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Under DAPHNE4NFDI, the X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reference database, RefXAS, has been set up. For this purpose, we developed a method to enable users to submit a raw dataset, with its associated metadata, via a dedicated website for inclusion in the database. Implementation of the database includes an upload of metadata to the scientific catalogue and an upload of files via object storage, with automated query capabilities through a web server and visualization of the data and files. Based on the mode of measurements, quality criteria have been formulated for the automated check of any uploaded data. In the present work, the significant metadata fields for reusability, as well as reproducibility of results (FAIR data principles), are discussed. Quality criteria for the data uploaded to the database have been formulated and assessed. Moreover, the usability and interoperability of available XAS data/file formats have been explored. The first version of the RefXAS database prototype is presented, which features a human verification procedure, currently being tested with a new user interface designed specifically for curators; a user-friendly landing page; a full list of datasets; advanced search capabilities; a streamlined upload process; and, finally, a server-side automatic authentication and (meta-) data storage via MongoDB, PostgreSQL and (data-) files via relevant APIs.

Background: School-going adolescents are found to be on the leading edge when it comes to social media usage. Aim and Objectives: The study was designed to see the behavioral issues related to excessive usage of social media among school-going adolescents from the Sonitpur district of Assam, India. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive research design and simple random sampling were used to collect data. At the onset, 1045 respondents were recruited, but finally, n = 943 respondents were kept for the final study. Tools administered were sociodemographic data sheet, a semi-structured questionnaire, strength and difficulty questionnaire, and social media addiction scale. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The level of social media addiction was very high in 30.5% of the respondents. In Pearson’s coefficient correlation, social media addiction score was found to be significantly positively correlated with the emotional problem (r = 0.509, P = 0.01), conduct problem (r = 0.398, P = 0.01), hyperactivity problem (r = 0.489, P = 0.01), and peer problem (r = 0.359, P = 0.01). Conclusion: The present study highlighted the high prevalence of social media addiction among school-going adolescents. Hence, based on the findings, precautionary measures are the need of the hour. Intervention can be planned at the school level in collaboration with mental health-care personnel such as psychologists, school counselors, and social workers, etc.

This review delves into the effect of cardio, aerobic, Zumba, and yoga on physical, mental, and emotional health. Cardiovascular exercises enhance heart strength, aid weight management, boost lung capacity, increase endurance, and positively impact metabolism. Aerobic exercise contributes to heart health, lowers blood pressure, and promotes mental wellness. Zumba a dynamic dance-fitness program offers cardiovascular benefits, calorie burning, muscle toning, enhanced coordination, and stress reduction, fostering both physical and social well-being. Yoga, a holistic practice, improves flexibility, strengthens muscles, enhances balance, supports joint health, and cultivates good posture. Additionally, yoga positively influences mental and emotional health by promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, enhancing focus, and fostering self-awareness. The combination of scientific insights across these diverse exercise modalities offers a holistic understanding of how physical activity profoundly shapes our overall well-being, making this review paper a valuable resource for individuals and health-care professionals alike.

Abstract Intervalley excitons with electron and hole wavefunctions residing in different valleys determine the long-range transport and dynamics observed in many semiconductors. However, these excitons with vanishing oscillator strength do not directly couple to light and, hence, remain largely unstudied. Here, we develop a simple nanomechanical technique to control the energy hierarchy of valleys via their contrasting response to mechanical strain. We use our technique to discover previously inaccessible intervalley excitons associated with K, Γ, or Q valleys in prototypical 2D semiconductors WSe2 and WS2. We also demonstrate a new brightening mechanism, rendering an otherwise “dark” intervalley exciton visible via strain-controlled hybridization with an intravalley exciton. Moreover, we classify various localized excitons from their distinct strain response and achieve large tuning of their energy. Overall, our valley engineering approach establishes a new way to identify intervalley excitons and control their interactions in a diverse class of 2D systems.

Abstract This research paper investigates the oceanic fishery resources of the Andaman archipelago. The primary objective of this study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the fishery and its dynamics including the environmental linkage surrounding these oceanic resources and to develop an effective strategy for sustainable exploration. Data were collected during an exploratory tuna long-line survey conducted between July 2022 and February 2023. The study documented a total of 13 species of fishes belonging to 11 genera, with tuna being the most abundant. Additionally, the study observed a significant increase in the population of pelagic stingrays, which nearly matched the number of hooked sharks (32). However, the hooking rates of sharks and bill fishes were observed to be gradually declining, resulting in a lower contribution to the overall species composition. One notable finding of the study was that site 11oN; 93oE (S4) exhibited the highest species diversity and potential. Furthermore, the aggregate hooking rates of fishes were particularly high between latitudes 11oN and 12oN. The study also analysed the seasonal distribution of each fish species and explored the correlation between environmental factors such as depth and temperature with species abundance and distribution. Statistical analysis indicates that there is no significant variation (p value = 0.20) between the environmental factors and the frequency of the species occurrence. Specifically, depth shows the highest correlation (r = 0.57) with the species distribution. In light of the diminishing hooking rate of oceanic fishery resources, the study puts forth several possible reasons and emphasizes the urgent need to implement conservation measures.

Abstract Newcastle disease (ND), an economically important disease in poultry, is caused by virulent strains of the genetically diverse Orthoavulavirus javaense (OAVJ). Laboratories rely on quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) to detect OAVJ and differentiate between OAVJ pathotypes. This study demonstrates that a fusion cleavage site based molecular beacon with reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification (MB-RT-LAMP) assay can detect and differentiate OAVJ pathotypes in a single assay. Data show that the assay can rapidly identify diverse OAVJ genotypes with sensitivity only one log-fold lower than the current fusion qRT-PCR assay (104 copies), exhibits a high degree of specificity for OAVJ, and the molecular beacon can differentiate mesogenic/velogenic sequences from lentogenic sequences. Further, data show that a two-minute rapid lysis protocol preceding MB-RT-LAMP can detect and differentiate OAVJ RNA from both spiked samples and oropharyngeal swabs without the need for RNA isolation. As the MB-RT-LAMP assay can rapidly detect and discriminate between lentogenic and mesogenic/velogenic sequences of OAVJ within one assay, without the need for RNA isolation, and is adaptable to existing veterinary diagnostic laboratory workflow without additional equipment, this assay could be a rapid primary screening tool before qRT-PCR based validation in resource limited settings.

