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The ambient air quality is continuously declining especially in emerging countries because of rapid rate of urbanization, industrialization, and allied activities. Thus, the principal objective of this research is to inspect the spatiotemporal variation of particulate matters and to identify the drivers of pollutant dispersal. The month‐wise PM10 and PM2.5 data of 2022 and 2023 were obtained from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. Meteorological datasets such as wind speed (m/s) and wind direction (degree) were collected from the NASA power access website. The HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single‐Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model was applied to identify the pollutant's trajectories. Results showed that Purulia station stood highest in case of absolute AQI 715 (23‐1‐2022 at 7 a.m.), PM2.5 483.47 µg/m3 (23‐1‐2022 at 8 a.m.), and PM10 682.28 µg/m3 (23‐1‐2022 at 7 a.m.), respectively. During winter, the vertical expansion of particles was within the 100‐m boundary layer while during summer, it dispersed vertically and crossed 2000 m above the ground surface due to the combined effect of atmospheric conditions such as wind speed, wind direction, air pressure, and temperature. Moreover, the industrial outputs of Jharkhand and West Bengal play a significant role in elevating the pollution level. Plantation of suitable pollution‐resistant plants including Banyan (Ficus bengalensis), Mango (Mangifera indica), Peepul (Ficus religiosa), Guava (Psidium guajava), Kadam (Neolamarkia cadamba), Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a suitable management technique against pollution in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has emerged as the biggest threat to the sustenance of human civilization and the environment. With the increase in rapid industrialization and urbanization, there is a considerable increase in the influx of complex and diverse pollutants in water bodies. Hence continuous and efficient monitoring is required to detect the pollutants in the aquatic environment. Either preventing or detecting and subsequent elimination of these pollutants is of utmost importance for the health of the aquatic ecosystem. Biosensors have proved to be efficient in detecting these pollutants in a better way as compared to other conventional methods. Sensors are devices that have the ability to detect changes in the physical, chemical, or biological domains and produce a signal that can be measured. The distinguisher element in it minimizes noise caused by other components in the analyte mixture by being able to detect a specific analyte or set of analytes. This current review is focused on the role of biosensors in detecting metallic pollutants in water bodies. It also discusses the process of remediation of metallic pollutants in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic‐level tailoring of active sites is an efficient strategy for designing high‐performance photocatalysts for clean energy. Asymmetric atomic sites (AAS) like MSA‐Ov‐M2 created through hetero‐metal single atoms (MSA) doping on defect‐rich metal oxides (M2‐Ov‐M2) are favored for better activation of targeted molecules. However, creating AAS typically demands high energy input, hindering their widespread use in photocatalytic H2 production. Furthermore, precise control over surface defects to create AAS remains challenging. Here, CuSA‐Ov‐Ti3c highly asymmetric atomic sites catalyst (HAASC) is constructed by strategically trapping Cu single atoms on high‐index (111) faceted TiO2. This material combines single‐atom catalysis and facet engineering, achieving unprecedented H2 production rates (8.3 mmol h−1 g−1 in pure water and 784.5 mmol h−1 g−1 in water/methanol mixture). Experimental and theoretical analyses reveal CuSA substituting five‐coordinated Ti atoms (Ti5c) next to three‐coordinated (Ti3c) ones, forming CuSA‐Ov‐Ti3c HAAS. HAAS plays multiple roles in i) improving light harvesting, charge‐transfer dynamics, and redox capability of photoexcited electrons; ii) enhanced adsorption and polarization of H2O molecules; iii) facilitating electron transfer from CuSA‐Ov‐Ti3c to H2O molecules, and iv) raising d‐band center toward Fermi level resulting in ≈250‐fold enhanced H2 production than Ti5c‐O‐Ti3c AASC. This work opens new avenues for future structural designs in heterogeneous catalysis for energy‐related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local structure of β‐(AlxGa1−x)2O3 alloys with Al contents is determined from extended X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). A model to fit the EXAFS data for monoclinic β‐(AlxGa1−x)2O3 is suggested to independently determine local structure parameters. An increase in compositional disorder corresponding to the near neighbors (NNs) for lower Al contents establishes that the Al atom does occupy tetrahedron sites in addition octahedron sites even for smaller Al contents. NNs and next‐nearest neighbor (NNN) bond lengths corresponding to tetrahedron and octahedron coordinated gallium (Ga) atoms with surrounding oxygen (O) atoms as well as tetrahedron–tetrahedron/octahedron–octahedron coordinated GaGa atoms on average decrease with Al content up to x = 33.3% and then they saturates with further increase in Al content. However, tetrahedron–octahedron coordinated GaGa atoms move far apart with Al content up to x = 33.3% and then it saturates. The physical picture indicates the creation of tetrahedra and octahedra sublattices locally for β‐(AlxGa1−x)2O3, and their sizes decrease, but they move far apart up to a certain Al content. Thereafter, both saturate. Thus, EXAFS provide a clear insight into the evolution of local structure of β‐(AlxGa1−x)2O3 with Al content, which is useful for better understanding of their physical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Corticobasal syndrome is a clinical diagnosis and common pathological causes are corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer's disease. Objectives: We would like to highlight a rare but important differential of corticobasal syndrome. Methods: A 78‐year‐old female had a 4‐year history of predominantly right‐hand rest tremor, worsening of handwriting but no change in cognition. The clinical examination showed right upper limb postural and kinetic tremor, mild wrist rigidity and reduced amplitude of right‐sided finger tapping. She was initially diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Five years after onset of symptoms, she demonstrated bilateral myoclonic jerks and right upper limb dystonic posturing. She could not copy movements with the right hand. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed disproportionate atrophy in the parietal lobes bilaterally. The clinical diagnosis was changed to probable corticobasal syndrome. She passed away 11 years from onset of symptoms at the age of 85 years. She underwent a post‐mortem. Results: The anterior and posterior frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, temporal neocortex, hippocampus and amygdaloid complex demonstrated considerable tau‐related pathology consisting of a dense background of neuropil threads, and rounded, paranuclear neuronal inclusions consistent with Pick bodies. The immunostaining for three microtubule binding domain repeats (3R) tau performed on sections from the frontal and temporal lobes, basal ganglia and midbrain highlighted several inclusions whilst no 4R tau was observed. She was finally diagnosed with Pick's disease. Conclusions: Pick's disease can rarely present with clinical features of corticobasal syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boltzmann carrier statistics restrict the sub‐threshold swing (SS ≥ 60 mVdec–1) and, consequently, the supply voltage (≈ 1 V) of the thermionic transistor. This primary bottleneck results in rapidly increasing power consumption, heating, and associated reliability/scalability challenges as more devices are packed into a small footprint. Despite significant efforts from the device community, a suitable sub‐thermionic alternative is yet to emerge. In this work, an attempt is made to understand the physics of Schottky barrier FETs demonstrating SS < 60 mVdec–1, as evident in some experimental results. Employing the in‐house TCAD tool, the electrostatic potential in the device is accurately modeled with the sweeping gate bias. Next, the Tsu–Esaki model is used to compute the tunneling current. The analysis shows that the steep SS results from an abrupt change in the tunneling barrier profile, from a step‐like to a triangular‐like. However, in the ON regime, the drift component begins to dominate the transfer characteristics. Thus, the subtle interplay between the drift and tunneling components of transport leads to SS < 60 mVdec–1 in OFF‐state with improved Ion${\rm I}_{on}$ in ON‐state. Finally, using the calibrated model, the performance metrics of an all‐2D material‐based CMOS inverter operating at a low VDD ≈ 0.6 V are projected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and fatal skin cancers owing to its ability to metastasize and develop resistance to chemotherapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally noninvasive treatment modality comprising photosensitizers (PSs), light sources, and endogenous molecular oxygen that exert a localized cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. The current study explores the therapeutic potential of sodium copper