detect Mg2+ ions in spiked real water samples (tap, drinking, and groundwater). The overall results signify that the synthesized nanoparticles are a selective LSPR-based probe for colorimetric detection of magnesium ions in water.

In this review, various key parameters are highlighted keeping in mind the journey of bio-electrochemical systems (BESs), starting from the electrochemical abiotic field, first toward the battery and fuel cells, and then toward the fully biotic approach of BESs. To start with, the development of abiotic electrochemical systems and the transition to battery and fuel cells are discussed. Then, the broader range of BESs are discussed, which have a similar as well as multifunctional approach for changing chemical energy into electrical energy or vice versa by using microbes as bio-catalysts. For example, in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) or enzymatic fuel cells (EFCs), organic wastes and biomass can be converted into electricity, but in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), electrical energy is used to produce hydrogen or other products. Recovery of nutrients, metals or removal of recalcitrant compounds can also be done by shaping BESs as per our desired motive. In recent times, the discovery of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has widely enhanced the spectrum of BESs. For electricity generation, solar energy can also be used in the case of photosynthetic microorganisms, leading to a concept of microbial solar cells (MSCs). Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) are also gaining attention because of the use of rhizodeposits. Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) are also discussed, which utilize the electric potential difference via MFC technology for making water desalination systems. The role of nanomaterials in MFC/EFC technology is also discussed in terms of bio-compatibility, electrocatalytic activity, conductivity, reaction activity, bulk resistance, corrosion resistance and stability.

A comprehensive three-year pioneer study to develop DUS descriptors of Capsicum annuum under protected conditions was undertaken that defined 56 morphological descriptors and were utilized for genetic divergence analysis. The study revealed substantial phenotypic variability across plant, leaf, floral, fruit and seed traits, with the Shannon Diversity Index (H') ranging from 0.09 to 1.57. High variability was recorded for length of first internode (H' = 1.57), pericarp thickness (H' = 1.43), fruit shape (H' = 1.38), plant height (H' = 1.24), fruit length (H' = 1.21) and fruit stalk length (H' = 1.10), indicating broad allelic diversity and strong potential for breeding interventions. Bell pepper genotypes demonstrated high variability in locule number (H' = 1.10). The population was dominated by key traits, including thin pericarp (41.38%), long stalk length (50.00%), dentate calyx margins (86.21%), constricted calyx (91.38%), strong pedicel attachment (62.07%), presence of blossom-end appendage (93.10%), medium maturity (50.00%), heavy seed weight (> 6.0 g) and generally low seed recovery efficiency (65.52%). The genotypes were classified into ten distinct clusters using Tocher's method, where clusters clusters I, II, IV, VII, VIII and X comprised hot pepper and paprika genotypes, while clusters III, V, VI and IX comprised bell pepper genotypes. Principal component analysis revealed that the first four principal components explained most of the existing variation (> 70%) in the germplasm. Overall, the substantial diversity observed across traits highlights the genetic potential of the evaluated Capsicum genotypes as a valuable resource for crop improvement, conservation and targeted breeding of desirable morphological and agronomic traits.

The present investigation was carried out to characterize the pre breeding progenies of 36 guava hybrids (F1) based on their physical and biochemical characteristics. Observations were recorded under three groups viz., morphological characters of the plant, physical and biochemical characters of the fruit during rainy season. Results revealed that variations were present with reference to various physical and biochemical characteristics amongst the 36 F1 hybrids. Based on physical and bio-chemical traits, PGH1-A4-20 was found quite different from the others. Maximum fruit size (192.00 g) and fruit diameter (8.36 cm) was noted in genotype PGH8-B1-6-20. The highest TSS (12.30 °B), ascorbic acid (189.83 mg/100 g), total sugars (9.18%) and lycopene content (3.53 mg/100 g) was observed in genotype PGH1-A4-20, whereas maximum pectin content (1.04%) and reducing sugars were determined in genotype PGH20-C2-18-20. The highest fruit retention (68.00%) and yield (6.97 Kg/Plant) along with lowest seed hardiness (4.31 Kg/cm2) were recorded in genotype PGH1-A4-20. Hence after proper testing of the identified hybrid under different agro-climatic conditions, can be used in further breeding programs in future with desired superior trait.

