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Background: Tobacco use poses severe health risks globally, affecting both young people and adults. It is highly addictive and a major contributor to various diseases, including cancer. This research at Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre (TMDC and RC), Moradabad, focused on participants aged 35–44, highlighting the urgent need to address tobacco-related issues for public health and economic well-being. Aim: This study assesses the occurrence of smokers and smokeless tobacco and analyzes its correlation with the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among participants. Materials and Methods: A prevalence study was substantiated at TMDC and RC, Moradabad, involving 640 participants aged between 35 and 44 years. Informed assent was obtained from all participants. Sociodemographic information was collected, and their oral mucous lesions were assessed using the World Health Organization form. In addition, participants completed a validated Hindi version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire to evaluate their OHRQoL. Results: The study revealed a higher prevalence of tobacco usage among males compared to females. Furthermore, the prevalence of smoking was established to be greater than that of smokeless tobacco. Consequently, a statistically apparent association was recognized between smokers and their OHRQoL, as well as between users of smokeless tobacco and their OHRQoL. However, no association was established between smokers, smokeless tobacco users, and OHRQoL when considering the significance value. Conclusion: The study indicates that individuals aged 35–44 years who use either smoked or smokeless tobacco experience similar impacts on their OHRQoL. Encouraging regular dental examinations, facilitating access to tobacco cessation programs, and extending support for individuals to sustain tobacco-free lifestyles are indispensable strategies for amplifying oral health outcomes besides the overall quality of life among individuals aged 35–44.

Background: The attitudes of dental students to study a particular specialty of dentistry in post-graduation are of great importance as these facilitate workforce planning in the dental sector. Aim and Objective: To assess the attitude of dental students towards choosing periodontology as their future career and to explore demographic variables that affect their choice. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire was conducted, including students of the third and fourth years and interns of the dental college. Twenty-seven questions, graded on a Likert scale (5-point) were included in the questionnaire, and the responses were categorised via three attitudes: negative (score 0–21), neutral (score 22–44) and positive (score 45–64). The Chi-square test for proportions was used to examine the differences between groups. Results: Among 114 participants, 53 (46.5%) were males and 61 (53.5%) were females. One-third of the respondents had a positive attitude towards selecting periodontology as their future career, and the majority had a neutral perspective, with a few students having a negative attitude (20.2%). Out of the total, 34.2% of respondents had a positive attitude, and 45.6% showed a neutral attitude or perspective. Conclusion: Efforts should be intensified, and undergraduate (UG) students should be motivated by broadening the scope of the field in the UG curriculum by the dental council so that the students show considerable interest in pursuing the field as their future career.

Abstract Background Preeclampsia, a condition very frequently linked to maternal and fetal deaths worldwide, remains a pressing concern due to delays in recognition and response. Effective screening tests for early detection of high-risk cases and appropriate preventive measures are currently lacking. Well planned prenatal care, timely detection, monitoring, and appropriate management are vital to prevent preeclampsia-related fatalities. Methods This prospective study evaluated the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in identifying placental structural issues caused by preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. A total of 143 high-risk pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and an anterior placental position were included in the study. Results Women with preeclampsia exhibited significantly elevated SWE values in both center (27.98 ± 16.12 vs. 4.57 ± 6.57 kPa) and peripheral areas of the placenta (29.14 ± 16.12 vs. 4.80 ± 7.70 kPa) when compared to non-preeclampsia women (p = 0.000). Cutoff values of 8.70 kPa and 8.15 kPa at the Center and edge of the placenta respectively, accurately predicted preeclampsia in second-trimester pregnancies, with 84.62% sensitivity and 94% specificity. However no significant difference was observed between elastography values obtained from the center and edge of the placenta. Conclusions In conclusion, shear wave elastography can help diagnose preeclampsia early by assessing placental stiffness.

Based on the signum function (sign of magnitudes) of transient energy, this paper proposes a fault classification approach and algorithm for a monopolar HVDC system. The analytical study here shows that the signum function of variation in transient energy has a zero value individually at both ends on no-fault conditions. Moreover, the summation of the signum functions computed for internal DC faults is zero, whereas the same has a non-zero value for external AC faults. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been extensively evaluated by simulating faults on a CIGRE benchmark system for HVDC monopolar configuration using EMTDC/PSCAD software. Three locations of DC line fault, and AC fault at the two ends of the system have been considered for this evaluation. Five fault resistance values (0, 10, 100, 1000, and 2000 ohms) have been simulated for each fault location. The results conform with the theoretical analysis, and the fault classification by the algorithm is 100% accurate. The time taken to detect and classify a DC fault at the mid-point of the 800-km line is 1.5 ms, and that for line-end faults on the DC line is 3 ms for all values of fault resistance. These results show a marked improvement over those reported earlier in the literature using other techniques. A comparison table is given in the last section to corroborate it.