District Mental Health Program (DMHP) is part of the broader National Mental Health Program (NMHP) launched in 1982. In India, DMHP has evolved over the years, moving from a pilot project to an integrated component of the NMHP. Efforts have been made to expand services, protect the rights of individuals with mental illness, and integrate mental healthcare into the primary healthcare system. Recent updates and efforts taken by the Government of India and state governments (60% and 40% budget share respectively) have improved the quality of services provided under DMHP. With the increasing use of the internet and mobile technology, DMHP has spread its arena of services more deeply and widely in the last few years reaching up to 738 districts in the country. However, there is still work to be done to address many challenges associated with mental health in India though the recent developments seem promising as a substantial number of patients are now having access to the programme. This narrative review is the summary of information available to date on the evolution of implementation and expansion of DMHP over the years and provides a gist of the positive aspects as well as limitations of the DMHP witnessed in recent years.

The safety of railways is ensured by the regular maintenance of tracks, signals and rolling stocks. This mainly involves manual inspection by skilled maintainers and automated inspection systems are not commonly used. The development of an automated inspection system is crucial for maintaining good rail conditions. In this study on automatic surface defect detection systems, we focused on wheels as the target because they are critical components of rolling stocks, and any wheel defects can cause severe safety problems. Wheel-tread-profile dimensions have been measured using laser instruments in previous studies. In this research, to validate the accuracy of the measurement equipment, special test pieces with surface defects are prepared. We propose a combined inspection system using laser sensors, and a machine vision technique to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based surface defect detection system is employed to improve the proposed system. Combining edge detection through image transformation with an AI-based surface defect detection system offers remarkable benefits. The effectiveness of the system is experimentally confirmed using test pieces that simulate different materials and passing speeds of wheels.

The study focuses on the physico-chemical characteristics of the wild fruit Meyna laxiflora Robyns (Alu) and fruit powder, which was gathered from the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Alu fruit powder is made by using a drying aid called maltodextrin (MD). Powder samples (MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4 and MP5) were made using different amounts of MD (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 g). Preliminary phytochemical screening of fruit pulp and powder showed the presence of some phytoconstituents such as reducing sugar, saponin, flavonoids, and terpenoids, whereas alkaloids, tannins, steroids and protein were absent in both. The parameters of the powder are directly influenced by the amount of MD, as evidenced by the variations in bulk density, total soluble solids, pH, specific gravity and the proximate among the powder samples. High solubility was found in the sample with a medium of MD. The highest of particle distribution was found in MD-added samples (MP2 (1 g), MP3 (1.5 g), MP4 (2 g)) whereas the raw (MP0) showed the least. Sensory analysis was done using 9-point hedonic scale, which revealed that MP2, MP3, and MP4 were highly acceptable. This study assumed that fresh Alu fruit, pulp and in the form of powder can be useful for the development of new products.

Introduction Pneumococcal diseases pose a significant public health concern in India, with substantial morbidity and mortality, with the elderly and those with coexisting medical conditions being most at risk. Pneumococcus was also seen to be one of the main reasons for co-infection, pneumonia and complications in COVID. Current guidelines recommend vaccination for specific adult populations, but there is a lack of uniformity and guidance on risk stratification, prioritisation and optimal timing. Methods Nation Against Pneumococcal Infections – Expert Panel Opinion (NAP-EXPO) is a panel convened to review and update recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in India. The panel of 23 experts from various medical specialties engaged in discussions and evidence-based reviews, discussed appropriate age for vaccination, risk stratification for COPD and asthma patients, vaccination strategies for post-COVID patients, smokers and diabetics, as well as methods to improve vaccine awareness and uptake. Outcome The NAP-EXPO recommends the following for adults: All healthy individuals 60 years of age and above should receive the pneumococcal vaccine; all COPD patients, regardless of severity, high-risk asthma patients, post-COVID cases with lung fibrosis or significant lung damage, should be vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine; all current smokers and passive smokers should be educated and offered the pneumococcal vaccine, regardless of their age or health condition; all diabetic individuals should receive the pneumococcal vaccine, irrespective of their diabetes control. Strategies to improve vaccine awareness and uptake should involve general practitioners (GPs), primary health physicians (PHPs) and physicians treating patients at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Advocacy campaigns should involve media, including social media platforms. Conclusion These recommendations aim to enhance pneumococcal vaccination coverage among high-risk populations in India in order to ensure a reduction in the burden of pneumococcal diseases, in the post-COVID era. There is a need to create more evidence and data to support the recommendations that the vaccine will be useful to a wider range of populations, as suggested in our consensus.

Background: Troponin-I is conventionally correlated with myocardial injury, but its relevance in assessing the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its implications for patient management remains an area of ongoing investigation. This study was designed to assess the correlation between troponin-I levels and the disease severity among patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care center in India between April 2020 and November 2021. The patients with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction who tested positive for COVID-19 infection, and who underwent troponin-I examination at presentation were included in the study. A comparison of baseline clinical characteristics among patients who survived and who did not survive post-COVID-19 was done, and risk factors associated with mortality among hospitalized patients were analyzed. Results: A total of 1673 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 1431 patients survived, and 242 patients did not survive post-COVID-19. The mean age of the patients with troponin-I levels ≤0.06 ng/ml was 49.66 ± 17.88 years and that of patients with troponin-I levels >0.06 ng/ml was 60.13 ± 20.04 years. The nonsurvival rate was high in patients aged >50 years compared to the patients aged ≤50 years (81.4% vs. 18.6%; P < 0.001). The mortality rate was high in patients with troponin-I levels >0.06 ng/ml compared to the patients with troponin-I levels ≤0.06 ng/ml (51.7% vs. 48.3%; P < 0.001). Breathlessness (odds ratio [OR]: 26.901; P < 0.001), cut-off troponin-I levels (OR: 8.246; P < 0.001), and other comorbidities (OR: 8.246; P < 0.001) were independently correlated with mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that elevated troponin-I level at presentation was associated with disease severity and increased mortality in patients with COVID-19.

The increasing commercial, industrial, and medical applications of plastics cannot be halted during the coming years. Microplastics are a new class of plastic pollutants which have emerged as escalating environmental threats. The persistence, effects, and removal of MPs present in soil, water, and numerous organisms have become an important research field. However, atmospheric microplastics (AMPs), which are subcategorized into deposited and suspended, remain largely unexplored. This review presents the recent developments and challenges involved in fully understanding suspended and deposited AMPs. The evaluation of indoor suspended MP fibers needs to be critically investigated to understand their implications for human health. Furthermore, the transportation of AMPs to isolated locations, such as cryospheric regions, requires immediate attention. The major challenges associated with AMPs, which have hindered advancement in this field, are inconsistency in the available data, limited knowledge, and the lack of standardized methodologies for the sampling and characterization techniques of AMPs.

