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Unlike second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors, effects of imatinib on the cardiovascular (CV) system are debatable. The current case–control study aimed to evaluate the CV effects of imatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using non-invasive 2D-echocardiography testing. Patients with CML ≥ 13 years attending the adult haematology clinic of a tertiary care hospital in north India were prospectively enrolled over 1.5 years. The study population (n = 110) consisted of 35 newly diagnosed patients (treatment-naïve group) and 75 patients under imatinib therapy ≥ 1 year (treated group). All the eligible patients were subjected to 2D-echocardiography to calculate pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and deceleration time (DT). These parameters were compared between the two groups. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The median age of study population was 40 years (range, 13–73) and M:F ratio was 1.14:1. Both the groups had similar demographics at the diagnosis including CV risk factors. The median PASP of the treated group was 2 mm Hg higher than the treatment-naïve group (25 vs 23 mm Hg, p-value = 0.919). The median LVEF of the treated group was 3.2% lower than the treatment-naïve group (58.5% vs 61.72%, p-value = 0.577). The median DT of the treated group was 7 ms shorter than treatment-naïve group (211 vs 204 ms, p-value = 0.411). Imatinib causes potential cardiac dysfunction in patients with CML. Large scale prospective follow-up trials in the same cohort of patients are needed to validate the findings of our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the apoptosis-inducing properties of undoped and silver-doped-zinc-oxide nanoparticles (SDZONs) synthesized using Boswellia serrata against MCF-7 (Luminal-A) and MDA-MB-231 (Triple-negative) breast cancer cell lines. Methodology: Nanostructures were developed by facile biohydrothermal method and characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The comparative effect of doping and dose concentration of nanostructures on cytotoxicity was measured using MTT and trypan-blue-exclusion assay. Results: SDZONs exhibited greater cytotoxicity (20.71%, 27.31% cell viability) as compared with undoped nanostructures (35.81%, 37.08% cell viability) against MCF 7 and MDA-MB-231, respectively. Conclusion: The activity of biogenic nanostructures was highly dependent on doping, dose, and type of cell lines used. The novel biogenic SDZONs could be exploited as a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally benign strategy to curb breast cancer. Article highlights Undoped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZONs) and silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (SDZONs) were synthesized by biogenic method utilizing Boswellia serrata. The formations of nanostructures were initially confirmed by the formation of precipitates. x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) pattern confirms the crystallinity of nanoparticles. FTIR analysis exhibited the presence of various functional groups like phenols, amines, acids, etc. Bioactivity test for in vitro cytotoxicity efficacy against MCF-7 and MDA MB 231 cells. MTT assays and Trypan-blue dye exclusion assay for cytotoxicity was carried out at different concentration of the biogenic nanoparticles. The cytotoxicity activity of 2% SDZONs is higher than undoped ZONs against both the cell lines. The effect of SDZONs is more pronounced in MCF-7 as compared with MDA MB 231. Cytotoxic propensity of nanostructures toward oncogenic cells is influenced by morphology, doping and dose of nanostructure. Novel biogenic silver-doped zinc oxide nanostructures have remarkable cytotoxic potential which enables its application in biomedical attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermittent nature of renewable energy generation can be tackled by integrating them with electrochemical energy storage, which can also close the gap between supply and demand effectively. It has recently been demonstrated that Si3N4‐based negative electrodes are a promising option for lithium‐ion batteries due to their large theoretical capacity and appropriate working potential with extremely low polarization. In the present work, Si3N4 was utilized as anode material in all‐solid‐state lithium‐ion battery with lithium borohydride as a solid electrolyte and Li foil placed as a counter electrode. The electrochemical properties were investigated using galvanostatic charge/discharge profiling whereas the mechanism of lithiation delithiation was investigated in detail using x‐ray diffraction (XRD). The highest capacity of the composite materials was obtained as 1700 mAhg−1 at 0.05 C current rate in the first cycle, which is reduced to 370 in 5 cycles. However, a stability in the capacity was observed in subsequent cycles and a retention of almost 88% could be achieved in 150 cycles. The interfacial resistance before and after the electrochemical cycling was observed as 326 Ω and 13 kΩ, respectively which is also supported by the microstructural investigations where the cracks are observed because of thermochemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The most common dental diseases are plaque-related infections. In recent years, there has been a lot of concern about caries prevention, especially in the developing countries and lower socio-economic societies. Therefore, there is always a need to find a natural mouthwash that is economical, safe and simple to make in order to improve dental health and be used as a common home treatment. Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of chlorhexidine, alum, hi-ora and Terminalia chebula extract mouthwashes on salivary Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli in 8-13 year old children. Materials and Methods: The sample for the study consisted of 60 school children aged 8-13 years. Children were divided randomly into four groups with 15 children each and were asked to rinse with the prescribed mouthwash once daily for 1 month, a gap period of 2 months and again continue the mouthwashes for one month and then discontinue. Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Silness - Loe Plaque Index were recorded at baseline, 15th, 30th, 90th, 120th, and 180th day. 2 ml of unstimulated saliva collection was done at baseline, 15th, 30th,90th, 120th, and 180th day for microbial analysis of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. The data's obtained was statisticaly analyzed using Kruskal Wallis Test and Repeated measures ANOVA, applied and tabulated using the SPSS software version 25.0. Results: The results of the study indicate that there was a statistically significant reduction in S. mutans and lactobacilli count in all the four study groups. Terminalia chebula extract mouth rinse was found to be the second most significantly effective antibacterial mouth rinse next to chlorhexidine mouthwash. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that alum-containing mouthwash improved plaque inhibition. Herbal mouth rinses such as Hi-ora and Terminalia Chebula have shown promising results, and thus, they can be considered as a newer alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of carbonized Himalayan Chir Pine Biomass, known as Chir Pine Activated Carbon (CPAC), as an eco-friendly and cost-effective adsorbent for efficient industrial dye removal, with a focus on environmental sustainability. By applying different additive treatments, four adsorbents (C1, C2, C3, and C4) were formulated. CPAC was synthesized through pyrolysis and characterized using various analytical techniques including FE-SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The adsorption capacity of CPAC was evaluated using Malachite Green (MG) dye as a model contaminant. FE-SEM images revealed high porosity (~ 10 µm) and a high surface area (119.886 m2/g) as confirmed by BET testing. CPAC effectively removed MG dye within 30 min at a solution pH of 7. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models indicated both monolayer and multilayer adsorption, while kinetic models suggested chemisorption. The regeneration efficiency was assessed using 0.1 N HCl over five consecutive cycles, with C4 demonstrating a high regeneration tendency of 85% and only a 9% reduction in adsorption ability after the fifth cycle. The developed CPAC shows excellent potential for use in the textile, paper, and leather industries for industrial dye adsorption, contributing to the protection of aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, CPAC can be utilized in other water and air purification applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, both the optical and piezoelectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrospun nanofibers were investigated at different needle-to-collector distances of the electrospinning process at constant applied high voltage. For piezoelectric characterization, the fabricated nanofiber mats were subjected to applied forces, including cyclic force, variable frequency-based loads, and free-falling masses (impulse loading), along with power density analysis for different load resistance values. In addition, both optical absorbance and transmittance measurements were conducted to evaluate the optical properties of the fabricated nanofibers. The piezoelectric analysis demonstrated the best piezoresponse of the fabricated nanomats at a needle-to-collector distance of 15 cm and high voltage of 22 kV. However, a trade-off between piezoelectric response and optical transmissivity was observed based on the electrospinning distance parameter. The relatively higher optically transparent sample exhibited only moderate piezoelectric response, while the less transparent sample displayed the highest piezoelectric activity. Based on the optimized sample and piezoelectric analysis, the synthesized nanofiber mat was subjected to applied mechanical stress in the form of variable velocity and momentum loads. A maximum potential of approximately 16 V was harvested through velocity and momentum impact, especially with the addition of a double-layer PVDF membrane. Furthermore, the sensing effect of airflow pressure on single/double-layer PVDF was studied. The single-layer PVDF membrane generated 79 mV under an airflow speed of 21 km/h, while the double-layer membrane produced 114 mV potential under the same airflow. This study highlights the diverse applications of PVDF nanofiber mats as multifunctional sensors and energy harvesting applications from mechanical shocks and airflow impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Drug delivery from a drug-loaded device into an adjacent tissue is a complicated process involving drug transport through diffusion and advection, coupled with drug binding kinetics responsible for drug uptake in the tissue. This work presents a theoretical model to predict drug delivery from a device into a multilayer tissue, assuming linear reversible drug binding in the tissue layers. Methods: The governing mass conservation equations based on diffusion, advection and drug binding in a multilayer cylindrical geometry are written, and solved using Laplace transformation. The model is used to understand the impact of various non-dimensional parameters on the amounts of bound and unbound drug concentrations as functions of time. Results: Good agreement for special cases considered in past work is demonstrated. The effect of forward and reverse binding reaction rates on the multilayer drug binding process is studied in detail. The effect of the nature of the external boundary condition on drug binding and drug loss is also studied. For typical parameter values, results indicate that only a small fraction of drug delivered binds in the tissue. Additionally, the amount of bound drug rises rapidly with time due to early dominance of the forward reaction, reaches a maxima and then decays due to the reverse reaction. Conclusions: The general model presented here can account for other possible effects such as drug absorption within the device. Besides generalizing past work on drug delivery modeling, this work also offers analytical tools to understand and optimize practical drug delivery devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical energy storage has emerged as a promising solution to address the intermittency of renewable energy resources and meet energy demand efficiently. Si3N4-based negative electrodes have recently gained recognition as prospective candidates for lithium-ion batteries due to their advantageous attributes, mainly including a high theoretical capacity and minimal polarization. In our study, we explored the use of Si3N4 as an anode material for all-solid-state lithium-ion battery configuration, with lithium borohydride as the solid electrolyte and Li foil as the counter-electrode. Through galvanostatic charge/discharge profiling, we achieved a remarkable maximum reversible capacity of 832 mAh/g. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the lithiation and delithiation mechanisms, utilizing techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These findings indicate the potential of Si3N4-based materials for high-capacity and low-polarization energy storage systems, offering significant possibilities in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, mechanical vibration-based energy harnessing and sensing using electrospun piezoelectric nanofiber mat was investigated. It was developed from pure PVDF and PVDF-TPU composites. The application of this active piezo nanofiber mat in the domains of vibrational energy harvesting and wearable electronic sensors was evaluated. Analysis of the energy harvesting from basic body motions reveals that it is very effective at detecting biomechanical movements. The addition of TPU to the electroactive PVDF enhanced the output performance of the flexible nanogenerator, increased piezo-efficiency, and improved the stretchability of the nanofiber mat. A sensitivity parameter of 0.9 V/N is exhibited by the PVDF with 15 wt% TPU which is almost 2.5 times as compared to the sensitivity value of pure PVDF-based nanomat. A maximum voltage of 12 V is generated by PVDF-TPU composition, toward a falling mass of 250 g under impulse loading condition which is almost 2.4 times than that of the potential developed across pure PVDF nanomat. An enhanced piezoresponse of 5 V is shown by the PVDF-TPU composition under a bending action at right angle, which is around 3 V only under the same condition for pure PVDF nanomat. The scope of the developed prototype in the field of vibration sensing and in scavenging electrical energy from low-frequency vibrational movements of machineries was also analyzed in detail which reflected the piezoresponse voltage increasing linearly with the frequency. With the increase in frequency at different applied forces, output voltage increases linearly with the increasing force. A maximum voltage of 38 V is obtained at an applied force of 2N with a repeatability of 30 Hz frequency with a sensitivity of 15 V/ N. This PVDF-TPU composite-based prototype exhibited a power density of 39.5 mW/m2. The potential of these nanomats on biomechanical energy harvesting based on hand clapping and finger impartment movements was also tested. These novel elastic piezomats can be applied for vibration energy harvesting from the whole body vibration platforms, typically vibrating between 10 and 30 Hz. The present work clearly established effective sensing ability of the prototype as a tactile sensor as well as a frequency or vibration sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the total 17 UN‐SDGs (sustainable development goals) proposed by the United Nations, the goal 7 basically ensures easy global availability of sustainable, clean, cost effective, reliable, and modern energy. Researchers are primarily concentrating on renewable energy sources in this direction since they are sustainable, clean, and environmentally friendly. But there are numerous obstacles, such as their low reliability, irregular nature, remote availability, and so forth, that prevent them from being widely used in commercial applications. Combining these renewable energy sources with effective and affordable energy storage technologies can be a promising solution to approach concerns including rising energy consumption, reliable and consistent electric power, and better grid stability. Modern energy storage systems such as electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) and lithium‐ion batteries have a great deal of potential for a wide range of applications. Carbon‐derived materials are the most flexible and fundamental materials for the storage and conversion of modern energy. Since it requires the pyrolysis and activation of expensive starting materials like wood, petroleum, and coal, the commercially produced activated carbon is costly and unsustainable. Due to rapidly increasing amount of plastic waste and the requirement for sustainable development, the conversion of waste plastics into valuable yet inexpensive carbon nanomaterials have attracted significant research interest. Their outstanding capability for charge accumulation and transportation is due to their enormous