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Heritage tourism and sustainable development: nurturing Naga connections to land and burial traditions
No full textHeritage tourism has become one way for Indigenous communities to carve out new economic opportunities in support of sustainable development. To date, this has focused on the development of cultural tourism opportunities based on cultural landscapes and ecotourism. Death heritage, one aspect of Indigenous heritage tourism, has rarely been explored, but has great potential due to the emotional impact of material culture such as graves and gravestones. There are benefits to participating in this spectrum of tourism, but there are also risks to those taking part and to the nonrenewable cultural heritage upon which these activities are based. This study explores the potential of Indigenous heritage tourism in relation to the Nagas’ connection to their land and to “remembering the dead.” Like Indigenous peoples around the world, the Nagas consider graves and burial sites to be emblematic of ancestral history. The study investigates the possibility of integrating graves, cemeteries, and aspects of burial rites with heritage tourism. The study also opens up avenues for further research into the “everyday and natural reality of death” aspect of necro-heritage rather than on tragic phenomena. Emphasis is placed on sustainable development goals (SDG): SDG 1 End Poverty in All Its Forms; SDG 5 Gender Equality; SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth; and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, to respect cultural values and involve community control. This study also advocates for Indigenous communities to lead the projects, ultimately prioritizing Indigenous voices and reinforcing cultural identities, which can be overlooked in Indigenous archaeology
Easily Injectable, Organic Solvent-Free Self-Assembled Hydrogel Platform for Endoscope Mediated Gastrointestinal Polypectomy
No full textEndoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection (ESR) are used to eliminate tiny, flat lesions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). A substantial submucosal cushion is required for effective dissection. Commonly used saline and hypertonic dextrose injections disperse quickly and do not offer significant elevation, whereas polymers such as gelatin and alginate are challenging to inject. In this study, a novel amphiphilic polyglycerol stearate-based hydrogel (PGSH) platform is demonstrated which could be administered via an endoscopic catheter to help create a stable submucosal elevation. PGSH is easy to inject across different needle gauges, shear-thinning, and forms a long-lasting submucosal cushion during ESD. This hydrogel can encapsulate hydrophilic drugs such as streptomycin, allowing controlled enzymatic and nonenzymatic release. Ex-vivo experiments on goat's GIT demonstrate that PGSH is smoothly injectable without clogging the catheter's needle, achieving the necessary submucosal elevation. Furthermore, ex-vivo blood studies demonstrate immediate clotting behavior while maintaining hemocompatibility. In-vivo, investigations in mice show that the hydrogel forms a biocompatible cushion of suitable height with a nontoxic organ profile that does not overexpress inflammatory cytokines. ESD studies in the porcine model suggest that PGSH has the potential to significantly improve treatment outcomes in the early endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal polyps
Photocatalytic Approach Towards Benzimidazole Synthesis and Oxidation of Indoles by Porphyrins
No full textThis work is focused on the photocatalytic applications of three porphyrins having electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups at their meso-positions. Porphyrins were tested for the diamine coupling reaction and chemoselective oxidation of indole derivatives under visible light. The porphyrin with meso-tetrakis-p-cyanophenyl groups found to be the best photoredox catalyst as compared to the rest of them. For diamine coupling, the method utilizes 0.25 mol% of the porphyrin catalyst and wide variety of aldehydes and diamine were converted to benzimidazole derivatives in high yields (up to 99%). Computational studies were done to optimize the geometry of porphyrin catalysts and provide mechanistic support for the benzimidazole synthesis. Also, oxidation of indole derivatives was achieved in decent to high yields (up to 90%) with just 0.1 mol% of porphyrin, demonstrating the traits of an efficient, and versatile photocatalyst for organic transformations
Carrier Dynamics of CsPbBr3Perovskite Nanocrystals from Ensemble Average to Single-Particle Level for Safeguarding the Dilution-Induced Excited-State Decay Heterogeneity