chlorophyllin‐loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CH‐SCC NPs) along with handheld laser‐based PDT on B16 cancer cells. A modified chlorophyll derivative identified as sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC) is a dietary supplement that has anticancer properties. Herein, we have synthesized CH‐SCC NPs using the ionic gelation method to enhance the PS's bioavailability and efficiency. Chitosan nanoparticles exhibited high biocompatibility in a normal cell line L929, zebrafish, and chick embryos, and were successfully employed to deliver the SCC to cancer cells. CH‐SCC NPs showed an enhanced PDT effect that killed approximately 80%–85% of B16 cells. CH‐SCC NPs in combination with a handheld portable laser source showed significant therapeutic potential against the B16 skin cancer cell line. The experimental findings further strengthen our device‐repurposing strategy, which suggests that SCC nanoformulations along with handheld laser can be a suitable treatment for skin cancer even in remote areas where power source and treatment cost can be a limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Measuring the coverage of HIV prevention services for key populations (KPs) has consistently been a challenge for national HIV programmes. The current frameworks and measurement methods lack emphasis on effective coverage, occur infrequently, lack timeliness and limit the participation of KPs. The Effective Programme Coverage framework, which utilizes a programme science approach, provides an opportunity to assess gaps in various coverage domains and explore the underlying reasons for these gaps, in order to develop targeted solutions. We have demonstrated the application of this framework in partnership with the KP community in Nairobi, Kenya, using an expanded Polling Booth Survey (ePBS) method. Methods: Data were collected between April and May 2023 among female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) using (a) PBS, (b) bio‐behavioural survey and (c) focus group discussions. Data collection and analysis involved both KP community and non‐community researchers. Descriptive analysis was performed, and proportions were used to assess the programme coverage gaps. The data were weighted to account for the sampling design and unequal selection probabilities. Thematic analysis was conducted on the qualitative data. Results: The condom programme for FSW and MSM had low availability (60.2% and 50.9%), contact (68.8% and 65.9%) and utilization (52.1% and 43.9%) coverages. The pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programme had very low utilization coverage for FSW and MSM (4.4% and 2.8%), while antiretroviral therapy utilization coverage was higher (86.6% and 87.7%). Reasons for coverage gaps included a low peer educator‐to‐peer ratio, longer distance to the clinics, shortage of free condoms supplied by the government, experienced and anticipated side effects related to PrEP, and stigma and discrimination experienced in the facilities. Conclusions: The Effective Programme Coverage framework allows programmes to assess coverage gaps and develop solutions and a research agenda targeted at specific domains of coverage with large gaps. The ePBS method works well in collecting data to understand coverage gaps rapidly and allows for the engagement of the KP community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The HIV Prevention 2025 Roadmap, developed by UNAIDS, recommends the adoption of a precision prevention approach focused on priority populations and geographies. With reduction in new HIV acquisitions in many countries, designing a differentiated HIV prevention response, using a Programme Science approach, based on the understanding of the epidemic and transmission dynamics at a sub‐national level, is critical. Methods: To support strategic planning, an epidemic appraisal at the sub‐national level across 47 counties, with the 2019 population ranging from 0.14 million in Lamu to 4.40 million in Nairobi City, was conducted in Kenya using several existing data sources. Using 2021 Spectrum/EPP/Naomi model estimates of national and sub‐national HIV incidence and prevalence, counties with high HIV incidence and prevalence were identified for geographic prioritization. The size of local key population (KP) networks and HIV prevalence in key and general populations were used to define epidemic typology and prioritize populations for HIV prevention programmes. Analysis of routine programme monitoring data for 2021 was used to assess coverage gaps in HIV prevention programmes, including prevention of vertical transmission, anti‐retroviral therapy, KP programmes, adolescent girls and young women programme, and voluntary male medical circumcision programme. Results: Ten counties with more than 1000 incident acquisitions in 2021 accounted for 57% of new acquisitions. Twenty‐four counties were grouped into the concentrated epidemic type—due to their low prevalence in the general population, high prevalence in KPs and relatively higher density of female sex workers and men who have sex with men populations. Four counties reflected a generalized epidemic, where HIV prevalence was more than 10% and 30%, respectively, among the general and key populations. The remaining 19 counties were classified as having mixed epidemics. Gaps in programmes were identified and counties where these gaps need to be addressed were also prioritized. Conclusions: The HIV burden in Kenya is unevenly distributed and hence the mix of prevention strategies may vary according to the epidemic typology of the county. Prioritization of programmes based not only on disease burden and epidemic typology, but also on the prevailing gaps in coverage for reducing inequities is a key aspect of this appraisal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During infection viruses hijack host cell metabolism to promote their replication. Here, analysis of metabolite alterations in macrophages exposed to poly I:C recognises that the antiviral effector Protein Kinase RNA-activated (PKR) suppresses glucose breakdown within the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). This pathway runs parallel to central glycolysis and is critical to producing NADPH and pentose precursors for nucleotides. Changes in metabolite levels between wild-type and PKR-ablated macrophages show that PKR controls the generation of ribose 5-phosphate, in a manner distinct from its established function in gene expression but dependent on its kinase activity. PKR phosphorylates and inhibits the Ribose 5-Phosphate Isomerase A (RPIA), thereby preventing interconversion of ribulose- to ribose 5-phosphate. This activity preserves redox control but decreases production of ribose 5-phosphate for nucleotide biosynthesis. Accordingly, the PKR-mediated immune response to RNA suppresses nucleic acid production. In line, pharmacological targeting of the PPP during infection decreases the replication of the Herpes simplex virus. These results identify an immune response-mediated control of host cell metabolism and suggest targeting the RPIA as a potential innovative antiviral treatment. Synopsis: Although the cellular immune response controls metabolism to try to limit viral infection, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. This study identifies the antiviral effector RNA-activated protein kinase PKR as a control factor for glucose breakdown in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), limiting pentose precursor generation, nucleic acid synthesis and viral proliferation. Antiviral response by PKR alters cellular glucose metabolism, limiting ribose 5-phosphate production in the non-oxidative PPP. PKR-mediated control of the PPP is kinase function-dependent but distinct from its role in gene expression. PKR phosphorylates Ribose 5-Phosphate Isomerase A (RPIA), suppressing ribose 5-phosphate production. Pharmaceutical targeting of the PPP limits Herpes simplex virus replication. RNA-activated protein kinase counters viral infection by suppressing a pentose phosphate pathway precursor required for virus genome replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disorder that results in cognitive deterioration, amnesia, and alterations in behavior, rendering it a significant issue in public health. The pathogenesis involves amyloid plaques highlighting the importance of targeting BACE1. This study explores fluspirilene, a di‐phenyl‐butyl‐piperidine as a potential BACE1 inhibitor for AD treatment. Fluspirilene was analyzed for ADMET. In silico molecular docking assessed fluspirilene's binding affinity with BACE1. Re‐docking a co‐crystallized ligand confirmed the docking process. Molecular dynamics simulations and related multifaceted computational analyses were conducted to assess the stability of docked complexes. Fluspirilene had good physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics according to ADMET profiling. In silico molecular docking showed multiple BACE1 interactions with a binding affinity of −9.2 kcal/mol and fluspirilene–BACE1 complex stability was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulation results. Possible therapeutic applications in lowering Aβ generation and treating AD are indicated by the compound's pharmacokinetics, molecular interactions, and binding energetics. Validation and optimization of experiments are necessary for the clinical development of fluspirilene as a BACE1 inhibitor for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations are abundantly present in tissues of healthy individuals, including the breast epithelium. Yet it remains unknown whether mutant cells directly induce lesion formation or first spread, leading to a field of mutant cells that is predisposed towards lesion formation. To study the clonal and spatial relationships between morphologically normal breast epithelium adjacent to pre‐cancerous lesions, we developed a three‐dimensional (3D) imaging pipeline combined with spatially resolved genomics on archival, formalin‐fixed breast tissue with the non‐obligate breast cancer precursor ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Using this 3D image‐guided characterization method, we built high‐resolution spatial maps of DNA copy number aberration (CNA) profiles within the DCIS lesion and the surrounding normal mammary ducts. We show that the local heterogeneity within a DCIS lesion is limited. However, by mapping the CNA profiles back onto the 3D reconstructed ductal subtree, we find that in eight out of 16 cases the healthy epithelium adjacent to the DCIS lesions has overlapping structural variations with the CNA profile of the DCIS. Together, our study indicates that pre‐malignant breast transformations frequently develop within mutant clonal fields of morphologically normal‐looking ducts. