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Phase change materials (PCMs) are important constituents for the storage of thermal energy available from the sun. It acts as a bridge between energy demand and supply while reducing the mismatch. Organic and inorganic constituents have been used for a long time for thermal energy storage applications. In recent years, the focus has been shifted to eutectics. A eutectic is a minimum melting substance of two or more constituents. It has the advantage of having a sharp melting temperature and possessing high volumetric heat storage density. The eutectics possess a wide range of temperatures and have the properties of all of their constituents. At present organic-organic, organic-inorganic, and organic-inorganic eutectics are widely studied. In the present paper, various eutectic PCMs for low and medium temperature ranges have been analyzed. Their thermophysical properties and thermal stability and reliability concerning thermal cycling have been thoroughly discussed. The melting temperature lies in the range of −23.50 °C to 80 °C and the latent heat of fusion can be as high as 280 kJ/kg. Thermal cycle tests of up to 30000 have been conducted by various research groups, but at least 300 melt/freeze cycles are recommended so that they can be stable for a year of application. The organic eutectic PCMs are found stable in terms of deviation in melting temperature with the maximum deviation in latent heat of fusion observed was ± 20 %. The inorganic eutectic PCMs are somewhat unstable having a large deviation in melting temperature and latent heat of fusion. The low thermal conductivity of organic eutectics can be eliminated with suitable nanoparticle additives. The leakage issue can be eliminated by providing shape stabilization to the PCMs. These PCMs are suitable for various photovoltaic/thermal, buildings, textiles, solar water heating, solar air heaters, and heat recovery systems applications.

Cell lysis is the starting step of many biomedical assays. Electric field-based cell lysis is widely used in many applications, including point-of-care (POC) applications, because it provides an easy one-step solution. Many electric field-based lysis methods utilize micro-electrodes to apply short electric pulses across cells. Unfortunately, these cell lysis devices produce relatively low cell lysis efficiency as electric fields do not reach a significant portion of cells in the sample. Additionally, the utility of syringe pumps for flow cells in and out of the microfluidics channel causes cell loss and low throughput cell lysis. To address these critical issues, we suspended the cells in a sessile drop and concentrated on the electrodes. We used low-frequency AC electric fields (1 Vpp, 0–100 kHz) to drive the cells effectively towards electrodes and lysed using a short pulse of 10 V. A post-lysis analysis was performed using a hemocytometer, UV-vis spectroscopy, and fluorescence imaging. The results show that the pre-electric polarization of cells, prior to applying short electrical pulses, enhances the cell lysis efficiency. Additionally, the application of AC electric fields to concentrate cells on the electrodes reduces the assay time to about 4 min. In this study, we demonstrated that low-frequency AC electric fields can be used to pre-polarize and concentrate cells near micro-electrodes and improve cell lysis efficiency. Due to the simplicity and rapid cell lysis, this method may be suitable for POC assay development.

The investigation of the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of polyaniline (PANI) and polyaniline doped with multi-walled carbon nanotube (PANI-MWCNT) in both solution and film forms was conducted using the open-aperture z-scan approach. A Q-switched resonant Nd: YAG laser with a wavelength of 532 nm and two different fluences was utilized in this study. Based on the z-scan experiments, it was observed that the NLO behaviour of PANI and PANI-MWCNT composites exhibited a transition from reverse saturable absorption (RSA) to saturable absorption (SA) when the samples changed from a liquid to a film state. Two photon absorption (TPA) and thermally induced nonlinear scattering are the main mechanisms behind the RSA behaviour of the materials in solution form. The reason for SA behaviour of these materials in film form is attributed as the ground-state free electron bleaching in the conduction band due to the increased laser intensity. Due to increased structural disorder and the defect states or trap levels created by the dopants in the PANI system, the NLO properties of the PANI-MWCNT composite in both solution and film forms have significantly improved compared to those of pure PANI. Urbach tail analysis and carbon cluster determination revealed the presence of defect states in the composites system. The composite of PANI and MWCNT was verified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The functional elements present in the composites are verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The NLO parameters of the samples, viz., the nonlinear absorption coefficient (β), the imaginary part of the nonlinear susceptibility χi(3) , and the figure of merit (FOM) of PANI-MWCNT, exhibited a notable enhancement in their values over PANI. Moreover, the PANI-MWCNT film demonstrated superior SA performance and the PANI-MWCNT solution demonstrated better OL performance compared to that of the PANI film and solution respectively. Also the effects of dopant induced structural modifications and lattice disorder on the NLO behaviour of these materials are correlated with the obtained NLO parameters. The tunable NLO properties accomplished by controlling the structural phase and dopant-induced defects enhance the possibility of these nanostructures for applications in optical limiting, optical switching, optical modulation, optical pulse compression and laser pulse narrowing.

A remarkably simple and efficient double defluorinative [3 + 3] annulation approach involving N -phenyl-α-fluoro-α-phenylsulfonylacetamide and 2-CF 3 -alkenes to access N -phenyl-3,6-difluoropyridone derivatives has been achieved. The key to the success of this single-step synthesis of difluoropyridones is the strategic utilization of 2-CF 3 -alkenes for consecutive allylic and vinylic substitution reactions and a desulfonylation cascade. We could also show that these difluoropyridones serve as a versatile platform for C-6-selective defluorinative functionalizations.

