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The increasing demand for shelters, depleting natural resources, concern for plastic waste, and rising awareness for the environment have attracted the contemporary world towards the recycling of waste plastics for the development of an alternative and sustainable building construction material. The plastics suffer due to their poor strength which can be successfully overcome by the reinforcement of natural fibers. The work aimed to develop and investigate the properties of natural fiber–reinforced composites for structural applications such as floor tiles and pavements. The composites were developed by utilizing three different types of waste plastics, namely, low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene with the reinforcement of coconut (cocos nucifera) and Tossa jute (corchorus olitorius) fibers. The evaluation of the density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength was performed. Moreover, three-body abrasive wear performance was investigated under the conditions of different loads and sliding speeds. The wear mechanism was explored by the morphological analyses of the fractured and worn-out surfaces. The composite HDPE80C20 showed a maximum density of 1.603 g/cm3 and minimum percentage of water absorption to 0.2022. Moreover, the composite attained a maximum compressive and flexural strength of 40.10 and 10.04 (MPa), respectively. The ranges for abrasive wear were found to be 0.002375–0.20015 (cm3) and 0.01987–0.39593 (cm3) under the considered conditions of loads and sliding speeds, respectively. The comparative analysis of the properties suggested the reinforcement of 20 wt% of jute fiber with 80 wt% of high-density polyethylene for the development of composites for structural applications. The study highlighted the potential of waste plastics and natural fibers as value-added products for building construction with relevancy from socio-eco and environmental points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research proposed an effective approach for recycling of waste plastics and agro-industrial waste as a source of energy optimizing the economic viability of the waste products and reducing environmental issues. The composites were developed by utilizing eight different types of waste plastics, rice hush husk, and sand. The density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the composites were evaluated. Moreover, the tribological characterizations as sliding wear rate and three-body abrasive wear were performed under the conditions of loads and speeds. The composites attained a maximum density of 1.9833 g/cm3 and a minimum percentage of water absorption of 0.261. The optimal values of the compressive strength and flexural strength were obtained to be 9.628 and 28.081 (MPa), respectively. The sliding wear rate was in the range of 2.655 × 10–8 -12.896 × 10–8 (kg/m). Whereas the ranges for abrasives wear were obtained to be 0.0309–0.6459 (cm3) and 0.0386–0.1257 (cm3), under the conditions of loads and sliding speeds, respectively. The study suggested the incorporation of 25 wt. % of rice husk ash and 25 wt. % of sand with 50 wt. % of polycarbonates in composites for tribological applications. The work contributes towards the attainment of circular economy in the composite manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usage of waste for the development of sustainable building materials has received an increasing attention in socio-eco-environment spheres. The rice husk ash (RHA) produced during burning of rice husk and the ever-increasing plastic wastes are useless causing detrimental effects on the environment. This research supports the idea of sustainability and circular economy via utilization of waste to produce value-added products. This research explores the potential of waste plastics, RHA, and silica sand as thermoplastic composite materials. The different composite samples were prepared through waste plastics which includes low- and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene with incorporation of RHA and silica sand in proportions. The study investigates the effect of filler/polymer in 30/70, 20/80, and 10/90 (wt. %) on the workability of the developed composite materials. The workability of the composites was found to improve with filler reinforcement. The experimental results showed the maximum density of 1.676 g/cm3 and mechanical strength of 26.39, 4.89, and 3.25 MPa as compressive, flexural, and tensile strengths, respectively. The minimum percentage of water absorption was 0.052%. The wear tests resulted in a minimum abrasive and sliding wear rate of 0.03759 (cm3) and 0.00692 × 10−6 kg/m. The correlations between wear mechanisms and responses were morphologically analyzed. The developed composites verify the feasibility of RHA and plastics waste as a cost effective and environmentally competent product. The results and discussions provided a direction for the future research on sustainable polymeric composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponentially increasing population, industrialization, urbanization, etc., are the consequences of the unsolved problem of municipal solid waste management in India. Mismanagement of the generated solid waste has a negative impact on the public health and the environment. Effective recycling of solid waste is considered as one of the various approaches to overcome these problems. The