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The polyarticular nature of Osteoarthritis (OA) tends to manifest in multi‐joints. Associations between cartilage health in connected joints can help identify early degeneration and offer the potential for biomechanical intervention. Such associations between hip and knee cartilages remain understudied. Purpose: To investigate T1p associations between hip‐femoral and acetabular‐cartilage subregions with Intra‐limb and Inter‐limb patellar cartilage; whole and deep‐medial (DM), deep‐lateral (DL), superficial‐medial (SM), superficial‐lateral (SL) subregions. Study Type: Prospective. Subjects: Twenty‐eight subjects (age 55.1 ± 12.8 years, 15 females) with none‐to‐moderate hip‐OA while no radiographic knee‐OA. Field Strength/Sequence: 3‐T, bilateral hip, and knee: 3D‐proton‐density‐fat‐saturated (PDFS) Cube and Magnetization‐Prepared‐Angle‐Modulated‐Partitioned‐k‐Space‐Spoiled‐Gradient‐Echo‐Snapshots (MAPSS). Assessment: Ages of subjects were categorized into Group‐1 (≤40), Group‐2 (41–50), Group‐3 (51–60), Group‐4 (61–70), Group‐5 (71–80), and Group‐6 (≥81). Hip T1p maps, co‐registered to Cube, underwent an atlas‐based algorithm to quantify femoral and acetabular subregional (R2–R7) cartilage T1p. For knee Cube, a combination of V‐Net architectures was used to segment the patellar cartilage and subregions (DM, DL, SM, SL). T1p values were computed from co‐registered MAPSS. Statistical Tests: For Intra‐and‐Inter‐limb, 5 optimum predictors out of 13 (Hip subregional T1p, age group, gender) were selected by univariate linear‐regression, to predict outcome (patellar T1p). The top five predictors were stepwise added to six linear mixed‐effect (LME) models. In all LME models, we assume the data come from the same subject sharing the same random effect. The best‐performing models (LME‐modelbest) selected via ANOVA, were tested with DM, SM, SL, and DL subregional‐mean T1p. LME assumptions were verified (normality of residuals, random‐effects, and posterior‐predictive‐checks). Results: LME‐modelbest (Intra‐limb) had significant negative and positive fixed‐effects of femoral‐R5 and acetabular‐R2 T1p, respectively (conditional‐R2 = 0.581). LME‐modelbest (Inter‐limb) had significant positive fixed‐effects of femoral‐R3 T1p (conditional‐R2 = 0.26). Data Conclusion: Significant positive and negative T1p associations were identified between load‐bearing hip cartilage‐subregions vs. ipsilateral and contralateral patellar cartilages respectively. The effects were localized on medial subregions of Inter‐limb, in particular. Evidence Level: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization in developing nations like India has exacerbated urban poverty, with proliferation of slum households. These vulnerable urban settings, with high density and asymmetric availability/accessibility of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), provide an amicable ambience for the transmission of contagious diseases. Considering this, geographical targeting and mapping of vulnerable urban groups have emerged as pivotal strategies in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and similar contagions, as endorsed by both the World Health Organization and the World Bank. The asymmetries in WASH provisions across slum households and other low-income areas were brought into sharper focus during COVID-19, revealing the potential for the spread of similar contagions in future. In this context, we employed Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), considering the parameters of physical distancing and WASH provisions in slums, to develop a COVID-19 risk index and map risk zones within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) area. The analysis has been further substantiated through Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) carried out across fifty slums in different risk zones of the KMC to underscore the vulnerability of these areas in the face of pandemics. Our findings highlight the dire situation of slum dwellers, who remain highly susceptible to contagions like COVID-19 due to inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and physical distancing measures. These revelations prompt critical questions on achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals and stress the urgent need for geographical targeting and tailoring of place-specific policies to foster sustainable cities and safeguard the 'right to the city' for these vulnerable sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: "Programme science" deploys scientific methods to address questions that are a priority to support the impact of public health programmes. As such, programme science responds to the challenges of making such studies: (1) feasible to undertake, (2) useful, (3) rigorous, (4) real‐world‐relevant, (5) informative, and undertaken by (6) equitable partnerships. The acronym "FURRIE" is proposed to describe this set of six challenges. This paper discusses selected HIV/STI (sexually transmitted infection) programme science case studies to illustrate how programme science rises to the FURRIE challenges. Discussion: One way in which programme science is made more feasible is through the analysis and interpretation of data collected through service delivery. For some questions, these data can be augmented through methods that reach potential clients of services who have not accessed services or been lost to follow‐up. Process evaluation can enhance the usefulness of programme science by studying implementation processes, programme−client interactions and contextual factors. Ensuring rigour by limiting bias and confounding in the real‐world context of programme science studies requires methodological innovation. Striving for scientific rigour can also have the unintended consequence of creating a gap between what happens in a study, and what happens in the "real‐world." Community‐led monitoring is one approach to grounding data collection in the real‐world experience of clients. Evaluating complex, context‐specific strategies to strengthen health outcomes in a way that is informative for other settings requires clear specification of the intervention packages that are planned and delivered in practice. Programme science provides a model for equitable partnership through co‐leadership between programmes, researchers and the communities they serve. Conclusions: Programme science addresses the FURRIE challenges, thereby improving programme impact and ultimately health outcomes and health equity. The adoption and adaptation of the types of novel programme science approaches showcased here should be promoted within and beyond the HIV/STI field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Single parenthood is becoming increasingly common in today's society for various reasons such as divorce, the death of a spouse, or the choice of parenthood. Regrettably, there seems to be no significant concern among world leaders regarding depression arising from single parenting. Aim: This article aimed to explore the prevalence of depression in single parents, the factors contributing to it, and its effects on their physical and emotional well‐being. Additionally, it aims to investigate the long‐lasting effects of depression in single parents, effective therapeutic approaches to tackle these issues and offer proactive suggestions for relevant global stakeholders. Methodology: A selection of studies was identified through electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases. The search strategy encompassed terms related to single parenthood, depression, mental health, prevalence, risk factors, and treatment modalities. Included studies comprised of peer‐reviewed research articles, systematic reviews, meta‐analyses, and observational studies published in English. Result: Today, there is a growing prevalence of single parenthood due to a range of factors, including divorce, the loss of a partner, and intentional decisions regarding single parenthood. However, this transition comes with challenges, including the risk of developing depression. Depression is a serious mental health condition affecting many individuals worldwide. Raising a child alone increases the likelihood of developing depression for the parent due to