surface area, high chemical stability, and electrical conductivity in combination with low density. The present article examines the necessity and the efforts undertaken to develop supercapacitors and Li‐ion batteries as sustainable modern energy storage devices using recycled waste plastic. This article is categorized under:Sustainable Development > GoalsEmerging Technologies > Energy Storage [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dielectric constant of polymers is low (low-ε′). A high-ε′ multifunctional nanomaterial must be added to the polymer in order to create a polymer composite with high values of the dielectric constant of the polymer blend. Composites prepared from such high-ε′ polymers are extremely beneficial for many energy storage devices and electrical devices such as transducers, piezo-sensors, hydrophones, microstrip antennas (used in artificial satellites for data detection) etc. In order to achieve the demands and needs of today for the society we prepared and design thin films using PMMA which is blended with poly vinylidene fluoride (PVDF) with high-ε′ value and further mixed with tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles in different weight ratios varies from 0.5 to 4 wt% categorizing sample as SP1—0.5 wt%, SP2—1wt%, SP3—2wt% and SP4—4wt% and these samples are synthesized by casting techniques using magnetic stirrer. The effect of varying SnO2 content on structure, chain segmental motion and dielectric properties of PVDF/PMMA blend have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy using FTIR and Impedance analyzer techniques. The structural characterizations showed that the SnO2 nanoparticles are immiscibly dispersed in PVDF/PMMA blend matrix, leading to a noticeable rise in the values of dielectric constant and electrical conductivity at constant frequency. On increasing the frequency at constant wt% of SnO2, a decrease in dielectric constant was observed. Such behavior in a lower frequency range can be attributed to the interfacial polarization effect (IPF) and remarkable increase in the molecular polarization at high frequencies. At high wt% of SnO2 in the polymer blend, nonlinear behavioral changes occur in the chain segmental dynamics, reflected by the trends of dc electrical conductivity. The electric modulus spectra were used to analyze the relaxation processes associated with the M–W–S mechanism and chain segmental motion in the polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of the peak floor acceleration (PFA) plays a crucial role in ensuring the seismic safety of a building, its contents, and attachments. This study investigates amplification in PFA due to building torsion. Torsionally irregular reinforced‐concrete moment‐resisting frame buildings are analyzed under bidirectional earthquake excitations for five levels of ductility demands. A total of 5600 nonlinear dynamic analyses are conducted on the considered buildings while subjected to the far‐field ground motions suite. It is shown that the existing code provisions significantly underpredict the PFA demands at the flexible edge of elastic and moderately inelastic torsionally irregular buildings. The torsional amplification factors for PFA demands depend on the building's torsional and strength characteristics. Further, these torsional amplification factors are correlated well with the building's elastic floor displacement‐based torsional irregularity indices. Practice‐oriented equations are proposed to predict the torsional amplification factors for PFA demands in torsionally irregular buildings. The proposed equations can be easily used after estimating the elastic floor displacement‐based torsional irregularity indices using the modal superposition method. When applied with the latest ASCE 7 provisions, the proposed equations provide reasonably accurate estimates of the PFA demands in torsionally irregular buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fog computing has become a state-of-art technology for cloud applications in collaboration with physical IOT devices on the edge of the network.We propose a Fog of Things (FOT) framework for optimized resource allocation to manage issues of over demanding and load balancing. The work discussed here is based on the residential demand side model for the areas that generate large number of requests per hour and resource allocation to these requests that require large amount of time and resources. In our FOT Framework, we have two main layers: fog layer and consumer layer. The fog layer performs the resource allocation in optimal time using Jaya optimization algorithm. The consumer layer makes decision for selection of particular appliances in residential buildings using a Multiple Knapsack algorithm. Both layers act as players following the extensive form of the game theory approach to share their moves to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercialization of Li–S in present scenario is obstructed by poor performance of cathode and its compatibility with electrolyte used. Here in this work, in order to improve the electrochemical performance all solid state Li–S battery, solid electrolyte (SE) formed by composition of lithium sulfide (Li2S) and phosphorus pentasulfide (P2S5) combinedly called LPS is used. The modified carbon in the form of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as additive is used to provide better electron conduction pathway. High conductivity of the order 10−4 S cm−1 of prepared LPS overcomes the major drawback of insulating nature of sulfur. The coin cells are fabricated by using above mentioned material as a cathode material, LPS as SE, and lithium foil as anode. The prepared nanocomposites are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study structural and morphological properties. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) images of the cathode surface confirms the uniform spreading of material. The electrochemical performance of coin cell is studied by Galvanostatic charge‐discharge plot at 0.1 C to check the compatibility of composite and electrolyte prepared. The cells having additive material GO and rGO with host sulfur show better results as compared to the cell having pristine sulfur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is reporting the role of embedded ferroelectric ceramics Bi4Ti3O12 (BTO = 1–5 wt%) into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composites on its structural, bonding, surface morphology, and dielectric response. Especially lead free flexible composite electrodes have lot of attention due to its high dielectric permittivity and energy storage density. X‐ray diffraction spectra confirms monophasic orthorhombic structure of composites, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirms the bonding behavior. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images surface morphology of homogeneously distributed ceramic particles with interconnected network. Dielectric constant has been found to be improved from 9.56 to 13.73 for BTO5%PVDF95% composites at frequency of 1 kHz attributes promoted interfacial polarization of PVDF and effectively limited the charge leakage in the composites, implying promising applications in flexible electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the efficiency of nasotracheal intubation using Macintosh laryngoscope with bougie and without bougie in incidence of bleeding, time lapse and haemodynamic stress response. Methodology: The present randomised study was conducted in the department of Anaesthesiology among 120 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery and planned for general anaesthesia, after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study population was divided randomly by computer generated numbers into two groups with 60 patients in each group. Group 1(n=60): where nasotracheal intubation was done with bougie using Macintosh laryngoscope. Group 2(n=60): where nasotracheal intubation was done without bougie using Macintosh laryngoscope. Results: In Group 1, 47 (78.33%) and 13 (21.67%) patients were successfully intubated in first and second attempt respectively while in Group 2, 38 (63.33%) patients were intubated in first attempt and 22 (36.67%) patient required second attempt with statistically significant difference. The mean time required for intubation in Group 1 was 31.10±2.36 and in Group 2 was 43.08±2.17, p value was significant. In Group 1, no. of patients with sore throat were 5 (8.33%), with dental injury were 4 (6.67%) and with nasal mucosal laceration were 3 (5%).In Group 2, no. of patients with sore throat as well as dental injury were 6 (10%), and with nasal mucosal laceration were 5 (8.33%). Hemodynamic variables were comparable among the groups. Conclusion: Nasotracheal intubation done with bougie was easier and more successful in first attempt, required less time and had less post intubation bleeding when compared with intubation without bougie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study described the synthesis and characterization of MOF-76(Tb) for hydrogen storage and humidity sensing applications. The structure and morphology of as-synthesized material were studied using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. The crystal structure of MOF-76(Tb) consists of terbium(III) and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate(-III) ions, one coordinated aqua ligand and one crystallization N,N´-dimethylformamide molecule. The polymeric framework of MOF-76(Tb) contains 1D sinusoidally shaped channels with sizes of 6.6 × 6.6 Å propagating along c crystallographic axis. The thermogravimetric analysis of the prepared material exhibited thermal stability up to 600 °C. At 77 K and pressure up to 20 bar; 0.6 wt.