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Intersectionality is a useful tool to address health inequalities, by helping us understand and respond to the individual and group effects of converging systems of power. Intersectionality rejects the notion of inequalities being the result of single, distinct factors, and instead focuses on the relationships between overlapping processes that create inequities. In this Series paper, we use an intersectional approach to highlight the intersections of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination with other systems of oppression, how this affects health, and what can be done about it. We present five case studies from different global locations that outline different dimensions of discrimination based on caste, ethnicity and migration status, Indigeneity, religion, and skin colour. Although experiences are diverse, the case studies show commonalities in how discrimination operates to affect health and wellbeing: how historical factors and coloniality shape contemporary experiences of race and racism; how racism leads to separation and hierarchies across shifting lines of identity and privilege; how racism and discrimination are institutionalised at a systems level and are embedded in laws, regulations, practices, and health systems; how discrimination, minoritisation, and exclusion are racialised processes, influenced by visible factors and tacit knowledge; and how racism is a form of structural violence. These insights allow us to begin to articulate starting points for justice-based action that addresses root causes, engages beyond the health sector, and encourages transnational solidarity.

Renewables are imagined in India around features of ‘greenness’ and ‘cleanness’ and are presented as the modern pathway towards sustainable development and unlimited growth. But this shining story entails problematic land politics and the related (un)making of space for capital accumulation: previous property regimes and land uses are erased while a new set of land technologies and territorial rules legitimates land dispossession and the private takeover of commons. Wind infrastructures are specifically targeting (common) lands categorized as ‘deserted’, ‘empty’ and ‘waste’, and subaltern groups (tribal, pastoral and Dalit communities) whose livelihood practices have been historically described as ‘unproductive’ and ‘backward’. These both violent and discursive logics of (neo)colonial and green energy land politics are mediated and fixed to the ground levels by powerful (land) brokers, contractors, wind companies’ land teams and political mediators who embark land on its tortuous, bureaucratic and yet material journey towards clearing, cleaning and holding value. This article offers perspectives from political geography and critical agrarian studies to understand the territorial process, the persistence of class-caste relations and the legacy of coloniality underlying the land politics of green energy development in borderland India.

Interaction of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) with Pr3+ (Pr(NO3)3·6H2O) and Nd3+ (Nd(NO3)3·6H2O) ions are studied in presence of Ca2+ (Ca(NO3)3·4H2O) ion in an aqueous and organic solvent by applying the spectroscopic technique for quantitative probe of 4f-4f transition. The complexation was determined by the variation in the intensities of 4f-4f absorption spectral bands and by applying the change of symmetric properties of electronic-dipole known as Judd-Ofelt parameters Tλ (λ = 2,4,6). On the addition of Ca2+ ion in the binary complexation of praseodymium and neodymium with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) there is an intensification of bands which shows the effect of Ca2+ toward the heterobimetallic complex formation. Other parameters like Slater-Condon (Fk), bonding (b1/2), the Nephelauxetic ratio (β), percentage covalency (δ) are also used to correlate the complexation of metals with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). With the minor change in coordination around Pr3+ and Nd3+ ions, the sensitivity of 4f-4f bands is detected and further used to explain the coordination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) with Pr3+ and Nd3+ in presence of Ca2+. The variation in oscillator strength (Pobs), energy (Eobs) and dipole intensity parameter help in supporting the heterobimetallic complexation of N-acetyl-L-cysteine. In kinetics investigation, the rate of the complexation of both hypersensitive and pseudo-hypersensitive transition is evaluated at various temperature in DMF solvent. The value of the thermodynamic parameters such as ΔHo, ΔSo and ΔGo and activation energy (Ea) also evaluated.

The spectral analysis of the complexation of praseodymium (Pr3+) with L-tryptophan in various aqueous solvent applying a quantitative probe of 4f-4f transition spectra. The study is carried out by calculating various energy interaction parameters such as the nephelauxetic effect (β), percent covalency (δ), bonding parameter (b1/2), Slater-Condon (Fk) and intensity parameters like oscillator strength (P) and intensity of Judd-Ofelt parameters Tλ (λ = 2, 4, 6). The paramagnetic behaviour of Pr3+ shows 3H4→1D2, 3H4→3P0, 3H4→3P1, 3H4→3P2 types of specific 4f-4f absorption bands and are observed at the visible reason of 427-610 nm. The intensities of 4f-4f transition bands rise on the addition of Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions toward the complexation of praseodymium (Pr3+):Try and extended result in the case of Ca2+ ion compared to the Zn2+ ion due to increase in the interaction between ligand and 4f orbital of metal ions. These bands on immediate minor’s coordination change around praseodymium (Pr3+) found to be highly sensitive due to the formation of heterobimetallic complex between L-tryptophan (Try) with Pr3+ in the existence of Zn2+ and Ca2+ ions. The complexation of Try with Pr3+ in the presence of Zn2+ and Ca2+ ions are monitors simultaneously from the sensitivity of the bands using energy parameters and oscillator strength. The rate of heterobimetallic complexation of both Zn2+ and Ca2+ ions was calculated from the 4f-4f transition at different temperatures. The thermodynamic parameters and activation energy calculated from the rate constants from different temperatures are more favourable in case of Try form complex with Pr3+ in the presence of Ca2+ ion as compared to Zn2+ ion.

