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Anionic coordination frameworks stabilized by methylviologen (MV2+; 1,1′-dimethyl 4,4′-bipyridinium) as a photochromic module are a distinct class of functional materials. Herein, we report the first examples of alkaline earth metal methanesulfonates [MV{Mg(OSO2Me)3(H2O)2}2] (1), [MV{Ca(OSO2Me)3(H2O)2}2] (2), [2{Mg(OSO2Me)2(H2O)4}MV·2OSO2Me] (3), and [Me4-pip{Ca2(OSO2Me)6(H2O)2}]n (4) incorporating methylviologen or tetra-N-methylpiperazinium (Me4-pip) as a charge-balancing cation. X-ray crystallographic studies of 1–3 emphasize the role of isolated ion-pairs for the construction of hydrogen-bonded supramolecular assemblies and the ability of methanesulfonates to donate electrons (centroid⋯O = 3.09–3.15 Å) to promote photoinduced one-electron reduction of MV2+ to an MV˙+ radical cation in the solid state. The inorganic framework in 4 adopts a layered motif with an inter-lamellar spacing of 11.8 Å, providing spatial expanse to accommodate the organic cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present case study focuses on indoor radon dispersion in an experimental room made of unfired mud brick by employing CFD modeling, active measurement, and passive measurement in closed and open room conditions. Radon flux for walls and floor surfaces of the room was measured experimentally. A CFD model was designed to simulate spatial distribution pattern of indoor radon. The CFD simulation results are validated through a newly developed RnDuo monitor and single-entry pinhole-based twin-cup dosimeter. The mean indoor radon concentration decreases by approximately one-fourth level in an open room as compared to a closed room. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of tuberculosis (TB) infection (TBI) to prevent active TB disease is a key component of the National Strategic Plan to end TB in India, without which the strategies to end TB would be futile. There is a need to rapidly scale up access to effective shorter regimens for tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) to a wider set of risk groups. This applies for identifying high-risk groups for TPT expansion. Thus, our aim with this review is to determine the TBI prevalence in different risk groups in India. We searched databases like Embase, Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL for studies published between 2012 and 2023 to estimate TBI in different risk groups in India. The PRISMA guidelines were followed when reviewing the publications, and a predetermined search strategy was used to find relevant sources across various databases. Using MetaXL (MS excel) software, we pooled data based on a random-effects model, along with heterogeneity testing using Cochrane's Q and I2 statistic. A total of 68 studies were included from 10,521 records. TBI pooled prevalence was estimated using the IGRA data, while in the absence of IGRA data, TST data were utilized. The key findings revealed a total of 36% pooled TBI prevalence for all risk factors, 59% among smokers, 53% among diabetics and alcoholics, 48% among malnourished, 47% among contacts of TB patients, 44% among HIV, 36% among pregnant women, 35% among COVID-19 patients, 31% among healthcare workers, 18% among sarcoidosis patients, and 15% among rheumatoid arthritis patients in India. Our review depicted a high TBI burden among groups such as diabetes mellitus, smokers, malnourished, and alcoholics. WHO has yet to recommend for systematic screening and treatment for TBI among these groups for want of evidence which this study provides, highlighting the need to reprioritize the risk groups for tailored TPT strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delved into the intricate relationship between tunnel geometry and the stability of shallow foundations. It investigated the influence of various tunnel geometries on the behavior of a strip footing (width, B) subjected to uniform loading positioned above a single/dual-tunnel system. The analysis encompassed three different tunnel geometries, namely, circular, square, and horseshoe, for both single- and dual-tunnel configurations. The primary focus of the study was quantifying the stability number, Nv, as a measure of tunnel's impact on footing stability using finite-element analysis. For the single-tunnel configuration, the study examined the vertical depth between the footing base and the tunnel crest (Z) and the horizontal distance between the central vertical axis of the footing and the center of the tunnel (X). Additionally, in the case of the dual-tunnel configuration, the influence of horizontal spacing between the two tunnels (S) on Nv and also the impact of asymmetrical shapes of tunnels with three different cases, i.e., Case I (circular and square-shaped tunnels), Case II (circular and horseshoe-shaped tunnels), and Case III (square- and horseshoe-shaped tunnels), were studied. The findings of this study emphasize that tunnel geometries have a substantial impact on Nv, especially when the Z/B ratio is less than 3 for both tunnel configurations. However, when Z/B exceeds 3, the influence of tunnel geometries on Nv becomes negligible. Furthermore, in the case of asymmetrical tunnel configurations, Case II consistently exhibits the highest stability number (Nv), followed by Case I and Case III, across all combinations of S/B and Z/B values. Additionally, the study identifies zones of plastic stress deformation associated with different tunnel geometries. It underscores the importance of implementing supplementary support systems in cases where these deformations are prominent, ensuring the overall stability of the footing–tunnel system. Practical Applications: In the dynamic realm of underground space utilization, ensuring the safety of structures above and below ground is paramount. With the increasing construction of tunnels near existing buildings, it is crucial to prioritize their protection and assess their suitability for use. In response to contemporary challenges, this study investigated the impact of nearby tunnels on load-bearing capacity of structures. It delved into how the shape of tunnels influences the behavior of surrounding structures, taking into account the regions of the rock mass affected by such interactions. Additionally, the study provided insights into the practical implications of planning and constructing asymmetrical tunnels—a common scenario where new tunnels with varying shapes are built near pre-existing ones. The findings of this research offer practical applications in determining the load-carrying capacity of shallow foundations in the vicinity of tunnels with diverse configurations, shapes, and locations from the foundation. The special significance of this research lies in its ability to guide the design of surrounding structures and identify specific zones around tunnels that require attention, ultimately contributing valuable insights for establishing suitable support systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive study using dissipative particle dynamics simulations to investigate phase separation kinetics (PSK) in three-dimensional (3d) polymeric fluids under random photo-illumination. We consider two scenarios: polymer blends with active radicals at one end of each immiscible chain and block copolymer (BCP) melts with photosensitive bonds linking incompatible blocks. The phase separation (PS) is induced by temperature quench of the initial homogeneously mixed system. Simultaneously, the system experiences random photo-illumination, simulated by two concurrent random events: (a) the recombination of active radicals in polymer blends and (b) the breaking of photosensitive bonds in BCP chains. Variations in the bond-breaking probability, Pb, mimic the change in light intensity. The length scale follows power law growth, R(t) ∼ tϕ, where ϕ represents the growth exponent. Increasing Pb results in a gradual transition in growth kinetics from micro-PS to macro-PS, accompanied by corresponding transition probabilities for both systems. Micro-PSK dominates the evolution process at low Pb values. The scaling functions exhibit data overlap for most scaled distances, indicating the statistical self-similarity of evolving patterns. Our study enhances the understanding of PSK in polymeric fluids, revealing the impact of photosensitive bonds and active radicals. Furthermore, it suggests the potential for designing novel polymeric materials with desired properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the effect of gamma (γ)-irradiation on the structural and superconducting properties of FeTe0.55Se0.45 single crystals grown by the self-flux method. The impact of γ-irradiation on the superconducting transition temperature (TC), critical current density (JC), and vortex pinning mechanism has been systematically studied. The x-ray diffraction study reveals the growth of single crystals along the c-axis. The superconductivity has been confirmed in pristine and γ-irradiated samples through temperature-dependent resistivity (ρ (T)) and magnetization [M(T)] measurements. After irradiation, a slight improvement is observed in the upper critical field H c 2 (0) values. The values of thermally activated energy