Residual blood specimens provide a sample repository that could be analyzed to estimate and track changes in seroprevalence with fewer resources than household-based surveys. We conducted parallel facility and community-based cross-sectional serological surveys in two districts in India, Kanpur Nagar District, Uttar Pradesh, and Palghar District, Maharashtra, before and after a measles-rubella supplemental immunization activity (MR-SIA) from 2018 to 2019. Anonymized residual specimens from children 9 months to younger than 15 years of age were collected from public and private diagnostic laboratories and public hospitals and tested for IgG antibodies to measles and rubella viruses. Significant increases in seroprevalence were observed following the MR SIA using the facility-based specimens. Younger children whose specimens were tested at a public facility in Kanpur Nagar District had significantly lower rubella seroprevalence prior to the SIA compared to those attending a private hospital, but this difference was not observed following the SIA. Similar increases in rubella seroprevalence were observed in facility-based and community-based serosurveys following the MR SIA, but trends in measles seroprevalence were inconsistent between the two specimen sources. Despite challenges with representativeness and limited metadata, residual specimens can be useful in estimating seroprevalence and assessing trends through facility-based sentinel surveillance.

Background: We performed a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the comparative effectiveness of available pharmacological prophylaxis for migraines. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and Cochrane CENTRAL up to October 2023 for trials that: (1) enrolled adults diagnosed with chronic migraine, and (2) randomized them to any prophylactic medication vs. another medication or placebo. We performed a random-effects frequentist network meta-analysis for patient-important outcomes. Results: We included 193 randomized trials. Compared to placebo, CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mean difference [MD] -1.7, 95%CI: -1.1 to -2.2), injection of botulinum toxin (MD -1.8, 95%CI: -0.7 to -2.9), calcium channel blockers (MD -1.8, 95%CI: -0.5 to -3.0), beta-blockers (MD -1.4, 95%CI: -0.2 to -2.6), and anticonvulsants (MD -1.1, 95%CI: -0.4 to -1.8) were among the most effective treatments in reducing average number of headache days per months. Anticonvulsants (Risk Ratio [RR] 2.3, 95%CI: 1.8 to 3.0), calcium channel blockers (RR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 3.1), and tricyclic antidepressants (RR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.8) showed the highest risk of discontinuation due to adverse events. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CGRP inhibitors, botulinum toxin, and beta-blockers may provide the greatest benefit, and tolerability, for reducing the frequency of migraine headaches.

