Search

This paper deals with an analytical study of shock waves propagating in heterogeneous metallic mediums. A shock wave travels through most media at a speed higher than ordinary wave. The propagation of a shock wave created by a laser impact over a metallic surface is considered here. In the process of Shock wave generation, a high-pressure surface level is reached using a nanosecond laser pulse that heats the surface of the material and generates adense plasma expansion. The pressure reaches few GPa so that shockwaves are generated and propagated in the bulk of the material. Whitham method, a powerful analytical method for shock waves, has been employed to obtain the analytical relations for shock velocity, shock strength and pressure behind the freely propagating shock. Numerical calculations have been performed for shock velocity, shock strength, pressure, adiabatic sound velocity, and compression behind the shock (?) and their variation with propagation distance have been discussed. A sharp decrease in shock velocity and pressure behind the shock whereas a steadily increasing shock strength with propagation distance has been observed. Particle velocity, adiabatic sound velocity and compression parameter also show a gradual decrease as the shock advances in the medium. Effect of overtaking disturbances has been evaluated by considering Yadav's approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexible electromagnetic wave shielding material research is one of the attractive research topics. The literature reveals that thermoplastics, elastomers and natural and synthetic fabrics are modified using conductive and magnetic fillers for shielding applications. In the present work, Poly (ethylene terephthalate) plain weaved fabric (PETF) and PET fiber mats (PETM) are coated with copper (Cu), copper-Nickel (Cu-Ni) and designated as Cu-PETF, Cu-Ni-PETF and Cu-Ni-PETM. Further, all three samples were investigated, and Cu-Ni-PETF showed better electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and absorption dominating. Hence, it is recommended to use Cu-Ni coated PETF for lightweight polymer composites as reinforcements suitable for electromagnetic shielding encloses applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the study of a locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-I cosmological model in the framework of a scalar-tensor theory of gravity formulated by Saez and Ballester with time varying cosmological constant. To obtain the explicit solutions of the Saez-Ballester field equations we assume the average scale factor to obey a power law expansion and the cosmological constant to be proportional to the energy density of the cosmic fluid. The dynamical behaviour of relevant cosmological parameters including the Hubble parameter, the deceleration parameter, the energy density, the pressure, the equation of state parameter, the cosmological constant, the shear scalar, the expansion scalar etc. are investigated graphically by examining their evolution versus the redshift parameter. The validation of the four energy conditions are also checked. We find the outcomes of the constructed model to be in good agreement with the recent observational data.

In this work, we construct a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-V cosmological model with a hybrid expansion law by considering the universe to be filled with cold dark matter and non-interacting Barrow holographic dark energy with Granda-Oliveros length scale as IR cutoff. The physical and kinematical characteristics of the resulting model are discussed by studying the evolution of various parameters of cosmological importance such as the Hubble parameter, the deceleration parameter, the anisotropic parameter, the equation of state parameter, jerk parameter etc. We also examine whether the energy conditions are satisfied or violated. Our analysis reveals that the Null,Weak, and Dominant energy conditions are fullfilled, while the Strong Energy Condition is violated, which supports the accelerated expansion of the universe. Statefinder diagnostics have also been performed based on recent cosmological observations in order to compare our model with different dark energy cosmological scenario. Additionally, we establish the correspondence between the quintessence scalar field and the Barrow holographic dark energy model, supporting our description of the universe’s accelerated expansion.

Citronella oil (CTO) is extracted from citronella leaves by maceration or steam distillation process, which has antibacterial and insect-repellent activities. However, the use of CTO is limited and requires modification in other formulations, such as microemulsion (ME), to increase its bioactivities. ME consists of oil, water, surfactant and/or cosurfactant and is commonly applied in food and beverages, cosmetics, and carrier for drug delivery applications. CTO was used as the oil phase for ME with nonionic surfactant and ethanol as a cosurfactant for lowering interfacial tension between oil and water phase. Subsequent observations regarding stability and antibacterial tests were carried out on ME formulations with surfactant/cosurfactant mixture of 2 due to its largest ME area. A hydrodynamic diameter analysis was also carried out to see the stability of the ME within a period of 50 d. ME with 10% CTO, 30% surfactant mixture, and 60% water showed the best formulation observed from the consistent hydrodynamic diameter measurement. In addition, ME with different formulations could inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by more than 90%. From this research, CTO-based ME potentially improve and develop drug carrier applications, especially via topical route.