Air pollution is known to be one of the major risk factors for premature morbidity and mortality globally, which are preventable. Therefore, the public is informed about air pollution through the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI represents integrated data of selected pollutants and produces a combined overall index for specific locations and time. The AQI algorithm generates a range of numbers and categories of colors that indicate likely health risks from air pollutants and the public's actions to minimize the risks. However, it lacks emerging evidence on chemical toxicity or composition. Hence, policymakers may also consider addinga toxicity matrix of fine particles to refine the algorithm, such as oxidative potential. Further, the risk is commonly communicated in numbers and not in color as dictated by the AQI. The AQI values and categories vary significantly between countries for the same pollution concentration, leading to confusion. Hence, we recommend developing a universal AQI (UAQI) with a consistent relationship between colors, concentrations, and toxicity to communicate air pollution risks to the public. Further, communication media should be encouraged to use universal color-coding rather than AQI values, i.e., numbers. Therefore, a global policy framework for regulatory authorities and policymakers is needed to communicate air pollution risk information consistently and to minimize public health exposure.

Background: Evaluation of type, nature, and prevalence of common oral pathology lesions involving periodontium and implant in patients of tertiary level dental hospital in Hazaribagh City, Jharkhand. Materials and Methods: A total of 2467 people were requested to take part in the oral examination. The current study cohort was made up of the 62.4% of the initial subgroup who participated in the clinical oral examination and granted their agreement for the use of the data. Between January 2023 and June 2023, the clinical oral examination was completed. Results: No changes were observed in 89.6% of study participants. 88.2% males had no changes while 90.4% females had no changes. Normal variations were observed in 3.4% of study participants. 4.3% males had normal variations while 2.7% females had normal variations. Infectious oral pathology was observed in 3.3% of study participants. 2.4% males had infectious oral pathology while 3.2% females had infectious oral pathology Ulcerative lesions were observed in 4.1% of study participants. 3.6% males had ulcerative lesions while 2.4% females had ulcerative lesions. White lesions were observed in 6.7% of study participants. 8.2% males had white lesions while 5.6% females had white lesions. Conclusion: This study provided a detailed evaluation of type, nature, and prevalence of different oral pathology lesions focusing on periodontium and implant.

The average global temperature is rising due to anthropogenic emissions. Hence, a systematic approach was used to examine the projected impacts of rising global temperatures on heatwaves in India and provide insights into mitigation and adaptation strategies. With over 24,000 deaths attributed to heatwaves from 1992 to 2015, there is an urgent need to understand India's vulnerabilities and prepare adaptive strategies under various emission scenarios.This situation is predicted to worsen as heatwaves become more frequent, intense, and long-lasting. Severe heatwaves can exacerbate chronic health conditions, vector-borne diseases, air pollution, droughts and other socio-economic pressures causing higher mortality and morbidity. Heatwaves with severe consequences have increased and are expected to become more frequent in Indian climatic and geographical conditions. As per the future projection studies, the temperature could rise ±1.2° C to ±3.5° C and will start reducing by the end of 2050. The study also provides data from the research that employs climatic models and statistical approaches for a more precise characterization of heat extremes and improved projections. Also, the study appraises the past, present and future heatwave trend projections. Most of these studies compute future projections using the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) models and Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP). Limited systematic reports have been found using CMIP6, whereas the best-suited and widely used method was the RCP8.5. The study findings will aid in identifying the zones most susceptible to heatwave risk and provide actionable projections for policymakers to examine the existing evidence for developing proper planning and policy formulation, considering the future climate and temperature projections.

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent and serious brain disorders and affects over 70 million people globally. Antiseizure medications (ASMs) relieve symptoms and prevent the occurrence of future seizures in epileptic patients but have a limited effect on epileptogenesis. Addressing the multifaceted nature of epileptogenesis and its association with the Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation requires a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these medications for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antiseizure treatments. Several types of NLRP3 inhibitors have been developed and their effect has been validated both in in vitro and in vivo models of epileptogenesis. In this review, we discuss the advances in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of NLRP3 activation as well as progress made, and challenges faced in the development of NLRP3 inhibitors for the treatment of epilepsy.

