Sardar Patel University

Introduction/Objective: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has highlighted the urgent need for new therapeutic agents. In this study, we aimed to design and synthesize a series of novel triazolopyrimidine-based methanone derivatives bearing trifluoromethyl substituents and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential. Methods: The derivatives (4a–i) were synthesized through a rapid microwave-assisted multicom-ponent reaction involving substituted benzaldehydes, 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione, and 1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine. The β-diketone intermediates (2a–b) were prepared by Claisen conden-sation of acetophenone and ethyl trifluoroacetate in the presence of ethanol–water (1:1) as a green solvent system under microwave irradiation at 140°C for 5–10 minutes. The antimicrobial activities of the synthesized compounds were assessed by determining their MICs against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal strains. Results: All synthesized compounds were obtained in good yields. Among them, derivatives 4g, 4f, and 4i demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with MIC values comparable to or better than standard reference drugs. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that substitution patterns and the presence of electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups strongly influenced bio-logical activity. Discussion: The study demonstrates that microwave-assisted multicomponent synthesis is an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to generating bioactive heterocycles. The findings fur-ther establish the importance of trifluoromethyl substitution in enhancing antimicrobial efficacy. Conclusion: This work highlights triazolopyrimidine-based methanone derivatives as promising scaffolds for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. The synthesized compounds, particu-larly 4g, 4f, and 4i, warrant further investigation for potential pharmaceutical applications.

Probiotics are increasingly being explored as alternatives for preventing intestinal infections in livestock, and Weissella species have attracted attention for their health-promoting properties.This study evaluated the probiotic functional traits, safety attributes, and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production potential of Weissella cibaria MSCH1, isolated from a Chiku sample.Phenotypic assays demonstrated that MSCH1 tolerated simulated gastric juice (pepsin, pH 3) with 64% survival after 2 h and maintained significant viability under simulated intestinal-like conditions (trypsin, pH 8) after 6 h.The strain exhibited strong auto-aggregation and notable antimicrobial activity against representative pathogens, supporting its potential for colonisation and competitive exclusion in the gastrointestinal tract.Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 2.489 Mb genome with 44.75% GC content, harbouring genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism, EPS biosynthesis, and stress responses, indicating adaptation to the gastrointestinal environment.Functional analysis highlighted a high abundance of glycosyltransferases and glycoside hydrolases, reflecting metabolic flexibility and strong EPS-producing capacity.Safety assessment confirmed the absence of transferable antibiotic resistance and virulence-associated genes, consistent with its non-hemolytic and antibiotic-susceptible phenotype.Comparative genomic analysis identified unique genes that may enhance ecological adaptability and functional diversity.Collectively, the integrated phenotypic and genomic data suggest that W. cibaria MSCH1 is a safe, metabolically versatile, and promising probiotic candidate with potential applications in animal health and functional food development.

Pharmacological treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a disorder that affects emotions and mental health and is thought to be therapeutically deficient, either appear to have a number of adverse effects or cause patients to not take their medications as directed. The effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments for PTSD-related anxiety, depression, and trauma-related discomfort is examined in the current systematic review. Fifty-five relevant studies that reported on the randomized controlled trials and metaanalyses published between 2008 and 2025 were found through a thorough search of a total of 12 databases. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), laughter therapy, acupuncture, dietary modifications, and yoga are among the interventions of interest that were studied. The severity of PTSD symptoms has been reported to be reliably reduced by MBSR, CBT, and EMDR; some trials of MBSR and CBT have shown improvements of up to 45%. Acupuncture, yoga, and laughter therapy all demonstrated positive impacts; the outcomes varied significantly. Dietary and lifestyle changes appeared to help stabilize mental health, but further research is needed. Results highlight the benefits of non-pharmacological therapies as highly effective and preferable PTSD treatment options, especially for individuals who are sensitive to pharmacotherapy. The strongest, most reliable results were obtained by MBSR and CBT in particular, highlighting the significance of cognitive restructuring and present-moment concentration. While nutrition, yoga, acupuncture, and laughter therapy all contributed to stress alleviation or emotional regulation, EMDR was particularly effective at processing memories without the requirement for verbalization. These tactics encourage resilience, self-control, and empowerment, but future research must address methodological variation, sample size, and intervention standardization. Non-pharmacological approaches offer promising complementary or standalone strategies for PTSD management. Further large-scale, standardized trials are warranted to strengthen the evidence base and optimize treatment protocols.