Background: In India, dermatophytosis has become a serious public health issue due to an increasing number of cases that develop into chronic or recurrent illnesses that do not respond well to conventional antifungal treatment. Treatment failure is thought to be largely caused by shifting dermatophyte species epidemiology, growing antifungal resistance, and possible contributing variables including biofilm formation. However, there is still a dearth of systematic data, especially in eastern India, linking antifungal susceptibility patterns, biofilm-forming capacity, and clinical outcomes. Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the biofilm-forming capacity and antifungal susceptibility profile of dermatophyte isolates from patients with recurrent and chronic dermatophytosis, as well as their association with treatment failure that has been recorded. Methods: Between February 2023 and January 2024, a prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital in Patna. A total of 200 patients with clinically diagnosed chronic or recurrent dermatophytosis were enrolled. Fungal culture and direct microscopy were applied to clinical specimens. Phenotypic techniques were used to identify dermatophyte isolates, and when necessary, genetic confirmation was obtained. A standardized broth microdilution approach was employed for antifungal susceptibility testing to ascertain the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for frequently used antifungal drugs. Using a microtiter plate crystal violet assay, biofilm production was evaluated and classified as weak, moderate, or strong. To investigate correlations with treatment failure, clinical and laboratory indicators were examined. Results: A significant percentage of cases had dermatophytes identified, with species from the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/interdigitale complex predominating. Terbinafine and fluconazole often showed high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), while more recent azoles showed relatively lower MICs. A considerable percentage of isolates demonstrated moderate to strong biofilm-forming ability. Strong biofilm producers were strongly linked to previous treatment failure and were more likely to have increased MICs. Conclusion: The research reveals a worrying pattern of decreased antifungal susceptibility in dermatophytes that cause recurring and chronic dermatophytosis. Antifungal resistance and treatment failure seem to be significantly influenced by biofilm development. Incorporating biofilm evaluation and antifungal susceptibility testing into standard diagnostic procedures may assist direct more successful treatment approaches and enhance patient outcomes. Keywords: Dermatophytosis, Antifungal susceptibility, Biofilm formation, Chronic dermatophytosis, Treatment failure

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as a hearing loss of ≥30 dB over at least three contiguous frequencies within 72 hours. Despite multiple theories, in most cases, no definitive cause is identified, making the condition idiopathic. Vascular, infectious, and autoimmune mechanisms are often implicated. Given the unpredictable nature of SSNHL and variability in recovery, understanding its etiology, symptomatology, and severity patterns is essential for clinical management. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 77 patients at R.S.D.K.S. GMC and MRD Memorial Hospital. Patients underwent audiological, vestibular, hematological, and imaging assessments. Severity of hearing loss and symptom associations were evaluated. Results: Most affected age group was 31–40 years (22.08%). Male predominance was evident (70.13%). The most frequent symptom was aural fullness (44.16%). Profound hearing loss was most common (37.66%). Major known causes included diabetes and hypertension (9.09% each), while 64.94% of cases remained idiopathic. Conclusion: SSNHL predominantly affects middle-aged males and often presents with profound loss. Most cases are idiopathic. Early diagnosis and intervention are critical to improving outcomes.

Capsicum is an important crop for both fresh consumption and industrial use. This study investigated the genetic loci associated with 11 agronomic traits in Capsicum species using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). A collection of 100 diverse Capsicum genotypes was evaluated under field conditions over 2 years. Genotyping was conducted using the Illumina platform. For most traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variance (21.22–56.40) exceeded the genotypic coefficient of variance (18.75–54.75). Hierarchical clustering grouped the genotypes into three clusters. Analysis of GBS data identified 16,745 high-quality SNPs, with the highest number (3202) located on chromosome 3. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis across the 12 chromosomes identified 835 LD blocks. STRUCTURE software predicted three distinct sub-populations (K = 3). GWAS identified 34 SNPs significantly associated with 28 QTL regions. The study identified candidate genes putatively associated with traits such as plant height (Transcription factor MYB4), fruit length (Putative glycine-rich cell wall structural protein 1), fruit width (Pentatricopeptide repeat-containing protein At2g20540), fruit orientation (Bidirectional sugar transporter N3-like), fruit colour (Metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitor), pungency (Probable LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase At1g53420), number of fruits per plant (Ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 13B), fruit weight (Putative F-box protein At5g50220), yield per plant (Photosynthetic NDH subunit of lumenal location 1, chloroplastic), chilli leaf curl virus resistance (Formin-like protein 3), and anthracnose resistance (Acyl-CoA-binding protein). A few candidate genes were validated by qRT-PCR. These findings provide valuable genomic resources and identify candidate genes for key traits relevant to Capsicum breeding.