review aims to provide an overview of the prevailing waste management scenarios across the globe and highlight the importance of recycling. The review assessed the key criteria of municipal solid waste management, and it includes a complete assessment of municipal solid waste creation, characterization, collection, and disposal in India. The inherent issues and driving possible solutions for successful solid waste management are examined. Unsorted garbage at the source, social hurdles, public perception, a lack of knowledge, unplanned expenditures, and inadequate execution of government laws were noted as the problems with solid waste management. The review found that the geographical position and economic status of a nation are important in dictating waste characteristics, and identified the recycling potential of solid waste. The review concluded that the various characterization techniques are important for the development of value-added products produced through the recycling of solid waste. Moreover, the review suggested the adoption of an integrated waste management approach for the socio-economic environmental development of nations. The findings and discussions of the review will help the relevant authorities for municipal solid waste management and researchers develop more efficient strategies for successful municipal solid waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of waste plastics has been recognized as an enticing approach towards the circular economy. The post-consumer plastic products with the incorporation of agro-industrial waste were utilized for the advancement of value-added composites for structural applications. The properties of the composites, namely density, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength and abrasive wear, were found to influence by the type of plastics which increases the complexity in the material selection. The research proposed an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process—Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (AHP-WASPAS) mathematical model for ranking the composites. The research identified the amalgamation of 15 wt % of rice husk ash and 15 wt % of sand with 70 wt % of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) as a suitable composite for structural applications having minimum abrasive wear and water absorption of 0.0937 cm3 and 0.05059%, respectively. The maximum density, flexural strength and compressive strength were found to be 1.5116 g/cm3, 6.564 MPa and 32.7933 MPa, respectively. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (SRCC) between the proposed AHP-WASPAS model, and AHP-Weighted Sum Method (WSM), AHP-Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), AHP-COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS), AHP-Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis (MOORA), AHP-Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison (MABAC) and AHP-Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) was in the range of 0.7854–1. The sensitivity analyses have observed that the ranking is influenced by the changes in criteria weights includes, density, water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength and abrasive wear. Moreover, the rankings are unaffected by the parameter lambda (λ) in the WASPAS method. The research has verified the feasibility of waste plastics and agro-industrial waste as innovative materials. Moreover, the proposed mathematical model is reliable and enhances the material selection process in the development of composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D is lipophilic substance needed for calcium and phosphate balance and the regulation of the osteo-metabolic system. The purpose of the study was to look at the possible significance of Vitamin D3 as a biomarker for liver enzymes and cholesterol. 249 cases were analysed, with different combinations of liver enzymes, vitamin D3, and cholesterol. 75 clinical samples were processed over the course of the 3 year study. 46(61.3%) were females and 29 (38.6%) were males. Males were more affected than females. In respect to Vitamin D3, the age group of 41-60 years had a large range of cholesterol levels and liver enzyme values. 11% of cases had high SGOT levels, while 13% had aberrant cholesterol values. Above the age of 60, there was a linear connection between cholesterol and liver enzymes. There was seasonal variations in serum 25-OHD levels. Winter (November-March) indicated a Vitamin D3 deficiency in the blood serum, accounting for 74 cases (66%). Autumn and summer had the best range, with only 0 and 16 cases (14.2%), respectively. Despite wide variability in serum vitamin D levels, the differences were not statistically significant. Vitamin D3 can be an important biomarker in clinical practice since it can aid in the early detection of potential hazards linked with cardiovascular disease and liver dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate an outbreak of Theileria annulata (T. annulata) infection in an organized dairy cattle farm in Madhya Pradesh, India, using clinical and molecular techniques. Following the deaths of two crossbred cattle in March 2021, 43 blood samples were collected from infected and apparently healthy animals and examined by blood smear and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The blood smear examination showed that 23.25% of samples were positive for Theileria organisms, while