Publications

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is an addictive stimulant product used by teenagers and adults in most part of Asia, especially in India by chewing it for a longer time, absorbing nicotine present in it by the tissues, giving a mild stimulation. The availability of different brands of SLT with different composition gives a scope for its differentiation and brand determination. In Indian context, the presence of the spit of post chewed SLT in the floor of a crime scene or in clothing where a close contact with the victim is common. In this work, the proper use of ATR-FTIR coupled with PCA-LDA and PLS-DA were used for the investigation of brand determination from the masticate residue obtained from stimulated crime scenario. ATR-FTIR has an advantage over any other method as it is non-destructive and less time consuming. According to the findings obtained from this study, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy proved to be the best technique for the differentiation of SLT samples. Moreover, the first three principal component of PCA showed 98% variance and LDA exhibited 100% accuracy in predicting the different products of SLT. PLS-DA predicted 100% accuracy in supervised classification of SLT brands with 98% variation from factor 1 and factor 2. The blind validation test was able of predict the unknown samples with their corresponding group without any misclassification.

While smart speakers are emerging as a novel health care technology, people with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) and speech and language therapists (SaLTs) have reported difficulties using smart speakers with speech and voice impairments in research. To date, PwPD have identified frustration with having to repeat themselves to be understood, devices timing out before they had finished speaking, and being unable to have a conversation with smart speakers. SaLTs have reported technical and practical challenges in implementing voice-assisted technology tools. Both PwPD and SaLTs indicated a lack of knowledge about what smart speakers could do, as well as concerns about privacy and the listening nature of the devices.

Oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal disease, tooth loss and oral cancer affect billions of people worldwide. India, with the world's largest population, carries one of the heaviest burdens of oral and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). These diseases share common risk factors such as consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugary food and drinks. One effective approach to reducing the consumption of these products in the population is to increase taxes on them. WHO recently proposed a '3 by 35' initiative, which calls for raising the prices of these harmful products by at least 50% by 2035 through health-oriented taxation.

With the increasing number of diabetic patients, the rapid and accurate diagnosis of early diabetic retinopathy becomes crucial. However, diabetic retinal lesions are challenging to label since the identification of disease depends on accessing multiple lesion regions in images, which requires specialists to make detailed judgments and label them, resulting in an extremely costly and time-consuming.

Tobacco industry tactics that have proven effective in the past, such as using corporate social responsibility initiatives to curry favour with policymakers, have been examined in India. However, reporting the tobacco industry's financial contributions to political parties must be closely monitored, and their reporting made transparent.

India is facing a growing burden of stroke due to population aging, lifestyle changes, and increased exposure to risk factors. However, longitudinal data on stroke patterns and outcomes in India are limited.

Interventions for quitting smokeless tobacco are lacking in South Asia. In a pilot trial, we explored the feasibility of delivering and evaluating a culturally adapted behavioural intervention and/or nicotine replacement therapy in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. This paper presents the process evaluation.

Current dental care relies on subjective assessments or sophisticated diagnostics, both struggling to balance efficiency and accuracy. In situ biosensors offer a promising solution for real-time biomarker detection, yet their practical deployment in oral tissue is hindered by challenges in sensitivity, specificity, and stability due to low biomarker concentrations, molecular-level heterogeneity, and dynamic intraoral interactions. Here, we develop a tissue-adhesive hydrogel-MXene (TAHM) biosensor, integrating a graphene/MXene sensing probe, a tissue-adhesive patch, and a selective-permeable hydrogel membrane, for in situ detection of tumor necrosis factor-α, a proinflammatory cytokine. Our TAHM biosensor achieves high sensitivity with a limit of detection of 18.2 femtograms per milliliter, excellent selectivity with an interference coefficient below 7%, and mechanical stability with resistance variation under 0.5% under varying stretch ratio and loading rates. The sensor's performance is further validated through in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experiments. The work highlights the potential of in situ biosensor as a transformative tool for real-time oral diagnostics.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common and disabling symptom in people with Parkinson's disease, affecting the safety and efficiency of swallowing and increasing the risk of malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. Despite its clinical relevance, the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for managing dysphagia in this population remains uncertain.