In this paper, the investigation explores an anisotropic cosmological model based on Marder’s space-time Tsallis holographic dark energy (THDE) within the framework of f(R, T) theory of gravity, where R represents the Ricci scalar and T signifies the trace of the stress energy-momentum tensor. field equation have solved for class of f(R, T) gravity i.e. f(R, T) = R + f(T). To obtain the precise solution, we employed the density of the THDE model along with the volumetric expansion laws, namely the power law and exponential law. Also explores the physical and geometrical aspects of the model.

Women suffer from various conditions related to menstrual cycle due to changing lifestyle, bad food habits, physical and mental stress. Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and emotional symptoms that many women get one or two weeks before the start of their menstrual period. In the present study, 14 years old female patient having symptoms-lower abdominal pain, backache, breast tenderness, constipation, pimples, tiredness and unexplained anger typically in luteal phase from last 4 months, was diagnosed with mild to moderate symptoms of PMS. After proper analysis, she was suggested to consume light to digest dietary articles advised in classical texts for minimizing specific symptoms during menstruation.Thus Green gram Soup and Barley porridge was prescribed to her as lunch and dinner respectively for first three days of menstruation cycle for continuous 6 cycles. It is observed that consumption of these dietary products during the menstruation time period assisted to minimize the symptoms of PMS. This illustrates that there is a wide scope to explore the ayurvedic dietary regimen recommended during menstruation which can be used more rationally to suit menstrual disorders.

Background: Caregiving is schizophrenia is challenging and burdensome. Aim and Objectives: The study aimed to know the sociodemographic predictors of care burden and psychological distress in schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A total sample of 540 caregivers of persons with schizophrenia was selected, using purposive sampling from the outpatient Department of LGBRIMH, Tezpur, Assam. The study was approved by the IEC of LGBRIMH, Tezpur. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The mean age of patients and their caregivers was 35.6 ± 13.4 and 37.7 ± 12.4 years, respectively. Moderate to severe level of care burden was present in male caregivers (55.6%). Severe level of stress, anxiety, and depression was present in majority of the male respondents (42.5%, 43.2%, and 49.0%, respectively) who were the primary caregivers (41.2%, 40.8%, and 48.9%, respectively), married (41.2%, 37.7%, and 48.1%, respectively), belonging to rural background (43.8%, 43.2%, and 48.5%, respectively), educated till primary level (42.6%, 44.6%, and 58.3%, respectively), mostly unemployed (49.2%, 47.5%, and 50.8%, respectively) belonging to lower socioeconomic background (46.6%, 49.2%, and 48.0%, respectively), and with a history of mental illness in the family (41.6%, 40.7%, and 48.0%, respectively). Extremely severe level of stress (57.1%), with severe level of anxiety and depression (41.7%, 52.8%), was present in majority of the caregivers having nuclear family type condition. Marital status, occupation, family income, and type of caregiving contribute significantly to the prediction of care burden (F [14,525] =11.6, P = 0.001), whereas, caregiver’s gender, education, and, patient’s onset of illness contribute significantly to the prediction of psychological distress among caregivers (F [14,525] =5.31, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Psychosocial intervention is the need of the hour.

Blunt trauma abdomen with abdominal wall herniation with bowel perforation is an acute emergency condition. Road traffic accidents causing blunt trauma are common in a youngster like in our case. Once the patient is resuscitated, ultrasonography and Computed tomography must be done. Early surgical exploration with mesh or primary repair of the defect is the mainstay of management. We have a case of a 25-year-old male with blunt trauma abdomen and anterior wall hernia following a road traffic accident who was managed with emergency exploratory laparotomy as computed tomography suggested anterior abdominal wall herniation of bowel content.

Abstract Given the relationship between poor engagement and worse treatment outcomes, improving engagement has been the focus of attention in recent years. Engagement is a particular challenge among minoritized and otherwise challenged youth, such as those from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, including youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where they face lower levels of access to resources, including mental health treatment. The present study describes engagement challenges that arose in an uncontrolled pre-post evaluation of a school-based, modular, multi-problem, stepped-care intervention delivered in urban Indian communities. Specifically, the study aimed to (1) characterize barriers and facilitators of youth treatment engagement; and (2) evaluate treatment acceptability and fit of treatment from the youth perspective. Youth participants completed semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. Participants described numerous facilitators to engagement (e.g., positive therapeutic relationship) and reported high overall satisfaction with the intervention, while also identifying barriers to engagement (e.g., concerns about confidentiality) and offering suggestions to increase fit and acceptability (e.g., more visually appealing treatment materials). Findings highlight ways in which engagement can be enhanced and implementation supports improved to maximize treatment effectiveness among minoritized and disadvantaged youth in LMICs.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors involving the gastrointestinal tract, arising from the interstitial cells of Cajal. GIST comprises about 1% of all GI tumors. Rectal GISTs are rare and comprise of approximately 5% of all GISTs and only 0.1% of rectal tumors are found to be GISTs. Rectal GISTs may be diagnosed incidentally or present with symptoms, including defecation problems, bleeding, and/or pain. We report a case of a 46-year-old male with rectal GIST metastasized to the liver and bilateral lung parenchyma managed by Imatinib Mesylate (IM) regimen. Rectal GIST although being rare, must be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with defecatory problems with bleeding.

Global environmental concerns are leading to paradigm shift in the automobile eco-system. This comprehensive study of the automobile ecosystem, incorporates technical, economic, and environmental-social-governance (ESG) dimensions. An “integrated multi-criteria decision-making” (MCDM) methodology using “interpretive structural modelling” (ISM) and “fuzzy analytical hierarchy process” (FAHP) is deployed, The ISM models highlights prominent drivers and critical barriers, establishes their hierarchy, and depicts interrelationships. The FAHP rankings for drivers favours electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel vehicles over others, while barriers promote hybrids and alternate fuels like Biofuel, CNG/LNG. Unlike previous works, this study considers all eco-system factors, both critical drivers and barriers, and demonstrates hierarchy using a unique V-model. This is an innovative extension of V-model from traditional systems engineering to strategic project management domain. This holistic approach, in sync with the natural state of things, will enable government, industry, and academia in formulating a strategic framework towards future automobile sustainability.