the increased burden and responsibilities. Such parents tend to have low self‐esteem, suicide/suicide attempts, and so forth and children born by those parents are vulnerable to depression, physical abuse, infections, etc. Conclusion: Future research should focus on identifying effective interventions for treating depression among single parents and improving the availability of mental health facilities for this vulnerable population, especially in places with a high prevalence of depression. Mental health physicians in collaboration with obstetricians and gynecologists across the globe should offer counseling and mediation services during pre‐conception care visits for both single and partnered parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paediatric rotary file systems have recently been developed for primary teeth use. Aim: To study the cleaning efficacies of two paediatric rotary endodontic files, the Prime PedoTM, and the Kedo‐SG BlueTM against the standard H files. Design: This in vitro study included 54 freshly extracted primary molars, which were randomised into three groups (n = 18 each) and were prepared using either Kedo‐SG BlueTM, Prime PedoTM or hand H files after injecting methylene blue dye into the canals. Pre‐ and post‐operative cone beam computerised tomography (CBCT) was performed to assess change in root canal volumes. Methylene blue dye removal from canals was assessed using stereomicroscopy, and canal cleanliness was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: Both Prime PedoTM and Kedo‐SG BlueTM files reduced significantly less dentine when compared with conventional hand filing with Prime PedoTM removing the least amount of dentine. No significant difference was found in median SEM scores among the groups in the cervical, middle and apical thirds of the roots. Stereomicroscopic assessment of root canal cleanliness using dye removal technique shows a statistically significant difference existing between Kedo‐SG BlueTM and hand H files groups. Conclusion: Prime PedoTM removed the least amount of dentine. Kedo‐SG BlueTM performed significantly better than conventional hand filing with H files when the root canal cleanliness was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled cross‐linking of polymer dielectric poly (4‐vinylphenol) (PVP) is demonstrated as an effective tool in enhancing the performance of flexible organic synaptic transistors (OSTs). Investigation of variation of concentration of the cross‐linking agent methylated poly (melamine‐co‐formaldehyde) (PMCF) in PVP in bilayer combination with high‐k hafnium oxide (HfO2) as gate dielectric in devices shows that the lower concentration of cross‐linking agent results in better memory performance. OSTs with 26% PMCF concentration in PVP (by mass) exhibit excellent memory performance with memory window > 4 V for VGS sweep of ±5 V, static retention of ≈104 s, dynamic retention for 500 cycles, and ≈125 continuous program/erase cycles. Pulse paired facilitation with relaxation time constants of 370 and 4670 ms respectively for slow and rapid phases with regulating modulation amplitude of ≈1 resemble a biological synapse. Through excitatory post synaptic current characteristics, spike timing dependant plasticity and spike voltage dependant plasticity are clearly observed, with low energy consumption per spike on the order of 10 pJ. Further, by leveraging the intricate interconnected data transfer and computation phenomenon, “AND” logic is effectively implemented using these OSTs. These exciting results may open up new directions toward the development of hardware for neuromorphic computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atoms in a crystal lattice vibrate together and generate vibrational modes known as acoustic and optical phonon modes. Similarly, collective vortex gyration motion can be generated in artificial magnetic vortex lattices, created from periodically arranged nanodisks of specific dimensions and aspect ratios. This study uses micromagnetic simulations to characterize the spectra of gyrotropic modes in two‐dimensional magnetic vortex‐based, tailor‐made square lattice arrangements. The shifting of mode frequencies and mode splitting is witnessed depending on the vortex configurations in the lattice. The obtained gyrotropic modes are analogous to two‐dimensional square lattice structures exhibiting acoustic and optical phonon modes. The dynamics of magnetic vortices are also discussed in the transfer of magnetic energy at three points along the three high symmetry directions of the lattice when the central magnetic vortex is excited by a spin‐polarized current with an excitation frequency equal to the collective gyrotropic frequencies of the vortices. Similar to the higher contribution of acoustic phonon modes in the heat transmission process in a crystal lattice, acoustic‐like gyrotropic modes transfer more energy than optical‐like gyration modes in the vortex lattices. These magnetic metastructures hold promise for novel applications in magnetic waveguides and information processing devices, as well as for advancing spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

9H fluoren containing indoline scaffolds were developed by coupling indoline amine with α‐carboxylic acid group of amino acids in the presence of the peptide coupling reagent hexafluorophosphate benzotriazole tetramethyluronium (HBTU). All eight (12a–12h) synthesized indoline scaffolds were analyzed for their potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antibacterial assay revealed that compounds 12a, 12b, and 12e have shown excellent activity against pathogenic strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as between 25 and 125 μg/mL. The antifungal activity of all synthesized indoline scaffolds were moderate compared with used standard drugs. The molecular docking study of 12a, 12b, and 12e with various antibacterial target proteins from different bacterial strains revealed outstanding interactions which ultimately support antibacterial results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual violence remains a persistent and devastating issue in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Aim: To elucidate the sociodemographic, sexual, and obstetrical characteristics associated with the experiences of victims of sexual violence (VSV) among women in the region. Materials and Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted involving 625 women from eastern DRC. Participants provided self‐reported data, collected through interviews conducted by trained female interviewers in secure environments. Associations between VSV and various sociodemographic and reproductive health factors were examined. Results: Of the respondents, 26.1% reported experiences of sexual violence. VSV were predominantly younger, with 56.44% aged between 15 and 24 years. Single women comprised 57.67% of VSV, and 37.42% identified as farmers. There were 33.13% of VSV who were illiterate, and 81.60% belonged to the low socio‐economic stratum. Early physiological and reproductive milestones characterised VSV: 52.15% experienced menarche at or before 13 years, 34.97% initiated sexual intercourse before age 15, and 18.70% reported their first pregnancy before age 15. Higher nulliparity was observed in VSV (29.45%) compared to non‐VSV (9.31%). A lower prevalence of HIV infection was found among VSV (11.04%) relative to non‐VSV (25.76%). Conclusion: Sexual violence in the eastern DRC exhibits multifactorial associations. Younger women, those in certain occupations, and those with specific reproductive histories appear more vulnerable. The findings underscore the urgency for targeted interventions, enhanced access to education, and improved reproductive health services. Addressing these pressing issues should remain a primary focus in both societal and public health spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the advancing generation, commercialization and industrial development are on the incessant proliferation. Due to this unremitting need for development, the danger to the biological health of the environment is on the assurgent rise. Many "clean and green" industrial protocols have been generated and taken into purview but has been ineffective in keeping abreast with the ever‐growing pace of environmental threats. Technology in today's world has been the game changer in revolutionizing the way humans live their lives today but at the same time, has also become the greatest source of threat to the very sustainability of the planet. Thus, newer technological enhancements have been initiated to compensate for the harm to the environment. Of these, green and sustainable nanotechnological methodology and tools to be used as zero waste tools have been developed to efficiently beat the crisis of the hour. For example, the development of various nano‐based zero‐waste tools to the introduction of nanotechnology in various industries like automobiles, water, agriculture, and so on, has changed the way sustainable development has been adopted. This article aims to enhance the success of nanotechnology in the various sustainable developments done in industrial fields to cope up with the need of a "clean and green" environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present world, everyone is health, hygiene, and beauty conscious. Most households use different personal care products (PCPs) to keep themselves clean and hygienic. But when it comes to disposal, not much care is taken. PCPs are being liberated