The links between the deformation parameter
β
of the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) to the two free parameters
ω
^
and
γ
of the running Newtonian coupling constant of the Asymptotic Safe ...gravity (ASG) program, has been conducted recently in Phys. Rev. D 105 (2022) 12, 124054. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.105.124054 In this paper, we test these findings by calculating and examining the shadow and quasinormal modes of black holes, and demonstrate that the approach provides a theoretical framework for exploring the interplay between quantum gravity and GUP. Our results confirm the consistency of ASG and GUP, and offer new insights into the nature of black holes and their signatures. The implications of these findings for future studies in quantum gravity are also discussed.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Malaria poses a significant global health threat particularly due to the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection. With the emergence of parasite resistance to existing drugs including the ...recently discovered artemisinin, ongoing research seeks novel therapeutic avenues within the malaria parasite. Proteases are promising drug targets due to their essential roles in parasite biology, including hemoglobin digestion, merozoite invasion, and egress. While exploring the genomic landscape of Plasmodium falciparum, it has been revealed that there are 92 predicted proteases, with only approximately 14 of them having been characterized. These proteases are further distributed among 26 families grouped into five clans: aspartic proteases, cysteine proteases, metalloproteases, serine proteases, and threonine proteases. Focus on metalloprotease class shows further role in organelle processing for mitochondria and apicoplasts suggesting the potential of metalloproteases as viable drug targets. Holistic understanding of the parasite intricate life cycle and identification of potential drug targets are essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies against malaria and mitigating its devastating global impact.
•This review article contains updated critical analysis of proteases and their vital roles in the survival of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.•The proteases of the RBC cycle inside human hosts is taken for the critical review owing to their crucial roles and potential drug targets.•The review emphasizes on proteases as drug targets giving focus on metalloproteases as this class is implicated to have crucial roles and are poorly characterized.•The review highlights the inhibition of parasite growth using inhibitors against crucial proteases and metalloproteases to be specific. The information in this review provides updated information for development of anti-malarial drugs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
Background/Aims
A 62-year-old accountant was referred to the metabolic bone clinic with a 2 year history of thoracic back pain and a persistently raised ALP. There were no associated red ...flags for her back pain. She had a history of a gluteal lump, thought to be benign, for which she had declined excision. She has hypertension and had a previous navicular fracture. Medications included bendroflumethiazide and Adcal D3. She had restriction in neck movements and was tender to percussion in the thoracic spine. There was no proximal weakness or focal neurology. Systems and joint exam were unremarkable.
Methods
The case is discussed below.
Results
Salient abnormal results on presentation were a raised ALP of 207 and corrected calcium of 2.34. PTH was elevated at 8.2 (NR:1.6-6.9), Vitamin D 79 and a low phosphate of 0.34 (NR:0.8-1.50). Alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes showed the raised level came from bone. Protein and urine electrophoresis were normal. A bone density scan was normal, and a recent thoracic MRI showed only degenerative change. An isotope bone scan was requested and was reported to show increased activity in the nasal bone, maxilla and both orbits, raising the possibility of Paget’s disease. However, when reviewed in the Radiology meeting with a skull x-ray, the appearances were not felt to be in keeping with Paget’s. Despite physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture and neuropathic medication the patient’s back pain continued. Her phosphate remained low and her calculated tubular reabsorption of phosphate from a 24h urine collection (TmP/GFR) was low at 0.42mmol/l (NR 0.80-1.35). She was started on phosphate replacement and calcitriol, and Adcal D3 was continued. The Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) 23 levels were sent and came back significantly elevated at 1380 (NR < 100). A 68Ga DOTA-TATE scan (whole body PET/CT scan), confirmed the right gluteal lump as the source of the FGF 23. The patient went on to have an excision biopsy and histology confirmed a mesenchymal tumour of the right buttock. Her phosphate replacement was gradually weaned, but on reducing the dose phosphate levels dropped and her symptoms returned. The repeat TmP/GFR was again low at 0.61, and FGF 23 levels were still raised at 204. A repeat 68Ga DOTA-TATE scan, 4 years after the first one, showed recurrence of the right gluteal lesion and a possible small lesion in the left gluteal muscle. She has been sent for further excision.
Conclusion
Tumour induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare condition and should be considered in cases of hypophosphataemia. Classical symptoms are proximal weakness and muscle and bone pain. They are typically associated with small benign tumours (most commonly mesenchymal tumours) which may be difficult to find. Excision is curative but if small amounts of tumour remain, relapses may occur.