Tobacco use poses a major public health challenge in the World Health Organization's South-East Asia Region, where it contributes to approximately 2.3 million deaths each year. In 2020 alone, tobacco smoking was responsible for around 1.6 million of these deaths. The region faces a dual burden of high prevalence of both smoking and smokeless tobacco use, underscoring the urgent need for strengthened tobacco control measures. The toxic substances found in the emissions of smoked tobacco products are inadequately researched. This study presents primary scientific information on levels of nicotine, water, and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in mainstream smoke deliveries from popular cigarettes from India and Myanmar, and bidis from India; additionally, flavours and humectants were tested in fillers. Globally accepted methods from the World Health Organization's Tobacco Laboratory Network (TobLabNet), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) were used. When comparing Indian and Myanmar cigarettes, we discovered that nicotine and carbon monoxide (CO) levels in Myanmar cigarettes were slightly higher than those in Indian ones, though the difference was not statistically significant. Water, tar, and total particulate matter (TPM) also exhibited no statistically significant variations. Significantly higher (p = 0.008) concentrations of BaP, ranging from 8.02 to 14.90 ng/cigarette (median, 9.95 ng/cigarette), were observed in Myanmar-origin cigarettes, indicating increased exposure risks for users. Among humectants, only propylene glycol showed significant variation (p = 0.023). Compared with Indian cigarettes, bidis showed significantly higher nicotine and CO (p = 0.023), as well as water and TPM (p = 0.008). When bidis were compared with cigarettes from both countries, nicotine (p = 0.041), water, and TPM differed significantly (both p < 0.001). The intended flavours were not detected in the mainstream smoke of the cigarettes and bidis examined. The findings of this study can be leveraged to enhance public health by identifying harmful chemicals that exceed established limits and potentially motivating manufacturers to produce less harmful products by conforming to toxicant emission standards.

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs) hold great promise as high-capacity anode materials for next-generation batteries. However, their application is severely hindered by anisotropic lithiation, which leads to structural failure and rapid capacity fading. Here, we introduce a novel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cross-sectional analysis technique that enables real-time visualization and quantitative analysis of the radial structural evolution of one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials under external stimuli. Applying this method to Si NWs, we uncover a two-tiered mechanism for regulating anisotropic lithiation in Si NWs. First, selecting axial orientations with high in-plane crystallographic symmetry can effectively facilitate uniform lithium (Li) diffusion and suppress directional expansion. Second, rational cross-sectional design, such as faceted-engineered geometries, further suppresses anisotropy by constraining the effective interfacial area and diffusion path length in fast-lithiation directions. These findings provide new insights into the control of anisotropic lithiation and offer a geometry-guided strategy for enhancing the structural stability and performance of Si-based anodes. Moreover, the methodology and anisotropy regulation principles established here are broadly applicable to other 1D nanomaterials.

Denture base materials, when exposed to carcinogenic substances like smokeless tobacco extracts (STE), may provoke inflammatory responses in oral tissues. Understanding macrophage-mediated cytokine release in such environments is critical to evaluating the biocompatibility of these materials.

Light spectrum plays a crucial role in regulating the growth of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) plants and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Several studies have demonstrated that additional red-light exposure increases biomass accumulation, while supplementary UV-A light stimulates cannabinoid synthesis. Nevertheless, the potential of stage-specific supplementation of red and UV-A light remains underexplored in its capacity to optimize cannabinoid yield in indoor hemp cultivation. In the present study, the effect of red light in combination with UV-A light on hemp biomass and cannabinoid accumulation was investigated using a high-CBD strain. There were four treatments: (1) white light throughout the growth period (control; VR); (2) red light supplementation during the vegetative stage (VR); (3) UV-A supplementation (VR) during the flowering stage; and (4) combined red and UV-A supplementation (VR) during the vegetative and flowering stages. Results showed that VR promoted the number of effective branches (increased by 18.0%) compared to the control (VR), resulting in an increase in inflorescence yield by 17.9%. VR increased CBG and CBD content by 52.7% and 12.1%, respectively, relative to the control. The effect of VR on biomass and cannabinoid accumulation was the strongest among the treatments, with CBG and CBD yields reaching 0.53 g and 4.62 g per plant, representing significant increase of 91.8% (p < 0.01) and 44.1% (p < 0.01), respectively, compared to the control. However, there were no significant differences in CBD yield among the VR, VR and VR treatments, indicating that the combined supplementation of red and UV-A light did not have an additive effect on CBD accumulation. These findings highlight the potential of stage-specific spectral strategy to optimize both plant growth and phytochemical quantity.