into the environment on a regular basis causing harm to the ecosystem. The prevalence of these PCPs as soaps, nail paints, hair dyes, fragrances, emulsifiers, antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, preservatives, disinfectants, etc. is posing severe health concerns. It has been studied that together these PCPs being biologically active and highly persistent, in turn impacts the lives of living beings. This review work aimed to elucidate and analyze the problems associated with personal care products when discharged into the aquatic system from different sources that cause detrimental effects on the organisms at different trophic levels and on human beings which has been included in this discussion, the variety of sources and how they impact the aquatic life as well as the movement of the emerging toxicants to the higher trophic levels through the food chain. This work also has analyzed the bioremediation of a few toxicants like, paraben, phthalate, sulphate by some potential microorganisms and the limitations in the microbial remediation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Voronoi diagram is a versatile geometric structure used in solving many computational geometry problems in the field of image analysis, computer vision, engineering, medicine, molecular biology and various other disciplines. As a result it is a popular research domain. The literature boasts of many elegant and efficient methods for the construction of the Voronoi diagram in the real space. But these algorithms often fail to perform well when applied to the discrete domain. We present in this paper a novel algorithm for the construction of discrete Voronoi diagram using digital geometric concepts that takes care of the geometric perspective of the Voronoi diagram in the discrete domain. Although our technique is more suited for the CPU but by careful use of some cut‐off heuristics we are able to design a parallel programming approach for the construction of the Voronoi diagram making use of the GPU computational power. The speedup of our algorithm is compatible with the popular GPU technique for Voronoi diagram construction, namely, Jump flood algorithm. But since our algorithm uses the geometric perspective for the construction of Voronoi diagram it gives more accurate output and hence requires no correction step as is the case for the Jump flood algorithm. Furthermore, our approach focuses on extensibility, allowing for easy amenability for construction of higher dimensional Voronoi diagram. This ensures that the Voronoi diagram generation process can be adapted and expanded upon to meet specific requirements or incorporate future enhancements. We present an implementation of the proposed algorithm on a GPU using TAICHI language and describe its performance benefits on multiple input sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structured singular value (SSV), or μ$$ \mu $$, is used to assess the robust stability and performance of an uncertain linear time‐invariant system. Existing algorithms compute upper and lower bounds on the SSV for structured uncertainties that contain repeated (real or complex) scalars and/or nonrepeated complex full‐blocks. This paper presents algorithms to compute bounds on the SSV for the case of repeated complex full‐blocks. This specific class of uncertainty is relevant for the input‐output analysis of many convective systems, such as fluid flows. Specifically, we present a power iteration to compute the SSV lower bound for the case of repeated complex full‐blocks. This generalizes existing power iterations for repeated complex scalars and nonrepeated complex full‐blocks. The upper bound can be formulated as a semi‐definite program (SDP), which we solve using a standard interior‐point method to compute optimal scaling matrices associated with the repeated full‐blocks. Our implementation of the method only requires gradient information, which improves the computational efficiency of the method. Finally, we test our proposed algorithms on an example model of incompressible fluid flow. The proposed methods provide less conservative bounds as compared to prior results, which ignore the repeated full‐block structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Altered prandial glycemic response after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is exaggerated in patients with post‐RYGB hypoglycemia. Increased contribution of glucagon‐like peptide 1 (GLP‐1) to prandial insulin secretion plays a key role in developing hypoglycemia after RYGB, but the role of nonhormonal gut factors remains unknown. Here, the effect of vagal activation on prandial bile acid (BA) composition in relation to glucose, insulin and gut hormone responses was examined in a small size group of nondiabetic subjects after RYGB with intact gallbladder compared to nonoperated controls. Methods: Concentrations of blood glucose, hormones, and BAs were measured in two RYGB subjects with documented hypoglycemia (HGB), three asymptomatic RYGB‐treated subjects (AGB), and four nonoperated controls with intact gallbladders during a meal‐tolerance test with (MTT‐Sham) and without (MTT) preceding modified sham feeding (chew and spit). Key Results: Meal ingestion raised serum total BAs in RYGB‐treated subjects without any effect in nonoperated controls. Modified sham feeding similarly increased meal‐induced responses of conjugated BAs (CBAs) in all subjects (p < 0.05 compared to MTT alone), whereas unconjugated BAs (UBAs), mainly deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acid, were raised only in the HGB group (p < 0.001 for interaction). Prandial UBAs had an inverse correlation with glucose nadir (r = −0.75, p < 0.05) and were directly associated with ISR and GLP‐1 during MTT‐Sham. Conclusions & Inferences: In this small cohort, vagal activation by modified sham feeding increases prandial CBAs in both operated and nonoperated subjects but enhances UBAs only in patients with documented post‐RYGB hypoglycemia. Our findings highlight a potential role for nonhormonal gut factors, such as BA and gut microbiome, in glucose abnormalities after RYGB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep plays an important role in neurodevelopment. However, the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on sleep quality have been understudied, despite reports of sleep disturbance in infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and elevated levels of sleep problems reported by caregivers of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The current study characterizes sleep in children with prenatal alcohol exposure using both objective (actigraphy) and subjective (questionnaires, sleep diaries) methods. Methods: Participants aged 6–10 years, with and without prenatal alcohol exposure, were included in the study (alcohol‐exposed [AE]: n = 35; control [CON]: n = 39). Objective sleep was measured via 24‐h actigraphy for 2 weeks. Parents completed sleep diaries and sleep questionnaires (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to characterize the sleep profile (objective, subjective) and examine group differences. Results: There were no group differences on actigraphy metrics averaged across 2 weeks. However, the AE group showed significantly greater intraindividual variability on most actigraphy measures, particularly total sleep time, percent sleep, wake after sleep onset, and number of wake bouts. Parents reported significantly more sleep problems in the AE group than in the CON group, primarily driven by night wakings, parasomnias (e.g., sleepwalking), snoring, and daytime sleepiness. These effects were more severe in children >8.5 years of age. Conclusions: Despite similar 2‐week average sleep outcomes, children with prenatal alcohol exposure showed greater intraindividual sleep variability and parents reported more sleep problems related to sleep behavior and snoring. These difficulties with sleep may be related to other cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Importantly, sleep is a modifiable behavior, and interventions that focus on variability in sleep, particularly in sleep duration, can impact the quality of life in children with prenatal alcohol exposure and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of innovative antifungal medications to address the issues of indiscriminate antifungal use contributes to certain antifungal drug resistance. To tackle this issue, we have designed and synthesized novel amino acids naphthalene scaffolds (6 a–6 i) (Scheme 1) by acid amine coupling between compound 5 and various amino acids. Moreover, we evaluated the antifungal, anti‐bacterial and antimalarial activities of synthesized derivatives. Among them, compounds Met (6 a), Phe (6 c), Lys (6 d), Ser (6 f), and Tyr (6 i) expressed excellent antifungal activity at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 250 μg/mL against Candida albicans compared to standard drug griseofulvin (500 μg/mL). The antibacterial assay results showed that compound Met (6 a) exhibited effective antibacterial activity at MIC value at 50 and 62.5 μg/mL against Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively, and compound Trp (6 g) showed very good antibacterial activity at MIC 62.5 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. The antimalarial activity of synthesized compoundsVal (6 b) and Lys (6 d) showed moderately active with mean IC50 of 0.69 and 0.47 μg/mL, respectively compared with standard drug quinine (IC50=0.26 μg/mL). Also, a molecular docking study was performed to demonstrate the binding energy of synthesized scaffoldswith effective interaction with various proteins. The compound Met (6 a) showed that the highest binding affinity (binding energy: −7.1 kcal/mol) which interacted more effectively with VAL 120 (2.90 Å). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity supply reliability in an electricity distribution network is majorly affected due to unexpected power failures and power cuts. A hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) with the optimal size of renewable energy sources can substantially improve power reliability. Therefore, this article develops an objective function incorporating socio‐techno‐economic‐environmental (STEE) factors for HRES optimal sizing to supply reliable power to a rural village. The factors considered in the objective function are namely social (employment generation factor, human progress index, and land cost), technical (excess energy factor, renewable energy portion, and loss of power supply probability), economical (total net present cost, cost of energy, and annualized cost of system), and environmental (emission cost). In this article, for the first time, marine predators algorithm (MPA) based metaheuristic optimizer is devised to address the sizing optimization problem of HRES. Three HRES configurations, having different arrangements of diesel generator (DG), biogas generator (BG), battery (BAT), wind turbine (WT), and photovoltaic (PV), are examined utilizing MPA, particle swarm optimization (PSO), salp swarm algorithm (SSA), and genetic algorithm (GA) for optimal configuration. Due to the lowest value of economical and environmental factors and the highest value of the social factor, the PV‐WT‐BAT‐BG‐DG configuration is optimal compared to other investigated configurations with MPA. Comparing the four optimizers, MPA has the best STEE factor values, as well as stronger convergence, greater ability to escape from local minima, and higher ability to approach the global optimum. Additionally, by contrasting it with the PSO result for the three HRES configurations, the MPA result quality is confirmed. Furthermore, the cost of energy (0.1799 $/kWh) of the optimal configuration is less than the latest addressed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA topoisomerases are attractive targets for anticancer agents. Dual topoisomerase I/II inhibitors are particularly appealing due to their reduced rates of resistance. A number of therapeutically relevant topoisomerase inhibitors are bacterial natural products. Mining the untapped chemical diversity encoded by soil microbiomes presents an opportunity to identify additional natural topoisomerase inhibitors. Here we couple metagenome mining, bioinformatic structure prediction algorithms, and chemical synthesis to produce the dual topoisomerase inhibitor tapcin. Tapcin is a mixed p‐aminobenzoic acid (PABA)‐thiazole with a rare tri‐thiazole substructure and picomolar antiproliferative activity. Tapcin reduced colorectal adenocarcinoma HT‐29 cell proliferation and tumor volume in mouse hollow fiber and xenograft models, respectively. In both studies it showed similar activity to the clinically used topoisomerase I inhibitor irinotecan. The study suggests that the interrogation of soil microbiomes using synthetic bioinformatic natural product methods has the potential to be a rewarding strategy for identifying potent, biomedically relevant, antiproliferative agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mesogenic glycine based Schiff base compound of the type, (E)‐methyl 2‐((2‐hydroxy‐4‐(tetradecyloxy)benzylidene)amino)acetate (HL) has been successfully synthesized and characterized using analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The Schiff base compound was evaluated for chemosensor activity towards different metal ions using fluorescence spectroscopy. The experiment reveals highly efficient and selective "turn‐on" and "turn‐off" responses of the fluorescence intensity towards zinc(II) and copper(II), respectively, in presence of other metal ions. The binding constant and the stoichiometry ratio were determined using Benesi‐Hildebrand equation giving 1 : 1 stoichiometry. The limits of detection for both the metal ions were estimated from the fluorescence titration experiments. The reversibility nature of the Schiff base probe was also studied using EDTA as chelating ligand. The compound, HL exhibits two INHIBIT logic gates with chemical inputs (i) Zn2+ (IN1) and Cu2+ (IN2) and (ii) Zn2+ (IN1) and EDTA (IN2). An IMPLICATION logic gate was also obtained when Cu2+ (IN1) and EDTA (IN2) serve as chemical inputs. The compound was found to exhibit potent antibacterial activity and efficient binding interaction with BSA. Molecular docking studies were carried out in order to ascertain the degree of interaction and the nature of binding of the compound with the proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal properties of naturally sourced biomolecules, such as ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract, are documented in the traditional Indian and Chinese medical systems. However, limited work is performed to assess the potential of ginger extracts for bone--tissue engineering. Our work demonstrates the direct incorporation of ginger extract on iron oxide--magnesium oxide (Fe2O3 and MgO) co-doped hydroxyapatite (HA) for enhancement in the biological properties. The addition of Fe2O3 and MgO co-doping system and ginger extract with HA increases the osteoblast viability up to ~1.4 times at day 11. The co-doping does not adversely affect the release of ginger extract from the graft surface in the biological medium at pH 7.4 for up to 28 days. Assessment of antibacterial efficacy according to the modified ISO 22196: 2011 standard method indicates that the combined effects of Fe2O3, MgO, and ginger extract lead to ~82% more bacterial cell reduction, compared to the control HA against Staphylococcus aureus. These ginger extract-loaded artificial bone grafts with enhanced biological properties may be utilized as an on-site delivery vehicle for various bone--tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of process parameters like enzyme concentration, concentration and type of substrate, pH, temperature, speed of agitation, and pressure on lipase catalysis are reviewed. The enzyme concentration controls its interfacial presence and consequently the rate of reaction. A change in substrate concentration alters lipase kinetics. Substrate‐lipase interaction varies with substrate type and pH. Water concentration and agitation affect the extent of interfacial area. Temperature impacts the rate and thermal denaturation of enzymes. Statistical optimization can solve the problem of controlling a variable's effect by other variables. Immobilization support and nonionic surfactant altered the significance of enzyme concentration. The lipase type controlled the impact of concentrations of enzyme, substrate, and water. The water content was important during lipase‐catalyzed hydrolysis and esterification. The mode of agitation influenced the significance of enzyme concentration and temperature. Time had a remarkable impact during hydrolysis. Temperature, substrate type, and chain length notably controlled kinetic parameters. This work paves the way for similar studies on other enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulated macrophage responses and changes in tissue metabolism are hallmarks of chronic inflammation in the skin. However, the metabolic cues that direct and support macrophage functions in the skin are poorly understood. Here, we show that during sterile skin inflammation, the epidermis and macrophages uniquely depend on glycolysis and the TCA cycle, respectively. This compartmentalisation is initiated by ROS-induced HIF-1α stabilization leading to enhanced glycolysis in the epidermis. The end-product of glycolysis, lactate, is then exported by epithelial cells and utilized by the dermal macrophages to induce their M2-like fates through NF-κB pathway activation. In addition, we show that psoriatic skin disorder is also driven by such lactate metabolite-mediated crosstalk between the epidermis and macrophages. Notably, small-molecule inhibitors of lactate transport in this setting attenuate sterile inflammation and psoriasis disease burden, and suppress M2-like fate acquisition in dermal macrophages. Our study identifies an essential role for the metabolite lactate in regulating macrophage responses to inflammation, which may be effectively targeted to treat inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis. Synopsis: Inflammation alters skin tissue metabolism, however, the consequences for immune cell effector function remain unclear. Here, in vivo work in mice uncovers a ROS/HIF-1α-induced metabolic crosstalk between epidermal cells and macrophages during sterile inflammation, which aggravates disease progression. Induced skin inflammation shifts metabolic preferences to glycolysis and the TCA cycle in the epidermis and in macrophages, respectively. Inflammation-induced metabolic compartmentalisation is bridged by lactate secreted from the epidermis. Inhibition of lactate transport leads to reduced macrophage-mediated ECM degradation and in turn, inflammation. Inhibition of lactate transfer attenuates psoriasis symptoms in a imiquimod-induced mouse model. Lactate produced via glycolysis in epidermal cells activates NF-κB signaling and M2-like pro-remodeling phenotypes in