India is ranked as the 2nd largest egg producer in the world. Despite the prevalence of backyard poultry (free range), a majority of the commercial egg-laying hens in the country are still housed in battery cages. There is a global shift toward cage-free eggs, due to regulations and increased demand from conscious consumers and food corporations. However, there are very few commercial cage-free facilities in India to meet this demand. The aim of this study was to undertake a needs-assessment survey of Indian egg producers on cage-free production, and understand what support is needed to build the capacities of the cage-free egg production sector to develop it into a viable and sustainable alternative to battery cage eggs. The results showed that nearly all producers agreed on the need for additional support in shifting to, and operating in, the cage-free sector. This included support in the form of financial assistance, technical training, and promotion of the cage-free sector. The results of this study highlight the pressing need for government and private support, in the absence of which cage-free producers are compelled to compete with battery cage poultry producers on prices, which will result in increased losses and failure of the sector, since they have not yet achieved economies of scale.

Background: The 2022 WHO global survey on infection prevention and control (IPC) exposes significant gaps in IPC in the WHO Southeast Asia region. A better understanding of IPC vulnerabilities will inform improvement initiatives. We describe an evaluation of IPC practices known to prevent and contain carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) at hospitals participating in the United States Centers for Disease Control Global Action in Healthcare Network –Antimicrobial Resistance in India. Prior hospital evaluations suggest resistance to carbapenems among gram-negative isolates is up to 45%. Methods: We conducted a mixed methods evaluation including cross-sectional surveys, semi-structured interviews, and site observations at five hospitals (one government, two private tertiary care, and two private teaching) located in three cities. The number of hospital beds ranged from 362 to 2,011. Hospital and IPC program characteristics, and CRO prevention and containment activities were examined virtually. Site observations focused on hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, personal protective equipment (PPE), CRO containment practices and use of water for patient care. Results: All sites had IPC programs with established policies and qualified IPC staff. The IPC nurse-to-bed ratio ranged from 1:73 to 1:432 (mean, 1:209). Due to the integral role of microbiology staff in IPC at these hospitals, the two departments had strong communication channels associated with CRO identification. Screening for CRO colonization, if done, targeted patients from outside hospitals. Three of the five hospitals routinely implemented contact precautions for patients with identified CROs, displayed isolation signage at the bedside, and provided adequate PPE at point-of-use; however, all sites reported barriers to effective isolation and/or cohorting patients with CROs. Timely communication of CROs to clinical staff varied and no sites effectively relayed CRO status upon patient discharge to another facility. IPC teams identified gaps in environmental cleaning procedures and practices related to medical devices and equipment. All sites used alternatives to tap water for clinical care and sink etiquette was evident. Each IPC team performed audits of patient isolation and hand hygiene practices. Despite the considerable proportion of IPC resources dedicated to daily education and feedback in clinical areas, the IPC teams reported that improvement was often difficult to achieve. Conclusion: Given the high burden of CROs and limited IPC resources, detailed knowledge of IPC opportunities for improvement will help hospitals target novel interventions for CRO prevention and containment. Further investigation of colonization rates and effective performance improvement methods in these settings is needed.

This study evaluates the biocontrol efficacy of three bacterial strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens DTPF-3, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DTBA-11, and Bacillus subtilis DTBS-5) and two fungal strains (Trichoderma harzianum Pusa-5SD and Aspergillus niger An-27) antagonists, along with their combinations at varying doses (5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 g/kg of seeds), against wheat powdery mildew. The most effective dose (10 g/kg seeds) was further analyzed for its impact on induced resistance and plant growth promotion under greenhouse conditions. The study measured defense enzyme activities, biochemical changes, and post-infection plant growth metrics. All tested microbial antagonists at 10 g/kg significantly reduced PM severity, with B. subtilis strain DTBS-5 outperforming others in reducing PM severity and achieving the highest biocontrol efficacy. It was followed by B. amyloliquefaciens strain DTBA-11 and P. fluorescens strain DTPF-3, with the fungal antagonists showing no significant effect. Wheat crops treated with B. subtilis strain DTBS-5 exhibited substantial increases in defense-related enzyme activities and biochemicals, suggesting an induced resistance mechanism. The study found a 45% increase in peroxidase (POD) activity, a 50% increase in catalase (CAT) activity, a 30% increase in phenolic content, and a 25% increase in soluble protein content in the wheat plants treated with microbial antagonists. The study highlights the effectiveness of microbial antagonists, particularly B. subtilis strain DTBS-5, in managing wheat PM through biocontrol, induced resistance, and enhanced plant growth, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments.

Background Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) is a complex of cryptic species with subtle morphological differences and distinct genetic backgrounds; thus, species identification using traditional methods remains challenging. The existence of different haplotypes and genotypes within a species can significantly influence various aspects of its biology, including host preference, reproductive capacity, resistance to pesticides, and vector competence for plant viruses. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of cryptic species within T. tabaci will not only aid in the development of more effective control strategies tailored to specific genetic variants but also in monitoring population dynamics, tracking invasive species, and implementing quarantine measures to prevent the spread of economically damaging thrips biotypes. Methods This study aims to explore intraspecies genetic diversity and molecular evolutionary relationships of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (mtCOI) in T. tabaci populations from India. To capture diversity within the Indian T. tabaci populations, amplicon sequencing was performed for the thrips mtCOI gene from eight diverse localities in India. A total of 48 sequences retrieved for the mtCOI gene from the NCBI Nucleotide database were analysed. Results Multiple insertions and deletions were detected at various genomic positions across the populations from different localities, with the highest variation observed in the 300–400 genome position range. Molecular diversity analyses identified 30 haplotypes within the population, with certain subpopulations exhibiting higher gene flow. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism patterns within the mtCOI gene across diverse Indian locales revealed significant intrapopulation genetic heterogeneity and its potential repercussions on gene functionality. Elevated F statistics (Fst) values in the northern–western subpopulations suggested high genetic variability, particularly evident in haplotype networks originating mainly from the northern region, notably Delhi. While most populations displayed stable and ancient evolutionary histories, thrips populations from northern, western, and north-eastern regions indicated rapid growth.

This work investigates complex heterogeneity in microstructure and mechanical properties of a low alloy martensitic steel fabricated via laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED). A multi-scale characterization starting from macro-scale optical micrography, micro-scale X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction mapping to nano-scale transmission electron microscopy was adopted to fully comprehend the microstructural heterogeneity along the build direction. Notably, the top layers of the build demonstrated enhanced mechanical properties, exhibiting hardness of around 550 HV and an ultimate tensile strength of 2 GPa, which decreased progressively towards the base. Interestingly, resurgence in strength and hardness was observed for the layers located 10 mm above the substrate. The primary solidification cycle led to the formation of untempered martensite having high strength and hardness while subsequent reheat cycles led to the alteration of these martensites, enhancing ductility at the expense of strength. Auto-tempering and carbide (Fe-C based) precipitation due to prolonged thermal exposure contributed to the increased the strength in the lower layers. Additionally, the temperature profiles during the L-DED thermal cycles were modeled and correlated with the observed phase transformations, allowing for a detailed understanding of the structure–property relationships at different heights within the build. This study provides a fundamental insight into the microstructural heterogeneities and their implications on the strengthening mechanisms in L-DED fabricated low-alloy martensitic steel.