Purpose Catheter ablation has become a mainstay therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid innovation over the past decade. Variability in ablation techniques may impact efficiency, safety, and efficacy; and the ideal strategy is unknown. Real-world evidence assessing the impact of procedural variations across multiple operators may provide insight into these questions. The Real-world Experience of Catheter Ablation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal (PAF) and Persistent (PsAF) Atrial Fibrillation registry (Real-AF) is a multicenter prospective registry that will enroll patients at high volume centers, including academic institutions and private practices, with operators performing ablations primarily with low fluoroscopy when possible. The study will also evaluate the contribution of advent in technologies and workflows to real-world clinical outcomes. Methods Patients presenting at participating centers are screened for enrollment. Data are collected at the time of procedure, 10–12 weeks, and 12 months post procedure and include patient and detailed procedural characteristics, with short and long-term outcomes. Arrhythmia recurrences are monitored through standard of care practice which includes continuous rhythm monitoring at 6 and 12 months, event monitors as needed for routine care or symptoms suggestive of recurrence, EKG performed at every visit, and interrogation of implanted device or ILR when applicable. Results Enrollment began in January 2018 with a single site. Additional sites began enrollment in October 2019. Through May 2021, 1,243 patients underwent 1,269 procedures at 13 institutions. Our goal is to enroll 4000 patients. Discussion Real-AF’s multiple data sources and detailed procedural information, emphasis on high volume operators, inclusion of low fluoroscopy operators, and use of rigorous standardized follow-up methodology allow systematic documentation of clinical outcomes associated with changes in ablation workflow and technologies over time. Timely data sharing may enable real-time quality improvements in patient care and delivery. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04088071 (registration date: September 12, 2019) Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10840-021-01031-w.

An environmentally benign approach for the synthesis of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), vanadium dioxide (VO2) and divanadium trioxide (V2O3) sols, potentially suitable for device applications, is reported. Synthesis of vanadium oxides is challenging because of their tendency to exist in multiple (+2 to +5) and mixed oxidation states. However, a simple approach has been developed successfully using formic acid and citric acid, as a viable scalable and sustainable process. Crystalline oxides of vanadium were obtained after annealing of sols under controlled temperature and atmospheric conditions. Chemical composition of the synthesized V2O3 was inferred from Raman spectroscopy; VO2 did not show any Raman peak at room temperature except a feature at 226 cm−1, while no significant information was obtained from the Raman spectra of V2O3. When excited at 405 nm, V2O5 and VO2 exhibit photoluminescence at 558 nm and 467 nm, respectively, while V2O3 shows radiative recombination at 446 and 473 nm. Particles of VmOn exhibit broad absorption bands as predicted by absorption spectroscopy. Sols of V2O5 and VO2 were found to be stable for more than six months, while V2O3 shows instability in air. A free-standing VmOn solution was used as an active layer in metal insulator metal (MIM) structures to explore possible device applications. To evaluate the suitability of this process, a dimensionless composite index of greenness (G) of processes is proposed, based on commonly held metrics of the desirable characteristics of green processes. This index is amenable to derivation using restricted process information customarily available in the literature. The process is found to exhibit greenness indices of 0.744 and 0.585 for V2O5 and VO2, respectively. Other published processes for the synthesis of these oxides are also quantified using our index.

Nikita Sud describes her latest book as ‘a telling of the life of contemporary India, as if land mattered’ (p. xiii). In this book, set in the post-1991 era of economic liberalisation, the multiple...

Objectives This study sought to characterize the presentations, electrophysiological features and diagnostic maneuvers for a series of unique arrhythmias involving the HPS. Background By v...

A novel Li+ co-doped RE doped CaMoO4 nanospheres were synthesized adopting polyol technique under urea hydrolysis method. XRD confirms that all the ensued particles are crystallized in the scheelite type tetragonal phase. Transmission electron microscopy observation confirms the formation of small spherical undoped and 5 at % Eu3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ doped CaMoO4 NPs with a narrow particle size distribution and an average particles diameter of 10.64, 7.18, 3.77 and 3.62 nm, respectively. An increase in the emission intensity with the incorporation of Li ion in the host lattice was discussed in detail. It was found that Li+ ion act as a charge compensator or sensitizer for decreasing emission intensity ratios of MoO42− group to the activator ions. Our work may provide an alternative pathway for tailoring nanocrystals with enhanced optical properties, paving the way for their utilities in the commercialization in optical display systems, lasers and optoelectronic devices.