have been calculated and a crossover from a single to collective vortex pinning regime is observed. Additionally, we have analyzed the vortex phase diagrams, revealing a transition from vortex liquid to vortex glass state. Furthermore, the presence of second magnetization peak (SMP) or fishtail effect has been noticed in the M(H) loops, and with increasing temperature, the position of SMP (H s p ) shifts toward lower magnetic field regions. The critical current density has been estimated by Bean's critical state model at different magnetic fields [JC(H)] and temperatures [JC(T)]. The defects through gamma-irradiation lead to a significant threefold increase in JC compared to pristine samples in self-field and at 2 K. The pinning mechanisms have been explained using collective pinning theory and the Dew-Hughes model by analyzing the normalized pinning force density. Our analysis indicates that δl-pinning is dominant and point defects are present in all the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal cancers continue to pose a significant global health challenge, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for many patients remains poor. This article explores the potential of garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone found in various Garcinia species, as a therapeutic agent against gastrointestinal malignancies. The objective is to review recent research on garcinol’s anticancer properties, its mechanisms of action, and safety aspects. Garcinol exhibits anticancer effects in esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers by inhibiting metastasis, inducing apoptosis, and targeting key molecular pathways in cancer progression. Nanotechnology is explored as a means to enhance garcinol delivery and efficacy. Safety assessments suggest a promising toxicity profile. Garcinol shows significant potential as a natural therapeutic agent for gastrointestinal cancers, and future research is needed on optimizing its delivery, exploring synergistic combinations, and conducting clinical trials to validate its efficacy and safety for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To identify literature on health literacy levels and examine its association with tuberculosis treatment adherence and treatment outcomes. Methods Two authors independently searched Pubmed®, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, LILACS, Global Health Medicus and ScienceDirect for articles reporting on health literacy levels and tuberculosis that were published between January 2000 and September 2023. We defined limited health literacy as a person's inability to understand, process, and make decisions from information obtained concerning their own health. Methodological quality and the risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tools. We used a random effects model to assess the pooled proportion of limited health literacy, the association between health literacy and treatment adherence, and the relationship between health literacy and tuberculosis-related knowledge. Findings Among 5813 records reviewed, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that 51.2% (95% confidence interval, CI: 48.0--54.3) of tuberculosis patients exhibit limited health literacy. Based on four studies, patients with lower health literacy levels were less likely to adhere to tuberculosis treatment regimens (pooled odds ratio: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.37--2.78). Three studies showed a significant relationship between low health literacy and inadequate knowledge about tuberculosis (pooled correlation coefficient: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.32--0.94). Conclusion Health literacy is associated with tuberculosis treatment adherence and care quality. Lower health literacy might hamper patients' ability to follow treatment protocols. Improving health literacy is crucial for enhancing treatment outcomes and is a key strategy in the fight against tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bhilangana granitoid is a batholithic size body exposed in Bhilangana Valley and later thrusted over rocks of Lesser Himalaya. It comprises mylonitized porphyritic granite gneiss, psammitic gneiss, and its variants, containing primary biotite and muscovite, and S-type in nature. Bhilangana granitoid is intruded by basic intrusive. The variation in chemical signatures and associated petrogenetic issues of Bhilangana granitoid are dealt with detailed petrographic, geochemical and mineral chemical study. In the vicinity of basic intrusive, the porphyritic granite gneiss shows enrichment of MgO, whereas its evolved part, psammitic gneiss shows more boron enrichment with the presence of tourmaline nodules surrounded by quartzo-feldspathic rim. The major mineral assemblage in Bhilangana granitoid is quartz–K-feldspar–plagioclase–biotite–muscovite with tourmaline, epidote, zircon, ilmenite, apatite and monazite. The granite is peraluminous with ASI values always >1. Biotite shows variation from Fe-rich siderophyllitic to Mg-rich eastonitic composition, indicating involvement of both Al-rich crustal and Mg-rich mafic sources, inferring source heterogeneity or mixing of felsic-mafic magma. Granitoid melt was buffered below QFM to NNO and partly above HM, indicating a strong reducing to the oxidizing condition of melt. The melt was saturated with the presence of 3.3–6.8 wt.% H2O content. The crystallization temperature of Bhilangana granitoid (TZr) ranges between 697° and 807°C with a solidification pressure of about 2.92–4.31 kbar, implying crystallization at a depth of 8.76–13 km. The presence of greisens assemblage of quartz–mica–tourmaline–epidote, along with the presence of fluorite, is a representative greisens assemblage for Sn–W mineralization. Thus, the Bhilangana granitoid represents the fertile nature and potentiality of Sn–W minerals. Research highlights: Bhilangana granitoid is S-type, peraluminous granitoid, formed by anatexis of crustal material The biotite chemistry reveals the variation in the redox condition and modification in the oxidation state, preserved in the different variant of granite representing the magma mixing or source heterogeneity in protolith. The Bhilangana granitoid has attended the crystallization temperature (TZr) of 697–807 °C under pressure of about 2.92–4.31 kb implying the depth of crystallization of 8.76–13 km. The presence of greisenization favours the potential of Sn–W minerals. The geochemical results shows abnormal enrichment of W and Sn in the Bhilangana granitoid. The Bhilangana granitoid appears to have fertile nature for Sn–W mineral potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic wounds pose a significant challenge to wound care professionals and have substantial cause of socioeconomic implications worldwide. This study focuses on the development of a gel containing encapsulated iodine–chitosan graphene oxide nanopockets (I-CH-GO-NPOs) with a comprehensive evaluation to discern its potential in enhancing the wound healing trajectory for full thickness chronic wounds. The prepared I-CH-GO-NPOs gel showed higher antibacterial property of 0.00513 ± 0.00014 mg/ml against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Further, in vivo wound healing efficacy of I-CH-GO-NPOs was evaluated in Sprague-Dawley rats which showed a significant increase of 99.89 ± 2.2% in the wound contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the phase separation dynamics of a binary (AB), simple fluid (SF), and amphiphilic polymer (AP) mixture using dissipative particle dynamics simulation at d = 3. We study the effect of different AP topologies, including block copolymers, ring block copolymers (RCP), and miktoarm star polymers, on the evolution morphologies, dynamic scaling functions, and length scale of the AB mixture. Our results demonstrate that the presence of APs leads to significantly different evolution morphologies in SF. However, the deviation from dynamical scaling is prominent, mainly for RCP. Typically, the characteristic length scale for SF follows the power law R(t) ∼ tϕ, where ϕ is the growth exponent. In the presence of high AP, we observe diffusive growth (ϕ → 1/3) at early times, followed by saturation in length scale (ϕ → 0) at late times. The extent of saturation varies with constraints imposed on the APs, such as topology, composition ratio, chain length, and stiffness. At lower composition ratios, the system exhibits inertial hydrodynamic growth (ϕ → 2/3) at asymptotic times without clearly exhibiting the viscous hydrodynamic regime (ϕ → 1) at earlier times in our simulations. Our results firmly establish the existence of hydrodynamic growth regimes in low surfactant-influenced phase separation kinetics of binary fluids and settle the related ambiguity in d = 3 systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical manifestation of leishmaniasis has historically been determined by the Leishmania species involved. However, recent emergence of novel Leishmania lineages has caused atypical pathologies. We isolated and characterized 2 new Leishmania donovani parasites causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Himachal Pradesh, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research