% hydrogen storage capacity for MOF-76(Tb) was observed. Finally, the humidity sensing measurements (water adsorption experiments) were performed, and the results indicate that MOF-76(Tb) is not a suitable material for moisture sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental anxiety is a major obstacle to children receiving dental care, which can increase their fear. It is of the utmost importance to manage patients with dental anxiety or dental fear in a manner that complements their conflicts. A pediatric dentist’s role is to perform effective treatment using various non-pharmacological behavior management techniques. Aims: Aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-designed dental storybook in reducing dental anxiety among children between 5-9 years. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 54 children aged 5-9 years. Children were randomly allocated into two groups, namely, Control group (did not receive story book) and Intervention group (received story book). Research was carried out in two dental visits (screening and examination visit and preventive and restorative treatment) wherein, before and after intervention, Venham Clinical Anxiety Scale (VCAS), Facial Image Scale (FIS), and Frankel’s Behavior Rating Scale (FBRS) were recorded. The data were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test, applied and tabulated using the SPSS software version 25.0. Results: The intervention group showed significantly lower anxiety and more cooperative behavior during treatment than the control group. Conclusion: Self-designed dental storybook as an adjuvant was found to be promising behavior modification technique for 5-9 year old children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report the effect of metal oxide (Fe2O3) loading in different weight ratios (0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) on the structural and electrical parameters, viz., the complex dielectric constant, electric modulus spectra, and the AC conductivity, of polymeric composites of PVDF/PMMA (30/70 weight ratio) blend. The structural and geometric measurements have been analyzed with the help of peak location, peak intensity, and peak shape obtained from XRD as well as from FTIR spectra. The electrical properties have been investigated using an impedance analyzer in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The real parts of the complex permittivity and the dielectric loss tangent of these materials are found to be frequency independent in the range from 20 KHz to 1 MHz, but they increase with the increase in the concentration of nano-Fe2O3. The conductivity also increases with an increased loading of Fe2O3 in PVDF/PMMA polymer blends. The electric modulus spectra were used to analyze the relaxation processes associated with the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars mechanism and chain segmental motion in the polymer mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostic error is not uncommon and diagnostic accuracy can be improved with the use of problem representation, pre-test probability, and Bayesian analysis for improved clinical reasoning. A 48-year-old female presented as a transfer from another Emergency Department (ED) to our ED with crushing, substernal pain associated with dyspnea, diaphoresis, nausea, and a tingling sensation down both arms with radiation to the back and neck. Troponins were elevated along with an abnormal electrocardiogram. A negative myocardial perfusion scan led to the patient's discharge. The patient presented to the ED 10 days later with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. An overemphasis on a single testing modality led to diagnostic error and a severe event. The use of pre-test probabilities guided by history-taking can lead to improved interpretation of test results, ultimately improving diagnostic accuracy and preventing serious medical errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-ion batteries play a key role in energy storage and conversion in engineering systems such as electric vehicles and grid energy storage, with critical impact on electrification and storage of renewable energy. A key unresolved technological challenge in Li-ion batteries pertains to thermal runaway initiation and propagation in a battery pack, which can lead to subsequent fire and explosion. Despite significant past work, there remains a critical need to understand how thermal runaway propagates in a pack. This work presents a comprehensive investigation of the effect of radiative heat transfer on thermal runaway propagation. Radiation can be important when a battery is exposed to adjacent heat and fire sources, as well as in thermal runaway propagation from one hot cell to another. A theoretical radiative heat transfer model based on view factor theory is developed. Calculations based on this model for a simple 2D cylinder-to-cylinder geometry are found to be in very good agreement with analytical expressions. Radiation-induced thermal runaway propagation between two cylindrical 18650 batteries is evaluated. It is shown that radiation may play a key role in thermal runaway propagation, depending strongly on the triggering temperature. It is found that radiative effects in thermal runaway propagation exhibit both nonlinear and non-monotonic characteristics. At high temperatures, thermal runaway is triggered rapidly in the region close to the battery surface, where the chemical reactions are strongly coupled, and radiation plays a dominant role. In contrast, at lower temperatures, thermal runaway is triggered much more slowly and towards the core of the cell, where some chemical reactions may be decoupled, and pre-runaway chemical heat release plays an increasingly important role. The results presented here suggest that radiation can either facilitate or mitigate thermal runaway. The net radiation heat flux has a cross-over instant, beyond which radiation starts to retard thermal runaway. Additionally, the blocking effect in radiative heat transfer between cells arranged in equal-spacing homogenous or orthogonal arrangements in a battery pack is investigated, along with the effect of the hot spot size. Results from this work help understand the role of radiation in thermal runaway propagation and provide useful insights into the thermal runaway control and design of safe Li-ion battery packs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Preservation of primary tooth with non-vital pulp is a major concern for a Pediatric dentist, for which the preferred treatment modality is to perform pulpectomy. The objective of pulpectomy is the complete removal of necrotic and irreversibly infected pulp of an affected tooth but, despite chemo mechanical preparation and copious irrigation of the canal, failure of pulp therapy occurs due to entrapped micro-organisms in canal space. Thus, for optimal success obturating material with antimicrobial properties is advocated for obturation. Aim The study aimed to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of majuphalla incorporated zinc oxide with ozone oil and zinc oxide eugenol as an obturating material against E. faecalis and Candida albicans. Materials and Methods The present study compared the antimicrobial efficacy of zinc oxide mixed with majuphalla powder and ozone oil as the study group and zinc oxide eugenol as a control group. Antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against E. faecalis and Candida albicans. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21.0 version, IBM, Chicago, inter-group comparison of continuous variables was done using One-way ANOVA, and Intra-group comparison of continuous variables was done using repeated measures ANOVA. Results Intergroup comparison at 24 hours,15th day and 30th day revealed significant difference amongst both groups. Zinc oxide and majuphalla with ozone oil had significantly higher zone of inhibition as compared to ZOE group against E. faecalis and Candida albicans. Conclusion Antimicrobial activity of Zinc oxide with majuphalla and ozone oil is more than zinc oxide eugenol for both E. faecalis and Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of oral propranolol along with topical timolol maleate or oral propranolol alone for treatment. To study the increases in the success rate of propranolol when used along with timolol solution. Whether there is a decrease in the duration of therapy. To study the speed of improvement in haemangioma treatment with propranolol therapy when used along with timolol solution. Methods: From March 2019 to June 2020, 40 cases of Surface Infantile Patients were treated. The experimental group (20 patients with 7 males and 13 females) was treated using oral propranolol combined with topical timolol maleate, whereas the control group (20 patients with 5 males and 15 females) was treated with oral propranolol alone. Vas scale is used to grade the improvements. Results: In terms of the volume reduction of the lesion at the endof the study, the combination therapy (P+T) was found to be more efficacious than the monotherapy (only Propranolol), volume reduction percentage was(67.28 ± 17.11 %) for the combined therapy group (P + T) and (55.547 ± 16.39 %) for the single therapy group i.e only Propranolol, with P value (P=0.033), when the analysis was further carried on for the earlier age group, Reduction in terms on depth was found to be better in the Propranolol + Timolol group (Depth 0.765 ± 0.437 cm) thanthe propranolol alone, the combination therapy failed to show better results in terms of shortening of the duration of treatment and ameliorating the efficacy of propranolol However it was found that volumetric reduction was better in combination therapy than propranolol alone. Effects were seen better when the treatment was started in early age groups that is 0-6 months. Conclusions: In our study, we found out that the Propranolol 2-3mg per kg and Timolol solution of 0.5% applied thrice over the lesion were well tolerated by all the patients without any serious adverse events. The Propranolol and Timolol combination therapy fails to demonstrate a statistically approvable shorter period of treatment as well as efficacy when compared to Oral Propranolol alone. But clinically there is Volumetric reduction in terms of depth reduction and a decrease in duration of treatment. This was found to be better in the combination group than propranolol alone and was significant for early-age group patients. 0-12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Varicose veins could be a complicated condition, which may lead to limb swelling, pain, and venous ulcer. Conservative hemodynamic correction of venous insufficiency (CHIVA) has been developed over the past two decades and is currently the second most common surgical procedure for the operative treatment of varicose veins. Endovenous laser treatment of great saphenous vein was approved by FDA in 2002 and short saphenous vein (SSV) was approved in 2003. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a clinically safe, feasible, and welltolerated technique without scar and allows people to return to their normal daily activities rapidly. Aims And Objectives: To study the surgical management (great saphenous vein [GSV] stripping and perforator ligation) and its outcome and compare the outcome of GSV stripping in case of saphenofemoral junction incompetence and perforator ligation in case of perforator incompetence with the results of endoscopic and endovenous procedurespublished in the literature. Results: The patients with varicose veins were treated with high ligation with stripping followed by foam sclerotherapy and RFA. None of the patients undergoing high ligation with stripping had DVT and recurrence which favors the procedure selection for management. However, high ligation with stripping was associated with tenderness followed by infection. complications were less prevalent and only two patients had tenderness. Similarly, in radiofrequency ablation (RFA), one patient each had recurrences, skin color changes, and tenderness. None of the patients undergoing HL/S and foam sclerotherapy had recurrences. It was found that the duration of hospital days was more with HL/S; the majority had 6 to 8 days duration of hospital days whereas 13 patients had it for 4 days. In RFA, the majority had a duration of hospital days of 2 to 3 days only. Conclusion: open surgical management remains important in the treatment of varicose veins and is usually preferable to endovenous procedures and associated with less morbidity if carried out correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to study the effect of prolonged mechanical ventilation on diaphragmatic functionand to review current knowledge about the impact of prolonged mechanical ventilation on diaphragmatic function and biology. to study the role of the advantage of early weaning off decisions resulting in improved patientoutcomes. Methods: Polytrauma inpatients in the Department of Surgery, MGMMC, Indore, on mechanical ventilation. These patients were assessed for diaphragmatic thickness and excursion through ultrasonography. Results: A total of 100 patients were included in the study period of 1 year. Out of these, 36 patients were discharged and 64 died due to mechanical ventilation for longer duration. Conclusion: Though ventilator support is lifesaving, it should be used precautionarily, and intermittent ventilator support is much prognostically better in terms of the outcome when compared to controlled ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sublimation of a humid porous body occurs commonly in food technology and thermal energy storage system. Especially, in accelerated freeze-drying, preservation of biological materials to be denatured is the prime interest. Despite the available literature on sublimation, there is a general lack of mathematical analysis of the effect of convection in the frozen and vapour regions, and rate of evaporation of water vapour in the vapour region. Therefore, it is essential to explore a mathematical model which accounts for these physical processes. This paper attempts to address these gaps in the modeling of sublimation of a humid porous body. For a specific form of the velocity profile, an exact solution of the current problem is obtained via similarity technique. Particularly, results from the current work are shown to be in strong agreement with the results of a previous work. The impact of various dimensionless problem parameters on the sublimation process is discussed extensively. Condition for sublimation limit is discussed. It is obtained that sublimation can take place only under limit of sublimation curve. It is found that, in the presence of convection, sublimation process becomes fast and the material requires less time than usual to sublimate. Furthermore, higher rate of evaporation of water vapour produces a lower temperature field and slower propagation rate of sublimation interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irradiation-induced effects of Ni7+ ion irradiation on the structural and electrical properties of e-beam evaporation synthesized Bi2Te3 thin films have been examined. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the films possessed a polycrystalline rhombohedral (R-3 m) crystal structure. No appreciable change was observed in lattice parameters a = b while c varied non-monotonically indicating an anisotropic variation of the unit cell under different ion fluences. X-ray peak profile analysis indicated a slight reduction in average crystallite size and an increase in lattice strain due to irradiation. Raman spectra of the films demonstrated the effect of irradiation on A 1 u 1 modes evolved from c-axis vibrations with ion fluence. The observed decrease in surface roughness through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images up to 3 × 1012 ions/cm2 might be due to the formation of nanocrystallites with small sizes on the surface. The composition of the as-prepared thin films was found to be near stoichiometry of Bi2Te3 as revealed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The resistivity of films gets increased up to 3 × 1012 ions/cm2 as evident from the low-temperature transport measurements. The variation correlation of electrical resistivity with the Hall coefficient is examined as a function of ion fluence. The irradiation-induced crossover behavior is resulted in films with ion fluence from the n to p-type carriers. Interestingly, the bulk charge carriers are compensated with tunning of the Fermi level in ion-irradiated thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAG trinucleotide repeat expansions cause several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. RNAs with expanded CAG repeats contribute to disease in two unusual ways. First, these repeat-containing RNAs may agglomerate in the nucleus as foci that sequester several RNA-binding proteins. Second, these RNAs may undergo aberrant repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation in multiple frames and produce aggregation-prone proteins. The relationship between RAN translation and RNA foci, and their relative contributions to cellular dysfunction, are unclear. Here, we show that CAG repeat-containing RNAs that undergo RAN translation first accumulate at nuclear foci and, over time, are exported to the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, these RNAs are initially dispersed but, upon RAN translation, aggregate with the RAN translation products. These RNA-RAN protein agglomerates sequester various RNA-binding proteins and are associated with the disruption of nucleocyto-plasmic transport and cell death. In contrast, RNA accumulation at nuclear foci alone does not produce discernable defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport or cell viability. Inhibition of RAN translation prevents cytoplasmic RNA aggregation and alleviates cell toxicity. Our findings demonstrate that RAN translation-induced RNA-protein aggregation correlates with the key pathological hallmarks observed in disease and suggest that cytoplasmic RNA aggregation may be an underappreciated phenomenon in CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internet has emerged as a part of life for modern generations. We use social networks to interact with others instantly and make ourselves up to date. A bunch of information and misinformation propagate quickly through social networks. It is necessary to detect the correctness of the information and create a mechanism to control rumor; otherwise, it may be drastic to the whole world in emergencies. Here, we introduce an optimal control of rumor spreading in a homogeneously mixed population considering influence delay of thinkers. Firstly, we formulate the model and obtain possible steady states of the system with their local stability conditions. It is necessary for the extinction of the rumor that the control influence number should not exceed 1. We also observe that the system bifurcates and Hopf bifurcation occurs when the influence delay of thinkers is higher than its threshold value, which may become a reason for panic in emergencies. Secondly, we recognize the most sensitive parameters for the proposed model. Moreover, using Pontryagin's maximum principle and counter news attack mechanism, we design an optimal rumor control system to minimize the density of rumor adopters and control cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is increasing interest in simultaneous endovascular delivery of more than one drug from a drug-loaded stent into a diseased artery. There may be an opportunity to obtain a therapeutically desirable uptake profile of the two drugs over time by appropriate design of the initial drug distribution in the stent. Due to the non-linear, coupled nature of diffusion and reversible specific/non-specific binding of both drugs as well as competition between the drugs for a fixed binding site density, a comprehensive numerical investigation of this problem is critically needed. Methods: This paper presents numerical computation of dual drug delivery in a stent-artery system, accounting for diffusion as well as specific and non-specific reversible binding. The governing differential equations are discretized in space, followed by integration over time using a stiff numerical solver. Three different cases of initial dual drug distribution are considered. Results: For the particular case of sirolimus and paclitaxel, results show that competition for a limited non-specific binding site density and the significant difference in the forward/backward reaction coefficients play a key role in determining the nature of drug uptake. The nature of initial distribution of the two drugs in the stent is also found to influence the binding process, which can potentially be used to engineer a desirable dual drug uptake profile. Conclusions: These results help improve the fundamental understanding of endovascular dual drug delivery. In addition, the numerical technique and results presented here may be helpful for designing and optimizing other drug delivery problems as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective- Our study aimed to compare effectiveness and safety of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting with prophylactically inserted intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation(IABP). Material and methods - We included patients scheduled for CABG with ejection fraction less than 40% and prophylactically inserted IABP. Patients were randomized with computer generated sequence to receive LMWH or UFH . 30 patients received UFH ( a bolus of injection 70 u/kg immediately after IABP, followed by infusion at a rate of 15 u/Kg/hr) and targeted APT T of 50-70 seconds. Another set of 30 patients received LMWH( subcutaneous injection of 1 mg/kg every 12 hrs). Total of 60 patients were included in study .Major end-points included were thrombotic events and bleeding events. Thrombotic events included arterial thromboembolism and leg-ischemia. Bleeding events included major access and nonaccess site bleeding. Major bleeding was defined by as a hemoglobin decrease by >50mg/l or bleeding that caused hemodynamic shock or life threatening or requiring blood transfusion. Results- Subjects receiving UFH and LMWH were similar in baseline characteristics. Arterial thromboemolism occured in (2/30) patients in UFH group and (1/30) patients in LMWH. Major bleeding occured in 3 and 2 patients in UFH and LMWH groups respectively. Linear Regression analysis indicated no association between ischemia or bleeding with heparin type. Conclusion- LMWH can reduce complications like ischemia and bleeding, but for statistical significancea larger sample size is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer blend or composite, which is a combination of two or more polymers and fillers such as semiconductors, metals, metal oxides, salts and ceramics, are a synthesized product facilitating improved, augmented or customized properties, and have widespread applications for the achievement of functional materials. Polymer materials with embedded inorganic fillers are significantly appealing for challenging and outstanding electric, dielectric, optical and mechanical applications involving magnetic features. In particular, a polymer matrix exhibiting large values of dielectric constant (ε′) with suitable thermal stability and low dielectric constant values of polymer blend, having lesser thermal stability, together offer significant advantages in electronic packaging and other such applications in different fields. In this review paper, we focused on the key factors affecting the dielectric properties and its strength in thin film of inorganic materials loaded poly methyl meth acrylate (PMMA) based polymer blend (single phase) or composites (multiple phase), and its consequences at low and high frequencies are explored. A wide range of different types of PMMA based polymer blends or composites, which are doped with different fillers, have been synthesized with specific tailoring of their dielectric behavior and properties. A few of them are discussed in this manuscript, with their different preparation techniques, and exploring new ideas for modified materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invoking defects with ion implantation is an attractive means to modify the physical parameters of materials. In the present work, Cu ions at fluence (1 × 1015 ions cm−2) with 100 keV energy were implanted on BiSbTe3 (BST) single crystals. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements on pristine and Cu ion-implanted crystals demonstrate a decrease in lattice parameter (a = b) from 4.31 to 4.26 Å with an increment in 'c' lattice parameter from 30.47 to 30.48 Å with implantation. The peaks in XRD are shifted to lower 2θ, which are attributed to tensile strain induced in sample due to implantation. The composition of pristine BST crystal depicted from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is Bi:Sb:Te = 1.08:1.45:2.4. The implantation of Cu in BST single crystals is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray technique. The resistivity measurements reveal a decrease in resistivity with implantation due to decrease in strain with Cu ion implantation. The Hall coefficient is found to be positive for both the samples signifying that the holes are the dominating charge carriers. A slight shift in Fermi level was observed with implantation. The magnetoresistance data is fitted with an equation R(B) = c+b×Ba using Python. The parameter c varies from ~228 to ~388.5 mΩ for the pristine sample, whereas for implanted sample it varies from 5.89 to 6.66 mΩ throughout the temperature range ~4–300 K. This drastic reduction in c is due to the Cu ion implantation, which augments the metallic nature of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the quality of parts printed using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is of critical importance in a number of engineering applications. Providing additional thermal energy during printing by external means, or by an integrated heater has been investigated in the past to prolong the cooling curve, and therefore, ensure good adhesion with adjacent filaments. This work presents a modified heater block assembly to apply in-process thermal load during the upright printing of a Polylactic Acid (PLA) part. The design overcomes key shortcomings of past work and, in particular, addresses effective printing of thin, tall structures, where filament adhesion between layers is of particular importance. Cross-section imaging and tensile testing is combined with a comprehensive statistical design of experiments in order to fully understand the impact of process parameters on improved mechanical strength of printed parts. This work contributes towards improved properties and performance of realistic and practical FFF-printed parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideal surgical treatment for anal fistula should aim to eradicate sepsis and promote healing of the tract, whilst preserving the sphincters and the mechanism of continence. the more complex fistulae where a significant proportion of the anal sphincter is involved, great concern remains about damaging the sphincter and subsequent poor functional outcome, which is quite inevitable following conventional surgical treatment. The anal fistula plug, derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa, is safe but modestly effective in long-term follow-up, with success rates varying from 24%-88%. The failure rate may be due to its extrusion from the fistula tract. Introduction: It is a granulomatous tract, single, or multiple external openings, which connects perianal skin to the epithelium of the anal canal or rectum. Aims and Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the role and benefits of the fistula plug technique (modified seton placement) using absorbable sutures in the treatment of fistula-in-ano. Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical study was carried out on 50 patients between March 2019 and February 2021 Results: most of the patients were in the age group of 20-40 years (52.0%) with male preponderance (82%). The majority of the patients 37 (74.0%) showed recurrence at 1-year follow-up. Post-operative wound infection was seen in 24.0% of patients. Intersphincteric fistula was seen in 60.0%. No complications such as anal stenosis or incontinence were seen in our study subject. Conclusion: It is a very good alternative in cases of anal fistula. However, this technique has the vast disadvantage of a high incidence of recurrence and it cannot be used as a permanent alternative to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The superior hydrogen storage properties makes the KSiH3 system a potential hydrogen storage material for practical applications. A theoretical capacity of 4.3 wt% bring this material to the front line of all the available hydrogen storage materials; however, the activation barrier of the reaction restricts the system to absorb and desorb hydrogen reversibly at elevated temperatures even if the thermodynamics suggest its room temperature operation. Several catalysts have already been tested to enhance its kinetic properties. In this work, the efforts were made to reduce the activation energy by using Zr-based catalysts to the KSi/KSiH3 system. The value of activation energy was found to be lowest (i.e., 87 kJ mol−1) for the ZrH2-added KSiH3 system. The mechanism of this improvement was investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) blend filled with zinc oxide in 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% wt concentration were prepared by solution-casting technique. The values of impedance parameters, viz. capacitance (C) and dissipation factor (D), were measured using impedance analyser (Wanyne Kerr 6500B) and from this data the effect of doping levels on the dielectric properties, viz. complex dielectric function, electrical conductivity and electric modulus of these films were investigated in the frequency range 102–106 Hz at ambient temperature. It was observed that the dielectric constant (ε), AC conductivity (σAC) and loss tangent (tanδ) increase significantly with increase in ZnO content. A direct correlation between the dielectric parameter and the mean relaxation time of polymer chain segmental dynamics has been observed and it can be inferred that varying amount of metal oxide filler can be used to tailor the dielectric properties of these materials for their use in microelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Customization of the rate of drug delivered based on individual patient requirements is of paramount importance in the design of drug delivery devices. Advances in manufacturing may enable multilayer drug delivery devices with different initial drug distributions in each layer. However, a robust mathematical understanding of how to optimize such capabilities is critically needed. The objective of this work is to determine the initial drug distribution needed in a spherical drug delivery device such as a capsule in order to obtain a desired drug release profile. Methods: This optimization problem is posed as an inverse mass transfer problem, and optimization is carried out using the solution of the forward problem. Both non-erodible and erodible multilayer spheres are analyzed. Cases with polynomial forms of initial drug distribution are also analyzed. Optimization is also carried out for a case where an initial burst in drug release rate is desired, followed by a constant drug release rate. Results: More than 60% reduction in root-mean-square deviation of the actual drug release rate from the ideal constant drug release rate is reported. Typically, the optimized initial drug distribution in these cases prevents or minimizes large drug release rate at early times, leading to a much more uniform drug release overall. Conclusions: Results demonstrate potential for obtaining a desired drug delivery profile over time by carefully engineering the drug distribution in the drug delivery device. These results may help engineer devices that offer customized drug delivery by combining advanced manufacturing with mathematical optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical energy storage is considered a remarkable way to bridge the gap between demand and supply due to intermittent renewable energy production. All-solid-state batteries are an excellent alternative and are known to be the safest class of batteries. In the present scenario to accomplish the energy demands, high-capacity and stable anodes are warranted and can play a vital role in technology upgradation. Among the variety of anodes, alloying-type anodes are superior due to their high gravimetric capacity and stability. In the present work, zinc metal was implemented as electrode material in an all-solid-state lithium-ion battery. This anode material was tested with two different solid-state electrolytes, i.e., lithium borohydride (LiBH4) and halide-stabilized LiBH4 (i.e., LiBH4.LiI). In a coin cell, Li foil was placed as a counter electrode. The establishment of a reaction mechanism during the charging and discharging was obtained through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Systematic studies using the temperature dependence performance were also conducted. The volumetric density with both electrolytes was found at more than 3000 mAh/cm3. The coulombic efficiency for the electrode material was also observed at ~94%. These impressive numbers present zinc electrodes as a promising material for future electrode material for all-solid-state Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Enhancing Plasmapheresis Efficacy in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia: Overcoming Circuit Clotting Challenges," discusses the challenges of managing hyperviscosity syndrome in a case of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). Hyperviscosity syndrome is a rare oncological emergency that can lead to serious complications. The article highlights the importance of tailored interventions, such as plasmapheresis, chemotherapy, and fluids, in treating this condition. The authors also describe a strategic approach to overcome circuit clotting during plasmapheresis, which involved elevating the dialysate temperature and intermittent flushing with warm saline. The success of these interventions emphasizes the need for individualized extracorporeal therapies in complex hematological conditions like WM. [Extracted from the article]