The stated goal of the research is to investigate the surface water quality of the Baitarani River in Odisha to ascertain its compatibility for various uses. Large, complex datasets generated during the one-year (2021-2022) monitoring program were collected from 13 locations and encompassed 22 parameters. To examine temporal and spatial fluctuations in and to interpret these datasets, MCDMs like TOPSIS and the Entropy-based Water Quality Index (EWQI) were utilized. The physical and chemical outcomes of the current experiment were compared to WHO standards. According to the analysis’s results, turbidity and total coliform (TC) are indicators that have a greater impact on water quality in all locations during both seasons and are directly linked to home and agricultural non-point source pollution. As per EWQI interpretation, 30.77 % of the observations in PRM and POM fall under the poor category. The findings showed how anthropogenic activities have harmed St. 8, 11, 12, and 13 and require effective management. A quantifiable approach was also carried out to decide the efficacy of TOPSIS. Farming attributes, including SAR, % Na, RSC, MR, KI, and PI, were estimated to delineate the agriculturally practicable zones. This work can offer a reference database for the betterment of water quality.

Auto-immune pancreatitis (AIP) is a rare benign disease commonly presented with painless obstructive jaundice and biliary obstruction with rare complications like pseudocyst. We present a case series of two patients of AIP with unusual presentations; one case presented with periorbital swelling, jaundice, and pseudocyst, and the other case presented with abdominal pain and biliary obstruction without jaundice; both showed good response with steroids.

The increasing demand for Cloud service with sudden resource requirements of Virtual Machines (VMs) with different resource types and sizes may create an unbalanced state in the Cloud datacenters. In turn, it will lead to low resource utilization and slow down the server’s performance. This research article proposes an enhanced version of the Artificial Rabbit Optimization (ARO) called Improved Artificial Rabbit Optimization based on Pattern Search (IARO-PS), where ARO has been utilized to schedule the dynamically independent requests (tasks) for overcoming the challenges discussed above and a Pattern Search (PS) method has been hybridized to address the shortcomings of ARO and to provide better exploration-exploitation balance. The initial step in the proposed approach is to employ a load balancing strategy by dividing the workloads (user requests) across the available VMs. The next step utilizes the IARO-PS method to map the workloads (user requests) onto the optimal VMs for the scheduling process to carry out across the diverse resources. A standard benchmark function (CEC2017) is used to assess the IARO-PS technique’s efficacy. A comprehensive evaluation has been carried out by taking an available real-world dataset having different specifications of tasks in the CloudSim to evaluate the performance of the methodology. Additionally, a simulation-based comparison is carried out with various metaheuristic-based workload scheduling methods like Genetic Algorithm (GA), Bird Swarm Optimization (BSO), Modified Particle Swarm Optimization based on Q-learning (QMPSO), and Multi-Objectives Grey Wolf Optimizer (MGWO). Based on the simulations, the IARO-PS algorithm performed better than the previously mentioned algorithms, reducing makespan by 10.45% (GA), 2.31% (QMPSO), 4.35% (MGWO), 15.35% (BSO), and 4.17% (GA), 1.03% (QMPSO), 1.44% (MGWO), 7.33% (BSO), in both homogeneous and heterogeneous surroundings, respectively, and improving resource utilization by 36.74% (GA), 14.31% (QMPSO), 19.75% (MGWO), 45.23% (BSO) and 12.17% (GA), 6.02% (QMPSO), 9.10% (MGWO), 19.39% (BSO). Furthermore, statistical evaluation through Friedman’s test and Holm’s test has also been carried out showcasing the decrease in makespan and an increase in VM utilization, which are the outcomes of the simulated experimental study.

Acute corneal hydrops (ACH) is a rare but sight-threatening complication of corneal ectasias. We aim to review the current literature on etiopathogenesis, histology, role of ancillary investigations, management, and outcomes of ACH by classifying the various management strategies based on their site of action and the underlying mechanism. A review of the literature was conducted by searching the following databases: PubMed (United States National Library of Medicine), Embase (Reed Elsevier Properties SA), Web of Science (Thomson Reuters), and Scopus (Elsevier BV) till April 2023. The literature search used various combinations of the following keywords: acute corneal hydrops, keratoconus, ectasia, management, keratoplasty. Nine hundred eighty-three articles were identified based on the above searches. Case reports which did not add any new modality of treatment to the existing literature, articles unrelated to management, those with no full text available, and foreign-language articles with no translation available were excluded. Eventually, 75 relevant articles that pertained to the management of ACH were shortlisted and reviewed. Recent studies have described newer surgical interventions like full-thickness or pre-Descemetic sutures, thermokeratoplasty, and plasma injection that aim to close the posterior stromal break. Posterior lamellar keratoplasties act by replacing the posterior torn Descemet's membrane (DM), and early deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) has been attempted to combine the correction of the anatomical defect and visual rehabilitation in a single surgery. These surgical interventions may help by reducing the scarring and increasing the number of patients who can be visually rehabilitated with contact lenses rather than keratoplasty.

Purpose: Investigating the causes of visual loss and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) is crucial for identifying avoidable eye problems and planning appropriate rehabilitation and assistive technology (AT) services. The study aimed to identify various causes of vision loss and determine AT required for vision rehabilitation (VR). Methods: The electronic records of patients who attended the VR clinic at a tertiary eyecare for the past 2 years were reviewed. Information such as demographics, BCVA, and causes of visual impairment were retrieved from the records. BCVA was categorized into better than or equal to 1/60 and less than

A 15-year-old boy presented with a sudden onset of breathlessness for 7 days, gradual loss of weight of 17.6 lbs over the last month and progressive hoarseness of voice for 7 months. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan revealed a heterogeneously enhancing lesion in the anterior mediastinum with multiple discrete lymph nodes in the cervical and mediastinal locations. The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay performed on the CT-guided biopsy of the mass was negative, but the culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive at 7 weeks of incubation. There was a suboptimal radiological response after 6 months of treatment. First-line drug susceptibility testing (DST) performed by line probe assay (LPA) on the positive culture detected high-level resistance to isoniazid. The treatment was modified as per DST results to which the patient responded well.

