Search

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydro‐1H‐isobenzofuro[4,5‐c]chromene‐1,3(3aH)‐dione derivatives were achieved through a novel [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of 4‐styryl‐2H‐chromenes with cheaply available maleic anhydride. A series of new tetrahydro‐1H‐isobenzofuro[4,5‐c]chromene‐1,3(3aH)‐dione derivatives 21(a–p) were synthesized in good to excellent yield under mild reaction condition with no chromatographic purification. In this reaction, the generation of four new consecutive stereogenic centers were determined by single crystal X‐ray analysis. All the synthesized compounds were investigated further in silico and in vitro for antibacterial activities using two bacterial strain of DNA gyrase. Compounds 21 b and 21 j showed excellent docking score −9.3 kCal/mol and −8.6 kCal/mol with gram negative bacterial strain Escherichia coli (E. coli) with protein data bank (PDB ID) 3G7E. Out of all the tested molecules, 21 b and 21 j displayed good results with minimum inhibitory concentration 10 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml against the bacterial strain Escherichia coli(E. coli) and 10 μg/ml, 20 μg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: No previous studies examined the discriminative stimulus effects of intravenous (IV) nicotine in humans. Objectives: To evaluate a pulsed IV nicotine infusion procedure designed to mimic inhaled nicotine delivery and to identify a range of nicotine doses that may capture the threshold doses for the subjective and discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine. By determining these thresholds, we can gain valuable insights into the addictive threshold of nicotine. Methods: Eleven participants had 2 Test Sessions following overnight abstinence from smoking. Test Session 1 examined participants' ability to discriminate 0.1 mg nicotine/pulse nicotine from saline. Test Session 2 examined if participants can discriminate 0.05, 0.025, and 0.0125 mg nicotine/pulse of nicotine from saline. These nicotine doses were delivered as a cluster of 4 pulsed-nicotine infusions of 2-second duration with a 28-second interval between each pulse. Results: The lowest doses of nicotine that produced greater responses than saline for discrimination, subjective effects, and heart rate ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 mg nicotine/pulse. Conclusions: These findings support the validity of our pulsed-infusion procedure as a model for nicotine delivery by smoking and its utility in examining factors that may impact the addictive threshold of nicotine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSilk proteins, viz., sericin, fibroin and their modified forms etc., have been thoroughly researched as natural biopolymers for the development of varied nanomaterials exhibiting diverse biomedical applications. The silk proteins are extracted from the cocoons by degumming and treatment with soaps, followed by dissolution and dialysis against water. These proteins exhibit distinct mechanical and physicochemical characteristics including biocompatibility, controlled biodegradability, self-assembling traits, chemical modifiability, and adaptability, thus making it an ideal drug delivery vehicle. In this regard, silk protein-derived drug delivery systems have been reported as efficient carrier to encapsulate and stabilize the wide variety of pharmacological molecules, enzymes, proteins, vaccines, and even DNA, allowing them to remain active for a longer period of time. Further, different delivery carriers researched employing these proteins for multitude of applications include hydrogels, sponges, fibres, scaffolds and particulate delivery systems. Additionally, the chemical modification of silk proteins has further opened avenues for development of other modified silk proteins with improved physicochemical traits and hence exhibiting enormous potential in development of varied bioenhanced carrier systems. The current article thus provides the holistic information of characteristics, types of silk protein-based delivery carriers, and their fabrication techniques, while emphasizing the applications of different silk proteins in biomedicine and drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickle cell diseases (SCD) are the most common genetic disorders with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in India. The high prevalence of this disorder in many geographical regions calls for the use of a point-of-care rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for early screening and management of the diagnosed cases to reduce the allied clinical severity. In view of this, the present study was undertaken for the validation of a point-of-care RDT kit (SICKLECHECKTM) for the screening of SCD. This validation and diagnostic accuracy study was conducted among the cases advised for screening of SCD. For validation, all the recruited cases were investigated for both the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit and HPLC (Variant-II) considering HPLC as a gold standard. A total of 400 cases were screened for both tests. For the presence and absence of sickle cell hemoglobin in the samples, SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit results showed a sensitivity and specificity of 99.39% and 98.73% respectively with references to HPLC findings. For the detection of the 'AS' pattern, the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit has shown a sensitivity and specificity of 99.07% and 98.81% respectively. For the detection of the 'SS' pattern, the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit has shown a sensitivity and specificity of 97.92% and 100.0% respectively. Cases with β thalassemia trait, hemoglobin E trait, hemoglobin Lepore trait and trait for hereditary-persistence-of-fetal-hemoglobin (high HbF %) diagnosed in HPLC were resulted with 'AA' pattern in SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit. The high sensitivity and specificity of the SICKLECHECKTM RDT kit insist on its use as a point-of-care screening tool for SCD especially where there is a lack of laboratory facilities as well as in hospital-based set-up requiring immediate diagnosis and management of SCD. However, for further confirmation, the samples should be analyzed with other gold standard techniques like HPLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion beam sputtering (IBS) can induce nanoripple patterns in a short time on variety of materials for wide range of applications. In this work, we describe the nanoripple as well as terrace pattern formation by IBS on soda-lime glass surfaces and the mechanisms leading to such pattern formations. The role of ion energy, ion fluence, and ion incidence angle on the morphology of the structural features is systematically explored. For a range of ion beam parameter values with energy varying from 600 to 1500 eV and fluence in the range 9.7 × 1017 to 2.0 × 1019 ions/cm2 at fixed incidence angle of 45°, transition of ripples to terraces has been observed. The experimental results are explained on the basis of recently modified KS equation which clearly explains the simultaneous role of nonlinear cubic term in the terrace formation. It is also demonstrated how ion beam can be used to tailor the wettability of glass surface and makes it hydrophobic in nature. Due to pattern formation, anisotropic hydrophobicity is observed showing an increasing trend owing to the magnification of the amplitude of nanopatterns developed on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck cancers are fairly common in India due to the widespread consumption of tobacco and neck dissection is a major component in the surgical management. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of MRND and SND on shoulder function and quality of life in patients of head and neck cancer. Our study is a prospective comparative study on 65 head and neck cancer patients divided into 2 groups—33 in group A (MRND group) and 32 in group B (SND group). Clinical evaluation of shoulder function was done pre-operatively, 1 week, 1 month, 3 month and 6 month post-operatively using arm abduction scores (AAS) and shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Nerve-conduction study (NCS) was done pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively for assessment of SAN. Neck dissection quality of life questionnaire (NDQOL) was used as a quality-of-life measure. A total of 65 neck dissections were included in the analysis (33 in group A and 32 in group B) out of which 53 were males and 12 were females. The mean AAS on the 6th post-operative month in group A was significantly lower than that of group B (p = 0.01). The mean SPADI scores on the 6th post-operative month was significantly worse in group A than group B (p value 0.01). On NCS, a significant decrease in amplitude was seen in group A (p = 0.02) and a significant increase in latency was noted in group B (p = 0.005). Quality of life score on 6th post-operative month showed no significant difference between both the groups (p > 0.05). Level V dissection in MRND is associated with higher incidence and greater severity of shoulder dysfunction. AAS and SPADI score are useful tools in post operative follow up of shoulder dysfunction. NCS helps in the detection of neuropathy and to determine its severity. Early rehabilitation promotes long term recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the growing demand for piezoelectric energy harvesting from ferroelectric–polymer-based composite materials and the benefits associated with them, this work focuses on piezoelectric energy harvesting from poly(vinylidene fluoride)-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP)/BZT-BCT/GO hybrid composite films synthesized via solution casting followed by the hot-pressing method. Structural properties were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. SEM micrographs confirmed the presence of pores in the synthesized samples that provided an added advantage toward enhancing its piezoelectricity. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties were studied, in which the dielectric constant increased up to 20.69, and the remnant polarization was found to be 0.0560 μ C cm−2. A PUND analysis was performed to validate the data obtained from the static hysteresis loop. Piezoelectric charge and voltage coefficients were measured, which reach up to "−31 pC N−1" and "−252.5 mV m N−1," respectively. Figure of merit, electromechanical coupling coefficient, and quality factor of the as-synthesized samples were calculated. A harvester prototype was fabricated to investigate the energy harvesting performance of the synthesized hybrid composite films. The highest open circuit voltage, short circuit current, and power density were recorded as 2.19 V, 24.17 nA, and 468.43 μ W m−2, respectively. The harvested energy can be utilized for powering low-power devices, showing the real-time applicability of the synthesized hybrid composite films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance, the hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has emerged as a pathological feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the shared role of insulin resistance in T2DM and AD, repurposing peripheral insulin sensitizers is a promising strategy to preserve neuronal insulin sensitivity and prevent AD. 1‐Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a bioactive iminosugar, exhibited insulin‐sensitizing effects in metabolic tissues and was detected in brain tissue post‐oral intake. However, its impact on brain and neuronal insulin signaling has not been described. Here, we investigated the effect of DNJ treatment on insulin signaling and AD markers in insulin‐resistant human SK‐N‐SH neuroblastoma, a cellular model of neuronal insulin resistance. Our findings show that DNJ increased the expression of insulin signaling genes and the phosphorylation status of key molecules implicated in insulin resistance (Y1146‐pIRβ, S473‐pAKT, S9‐GSK3B) while also elevating the expression of glucose transporters Glut3 and Glut4, resulting in higher glucose uptake upon insulin stimuli. DNJ appeared to mitigate the insulin resistance‐driven increase in phosphorylated tau and Aβ1‐42 levels by promoting insulin‐induced phosphorylation of GSK3B (a major tau kinase) and enhancing mRNA expression of the insulin‐degrading enzyme (IDE) pivotal for insulin and Aβ clearance. Overall, our study unveils probable mechanisms underlying the potential benefits of DNJ for AD, wherein DNJ attenuates tau and amyloid pathologies by reversing neuronal insulin resistance. This provides a scientific basis for expanding the use of DNJ‐containing products for neuroprotective purposes and prompts further research into compounds with similar mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oryza genus, containing Oryza sativa L., is quintessential to sustain global food security. This genus has a lot of sophisticated molecular mechanisms to cope with environmental stress, particularly during vulnerable stages like flowering. Recent studies have found key involvements and genetic modifications that increase resilience to stress, including exogenous application of melatonin, allantoin, and trehalose as well as OsSAPK3 and OsAAI1 in the genetic realm. Due to climate change and anthropogenic reasons, there is a rise in sea level which raises a concern of salinity stress. It is tackled through osmotic adjustment and ion homeostasis, mediated by genes like P5CS, P5CR, GSH1, GSH2, and SPS, and ion transporters like NHX, NKT, and SKC, respectively. Oxidative damage is reduced by a complex action of antioxidants, scavenging RONS. A complex action of genes mediates cold stress with studies highlighting the roles of OsWRKY71, microRNA2871b, OsDOF1, and OsICE1. There is a need to research the mechanism of action of proteins like OsRbohA in ROS control and the action of regulatory genes in stress response. This is highly relevant due to the changing climate which will raise a lot of environmental changes that will adversely affect production and global food security if certain countermeasures are not taken. Overall, this study aims to unravel the molecular intricacies of ROS and RNS signaling networks in Oryza plants under stress conditions, with the ultimate goal of informing strategies for enhancing stress tolerance and crop performance in this important agricultural genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian coal fly ash generally comprises 50–60% $Si{O_2}$ Si O 2 , and 25–35% $A{l_2}{O_3}$ A l 2 O 3 can potentially replace bauxite as an aluminum resource. Aluminum recovery from coal fly ash is highly dependent on removing amorphous silica, activating the inactive mullite phase, and increasing the $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratio. This work thoroughly investigated and compared the alkali-desilication operation by two widely used alkalis, $KOH$ KOH and $NaOH$ NaOH , based on four operational parameters: liquid-to-solid ratio, $KOH$ KOH or $NaOH$ NaOH concentration, leaching time and temperature. Using SEM, EDX, and XRD, the morphology and phase of fly ash and solid byproducts were analyzed. $NaOH$ NaOH was more effective than $KOH$ KOH in $Si{O_2}$ Si O 2 dissolution at all operational parameters. A 20 wt% concentration, 5:1 liquid-to-solid ratio, 2hrs leaching time, and 100°C temperature were the optimum removal conditions for silica from fly ash using $NaOH$ NaOH. With $KOH$ KOH , the ideal desilication conditions were obtained at 28 wt% concentration, 3hrs leaching time, and 150°C temperature. The highest $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratios were obtained under the same optimal desilication conditions. Using $KOH$ KOH and $NaOH$ NaOH , the $Al/Si$ Al / Si ratio was enhanced from 0.58 to 1.26 and 1.45, respectively. The main zeolitic products obtained were Hydroxysodalite in $NaOH$ NaOH -treated fly ash and Linde F zeolite and Kalsilite in $KOH$ KOH -treated fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer composites with high dielectric constant and minimal dielectric losses have wide ranging prospects for advanced applications in the flexible electronics and electrical industry. In this study, we used the advantages of carbonaceous hybrid nanofillers to develop a flexible dielectric material. Herein, a set of hybrid nanocomposites were successfully fabricated by incorporating the Ti3C2Tx (MXene) and MWCNTs (multi‐walled carbon nanotubes) hybrid mixture as the conductive moiety into the poly(ethylene‐co‐methyl acrylate) (EMA)/ethylene‐octene co‐polymer (EOC) binary