Sustainability of maize production systems is threatened by poor economic returns and resource intensiveness. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2016–17 to 2017–18 to assess the effect of tillage and microbial inoculantsintegrated phosphorus (P) management on productivity, quality, economic outcome and energy dynamics of maize. Three tillage practices viz., CT–R (conventional tillage with no residue), ZT–R (zero tillage with no residue) and ZT + R (zero tillage with wheat crop residue at 2.5 Mg/ha) were assigned in main plots and five P management practices viz., P1 (control–NK as per recommendation, but no P), P2 (17.2 kg P/ha), P3 (17.2 kg P/ha + PSB), P4 (17.2 kg P/ha + compost inoculants) and P5 (34.4 kg P/ha) were allocated in subplots in three times replicated split-plot design. The maximum grain yield (5.96 Mg/ha), protein content (9.13%), protein yield (546 kg/ha) and gross energy returns (209 × 103 MJ/ha) were recorded under ZT + R while higher benefit: cost ratio (B: C ratio – the amount of economic gain per unit investment) (1.53) and energy efficiency (12.5) was noticed under ZT–R. Among the P management practices, the application of 34.4 kg P/ha recorded the highest grain yield (6.45 Mg/ha), protein content (9.34%), protein yield (603 kg/ha), B: C ratio (1.65) and energy efficiency (10.1). The results suggested that the application of P at the rate of 34.4 kg/ha under ZT + R is an economically robust approach for the quality maize production in semi-arid region.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Development of a user friendly home kit that enables kidney transplant recipients to process urine at home and post the lysate containing RNA to a Core Laboratory would simplify urinary cell mRNA profiling and facilitate longitudinal monitoring. We report our home processing protocol and investigation of its diagnostic performance characteristics. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We developed a home processing protocol (HPP) consisting of urine filtration and lysis of urinary cells, both performed at home by the kidney transplant recipients (KTR) themselves, followed by isolation of total RNA from the lysate and mRNA enrichment using a silica-membrane-based cartridge, both performed at the Core Laboratory. Using the HPP, total RNA was isolated from kidney allograft biopsy-matched urines and absolute copy numbers of CD3εmRNA, CXCL10 mRNA, and 18S rRNA, components of the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation 04 (CTOT-04) three-gene TCMR diagnostic signature, and urinary cell BKV VP1 mRNA copy number, were measured using customized RT-qPCR assays. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: CTOT-04 three-gene TCMR diagnostic signature scores in urine processed using HPP discriminated KTR with TCMR (12 TCMR biopsies from 11 KTR) from KTR with no TCMR/BKVN (29 No TCMR/No BKVN biopsies from 29 KTR) (P=0.0005, Mann-Whitney test), and AUROC was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.69 to 0.98). TCMR was diagnosed with sensitivity of 67% (95% CI, 35 to 89) at a specificity of 86% (95% CI, 67 to 95) using the CTOT-04 validated cutpoint of -1.213 (P=0.0016,Fisher exact test). BKV VP1 mRNA copy number in urine processed with HPP discriminated KTR with BKVN (n=7) from KTR with no TCMR/BKVN (n=29) and AUROC was 1.0 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.00). BKVN was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI, 42 to 99) at specificity of 100% (95% CI, 85 to 100) with the previously validated cutpoint of 6.5x10^8 BKV VP1 mRNA copies/μg of RNA (P DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Urine processed using the HPP predicted TCMR and BKVN in KTR. The HPP represents not only a significant advance towards portability of urinary cell mRNA profiling but also should improve patient management by minimizing visits for urine collection.

Scapolite occurrences are widely observed in the metasedimentary rocks exposed around the Khetri Copper Belt and adjoining Nim ka Thana copper mineralized area in western India. Amoeboidal to well-developed and rounded/elliptical-shaped marialitic scapolite (Na-rich end-member) rich zones with variable Cl contents ranging from 1.0 wt % to 2.9 wt % have been identified in proximity to the ore-bearing hydrothermal fluid activity zones. Although scapolite is formed as a product of regional metamorphism in many places, in this study, we propose a strong possibility that scapolite was formed by hydrothermal ore-bearing fluid interaction with metasediments. The evidence of hydrothermal activity and Cl sourcing is attributed to (i) the absence of evaporite beds in the area and no Na-rich plagioclase as inclusions within the scapolite suggesting the formation of marialitic scapolite from sodic plagioclase in the metasediments with the interacting hydrothermal fluid; (ii) an epithermal to mesothermal hydrothermal fluid with moderate salinity responsible for the Cu mineralization that is ascribed to be the source of Cl for the formation of marialitic scapolite; (iii) diffusion of SO2 in the scapolite in close association with the sulfide mineral phase (chalcopyrite) supporting the involvement of ore-bearing fluid in the development of scapolite; (iv) the absence of zoned scapolite, the spatial distribution of scapolite in a particular lithology, the occasional incorporation of sulfur into marialitic scapolite and the texture/geometry in the scapolite suggesting a broad hydrothermal linkage instead of a pure metamorphic origin.