dermal macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXenes are a promising class of two‐dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, widely utilized in diverse fields such as energy storage, electromagnetic shielding, electrocatalysis, and sensing applications. Their potential in chemical sensing is particularly noteworthy, where optimizing surface chemistry for strong interaction with target analytes and increasing surface area for efficient gas adsorption are crucial factors. In this study, a versatile and general self‐assembly method for fabricating nanometer‐scale thin films of surface‐functionalized MXene, enabling high‐performance gas sensors is developed. By dropping MXene dispersed in organic solvents onto nonsolvents, rapid formation of nanometer‐scale films is achieved. This method allows easy adjustment of film properties by using different solvent‐nonsolvent combinations, leading to improved optoelectronic properties compared to conventional techniques. The surface‐functionalized MXenes using ADOPA ligands greatly enhance the gas response and long‐term environmental stability compared to pristine MXenes. Computational methods are also employed to gain insights into the molecular interactions and changes in electronic structure that contribute to the enhanced sensing properties. Furthermore, the environmental stability of MXene sensors is largely enhanced after surface functionalization, which can be attributed to increased surface hydrophobicity. Overall, this innovative technique opens up opportunities for tailoring MXene thin films for specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of environmentally and socially responsible practices, particularly in the form of low‐emission supply chain management (LESCM), has become increasingly vital for businesses globally. Renewable energy‐oriented LESCM practices are effective tools for proactive and leading manufacturing organizations, making them socially and environmentally responsible enterprises. In this context, our research focuses on understanding how LESCM implementation by companies may indirectly impact firms' financial success, through facilitating the adoption of blockchain technology (BT). Furthermore, we investigated the impact of the adoption of BT on reducing business operating costs and improving the business's environmental performance. To answer these research questions, we have used survey data from 189 Bangladeshi manufacturing firms, a developing country facing unique challenges and opportunities in the realm of sustainable business practices. Through rigorous analysis and robust statistical methods, we substantiate our hypotheses, shedding light on the positive associations between LESCM practices, BT adoption, financial performance, cost reduction, and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency‐dependent dielectric constant and dielectric loss of pristine and green‐synthesized (using Tabernaemontana divaricata flower extract) ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are studied at different temperatures. Below 1 kHz frequency and at temperatures above 100 °C, ZnO NPs have giant dielectric constant values (≈3 × 104). At lower frequencies and at/below 100 °C, the nature of temperature dependence of dielectric constant for pristine and green‐synthesized ZnO NPs are reversed, and this anomalous temperature dependence is correlated with the in‐plane and out‐of‐plane thermal expansions of ZnO. A temperature‐dependent poly‐dispersive relaxation mechanism in ZnO has been observed. The electrical conduction mechanism is found to be significantly modulated by the use of flower extract. The electric modulus study suggests similar mechanism of electrical conduction and dielectric polarization followed in these materials. A plausible growth mechanism of the ZnO NPs in presence of the flower extract is explored. Variations in the dielectric constant, dielectric loss, conductivity, and polarization mechanisms of the ZnO NPs are understood as signatures of the capping effect of the phytochemicals present in the flower extract on the crystal growth and formation of grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on women empowerment highlights a positive correlation between work and decision‐making power of women within families. On the contrary, the role of work opportunities in letting women achieve greater control over their lives, making them more independent is also well‐established. In this background, we explore the effect of women employment on different dimensions of women empowerment by using a nationally representative household survey data, the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS‐II, 2011–12). As "empowerment" is unobservable, multi‐faceted and difficult to quantify, we model it by an index which aggregates the qualitative answers provided by a respondent. Due to the presence of an endogenous relation, we exploit sources of exogenous variations in employment through an instrumental variable (IV) setup. Following the literature, we identify IV as the level of transport infrastructure in the region where a woman resides. We find that the estimated coefficients are positive and statistically significant, remaining robust to changes in empowerment calculation. In the context of public initiatives aimed at improving female labour force participation and empowering women in India, our results show how policymakers can look beyond standard policies and take the help of transport‐related initiatives to improve employment and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new protocol by the combinatory use of two equivalent of indazoles starting material with one being the carbon source via its C3‐reactivity and the other, the coupling partner has been developed for the selectfluor‐mediated single atom skeletal editing of 2H‐indazoles. The azo‐linked‐2,3‐disubstituted quinazolin‐4‐one derivatives were obtained through a carbon atom insertion between the two nitrogens of the indazole ring and simultaneous oxidation at C3 position of both indazole moieties. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the amidic carbonyl oxygen of the product is derived from water and the reaction proceeds through in‐situ generated N‐centred indazolone radical intermediate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field practicum is an integral part of social work education, and students of bachelor's and master's levels need to gain the requisite experience of field practicum to achieve the degrees. Like many practice‐based disciplines, social work has been facing enormous challenges in arranging field practicum during COVID‐19. This qualitative study aims to understand the experiences of social work faculties, students, and agency representatives for field practicum in the time of the COVID crisis in Bangladesh. Four public universities having social work schools were selected purposively and a total of 18 in‐depth interviews and four Key Informant Interviews were conducted with different stakeholders related to field practicum. The study finds that though theoretical classes were conducted using online platforms, students faced many hurdles in completing their field practicum. Several innovative strategies, such as community‐based field practice, delaying completion of field practicum, reducing daily working hours, etc. were followed to adapt to the new normal situation. This pandemic seemed to be a lesson for everyone to think of an alternative arrangement for field practicum, such as developing a flexible curriculum, virtual fieldwork, community‐based field practice, field meetings, concurrent fieldwork, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brainstem pedunculopontine (PPN) and laterodorsal tegmental (LDTg) nuclei are involved in multifarious activities, including motor control. Yet, their exact cytoarchitectural boundaries are still uncertain. We therefore initiated a comparative study of the topographical and neurochemical organization of the PPN and LDTg in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and humans. The distribution and morphological characteristics of neurons expressing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and/or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (Nadph‐δ) were documented. The number and density of the labeled neurons were obtained by stringent stereological methods, whereas their topographical distribution was reported upon corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) planes. In both human and nonhuman primates, the PPN and LDTg are populated by three neurochemically distinct types of neurons (ChAT‐/Nadph‐δ+, ChAT+/Nadph‐δ‐, and ChAT+/Nadph‐δ+), which are distributed according to a complex spatial interplay. Three‐dimensional reconstructions reveal that ChAT+ neurons in the PPN and LDTg form a continuum with some overlaps with pigmented neurons of the locus coeruleus, dorsally, and of the substantia nigra (SN) complex, ventrally. The ChAT+ neurons in the PPN and LDTg are —two to three times more numerous in humans than in monkeys but their density is —three to five times higher in monkeys than in humans. Neurons expressing both ChAT and Nadph‐δ have a larger cell body and a longer primary dendritic arbor than singly labeled neurons. Stereological quantification reveals that 25.6% of ChAT+ neurons in the monkey PPN are devoid of Nadph‐δ staining, a finding that questions the reliability of Nadph‐δ as a marker for cholinergic neurons in primate brainstem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3) in