With the voluminous information being produced by the Internet of Things (IoT) smart gadgets, the consumers with their countless service requests are also growing rapidly. As there is a huge distance between the IoT devices and the Cloud datacenter, some latency is incurred in the communication between the IoT devices and the Cloud datacenter. This latency can be reduced by introducing a Fog layer in between the Cloud and the IoT layer and therefore, it is paramount to offload those tremendous data to leverage the overloaded storage and computation to the Cloud-based systems and Fog-assisted nodes. Moreover, these heavy computations consume significant energy from the distributed Fog servers as well as Cloud datacenters. Therefore, this work addresses the task migration problem in a Fog-Cloud system and load balancing to reduce the latency rate, energy utilized and service time while increasing the resource utilization for latency-sensitive systems. This paper uses a Fuzzy logic algorithm for determining the target layers for offloading considering the resource heterogeneity and the system requirements (i.e., network bandwidth, task size, resource utilization and latency sensitivity). A Binary Linear-Weight JAYA (BLWJAYA) task scheduling algorithm has been proposed to map the incoming IoT requests to computation-rich Fog nodes/virtual machines (VMs). Numerous experimental simulations have been carried out to appraise the efficacy of the suggested method and it is evident that the suggested method outperforms other baselines with an approximate improvement of 26.2%, 12%, 7%, 8.63% and 6% for Resource utilization, Service rate, Latency rate, Energy consumption and Load balancing rate. The presented approach is generic and scalable concerning addressing the unpredictability of data and the associated latency due to the task offloading criteria within the Fog layer.

In this study, the influence of phosphorus doping on the electrocatalytic activity of glycerol-based carbon-supported nickel towards glycerol electrooxidation is investigated. The P-doped and un-doped glycerol-based carbon are synthesized through dehydration using phosphoric acid and thermal treatment, respectively. The P-doped catalysts with different Ni loadings (names as P-carbon_Ni (200), P-carbon_Ni (400), and P-carbon_Ni (600)) and the un-doped catalyst; carbon_Ni (600) are analysed for their physicochemical properties, indicating that P-doping can enhance the electrocatalytic activities of the fabricated electrodes. The scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal the higher porosity of P-carbon_Ni (600) relative to the un-doped carbon_Ni (600) and a uniform distribution of the doped elements. The cyclic voltammetric studies show that the un-doped carbon_Ni (600) possesses a smaller electrochemical surface area (98.49 cm2) and poorer surface coverage with –OH (6.35 × 10−5 mol/cm2) compared to P-carbon_Ni (600) whose electrochemical surface area and surface coverage with –OH are 115.49 cm2 and 7.62 × 10−5 mol/cm2, respectively. Undoubtedly, the electrocatalytic performance of P-carbon_Ni (600) for glycerol oxidation is significantly better than the un-doped carbon_Ni (600), as also revealed by chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance studies. P-carbon_Ni (600) is able to stabilize at higher current density as the electrooxidation of glycerol progresses and possesses a lower charge transfer resistance indicating that the incorporation of phosphorus into glycerol-based carbon enhances the conductivity of glycerol-based carbon-supported nickel. Furthermore, the HPLC analysis of the bulk electrolysis of glycerol after 15,000 seconds shows 100 % glycerol conversion.

ABSTRACTA cell’s ability to store energy, and produce power is limited by its capacity fading with age. This paper presents the findings on the performance characteristics of prismatic Lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells under different ambient temperature conditions, discharge rates, and depth of discharge. The accelerated life cycle testing results depicted a linear degradation pattern of up to 300 cycles. Linear extrapolation reveals that at 25°C temperature, an increase in the discharge rate from 0.5 C to 0.8 C reduces the cycle life significantly by 52.9%. On the other hand, at a constant discharge rate, an increase in temperature reduced predicted cycle life in the range of 23.2–41.36%. Lithium-ion cells’ reliability modeling and analysis was carried out using an exponential distribution showing the increasing failure rate with age, with the temperature significantly reducing the expected life of the cells.

ABSTRACTAZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) is a replication-deficient adenoviral vectored coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccine that is manufactured as SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 by the Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd following technology transfer from Oxford University/AstraZeneca. The non-inferiority of SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 with AZD1222 was previously demonstrated in an observer-blind, phase 2/3 immuno-bridging study (trial registration: CTRI/2020/08/027170). In this analysis of immunogenicity and safety data 6 months post first vaccination (Day 180), 1,601 participants were randomized 3:1 to SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or AZD1222 (immunogenicity/reactogenicity cohort n = 401) and 3:1 to SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or placebo (safety cohort n = 1,200). Immunogenicity was measured by anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike (anti-S) binding immunoglobulin G and neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers. A decline in anti-S titers was observed in both vaccine groups, albeit with a greater decline in SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccinees (geometric mean titer [GMT] ratio [95% confidence interval (CI) of SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 to AZD1222]: 0.60 [0.41–0.87]). Consistent similar decreases in nAb titers were observed between vaccine groups (GMT ratio [95% CI]: 0.88 [0.44–1.73]). No cases of severe COVID-19 were reported following vaccination, while one case was observed in the placebo group. No causally related serious adverse events were reported through 180 days. No thromboembolic or autoimmune adverse events of special interest were reported. Collectively, these data illustrate that SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 maintained a high level of immunogenicity 6 months post-vaccination. SII-ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was safe and well tolerated.

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 remains a major public health concern. Monoclonal antibodies have received emergency use authorization (EUA) for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 among high-risk groups for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. In addition to recombinant biologics, engineered synthetic DNA-encoded antibodies (DMAb) are an important strategy for direct in vivo delivery of protective mAb. A DMAb cocktail was synthetically engineered to encode the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains of two different two different Fc-engineered anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The DMAbs were designed to enhance in vivo expression and delivered intramuscularly to cynomolgus and rhesus macaques with a modified in vivo delivery regimen. Serum levels were detected in macaques, along with specific binding to SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain protein and neutralization of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in pseudovirus and authentic live virus assays. Prophylactic administration was protective in rhesus macaques against signs of SARS-CoV-2 (USA-WA1/2020) associated disease in the lungs. Overall, the data support further study of DNA-encoded antibodies as an additional delivery mode for prevention of COVID-19 severe disease. These data have implications for human translation of gene-encoded mAbs for emerging infectious diseases and low dose mAb delivery against COVID-19.

This study employs a data-driven approach to examine the government's use of data insights and nudges to promote social distancing during the pandemic. Drawing from well-established technology adoption theories, a nationwide online survey was conducted among professionals and postgraduate students adapting to remote work and learning. The study unveils that access to suitable information and communication technology (ICT) significantly influences people's willingness to adhere to social distancing and work from home (WFH). Moreover, respondents' expectations of WFH's impact on job performance emerged as a critical driver for sustained social distancing, with individuals' habits playing a pivotal role in enhancing WFH performance expectancy. Notably, the study pioneers in exploring the psychological effects of government nudges during a pandemic, shedding light on an uncharted aspect of pandemic control strategies.