Background/objectives: Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with rising incidence rates and significant mortality. While tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and viral infections are established risk factors, the role of dietary patterns, particularly adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), in HNC prevention has gained increasing attention. The aim of the current systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the association between adherence to the MD and the risk of HNC., Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted, following PRISMA guidelines, to identify relevant studies published up to January 2024 that assessed the association between MD adherence and HNC risk in adults. Pooled odds ratios (OR) for a three-unit increase in MD adherence scores and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS)., Results: Eleven case-control studies comprising 6106 HNC cases and 9166 controls met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. High adherence to the MD was significantly associated with a reduced risk of HNC (pooled OR = 0.561, 95% CI: 0.368-0.856, p = 0.007, I 2 = 92%). Individual component analyses from three studies revealed that higher fruit and vegetable consumption significantly decreased HNC risk, whereas legumes, fish, and low meat intake showed no statistically significant associations., Conclusions: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck cancer. These findings support the role of the MD in cancer prevention and highlight the potential benefits of MD adherence in reducing HNC risk. Further prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Background: Due to a lack of awareness and inadequate health infrastructure, the treatment gap for any mental illness is increasing in lower- and middle-income countries, including India. As an alternative to institutional treatment, community de-addiction camps play an important role., Method: This comparative study examined alcohol use profiles, motivation to quit, and attitudes toward drinking in 84 participants, equally divided between a community alcohol de-addiction camp ( n  = 42) and a clinical setting ( n  = 42). Data were collected using a socio-demographic data sheet; alcohol use profile questionnaire; AUDIT, DASS21, and SOCRATES scales, and attitude toward drinking scale., Results: The study found that community-based alcohol de-addiction camp participants were significantly older than the clinical population ( p  = 0.009). The mean age of alcohol onset was significantly lower in the camp group ( p  = 0.005), but the onset of regular use and duration of use were similar. Most participants in both groups drank daily. More clinical participants had previously attempted to quit ( p  = 0.025). There were no significant differences in stress, anxiety, or depression between groups. Camp participants showed higher motivation to quit (recognition: p  = 0.15, ambivalence: p  = 0.002, taking steps: p  = 0.001), while clinical participants had a higher attitude toward drinking (social ease: p  = 0.003, pleasure: p  = 0.17, economic aspects: p  = 0.2)., Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Both groups showed high daily alcohol use and readiness to quit, but alcohol de-addiction camp participants (ADCP) participants had higher eagerness for treatment and lower attitudes toward drinking. The study highlights the benefits of tailored, community-based interventions.

Plastics are integral to modern life but present significant environmental and economic challenges due to ineffective waste management systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of global plastic waste management (PWM) strategies, focusing on advancements in processing technologies, policy frameworks and their practical applications. It highlights the role of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and regulatory bodies across the United States, Canada, Europe, Britain, India, Japan, Australia and China in fostering sustainable PWM practices. The study evaluates key processing techniques, including pyrolysis, gasification, supercritical water conversion, plasma-assisted processes, mechanical reprocessing and landfilling, emphasizing their technological advancements, limitations and scalability. Supercritical water conversion (operating at >374°C and 22.1 MPa) and plasma-assisted processing (using ionized gas at >3000°C) are identified as advanced methods capable of converting plastics into simpler molecules or valuable by-products. However, these technologies face challenges such as high energy requirements, operational costs and limited scalability. Persistent issues, including microplastic pollution, environmental impacts and the chemical-intensive nature of certain processes, are critically analysed. Drawing on extensive reviews of patents, case studies and real-world implementations, the study also examines the reuse potential of plastic by-products in diverse industries and evaluates state-level PWM initiatives in India. This review provides actionable insights for policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders, highlighting critical gaps and opportunities to enhance the sustainability and scalability of PWM systems. By addressing persistent challenges, it contributes to advancing a circular economy for plastics and sustainable waste management practices globally., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Main Conclusion: Small RNA sequencing analysis in two chickpea genotypes, JG 62 (Fusarium wilt-susceptible) and WR 315 (Fusarium wilt-resistant), under Fusarium wilt stress led to identification of 544 miRNAs which included 406 known and 138 novel miRNAs. A total of 115 miRNAs showed differential expression in both the genotypes across different combinations. A miRNA, Car-miR398 targeted copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) that, in turn, regulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity during chickpea-Foc interaction. Fusarium wilt (FW) of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (Foc) is a destructive soil-borne disease that severely reduces the chickpea yield and quality globally. In the present study, we have investigated microRNAs and the microRNA/target gene crosstalk involved in chickpea resistance to FW. The control and stress samples from two genotypes, JG 62 (FW-susceptible) and WR 315 (FW-resistant), collected at 10 days post-inoculation (dpi), were selected for small RNA sequencing. A total of 12 libraries were constructed and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. The sequencing and in silico analyses revealed the identification of 544 miRNAs which included 406 known and 138 novel miRNAs. A total of 50 miRNAs were physically co-localized with Foc-resistance QTLs present on chromosome 2 (also known as Foc hotspot). A total of 115 miRNAs showed differential expression in both the genotypes across different combinations. Prediction and functional annotation of miRNA targets revealed their role in transcription regulation, disease resistance, defense response, metabolism, etc. Ten miRNAs and their targets were validated using poly(A)-based qRT-PCR in two genotypes grown under lab and field conditions. Many miRNAs and their targets showed genotype-specific expression. The expression profiling also highlighted, both, similar and different expression patterns for the same sets of miRNA and mRNA at different stages of Foc infection. A high correlation in expression patterns of the miRNAs and their targets in lab- and field-grown plant samples was observed. Interestingly, Car-miR398 targeted copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS) that, in turn, regulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity during chickpea-Foc interaction. The cleavage site in targets was mapped for three miRNAs by analyzing publicly available degradome data for chickpea. The study, for the first time, provides novel insights into microRNA-mediated regulation of resistance and susceptibility mechanisms in chickpea against FW and opens up avenues for the development of the wilt-resistant cultivars in chickpea., Competing Interests: Declarations. 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., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)