blend as the matrices using solution mixing technique followed by compression molding. As prepared, EMA/EOC/Ti3C2Tx/MWCNTs hybrid composites have been characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy, XRD (X‐ray diffraction), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). We studied the effects of Ti3C2Tx and MWCNTs contents in the hybrid composites on the thermal, dielectric, and electrical properties. Among all the 15 wt% hybrid mixture containing 2 wt% MWCNTs loaded composite has the highest dielectric constant (ℇr = 122.21) and the lowest dissipation loss (tan δ = 0.030) at 100 Hz. The present studies recommend the EMA/EOC/Ti3C2Tx/MWCNTs hybrid composites can be used in smart and flexible electronic storage material. Highlights: EMA‐EOC blend composites with hybrid Ti3C2Tx/MWCNTs were processed.2.5 wt% MWCNTs loaded hybrid composite shows excellent thermal stability.Composite with 2 wt% MWCNTs has ℇ' = 122.21 and tanδ = 0.03 at 100 Hz.2.5 wt% MWCNTs composite has electrical conductivity of 3.26 × 10−8 Ω−1 m−1.This composite can be used in smart and flexible electronic storage material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research depicts the laser irradiation-induced effect on the optoelectrical and structural properties of thermally evaporated Bi15In20Se65 thin films with different exposure durations (0, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 90 min). The illumination effect under different lasing times leads to the retention of amorphous nature, indicating the short-range ordering inside the matrix. An improvement in the homogeneous and smooth texture of the film surface even after irradiation has been observed. However, significant optical changes have been noticed with different exposure durations. Transparency decreased with the exposure time, whereas an increment in the absorption coefficient with red shifting in the absorption edge was observed. Broad transparency and less absorption over the infrared region make these films promising for infrared optics such as temperature detection, energy management, monitoring, night vision, etc. Laser illumination allowed bond rearrangements that led to an increase in defect states over the forbidden gap regime and reduced the bandgap from 1.02 to 0.94 eV, confirming the photodarkening nature. This consequently enhanced the Urbach energy and electron–phonon interactions. Both extinction coefficient and refractive index enhanced with lasing duration, indicating an increment in the scattering centers with the lasing duration. The increase in the lasing time results in the increase of interband transitions, which might be due to the increase of carrier concentrations in the system. The non-linear susceptibility (χ(3)) and refractive indices showed enhancement with exposure duration. The observed non-linear refractive index (SI) is 20–30 times greater than silica. This reduction of Eg and enhancement in non-linearity improves the occurrence of two-photon absorption, signifying the potentiality for photonic devices. The hydrophilic nature of laser-irradiated films makes them suitable for applications such as self-cleaning, antifouling, and antifogging as coating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equalization of digital channels is widely recognized as a nonlinear classification problem. In such scenarios, utilizing networks that approximate nonlinear mappings can be highly advantageous. There has also been extensive research on equalizers based on Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (RBFNNs). This study introduces a training methodology centred on the Improved Butterfly Optimization Algorithm (IBOA) for channel equalization using RBFNN. This approach aims to optimize the performance of RBFNN equalizers by leveraging the IBOA algorithm for training. Previous literature primarily approached the equalization problem as an optimization challenge. In contrast, this study addresses it as a classification problem. This training approach exhibits substantial enhancements compared to conventional metaheuristic algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO)-reinforced MgAl 2 O 4 spinel composite was successfully synthesized by a solid-state powder route mechanism via high-energy planetary ball milling of corresponding metal oxide precursors followed by a high-temperature single-stage sintering process. The effect of rGO on the homogeneity, phase development, morphology, chemical composition, rate of formation of spinel, and cation anti-site formation of the composites was methodically investigated. For comparison, a stoichiometric non-reinforced MgAl 2 O 4 spinel was also synthesized. The addition of 0.2 wt% and 0.4 wt% of rGO as reinforcement increased the homogeneity of the ball-milled composite powder, with Polydispersity Index (PDI) values of 0.19 and 0.15 respectively, as compared to 0.24 obtained in non-reinforced spinel composite. The X-ray diffraction pattern and IR spectrum of 1650 °C sintered composites confirmed the formation of highly crystalline phases with spinel structure. The microstructural analysis revealed that the addition of rGO led to a reduction in porosity and improved the process of sintering. Calorimetric studies showed that spinelization started to occur at 858 °C and 880 °C for 0.2 wt% and 0.4 wt% rGO-reinforced composites respectively, which was faster than non-reinforced composite. 27Al solid-sate nuclear magnetic resonance (SS-NMR) analysis depicted that ceramic composite reinforced with rGO exhibited lesser inversion parameter of 0.09 (for 0.2 wt% rGO) and 0.055 (for 0.4 wt% rGO), as compared to 0.145 obtained in non-reinforced composite, indicating lesser cation anti-sites formation in rGO-reinforced spinel composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sewage sludge (SS) profile combines potentially toxic metals and organic matter that help nourish the soil in many ways. Still, toxicity raises concerns about the contamination of the food chain and pollution of the soil, water, and air. Treatment of raw SS by physical and chemical methods is a challenging task with a big budget and does not support the sustainable approach. On the other hand, phytoremediation coupled with electrokinetic treatment treats the raw sludge by extracting the maximum amount of heavy metals (HMS) and enhancing its quality by improving the physicochemical parameters. The core study of this paper is to determine the accumulation of heavy metals from EKT SS by Spinacia oleracea. Two setups were prepared by amending the SS with garden soil; one (untreated) was directly subjected to phytoremediation, whereas EKT influenced the other for 11 days and allowed the plant to grow (treated). Results have shown that the extraction of Pb and Zn was high in both sets without compromising the plant's metabolism. EKT encourages the organic carbon, pH, and conductivity of the SS and promotes the growth of the plant in comparison to the untreated setup. EKT made all elements highly available, helping plants to absorb some high elements efficiently, and some elements, such as As and Cr, reported the lowest extraction. Pb is known for its high toxicity, but Spinach could absorb more than the range by increasing its stress tolerance index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication, the synthesis and characterizations of modified strontium manganate (SrCu1/3Mn1/3W1/3O3) (SCMWO) by high‐temperature solid‐state method are reported. The structural analysis predicts a monoclinic structure with a crystallite size of 36.8 nm. The analysis of the Raman active modes reveals the presence of all the constituent atomic vibrations. The study of the ultraviolet–visible spectrum provides a bandgap energy of 1.71 eV, which may be suitable for photovoltaic applications. A Maxwell‐Wanger type of polarization effect is observed at low frequency while low dielectric loss makes the material suitable for energy storage devices. The study of the impedance plots reveals the negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) character. The activation energy increases with both frequency and temperature in the modified perovskite suggesting that conductivity of the sample increases and material characters are changing from dielectric to semiconducting. The symmetrical curves in the electrical