In this paper, we study a spatially homogeneous and anisotropic Bianchi type-III universe containing cold dark matter and Barrow holographic dark energy within the framework of General Relativity. We assume the cold dark matter and Barrow holographic dark energy to be non-interacting and obtain exact solutions of the Einstein field equations by considering a hybrid expansion law and assuming that the expansion scalar is proportional to the shear scalar. We examine the physical and kinematical properties of the resulting model using parameters such as the Hubble parameter, the anisotropic parameter, the deceleration parameter, the equation of state parameter, the jerk parameter etc. We also examine whether the energy conditions are violated or validated. We find that the Null, Weak, and Dominant energy conditions are fulfilled, while the Strong Energy Condition is violated, which supports the accelerated expansion of the universe. The Statefinder diagnostics have been conducted based on recent cosmological observations. In addition, we reformulated the correspondence between quintessence scalar field and Barrow holographic dark energy model.

Introduction: Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) factsheet, currently more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia, with over 60% living in low- and middle-income countries. Every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases of dementia. WHO Global Status Report 2021 estimated growth of 139 million people with dementia by 2050. The estimated total global cost of dementia is likely to surpass US$ 2.8 trillion by 2030. As one grows older, the risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, progressively increases. The Lancet Commission Reports 2017 and 2020 on dementia prevention, intervention, and care identified 12 modifiable risk factors, including physical inactivity, obesity, midlife hypertension, and diabetes. Addressing these lifestyle factors may significantly reduce the risk of dementia and its progression. While no curative or disease-modifying treatment is available for dementia at his stage, addressing modifiable risk factors may have a preventive role in reducing the risk of dementia. Objectives: The objective of the literature review is to explore current evidence on Physical Activity (PA) in reducing the risk of developing dementia and its progression. The focus is also to see the association of different forms and intensities of PA and their intensities, including aerobic, strength-based, and leisure, with the risk and progression of dementia. Methods: Narrative review Results: Results from the reviewed studies showed that PA was found to be associated with a reduced risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. Studies comparing different intensities of PA indicate though all levels of PA decrease the risk of dementia, there is a linear relationship between the higher intensity PA and the increased beneficial effect in terms of reduced risk of dementia. Leisure-time PA also has a protective role against dementia in longitudinal studies. There is more consistent evidence in favour of aerobic PA; however, it has a ceiling effect. The combination of aerobic and strength-based experience provides optimum beneficial effects. The elderly population who started physical activity in their 80s experienced the beneficial effects of PA in reducing the risk of dementia. There is mixed evidence of the protective effect of PA on the population who have already developed cognitive impairment or have genetic vulnerabilities. The author will also include the results of any relevant study published by 31 March 2024. Conclusions: The details of the literature results and conclusions will be discussed at the conference. Disclosure of Interest: I. Singh Consultant of: The author declare that the review was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., R. Chandra: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Investigating the metabolic behaviour of different cellular phenotypes, i.e., good/bad grower and/or producer, in production culture is important to identify the key metabolite(s)/pathway(s) that regulate cell growth and/or recombinant protein production to improve the overall yield. Currently, LC-MS, GC-MS and NMR are the most used and advanced technologies for investigating the metabolome. Although contributed significantly in the domain, each technique has its own biasness towards specific metabolites or class of metabolites due to various reasons including variability in the concept of working, sample preparation, metabolite-extraction methods, metabolite identification tools, and databases. As a result, the application of appropriate analytical technique(s) is very critical.Purpose and scope: This review provides a state-of-the-art technological insights and overview of metabolic mechanisms involved in regulation of cell growth and/or recombinant protein production for improving yield from CHO cultures.Summary and conclusion: In this review, the advancements in CHO metabolomics over the last 10 years are traced based on a bibliometric analysis of previous publications and discussed. With the technical advancement in the domain of LC-MS, GC-MS and NMR, metabolites of glycolytic and nucleotide biosynthesis pathway (glucose, fructose, pyruvate and phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, arginine, valine, asparagine, and serine, etc.) were observed to be upregulated in exponential-phase thereby potentially associated with cell growth regulation, whereas metabolites/intermediates of TCA, oxidative phosphorylation (aspartate, glutamate, succinate, malate, fumarate and citrate), intracellular NAD+/NADH ratio, and glutathione metabolic pathways were observed to be upregulated in stationary-phase and hence potentially associated with increased cell-specific productivity in CHO bioprocess. Moreover, each of technique has its own bias towards metabolite identification, indicating their complementarity, along with a number of critical gaps in the CHO metabolomics pipeline and hence first time discussed here to identify their potential remedies. This knowledge may help in future study designs to improve the metabolomic coverage facilitating identification of the metabolites/pathways which might get missed otherwise and explore the full potential of metabolomics for improving the CHO bioprocess performances.