No full textPhotoluminescence blinking remains one of the main challenges for perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) to be used in single-emitter devices and light-emitting diodes. Besides the persistent surface traps, dilution-induced ligand desorption also affects the blinking. The ligands that can passivate the surface without affecting the charge-transfer efficiency and can resist the dilution-induced desorption will be ideal for having a blinking-free/suppressed PNC for device applications. We used ascorbic acid (AA) and benzoic acid (BA), two short-chain ligands, in the postmodification of oleic acid/oleylamine capped PNC (Un-PNC). The ensemble average transient absorption study reveals that both AA and BA reduced the surface trapping contribution to 12 from 28% in Un-PNC. However, the single-particle photoluminescence analysis reveals AA-PNC to be superior with 84% photoluminescence ON-fraction, 10%, and 23% more compared to BA-PNC and Un-PNC, respectively. A similar trend was observed for AA-PNC in the electron-trapping rate, with a 5-fold and 20-fold reduction than Un-PNCs and BA-PNCs, respectively. AA-PNCs also maintained long-term stability under ambient conditions with a minute decrease in the time-averaged ON-fraction by 9.5% after 4 months, whereas Un-PNCs showed a 36% reduction. Time-resolved photoluminescence and simulation suggest that the dilution-induced ligand detachment due to weaker binding affinity of BA compared to AA with the PNC surface is found to be the origin of disparity in blinking despite having similar photophysics in the bulk spectroscopic analysis. Mitigating the dilution-induced heterogeneity, AA is found to be an effective ligand for synthesizing blinking-suppressed PNCs without compromising charge transfer, opening a pathway for potential application in bioimaging, single-emitter devices, and LEDs
Evaluating the path to sustainability: SWOT analysis of safe and sustainable by design approaches for metal-organic frameworks
No full textIn this review, we conduct a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) through the lens of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) guidelines, evaluating their potential to meet environmental, industrial, and societal needs. Renowned for their structural tunability, high surface area, and versatile applications—from gas storage to catalysis and environmental remediation—MOFs offer the strength of customisability through the selection of diverse metal nodes and organic linkers, allowing tailored functionalities that align with SSbD framework. This adaptability supports the development of MOFs with enhanced stability, selectivity, and safety, catering to a broad spectrum of applications. However, concerns remain about their environmental and health impacts across the material lifecycle. This review highlights the adaptability of MOFs, enabled by the strategic selection of metal nodes and organic linkers, allowing tailored functionalities that align with SSbD framework. The weaknesses section addresses the high environmental cost and limited stability associated with traditional MOF synthesis, emphasising the need for greener, scalable methods using benign solvents and renewable resources. The opportunities section explores advances in biocompatible and recyclable MOFs, aligning these materials with circular economy goals and sustainable material cycles that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In assessing potential threats, we discuss the emergence of alternative materials, such as carbon nanomaterials and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), which underline the urgency for SSbD-driven innovation within MOFs research. By advocating for a balanced SSbD approach, this review outlines strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of MOFs and enhance their industrial viability, providing a roadmap for the responsible large-scale adoption of MOFs that aligns with global sustainability objectives
Biochemical and Structural Studies of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase PTP-PEST (PTPN12) in Search of Small Molecule Inhibitors
No full textPTP-PEST (also known as PTPN12) regulates cellular signaling and transduction pathways by dephosphorylating its substrate. PTP-PEST is considered an important drug target owing to its involvement in cancer progression and myocardial injury. Till now only a few inhibitors are currently being studied in the inhibition of PTP-PEST, majorly belonging to the class of metal-based drugs. In this study, we aimed to investigate small molecules that could potentially inhibit PTP-PEST for further development of PTP-PEST inhibitors. As an approach, we used an in silico molecular docking technique to screen an in-house synthesized molecular library. Further, we validated the docking results by in vitro inhibition screening of the best molecules using the purified catalytic domain of human PTP-PEST, which was over-expressed in E.coli. We identified a myo-inositol based derivative, J1-65, which binds to PTP-PEST and results in the competitive inhibition of the protein. Further, we confirmed this protein-ligand binding using binding affinity studies based on protein thermal shift assay and in silico molecular dynamic simulations. Our efforts to discover a novel scaffold for inhibiting hPTP-PEST mark a crucial stride in laying the groundwork for the future development of selective PTP-PEST inhibitors