conventional PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and T. annulata merozoite surface antigen-1 (TAMS-1) genes revealed that 32.55% of samples were positive for T. annulata. PCR targeting cytochrome b (Cytb) gene showed 46.51% of samples were positive for T. annulata. Haematological analysis confirmed clinical signs of infection in affected animals, which were treated with buparvaquone @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly along with supportive medicine. Two 18S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced and analysed in a phylogenetic tree and haplotype network with 54 Indian and 38 foreign sequences. The phylogenetic tree revealed two groups with a high posterior probability and bootstrap value, while the haplotype network revealed 35 haplotypes, with haplotype 1 (H1) being the most abundant and several single haplotypes clustering around it, indicating fast and widespread expansion. Genetic diversity indices and neutrality tests confirmed that the population was expanding. These studies highlight the significance of prompt and precise diagnosis and management of T. annulata outbreaks and provide insights into its evolutionary history and population dynamics of T. annulata in India, which could aid improving disease preventive and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite several methods available for the treatment of solid wastes, the management of municipal solid waste is still a crucial and complex process. The available methods for waste treatment range from advanced to conventional techniques. The identification of a proper method for municipal solid waste management involves several techno-eco and environmental considerations. To solve the real-world problems of municipal waste management, the research proposed an integrated q-rung orthopair fuzzy number-based stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis-complex proportional assessment (SWARA-COPRAS) mathematical model to rank the waste treatment techniques. The research aimed to develop a systematic approach for a suitable selection of waste treatment methods. Ten (10) different alternatives for waste treatments were ranked against seven (07) different techno-eco and environmental criteria. The ambiguity in the decision was handled by the q-rung orthopair fuzzy numbers. The proposed integrated model has identified upcycling and recycling of waste having priority values of 100% and 99.9%, respectively, as the suitable practices for the successful management of generated solid wastes, whereas landfilling has obtained a minimum priority value of 66.782% and, therefore, is least preferable for waste management. The ranking of the alternatives followed the sequence as upcycling > recycling > pyrolysis > hydrolysis > biotechnological > core plasma pyrolysis > incineration > composting > gasification > landfilling. The comparison between the rankings of the proposed model with other techniques has revealed that the values of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient are in the range of 0.8545 to 0.9272; thereby, the robustness of the proposed model is verified. Sensitivity analysis for the criteria weight has showed that the ranking results are influenced significantly by the change in criteria weights and suggested that an accurate estimation of the criteria weight is decisive in determining the overall ranking of the alternative. The study has provided a framework for decision-making in the technology selection for solid waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working in nuclear cycle facilities such as nuclear power plants, fuel mining, milling and fabrication, waste management, and reprocessing facilities can pose various industrial health and safety risks to the workers due to hazardous processes and materials. Conventional or non (ionizing) radiation-related occupational health and safety (OHS) in nuclear facilities is a multidimensional area that involves hazard identification, protective measures, safety culture, emergency response, and workers' well-being. This article aims to highlight the International Atomic Energy Agency's perspective of OHS, the common conventional OHS hazards in nuclear cycle facilities, and the measures taken to mitigate risks from these hazards. By implementing comprehensive OHS management system, nuclear facilities can create an occupationally healthy and safe working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological performances of polymeric composites have shown their dependency on the surface characteristics such as roughness and shape profiles. The research aimed to investigate the effect of surface topography on the sliding wear performances of polymeric composites. The composites were developed by using waste plastics of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate with reinforcement of rice husk ash and silica sand. The sliding wear rate was evaluated for the three different ranges of surface roughness, i.e., 0.6–0.9, 1–1.3, and 1.4–1.7 μm under a constant load and sliding speed of 10 N and 1.04 m/s. The composites HD70R15S15 obtained a maximum density of 1.67 g/cm3, whereas the composites PP70R15S15 resulted in an optimal compressive strength of 24.8 MPa. Moreover, the composites PET70R15S15 obtained a maximum flexural strength of 5.96 MPa. The composites LD70R15S15 obtained a minimum water absorption of 0.199%. The composite PET70R15S15 showed a minimum