A conventional isolated full-bridge (FB) DC–DC converter for electric vehicle (EV) battery charger is implemented and experimentally validated using a real-time digital control platform based on the dSPACE DS1104 controller presented in this paper. The proposed charger is designed to deliver a regulated output of 56 V at 15 A for charging a 48 V lithium-ion battery pack. This work focuses on practical power-stage design with appropriate semiconductor device selection, high-frequency transformer design, output filter design considering switching stress mitigation. To address electromagnetic interference (EMI) in full-bridge converters due to high dv/dt and di/dt switching transitions, a passive mitigation approach with an input capacitor and RC snubber network is presented. This method reduces voltage overshoot and switching stress without increasing control or circuit complexity. A PI-based voltage control strategy is implemented on the dSPACE DS1104 platform for real-time PWM generation, closed-loop regulation and direct observation of converter dynamics during operation. The proposed system is validated through simulation and experimental testing results demonstrating stable output regulation, reduced switching stress and improved EMI behaviour. The results highlight the suitability of dSPACE-based real-time control for rapid prototyping and experimental investigation of power stages for isolated EV charger. The study provides practical implementation insights and a systematic design reference for researchers and engineers working on real-time EV battery charger development.

Polysaccharide-based PEGylated hydrogels have emerged as multifunctional biomaterials that combine the favourable properties of polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as hydrophilicity, stability, and structural tunability with the biodegradability and biocompatibility of natural polysaccharides. This review presents recent progress in the synthesis and design of hybrid PEG-polysaccharide hydrogels, emphasizing structural modifications and crosslinking strategies involving biopolymers such as hyaluronic acid, alginate, chitosan, agarose, and carrageenan. These systems exhibit adjustable physicochemical properties and responsiveness to various stimuli, including temperature, light, pH, reactive oxygen species, glucose, and enzymatic activities. Such dynamic features enable precise control over drug and growth factor release and facilitate cell adhesion, proliferation, and tissue regeneration. The review also discusses the biomedical applications of these hydrogels in cancer therapy, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Furthermore, it highlights critical translational challenges related to biosafety, immunogenicity, large-scale production, and regulatory pathways, which still hinder clinical implementation. By integrating material design insights with translational perspectives, this work provides an updated overview of opportunities and limitations in advancing PEGylated polysaccharide hydrogels toward safe and effective biomedical use. Continued research on their stability, reproducibility, and functional performance is essential to unlock their full clinical potential.

Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells whose elaborate soma-process architecture supports neuronal functions, regulates ions as well as water homeostasis, and contributes to brain structural organization. This paper presents a quantitative imaging technique for comprehensive morphological analysis of astrocytes, including their somata and branches, using a custom-built common-path quantitative phase microscope. The microscope employs a common-path off-axis configuration, splitting the sample beam using a grating, and a dual-lens system combined with a spatial filter to produce a reference beam required for hologram generation. This microscope enables a label-free, high-temporal-stability, and real-time 3D visualization of biological samples by measuring optical path length difference (OPD). Astrocyte cells were imaged, and their morphometric properties were quantified in near real time using the developed microscope. The reconstructed optical path length difference (OPD) maps were used to perform multistage deep learning segmentation of entire astrocyte cells, and the corresponding soma and branches were segmented using an optical thickness-based clustering approach. The segmented soma and process regions were compared as well as correlated by their phase-derived and geometrical morphological parameters. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of using the proposed digital holographic approach with an AI model to segment and measure the morphometrics of astrocyte cells, including their somata and branches separately.