modulus plots and shift toward higher frequency region agree with the results of the non‐Debye‐type of relaxation mechanism. The semicircular curves in the Cole–Cole plots confirm the semiconducting nature and are also well supported by the results of Nyquist plots. The studied material exhibits a semiconductor nature, which may be found suitable for energy storage device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pivotal role of electrochemistry has significantly improved the step economy of organic transformations, thereby surpassing conventional pathways. Sustainable electrochemical transformations enormously influenced the chemical synthesis and attracted significant attention towards pharmaceutical industries. More specifically, the electrochemical organic transformation streamlines the synthesis of a variety of drugs and precursors of drug-like molecules. This review summarised the electrochemical synthesis of more than 50 such drugs, therapeutic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and precursors of drug-like molecules, which were directly or indirectly synthesised over the period of 2017–2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper outlines the investigation of structural, dielectric, complex impedance and optical properties of lanthanum-modified (Bi0.5La0.5Fe)0.5(Bi0.5Na0.5Ti)0.5O3 (BLF–BNT) single perovskite oxide synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction method. From Rietveld refinement, the crystal structure of the BLF–BNT ceramic has confirmed a tetragonal and the estimated average crystallite size is found to be 43.6nm. The dielectric properties of the La-doped BLF–BNT ceramic reveal the presence of Maxwell–Wagner-type dielectric dispersion. This suggests the occurrence of charge accumulation at grain boundaries and interfaces within the material. The complex impedance and complex electric modulus studies were employed to gain insight into the microscopic dielectric relaxations and conduction processes of the material. The electric modulus spectroscopy reveals the existence of nonDebye-type relaxation processes, including localized and long-range relaxation processes. The Nyquist and Cole–Cole plots show the semiconducting nature of the BLF–BNT ceramic. With the help of the Arrhenius method based on the imaginary portion of the electrical impedance and modulus, activation energies and relaxation times have been estimated. These parameters contribute to a deeper understanding of the electrical properties and conduction mechanisms within the material. Further, Raman spectroscopy, a nondestructive chemical analysis technique, was conducted to confirm the composition and structural integrity of the proposed system through its atomic vibrations. Also, the bandgap energy of the material has been estimated using Tauc’s relation and is found to be 1.69eV.This signifies that the BLF–BNT ceramic possesses a suitable bandgap for certain device applications, making it a promising candidate in various technological fields. Moreover, the overall comprehensive study of the proposed ceramic provides valuable insight and opens new possibilities for its potential applications in various electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A cirrhosis patient may be observed in both the asymptomatic and symptomatic stages, with the latter showing signs of liver damage. In the presentation above, the phrases "compensated" and "decompensated" are used. Patients with cirrhosis who present with jaundice, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or bleeding varices are considered to be in a state of decompensation. Hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and hypernatremia may also appear. In order to determine therapy and prognosis, the terms given above are essential. 50% of compensated cardiac patients will survive for ten years, compared to 50% of decompensated patients who will survive for eighteen months. Materials & Methods: Following approval from the institutional ethics committee and the patient's signed informed permission, data collection began. a thorough clinical examination and history, recorded using the pre-made proforma. The following headings were used for the investigations: 1. Noting the symptoms and complaints that are now present, as well as the demographics. 2. A thorough clinical assessment. 3. Investigations related to routine care: total protein and albumin, serum electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium), fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), liver function test (LFT), renal function test (RFT), complete blood count (CBC). Result: A total of 140 individuals registered for the study. The patients that were enrolled in them had a mean age of 43.7 years. Age groupings were further created based on the completed ages of each participant. The next group (25.0%) was made up of people between the ages of 31 and 40, while just over 57 (40.3%) were in the 41-50 age range. Just 2 (1.4%) of the patients fell between the ages of 10 and 20, making this age group the smallest of all. Of the total participants, around 122 (87.1%) were men, while the remaining patients were women. Conclusion: Serum ferritin and transferrin levels are substantial and accurate prognostic markers that can be used to determine a patient's date of death early upon diagnosis of endstage liver disease. In addition to these markers' ability to predict death after 90 days, serum ferritin levels were found to be greater than 400 and transferrin levels lower than 150 in all deceased patients. The indicators that this study utilized to predict mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease performed similarly to those that were employed in earlier score calculations, indicating that the investigation was effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lip plays an essential role in facial esthetic, food intake, and speech. Lip defect due to trauma or surgical excision needs proper reconstruction to preserve their function. Carcinoma lip is one of the common malignant lesions in the head and neck, which needs wide local excision with proper margin with neck clearance. When the size is more than two-thirds, it becomes a challenge to reconstruct and preserve its functionality and aesthetic issues. Bilateral karapandzic flap plays an important role in this case scenario. We have two cases of subtotal lower lip defect following squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip excision, which was reconstructed with a bilateral karapandzic flap with reasonable functional outcome and cosmesis. Thus, bilateral karapandzic flap can be an alternative option to free flap in resource-constrained scenarios with acceptable functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Page smear is a phenomenon that occurs when a system's volatile memory dump is obtained in a non-atomic manner; it's more common in systems with a lot of RAM and different workloads. It has a considerable impact on the quality and reliability of the forensic artifacts obtained, as well as the analysis of such snapshots. We present SAM, a timeline-based page table state information collection mechanism that enables a reliable memory analysis. It facilitates visualizing inconsistencies in the page table data structure and provides the investigator with a reliable source of page table information to deal with the inconsistent values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a subject of concern among adolescents. Inadequate knowledge and misperceptions about pregnancy are major contributing factors to teenage pregnancy. Without a proper understanding, adolescents are involved in unsafe sexual practices, which results in pregnancy. So, perception and understanding are important aspects to explore among adolescents. In this planned scope review, all eligible studies will be identified around the perception, practices, and understanding of teenage pregnancy among married and unmarried adolescent girls. Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley (2005) scoping review framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' Manual (2015) will be used for the planned scoping review. The population, concept, and context strategy (PCC) will be used to develop the research question, search strategy, and eligibility criteria. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) will be used for the findings of the study. For the literature search, authors will use Google Scholar, PubMed, and ResearchGate electronic databases with specific words such as "teenage", "adolescence", "pregnancy", "perception", "knowledge", "awareness" and "abortion". Result: The planned scoping review will be helpful in addressing the lack of adolescent misperception, malpractices, and misunderstandings regarding teenage pregnancy. It can provide detailed information about teenage pregnancy in the Indian context. Conclusion: The evidence synthesis and gap analysis will be helpful in suggesting insights into the issue of teenage pregnancy, which will be helpful in future policies and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Years after SARS recovery, residual pulmonary abnormalities may still exist. This raises the question of whether or not Covid-19 could have comparable late consequences. Structural changes in the Lungs after recovery can be better visualized using CT-Thorax. Objectives: To study the Covid CT changes during hospitalization and after four months follow-up of infection, and to correlate with the volumetric HRCT thorax indices and Biochemical parameters.Materials and Methods: This is a hospitalbased Cross-sectional study, with a follow-up among 100 Hospitalized clinically moderate to severe Covid19 patients who recovered after four months. Results:The biochemical markers such as d-Dimer and CReactive Protein (CRP) were significantly reduced. The values of NL (L) and NL (%) had a significant negative correlation with d-Dimer and C-Reactive Protein (CRP). The individuals’ average ages in years, which ranged from 24 to 80, were 48.56 ± 13.87. Conclusion: Biochemical indicators, including d-Dimer and CRP, were greatly decreased. The NL (L) and NL% values exhibited a strong negative connection with d-Dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) both during and after Covid. Hence the different CT indices (NL, NL%) can be used along with Biochemical parameters (CRP and d-Dimer) for structural and functional recovery in Covid-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Years after SARS coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) recovery, residual pulmonary abnormalities may still exist. This brings on the question of whether or not COVID-19 could have comparable late consequences. Structural changes in the lungs after recovery can be better visualized using computed tomography (CT) thorax. Computed Tomography Lung Parenchymal changes during hospitalization by COVID-19 and after 4 months of follow-up to correlate with the volumetric high-resolution computed tomography thorax indices, Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) indices, SpO2, and 6 min Walking Test (6MWT). Materials and Methods: This is a Hospital based cross-sectional study, with a follow-up among 100 Patients from 2020 to 2022. Each patient's different CT parameters and HRCT volumetric indices Normal Lung (NL), Normal Lung Percentage (NL%), Whole Lung (WL) were correlated with the PFT indices (Forced expiratory volume in 1s [FEV1], forced vital capacity [FVC], FEV1/FVC), Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) and 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT). Results: The mean NL (L) and NL% during COVID were significantly lower than the mean values 4 months post-COVID. Architectural distortion, bronchiolar dilatation, interstitial thickening, and parenchymal bands were reduced considerably after 4 months post-COVID, compared to during COVID. PFTs results, such as PFT indices, were not significantly different after 4 months post-COVID, compared to during COVID. SpO2 (%) and 6 MWT (m) were significantly increased. During COVID and post-COVID, the values of NL (L) and NL (%) had a significant positive correlation with PFT indices, SpO2, and 6MWT (m). Conclusion: Hence, the different CT indices (NL and NL%) can be used as a surrogate for functional recovery of COVID patients since it correlates with the PFT indices (FEV1 and FEV1/FVC), SpO2, and 6MWT post-COVID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a rare case of Donnai–Barrow syndrome (DBS) presenting with spastic paraparesis, a feature not previously documented in the literature. Topics include the unique neurological manifestation of spastic paraparesis in DBS, the importance of reporting atypical symptoms for early diagnosis and genetic counseling, and the use of whole exome sequencing to confirm the diagnosis.

In this report, a complex barium titanate ceramic oxide of the form BaBi1.6Fe0.4TiO6 was prepared by the solid-state casting process. More Bi3+ percentage was selected to boost the dielectric and ferroelectric effects, while lowering the Fe3+ content could minimize the leakage current and consequently, the dielectric loss (tanδ). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data suggests an establishment of monoclinic distortion (P21/c) of smaller mean crystallite size (∼40 nm) using the Debye-Scherrer formula. The compound exhibits dielectric values, such as ɛr ∼ 771, and relatively low loss, tanδ ∼ 0.017 at the ambient experimental conditions. Thus, the material can be incorporated into different electronic devices where higher dielectric constant and lower losses are essential, for example, multi-layered ceramic capacitors, transmission lines, and gate dielectrics. The AC-conductivity essence of the compound follows Jonscher's power law as well as Arrhenius relation. The PE hysteresis loop was traced at different conditions with a function of the incident electric field in the ambient atmospheric conditions. The outcome of this study revealed that the material has remanent polarization hence suggesting a ferroelectric effect with less hysteresis loss; therefore, it could be useful in memory storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring flexible dielectric materials with high dielectric constants and low dielectric loss is pertinent for many potential applications in modern electronics and energy storage devices. In the present work, a set of nanocomposites were successfully fabricated by incorporating the synthesized Ti3C2Tx (MXene) into ethylene–octene-copolymer (EOC) using a simple solution mixing technique followed by compression moulding. As prepared, Ti3C2Tx/EOC composites have been characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). The formation of Ti3C2Tx-filled EOC samples were confirmed by FESEM and XRD. The DSC investigation shows that the percentage of crystallinity diminishes from 11.23 with 1 wt% to 10.82 with 15 wt% Ti3C2Tx loading, respectively, whereas the pristine EOC polymer was found to have a percentage of crystallinity value of 8.19. TGA results confirm that increasing the Ti3C2Tx loading improves the thermal stability of the composites. At room temperature, the dielectric and electrical properties of the prepared composites were assessed in the frequency range of 100 Hz–5 MHz. Among all weight percentages, the Ti3C2Tx/EOC composite film with 10 wt% Ti3C2Tx loading had the highest dielectric permittivity (ε′ = 60.80) and the lowest dissipation loss (tan δ = 0.4) at 100 Hz. At room temperature, AC conductivity of 3.27 × 10–5 Ω–1 m–1 was recorded for the composite film with 10 wt% Ti3C2Tx loading. The semi-circular arc noticed in the Nyquist plot suggested that the present composites were non-Debye dielectric relaxation. The proposed Ti3C2Tx/EOC composites exhibit excellent thermal and electrical properties and thus can be applied in flexible electronic storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing pollution and threat to the environment demand green synthetic methods. Green chemistry mainly focuses on minimizing the waste and utilization of green solvents, energy sources, and catalysts and prefers one‐pot reactions. In this context, humic acid (HA), a natural bioorganic catalyst found in rivers, peat coal and sewage; is a high molecular weight macromolecule containing multifunctional groups, mainly contains quinone, phenolic OH, and COOH groups which make it acidic and activate carbonyl groups by protonation. Owing to its green aspect such as biodegradability, recyclability and reusability, humic acid is considered as sustainable bioorganic catalyst which meets the