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High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have gained significant attention from researchers due to their exceptional mechanical properties. While most the reported lightweight high-entropy alloys have Body Centered Cubic (BCC), Hexagonal Close Packed (HCP), and complex intermetallic phases, there is growing interest in development of Face Centered Cubic (FCC) based Lightweight High-Entropy Alloys (LWHEA) for applications prioritizing energy efficiency. In this study, a design strategy for synthesizing a stable FCC-based LWHEA through multivariate optimization of elements and thermodynamic parameters was presented. A novel Al30Ti35Mg5V10Fe8Cr12 LWHEA was designed and processed through a mechanical alloying route with a theoretical density of 4.5 g/cc. The compaction of the alloy was performed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 890 ℃ and 60 MPa for 15 minutes. The hardness of sintered sample was found to be 550 ± 18 HV (5.3 GPa). Microstructural evolution of the alloy was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microstructural analysis of alloy revealed that a combination of FCC and BCC phases are present in milled sample as well as sintered sample. The phase stability was explained through Gibbs free energy calculations of competing phases.

In the direction of developing new and reliable prognostic tools, metamaterial-based biosensor device is an emergent potential field. The special design of metamaterial provides signature frequency features of healthy or diseased tissues. In the current work we have studied the single split resonance device (SSR) using graphene oxide (GO) as probe for the accelerated and selective detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Further, we have used different band gap GO to interpret the structure-property relationship. Spectroscopy methods have been employed to further support the SSR results. 1 ppm solution of mGO-0.5 (band gap ∼1.35 eV) shows sequential increase in sensitivity on increasing amount of BSA. Figure-of-merit (FoM) of SSR biosensor also increased from 57 to 82 and highest Q-factor calculated for mGO-1 is ∼47 making it a good candidate as probe molecule. This work lays out a correlation of degree of GO functionalization with a physical parameter, i.e., band gap for activity towards protein molecules. Also, as the SSR devices use large wavelength radiation with high resolution and accuracy for quantitative estimation of analyte, these are potential non-invasive point-of-use portable diagnostic and early disease diagnosis devices.

Mosquito-borne diseases are a great concern for human health, and an increment in urbanization causes a rise in the population of mosquitoes. The efficient methods and products for countering mosquito bites are the urgent need of the hour. To protect against mosquitoes, mosquito repellent textiles are an attractive substrate. An impartment of simultaneous dyeing and finishing effects on nylon is an urgent requirement as it can enhance its applicability in various technical applications. The present study reports the preparation of a mosquito repellent-cum-UV protective nylon using a novel reactive dye. The synthesis of dye involves the reaction of cyanuric chloride with H-acid (sodium 4-amino-5-hydroxy-2,7-naphthalene disulfonic acid) to generate cyanuric-H-acid, which was further reacted with diazotised 4-amino-N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET-NH2) to synthesise a novel cold brand reactive dye. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), elemental analysis (CHN analyser), UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterise the synthesised dye. The colouration of nylon was done in an infrared lab dyeing machine. The exhaustion and fixation of dye on nylon and the colouration properties (L*, a*, b*, C*, K/S) of dyed nylon were explored. Functional properties (mosquito repellency and UV protection) were evaluated even after laundering treatments. The dyed fabrics were also characterised using TGA and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. An outstanding mosquito repellency (100 %) and good UV protection were achieved.

In the present construction industry, the utilization of ceramic materials is growing day by day in the form of ceramic tiles, electrical insulators, sanitary ware fittings, etc. But a huge quantity of ceramic materials goes to waste during manufacturing, transporting, processing, and placing due to its brittle nature. Waste ceramic (WC) is produced majorly by ceramic industry. WC has different types like ceramic tile, waste ceramic powder (WCP), sanitary ware, and ceramic electrical insulator waste. Ceramic tiles are manufactured by firing natural materials such as clay, quartz, feldspar, sand, etc. at high temperatures. The utilization of WC in concrete can decrease the utilization of natural raw materials, which leads to sustainability and economic competence of the construction industry. This review discusses and analyses its fresh properties, hard properties, durability properties, and other properties of concrete. Consequences show that utilizing the pozzolanic nature of ceramic materials and appropriate admixtures can increase slump and increase the workability of concrete. Concrete incorporating WC decrease the fresh density and hardened density, and it reduce linearly with the increase in the ceramic content. The hardened properties of concrete commonly reduce as the ceramic content incorporated is increased. However, the compressive, flexural, split tensile strength (STS) and modulus of elasticity of ceramic concrete, which is slightly above of reference concrete (RC). Ceramic concrete has more water absorption than RC. WC materials exhibit high freeze–thaw resistance, abrasion resistance, electrical resistance, resistance to sulphuric and sulphate attack. The depth of chloride-ion penetration reduces with increase in ceramic content in concrete. Electrical resistivity increases with increasing the quantity of WC in concrete. The durability properties of concrete generally increase with the increase in ceramic content.

Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process that occurs during the embryonic development, wound healing, organ fibrosis and the onset of malignancy. Emerging evidence suggests that the EMT is involved in the invasion and metastasis of cancers. The inflammatory reaction antecedent to fibrosis in the onset of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and the role of EMT in its malignant transformation indicates a hitherto unexplored involvement of EMT. This review focuses on the role of EMT markers which are regulators of the EMT mediated complex network of molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of OSF and OSCC. Further the gene enrichment analysis and pathway analysis supports the association of the upregulated and downregulated genes in various EMT regulating pathways.

Background: Ciliary body tumors can remain undetected and achieve large dimensions. Pigmented ciliary body tumors include: melanoma, leiomyoma and melanocytoma, however correct diagnosis may require tissue diagnosis with immunohistochemical stains. Case presentation: Two men presented with identical ciliochoroidal tumors. Both had darkly pigmented dome-shaped anterior uveal masses, exudative retinal detachments and transillumination shadowing. Ocular PET-CT imaging revealed that both were metabolically active consistent with a diagnosis of cancer. However, immunohistochemical examination revealed one a leiomyoma and the other melanoma. Conclusion: Uveal leiomyoma can be an indistinguishable doppelgänger to ciliochoroidal melanoma, where the diagnosis can only be established by immunohistopathology.

Purpose: To evaluate presenting features, tumor size, and treatment methods for risk of metastatic death due to advanced intraocular retinoblastoma (RB)., Design: International, multicenter, registry-based retrospective case series., Participants: A total of 1841 patients with advanced RB., Methods: Advanced RB was defined by 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) categories cT2 and cT3 and new AJCC-Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force (OOTF) Size Groups (1: < 50% of globe volume, 2: > 50% but < 2/3, 3: > 2/3, and 4: diffuse infiltrating RB). Treatments were primary enucleation, systemic chemotherapy with secondary enucleation, and systemic chemotherapy with eye salvage., Main Outcome Measures: Metastatic death., Results: The 5-year Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival estimates by patient-level AJCC clinical subcategories were 98% for cT2a, 96% for cT2b, 88% for cT3a, 95% for cT3b, 92% for cT3c, 84% for cT3d, and 75% for cT3e RB. Survival estimates by treatment modality were 96% for primary enucleation, 89% for systemic chemotherapy and secondary enucleation, and 90% for systemic chemotherapy with eye salvage. Risk of metastatic mortality increased with increasing cT subcategory (P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis confirmed a higher risk of metastatic mortality in categories cT3c (glaucoma, hazard ratio [HR], 4.9; P = 0.011), cT3d (intraocular hemorrhage, HR, 14.0; P < 0.001), and cT3e (orbital cellulitis, HR, 19.6; P < 0.001) than in category cT2a and with systemic chemotherapy with secondary enucleation (HR, 3.3; P < 0.001) and eye salvage (HR, 4.9; P < 0.001) than with primary enucleation. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival estimates by AJCC-OOTF Size Groups 1 to 4 were 99%, 96%, 94%, and 83%, respectively. Mortality from metastatic RB increased with increasing Size Group (P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that patients with Size Group 3 (HR, 10.0; P = 0.002) and 4 (HR, 41.1; P < 0.001) had a greater risk of metastatic mortality than Size Group 1., Conclusions: The AJCC-RB cT2 and cT3 subcategories and size-based AJCC-OOTF Groups 3 (> 2/3 globe volume) and 4 (diffuse infiltrating RB) provided a robust stratification of clinical risk for metastatic death in advanced intraocular RB. Primary enucleation offered the highest survival rates for patients with advanced intraocular RB., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the value of clinical features for advanced intraocular retinoblastoma as defined by the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) cT3 category and AJCC Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force (OOTF) Size Groups to predict the high-risk pathologic features., Design: International, multicenter, registry-based retrospective case series., Participants: Eighteen ophthalmic oncology centers from 13 countries over 6 continents shared evaluations of 942 eyes enucleated as primary treatment for AJCC cT3 and, for comparison, cT2 retinoblastoma., Methods: International, multicenter, registry-based data were pooled from patients