sliding wear rate of 2.655 × 10–6, 3.0532 × 10–6, and 3.5842 × 10–6 m/s with the roughness of 0.9593, 1.2967, and 1.7423 μm, respectively. Whereas, the composite LD70R15S15 showed maximum wear of 13.926 × 10–6, 16.0149 × 10–6, and 18.801 × 10–6 m/s for the surfaces roughness of 0.6817, 1.0511, and 1.3822 μm, respectively. The wear morphology changes with the test conditions and compositions. The research has explored the effect of surface topography on the wear performances of sustainable polymeric composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strict environmental concerns, depleting natural recourses, and rising demand for building construction materials have promoted scientific research toward alternative building materials. This research supports the idea of sustainability and a circular economy via the utilization of waste to produce value-added products. The research explored the potential of waste plastics and silica sand for developing thermoplastic composite as floor tiles. The samples were characterized by water absorption, compressive strength, flexural strength, and sliding wear. The morphological analysis of the sand-plastic interfaces was covered under the umbrella of this study. The maximum compressive and flexural strength were found to be 46.20 N/mm2 and 6.24 N/mm2, respectively, with the minimum water absorption and sliding wear rate of 0.039% and 0.143 × 10–8 kg/m, respectively. The study suggests the workability of the developed floor tiles in non-traffic areas of public places. Thus, the study provides a green building material through recycling waste plastics for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper highlights a taxonomic account of genus Pteris L. (Pteridaceae E.D.M. Kirchn.) with newly reported species Pteris amoena Blume, which was collected from the Pange range of Tale Wildlife Sanctuary and Hapoli Primary Forest, Hapoli, Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. The present communication is based on plant exploration and in-depth surveys done by the first two authors and through scrutiny of herbaria and literature. All the species are enumerated in this list along with worldwide distribution (outside India), local distribution in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India as NEI included with other Indian states. Reported species shows some morphological closeness with P. terminalis Wall. ex. J.Agardh but differ in having bright pink axes and more rounded and crenately toothed segment-apices. All these characters differentiate to this species to its closely related species and testifying that P. amoena Blume as a new report to the Arunachal Pradesh. Detailed description, distributional range, ecology and specimen examined of newly reported taxa are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Retraction Note: Synergy of RHA and silica sand on physico-mechanical and tribological properties of waste plastic-reinforced thermoplastic composites as floor tiles" has been retracted by the publisher due to concerns about the peer review process, inappropriate references, nonstandard phrases, and the article's alignment with the journal's scope. The publisher, in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief, no longer has confidence in the results and conclusions of the article. The authors disagree with the retraction. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 1.2% Atorvastatin (ATV) with 1.2% Rosuvastatin (RSV) as local drug delivery for treatment of Chronic Periodontitis (CP).Materials and Methods: Forty patients were equally divided into two groups. Group A underwent scaling and root debridement and 1.2% ATV gel (1.2 mg/0.1 mL) was placed, whereas group B received scaling and root debridement and RSV (1.2 mg/0.1 ml) was placed.Results: The results showed that both the groups had improvement in all the recorded parameters, and the results obtained were statistically significant. When comparison was made between the groups, no significant difference was obtained between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin at baseline in all recorded parameters. However, after 6 months significant improvement was recorded in CAL (Clinical attachment level) and PD (Probing depth). The plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) score however showed improvement, but it did not attain the level of significance.Conclusion: The present study showed improvement in clinical parameters with the use of ATV and RSV gel when used in combination with scaling and root planing (SRP) in CP patients. Patients with RSV gel showed up significantly better than the ones in which ATV gel was placed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RF-discharge lamp is a key component in space- and ground-based compact and portable atomic clocks, such as rubidium atomic frequency standards (RAFSs). Precise thermal, structural design, and control of a rubidium (Rb) bulb is of crucial importance for long-term reliable operation of the onboard clocks. An important aspect is the potting material that is used to mount the Rb bulb. Potting material directly determines the thermal contact between liquid Rb pool inside glass bulb enclosure and the heating element, which is the only path to control the Rb bulb’s temperature. Failure or degradation of thermal contact of the Rb bulb with its metallic base will lead to Rb clock degradation or failure. Considering this, we have successfully