criteria for industrial requirements. The HA is mild acidic in nature, thus many functional groups tolerate in the HA catalyzed reactions. After few initial reports in 2001 and 2009, the HA catalyzed reactions gained much attention by the organic synthetic community from 2019 in aldol condensation, Knoevenagel condensation, Claisen‐Schmidt reaction, Michael addition, Strecker synthesis, tetrazole synthesis, Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis, hydrosilylation of terminal alkenes, hydrogenation, α‐aminophosphonate synthesis, cross coupling reactions such as Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions. Herein we report the comprehensive analysis on the role of HA in organic transformations providing diverse array of molecular scaffolds till date and future perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a self-powered broadband photodetector based on graphene/NiO/n-Si was fabricated by the direct spin-coating of nanostructured NiO on the Si substrate. The current–voltage measurement of the NiO/Si heterostructure exhibited rectifying characteristics with enhanced photocurrent under light illumination. Photodetection capability was measured in the range from 300 nm to 800 nm, and a higher photoresponse in the UV region was observed due to the wide bandgap of NiO. The presence of a top graphene transparent conducting electrode further enhanced the responsivity in the whole measured wavelength region from 350 to 800 nm. The photoresponse of the NiO/Si detector at 350 nm was found to increase from 0.0187 to 0.163 A/W at −1 V with the insertion of the graphene top layer. A high photo-to-dark current ratio (≃104) at the zero bias indicates that the device has advantageous application in energy-efficient high-performance broadband photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of chiral organic molecules is a purity‐driven research that has become an essential part of our lives due to their applications in pharmaceuticals. Contemporary research focuses on the exploration of synthetic protocols that obviate the use/generation of hazardous chemicals. In this regard, dioxiranes are readily accessed as a reagent solution or catalyst (in situ) from the reaction of ketone with a co‐oxidant like Oxone® or H2O2; the latter makes the protocol very green and inexpensive. It has shown the potential to replace transition metal‐based oxygenation protocols. The dioxirane‐mediated asymmetric reactions include oxidations, epoxidations, C−H hydroxylations, etc. Both stoichiometric and catalytic protocols of dioxiranes are been explored for the oxyfunctionalization of chiral natural product derivatives such as Penicillin, nucleosides, amino acids, carbohydrates, etc. In addition, these are employed as key oxygenation agents during the synthesis of natural products like (+)‐Plagiogyrin A, Portimine, Taxol, Bryostatin, dafachronic acid, majucinoids, eldecalcitol, Spirochensilide A, etc. The review consolidates the development of both achiral and chiral dioxiranes in application to asymmetric synthesis and oxygenation of chiral molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's metropolitan cities have been growing rapidly for many years. To keep geographical information accurate and current, it is essential to update GIS maps. Traditionally, experts have analysed new data sources and made necessary adjustments to the maps manually. Such manual monitoring is a laborious test both economically and in terms of workforce. Geographical data are transformed into digital maps by GIS mapping, making it simple to spot patterns, trends and linkages. Extraction of humanmade objects, such as roads, water bodies and buildings, from remotely sensed imageries holds significance in various urban applications, including urban land-use and land-cover assessment, geographical database updates and change detection. Cartosat-3 data can provide detailed information about buildings and their changes over time. Additionally, GIS maps are manually updated by rasterizing vector data. The suggested system consists of ResNet and U-Net architecture as its core. The bi-temporal images are initially coregistered to completely align 2020 and 2022 satellite images with respect to the coordinates. Buildings are then segmented using U-Net with ResNet as the backbone, and the resultant segments are converted from raster to vector format. The suggested model has been tested and trained using the Chandigarh dataset, which resulted in an accuracy of 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bond strength between reinforcing steel bars and cement concrete plays significant role in the structural performance for civil infrastructure. This work presents the bond performance of steel and concrete as interfacial shear strength, with the inclusion of effects of specimen diameter on embedment length, different aggregate grading and corrosion. The experimental procedure for proposed study includes a series of pullout tests on reinforced concrete cylindrical specimens with embedded steel bar. Cylindrical concrete specimens with varying specimen diameters with respect to different embedment lengths, changing the aggregate grading pattern, i.e., well and gap graded were casted and said effects on bond strength were evaluated through a pullout test. The corrosion effect is also studied through an accelerated corrosion process. The test results revealed that the diameter of the specimen and the embedment length substantially impact the bond strength between reinforcing bars and concrete. Due to the increasing surface area and mechanical interaction between the bar and the surrounding concrete, the bond strength increased as the diameter decreased. The bond performance of well-graded aggregates was effective compared to gap-graded aggregates. Moreover, the study found that as the number of corrosion days increased, the bond strength of corroded reinforcing bars considerably decreased. The results contribute essential insights to the field of reinforced concrete structures and can aid engineers and researchers in designing durable and reliable infrastructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B[e] type stars are characterized by strong emission lines, photometric, and spectroscopic variabilities and unsteady mass-loss rates. MWC 137 is a galactic B[e] type star situated in the constellation Orion. Recent photometric observation of MWC 137 by TESS has revealed variabilities with a dominant period of 1.9 d. The origin of this variability is not known but suspected to be from stellar pulsation. To understand the nature and origin of this variability, we have constructed three different set of models of MWC 137 and performed non-adiabatic linear stability analysis. Several low order modes are found to be unstable in which models having mass in the range of 31–34 M⊙ and 43–46 M⊙ have period close to 1.9 d. The evolution of instabilities in the non-linear regime for model having solar chemical composition and mass of 45 M⊙ leads to finite amplitude pulsation with a period of 1.9 d. Therefore, in the present study we confirm that this variability in MWC 137 is due to pulsation. Evolutionary tracks passing through the location of MWC 137 in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram indicate that the star is either in post main sequence evolutionary phase or about to enter in this evolutionary phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in demand for lithium-ion batteries has led to a large-scale search for electrode materials and intercalating ion species to meet the demands of next-generation energy technologies. Recent efforts largely focus on searching for cathodes that can accommodate large amounts of intercalating ions, but similar work on anodes is relatively limited. This study utilizes machine learning methods to find alternative two-dimensional (2D) materials and intercalating ions beyond Li for metal-ion batteries with high-power efficiencies. The approach first uses density functional theory (DFT) calculations to estimate the theoretical capacities and voltages of various metal ions on 2D materials. The DFT-generated data also provide insights into the local structural accommodation upon ion intercalation on various 2D materials. Significant changes to the lattice can result in irreversible changes