This paper presents a methodology to design band-pass filters having ultrawide stopband characteristics using multilayer circular substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) cavities. The orthogonal microstrip feedlines are used as input and output ports that are present at the top and bottom layers, while the middle layers are used to couple the SIW cavities. Higher-order spurious modes of the circular SIW cavity are suppressed by using orthogonal feeding mechanism and properly adjusting the arc-shaped slots between the cavities. To validate the present approach, two filters (second- and fourth-order) have been designed and fabricated and their characteristics are measured. The second-order filter exhibits a stopband rejection below 25 dB up to nearly 5.07f0, while the fourth-order filter has a stopband characteristic of nearly 5.05f0 with 20 dB rejection. The filters allow only TM010 mode propagation and attenuate the higher-order spurious modes of the cavity.

Melia azedarach L. commonly called Maha Neem is an economically and industrially important tree species with global significance. Although species possess versatile importance worldwide, information on reproductive biology and breeding system is scarce and limited for eastern coastal plain of India. Therefore, current study provides a detailed report on reproductive biology of M. azedarach. Maha Neem was found to bear violet to whitish violet, slightly fragrant, 14.99 ± 0.05 mm. long and 17.01 ± 0.08 mm. wide flowers. This tree commenced opening of floral buds during March and continued until May with a peak during March-end. The anthesis of species peaked between 08:00 and 10:00 am, which coincides with insect activity. Anthers were observed to dehisce during or shortly before anthesis; however, stigma started receptivity before anthesis and continued invitation up to 12 h after anthesis. Pollen viability ranged from 96.67 ± 1.6% to 98.26 ± 1.2 at the time of anthesis; after that decreased rapidly. Pollen: ovule ratio of 1096.38 ± 108.70 indicated the possibility of autogamy. The breeding system of M. azedarach revealed that fruit sets under natural pollination (NP) were significantly higher than Xenogamy. However, substantial difference was not reported in fruit set percentage under natural pollination and Autogamy, which is strong evidence in favour of self-pollination. Moreover, Maha-Neem is entomophilous with frequent visits by Apis and Syrphid flies. Current findings will be helpful in designing potent conservation strategies and planning successful breeding programmes.

This study critically examines the implications of integrating Indigenous relational worldviews into the water governance framework of the Saskatchewan River Delta. Using a relational theoretical framework and community-based participatory research methodology, both Indigenous community members and non-Indigenous researchers collectively examine the negative impacts of Western water governance policies and practices on the Métis community residing in Cumberland House, located in northeast Saskatchewan, Canada. Through Indigenous traditional water story-sharing methods with Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers, our focus centres on Indigenous interpretations and ways of knowing the Delta. The community highlighted the pervasive influence of power dynamics and political agendas in the governance of the Delta. As such, we emphasise the necessity of challenging settler colonial systems and structures and reinvigorating Indigenous worldviews for water governance. By doing so, we advocate for the advancement of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination in their relationship with land and water, thereby promoting the meaningful implications of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action.

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) has been widely used as a microstructure characterization technology. In this work, a fully connected dense forward network is applied to inversely retrieve the mean particle size and particle distribution from SAXS data of samples dynamically compressed with high-power lasers and probed with X-ray free electron lasers. The trained network allows automatic acquisition of microstructure information, performing well in predictions on single-species nanoparticles on the theoretical model and in situ experimental data. We evaluate our network by comparing it with other methods, revealing its reliability and efficiency in dynamic experiments, which is of great value for in situ characterization of materials under high-power laser-driven dynamic compression.