The hunt for a cleaner energy carrier leads us to consider a source that produces no toxic byproducts. One of the targeted alternatives in this approach is hydrogen energy, which, unfortunately, suffers from a lack of efficient storage media. Solid-state hydrogen absorption systems, such as lithium amide (LiNH2) systems, may store up to 6.5 weight percent hydrogen. However, the temperature of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation is too high for practical use. Various molar ratios of LiNH2 with sodium hydride (NaH) and potassium hydride (KH) have been explored in this paper. The temperature of hydrogenation for LiNH2 combined with KH and NaH was found to be substantially lower than the temperature of individual LiNH2. This lower temperature operation of both LiNH2-NaH and LiNH2-KH systems was investigated in depth, and the eutectic melting phenomenon was observed. Systematic thermal studies of this amide-hydride system in different compositions were carried out, which enabled the plotting of a pseudo-binary phase diagram. The occurrence of eutectic interaction increased atomic mobility, which resulted in the kinetic modification followed by an increase in the reactivity of two materials. For these eutectic compositions, i.e., 0.15LiNH2-0.85NaH and 0.25LiNH2-0.75KH, the lowest melting temperature was found to be 307 °C and 235 °C, respectively. Morphological studies were used to investigate and present the detailed mechanism linked with this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and a growing public health burden in the United States. Significant progress has been made in identifying genetic risk for AD, but limited studies have investigated how AD genetic risk may be associated with other disease conditions in an unbiased fashion. In this study, we conducted a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) by genetic ancestry groups within a large academic health system using the polygenic risk score (PRS) for AD. PRS was calculated using LDpred2 with genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. Phenotypes were extracted from electronic health record (EHR) diagnosis codes and mapped to more clinically meaningful phecodes. Logistic regression with Firth's bias correction was used for PRS phenotype analyses. Mendelian randomization was used to examine causality in significant PheWAS associations. Our results showed a strong association between AD PRS and AD phenotype in European ancestry (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.40). Among a total of 1,515 PheWAS tests within the European sample, we observed strong associations of AD PRS with AD and related phenotypes, which include mild cognitive impairment (MCI), memory loss, and dementias. We observed a phenome-wide significant association between AD PRS and gouty arthropathy (OR = 0.90, adjusted p = 0.05). Further causal inference tests with Mendelian randomization showed that gout was not causally associated with AD. We concluded that genetic predisposition of AD was negatively associated with gout, but gout was not a causal risk factor for AD. Our study evaluated AD PRS in a real-world EHR setting and provided evidence that AD PRS may help to identify individuals who are genetically at risk of AD and other related phenotypes. We identified non-neurodegenerative diseases associated with AD PRS, which is essential to understand the genetic architecture of AD and potential side effects of drugs targeting genetic risk factors of AD. Together, these findings expand our understanding of AD genetic and clinical risk factors, which provide a framework for continued research in aging with the growing number of real-world EHR linked with genetic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-ion diffusion in electrodes and separator plays a key role in determining the charge/discharge characteristics of a Li-ion cell. Past papers have analyzed solution-phase limitation diffusion in a Li-ion cell for constant current conditions. In the present work, an analytical model is presented for concentration diffusion under solution-phase limitation in a three-layer structure under arbitrary, time-dependent current conditions that may be encountered in practical scenarios. The eigenvalue-based solution is shown to agree well with numerical simulations and may be suitable for implementation in practical battery management systems since only a few eigenvalues are shown to offer excellent accuracy. Computed concentration distributions are analyzed for sinusoidal and step function current profiles. The impact of electrode porosities on concentration distribution is also investigated. This work improves the theoretical understanding of diffusion in Li-ion cells and offers practical tools for modeling and optimization of electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mixing of fibrous additives in the polymer base is being widely investigated for improving the mechanical properties of printed parts using fused filament fabrication (FFF). In this study, flow visualisation experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were conducted on the flow channel of a nozzle with an orifice for enhancing the through-layer physical properties of the printed parts. Flow visualisation experiments were conducted on the flow channels of nozzles installed with orifices of various shapes. Using ball-milled carbon fibre in high-viscosity polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that imitates filament flow in FFF, the fibre angles were measured for different internal and external locations of the nozzle. The distribution of the fibre angles inside the nozzle was compared with the gradient of the flow field calculated for the same shape by CFD analysis. It was found that the orifice structure inside the nozzle increases the vertical alignment of the fibre. An abrupt increase in the extension rate at the exit of the orifice is considered to be the reason behind the rotation and vertical orientation of fibres inside the nozzle channel. Results presented in this work provide the basis for achieving improved through-plane physical properties of FFF printed parts through fibre alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust regulatory signals in the cell often depend on interactions between short linear motifs (SLiMs) and globular proteins. Many of these interactions are poorly characterized because the binding proteins cannot be produced in the amounts needed for traditional methods. To address this problem, we developed a single-molecule off-rate (SMOR) assay based on microscopy of fluorescent ligand binding to immobilized protein partners. We used it to characterize substrate binding to the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), a ubiquitin ligase that triggers chromosome segregation. We find that SLiMs in APC/C substrates (the D box and KEN box) display distinct affinities and specificities for the substrate-binding subunits of the APC/C, and we show that multiple SLiMs in a substrate generate a high-affinity multivalent interaction. The remarkably adaptable substrate-binding mechanisms of the APC/C have the potential to govern the order of substrate destruction in mitosis. The authors used novel single-molecule technology to measure the affinity of interactions between the ubiquitin ligase APC/C and its substrates, providing insights into the control of APC/C substrate destruction during mitosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]