article, a spiking neural network-based simulation of the hippocampus is performed to model the functionalities of episodic memory. The purpose of the simulation is to find a computational model through the biological architecture of the hippocampus and correct values for their architectural biological parameters to support the episodic memory functionalities. The episodic store of the model is represented by the collection of events, where each event is further subdivided into coactive activities of experience. The model has tried to mimic the three functionalities of episodic memory, which are pattern separation, pattern association, and their recallings. In pattern separation model used the dentate biological connectivity to generate almost different output patterns corresponding to similar input patterns to reduce interference between two similar memory traces so that ambiguity can be reduced during recalling. In pattern association, an STDP based event encoding and forgetting mechanism are used to mimic the encoding function of the CA3 region in which the coactive activities get associated with each other. A decoder is proposed based on CA1, which can answer the stored event related queries. Along with these functionalities model also supports recalling and encoding based forgetting. Experimental work is performed on the model for the given set of events to check for the pattern separation efficiency, pattern completion efficiency and to check the capability of decoding the answer. An empirical analysis of the results is done and compared with the SMRITI model of episodic memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial machinery relies heavily on accurate fault diagnosis to maintain its reliability and operational efficiency. However, analyzing vibration signals for early fault detection is complex, as these signals often suffer from low signal-to-noise ratios, background noise, and random interferences. While wavelet filters are frequently employed for identifying informative frequency bands, determining the optimal filter parameters is crucial for accurately extracting repetitive transients related to faults. This research proposes a novel approach that utilises a crayfish optimization algorithm (COA) to adaptively optimise the wavelet filter. The COA employs correlated kurtosis (CK) as a fitness function to guide the optimization process. This method addresses limitations related to inaccurate CK period estimation through a continuous update mechanism, ensuring more precise parameter selection. Through its application to various industrial cases, the proposed methodology demonstrates its superiority over existing techniques in accurately extracting informative frequencies. This advancement enables more precise fault diagnosis, leading to improved maintenance strategies and minimized downtime in industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hemp seed oil contains Cannabidiol, Dronabinol, and Cannabinol, as identified by GC–MS analysis. • MTT assay confirms Hemp seed oil's non-cytotoxic effect on L929 cells, ensuring cellular safety. • CAM assay showed inhibition of neovascularization patterns. • Docking studies revealed Hemp seed oil's capacity to inhibit early inflammatory cytokines. • Hemp seed oil emerges as effective herbal remedy for diabetic cardiomyopathy management. Present study was to assess the potential cytotoxic effects of commercially available Hemp seed oil and the effectiveness of its compounds in inhibiting inflammatory markers associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy. The bioactive components of Hemp seed oil were analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). To evaluate the oil's cytotoxic properties, a modified 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay was conducted on L929 cells (a mouse fibroblast cell line). Furthermore, an in vivo antiangiogenic assessment of the oil was performed using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, following a laboratory-standardized protocol. Docking and simulation studies were carried out to examine the binding and stability of the oil's compounds with inflammatory markers relevant to diabetic cardiomyopathy. The GC–MS analysis revealed that hemp seed oil contains several compounds, including Cannabidiol, Benzenemethanaminium, Dronabinol, Cannabinol, and Squalene. The cytotoxicity assessment on L929 cells demonstrated that Hemp seed oil did not exhibit any harmful effects at a concentration of 2.5 - 5 mg/mL. The CAM model confirmed the presence of antiangiogenic properties in Hemp seed oil, as evidenced by the inhibition of vascular patterns and blood vessel dissolution in the eggs. Additionally, docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that Benzenemethanaminium and Cannabielsoin exhibited the highest inhibitory efficacy and stability when interacting with IL-1β and C-reactive protein, respectively. This study suggests that Hemp seed oil possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties, making it a potential herbal remedy for patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) individually or combination with gibberellic acid (GA 3) increase vase life of dahlia cut flower. • Postharvest quality of cut flower improves treated with SNP and GA 3 PGRs. • Physiological traits such as solution uptake, fresh weight, anthocyanin content, etc. improves in cut flower by using both PGRs. • Exogenous SNP and GA 3 modulates antioxidant activity (CAT, SOD, POD, MDA) in dahlia cut flower. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the impacts of both sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and gibberellic acid (GA 3) separately and in combination on the longevity of Dahlia cut flowers. Additionally, the potential physiological and biochemical changes associated with these treatments are also examined. Cut flowers treated with nitric oxide donor SNP and GA 3 significantly improved all postharvest characteristics of cut flowers, including vase life and other physiological characteristics, as compared to control. Flowers treated with T 15 (SNP 20 mg L-l + GA 3 20 mg L-l) resulted in maximum vase life, followed by treatment T 3 (SNP 20 mg-l) and minimum vase life recorded in control. Treatment T 15 (SNP 20 mg L-l + GA 3 20 mg L-l) shows an improvement in all biochemical activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase activity, except malondialdehyde accumulation, as compared with untreated cut flowers. Thus, SNP alone or along with GA 3 as a pulsing solution could be a promising approach to improving the postharvest quality of dahlia cut flowers by influencing physiological and biochemical modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproducibility of chemical reactions, when obtaining protocols from literature or databases, is highly challenging for academicians, industry professionals and even now for the machine learning process. To synthesize the organic molecule under the photochemical condition, several years for the reaction optimization, highly skilled manpower, long reaction time etc. are needed, resulting in non-affordability and slow down the research and development. Herein, we have introduced the DigiChemTree backed with the artificial intelligence to auto-optimize the photochemical reaction parameter and synthesizing the on demand library of the molecules in fast manner. Newly, auto-generated digital code was further tested for the late stage functionalization of the various active pharmaceutical ingredient. Light-induced reactions of diazo compounds have become crucial in organic synthesis and drug discovery, however, optimization of reaction conditions is still very time-consuming. Here, the authors develop a DigiChemTree platform using artificial intelligence to auto-optimize the photochemical reaction parameters and rapidly synthesize an on-demand library of molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019, i.e., COVID-19, an emerging contagious disease with human-to-human transmission, first appeared at the end of year 2019. The sudden demand for disease diagnostic kits prompted researchers to shift their focus toward developing solutions that could assist in identifying COVID-19 using available resources. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a high-accuracy system that makes use of Artificial Intelligence and its tools considering its contribution to computer vision. The time consumed to diagnose test outcomes is to be taken care of as a crucial aspect of an efficient model. To address the global challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study proposed two deep learning models developed for automatic COVID-19 detection and distinguish it from pneumonia, another common lung disease. The proposed designs implement layered convolutional neural networks and are trained on a data set of 1824 chest X-rays for binary classification (COVID-19 and normal) and 2736 chest X-rays for ternary classification (COVID-19, normal, and pneumonia). The input images and hyper-parameters in the convolution layers are fine-tuned during the model training phase. The observations show that the proposed models have achieved a better performance as compared to their earlier contemporaries' approaches, resulting in accuracy, precision, recall, and F-score of 98.91%, 98.5%, 98.5%, and 99% for binary-class and 95.99%, 96.3%, 96%, and 96.33% for ternary-class classifiers, respectively. The presented architectures have been built from scratch, thus with the implemented convolutional layered architecture, they were successful in providing more efficient and early diagnosis of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we apply NURBS-based isogeometric method to solve a nonlocal degenerate parabolic problem. The isogeometric method has advantages over classical finite element method in terms of exact geometry representation and higher order smooth basis functions. We consider the NURBS-based semi-discretization of the problem. The second-order Crank–Nicolson method is applied for the complete discretization of the problem. Error estimates of the semi-discrete and fully-discrete problems are derived. Few numerical examples are provided to verify the theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to understand the debris flow characteristics in view of frequent extreme rainfall events, expansion of road networks, tourist influx, and population pressure in the NW & Central Himalaya. Notably, majority of the human settlements, roads, bridges, buildings, and even protection measures in the NW & Central Himalaya do not take into consideration such debris flow impact scenario despite a history of debris flow disasters. The Voellmy-Salm rheology dependent dynamic runout simulation method was used to determine the debris flow pressure and velocity regime in 9 debris flow locations belonging to different litho-tectonic conditions. Results revealed that the debris flow pressure and velocity in these 9 studied debris flows might reach up to 3000 kPa and 20 m/s, respectively. The debris flow pressure and velocity of these orders have the potential to damage the protection measures and infrastructures, which have also been observed in other hilly terrains. The sensitivity analysis was carried out at a range of input parameters by considering 729 possible simulations and debris flow pressure and velocity are found to follow relatively better corelation until ~ 250 kPa flow pressure and ~ 15 m/s velocity thresholds. The influence of slope topography on the debris flow characteristics is also observed in the form of amplification of flow pressure and velocity at concave portions. The rapid development of road network in the NW & Central Himalayan region and its subjectivity to potential debris flow risk is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the geographical variation in the content and chemical composition of Cupressus torulosa needles essential oil across different locations in the Himalayan region of India. The methodology involved the collection of needles from 14 distinct locations, followed by hydro‐distillation using a Clevenger‐type apparatus. Qualitative analysis was conducted using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), while gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector (GC‐FID) was employed for quantitative analysis. The GC–MS analysis identified a total of 57 compounds, with oxygenated monoterpenes and monoterpene hydrocarbons being the dominant chemical constituents, ranging from 22.5% to 63.01% and from 10.39% to 63.95%, respectively. Terpinen‐4‐ol emerged as the major compound, with concentrations ranging from 101.2 ± 45.7 μg/mg to 393.8 ± 12.5 μg/mg across different locations, with the highest concentration observed in the Dehradun location. The application of t‐distributed stochastic neighbour embedding (t‐SNE) analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed the presence of five distinct chemotypes within the essential oil, characterised by different combinations of chemical constituents. These chemotypes were identified as terpinen‐4‐ol/limonene, terpinen‐4‐ol/sabinene, terpinen‐4‐ol, terpinen‐4‐ol/umbellulone, and terpinen‐4‐ol/totarol chemotypes. This research serves as a foundational framework for future investigations aimed at harnessing the unique properties of different chemotypes for specific purposes, potentially facilitating the successful commercialization and utilisation of C. torulosa needles essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA copper(II) 2-chlorophenylacetohydroxamate complex has been synthesized using copper(II) chloride and potassium 2-chlorophenylacetohydroxamate in 1:2 molar ratio in methanol and characterized using CHN analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The hydroxamate ligand binds to metal via oxygen of carbonyl group and hydroxamic group (O, O bonding), and a distorted-square planar geometry has tentatively been proposed. The interactions between Staphylococcus aureus (bacterial receptor) ligand and complex, their inhibition constant, and binding energy values have been computed. The in vitro antimicrobial activity study against pathogenic gram –ve bacteria viz. Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli; gram + ve S. aureus and Bacillus cereus by MIC method have revealed a significant antimicrobial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiclassical particle-rotor model (SCM) has been used for the calculation of reduced electric quadrupole transition rates B(E2) for the νh11/2 negative parity band in 101Ru. The B(E2) values are found to exhibit a decreasing behavior with increasing spin values in the range 27/2 ℏ≤ I ≤ 47/2 ℏ. For the higher spin states, the experimental dynamic moment of inertia ℑ(2) is also in the range of AMR bands. The calculation of spin (ℏ) versus frequency (MeV) for the π(g9/2)−2⊗ν[h11/2(g7/2)2] configuration with the core contribution of 2 ℏ is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results and favors the possibility of AMR phenomenon in νh11/2 negative parity band in 101Ru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The semi‐crystallinity, thermoplasticity, high toughness, and light weight of polyamide‐6 (PA6) when reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) provide outstanding physical properties to the nanocomposites by combining the physical properties of both components. The processing difficulties arising due to the high toughness and abrasion resistance of PA6 and the agglomeration of in‐house synthesized long‐length CNTs can be tackled by melt‐mixing the components inside a twin‐screw extruder with a back‐flow channel. The 0.1–7 parts per hundred ratios (phr) of CNTs reinforced PA6 composites were characterized for their viscoelastic properties through oscillatory rheometry and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) at fixed operating conditions. The outcomes showed continuous shiftings in storage and loss modulus values with increasing reinforcements along with a viscoelastic transition at 3 phr CNTs reinforcements observed in DMA. A 19°C rise in glass transition temperature (Tg) was observed in DMA with 0.1 phr CNTs reinforcement, which showed further improvements with increasing CNTs content. The interactions among PA6 and CNTs were further confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy curves. These nanocomposites promise mechanical applications in the equipments of automobiles, aerospace, defense, biomedical, bio‐sensors, etc. Viscoelastic properties study for CNTs/PA6 composites Uniform intermixing of CNTs within PA6 via extrusion with back‐flow channel Detailed analysis of rheometry and DMA of the composites CNTs‐PA6 interactions estimated from rising intensity peaks in Raman spectra and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) Potential candidates for components in automobiles, aircraft, biomedicals, and sports industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global urban studies are undergoing a paradigm shift recognizing the link between urban and rural studies. In this sense, ‘agrarian urbanism’ has become the research focus, especially in the Global South. This paper analyses the changing social relations in Sonipat (Haryana, India) after it was developed as an ‘Education city’. The focus is gender relations with analysis under two categories: ‘locals’ and ‘outsiders’. While urbanization was thought of as a linear process where surplus production in the rural areas would naturally lead to cities, in the global south capitalist real estate-led development has meant that urbanization is often superimposed on existing rural societies, pushing them towards marginalization in favor of gated enclaved urban infrastructure. Employing qualitative interviews, I hypothesize that the private capital-driven urbanization in Sonipat not only geographically marginalizes the existing villages but also engenders dissonant experiences of local and outsider women. The fault lines between the two mean that interaction between them is defined by exploitation and mutual suspicion. Further, I argue that within this dichotomy, women bear the brunt of social control, restricted movement and potential violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A uniform magnetic field across the device is often used to analyze gyroklystron. In this paper, a tapered magnetic