The existing studies in the literature have provided conflicting results on the association of e-cigarettes with myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Hence, the present systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) aimed at critically reviewing and summarizing the currently available evidence of the association of e-cigarettes with MI and stroke.

Adolescent tobacco use, particularly of smokeless forms, has become a growing public health concern in India. Early and chronic exposure to tobacco during this developmental phase leads to pathological changes in the oral mucosa, some of which may progress to malignancy. This study was undertaken to clinically and cytopathologically evaluate oral mucosal changes in adolescent smokeless tobacco chewers and assess early markers of potentially malignant disorders.

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs), including leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and erythroplakia, are precursors to oral cancer, a major public health issue in India. The primary etiological factors for OPMDs are the use of tobacco (smoking and smokeless) and alcohol consumption, which are deeply embedded in cultural practices and contribute significantly to the rising incidence of oral cancer. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 aims to regulate tobacco usage, but implementation remains inconsistent, particularly in rural areas. This study explores the correlation between these adverse habits and OPMDs in an Indian population, aiming to develop a classification system for high-risk patients.

The merging of US smokeless tobacco (SLT) and cigarette industries in the early 2000s was highly predictable based on cigarette manufacturers' long-standing interest in developing SLT products. Yet, conflicts preceding the merger have not been examined, thus, warranting an investigation of how trade associations managed industry relations.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is a growing and significant public health issue in low- and middle-income countries. SLT consumption impairs nutrient absorption, particularly iron, leading to poor nutritional status and reduced hemoglobin levels. The study aimed to assess the association between SLT consumption and hemoglobin levels (Hb) among 6 to 12-year-old school-going children in rural Matiari, Pakistan.

Non-pharmacological treatment is recommended for inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO) but evidence for effectiveness is limited. A standardised approach does not exist and there are many key uncertainties for intervention delivery. The aims of the present study were to identify, from patients and speech and language therapists (SLTs), what the key considerations and components are for a standardised non-pharmacological intervention for ILO.

Chronic kidney disease of unknown cause (CKDu) has been reported in "hotspots" around the world and linked to occupational heat stress, exposure to agrochemicals and environmental toxins. This was a systematic, statewide, population-based, observational study of agricultural workers in Tamil Nadu, to estimate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CKDu.

Tobacco use is a major global health risk, causing over eight million deaths annually. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) requires member countries to adopt a raft of comprehensive policy measures, including taxation. In India, 28% of adults consume tobacco, with a high prevalence of both combustible and smokeless forms, contributing to a substantial health burden. To inform tobacco tax policy in India, we estimated the potential impact of taxation on lowering the prevalence of use and the associated health and economic burden.

Edema disease (ED) and post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) are major health and economic challenges in the swine industry, primarily caused by F18 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). These diseases typically occur within 1-2 weeks after weaning and are associated with high morbidity and mortality, resulting in substantial economic losses worldwide. The pathogenesis of ED is largely mediated by bacterial adhesion via F18 fimbriae, particularly the FedF adhesin, and systemic toxemia induced by Shiga-like toxin IIe (SLT-IIe). Although passive or active immunization with SLT-IIe toxoids or detoxified variants can provide some protection, their immunogenicity is often limited and may be accompanied by adverse effects. Currently, no commercial vaccines are available, and reliance on antibiotics has accelerated the emergence of multidrug-resistant E. coli. Therefore, the development of safe and effective vaccines targeting both F18 fimbrial adhesion and SLT-IIe-mediated toxemia is urgently needed.