Background: The integration of organic fertilizers with nitrogen-based fertilizers creates a synergistic effect that enhances wheat growth, yield and grain quality within a sustainable agricultural framework. Methods: The experimentation was executed at the Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, Lovely Professional University, during the rabi seasons of 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, evaluating the effects of organic fertilizers and nitrogen on wheat growth and yield. The research was conducted using a split-plot design with three replications. The treatment comprised five main plots, viz., M1: Control, M2: 10 t/ha FYM, M3: 15 t/ha FYM, M4: 5 t/ha Poultry Manure and M5: 7.5 t/ha Poultry Manure and three sub-plot viz., N1: 100% RDN, N2: 50% RDN + Two spray of nano urea (at tillering and booting stages) and N3: 75% RDN + one spray of nano urea (at booting stages). Result: The analysis highlighted that among the application of organic manures, 7.5 t-ha poultry manures (M5) notably observed the highest growth parameters like plant height (104.25 cm), dry matter accumulation (258.10 g/m row length) and leaf area index (4.86) succeeded by plant height (103.64 cm), dry matter accumulation (257.50 g/m row length) and leaf area index (4.81) on 15 t/ha FYM (M3) of the wheat which the resulted values were statistically at par. In a similar vein, it was observed that varying levels of nitrogen application had a pronounced and significant influence on the growth parameters of wheat crops viz., plant height (102.08 cm), dry matter accumulation (235.10 g/m row length) and leaf area index (4.65), all of which were achieved under the nitrogen treatment, 100% RDN (N1). Furthermore, the yield attributes and yield as effective tillers of 228.39, grains per spikelet of 47.39, test weight of 43.41 g, grain yield of 55.67 q/ha, a straw yield of 73.65 q/ha, a biological yield of 129.32 q/ha and harvest index of 43.04% were obtained from 7.5 t-ha poultry manures (M5) followed by effective tillers of 227.94, grains per spikelet of 47.09, test weight of 42.97 g, grain yield of 55.09 q/ha, a straw yield of 73.27 q/ha, a biological yield of 128.36 q/ha and harvest index of 42.91% from 15 t/ha FYM (M3) when juxtaposed with the outcomes observed from other treatments administered during the study. However, these values were statistically comparable with 7.5 t/ha poultry manures (M5). Among the various nitrogen levels employed in the study, the highest yield attributes and yield such as effective tillers of 222.57, grains per spikelet of 46.39, test weight of 41.46 g, grain yield of 51.59 q/ha, a straw yield of 69.83 q-ha, a biological yield of 121.42 q/ha and harvest index of 42.43% were recorded under the 100% RDN (N1).

Seventeen tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.) genotypes were evaluated for their morpho-biochemical diversity in Randomized Block Design under three replications at Sikkim University, Gangtok in 2017-18. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters and cluster I possessed highest number of genotypes (6). Highest inter-cluster distance (372237) was recorded between clusters II & V. Intra-cluster was maximum in cluster III (28651.72) showing diversity within the cluster. The genotype STT-110 produced maximum value for average fruit weight (81 g) and other fruit yield contributing characters. Whereas, STT-40 produced maximum values for iron (1.86 mg/100 g), copper (0.47 mg/100 g) and manganese (1.38 mg/100 g). Genetic parameters (PCV, GCV) along with heritability and genetic advance were highest for anthocyanin (77.26%, 77.19%, 99% and 158.85%), flavonoid (56.91%, 56.90%, 100% and 117.22%), total phenol (52.76%, 52.72%, 99%, and 108.54%), manganese (50.87%, 49.26%, 93%, and 98.28%) and ascorbic acid (41.73%, 41.71%, 99% and 85.89%). Correlation coefficient analysis showed that polar and equatorial diameter of fruit was significantly correlated with average fruit weight. Genotypic correlation coefficients were higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients, which indicate the inherent association among the characters. This study highlights the potential utilization of STT-110 genotype for further selection in future breeding programme for enhancing yield.

The significant heat generated during the operation of lithium‐ion batteries raises the battery temperature thereby leading to performance degradation and thermal runaway in a thermal abuse environment. Therefore, a simple but effective battery thermal management system (BTMS) is crucial to achieve the permissible operating temperatures. In this work, the performance of air‐cooled BTMS is evaluated by changing the arrangement of cells under discharging conditions. Seven distinct arrangements (trapezoidal, slanted, cross, aligned, staggered, tilted square, and zigzag) of lithium‐ion cells are investigated in a rectangular battery pack. Two‐way coupling of 1D electrochemical model and 2D conjugate thermal‐fluid model is employed. The increasing Reynolds number reduces the cell temperature due to augmented convective effects. Under otherwise identical conditions, the zigzag cell arrangement outperforms the other cell arrangements but at the expense of the highest pressure drop (≈threefold). Particularly, the values of average and maximum cell temperature are reduced by ≈5K and ≈4K, respectively, for Re = 1000 at 1C in comparison to the aligned cell arrangement. Similarly, the least favorable performance is predicted by the trapezoidal, slanted, and cross‐cell arrangements. Finally, a performance plot is suggested considering the trade‐off between the power requirement and the cooling enhancement.

CSF rhinorrhea secondary to anterior skull base defect may be spontaneous or traumatic (accidental or iatrogenic), spontaneous being common in middle aged, obese females. Nowadays endoscopic technique is gold standard for anterior skull base defect repair. The graft materials available may be autologous (fat, temporalis fascia, fascia lata, septal mucosa, cartilage, middle turbinate), homologous e.g., cadaveric pericardium or allograft e.g. dural substitute. Leukocyte-platelet rich fibrin (L-PRF) is a newer graft material that contain concentrated platelets and doesn't require any exogenous material or chemical in blood. A prospective study including 31 patients was carried out at tertiary care centre in eastern India, over the period of 2 years. All the surgeries targeted for closure of the anterior skull base defect were performed endoscopically under general anaesthesia. 30 out of 31 (96.77%) patients successfully improved after repair and one patient required revision surgery due to recurrence of disease and was cured after revision surgery. Autologous Leokocyte-plasma rich fibrin (L-PRF) is a newer and cost-effective graft material for the CSF leak repair with good healing property and with a success rate of more than 95%.