Existence of genetic divergence, appropriate characterization of breeding lines for economically important traits and determining parents with favourable alleles is the crux of crop genetic improvement programmes. This study is the first report of unravelling genetics and potential of petaloid-type cytoplasmic male sterile (pt-CMS) lines in carrot. Ten pt-CMS lines were crossed with 10 inbreds in line × tester mating fashion to generate 100 testcross progenies. Nutritional profiling of the 100 testcrosses progenies along with 20 parental types was carried out for two consecutive years for eight important traits to identify superior combiners. The pooled analysis revealed that the carotenoid content in root is under the genetic control of major genes (oligogenic). The pooled analysis revealed less than unity value of σ2A/D and σgca2/σsca2 for majority of the traits depicting preponderance of non-additive gene effects. The pt-CMS lines KT-28A, Kt-62A, KT-80A and KT-95A were identified as good combiners for carotenoids. The cross combination, KT-98A × KS-50 identified as the best heterotic combiner for CUPRAC and FRAP content over the years. Similarly, the combinations, KT-62A × KS-21, KT-80A × New Kuroda and KT-62A × KS-59 were found promising across the years for developing nutritionally rich F1 hybrids. The interaction analysis among the different antioxidant traits and plant pigments unveiled the scope of simultaneous improvement.

The current study was undertaken to identify the sources of tolerance to bruchid in cowpea, by screening a set of germplasm accessions as a source for natural resistance. A total of 103 diverse accessions of cowpea were evaluated for resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus Fab. under no-choice artificial infestation conditions. Significant differences among the cowpea accessions were observed for oviposition, adult emergence, exit holes and per cent seed weight loss (PSWL) caused by the bruchid infestation. The accessions showed variation in physical seed parameters viz., colour, shape, testa texture, length, width and seed hardness. Among the seed biochemical parameters studied, per cent sugar content ranged from 0.322 (IC330950) to 1.493 (IC249137), and per cent phenol content ranged from 0.0326 (EC390261) to 1.081 (EC528423). Correlation studies indicated that PSWL had significant positive correlation (r = 0.335) with exit holes, oviposition (r = 0.219), adult emergence (r = 0.534) and seed roundness (r = 0.219). Adult emergence had a significant negative correlation with seed hardness (r = −0.332). Correlation with biochemical parameters indicated that PSWL had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.231) with sugar content and a significant negative correlation with phenol content (r = −0.219). None of the accessions were found to be immune to bruchid infestation. However, out of studied accessions, EC528425 and EC528387 were identified as resistant based on PSWL and moderately resistant based on adult emergence. These resistance sources of cowpea germplasm can be used as potential donors for development of bruchid tolerant/resistant cultivars.

This paper reports an integration of dual band microstrip antenna with thin film amorphous silicon solar cell which creates a wearable system to harvest microwave energy. The multiple layers in the encapsulation of the thin film solar cell are used as a substrate for microstrip antenna. The rectifier and matching circuit are designed on cotton jeans material and the whole system is mechanically supported by the foam of 5 mm thick. The performance of the antenna is studied for the mechanical bending condition. The device has maintained good power conversion efficiency. The efficiency of the voltage doubler is tested by varying radio frequency power levels from −30 to10 dBm. The voltage doubler conversion efficiency at 1.85 and 2.45 GHz are 58 and 43%, respectively, for a load of 7.5 kΩ for an input power level of −5 dBm.

GaN films have been grown on SiC substrates with an AlN nucleation layer by using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition technique. Micro-cracking of the GaN films has been observed in some of the grown samples. In order to investigate the micro-cracking and microstructure, the samples have been studied using various characterization techniques such as optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface morphology of the AlN nucleation layer is related to the stress evolution in subsequent overgrown GaN epilayers. It is determined via TEM evidence that, if the AlN nucleation layer has a rough surface morphology, this leads to tensile stresses in the GaN films, which finally results in cracking. Raman spectroscopy results also suggest this, by showing the existence of considerable tensile residual stress in the AlN nucleation layer. Based on these various observations and results, conclusions or propositions relating to the microstructure are presented.