Carbon sequestration is one approach to achieve carbon dioxide reduction in the atmosphere. Underground storage of CO2 requires an understanding of geochemical and geomechanical alteration on the integrity of the injection wellbore. In this study, we investigate the reactivity of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) at 65 °C and 20.7 MPa on Portland class G cement plugs used for oil and gas well completion, for exposure of up to 5 weeks.For nanoporous media, such as cement, diffusion is believed to be the major mass transport mechanism (Perkins and Johnston, 1963) [1]. To quantify the extent of the alteration (mineralization/dissolution) on fluid diffusivity through the cement matrix, a novel approach based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is employed to derive diffusional tortuosity. Comparing pre- and post-scCO2 exposure, deuterium oxide (D2O) intrusion profiles allow us to determine flow path alteration in the cement plugs. Additional characterizations include Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to observe the change in cement composition, micro X-ray Computed Tomography (μXCT), along with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) to determine invasion extent and microstructure modifications, Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (MICP) for pore throat size distribution and BET N2 isothermal adsorption for surface area and pore size distribution.The results show that exposure to scCO2 promotes both calcium carbonate precipitation and dissolution simultaneously. However, the alteration is pore size dependent. After 5 weeks of exposure, there is evidence of carbonate dissolution in smaller pores (

Inflammation, oxidative injury, and gut dysbiosis play an important role in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Plant-derived substances have historically been used as therapeutic agents due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. We aimed to review pre-clinical evidence for plant-derived substances in the prevention and treatment of NEC. A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, EMCARE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library (PROSPERO CRD42022365477). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that evaluated a plant-derived substance as an intervention for NEC in an animal model of the illness and compared pre-stated outcomes (e.g., clinical severity, severity of intestinal injury, mortality, laboratory markers of inflammation and oxidative injury) were included. Sixteen studies (n = 610) were included in the systematic review. Ten of the sixteen included RCTs (Preterm rat pups: 15, Mice: 1) reported mortality and all reported NEC-related histology. Meta-analysis showed decreased mortality [12/134 vs. 27/135; RR: 0.48 (95% CI: 0.26 to 0.87); p = 0.02, 10 RCTs] and decreased NEC in the experimental group [24/126 vs. 55/79; RR: 0.34 (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.52); p < 0.001, 6 RCTs]. Markers of inflammation (n = 11) and oxidative stress (n = 13) improved in all the studies that have reported this outcome. There was no significant publication bias for the outcome of mortality. Plant-derived substances have the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of histologically diagnosed NEC and mortality in rodent models. These findings are helpful in guiding further pre-clinical studies towards developing a food supplement for the prevention of NEC in preterm infants.

Background: Compassion fatigue is a significant issue considering its consequences including negative feelings, impaired cognition, and increased risk of long-term morbidities. We aimed to assess current evidence on the effects of interventions for compassion fatigue in healthcare providers (HCP). Methods: We used the Cochrane methodology for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) for conducting and reporting this review. Results: Fifteen RCTs (n = 1740) were included. The sample size of individual studies was small ranging from 23 to 605. There was significant heterogeneity in participant, intervention, control, and outcome characteristics. The tools for assessing intervention effects on compassion fatigue included ProQOL, compassion fatigue scale, and nurses compassion fatigue inventory. Thirteen out of the fifteen included RCTs had overall high risk of bias (ROB). Meta-analysis could not be performed given the significant heterogeneity. Conclusions: Current evidence on interventions for reducing compassion fatigue in HCPs is inadequate. Given the benefits reported in some of the included studies, well-designed and adequately powered RCTs are urgently needed.