to the bonding environments in the anode material, resulting in poor cycling stability. Next, this study develops a binding energy and structural accommodation-based classification model to screen anode materials for next-generation batteries. The classification model selects intercalating ions and 2D material pairs suitable for batteries based on the calculated voltage and volumetric changes in the 2D material upon intercalation. Finally, this study builds a regression model to accurately predict the binding energies of the various intercalating ions on 2D materials. The approach highlights the importance of different elemental and structural features for classification and regression tasks. The insights gained from this study on the role of involved features, such as electronegativities of the constituent ions and the presence of unfilled electronic levels, will help to streamline further studies towards the search for future layered battery materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the current study is to develop a dynamic model for forecasting the absorption and desorption behavior of metal hydride hydrogen system. The accuracy of the developed dynamic model is verified with the actual model. The effect of reactor diameter (10–25 mm), hydrogen supply pressure (5–20 bar) and desorption temperature (40–70 °C) on the accuracy of the temperature profile predicted by the dynamic model as compared to the actual model is investigated. The results showed that the percentage deviation of the dynamic model with actual model increase with the reactor diameter. The dynamic model predicted the average bed temperature during absorption with a maximum deviation of 4.32% (14 K) for a reactor of 25 mm diameter compared to the actual model. A maximum deviation of only 2.11% (6.32 K) was observed for the same reactor during desorption at 323 K. Further, the percentage deviation increases with the supply pressure and desorption temperature. Overall, it is observed that the slower the absorption/desorption, the better is the prediction accuracy of the dynamic model. On the other hand, the dynamic model is over 300 times faster than the actual, which saves computational time and cost. Furthermore, the dynamic model is extended for studying the coupled reactor system of a dual-stage metal hydride hydrogen compressor. Four alloy pairs are compared in terms of compression ratio, the amount of energy lost due to hysteresis, average hydrogen discharge rate, and isentropic efficiency. The comparison results suggested that an appropriate combination of AB 5 -AB 2 type alloy is suitable for higher delivery plateau pressure, lower energy loss due to hysteresis, and a reasonable compression ratio. • A low-cost dynamic model for single reactor MH system is developed. • Predicted results are compared with actual model with an accuracy of ± 8 % • Dynamic model for coupled reactor MH system is developed. • Developed model is implemented to a dual stage MH hydrogen compressor. • Screening analysis of dual stage MH hydrogen compressor is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have demonstrated remarkable photovoltaic performance, positioning themselves as promising devices in the field. Theoretical calculations suggest that copper (Cu) can serve as an effective dopant, potentially occupying interstitial sites in the perovskite structure, thereby reducing the energy barrier and enhancing carrier extraction. Subsequent experimental investigations confirm that adding CuI as an additive to MAPbI3-based perovskite cells improves optoelectronic properties and overall device performance. Optimizing the amount of Cu (0.01 M) has been found to significantly enhance crystalline quality and grain size, leading to improved light absorption and suppressed carrier recombination. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Cu-doped PSCs increased from 16.3% to 18.2%. However, excessive Cu doping (0.1 M) negatively impacts morphology, resulting in inferior optical properties and diminished device performance. Furthermore, Cu-doped PSCs exhibit higher stabilized power output (SPO) compared to pristine cells. This study underscores the substantial benefits of Cu doping for advancing the development of highly efficient PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report the first synthesis of tetrahydrocarbazole embedded styrene atropisomers via the reaction between 1‐(aryl‐ethynyl)‐naphthalen‐2‐ol and 2,3,4,9‐tetrahydro‐1H‐carbazole. The reaction proceeds through in situ vinylidene ortho‐quinone methide (VQM) intermediate formation. The styrene derivatives were obtained in good to high yields with high diastereoselectivities with a catalytic amount of PTSA. A catalytic asymmetric version is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, synthesis (solid-state reaction) and characterization (structure, microstructure, and electrical) of the gadolinium (Gd) modified bismuth lanthanum oxide (LaBi0.9Gd0.1O3, and LBGO) are reported. Rietveld refinement of the x-ray diffraction (XRD) data was done using MAUD software, which adopts an orthorhombic crystal symmetry. The average crystallite size in the prepared sample was calculated using Scherer's relation. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph analysis reveals that grains are uniformly distributed over the sample's surface through well-defined grain boundaries so that a dense sample is formed, which may be a possible reason for elevated dielectric properties. The study of energy dispersive analysis of the x-ray (EDX) spectrum confirms the presence of all constituent elements (Bi, La, Gd, and O) in the studied sample. The presence of Maxwell–Wagner type of dispersion is confirmed from the study of dielectric properties as a function of frequency. The analysis of the modulus study confirms the presence of a non-Debye type of relaxation. The negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) nature of the sample is confirmed by the impedance study. The study of ac conductivity suggests the presence of a thermally activated relaxation process in the studied sample. Again, analysis of the Nyquist plots confirms the semiconducting character and may be suitable for some energy storage devices applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filamentous cyanobacteria are a promising source of biologically active secondary metabolites with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral and anticancer properties. Previously, cyanobacteria isolated from fresh and marine water were studied extensively, but those isolated from brackish water were less investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the antimicrobial activities as well as the potential antioxidant capacity of two cyanobacterial strains (Oscillatoria proteus and Oscillatoria sancta) obtained from Chilika Lake. The pigment and antioxidant was assayed using a spectrophotometer; antimicrobial activity was studied by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); and the presence of phytoconstituents was detected using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The solvents used for extraction were methanol, acetone and benzene. The experimental data indicates that the total phenolic and flavonoid content was highest in O. sancta (58.26 ± 0.72 µg/g, 38.45 ± 0.79 µg/g, respectively). Similarly, the methanol extract of O. sancta presented the maximum antioxidant potential in both DPPH (83.18 ± 0.57%) and ABTS (68.42 ± 1.40%) radicals. Besides, more reducing power was also recorded in methanol extract of O. sancta as compared to O. proteus. Further, higher enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) was observed in O. sancta. The antimicrobial potential against bacterial and fungal pathogens demonstrated better activity in O. sancta. In GC-MS analysis seven major chemical classes have been detected. Differential results was found in the two species of Oscillatoria; however, both have potential antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The findings have pharmaceutical and nutraceutical importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic food production system raises aquatic organisms including fish, shellfish and seaweeds for human consumption and associated value chains. Moreover, as the global human population continues to