In the present scenario, research on Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) is attracting significant attention in high-temperature applications due to the rising demand in industrial applications, such as gas turbine blades and internal combustion engine components. To meet these demands, it is essential to enhance the mechanical and oxidation properties of thermal barrier coatings. The atmospheric plasma spray methodology for producing these coatings has become a central focus in recent times. In this work, TBCs were prepared by blending pure alumina and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) in equal proportions. Extensive study of TBCs carried out under high-temperature conditions through thermal cycle tests at elevated temperatures, around 850 °C. A total of 350 thermal cycles were conducted, and microstructures of the coating surface were examined at 150, 250, and 350 cycles. High-temperature stress, generated due to the sintering of the coating, also influences the life of the coatings. Specimen with a topcoat thickness of 300 μm, exhibited good thermal shock resistance compared to the specimens with topcoats of thickness of 100 μm and 200 μm. The effects of process parameters, porosity, and thermal shock resistance are presented in detail. The topcoat with a thickness of 300 μm demonstrated excellent thermal shock resistance and reduced formation of thermally grown oxide (TGO). The porosity of the coating, found to be between 2% and 3%, contributed to its dense nature, effectively reducing oxidation rates and enhancing the coating's lifespan under cyclic high-temperature conditions.

In June 2024, delegates undertook two-week-long negotiations at the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference. These meetings concerned the modalities of the newly instituted Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund and the provision of financial assistance to developing countries. In this piece, we reflect on the future interactions between the L&D Fund and litigations regarding L&D. We argue that these two phenomena must be seen as having a synergistic relation, effectively benefitting the Global South.

Microbial inhibition by high ammonia concentrations is a recurring problem that significantly restricts methane formation from intermediate acids, i.e., propionate and acetate, during anaerobic digestion of protein-rich waste material. Studying the syntrophic communities that perform acid conversion is challenging, due to their relatively low abundance within the microbial communities typically found in biogas processes and disruption of their cooperative behavior in pure cultures. To overcome these limitations, this study examined growth parameters and microbial community dynamics of highly enriched mesophilic and ammonia-tolerant syntrophic propionate and acetate-oxidizing communities and analyzed their metabolic activity and cooperative behavior using metagenomic and metatranscriptomic approaches. Cultivation in batch set-up demonstrated biphasic utilization of propionate, wherein acetate accumulated and underwent oxidation before complete degradation of propionate. Three key species for syntrophic acid degradation were inferred from genomic sequence information and gene expression: a syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium (SPOB) “Candidatus Syntrophopropionicum ammoniitolerans”, a syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacterium (SAOB) Syntrophaceticus schinkii and a novel hydrogenotrophic methanogen, for which we propose the provisional name “Candidatus Methanoculleus ammoniitolerans”. The results revealed consistent transcriptional profiles of the SAOB and the methanogen both during propionate and acetate oxidation, regardless of the presence of an active propionate oxidizer. Gene expression indicated versatile capabilities of the two syntrophic bacteria, utilizing both molecular hydrogen and formate as an outlet for reducing equivalents formed during acid oxidation, while conserving energy through build-up of sodium/proton motive force. The methanogen used hydrogen and formate as electron sources. Furthermore, results of the present study provided a framework for future research into ammonia tolerance, mobility, aggregate formation and interspecies cooperation.

Solar farms have PV arrays in arid and semi-arid regions where ensuring the system's reliability is paramount and face uncertain events like dust storms. The deposition of random dust patterns over panel arrays is called uneven soiling, which diminishes the power generation of such farms. This paper finds the most suitable hybrid algorithm model, the wavelet transform-based support vector regression variants (WT-SVR) algorithm, and the empirical model decomposition-based support vector regression variants (EMD-SVR) to predict the extent of soiling levels and uncertain events on PV arrays. The soiling dataset is taken from NREL's Soiling Station Number 3 in Imperial County, Calipatria, California, from December 30, 2014, to December 31, 2015. This research tested four SVR variants on soiling data, viz., εSVR, LSSVR, TSVR, and εTSVR, then compared with the benchmark random forest. The hyperparameters for each model are meticulously tuned to enhance the robustness of the trained algorithms. Results reveal that the WT-TSVR model outperforms the WT-SVR model in terms of wavelet transform decomposition by a margin of 91.6%. Similarly, the EMD-TSVR model showcases an 85.7% enhancement in performance over the EMD-SVR model based on empirical mode decomposition. All SVR variants outperform the benchmark model (RF). Furthermore, EMD models exhibit enhanced efficiency in forecasting random events compared to WT, which is attributed to their reduced computational time. This model applies to multi-cleaning agent robots, aligning with recommendations from the state-of-the-art literature.

The presence of methanol in fruits is a concern due to its toxicity and the consequent health implications. Garcinia cambogia fruits and Garcinia cambogia rinds showed methanol at 238 ± 15.07 and 355 ± 18.21 ppm, respectively. The enzyme, pectin methyl esterase (PME), associated with production of methanol was also detected with an activity 5.63 ± 0.41 and 2.75 ± 0.14 U/mL, respectively, in fruits and rinds. Furthermore, a fungi isolated from Garcinia cambogia, and identified as Aspergillus aculeatus by morphology and 18S rRNA gene/ITS/D1-D2 (∼700 bp) sequencing, also produced extracellular PME (7.67 ± 0.76 U/mL) at pH 3 to yield 166 ± 5.74 ppm methanol. The molecular weight of partially purified PMEs with 60–70 % ammonium sulphate from G. cambogia fruits, G. cambogia rinds and A. aculeatus of was ∼45, ∼25, and ∼35 kDa, could produce 55.33 ± 2.74, 41.67 ± 0.86, and 74.67 ± 0.19 ppm methanol, and displayed maximum activity at pH 7, 7 and 5, and 35 °C, 35 °C and 40 °C, respectively. The enzyme kinetics, (Km and Vmax), thermal inactivation kinetic parameters (kd, t1/2 and d-value), and thermodynamic parameters (Ed, ΔH°, ΔG°, and ΔS°) of PME from A. aculeatus were superior over PME from G. cambogia fruits and G. cambogia rinds. This investigation confirmed the production of both PME and methanol by both fungi and G. cambogia.