field is applied across the two-cavity 35 GHz frequency-doubling gyroklystron to improve its performance. Device performance is compared between tapered and uniform magnetic field cases using particle-in-cell code "CST." The result confirms that the tapered magnetic field significantly improves the device performance parameters such as output power, efficiency, gain, and bandwidth compared to uniform magnetic field conditions. With a 1.6-kW driver power, 306 kW RF output power along with 22.8 dB gain is achieved for a tapered magnetic field case, while 227 kW RF output power along with 21.5 dB gain is achieved for a uniform magnetic field case. When the magnetic field is uniform, the efficiency and bandwidth of a gyroklystron are approximately 21.6% and 100 MHz, respectively; however, for the tapered magnetic field, it can rise to 29.1% and 120 MHz, respectively. Device efficiency results suggest that a tapered magnetic field improves energy transfer from the electron beam to the RF field. A parametric study for both magnetic field cases examines the effect of magnetic field strength, beam current, beam voltage, and pitch factor on the device. This detailed research recommends optimizing frequency-doubling gyroklystron performance with tapered magnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs extensive three-dimensional direct numerical simulations to investigate the hemodynamics around a bileaflet mechanical heart valve. In particular, this study focuses on assessing whether non-Newtonian rheological behaviors of blood, such as shear-thinning and yield stress behaviors, exert an influence on hemodynamics compared to the simplistic Newtonian behavior under both steady inflow and physiologically realistic pulsatile flow conditions. Under steady inflow conditions, the study reveals that blood rheology impacts velocity and pressure field variations, as well as the values of clinically important surface and time-averaged parameters like wall shear stress (WSS) and pressure recovery. Notably, this influence is most pronounced at low Reynolds numbers, gradually diminishing as the Reynolds number increases. For instance, surface-averaged WSS values obtained with the non-Newtonian shear-thinning power-law model exceed those obtained with the Newtonian model. At R e = 750 , this difference reaches around 67%, reducing to less than 1% at R e = 5000. Correspondingly, pressure recovery downstream of the valve leaflets is lower for the shear-thinning blood than the constant viscosity one, with the difference decreasing as the Reynolds number increases. On the other hand, in pulsatile flow conditions, jets formed between the leaflets and the valve housing wall are shorter than steady inflow conditions. Additionally, surface-averaged wall shear stress and blood damage (BD) parameter values are higher (with differences more than 13% and 47%, respectively) during the peak stage of the cardiac cycle, especially for blood exhibiting non-Newtonian yield stress characteristics compared to the shear-thinning or constant viscosity characteristics. Therefore, blood non-Newtonian behaviors, including shear-thinning and yield stress behaviors, exert a considerable influence on the hemodynamics around a mechanical heart valve. All in all, the findings of this study demonstrate the importance of considering non-Newtonian blood behaviors when designing blood-contacting medical devices, such as mechanical heart valves, to enhance functionality and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and BMP6 are key regulators of systemic iron homeostasis. All BMPs are generated as inactive precursor proteins that dimerize and are cleaved to generate the bioactive ligand and inactive prodomain fragments, but nothing is known about how BMP2 or BMP6 homodimeric or heterodimeric precursor proteins are proteolytically activated. Here, we conducted in vitro cleavage assays, which revealed that BMP2 is sequentially cleaved by furin at two sites, initially at a site upstream of the mature ligand, and then at a site adjacent to the ligand domain, while BMP6 is cleaved at a single furin motif. Cleavage of both sites of BMP2 is required to generate fully active BMP2 homodimers when expressed in Xenopus embryos or liver endothelial cells, and fully active BMP2/6 heterodimers in Xenopus. We analyzed BMP activity in Xenopus embryos expressing chimeric proteins consisting of the BMP2 prodomain and BMP6 ligand domain, or vice versa. We show that the prodomain of BMP2 is necessary and sufficient to generate active BMP6 homodimers and BMP2/6 heterodimers, whereas the BMP6 prodomain cannot generate active BMP2 homodimers or BMP2/6 heterodimers. We examined BMP2 and BMP6 homodimeric and heterodimeric ligands generated from native and chimeric precursor proteins expressed in Xenopus embryos. Whereas native BMP6 is not cleaved when expressed alone, it is cleaved to generate BMP2/6 heterodimers when co-expressed with BMP2. Furthermore, BMP2-6 chimeras are cleaved to generate BMP6 homodimers. Our findings reveal an important role for the BMP2 prodomain in dimerization and proteolytic activation of BMP6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is considerable evidence supporting the elevated risk of mental health problems in individuals with evening chronotype relative to those with morning or intermediate chronotypes. Recent data, however, suggest that this risk may be explained, at least partially, by poor sleep quality. Methods: This study aimed to further clarify the roles of chronotype and sleep quality in mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, stress) in young individuals (18–40 years) living in the UK (n = 185) or Germany (n = 209). Results: Consistent with our recent observations in a comparable North Indian sample, we found that poor quality of sleep had significantly positive associations with adverse mental health outcomes both in the UK and Germany-based samples. Significant associations between evening chronotype and poor mental health were also evident, but these associations were fully mediated by poor quality of sleep in both samples. Conclusions: These observations suggest that efforts to identify sleep disruption in a timely manner and promotion of good sleep may prevent mental health problems, especially in individuals with evening chronotype and other known risks for mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a problematic weed in winter crops and fallows in the southeastern cropping region (SCR) of Australia. This weed has evolved resistance to multiple herbicide groups, globally. In Australia, L. rigidum is more prevalent in the western and southern regions than in SCR. To assess the herbicide resistance status of L. rigidum, the response of five L. rigidum populations (collected from the SCR) to glyphosate, glufosinate, paraquat, haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and clethodim is determined using dose–response curves. Three parametric logistic models are used to determine the herbicide dose required to achieve 50% survival (LD50) and 50% growth reduction (GR50). The LD50 values for 50% survival at 28 days after treatment range from 1702 g a.e. ha−1 to 8225 g a.e. ha−1 for glyphosate, 1637 g a.i. ha−1 to 1828 g a.i. ha−1 for glufosinate, 141 g a.i. ha−1 to 307 g a.i. ha−1 for paraquat, 11 g a.i. ha−1 to 107 g a.i. ha−1 for haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and 17 g a.i. ha−1 to 48 g a.i. ha−1 for clethodim. The resistance factor, based on GR50 value, is highest in the S7 population (2.2 times) for glyphosate, the S11 population (2.3 times) for glufosinate, the S11 population (2.0 time) for paraquat, the S7 population (3.9 times) for haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and the S3 population (3.1 times) for clethodim, compared with the susceptible or less tolerant population. The S11 population is found to be resistant to five tested herbicides, based on resistance factors. Similarly, the S3 population is highly resistant to glyphosate, haloxyfop-P-ethyl, and clethodim compared with the W4 population. These results suggest that L. rigidum populations in the SCR exhibit resistance to multiple herbicide groups at labelled field rates. The findings highlight the necessity of adopting an integrated management approach, including the use of residual herbicides, tank mixing herbicides with different modes of action, and rotating herbicides in conjunction with cultural and mechanical control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) refers to a group of pregnancy-related tumors that are recognized as the most curable gynecologic malignancies. Diagnosing GTD can be challenging, particularly after a non-molar pregnancy, due to its various presentations, which may mimic retained products with hypervascularity or arteriovenous malformation. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) serves as an excellent biomarker for monitoring disease progression, response to treatment, and post-treatment surveillance. A plateaued or rising HCG level can facilitate the early detection of progression from complete or partial hydatidiform mole to GTD. Here, we present a case series involving six patients with GTD who initially presented with elevated beta-HCG levels and abnormal bleeding. Of these six patients, five were initially diagnosed with hypervascular retained products following a first-trimester abortion and underwent surgical evacuation. However, due to persistently elevated beta-HCG levels and evidence of myometrial invasion, the diagnosis was later revised to GTD. All patients were successfully managed with chemotherapy. Methotrexate, as a first-line treatment, is effective in achieving complete remission in most non-metastatic and low-risk cases. It has minimal severe toxicity, excellent cure rates, and does not appear to affect fertility. In summary, gestational trophoblastic diseases represent a diagnostic conundrum for clinicians due to their diverse presentations and potential for mimicking other conditions. Nevertheless, when these diseases are identified and managed in a timely manner, the prognosis is highly favorable, underscoring the importance of vigilant monitoring and early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's findings on the molecular characterization of MRSA from different clinical samples using real-time PCR techniques in a tertiary care Hospital are significant. The study aimed to determine the Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic-resistant profiles of MRSA isolates and the determination of responsible genes in Hospital & community settings. Out of a total of 150 staphylococcus aureus isolates, 45 were MRSA. Where 18 were from hospitals, and 27 were from the community. The phenotypic and genotypic methods were used to categorize HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. The study's findings on the molecular characterization of MRSA from different clinical samples using real-time PCR techniques in a tertiary care Hospital are significant. The study aimed to determine the Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic-resistant profiles of MRSA isolates and the determination of responsible genes in Hospital & community settings. Out of a total of 150 staphylococcus aureus isolates, 45 were MRSA. Where 18 were from hospitals, and 27 were from the community. The phenotypic and genotypic methods were used to categorize HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. Conclusion: Molecular methods such as Rt-PCR are useful in detecting HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA strains from the clinical isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) rates are rising, mirroring the global trend of an aging population. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that those with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have an increased risk of developing dementia. These degenerative and progressive diseases share some risk factors. To a large extent, the amyloid cascade is responsible for AD development. Neurofibrillary tangles induce neurodegeneration and brain atrophy; this chain reaction begins with hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins caused by progressive amyloid beta (Aβ) accumulation. In addition to these processes, it seems that alterations in brain glucose metabolism and insulin signalling lead to cell death and reduced synaptic plasticity in AD, before the onset of symptoms, which may be years away. Due to the substantial evidence linking insulin resistance in the brain with AD, researchers have coined the name "Type 3 diabetes" to characterize the condition. We still know little about the processes involved, even though current animal models have helped illuminate the links between T2DM and AD. This brief overview discusses insulin and IGF‐1 signalling disorders and the primary molecular pathways that may connect them. The presence of GSK‐3β in AD is intriguing. These proteins' association with T2DM and pancreatic β‐cell failure suggests they might be therapeutic targets for both disorders. Significance Statement: The most prevalent form of dementia, AD, and T2DM may have a connection, according to new research. A greater risk of getting AD has been found among persons with T2DM, according to many research studies that followed large populations for many years. This review paper provides the common molecular mechanism and treatment in the context of "Type 3 diabetes" or AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Spontaneous temporal encephaloceles (STEs) are increasingly recognized as sequelae of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), which in turn may further complicate their management. We endeavored to review the University of Pennsylvania institutional experience on operative management of STEs, with a focus on factors which may influence surgical outcomes, particularly IIH. Design Retrospective chart review over 9 years from 2013 to 2022. Setting Single-center, two-hospital, tertiary care, academic setting. Participants Patients undergoing middle cranial fossa (43.9%), transmastoid (44.9%), or combined (11.2%) approaches for repair of STEs during the study period (n = 107). Main Outcome Measures Postoperative complication rates, recurrence, and diagnosis of IIH. Results The majority of patients were female (64.5%), with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 37 kg/m 2 and mean age of 57 years. Twelve patients (9%) represented reoperations after failed primary repairs. Fourteen percent of patients undergoing primary surgical repair of STE were diagnosed with IIH, compared with 42% of patients undergoing reoperations (p = 0.015). In addition, there was a significant difference in the average BMI of patients undergoing primary (36.4 kg/m 2) versus revision surgery (40.9 kg/m 2 , p = 0.04). Half of those undergoing reoperation were placed on postoperative acetazolamide compared with 11% of patients undergoing primary operations. No patient experienced recurrent leak after reoperation. Conclusion Based on our institutional experience, elevated BMI and the presence of IIH are significant predictors of reoperation for STE. In our experience, acetazolamide is a common adjunct management strategy in addition to reoperation for patients with recurrent cerebrospinal fluid leak in the setting of STE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a plasmonic filter is realized which consists of a T-shaped stub resonator and two side-coupled rectangular cavities; forming an inverted E-type structure connected to the main waveguide. Initially, the device is investigated for the function of a band stop filter in the telecommunication band. Later, the proposed device is investigated for bandpass filtering application by using Vanadium dioxide as an active material to show the improvement in transmittance, modulation depth, quality factor, and tunability of the device. Vanadium dioxide is filled into all four arms of the inverted E shaped structure. For the OFF-state, the electric field is applied to the T shape structure which are; arm 2 and arm 4 whereas for the ON-state, the electric field is applied to the two-side coupled rectangular cavities named as arm 1 and arm 3. The device has shown its potential application in high-quality factor filtering, switching, and modulation applications in telecommunication bands. The quality factor of 208 and 138.18 is achieved for ON-state and OFF-state respectively, whereas the quality factor is further increased and a high value of 308 is obtained by optimizing the device parameters. An extension ratio of modulation of 18.45 dB is attained which can be further increased to 19.95 dB by changing the width of the cavities. Device optimization is performed to show that the bandwidth and transmittance of the spectrum can be manipulated by changing the device parameters like width, length, and height of the cavities. Additionally, the effect of the Elasto-optic effect is also shown which results in a huge tunability of 650 nm and an increase in the modulation depth to 25.8 dB. The device has demonstrated its potential for use in filtering and switching for photonic integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) via simple two‐step thermal decomposition of urea at a moderate temperature of 550 °C. The as‐synthesized GCN is further doped with transition metals like nickel, and both the pure and doped GCN are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. XRD shows the perfect phase formation in the pure GCN, which also remains in the doped sample but with much lesser crystallinity. FESEM shows that after doping, the small chips‐like structure of GCN gets transformed to an elongated one. XPS confirms the successful doping by keeping the signature of both nickel 2P1/2 and 2P3/2 oxidation states in the spectra, whereas FTIR gave an idea about different bonding present in the sample. The pure sample, when irradiated with an excitation wavelength of 350 nm, gives an intense peak at 457 nm, which gets considerably quenched in the case of the doped sample. However, a new peak appears in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the doped sample at 624 nm. The quenching of PL intensity in the doped sample is assumed to be due to the fact that the dopant‐induced state traps the electron, hindering them from immediate recombination. This quenching of PL intensity generates the