expand at a high rate and is expected to reach over 9 billion by 2030, developing a cost-efficient production method is a significant challenge in the future development of the aquatic food production industry to provide food and nutritional security with high-quality animal protein. Recent advancements in biotechnological tools and approaches provided a new toolset that can be used to design and optimize the existing processes such as food preservation, fermentation, packaging, quality control and setting proper guidelines to manufacture and process genetically modified fish. At the same time, with the refinement of technology, these are becoming easier applicable and transferable to several other aquatic species production systems. These trends have resulted in exploiting new and unconventional microbial systems with sophisticated properties, which render promising results in the production industry. Here, we highlight the recent advances in the newly emerging biotechnological technology in the production of fish and fish products and discuss the potential of these tools as a sustainable platform for centuries to come with a significant impact on the aquatic food production industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated multi-system disorder. The nervous system (IgG4-RND) is rarely affected. We describe a short case series. We performed an ambispective analysis of IgG4-RND patients admitted at our centre between January 2016 and December 2022. Eight patients (M: F-2:6) were included with a mean age at presentation of 40.63 ± 17.88 years and disease duration of 5.16 ± 4.08 years. The common diseased sites were pachymeninges (7), orbits (4), paranasal sinuses (3), frontal lobe (1), hypophysis (1), leptomeninges (1), and middle ear (1). Common symptoms were headache and cranial neuropathy. The common nerves involved were the optic nerve, followed by the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh. Cerebrospinal fluid showed lymphocytic pleocytosis. Histopathology showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate (8), fibrosis (5), >10 IgG4 + cells (7), and IgG4/IgG >40% (6). Six had a relapsing course. The rituximab-based treatment regimen showed a favourable response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the synthesis of highly substituted 1,2,4-triazole-based 3-nitrochromanes through the aza-Michael addition reaction. The authors provide experimental details and optimization parameters for the reaction, including solvents, temperature, and reaction time. They demonstrate the synthetic utility of the method by obtaining various products with good yields and performing derivatizations of the addition products. The article also discusses the potential applications of the synthesized compounds in medicinal chemistry research and provides detailed information on their chemical properties and physical properties. Supporting information for the article is available online. [Extracted from the article]

The present study is focussed on the design and development of a single stage metal hydride hydrogen compressor. A 0.5 kg alloy mass capacity reactor is designed to withstand 100 bar at 120 °C. The Von Misses equivalent stress is calculated for the designed reactor and it is found to have a design margin of 11.4%. The reactor has an excellent weight ratio of 2.22. To enhance the thermal performance of the reactor, extended surfaces are incorporated. A numerical model is developed to compare the performance of three different fin configurations namely longitudinal fins, transverse fins and spiral fins. Longitudinal fins are found to provide better thermal enhancement during initial period of absorption half cycle. However, transverse fins showed better performance in the desorption case. Nevertheless, as the time progresses all the fin configurations showed similar performance under different operating temperatures. Further, hydrogen discharge rate is studied at various discharge pressure to understand the requirements while coupling with an empty cylinder or fuel cell. The study revealed that a 0.5 kg reactor can discharge hydrogen at the rate of 2.27 lpm for 2000 s when discharged to fill a cylinder up to 10 bar. The compression rate of the developed compressor is found to be 136 l/h at 10 bar discharge pressure and 373 K heat source temperature. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is found to be 11.5%. [Display omitted] • Design methodology for single stage MHHC is presented. • Designed the reactor based on Von Misses equivalent stress. • Numerical model is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics. • Spiral, longitudinal and transverse finned MH reactors are extensively studied. • Performance study on the developed single-stage compressor is carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laminated composite plate designed is supposed to be used under different end supports. The elastic foundation is one of such conditions. The strength of the laminated composite plates can be enhanced by altering constituents or by the addition of filler materials. For localized strengthening of laminated composite plates, such as at particular layers, it is not cost-effective to strengthen the whole structure. So, the laminated composite plates are strengthened at a particular layer by adding the fillering materials, for example, graphene or flyash. The addition of these filler materials in a particular region sometimes causes agglomeration. Agglomeration of filler materials causes adverse effects such as stress concentration or strain aging. In theoretical formulation, Eringen's nonlocal principle is applied to account for the impact of agglomeration. In the current study, neat epoxy glass laminated composite plates as well as rectangle laminated composite plate variants with outer layer graphene, core layer graphene, functionally graded laminated composite plate, laminated composite plates exclusively rich in graphene, and laminated composite plates only rich in flyash are taken into consideration. Using a layer-wise model, the fifth-order shear deformation theory is applied. The laminated composite plates are assumed to rest on an elastic foundation. The consequence of elastic coefficient of foundation on procured parameters such as fundamental frequencies, stress parameters, center deflections, and buckling performance is determined. For this purpose, computerized programs are developed using MATLAB and validated first for isotropic material. Further, the work is extended to study these effects on the laminated composite plate variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research work, the effect of Fe additions on the phase evolution, microstructure, chemical composition, transformation behaviour and properties of Ni(50−X)Ti50FeX shape memory alloys has been investigated. The elemental Ti, Ni and Fe mixed powders are compacted at 600 MPa, followed by sintering at 1100°C for 4hr in an Ar atmosphere. Phase analysis and microstructural studies confirmed the presence of the NiTi phase besides other Ni-rich and Ti-rich phases. The 8at.-% Fe sample shows higher relative density, lower porosity, higher hardness, higher elastic modulus and higher wear resistance owing to the presence of a higher amount of secondary intermetallic phases compared to other composition samples. Interestingly, the 4at.-% Fe sample has a higher percentage of NiTi (B19') phase and shows a better shape memory effect and elastic recovery than other composition samples. FESEM morphology of worn surface explained various wear mechanisms with respect to shape memory behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose to study the convergence of an iterative method used for solving non-linear least-square problems having differentiable as well as non-differentiable functions. We use the ω-condition on both first order divided difference of non-differentiable part and first order derivative of differentiable part to establish the condition for convergence of the method. We also present some numerical experiments as test beds for the proposed method. In all the numerical examples, we have compared our results with a well-known Gauss–Newton–Potra method and shown that our convergence analysis gives better error bounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]