Nosocomial outbreak of varicella zoster virus (VZV) has been reported when susceptible individuals encounter a case of chicken pox or shingles. A suspected VZV outbreak was investigated in a 50-bedded in-patient facility of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in a tertiary care multispecialty hospital. A 30-year-old female patient admitted with Pott’s spine was clinically diagnosed with chicken pox on 31 December 2022. The following week, four more cases were identified in the same ward. All cases were diagnosed as laboratory-confirmed varicella zoster infection by PCR. Primary case was a housekeeping staff who was clinically diagnosed with chicken pox 3 weeks prior (9 December 2022). He returned to work on eighth day of infection (17 December 2022) after apparent clinical recovery but before the lesions had crusted over. Thirty-one HCWs were identified as contacts a and three had no evidence of immunity. Two of these susceptible HCWs had onset of chickenpox shortly after first dose of VZV vaccination was inoculated. All cases recovered after treatment with no reported complications. VZV infection is highly contagious in healthcare settings with susceptible populations. Prompt identification of cases and implementation of infection prevention and control measures like patient isolation and vaccination are essential for the containment of outbreaks.

This article explores my relational learning reflections with the Laitu Khyeng Indigenous community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh, focusing on Indigenous perspectives on climate change education. Implementing a relational theoretical framework, I share my reflections on relational learning in this research as part of being accountable to the Indigenous community. Through exploring Indigenous land-based climate change research, five central themes emerge Indigenous land rights, relationship with the environment, community-led relationality as collaboration, intergenerational relational knowledge and relationality as ethical reciprocity. The findings explore the intrinsic connection between Indigenous communities and their ancestral territories, emphasising the significance of upholding Indigenous sovereignty over land for sustainable adaptation to climate change. In this article, I highlight the importance of relational learning as a form of education, fostering resilience rooted in preserving traditional practices and spaces. Relationality with the environment is central to Indigenous climate education, promoting understanding and reciprocity with the land. In my learning, I learned that community dynamics and collaborative learning are essential for effective climate education, emphasising collective action and diverse perspectives. In relational learning, inter-generational knowledge transmission ensures the preservation and sharing of traditional land-based knowledge across generations, forming the foundation for sustainable adaptation strategies. Ethical engagement and reciprocity guide research interactions, emphasising mutual respect and cultural sensitivity. By centring Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems, this study advocates for community-led approaches to climate change education, fostering resilience and environmental stewardship within Indigenous communities.

This paper examines the impact of land ownership on farm-level investment and investment risk (variability) in Indian agriculture using nationally representative survey data. The study adopts a flexible moment approach with White’s heteroscedasticity consistent standard error method. Results reveal that land ownership intensity significantly augments on-farm investment and reduces its variability. Other variables like family head’s education, access to irrigation, technical advice, credit and nonfarm income have significant inducement effects on-farm investment. We also observe that farmers’ education, age, irrigation, technical advice, MSP awareness and commercialization reduce farm investment risk. Findings have important policy implications for Indian land tenancy

Recent studies highlight the need for ethical and equitable digital health research that protects the rights and interests of racialized communities. We argue for practices in digital health that promote data self-determination for these communities, especially in data collection and management. We suggest that researchers partner with racialized communities to curate data that reflects their wellness understandings and health priorities, and respects their consent over data use for policy and other outcomes. These data governance approach honors and builds on Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDS) decolonial scholarship by Indigenous and non-indigenous researchers and its adaptations to health research involving racialized communities from former European colonies in the global South. We discuss strategies to practice equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and decolonization (EDIAD) principles in digital health. We draw upon and adapt the concept of Precision Health Equity (PHE) to emphasize models of data sharing that are co-defined by racialized communities and researchers, and stress their shared governance and stewardship of data that is generated from digital health research. This paper contributes to an emerging research on equity issues in digital health and reducing health, institutional, and technological disparities. It also promotes the self-determination of racialized peoples through ethical data management.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Determine the exosome mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a measure of neuronal mitochondrial integrity in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Determine the patterns of beta amyloid and tau protein biology in CSF of SAH patients and correlate those measures with the clinical status of the SAH patients. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The CSF is collected from SAH patients undergoing ventriculostomy-based continuous CSF drainage. Adults from all ethnicities and sex are included in this study. The exosomes are isolated from CSF samples using a precipitation method and particle count and size are measured using NanoSight. The DNA is extracted using an exosomal DNA isolation kit (XCF kit). The CSF mtDNA copy number is measured using digital drop PCR with mitochondrial DNA primers. The levels of beta-amyloid (a-beta-40 and -42) and tau protein in CSF are measured using a sensitive ELISA-based assay. A quantitative evaluation of mitochondrial DNA copy number, clinical status of the SAH patients and beta amyloid, and tau protein levels will be conducted and reported. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Preliminary results of four CSF samples showed similar patterns in CSF exosome particle number, particle size and exosomal mtDNA copy number in relation to samples from the admission day. Particle number decreased with time while particle size increased. More patient samples will be analyzed to confirm the patterns. We anticipate that mtDNA copy number will correlate with brain beta-amyloid and tau protein levels. Moreover, we anticipate that the clinical status of the SAH patients will associate with the mtDNA copy number. We specifically predict that higher mtDNA copy number levels will correlate with better clinical outcomes. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Mitochondrial function is critical to brain health, but we lack effective ways to monitor this parameter. Here we focus on a CSF based biomarker, exosome-derived mtDNA, which is intended to reflect the integrity of brain mitochondria. As bioenergetic metabolism influences beta amyloid and tau biology, predicting those levels are important.