Aqueous rechargeable zinc‐ion batteries are emerging as green and safe energy devices owing to their high energy density and eco‐friendliness. The bottleneck is the inhomogeneous nucleation resulting in the growth of Zn dendrites and the parasitic side reactions at the anode. Herein, an electrochemical anode engineering strategy is demonstrated to curb the uncontrolled dendritic growth and side reactions. It involves the in situ generation of a solid‐electrolyte interface based on a Zn nanoparticle‐embedded poly(acrylic acid) hybrid layer (PAA‐nZn) on the anode. The homogeneously distributed polar functionalities and porous nature of the polymer regulate the uniform zinc ion flux, and the embedded zinc particle serves as nucleation sites for zinc plating. The hybrid layer reduces the nucleation overpotential and promotes instantaneous nucleation. The symmetrical cell made with PAA‐nZn@Zn has a lifecycle of >860 h with a voltage gap of 28 mV. The full cell fabricated by pairing the engineered anode with α‐MnO2 cathode showed a high discharge specific capacity of 238.3 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 with a capacity retention of 81.76% after 200 cycles and a long lifecycle. The electrochemical engineering of the anode suppresses the dendritic growth and protects the anode from unwanted side reactions and passivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2 mm thin layer of wet Spirulina platensis biomass was dried using two methods: refractance window drying (RW) and combined RW and FIR drying (RWF). The effect of drying temperature (40–60 °C) and proximity to FIR heaters (5 and 10 cm) was evaluated on falling rate drying characteristics. The moisture (Deff) and thermal (α) diffusivity coefficients were obtained in the range 1.728 × 10−8 to 5.289 × 10−9 and 1.322 × 10−8 to 4.169 × 10−9 m2 s−1, respectively (R2, 0.921–0.984). RW drying at ≥50 °C caused loss of color, phytopigments, and lipid peroxidation. At 40 °C, RW drying led to a long drying period (300.50 ± 3.53 min), poor drying rate (0.039 ± 0.002 g-H2O/min), lowest Deff and α (5.289 × 10−9 and 4.169 × 10−9 m2 s−1), and chlorophyll loss (32.2%). Combined RW and FIR drying at 40 °C and 5 cm proximity (RWF40-5cm) reduced drying time (15.1%), increased drying rate (27.8%), improved α (15%), and Deff (14.9%). RWF40-5cm dried biomass showed excellent retention of color (ΔE = 4.64 ± 1.32), protein (93.8%), γ-linolenic acid (90.1%), chlorophyll (87.9%), and phycocyanin (86.7%) from freeze-dried biomass (FD). Low-temperature RWF40-5cm drying could be a potential alternative to freeze-drying for effective and safe drying of heat-sensitive Spirulina platensis biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for electrical energy is a result of advancing technologies and changing lifestyles worldwide. Meeting this escalating energy need poses a substantial challenge, especially the difficulty in constructing new conventional power plants due to limited fossil fuel resources. To address this, demand-side management (DSM) in smart grid (SG), integrated with solar photovoltaic energy (SPE) have emerged as a crucial tool for effectively managing electricity demand, ensuring flexibility and reliability. DSM achieves optimal electricity utilization by rescheduling the operation schedules of consumer appliances and carefully adjusting their demand profiles. Integrating DSM into a smart grid framework is highly advantageous for the power industry's pursuit of sustainable energy goals. While various heuristic-based optimization techniques have been employed for DSM, the focus on SPE has been limited to small-scale residential loads. This study utilizes the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm to tackle a day ahead DSM minimization problem, considering SPE in areas with large number of appliances. The DSM minimization problem falls into the category of discrete combinatorial problems, making it well-suited for ACO optimization. The self-healing, self-protection, and self-organizing attributes of ACO make it particularly effective for DSM solutions. Residential, commercial, and industrial loads, with and without SPE integration, are considered to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed ACO algorithm. Simulation results are compared with other studies in the literature, including Evolutionary Algorithm (EA), Moth Flame Optimization (MFO), and Bacterial Foraging Optimization (BFO), in terms of reducing consumer's cost of energy (CCE) and utility peak load (UPL). The findings indicate that the proposed ACO algorithm outperforms the other algorithms considered in the current context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in red microalgae of the Porphyridium genus has surged due to their richness in phycobiliproteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and sulfated polysaccharides. These biomasses and their derivatives find applications across food, feed, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. A deeper understanding of their properties and extraction methods is essential to optimize downstream processing. This paper comprehensively reviews Porphyridium sp., focusing on cultivation techniques, bioproduct extraction, purification, and characterization. It delves into protein, lipid, and polysaccharide extraction, considering the influence of culture conditions on biomass yield. Various methods like chromatography, electrophoresis, and membrane-based techniques for cell lysis and bioproduct recovery are explored, highlighting their pros and cons. By offering diverse insights, this review aims to inspire innovative research and industry progress in red microalgae biotechnology, contributing to sustainable solutions across sectors., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)