its aqueous solution form is used in various day‐to‐day applications such as laboratory reagents, fertilizers, and household cleaning due to its solubility in water. Hence, it is extremely important to have a large‐scale sensing system to avoid unintended health hazards. In this article, a printed washable TiO2 nanoparticle (NP) layer‐based sensing solution to detect evaporated ammonia from its aqueous solution has been demonstrated in this regard. The response has a range of 1 to 25% w/v and is found to be considerably linear in the low concentration level of the ammonia solution. The sensitivity is found to be 0.47/% in the linear region. The sensor illustrates considerably easy fabrication, reusability, and gas adsorption on the sensing layer. Printed electrodes are employed on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate with a washable sensing layer. It is observed that the longevity of the electrodes is considerably high. A maximum 7.5% variation in the response is observed for the reused sensor after washing. Further, it is found that the electrodes are stable enough to be used up to 4 months in ambient conditions. The sensor can be useful to monitor the leakage of NH3 solution in industrial complexes and also in households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delvedinto the BrilliantBlue FCF (BB) dye encapsulation within the nano hydrophobic cavity of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) utilizing various spectroscopic and physicochemical techniques. Job's plot using UV‐visible and Fluorescence spectroscopy, surface tension, and conductance study confirmed 1 : 1 stoichiometry of theinclusion complex (BBIC).1H NMR and FT‐IR studies demonstrated the possible binding mode of BB into the β‐CD cavity, which wasin good agreement withthe DFT study. The degree of affinity of β‐CD for BB in the ground state and excited state were estimatedfromUV‐visible andFluorescence spectroscopy(binding constant=8113.9451 M−1and10199.563 M−1), andthe negative free binding energyshowedthe encapsulation process to bethermodynamically feasible. PXRD analysis and SEM image studies revealed the formation of the BBIC. After complexation with β‐CD, the photostability of BB was found to be enhanced. The interaction study of BB and BBIC with CT‐DNA revealed the sustained release of BB from the complex. Furthermore, neither BBICnor free BB exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect on the normal cell line HEK‐293. However, BBIC complex (IC50=6.15 μM) showed significant in vitrocytotoxic activity compared to pure BB (IC50=8.90 μM) towards cancer cell line A549. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer psychology refers to how people think and act within an economic role in market exchange. However, we know little about how consumers actually perceive these roles, or how they understand markets and economic activity more broadly. That is, we lack an understanding of the economic reasoning of non‐expert consumers, how it departs from formal economic reasoning, and why. The current paper is intended to address this gap. We provide an integrative review of research on lay economic reasoning that consistently reveals how differently lay consumers and economists think about markets. We propose a unifying mental model to explain these divergences. Suggest why it is reinforced by what lay consumers observe (and do not observe) through firsthand marketplace experience, and note its potential evolutionary basis. We then highlight how understanding lay economic reasoning can not only help explain a wide array of marketplace phenomena, but also provide a novel lens to help advance, generate, and better integrate theory across many active literatures within consumer psychology. Without markets, there are no consumers and there is no marketing. We therefore call for consumer psychologists to take ownership of the study of lay economic reasoning and make markets more central to marketing scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventive healthcare behavior (PHB) refers to actions taken by consumers to avert possible incidences of lifestyle diseases. Over the years, diverse approaches have been used to comprehend the complex nature of PHB. This paper follows a three‐step process to examine work done in the PHB domain. At the outset, past literature was examined. This review included PHB models and frameworks, followed by a root‐cause analysis to identify factors that impacted PHB adoption. A systematic literature review (SLR) using a domain‐based hybrid review approach was the study's third and most crucial part. The SPAR‐4‐SLR (scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews) protocol was used to conduct the hybrid review, involving two separate review studies. In the first study, a bibliometric analysis was carried out, wherein a trend analysis was conducted on an initial pool of 1011 primary peer‐reviewed publications (1998–2023). The trend analysis was followed by a co‐citation network analysis of 39,608 secondary articles, which validated the importance of primary articles as indicated by the co‐citations in these secondary articles. Further, a purification process based on reliability, validity, and replicability criteria resulted in a final pool of 190 relevant articles. These articles were subjected to a thematic analysis. Next, a framework‐based review based on the theories, contexts, characteristics, and methods (TCCM) framework was conducted on the 190 articles. This step validated the primary study findings. Additionally, it examined and reported the underlying theories, context (country level), characteristics, and methods adopted by previous PHB studies. This analysis helps in indicating the future research agenda regarding PHB. Furthermore, the inferences drawn from the two studies were used to propose a conceptual framework for understanding consumers' PHB decisions based on the antecedents, decisions, and outcomes (ADO) framework. The framework posits that specific personal, demographic, cultural, social and socioeconomic factors are precursors to PHB adoption. This PHB adoption, in turn, has positive outcomes such as enhanced quality of life, consumer wellbeing, health promotion, health behavior change, and planning. The comprehensive review and proposed framework will significantly help advance knowledge about PHB. Apart from contributing to the academic literature, learnings from this study hold value for practitioners at the global level for designing actionable strategies for preventive healthcare products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, digital consumer engagement has proliferated like never before. Consumers can now interact with a business, company, or brand through technology, making it easier for them to communicate and create a relationship with the brand. Drawing on the Theory‐Context‐Characteristics‐Methods (TCCM) framework, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the dominant theories, contexts (i.e., industries and countries), characteristics (i.e., key variables and their relationships), and methods (i.e., research approaches and analysis techniques) covered by previous studies concerning Digital Consumer Engagement in the social network domain. In all, 221 articles were considered for the systematic review using the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR‐4‐SLR) approach. The present study found that the User and Gratification Theory has been prominently referenced in the relevant literature that was reviewed. The study concludes, among other things, that further research is needed in the context of social media platforms such as Weibo, LinkedIn, and others. Though the literature covers a variety of countries, with Asian countries making the greatest contribution, there is still a need for future studies to include the context of Africa and Australia. Further, future research must focus on industries such as automotive, telecommunications, and retail, as well as B2B and B2C contexts, all of which have received less attention from researchers so far. Finally, we used the TCCM framework to identify certain promising areas that future research can explore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the capabilities of a platform for nonenzymatic glucose sensing employing a novel 3D printed three‐electrode mask‐embedded design. A reservoir‐on‐mask has been fabricated for smart sample insertion to avoid spillage. Working and counter silver electrodes are modified with three different material combinations such as graphene oxide (GO), poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and GO + PEDOT:PSS, and their performance comparison is demonstrated. It is observed that the GO + PEDOT:PSS modification shows 94.57 and 71.01% higher sensitivity than GO and PEDOT:PSS, respectively, including a higher linearity compared to its counterparts. Glucose concentrations ranging from 50 to 300 mg dL−1 are detected by employing cyclic voltammetry and electrical impedance spectroscopic technique. Herein, a significantly high sensitivity of 18.8 μAmM−1 cm−2 and low limit of detection ≈ 0.4 mM has been achieved for the proposed sensor. The 3D printed mask structure provides 75% higher sample retention ability, greater reliability in terms of sample placement in the sensor and improved test performances. The proposed sensor can provide a stable and large‐scale deployable solution to future biosensing platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]