enrolled between 2001 and 2013. High-risk pathologic features were defined as AJCC categories pT3 and pT4. In addition, AJCC OOTF Size Groups were defined as follows: (1) less than half, (2) more than half but less than two thirds, (3) more than two thirds of globe volume involved, and (4) diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma., Main Outcome Measures: Statistical risk of high-risk pathologic features corresponding to AJCC cT3 subcategories and AJCC OOTF Size Groups., Results: Of 942 retinoblastoma eyes treated by primary enucleation, 282 (30%) showed high-risk pathologic features. Both cT subcategories and AJCC OOTF Size Groups (P < 0.001 for both) were associated with high-risk pathologic features. On logistic regression analysis, cT3c (iris neovascularization with glaucoma), cT3d (intraocular hemorrhage), and cT3e (aseptic orbital cellulitis) were predictive factors for high-risk pathologic features when compared with cT2a with an odds ratio of 2.3 (P = 0.002), 2.5 (P = 0.002), and 3.3 (P = 0.019), respectively. Size Group 3 (more than two-thirds globe volume) and 4 (diffuse infiltrative retinoblastoma) were the best predictive factors with an odds ratio of 3.3 and 4.1 (P < 0.001 for both), respectively, for high-risk pathologic features when compared with Size Groups 1 (i.e., < 50% of globe volume)., Conclusions: The AJCC retinoblastoma staging clinical cT3c-e subcategories (glaucoma, intraocular hemorrhage, and aseptic orbital cellulitis, respectively) as well as the AJCC OOTF Size Groups 3 (tumor more than two thirds of globe volume) and 4 (diffuse infiltrative retinoblastoma) both allowed stratification of clinical risk factors that can be used to predict the presence of high-risk pathologic features and thus facilitate treatment decisions., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare metastasis-related mortality, local treatment failure, and globe salvage after retinoblastoma in countries with different national income levels., Design: International, multicenter, registry-based retrospective case series., Participants: Two thousand one hundred ninety patients, 18 ophthalmic oncology centers, and 13 countries on 6 continents., Methods: Multicenter registry-based data were pooled from retinoblastoma patients enrolled between January 2001 and December 2013. Adequate data to allow American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, eighth edition, and analysis for the main outcome measures were available for 2085 patients. Each country was classified by national income level, as defined by the 2017 United Nations World Population Prospects, and included high-income countries (HICs), upper middle-income countries (UMICs), and lower middle-income countries (LMICs). Patient survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Logistic and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine associations between national income and treatment outcomes., Main Outcome Measures: Metastasis-related mortality and local treatment failure (defined as use of secondary enucleation or external beam radiation therapy)., Results: Most (60%) study patients resided in UMICs and LMICs. The global median age at diagnosis was 17.0 months and higher in UMICs (20.0 months) and LMICs (20.0 months) than HICs (14.0 months; P < 0.001). Patients in UMICs and LMICs reported higher rates of disease-specific metastasis-related mortality and local treatment failure. As compared with HICs, metastasis-related mortality was 10.3-fold higher for UMICs and 9.3-fold higher for LMICs, and the risk for local treatment failure was 2.2-fold and 1.6-fold higher, respectively (all P < 0.001)., Conclusions: This international, multicenter, registry-based analysis of retinoblastoma management revealed that lower national income levels were associated with significantly higher rates of metastasis-related mortality, local treatment failure, and lower globe salvage., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual to estimate metastatic and mortality rates for children with retinoblastoma (RB)., Design: International, multicenter, registry-based retrospective case series., Participants: A total of 2190 patients from 18 ophthalmic oncology centers from 13 countries over 6 continents., Methods: Patient-specific data fields for RB were designed and selected by subcommittee. All patients with RB with adequate records to allow tumor staging by the AJCC criteria and follow-up for metastatic disease were studied., Main Outcome Measures: Metastasis-related 5- and 10-year survival data after initial tumor staging were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method depending on AJCC clinical (cTNM) and pathological (pTNM) tumor, node, metastasis category and age, tumor laterality, and presence of heritable trait., Results: Of 2190 patients, the records of 2085 patients (95.2%) with 2905 eyes were complete. The median age at diagnosis was 17.0 months. A total of 1260 patients (65.4%) had unilateral RB. Among the 2085 patients, tumor categories were cT1a in 55 (2.6%), cT1b in 168 (8.1%), cT2a in 197 (9.4%), cT2b in 812 (38.9%), cT3 in 835 (40.0%), and cT4 in 18 (0.9%). Of these, 1397 eyes in 1353 patients (48.1%) were treated with enucleation. A total of 109 patients (5.2%) developed metastases and died. The median time (n = 92) from diagnosis to metastasis was 9.50 months. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival estimates by clinical tumor categories were 100% for category cT1a, 98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 97-99) for cT1b and cT2a, 96% (95% CI, 95-97) for cT2b, 89% (95% CI, 88-90) for cT3 tumors, and 45% (95% CI, 31-59) for cT4 tumors. Risk of metastasis increased with increasing cT (and pT) category (P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis confirmed a higher risk of metastasis in category cT3 (hazard rate [HR], 8.09; 95% CI, 2.55-25.70; P < 0.001) and cT4 (HR, 48.55; 95% CI, 12.86-183.27; P < 0.001) compared with category cT1. Age, tumor laterality, and presence of heritable traits did not influence the incidence of metastatic disease., Conclusions: Multicenter, international, internet-based data sharing facilitated analysis of the 8th edition AJCC RB Staging System for metastasis-related mortality and offered a proof of concept yielding quantitative, predictive estimates per category in a large, real-life, heterogeneous patient population with RB., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition to predict local tumor control and globe salvage for children with retinoblastoma (RB)., Design: International, multicenter, registry-based retrospective case series., Participants: A total of 2854 eyes of 2097 patients from 18 ophthalmic oncology centers from 13 countries over 6 continents., Methods: International, multicenter, registry-based data were pooled from patients enrolled between January 2001 and December 2013. All RB eyes with adequate records to allow tumor staging by the AJCC 8th edition criteria and follow-up to ascertain treatment outcomes were included., Main Outcome Measures: Globe-salvage rates were estimated by AJCC clinical (cTNMH) categories and tumor laterality. Local treatment failure was defined as use of enucleation or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), with or without plaque brachytherapy or intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC)., Results: Unilateral RB occurred in 1340 eyes (47%). Among the 2854 eyes, tumor categories were cT1 to cT4 in 696 eyes (24%), 1334 eyes (47%), 802 eyes (28%), and 22 eyes (1%), respectively. Of these, 1275 eyes (45%) were salvaged, and 1179 eyes (41%) and 400 eyes (14%) underwent primary and secondary enucleation, respectively. The 2- and 5-year Kaplan-Meier cumulative globe-salvage rates without the use of EBRT by cTNMH categories were 97% and 96% for category cT1a tumors, 94% and 88% for cT1b tumors, 68% and 60% for cT2a tumors, 66% and 57% for cT2b tumors, and 32% and 25% for cT3 tumors, respectively. Risk of local treatment failure increased with increasing cT category (P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis confirmed a higher risk of local treatment failure in categories cT1b (hazard ratio [HR], 3.5; P = 0.004), cT2a (HR, 15.1; P < 0.001), cT2b (HR, 16.4; P < 0.001), and cT3 (HR, 45.0; P < 0.001) compared with category cT1a. Use of plaque brachytherapy and IAC improved local tumor control in categories cT1a (P = 0.031) and cT1b (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Multicenter, international, internet-based data sharing validated the 8th edition AJCC RB staging to predict globe-salvage in a large, heterogeneous, real-world patient population with RB., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process that occurs during the embryonic development, wound healing, organ fibrosis and the onset of malignancy. Emerging evidence suggests that the EMT is involved in the invasion and metastasis of cancers. The inflammatory reaction antecedent to fibrosis in the onset of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and the role of EMT in its malignant transformation indicates a hitherto unexplored involvement of EMT. This review focuses on the role of EMT markers which are regulators of the EMT mediated complex network of molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of OSF and OSCC. Further the gene enrichment analysis and pathway analysis supports the association of the upregulated and downregulated genes in various EMT regulating pathways., (© 2020 The Authors.)