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Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a chronic and progressive syndrome associated with a poor prognosis. While it may seem intuitive that the risk of adverse outcomes varies across the different stages of HF, an overview of these risks is lacking. This study aims to determine the risk of all‐cause mortality and HF hospitalizations associated with new‐onset HF, chronic HF (CHF), worsening HF (WHF), and advanced HF. Methods and results: We performed a systematic review of observational studies from 2012 to 2022 using five different databases. The primary outcomes were 30‐day and 1‐year all‐cause mortality, as well as 1‐year HF hospitalization. Studies were pooled using random effects meta‐analysis, and mixed‐effects meta‐regression was used to compare the different HF groups. Among the 15 759 studies screened, 66 were included representing 862 046 HF patients. Pooled 30‐day mortality rates did not reveal a significant distinction between hospital‐admitted patients, with rates of 10.13% for new‐onset HF and 8.11% for WHF (p = 0.10). However, the 1‐year mortality risk differed and increased stepwise from CHF to advanced HF, with a rate of 8.47% (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.24–9.89) for CHF, 21.15% (95% CI 17.78–24.95) for new‐onset HF, 26.84% (95% CI 23.74–30.19) for WHF, and 29.74% (95% CI 24.15–36.10) for advanced HF. Readmission rates for HF at 1 year followed a similar trend. Conclusions: Our meta‐analysis of observational studies confirms the different risk for adverse outcomes across the distinct HF stages. Moreover, it emphasizes the negative prognostic value of WHF as the first progressive stage from CHF towards advanced HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Heart failure (HF) is a progressive disease in which periods of clinical stability are interrupted by episodes of clinical deterioration known as worsening heart failure (WHF). Patients who develop WHF are at high risk of subsequent death, rehospitalization, and excessive healthcare costs. As such, WHF could be seen as a separate disease stage and precursor of advanced HF. Whether WHF has a substantial health, societal, and economic impact evidence regarding its multifactorial nature and the specific barriers in treatment, including advanced HF therapies, remains scarce. The CHAIN‐HF registry aims to describe the incidence, characteristics, current treatment, and outcomes of WHF. Additionally, it will promote structured regional collaboration and educate on increasing awareness for WHF and describe the implementation of guideline directed medical therapy and utilization of advanced HF therapies in a collaborative network. Methods and results: The CHAIN‐HF registry is a prospective, observational, and multicentre study from the collaborating hospitals (Rijnmond HF Network) in the Rotterdam area. Unselected and consecutive patients (irrespective of ejection fraction) with a WHF event will be included. Comprehensive data including demographics, co‐morbidities, treatment, and in‐hospital and post‐discharge outcomes will be collected. Notably, data on socio‐economic status, treatment decisions, and referral for advanced HF therapies will be included. Conclusions: CHAIN‐HF will be the first prospective, dedicated WHF registry in a collaborative network of hospitals that will provide robust real‐world evidence on the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of WHF. Moreover, it will provide information on of the value of regional collaboration to improve awareness and outcomes of WHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measles virus (MV) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age. Molecular identification of circulating wild‐type MV) strains is a vital component of the measles elimination program. We received 159 oral swab samples from Afghanistan during 2008–2018. Viral RNA was extracted, followed by one‐step RT‐PCR and positive amplicons were subject to sequencing for genotype identification. Out of 159 total samples, 52% (83/159) were detected positive by RT‐PCR. Genotype D4 was identified from 2.4% (2/83), genotype H1, 4.8% (4/83), and genotype B3, 92.7% (77/83) cases, respectively. Highlights: Molecular surveillance of the Measles virus is an essential tool for the elimination program.Current molecular surveillance of the measles virus is based on 450 nucleotides of the N gene.Molecular characterization of the Measles virus is efficient and useful to distinguish the chain of transmission of the measles virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oily sludge contains a wide range of carcinogenic and toxic organic and inorganic compounds that enter into the terrestrial environment and may be toxic to plants. Plants grown over oily sludge–contaminated soil may undergo changes in physiology and in the antioxidant enzymes system due to the presence of toxic hydrocarbons. Information is scarce regarding the inoculation of oily sludge on the changes in the physiology of plants. The present study evaluated the effect of a constructed bacterial consortium and fertilizers on maize (Zea mays L.) growth and survival and on its antioxidant system under the stress environment of 30% and 60% oily sludge. Maize grown over 30% and 60% oily sludge was inoculated with a consortium of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria strains (Bacillus cereus [Acc KF859972], Bacillus altitudinis [Acc KF859970], comamonadaceae (Delftia) [Acc KF859971], and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia [Acc KF859973]). The bioavailability of some phytotoxic trace elements was also evaluated. Germination was inhibited when plants were grown without inoculation; however, no inhibition to the germination of maize was observed when bacterial consortium was added to oily sludge. A significant difference in the bioavailability of Cu and Zn was observed under maize rhizosphere oily sludge inoculated with consortium. Germination rate, protein, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase in bacterial consortium–inoculated maize was higher in plants grown in oily sludge compared with plants grown in untreated sludge. The bacterial consortium suppressed the oxidative stress of plants grown in oily sludge and enhanced maize tolerance to oily sludge. The bacterial consortium can be used for enhancing plant nutrient uptake and to increase biochemical and plant enzymes and can be used by oil refineries to remediate soils contaminated with oily sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica‐polyurea/polyuretane hybrid shell microcapsules (MCs) loaded with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with long shelf‐life and high thermal and chemical stability are prepared via emulsification followed by interfacial polymerization at the surface of oil droplets of the oil‐in‐water emulsion. The resultant MCs are aimed at self‐healing performance in epoxy coatings. A commercially available, highly reactive polyisocyanate named tris(p‐isocyanatophenyl) thiophosphate is successfully employed as shell forming agent, while triethoxyoctylsilane and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDMS) are tested as "latent" active hydrogen sources. The resulting MCs display core–shell morphology, spherical shape with diameter of 5–20 μm, shell thickness ca. 1–2 μm, and an IPDI core fraction of 69 and 65 wt %, when HDMS and triethoxyoctylsilane are employed, respectively. MCs exhibit an increased thermal stability, comparing with pure IPDI, which makes them robust enough to resist the thermal cycles involved in the coating's preparation. Stability of MCs inside specific solvents and chemicals, their chemical composition and shelf‐life as well as effect of MCs on the epoxy curing are evaluated by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. MCs, remarkably, show excellent environment stability and a long shelf‐life of more than 3.5 months. Their addition to an epoxy formulation is found to heal damaged zones in the epoxy coating, as shown by scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48751. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all over the world, herbal drugs are usually adulterated with similar species or varieties due to incorrect identification. Most of herbal products devoid purity and quality, therefore an attempt was carried out to identify plant species and authenticate its herbal drug products from Mentha suaveolens. Microscopy tools provide an excellent platform to identify plants at species level. In this study, microscopic and pharmacokinetic parameters of M. suaveolens were observed. Plant species were collected from high diverse areas of Northern Pakistan. Macro and micro‐morphology including palynology and anatomical features were analyzed to study M. suaveolens. Species characteristics were studied, while implementing microscopic techniques for the delimitation and identification of the species. Traditionally Mentha species are used to cure several diseases that is, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders. Micromorphology (stem, leaves, flowers structure, length etc.), palynology (shape, size of pollen etc.), and anatomical characters (types of stomata, epidermal cell shape, and trichomes) were studied. Micromorphology and anatomical characters were of great interest and significance to discuss the taxonomy of the species. Taxonomic characters were studied to characterize and authenticate the species. The aim of the present study is to observe in detail the taxonomic identification of the species in term of morphology, palynology, and foliar epidermal anatomy for the correct identification along with their medicinal uses in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon is now firmly established as a high performance photonic material. Its only weakness is the lack of a native electrically driven light emitter that operates CW at room temperature, exhibits a narrow linewidth in the technologically important 1300-1600 nm wavelength window, is small and operates with low power consumption. Here, an electrically pumped all-silicon nano light source around 1300-1600 nm range is demonstrated at room temperature. Using hydrogen plasma treatment, nano-scale optically active defects are introduced into silicon, which then feed the photonic crystal nanocavity to enhance the electrically driven emission in a device via Purcell effect. A narrow ( [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the family of rare earth (RE) dopants, the doping of first member Ce into GaN is the least studied system. This article reports structure properties of Ce-doped GaN realized by technique of ion implantation. Ce ions were implanted into metal organic chemical vapor deposition grown n- and p-GaN/sapphire thin films at doses 3 × 1014 and 2 × 1015 cm−2. X-ray diffraction scans and Raman scattering measurements exhibited expansion of lattice in the implanted portion of the samples. First order Raman scattering spectra show appearance of several disorder-activated Raman scattering modes in addition to typical GaN features. A dose-dependent decrease in intensity of E2 mode was observed in Raman the spectra of the implanted samples. Ultraviolet Raman spectra of implanted samples show complete quenching of photoluminescence emission and appearance of multiple A1(LO) phonon scattering modes up to fifth order. Moreover, a decrease in intensity and an increase in line width of LO modes as a function of wavenumber were observed for implanted samples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on intercalated conducting polypyrrole (PPy) into the galleries of inorganic aluminum-pillared Montmorillonite (Al-PMMT) clay with varying concentrations of Al-PMMT were prepared by in situ chemical polymerization. The intercalation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction pattern. Charge transport mechanism in these composites was investigated by temperature dependent direct current conductivity measurements. An increase in DC conductivity value on addition of (Al-PMMT) clay in the composites at all temperatures and a transition from three-dimensional (3D) Mott's variable range hopping (VRH) process in pristine PPy to one-dimensional (1D) Mott's VRH process in the intercalated polymer composites has been observed. This transition in charge transport mechanism of PPy from 3D VRH to 1D VRH on intercalation has been interpreted in terms of straightening and linearization of polymer chains and decrease in inter-chain interactions in the intercalated PPy. Enhancement in mechanical properties and increase in thermal stability of the nanocomposites was also observed with the increase in weight percentage of Al-PMMT in PPy-Al-PMMT composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-sectional study has been carried out in order to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in susceptible hosts in the Punjab region (Pakistan). A total of 170 equines and 150 dromedary camels were examined. Five (3.3%) and 6 (4%) camels were positive at parasitological and serological examination, respectively. None of the equines tested positive at any method. These results seem to indicate that T. evansi infection has a relatively low prevalence in the Punjab region. However, efforts must be done in order to establish control measures in affected herds and avoid dissemination of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effect of aluminum on lead-induced nephropathy in male albino rats. Five groups of male albino rats were given either water only or lead acetate (125 mg/kg body weight) and/or aluminum chloride (50 mg/kg body weight or 100 mg/kg body weight) for a period of 90 days. Aluminum was found to prevent the lead-induced increase in the relative organ (kidney) weight in a dose-dependent manner. Aluminum also prevented lead-induced increase in plasma creatinine levels of the treated animals. Estimation of lead concentration in kidneys of different treatment groups revealed that the net deposition of lead was lower in animals which were given both lead acetate and aluminum chloride simultaneously. The results showed that aluminum offers some protection against lead-induced nephrotoxicity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]