Estimation of residence time of groundwater, particularly in regions with inadequate surface waters are very important for formulating sustainable groundwater management policies. We developed a technique for extracting dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) quantitatively from water for measuring its 14C contents and presented the analytical details here. We also measured stable carbon isotope ratio (δ13C) in soil CO2 and groundwater DIC to correct the groundwater 14C ages. In addition, 14C in soil CO2 were measured for making necessary correction in the initial activity of the recharging water. The corrected 14C contents in the groundwater samples were used to estimate their residence times employing Lumped Parameter Models (LPM), a set of mathematical models to account for the processes that take place during transport from the recharge to the sampling spots. We present a case study focused on the calculation of radiocarbon ages and residence times for a groundwater sample collected from the campus of Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The study also includes estimations of groundwater residence times using previously measured 14C ages of groundwater samples from Gujarat, India. Various factors controlling the groundwater ages in the LPM and their applicability are discussed.

The most potent and significant polyphenolic molecule from tea catechins is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); it has potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods are needed to mitigate its presence in the environment and protect humans from exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate a functionalized, low-cost clay mineral as an adsorbent for the tea polyphenol EGCG. Hydrophilic bentonite (Bn) was functionalized using Aliquat 336 (A336) and isobutyl(trimethoxy)silane (IBTS). The degree of clay functionalization depended on the extent of introduction of alkyl linkages between the superimposed clay layers. Results revealed that Aliquat 336 functionalized clay (A336-Bn) exhibited maximum thermal stability at 500°C and it is a promising adsorbent for ECGC with a maximum adsorption capacity of 196.26 mg/g at equilibrium. Experimental data were analyzed using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models. Adsorption isotherms were interpreted from the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.

The gharial Gavialis gangeticus is a Critically Endangered crocodilian endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Habitat modification by river damming and water extraction has caused a severe decline in its population. The status of the gharial is known within protected areas, but there have been few surveys for this species in unprotected areas. In Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, a breeding gharial population in Girijapuri Barrage Reservoir has low recruitment, and it has been hypothesized that yearlings disperse downstream into the unprotected Ghaghara River when the barrage gates are opened. We surveyed a 100-km stretch of the Ghaghara River from the Girijapuri Barrage to Chahlari Ghat, observing a total of 84 gharials, including a high proportion of juveniles. A survey in 2021 from Chahlari Ghat to Ayodhya observed 174 gharials, giving a combined total of 258 gharials in a 219-km stretch of the Ghaghara River for the two surveys. Together, these findings confirm the presence of a significant population of gharials in the Ghaghara River. We recommend the adoption of an integrated approach, involving government agencies and local communities along the river, to conserve the protected Girwa–Kaudiyala Rivers and the unprotected Ghaghara River for gharial conservation and recovery. Such a programme will need to tackle the threats facing the gharial and establish baseline data and long-term monitoring protocols for freshwater species conservation in this river system.