possibilities of sensing the presence of different metals and thus taking measurable steps for removing them. The CIE chromaticity diagrams for the doped and undoped samples confirm that the emission color changes from blue to cyan region after the doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the ultimate bearing capacity (UBC) of a footing subjected to an eccentric load situated above an unlined horseshoe-shaped tunnel in the rock mass, following the Generalized Hoek-Brown (GHB) failure criterion. A reduction factor (Rf) is introduced to investigate the impact of the tunnel on the UBC of the footing. Rf is determined using upper and lower bound analyses with adaptive finite-element limit analysis. The study examines the influence of several independent variables, including normalized load eccentricity (e/B), normalized vertical and horizontal distances (δ/B and H/B) of the footing from the tunnel, tunnel size (W/B), and other rock mass parameters. It was found that all these parameters significantly affect the behavior of tunnel-footing interaction depending on the range of varying parameters. The findings of the study indicate that the critical depth (when Rf is nearly 1) of the tunnel decreases with increasing load eccentricity. The critical depth is found to be δ/B ≥ 2 for e/B ≤ 0.2 and δ/B ≥ 1.5 for e/B ≥ 0.3, regardless of H/B ratios. Additionally, the GHB parameters of the rock mass significantly influence the interaction between the tunnel and the footing. Moreover, this study identifies some typical potential failure modes depending on the tunnel position. The typical potential failure modes of the footing include punching failure, cylindrical shear wedge failure, and Prandtl-type failure. This study also incorporates soft computing techniques and formulates empirical equations to predict Rf using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and multiple linear regression (MLR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterosis has long been harnessed in crop production, and while crop fertility lays the groundwork for leveraging heterosis, there remains a dearth of comprehensive data regarding genic male sterility in mungbean. Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek), being a self‐pollinating crop, exhibits significant hybrid vigour in F1 hybrid seed yield, suggesting the potential for developing hybrid varieties to propel mungbean yield beyond existing plateaus. A new male sterile mutant was induced, isolated, stabilized and evaluated, via gamma irradiation at a rate of 600 Gy, identified in the M3 generation of the GM 4 accession. A uniform male sterile line was crossbred with the wild‐type parental plant to explore the inheritance pattern of male sterility. Pollen sterility was validated through the acetocarmine test, while stigma viability was ascertained using the hydrogen peroxide. While all F1 plants displayed fertile flowers, the F2 generation showed a clear 3:1 segregation ratio for fertile to male sterile plants, indicating the control of male sterility by a single recessive gene, mms. Also, a novel existence of a truncated stigma nestled within the anther column inhibits the effective reception of pollen during anthesis, offering potential in reducing emasculation time by a slight cut on the flower bud and enhancing cross pollination during hybrid seed production. The isolation of these two mutants is poised to significantly advance the global mungbean hybrid breeding programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What lessons in leadership could the NHS learn from the army? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of communication technology has brought nations and their cultures closer together, and the demand for cross-language communication has risen tremendously. There is a different learning method to connect the source language to the target language in which unsupervised learning is a blessing for low-resource languages. The unsupervised machine translation is always problematic to those languages which are morphologically rich and low resources languages. Morphologically rich and low-resource language does not provide good results in machine translation if the translation is from morphologically less complex language to morphologically more complex languages. In this paper, we have improved the unsupervised neural machine translation by tackling the ambiguity problem and the quality of pseudo-parallel sentence pairs generated through back-translation for morphologically rich languages. The ambiguity problem is solved by taking the cross-lingual sense embedding at the source side instead of cross-lingual word embedding. By giving more weight to better pseudo-parallel sentence pairs in the back-translation step, the quality of pseudo-parallel sentences is increased. Different evaluation metrics have been used to check the robustness of the model and compared with different baseline models. The experiment is performed on different morphologically rich languages English-Hindi, English-Tamil, English-Telegu, and one low-resource endangered kangri language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial processes occurring in constructed wetlands (CWs) are difficult to understand owing to the complex interactions occurring between a variety of substrates, microorganisms, and plants under the given physicochemical conditions. This frequently leads to very large unexplained nitrogen losses in these systems. In continuation of our findings on Anammox contributions, our research on full-scale field CWs has suggested the significant involvement of the sulfur cycle in the conventional C–N cycle occurring in wetlands, which might closely explain the nitrogen losses in these systems. This paper explored the possibility of the sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification (SDAD) pathway in different types of CWs, shallow and deep and passive and aerated systems, by analyzing the metagenomic bacterial communities present within these CWs. The results indicate a higher abundance of SDAD bacteria (Paracoccus and Arcobacter) in deep passive systems compared to shallow systems and presence of a large number of SDAD genera (Paracoccus, Thiobacillus, Beggiatoa, Sulfurimonas, Arcobacter, and Sulfuricurvum) in aerated CWs. The bacteria belonging to the functional category of dark oxidation of sulfur compounds were found to be enriched in deep and aerated CWs hinting at the possible role of the SDAD pathway in total nitrogen removal in these systems. As a case study, the percentage nitrogen removal through SDAD pathway was calculated to be 15–20% in aerated wetlands. The presence of autotrophic pathways for nitrogen removal can prove highly beneficial in terms of reducing sludge generation and hence reducing clogging, making aerated CWs a sustainable wastewater treatment solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative pancreatic fistulas lead to substantially increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs after pancreatectomy. Studies have reported conflicting data on the role of prophylactic somatostatin analogs in the reduction of postoperative pancreatic fistula. Current practice patterns, surgeon beliefs, and barriers to using these drugs in the Americas is not known. An online 26-question cross-sectional survey was distributed via email to the members of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association in April 2023. One hundred and two surgeons responded in spring 2023. 48.0% of respondents reported using prophylactic SSAs during their surgical training, however, only 29.4% do so in their current practice, most commonly when performing Whipple procedures. Octreotide was the most frequently used SSA (34.3%), followed by octreotide LAR (12.7%) and pasireotide (11.8%). Reasons for not prescribing included a lack of high-quality data (62.7%), perception of limited efficacy (34.3%) and high cost (30.4%). These results highlight key areas for future study including understanding surgeon rationale for patient and drug selection. Variable practice patterns amongst surgeons also underscore the importance of generalizability in the design of future clinical trials in order to maximize impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerogels are highly porous solid materials with density even less than air. Various materials such as cellulose, chitosan, titanium oxide, chitin, pectin, silica oxide, starch, carrageenan, and mucilage have been used till date to synthesize the aerogels. However, these aerogels can be brittle, toxic, non-biodegradable, and can add environmental load on degradation. Since last few decades, polysaccharide-based aerogels owing to their various advantageous properties such as high porosity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of tailoring, have gained more interest. Similar to inorganic-based aerogels, organic or polysaccharide-based aerogels are also being synthesized using the sol-gel technique. However, based on the drying process used, a gel can be transformed into xerogel, cryogel, and xerogel. This article focuses on the synthesis of aerogels using sol-gel process and the classification of gels on the basis of drying processes