By 2030, most developing countries aim to produce affordable and clean energy in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, there has been a surge of interest in biofuels such as biodiesel. However, as the production of biodiesel increases, so does the issue of excess bioglycerol, which is a by-product of the process with no large-scale applications. To address this, the cost-effective utilization of bioglycerol, for example, in direct bioglycerol fuel cells or to synthesize carbon-based materials, is necessary. This study focuses on exploring the potential of used cooking oil to produce crude bioglycerol and further utilizing it as a carbon and energy source. Crude glycerol-based sulfur-doped carbon materials (S-CGBC) with graphene oxide-like appearance were synthesized using an acid dehydration method. The synthesized carbon material was fully characterized and was further analyzed to determine its potential as support materials on nickel foam for glycerol electrooxidation reaction (GEOR) and crude bioglycerol electrooxidation reaction (BGEOR). S-CGBC demonstrated good catalytic activity and stability for both GEOR and BGEOR, with high peak current densities of 262 mA/cm2 and 272 mA/cm2 at 0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl for GEOR and BGEOR, respectively. The HPLC analysis revealed 78.3% glycerol after 15 hours of bulk electrolysis of 1 M glycerol. The results of this study highlight the potential of waste crude bioglycerol as a good source of energy as well as of carbon materials.

The luminescent properties of prepared phosphor doped with rare-earth ions in LiZr2(PO4)3 were investigated in our study. Using a solution combustion reaction synthesis based on urea. We synthesized phosphors singly doped with Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions in LiZr2(PO4)3. The confirmation of the phase formation of sample was established through the powder X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD). To analyze the surface morphology of the phosphor by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, investigations of photoluminescence properties were conducted for these phosphate-based materials. From the photoluminescence results, the Eu3+ doped displayed a vibrant red emission under 395 nm excitation in their photoluminescence spectra. On the other hand, the Dy3+ doped phosphors show strong emissions in both the blue (4F9/2 → 6H15/2) and yellow (4F9/2 → 6H13/2) regions under 349 nm excitation. The investigation involved analysing the characteristic emission color of the synthesized phosphor by using CIE 1931 chromaticity coordinates. Additionally, an estimation of the correlated color temperature (CCT) and color purity of the prepared sample value was conducted. Therefore, the present study suggests that the singly doped with Eu3+ and Dy3+ phosphor holds significant promise for applications in ultraviolet excited white light emitting diode (WLEDs).

Digestive enzymes secreted by the body are vital for digestion and nutrient absorption. Enzyme supplements are commonly used to support them in achieving optimal digestion. Herein, the efficacy of digestive enzyme supplement (DigeSEB Super) in digestion of complex food was assessed using INFOGEST simulated static and modified semi-dynamic in vitro digestion models. Digestive enzyme supplement was found to assist the endogenous digestive enzymes to disintegrate the food matrix. Hence, it reduced the viscosity of the gastric digesta by 2.75 fold (p = 0.04) compared to the control digestion (only endogenous digestive enzymes) during the first hour of digestion. Similarly, enzyme supplement showed statistically higher release of reducing sugars in the gastric digestion (p ≤ 0.05) indicating improved digestion of carbohydrates. Further, digestion of proteins and fats was also improved in the presence of enzyme supplement. The kinetic aspects of the semi-dynamic model (transient nature of gastric secretions and gradual acidification) was found to alter the macronutrient digestion compared to the static digestion. Thus, semi-dynamic model should be preferred for the in vitro studies. Overall, current study demonstrated the potential of a digestive enzyme supplement to improve digestion by aiding digestive action of the endogenous enzymes.

Skilled technicians primarily use manual tools to maintain the geometry and surface conditions of railcar wheels. To ensure efficient wheel maintenance, the development of an automated inspection system is required. Herein, an inspection method for railcar wheels is proposed based on the assessment of wheel tread dimensions and surface conditions and investigation results of the method are presented. The parameters of wheel tread dimensions and surface conditions are considered because they are crucial for railway operation safety and manually inspecting them requires a large workforce. To improve the efficiency of the system, a combined inspection method through laser measurement and machine vision is used, both the techniques compensate for each other’s shortcomings. The experiments are conducted using laser sensors and machine vision techniques, including defect detection using AI model based on YOLOv5, as well as image data captured via a digital video camera to obtain high-accuracy automatic measurements and determine the feasibility of such measurements. Additionally, the measurement accuracy of the proposed method is verified based on experiments on sample wheel having wheel tread surface defects. In this paper, sample wheel including various wheel tread surface defects is used.

The development of small-scale and low power consumption devices has been motivating the design of intelligent mechanisms, exhibiting a wide power density spectrum across various external sources. Smart materials come up as an attractive alternative due to their intrinsic multi-coupling between different physical domains. In this context, piezoelectric materials allow conversion of mechanical energy of movement into electrical power through the direct piezoelectric effect. This work investigates a piezoelectric energy harvester combined with a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring to explore the combination of both the smart materials for energy harvesting. The pseudoelastic hysteretic effect of SMA is explored in order to passively change the internal system properties such as stiffness and damping during the harvesting process. Numerical analyses are performed considering the normalized power converted by the harvester, focusing on the influence of the SMA martensite phase transformation under different scenarios. The results exhibit an increment in the harvester bandwidth when compared with a traditional linear piezoelectric energy harvester.

Here we report the synthesis of four thienyltriazine and benzodithiazole/benzotriazole containing conjugated porous polymers (CPPs) TT-PP1, TT-PP2, TT-PP3 and TT-PP4 using Stille coupling reaction and Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling reaction. By varying the spacer and heteroatom, the band gap of the polymers TT-PP2

Key Clinical Message Foreign body ingestion is common in pediatric age group however can be found in any age group with intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental delay. There is usually a delay in presentation and interventions following foreign body ingestion in patients with neurodevelopmental delay, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and complications owing to inability of such patients giving relevant history. Most ingested foreign bodies naturally pass through the digestive tract without untoward effects. Only a few patients may require surgical interventions. Principle of management should be to reduce anxiety among patients and their visitors. Speedy recovery is enhanced so that they can return to their familiar environment soon. Abstract Foreign body ingestion is common in pediatric populations and may be found in any age group with intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental delay. As the patient cannot give a clear and relevant history, there is usually a delay in presentation and interventions following foreign body ingestion in patients with neurodevelopmental delay, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and complications. Most foreign bodies pass through the digestive system without any complications, and very few require surgical intervention. The goal should be to reduce anxiety among patients and their visitors and to enhance speedy recovery so that they can return to their familiar environment soon. Here we report a case of Acute intestinal obstruction secondary to ingestion of the head portion of a doll which was managed with emergency laparotomy with enterotomy and removal of foreign body in a 16 years female with Autism Spectrum Disorder.