Disclosure
J. Bakshi: None. C. Batten: None.
Despite significant advances in the field, quantitative post-polymer modification of chitosan, specifically attaching diverse hydrophobic moieties with experimentally predefined (via the ratio of ...reagents) degree of functionalization remain extremely challenging. In this context, we report our studies towards the use of green and efficient azetidinium-amine reactions to prepare a library of modified chitosan with a predefined degree of functionalization, with excellent conversion (>90%), atom economy and very low E-factor (<0.1). Initially six different azetidinium functionalized coupler molecules, which contains azetidinium functionality attached with other defined target functionality (ranging from hydrophobic to hydrophilic) are synthesized. In the next stage the azetidinium functionalized coupler molecules are reacted with chitosan (both low molecular weight and high molecular weight chitosans are used) in presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo2.2.2octane(DABCO, as base) using water as solvent and the other functional moiety are attached with the chitosan backbones. The degree of functionalization was calculated using 1H NMR and excellent match (80–100%) was noted between calculated degree of functionalization and feed ratio of the reagents used (experimentally defined ratio).
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Clustering of the enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) type III secretion system (T3SS) effector translocated intimin receptor (Tir) by intimin leads to actin polymerisation and pyroptotic cell ...death in macrophages. The effect of Tir clustering on the viability of EPEC-infected intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is unknown. We show that EPEC induces pyroptosis in IECs in a Tir-dependent but actin polymerisation-independent manner, which was enhanced by priming with interferon gamma (IFNγ). Mechanistically, Tir clustering triggers rapid Ca2+ influx, which induces lipopolysaccharide (LPS) internalisation, followed by activation of caspase-4 and pyroptosis. Knockdown of caspase-4 or gasdermin D (GSDMD), translocation of NleF, which blocks caspase-4 or chelation of extracellular Ca2+, inhibited EPEC-induced cell death. IEC lines with low endogenous abundance of GSDMD were resistant to Tir-induced cell death. Conversely, ATP-induced extracellular Ca2+ influx enhanced cell death, which confirmed the key regulatory role of Ca2+ in EPEC-induced pyroptosis. We reveal a novel mechanism through which infection with an extracellular pathogen leads to pyroptosis in IECs.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Kinema, hawaijar, tungrymbai, bekang, aakhone, and peruyaan are naturally fermented ethnic soybean foods of India; they are popular among the Mongolian-origin races in the Eastern Himalayas. Bacillus ...subtilis is the dominant functional bacterium in all naturally fermented soybean foods of these regions. Although there is a good demand for ethnic fermented soybean foods among local consumers in north-east India, the production is limited to household level. A ready-to-use pulverized starter culture for kinema production can be introduced to kinema-makers or similar sticky fermented soybean foods of north-east India and adapted to local conditions for additional income generation. Ethnic fermented soybeans are one of the major food resources in the Eastern Himalayas; they supplement inexpensive, high-digested plant protein in the local diet with low fat/cholesterol content and high nutritive value as well as antioxidant and other health-promoting properties.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
There has been significant concern regarding fertility and reproductive outcomes during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. Recent data suggests a high concentration of SARS-Cov2 receptors, ACE2 or TMPRSS2, in ...nasal epithelium and cornea, which explains person-to-person transmission. We investigated the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 receptors among reproductive tissues by exploring the single-cell sequencing datasets from uterus, myometrium, ovary, fallopian tube, and breast epithelium. We did not detect significant expression of either ACE2 or TMPRSS2 in the normal human myometrium, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tube, or breast. Furthermore, none of the cell types in the female reproductive organs we investigated, showed the co-expression of ACE2 with proteases, TMPRSS2, Cathepsin B (CTSB), and Cathepsin L (CTSL) known to facilitate the entry of SARS2-CoV2 into the host cell. These results suggest that myometrium, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tube, and breast are unlikely to be susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV2.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The work reported in this article aims at developing a simple sensor-based system that detects and identifies faults of a train. Four different trains are considered for analysis as suggested by the ...Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authorities. For this purpose, an embedded system containing an ADXL335 sensor is used to capture the vibration of a railway track during the movement of a train over the track. The embedded system transfers the captured signals from ADXL335 to a laptop. These signals are processed using linear time-frequency transform (wavelet transform) in conjunction with quadratic time-frequency transform (Wigner-Ville transform) to find out whether there are any faults and thereby quantify the quality of the moving trains. Wheel-flat fault is detected for one train with the wheel position and the bogie number. This is a low-cost technique as the method involves only one ADXL335 sensor and an Arduino development board, and the software used for the analysis is python that is an open-source and platform-independent software.