This study examined the hypothesis that xanthosine (XS) treatment would promote mammary-specific gene expression and stem cell transcripts and have a positive influence on milk yield of dairy goats. Seven primiparous Beetal goats were assigned to the study. Five days after kidding, one gland (either left or right) was infused with XS (TRT) twice daily for 3 d and the other gland with no XS infusion served as a control (CON). Mammary biopsies were collected at 10 d and RNA was isolated. Gene expression analysis of milk synthesis genes, mammary stem/progenitor cell markers, cell proliferation and differentiation markers were performed using real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Results showed that the transcripts of milk synthesis genes (BLG4, CSN2, LALBA, FABP3, CD36) and mammary stem/progenitor cell markers (ALDH1 and NR5A2) were increased in as a result of XS treatment. Average milk yield in TRT glands was increased marginally (approximately ~2% P = 0·05, paired t-test) per gland relative to CON gland until 7 wk. After 7 wk, milk yield of TRT and CON glands did not differ. Analysis of milk composition revealed that protein, lactose, fat and solids-not-fat percentages remained the same in TRT and CON glands. These results suggest that XS increases expression of milk synthesis genes, mammary stem/progenitor cells and has a small effect on milk yield.

Agriculture in the Central Himalayan Region depends on the availability of suitable germplasm as well as natural conditions. Due to extreme weather conditions, food and nutrition security is a major issue for communities inhabiting these remote and inaccessible areas. Millets are common crops grown in these areas. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv) is an important crop and forms a considerable part of the diet in this region. The aim of the present study was to explore, collect, conserve and evaluate the untapped genetic diversity of foxtail millet at the molecular level and discover variability in their nutritional traits. A total of 30 accessions having unique traits of agronomic importance were collected and molecular profiling was performed. A total of 63 alleles were generated with an average of 2.52 alleles per locus and average expected heterozygosity of 0.37 ± 0.231. Significant genetic variability was revealed through the genetic differentiation (Fst) and gene flow (Nm) values. Structure-based analysis divided whole germplasm into three sub-groups. Rich variability was found in nutritional traits such as dietary fibre in husked grains, carbohydrate, protein, lysine and thiamine content. The collected germplasm may be useful for developing nutritionally rich and agronomically beneficial varieties of foxtail millet and also designing strategies for utilization of unexploited genetic diversity for food and nutrition security in this and other similar agro-ecological regions.

Influenza A(H1N1) viruses of the 2009 pandemic (A(H1N1)pdm09) continue to cause outbreaks in the post-pandemic period. During January to May 2015, an upsurge of influenza was recorded that resulted in high fatality in central India. Genetic lineage, mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene and infection by quasi-species are reported to affect disease severity. The objective of this study is to present the molecular and epidemiological trends during the 2015 influenza outbreak in central India. All the referred samples were subjected to qRT–PCR for diagnosis. HA gene sequencing (23 survivors and 24 non-survivors) and cloning were performed and analyzed using Molecular Evolutionary Genomic Analyzer (MEGA 5·05). Of the 3625 tested samples, 1607 (44·3%) were positive for influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, of which 228 (14·2%) individuals succumbed to death. A significant trend was observed in positivity (P = 0·003) and mortality (P < 0·0001) with increasing age. The circulating A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was characterized as belonging to clade-6B. Clinically significant mutations were detected. Patients infected with the quasi-species of the virus had a greater risk of death (P = 0·009). This study proposes a robust molecular and clinical surveillance program for the detection and characterization of the virus, along with prompt treatment protocols to prevent outbreaks.

HERMES is a new high-resolution multi-object spectrograph on the Anglo Australian Telescope. The primary science driver for HERMES is the GALAH survey, GALactic Archaeology with HERMES. We are planning a spectroscopic survey of about a million stars, aimed at using chemical tagging techniques to reconstruct the star-forming aggregates that built up the disk, the bulge and halo of the Galaxy. This project will benefit greatly from the stellar distances and transverse motions from the Gaia mission.