designed, simulated, implemented, characterized, and tested the use of indium metal as a replacement to epoxy for the Rb bulb bonding that can be implemented in future space Rb atomic clocks. Its thermal advantage over other routine space-qualified epoxies and flexibility for multiple bonding and unbonding mechanisms make it ideal for such applications. The usefulness of key properties of indium for various other space and ground applications is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol behavior over the Himalayas plays an important role in the regional climate of South Asia. Previous studies at high-altitude observatories have provided evidence of the impact of long-range transport of pollutants from the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). However, little information exists for the valley areas in the high Himalayas where significant local anthropogenic emissions can act as additional sources of short-living climate forcers and pollutants. The valley areas host most economic activities based on agriculture, forestry, and pilgrimage during every summer season. We report here first measurements at a valley site at ~2600 m a.s.l. on the trek to the Gangotri glacier (Gaumukh), in the Western Himalayas, where local infrastructures for atmospheric measurements are absent. The study comprised short-term measurement of aerosols, chemical characterization, and estimation of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) during the winter and summer periods (2015–2016). The particulate matter mass concentrations were observed to be higher than the permissible limit during the summer campaigns. We obtained clear evidence of the impact of local anthropogenic sources: particulate nitrate is associated with coarse aerosol particles, the black carbon (BC) mass fraction appears undiluted with respect to measurements performed in the lower Himalayas, and in winter, both BC and sulfate concentrations in the valley site are well above the background levels reported from literature studies for mountain peaks. Finally, high concentrations of trace metals such as copper point to anthropogenic activities, including combustion and agriculture. While most studies in the Himalayas have addressed pollution in the high Himalayas in terms of transport from IGP, our study provides clear evidence that local sources cannot be overlooked over the high-altitude Himalayas. The estimated direct clear-sky ARF was estimated to be in the range of −0.1 to +1.6 W m−2, with significant heating in the atmosphere over the high-altitude Himalayan study site. These results indicate the need to establish systematic aerosol monitoring activities in the high Himalayan valleys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their enhanced mechanical properties, gas carbonitrided steel components containing martensite and nitrogen stabilized austenite are currently widely used for highly loaded and severe application conditions. Carbon and nitrogen (C–N) concentration profiles developed during the gas carbonitriding have significant effect on the final properties of the steel. To achieve consistent properties and increase the reliability of processes, simulation of the C–N profile and evolving precipitates during the carbonitriding is essential. Generally, it is observed that the surface nitrogen content developed in the low-alloyed bearing-grade steels is much higher compared to the nitrogen potential in the furnace atmosphere during gas carbonitriding. The formation of nitrides/carbonitrides is one of main reasons for this difference. Thus, diffusion equations cannot be directly applied to calculate the C–N profile, as they do not include precipitation. To solve this problem, a mathematical approach is developed in this work. Thermodynamic data from MatCalc and experimental data are used to formulate equations to calculate the precipitated fraction of C–N during carbonitriding. Furthermore, these equations are integrated with diffusion equations to predict C–N profile that includes precipitates and the developed model is validated with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Is exclusive use of intragestational sac potassium chloride (KCl) and methotrexate (MTX) effective in the management of viable cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP)? SUMMARY ANSWER Exclusive use of intragestational sac KCl and MTX was effective in the management of viable CSP. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Owing to a paucity of randomized studies on management of CSP, evidence-based management remains unclear. Intragestational sac KCl or MTX along with either systemic MTX or surgical intervention, such as uterine artery embolization or dilation and curettage, has proved to be effective in the management of CSP. Furthermore, there are limited data in the literature on the use of exclusive intragestational sac KCl and MTX for management of CSP and subsequent fecundity. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2017 to September 2019. We recruited nine CSP patients referred to our unit. There was no lost to follow-up noted. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Patients with an ultrasound diagnosis of CSP who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited. The study was conducted in a tertiary care center. Clinical symptoms, pregnancy viability, gestational age and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) values determined the management in each individual case. Accordingly, patients were grouped into the expectant management (Group I, n  = 3) and intragestational sac KCl with MTX (Group II, n  = 6) groups. Demographic details, clinical characteristics, ultrasound details at diagnosis, post-treatment HCG normalization time, menses resumption, mass resolution and subsequent fecundity were noted. Descriptive statistics were used for analyses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the nine patients with CSP, six patients had viable CSP and required intervention. Out of these, four patients expressed a desire for future fertility. Mean gestational age at treatment among patients in Group II was 54.33 ± 7.51 days (range 46–65). Mean HCG value at the time of diagnosis was 84 110 ± 38 679.39 IU/l in Group II patients as compared with 2512 ± 709.36 in Group I. HCG had decreased by 92.7 ± 3.78% 2 weeks after intervention and normalized (<5 IU/l) by 53.5 ± 14.97 days. No major complications occurred and additional treatment was not required in these patients. Menstruation had resumed by 26 ± 6.6 days after treatment in Group II. On follow up, a small unresolved mass was present in two patients and the cesarean scar niche was visible in the remaining four patients. Out of the four patients desirous of future conception, three conceived naturally and one delivered a term baby via repeat lower segment cesarean section. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The main limitation of our study was small sample size. All the patients were asymptomatic at presentation and hence we cannot comment on use of this method in those presenting with active vaginal bleeding. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Intragestational sac KCl plus MTX may be a highly effective approach for the management of viable CSP despite high initial HCG values. There seems to be no need for any further intervention. It can be considered as the first line minimally invasive treatment option in patients desirous of future fertility. Nevertheless, accumulation of further cases is required to validate this treatment modality. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS No specific funding was received to undertake this study. The authors report no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper selenide and copper telluride nanostructures were synthesized using Bovine serum albumin, for the first time, via a facile hydrothermal method. The involvement of different precursors was proposed through a probable reaction mechanism. Moreover, the structural and optical properties of the prepared Cu(2−x)Se and Cu(2−x)Te nanostructures were investigated. The average sizes of the synthesized copper selenide nanoparticles were in the range of 87 ± 24 nm. Variation in size and shape for copper telluride nanostructures gave round shape nanoparticles as well as rods in micro and nano size and average size for small and large round shape nanoparticles were 52 ± 16 nm and 216 ± 27 nm, respectively. More precisely, size-strain plot and the Williamson-Hall analysis methods were adopted to determine the lattice strain and crystalline sizes of the synthesized nanoparticles. The optical band gap energy of prepared nanoparticles estimated from the UV–Vis spectroscopy was 2.95 and 2.32 eV for Cu(2−x)Se and Cu(2−x)Te nanoparticles, indicating quantum confinement effect due to the deviation from bulk materials to the nanoscale. Moreover, the band gap decreased with enhancement of BSA concentration which suggest that the usage of BSA content is important factor and must be optimized for obtaining desired optical band gap. The electrical conductivity for copper selenide and copper telluride was found as 0.048 − 0.064 × 105 S cm−1 and 0.011 − 0.017 × 106 S cm−1 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Posterior horn meniscal tears are commonly found in conjunction with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Some believe tears in the posterior meniscocapsular zone, coined ramp lesions, are important to knee stability. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pre-operative MRI evaluation was able to accurately and reproducibly identify ramp lesions.Methods: Three blinded reviewers assessed MRIs twice for the presence of ramp lesions in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for MRI were calculated based on arthroscopic diagnosis of a ramp lesion. Intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated to assess intra- and interobserver reliability of the MRI assessment between the three examiners. Significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Ninety patients met inclusion criteria (45 males, 45 females, mean age 28.0 years). Thirteen of these patients had arthroscopy-confirmed ramp lesions, while the other 77 had other meniscal pathology. Sensitivity of detecting a ramp lesion on MRI ranged from 53.9 to 84.6%, while specificity was 92.3-98.7%. Negative predictive value was 91.1-97.4%, while positive predictive value was 50.0-90.0%. Inter-rater reliability between three reviewers was moderate at 0.56. The observers had excellent intra-rater reliability ranging from 0.75 to 0.81.Conclusions: This study demonstrates high sensitivity and excellent specificity in detecting meniscal ramp lesions on MRI. Ramp lesions are likely more common and may have greater clinical implications than previously appreciated; the outcomes of untreated