Non-perturbative heavy quark diffusion coefficients in a weakly magnetized thermal QCD medium
No full textIn this work, the perturbative and non-perturbative contributions to the heavy quark (HQ) momentum (κ) as well as spatial (Ds) diffusion coefficients are computed in a weak background magnetic field. The formalism adopted here involves calculation of the in-medium potential of the HQ in a weak magnetic field, which then serves as a proxy for the resummed gluon propagator in the calculation of HQ self-energy (Σ). The self-energy determines the scattering rate of HQs with light thermal partons, which is subsequently used to evaluate κ and Ds. It is observed that non-perturbative effects play a dominant role at low temperature. The spatial diffusion coefficient 2πTDs, exhibits good agreement with recent LQCD results. These findings can be applied to calculate the heavy quark directed flow at RHIC and LHC energies. An extension of this formalism to the case of finite HQ momentum has also been attempted
Exploring the role of ELMOD protein gene families in plant development, hormonal, and stress signaling in rice
No full textIn Silico Identification of Potential Quadruplex Forming Sequences in LncRNAs of Cervical Cancer
No full textLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as auxiliary regulators of gene expression influencing tumor microenvironment, metastasis and radio-resistance in cancer. The presence of lncRNA in extracellular fluids makes them promising diagnostic markers. LncRNAs deploy higher-order structures to facilitate a complex range of functions. Among such structures, G-quadruplexes (G4s) can be detected or targeted by small molecular probes to drive theranostic applications. The in vitro identification of G4 formation in lncRNAs can be a tedious and expensive proposition. Bioinformatics-driven strategies can provide comprehensive and economic alternatives in conjunction with suitable experimental validation. We propose a pipeline to identify G4-forming sequences, protein partners and biological functions associated with dysregulated lncRNAs in cervical cancer. We identified 17 lncRNA clusters which possess transcripts that can fold into a G4 structure. We confirmed in vitro G4 formation in the four biologically active isoforms of SNHG20, MEG3, CRNDE and LINP1 by Circular Dichroism spectroscopy and Thioflavin-T-assisted fluorescence spectroscopy and reverse-transcriptase stop assay. Gene expression data demonstrated that these four lncRNAs can be potential prognostic biomarkers of cervical cancer. Two approaches were employed for identifying G4 specific protein partners for these lncRNAs and FMR2 was a potential interacting partner for all four clusters. We report a detailed investigation of G4 formation in lncRNAs that are dysregulated in cervical cancer. LncRNAs MEG3, CRNDE, LINP1 and SNHG20 are shown to influence cervical cancer progression and we report G4 specific protein partners for these lncRNAs. The protein partners and G4s predicted in lncRNAs can be exploited for theranostic objectives. � 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved
Writing care: narrative strategies and corporeal realities in Carmen Maria Machado's in the dream house
No full textIn this paper, we analyze Carmen Maria Machado’s memoir In the Dream House (2019), focusing on care and corporeality, attending to the intricacies of its narrative form. We argue that Machado not only presents abuse, care, and corporeality as themes but also embeds them as integral elements shaping the form of the narrative. By doing so, she expands the formal possibilities of life writing, inviting readers to reconsider the intersections between narrative construction, bodily experience, and the ethics of care. The analysis identifies two distinct yet interdependent modes of care within the memoir: form as care and care as form. The former refers to the ways in which the memoir’s structural choices (its polyphonic voice, generic hybridity, and experimental format) perform an ethics of care, both for the writer and the reader. The latter considers how representations of care (through acts, gestures, and their various manifestations) not only function as integral elements of the text’s overall design but also provide moments of respite and levity in an otherwise trauma-laden narrative. This paper foregrounds these dual modes and offers insights into the complexities of life writing in relation to the fractured autobiographical subject: a narrator caught between self-interrogation and self-preservation, a body that remembers trauma but lacks the physical evidence to validate its suffering. We argue that the arc of recovery, traced from trauma to care (personal and interpersonal), formalizes these tropes into an intertextual, self-diagnostic, non-linear, and playfully interactive structure of the memoir as life writing