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In this present work, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were obtained by a one-part Co-precipitation method. Secondly, a simple solvothermal method was employed to synthesize Chitosan (CS) coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Chitosan was used as a surface modification agent. The surface of Chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles was conjugated with Folic Acid (FA). Various properties of the resultant products were performed by characterization studies. The structure and surface morphology of as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The physical parameter such as strain and the crystallite size was evaluated for all the reflection peaks of the samples by using Williamson–Hall (W-H plot) method. Determination of the chemical component was marked by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analyses. UV- Vis experiment was carried out to record optical absorbance and the bandgap energy of the nanoparticles was determined by Tauc’s plot. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted to recognize the thermal stability of the magnetic nanoparticles and endothermic peaks were observed from the first derivative of the TGA curve (DTG curve).

The capability of battery materials to deliver not only high lithium storage capacity, but also the ability to operate at high charge/discharge rates is an essential property for development of new batteries. In the present work, the influence on the charge/discharge rate behaviour of substoichiometric concentrations of phosphorus (P) in silicon (Si) nanoparticles was studied. The results revealed an increase in rate capability as a function of the P concentration between 0 and 5.2 at %, particularly during delithiation. The stoichiometry of the nanoparticles was found to strongly affect the formation of the Li3.5Si phase during lithiation. Cyclic stability experiments demonstrated an initial increase in capacity for the SiPx materials. Galvanostatic intermittent titration technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy demonstrated the increased lithium diffusivity with inclusion of P. Density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics were deployed to provide a rationale for the electrochemical behaviour of SiPx.

In the present investigation, preliminary phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of diethyl ether, methanol and aqueous Grape seed extracts were examined. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of active ingredients such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, saponins in Grape seed extracts. The antibacterial activity was performed by agar-well diffusion method using different solvent extracts. Three bacterial pathogens such as gram positive- Streptococcus pyogenes and gram negativePectobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas putida were used as test organisms. Among the three solvents used methanolic extract was found to be more active against tested pathogenic bacteria, as they showed potential phytochemical constituents. Among all the tested organisms Streptococcus pyogenes was found to be more sensitive by all the extracts. The results of present study supports the usage of Grape seeds and also suggests that methanolic grape seed extract possess compounds with antimicrobial property that can be used as antimicrobial agent for the therapy of infectious diseases caused by pathogens.

BACKGROUND Limited research has examined the association of life-course socioeconomic status (SES) with hypertension prevalence and incidence in a large cohort of African Americans. METHODS Among 4,761 participants from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), we examined the association of SES indicators with prevalent and incident hypertension. We used multivariable Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR, 95% confidence interval—CI) of baseline (2000–2004) hypertension by adult (education, income, occupation, wealth) and childhood (mother’s education) SES. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR, 95% CI) of incident hypertension by adult and childhood SES (2005–2013; 7.21 median years of follow-up). We also examined the association of childhood-to-adult SES mobility (parent-to-adult education) with prevalent and incident hypertension. Model 1 adjusted for age and sex. Model 2 added waist circumference, behaviors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet), and diabetes prevalence. RESULTS High (vs. low) adult SES measures were associated with a lower prevalence of hypertension, with the exception of having a college degree and upper-middle income (PR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07; PR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09, respectively). Higher childhood SES was associated with a lower prevalence and risk of hypertension (PR: 0.83, 95%: CI 0.75, 0.91; HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.89, respectively). Upward mobility and consistent high SES (vs. consistent low SES) from childhood to adulthood was associated with a greater prevalence, but lower incidence of hypertension. CONCLUSION Efforts to prevent hypertension among African Americans should consider childhood and current SES status.

Background: Psychosocial stressors, such as perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms, may shorten telomeres and exacerbate aging-related illnesses. Methods: Participants from the Jackson Heart Study at visit 1 (2000–2004) with LTL data and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scores (n = 580 men, n = 910 women) were utilized. The dimensions of discrimination scores (everyday, lifetime, burden of lifetime, and stress from lifetime discrimination) were standardized and categorized as low, moderate, and high. Coping responses to everyday and lifetime discrimination were categorized as passive and active coping. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to estimate the mean difference (standard errors-SEs) in LTL by dimensions of discrimination and coping responses stratified by CES-D scores &lt, 16 (low) and ≥ 16 (high) and sex. Covariates were age, education, waist circumference, smoking and CVD status. Results: Neither everyday nor lifetime discrimination was associated with mean differences in LTL for men or women by levels of depressive symptoms. Burden of lifetime discrimination was marginally associated with LTL among women who reported low depressive symptoms after full adjustment (b = 0.11, SE = 0.06, p = 0.08). Passive coping with lifetime discrimination was associated with longer LTL among men who reported low depressive symptoms after full adjustment (b = 0.18, SE = 0.09, p &lt, 0.05), and active coping with lifetime discrimination was associated with longer LTL among men who reported high depressive symptoms after full adjustment (b = 1.18, SE = 0.35, p &lt, 0.05). Conclusions: The intersection of perceived discrimination and depressive symptomatology may be related to LTL, and the effects may vary by sex.

1st webinar conducted by the consortium of Cofbat related to advanced materials topic

Barium titanate nanoparticles were synthesized via a low temperature sol-gel technique using acetylacetone as a chelating agent. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the formation of tetragonal perovskite structure of the material. The average crystallite size was found to be 49 nm using the Debye-Scherrer method. The Williamson���Hall plot was drawn for evaluating the micro-strain and crystallite size. Raman spectroscopic features typical for the tetragonal phase were identified for Barium titanate powder. In addition to these, an absorption band edge and an optical bandgap were found to be of 406 nm and 3.14 eV respectively. Barium titanate displays polychromatic luminescent peaks in UV -visible regions and it was attributed to the near-band-edge transition and defect states in the optical band gap of the perovskite structure.

Purpose: To analyse the prognostic impact of isolated local recurrence (ILR) on longterm outcome for early-breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving therapy. Material and methods: The data of the EORTC 22881-10882 'boost-no boost' and 22922-10925 'IM-MS' trials were used to analyse the prevalence and outcome following ILR. A multistate model described the impact of intermediate events on long-term outcomes, taking into account various prognostic factors. This model was used to predict long-term outcomes after ILR. Results: Of the 8367 patients included, 726 experienced an ILR, 11.6% of them within the first 2 years and 30.0% after 10 years. Ten-year cumulative breast cancer mortality rates after ILR were 58.2% in patients with an ILR within 2 years, 31.0% for ILR between 2 and 4 years, 17.6% in patients with an ILR between 4 and 10 years, and 29.7% for ILR after year 10 (p < 0.001). The multistate model showed that when tumour-free, younger breast cancer patients had a higher probability of developing ILR compared to older patients. Shorter time to ILR was associated with a higher chance to develop distant metastases (DM), and a shorter time to development of DM were associated with an increased hazard of breast cancer-related death. The multistate model enabled prediction of long-term outcome based on individual patient covariates, length of follow-up without recurrence and timing of ILR since randomisation. Conclusions: Outcome of early-breast cancer changed not only according to baseline risk factors but also according to the presence of intermediate events, time to these events, and subsequent followup without any further events. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.