lesions must be investigated. Pre-operative identification of ramp lesions may aid clinicians in surgical planning and patient education to improve outcomes by addressing pathology which may have otherwise been missed.Level Of Evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been suggested that the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee may have importance in limiting rotational instability, and reconstruction may prevent a continued pivot-shift following anterior cruciate ligament surgery. However, the anatomy of this ligament has not been consistently reported in recent publications. We describe our experience of cadaveric dissection with reference to other published work.Materials and Methods: Eleven fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were dissected using a standard technique. The ALL tissue was identified with internal rotation of the tibia and varus stress. Measurements were made using a digital caliper and details of the origin and insertion were recorded.Results: The ALL was identified in ten of the 11 cadavers. The only specimen in which it was not identified was found to also have an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency. The mean dimensions were: length 40.1 (± 5.53) mm, width 4.63 (± 1.39) mm, thickness 0.87 (± 0.18) mm. The femoral origin was posterior and proximal to the lateral collateral ligament attachment in six knees, anterior and distal in three knees, and at the same site in one knee. The tibial insertion was a mean 17.7 (± 2.95) mm from Gerdy's tubercle (GT) and 12.3 (± 3.55) mm from the fibula head (FH). This was 59.5 (± 5.44) % from GT to FH.Conclusions: This anatomical data adds to previous information about the ALL. Our results support the finding that the ALL is a capsular thickening with meniscal attachment. The findings will help to guide the further work required to define the indications for reconstruction and appropriate grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite abundant biological, biomechanical, and clinical research, return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury remains a significant challenge. Residual rotatory knee laxity has been identified as one of the factors responsible for poor functional outcome. To improve and standardize the assessment of knee instability, a variety of instability scoring systems is available. Recently, devices to objectively quantify static and dynamic clinical exams have been developed to complement traditional subjective grading systems. These devices enable an improved evaluation of knee instability and possible associated injuries. This additional information may promote the development of new treatment algorithms and allow for individualized treatment. In this review, the different subjective laxity scores as well as complementary objective measuring systems are discussed, along with an introduction of injury to an individualized treatment algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fixation of displaced, intra-articular calcaneal fractures has shown to improve outcome, but wound complications can be devastating for the patient. While smoking remains a factor associated with poor outcome, evidence is still somewhat contradictory. We studied the association of smoking and wound complication after calcaneal fracture fixation. In addition, we evaluated infection rates and association with age of patient, delay in surgery, tourniquet time, and Sanders classification. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a teaching hospital from 2004 to 2011 evaluating a single surgeon series of calcaneal open reduction internal fixation via an extensile lateral approach. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, history preexisting medical comorbidity, smoking status, soft tissue condition, delay in surgery, tourniquet time, presence of superficial or deep infection, and treatment of any infection were noted. Superficial and deep infection rate were 11.6% and 2.9%, respectively. Smokers had an increased rate of 12.5% and 6.25%, respectively. Most infections settled with antibiotics, and only 2 cases required surgical debridement. In conclusion, all the deep infections occurred in smokers whose surgery was delayed for more than 14 days. We found no increase in the rate of wound complications in association with age of patient, Sanders grading, or tourniquet time.Levels Of Evidence: Prognostic Level III, retrospective comparative cohort study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemangiomas are lesions that are not present at birth. They manifest within first month of life, exhibit a rapid proliferative phase, and slowly involute to non-existent. Hemangiomas of the oral cavity are not common pathological entities, but the head and neck are common sites. Furthermore some time histologically lymphatic channels may be evident in hemangiomas, and then it will be categorized according predominant component, e.g.; hemangiolymphangiomas or lymphangiohemangiomas, vice versa is true for lymphangiomas. Most true hemangiomas involute with time, but 10-20% of true hemnagioma in completely involute and required post- adolescent ablative treatment. In the present article we are reporting a case of hemangiolypmangiomas of left buccal mucosa in an 18-year-old male patient. We have also reviewed various treatment modalities and their clinical implication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]