This study investigates the influence of lecturer behavior on student self-motivation, soft skill development, and the integration of these factors into learning quality and hard skill competency within the context of vocational education. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Social Learning Theory (SLT), the research emphasizes the importance of motivation-driven instruction in preparing students for Industry 4.0. Data were collected from 229 final-year students at four Indonesian aviation polytechnic institutions. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the findings reveal that lecturer behavior significantly enhances student self-motivation (β = 0.911, p = 0.000) and soft skill competency (β = 0.124, p = 0.044). Student self-motivation also positively affects the quality of learning (β = 0.925, p = 0.000), which in turn contributes to hard skill competency (β = 0.449, p = 0.000). However, soft skill competency does not significantly influence learning quality (β = 0.004, p = 0.464), suggesting its greater impact lies in workplace adaptability rather than academic performance. These findings accentuate the need for vocational curricula that integrate motivational teaching practices with industry-relevant skill development to optimize student readiness for professional challenges.

The 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) was the accelerant for moving nursing academia toward competency-based education (CBE). CBE is grounded in ongoing mastery with consistent progression throughout the program. Resources are needed for integrating the new into nursing programs.

This study investigates the socio-contextual determinants of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among blue-collar workers in India, a demography exhibiting the world's highest SLT use. The Social Ecology Theory is used to understand the phenomenon by analysing the data collected from 392 blue-collar workers, through the mediated moderation approach in the structural equation model. The findings indicate that working conditions (β = 0.17; p value = 0.007), social norms and support (β = 0.14; p value = 0.011), personality (β = 0.09; p value = 0.014), and perceived effectiveness of SLT control policies (β= -0.13; p value = 0.002) significantly impact the SLT use of blue collar workers. However, knowledge about the health effects of SLT use and neighborhood disadvantages did not exhibit a significant influence. The theoretical modelling helped identify direct effects and underlying pathways through which environmental and psychological variables jointly shape tobacco behavior. Despite limitations inherent in self-reported data, this research provides actionable guidance for policymakers and organizations to develop targeted public health policies and workplace strategies to reduce SLT use among blue-collar workers.

Depression is a frequent comorbidity among individuals with chronic diseases, amplifying morbidity and complicating disease management. In Bangladesh, data on the prevalence and predictors of depression in this population remain limited, particularly using advanced machine learning (ML) approaches.

Oral cancer is the leading cancer among males and the fourth most common cancer in India. Primary screening is recommended for early detection of oral cancer among high-risk groups, particularly tobacco users, considering the long natural history of the disease. This study explores the contributing factors of oral cancer screening among adults aged 30-49 years in India based on National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data.

India faces a mounting public health burden from tobacco use, with over a million annual deaths. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 regulates tobacco control, but compliance in pilgrimage-based semi-urban towns remains under-researched. This study assessed COTPA adherence in public settings of Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.

Combination vaccines promise to simplify immunization schedules and improve coverage, but remain technically challenging owing to antigen compatibility, immunogenic balance and formulation complexity. Here we report a modular strategy that uses a single-component nanobody binder to noncovalently attach diverse antigens to intact particles from the licensed hepatitis E vaccine. To identify a suitable binder, an alpaca was immunized with the vaccine, and nanobodies were screened via phage display. One nanobody, P1-5B, selectively bound recessed, non-immunodominant sites on the particle surface and enabled stable antigen display without disrupting native immunogenicity. Using this binder, we generated three vaccine formulations displaying five to eleven antigens, including variants from SARS-2 coronavirus, influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus. These multivalent particles exhibited high-affinity assembly, preserved solubility and induced neutralizing titres up to three log units higher than soluble antigens. In mice, hamsters and non-human primates, the candidate vaccines conferred robust protection and showed a favourable safety profile. This approach introduces a scalable, plug-and-display system for rapid development of customizable combination vaccines.