Understanding and preserving the deep sea ecosystems is paramount for marine conservation efforts. Automated object (deep-sea biota) classification can enable the creation of detailed habitat maps that not only aid in biodiversity assessments but also provide essential data to evaluate ecosystem health and resilience. Having a significant source of labelled data helps prevent overfitting and enables training deep learning models with numerous parameters. In this paper, we contribute to the establishment of a significant deep-sea remotely operated vehicle (ROV) image classification dataset with 3994 images featuring deep-sea biota belonging to 33 classes. We manually label the images through rigorous quality control with human-in-the-loop image labelling. Leveraging data from ROV equipped with advanced imaging systems, our study provides results using novel deep-learning models for image classification. We use deep learning models including ResNet, DenseNet, Inception, and Inception-ResNet to benchmark the dataset that features class imbalance with many classes. Our results show that the Inception-ResNet model provides a mean classification accuracy of 65%, with AUC scores exceeding 0.8 for each class., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a recalcitrant cancer of neuroendocrine (NE) origin. Changes in therapeutic approaches against SCLC have been lacking over the decades. Here, we use preclinical models to identify a new therapeutic vulnerability in SCLC consisting of the targetable Jumonji lysine demethylase (KDM) family. We show that Jumonji demethylase inhibitors block malignant growth and that etoposide-resistant SCLC cell lines are particularly sensitive to Jumonji inhibition. Mechanistically, small molecule-mediated inhibition of Jumonji KDMs activates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress genes, upregulates ER stress signaling, and triggers apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, Jumonji inhibitors decrease protein levels of SCLC NE markers INSM1 and Secretogranin-3 and of driver transcription factors ASCL1 and NEUROD1. Genetic knockdown of KDM4A, a Jumonji demethylase highly expressed in SCLC and a known regulator of ER stress genes, induces ER stress response genes, decreases INSM1, Secretogranin-3, and NEUROD1 and inhibits proliferation of SCLC in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, we demonstrate that two different small molecule Jumonji KDM inhibitors (pan-inhibitor JIB-04 and KDM4 inhibitor SD70) block the growth of SCLC tumor xenografts in vivo. Our study highlights the translational potential of Jumonji KDM inhibitors against SCLC, a clinically feasible approach in light of recently opened clinical trials evaluating this drug class, and establishes KDM4A as a relevant target across SCLC subtypes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Coronary artery disease requiring surgical revascularization is prevalent in United States Veterans. We aimed to investigate preoperative predictors of 30-day mortality following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the Veteran population. The Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement (VASQIP) national database was queried for isolated CABG cases between 2008 and 2018. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess for independent predictors of the primary outcome. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 32,711 patients were included. The 30-day mortality rate was 1.37%. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of 30-day mortality: African-American race (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.09-1.96); homelessness (OR 6.49, 95% CI 3.39-12.45); female sex (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.08-4.30); preoperative myocardial infarction within 7 days (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.06-2.10) or more than 7 days before CABG (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.04-1.72); partially/fully dependent functional status (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.07-1.93); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.24-1.92); mild (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.11) and severe aortic stenosis (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.37-3.09); moderate (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.31-2.72), or severe (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.71-5.22) mitral regurgitation; cardiomegaly (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.35-2.22); NYHA Class III/IV heart failure (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.10-3.83); and urgent/emergent operation (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.08-1.87). The 30-day mortality rate in US Veterans undergoing isolated CABG between 2008 and 2018 was 1.37%. In addition to established clinical factors, African-American race and homelessness were independent demographic predictors of 30-day mortality., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Studies in India and other low-income countries find an inconsistent association between mobility/migration and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men. This study comprehensively examined the association between mobility and STIs among men in India. It also assessed heterogeneous associations of mobility, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior with STIs using interaction analysis., Methods: We utilized a sample of 71,128 sexually active men aged 15-54 years from the 2019-21 National Family Health Survey-5. Binary logistic regression models were employed to study the associations., Results: Among the study participants, 16% were mobile and away from home for a month or more in the last 12 months. Around 29% of men reported alcohol consumption and 6% had risky sexual behavior (sexual intercourse with a non-marital/non-cohabitating partner). Regression results