adopted such as supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) drying, freeze-drying, and ambient pressure drying. Various sources of polysaccharides that can be extracted from plants, animals, and microorganisms have been mentioned in detailed. Additionally, applications of aerogels such as medical, air filtration, packaging thermal insulators, and construction have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface quality, machining efficiency, and tool life are all significantly impacted by tool wear in metal cutting machining. Research priorities and areas of focus in tool wear are shifting as intelligent machining becomes the norm. Unfortunately, there are currently no acknowledged most effective ways for analyzing tool based on the energy signals specially in the machining of titanium and its alloys. In the present work, the titanium machining was performed under different lubrication conditions such as dry, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), liquid nitrogen and hybrid, etc. Then, the spectrograms are used to transform the acquired energy data into time–frequency features. Starting with a set of randomly generated hyper parameters (HPs), the long short-term memory (LSTM) model is fine-tuned using sine cosine algorithm (SCA) with loss serving as the fitness function. The confusion matrix provides additional validation of the 98.08% classification accuracy. Additional evaluations of the suggested method's superiority include its specificity, sensitivity, F1-score, and area under the curve (AUC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasound-assisted expedient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2- a ]pyridines and imidazo[2,1- b ]thiazoles by the C–H functionalization of ketones using a KI/ tert -butyl hydroperoxide catalytic system. The reaction takes place in water, a green solvent, and does not require a metal catalyst; it also gives good yields of the products. The method offers numerous noteworthy characteristics, including mild reaction conditions, the absence of a base, broad functional-group compatibility, and excellent reaction yields. Moreover, it avoids the use of costly and air-sensitive chemicals, and can be conducted under ambient reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work uses an alumina wheel to investigate the eco-benign grinding for better surface integrity of Inconel 625 (IN 625). To achieve this, applying nanofluids (NFs) with the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) principle has been adopted, aiming at eco-benign grinding practices. In this work, MoS 2 NFs, MWCNTs NFs and hybrid NFs (prepared by mixing MoS 2 and MWCNTs in a 1:1 ratio) prepared using deionized water as the base fluid have been used. An in-house developed MQL setup is used to aim the NFs inside the grinding zone. The first attempt has been made to grind IN 625 in these environments. The characterisation of NFs in terms of nanofluid stability, dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity and surface wettability have been performed before their utilization in grinding operations. A comparison has been made between the results obtained from NFs grinding and those from dry and soluble oil-based MQL grinding. It has been found that hybrid NFs provide excellent lubrication and cooling effects, reducing grinding forces and improving surface quality. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photon spectroscopy are applied to investigate the ground surfaces under different grinding conditions. Also, residual stress (with the help of X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction) and microhardness have been determined to gain further insights into the grinding behaviour. The wheel and chip morphology analyses have been performed to support the findings. The findings from this investigation lead to the conclusion that applying nano-MQL improves grinding effectiveness and promotes cleaner grinding outcomes. Hybrid NFs prove especially effective, as the physical synergistic effect enhances and safeguards the surface integrity of the produced ground components. [Display omitted] • This work endorses the grindability improvement of Inconel 625 using nano-MQL. • Thermos-physical and tribological characteristics of developed nanofluids have been investigated. • Ground surfaces have been investigated using SEM, EDS, EBSD, XRD and microhardness techniques. • Findings have been corroborated with the wheel and chip morphology investigations. • Nano-MQL has shown promising results in grindability improvement of Inconel 625. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine almost (strictly) semimonotone matrices which are also either Z -matrices or matrices having Property (+ +) and show that both parts of Wendler's conjecture [22] (2019) hold for these matrices. Another important result of this paper is the characterization of copositive matrices beyond the matrices with non-positive off-diagonal elements. We discuss some interesting properties related to the structure of almost (strictly) semimonotone matrices and also present results pertaining to the existence and multiplicity of solutions to the linear complementarity problem associated with an almost strictly semimonotone matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxamic acids represent a group of weak organic acids, both naturally occurring and synthetically derived, characterized by the general formula RC(= O)N(R'OH). In this study, we investigated the binding behavior of N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and torula yeast RNA (t-RNA) through a combination of techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence emission analysis, viscometry, and computational simulations using AutoDock4 software. Our findings reveal that the mode of binding between the compound and the nucleic acids is consistent with intercalation. Competitive binding experiments demonstrated that the complex competes effectively with ethidium bromide (EB) for binding to ct-DNA/t-RNA, displacing EB from its binding sites. Additionally, the introduction of the compound into the DNA-EB system resulted in a quenching of fluorescence emission peaks. Analysis of absorption spectra indicated a red shift and hypochromic shift when the compound interacted with DNA, further supporting the intercalative binding mode. The calculated binding constant (Kb) value for the compound is 6.62 × 104 M−1 and 5.40 × 103 M−1 indicating a strong interaction with ct-DNA and t-RNA respectively. We determined the Stern–Volmer constants for ct-DNA and t-RNA as 9.96 × 104 M−1 and 8.13 × 105 M−1, respectively. The binding free energy values for ct-DNA/t-RNA were calculated to be − 3.741 × 107 and − 5.425 × 108 kcal/mol, respectively. Viscometric studies corroborated the UV results, showing a continuous increase in relative viscosity of ct-DNA/t-RNA solutions with the addition of the optimal hydroxamic acid concentration. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant activity of the compound using DPPH-radical scavenging and β-carotene linoleic acid assays. Gel electrophoresis results demonstrated the compound's remarkable efficacy in preventing DNA damage. Collectively, all experimental evidence supports the conclusion that N-m-tolyl-4-chlorophenoxyaceto hydroxamic acid binds to ct-DNA/t-RNA through an intercalative mechanism, which is consistent with our molecular docking simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dynamic domain of healthcare data management, safeguarding sensitive information while ensuring data efficiency is always of the highest priority. Healthcare data are frequently mishandled, posing significant risks. This research offers a new network that assesses the quality of visual data using robust features‐driven Mutual Entropy Gain (MEG). The proposed network addresses a critical gap in healthcare data management, significantly enhancing patient data security and operational efficiency in medical institutions. Our method begins with a thorough empirical investigation to find the optimal intermediate features for network input. We incorporate both distance entropy and probability entropy adopted and normalized in MEG, resulting in a comprehensive healthcare data quality evaluation. The results show that the network can distinguish between high‐quality and low‐quality data based on information content. Furthermore, our assessment reveals a large performance discrepancy between high and low‐quality data, even with variable datasets. Notably, using only half of the data achieves commendable accuracy when compared with using the complete dataset, demonstrating possible efficiency gains. This breakthrough has far‐reaching implications for healthcare providers, potentially reducing data storage costs, accelerating data processing times, and minimizing the risk of data breaches. In essence, our proposed network enhances efficiency and security in healthcare data and adapts to the evolving landscape of convergence ICT, paving the way for more robust, cost‐effective, and secure healthcare information systems that can significantly improve patient care and operational outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]