To assess and compare the patterns of smoked and smokeless tobacco use in India and to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with tobacco use through secondary data analysis of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) (2015-2016) and (NFHS-5) (2019-2021) datasets.

Tobacco pouch keratosis (TPK) is a benign oral lesion primarily associated with the use of smokeless tobacco products. It is commonly observed in males, mainly due to their higher rates of tobacco consumption. Typically found in the lower vestibule, TPK presents as a white, curdy lesion on the oral mucosa. Despite its benign nature, persistence of TPK may lead to premalignant changes and subsequent malignancy.

Tobacco-related habits, including both smoked and smokeless forms, remain a public health concern among incarcerated populations, where stress, stigma, and limited healthcare access contribute to high prevalence rates. This cross-sectional study was conducted among inmates in a central prison in Navi Mumbai, India and aimed to evaluate tobacco-use patterns, cessation motivation, and oral health outcomes among prison inmates in Navi Mumbai.

Hardly any study has been reported in the literature related to the occurrence of potentially malignant disorders with respect to the usage of smokeless forms of quid.

Consumption of tobacco products including smokeless tobacco is a public health problem. Measures of tobacco control along with promotion of tobacco cessation will have a great impact in reducing the burden tobacco-related diseases. The objectives of current paper were to create cancer awareness and understand predictors influencing use of smokeless tobacco among the public transport bus employees.

Addiction to various forms of tobacco, odd work hours with idle breaks in between, and the lack of targeted tobacco cessation services make taxi drivers vulnerable to a range of tobacco-related diseases and cancers.

Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use constitutes a considerable public health concern, especially in India, where there are more than 300 million users. This study seeks to assess the influence of graphic health warning labels (GHWLs) on smokeless tobacco (SLT) packaging on encouraging cessation among users.

The periodontal health among beedi smokers and tobacco chewers and its correlation to salivary cotinine levels is of interest. Hence, 60 tobacco-consuming male patients of which 30 patients were beedi smokers and 30 were smokeless tobacco users were enrolled in the study. The gingival health and periodontal health were determined. Unstimulated saliva was collected and subjected to quantitative Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). There was a statistically significant effect on number and duration of beedi smoked than chewed (p<0.001). Beedi smoking has more adverse effects on periodontium than tobacco chewing.

Tobacco use among adolescents is a concern in the Upper East Region of Ghana. We estimated the prevalence and identified factors contributing to single and multiple use of tobacco products among junior high school students in Ghana.

This study explores patterns and determinants of attempted quitting of smokeless tobacco (AQSLT) in India and Bangladesh, using data from two waves of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS).

Chronic pain management with opioids after spinal cord injury (SCI) has been shown to be ineffective, leading to overuse in length and dosage.

Understanding tobacco usage among adolescents is pivotal for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 3. Tending to the mental well-being of teenagers plays a crucial role in fostering overall health and contributes to shaping a generation of mentally resilient adults, ultimately leading to a healthier society.

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) treatment in Norway is centralized and multidisciplinary, with long-term follow-up from birth to adulthood. The Norwegian Registry of Cleft Lip and Palate was established to ensure high-quality care and enable systematic data collection. Speech data are a key component, assessed by speech-language therapists (SLTs) using standardized tools. Ensuring the validity and reliability of these data is essential for clinical decision-making and quality assurance.

Oral cancer is a major public health issue in India. Despite various prevention strategies, the incidence of oral cancer continues to rise. This study aimed to assess awareness of tobacco's harmful effects and tobacco control measures in patients with oral cancer.

Subsite distribution, mandibular invasion patterns, nodal involvement and survival outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with a history of smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is of interest. Gingivobuccal complex (GBC) subsites were predominant, with frequent mandibular marrow involvement. Two- and five-year overall survival rates approximated 95% and 79%, respectively. Thus, data shows the clinical behavior of SLT-associated OSCC and underscore the importance of targeted imaging and early detection.