suggest that mobility (AOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.29-1.55 [short-duration]; AOR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.77-2.13 [long-duration]) and alcohol consumption (AOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.24-1.40) were significantly associated with an increased risk of STIs, even after controlling for socio-demographic covariates. Interaction analysis further reveals that mobile men who consumed alcohol and engaged in risky sexual behavior had a significantly higher likelihood of contracting an STI-twice as high in cases of short-duration mobility and three times higher in cases of long-duration mobility., Conclusion: Our study indicates that both short and long-duration mobility are significantly associated with an increased risk of STIs among men. Alcohol consumption and risky sexual behavior further exacerbate the risk of STIs in mobile men. Initiatives for STI/HIV prevention among men must pay particular attention to temporary mobile men for both short and long durations., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Monitoring supine pulmonary artery pressures to guide heart failure (HF) management has reduced HF hospitalizations in select patients., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of managing seated mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) with the Cordella Pulmonary Artery sensor on outcomes in patients with HF., Methods: Following GUIDE-HF (Hemodynamic-GUIDEd Management of Heart Failure Trial), with U.S. Food and Drug Administration input, PROACTIVE-HF (A Prospective, Multi-Center, Open Label, Single Arm Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of the Cordella Pulmonary Artery Sensor System in NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients trial) was changed from a randomized to a single-arm, open label trial, conducted at 75 centers in the USA and Europe. Eligible patients had chronic HF with NYHA functional class III symptoms, irrespective of the ejection fraction, and recent HF hospitalization and/or elevated natriuretic peptides. The primary effectiveness endpoint at 6 months required the HF hospitalization or all-cause mortality rate to be lower than a performance goal of 0.43 events/patient, established from previous hemodynamic monitoring trials. Primary safety endpoints at 6 months were freedom from device- or system-related complications or pressure sensor failure., Results: Between February 7, 2020, and March 31, 2023, 456 patients were successfully implanted in modified intent-to-treat cohort. The 6-month event rate was 0.15 (95% CI: 0.12-0.20) which was significantly lower than performance goal (0.15 vs 0.43; P < 0.0001). Freedom from device- or system-related complications was 99.2% and freedom from sensor failure was 99.8% through 6 months., Conclusions: Remote management of seated mPAP is safe and results in a low rate of HF hospitalizations and mortality. These results support the use of seated mPAP monitoring and extend the growing body of evidence that pulmonary artery pressure-guided management improves outcomes in heart failure. (Multi-Center, Open Label, Single Arm Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of the Cordella Pulmonary Artery Sensor System in NYHA Class III Heart Failure Patients trial [PROACTIVE-HF]; NCT04089059)., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This work was supported by Endotronix Inc. Drs Miranda, Shah, Macaluso, and Hickey were on the Eligibility Committee of PROACTIVE-HF. Prof Sharif is funded by the Science Foundation Ireland SFI 17/RI/5353. Drs Hiivala, Owens, Sauerland, and Forouzan are employees of Endotronix. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The interaction of the environment with the effluent of wastewater treatment plants, having antibiotics, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, and biofilm-forming genes (BFGs), has vast environmental risks. Antibiotic pollution bottlenecks environmental bacteria and has the potential to significantly lower the biodiversity of environmental bacteria, causing an alteration in ecological equilibrium. It can induce selective pressure for antibiotic resistance (AR) and can transform the non-resistant environmental bacteria into a resistant form through HGT. This study investigated the occurrence of MDR bacteria, showing phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of biofilm. The bacteria were isolated from the pharmaceutical wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of Dehradun and Haridwar (India), located in the pharmaceutical areas. The findings of this study demonstrate the coexistence of BFGs and MDR clinical bacteria in the vicinity of pharmaceutical industrial wastewater treatment plants. A total of 47 bacteria were isolated from both WWTPs and tested for antibiotic resistance to 13 different antibiotics; 16 isolates (34.04 %) tested positive for MDR. 5 (31.25 %) of these 16 MDR isolates were producing biofilm and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Burkholderia cepacia. The targeted BFGs in this study were ompA, bap and pslA. The most common co-occurring gene was ompA (80 %), with pslA (40 %) being the least common. A. baumannii contains all three targeted genes, whereas B. cepacia only has bap. Except for B. cepacia, all the biofilm-forming MDR isolates show AR to all the tested antibiotics and prove that the biofilm enhances the AR potential. The samples of both wastewater treatment plants also showed the occurrence of tetracycline, ampicillin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol, along with high levels of BOD, COD, PO 4 -3 , NO 3 - , heavy metals and organic pollutants. The co-occurrence of MDR and biofilm-forming tendency in the clinical strain of bacteria and its environmental dissemination may have an array of hazardous impacts on human and environmental health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)