Plant essential oils contained secondary metabolite chemicals showing toxicities on stored grain insects. The main aims of this study was to evaluate the insecticidal efficacies and chemical compositions of essential oil from C. flexuosus, C. winterianus, C. martini, and P. cablin against Sitophilus oryzae (L.). The GC-MS analysis results showed that, the essential oils of four aromatic plants are rich in citral, neral, geranyl acetate, geraniol, citronellal, geraniol, citronellol, photocitral B, azulene and α-guaiene respectively. The essential oils of C. flexuosus with LC50 values are 44.5 and 26.1 μl/L air after 24 and 48 h exposure which was found to be most potent fumigant than C. winterianus followed by C. martini and P. cablin respectively. Further, in contact toxicity, C. martini oil being the most effective against adults of S. oryzae with LC50 values of 2.6 and 1.8 μl/cm2 after 24 and 48 h exposure respectively, whereas moderate toxicity was observed in S. oryzae from the essential oils of C. winterianus and P. cablin. These results suggested that the essential oils extracted from C. flexuosus, C. winterianus, C. martini, and P. cablin can be used as in the management of S. oryzae in order to decrease the harmful effects and risk of synthetic insecticides on human beings.

Terbium doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via co-precipitation method using sodium citrate as a capping agent to study optical and electrical properties. The crystalline structure and the un...

Although there are literature reports available on the use of salt as a flux in the solid state synthesis of phosphors, there are not many reports on the synthesis of nanophosphors using a salt-assisted wet chemical method. Here, we report the synthesis of a nearly spherical single phase CaWO4:Dy3+ nanophosphor using a solvothermal method with the addition of NH4Cl and KCl. It was observed that the addition of salt has no adverse effects on the crystal structure of the nanophosphor, however, it increases its size. A plausible explanation for the variation in size of the particles upon the addition of salt is presented. The photoluminescence emission, energy transfer and lifetimes of the nanophosphor were found to be dependent on its size. The blue emission from the host increases with increasing size. The average lifetime of the 480 nm (4F9/2 → 6H15/2) emission for the as-prepared CaWO4:Dy3+ sample was found to be 1.628 ms, with the lifetime found to decrease with an increase in size. The CIE chromaticity indicates either bluish white or near white emission from the samples. The quantum yields of the various samples prepared were found to vary from 12 to 25%. Furthermore, the optimization of energy transfer was studied by changing the concentration of Dy3+ (3–15 at%) doping and Sm3+ (5 at%) codoping at 50 mM NH4Cl addition during synthesis. As the concentration of Dy3+ increases, the emission intensity decreases, whereas the energy transfer increases. Thus, this report will provide a significant contribution in the field of synthesis and optimizing of the luminescence characteristics of nanophosphors for display devices and optical imaging.

ObjectiveTo assess left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus detection using a novel cardiac computed tomography (CT) protocol specifically prior to direct current cardioversion (DCCV).BackgroundTransesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard in evaluating the LAA prior to DCCV for atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter (AFL). The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted availability of TEE and anesthesia support.MethodsProspective cohort of consecutive patients with uncontrolled AF/AFL referred for DCCV from March 2020 to March 2021 were enrolled. CT evaluation of LAA was performed with an initial arterial and subsequent 30-second delayed acquisition to exclude thrombus prior to DCCV. Primary end points were to assess safety and outcomes.ResultsA total of 161 patients were included; mean age 69.8 ± 11.1 years; mean CHA2DS2-VASc 3.4 ± 1.7; and HAS-BLED 1.8 ± 0.9. Median follow-up 175 (105-267) days with zero cardiac-related deaths, and no episodes of TIA or embolic stroke. There was no statistically significant change in mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the study population between the pre- and post-GFR measurements (73.9 ± 21.0 vs 72.7 ± 20.3; p=0.104). Overall mean total dose length product (DLP) was 1042.8 ± 447.5 mGy*cm. Modifying the CT protocol to a narrower 8-cm axial coverage had a statistically significant decrease in total DLP (from 1130.6 ± 464.1 mGy*cm to 802.1 ± 286.4 mGy*cm; PConclusionCardiac CT is both a safe and feasible alternative imaging to TEE for patients prior to DCCV.PerspectivesCompetency in Medical KnowledgeCardiac CT is a powerful tool for the evaluation of left atrial appendage and detection of thrombus prior to direct current cardioversion.Translational OutlookOur protocol was implemented with the restrictions during COVID-19 in mind, yet CT can be a viable tool beyond the pandemic; future randomized clinical trials can bridge the gap between CT and TEE in the setting of cardioversion and help elucidate its safety profile further.

The Real-World Experience of Catheter Ablation for Treatment of Symptomatic Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (REAL-AF) is a multicenter prospective registry of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We sought to describe the baseline workflows of REAL-AF operators.REAL-AF enrolls high volume minimum fluoroscopy radiofrequency ablators. A 150 item questionnaire was administered to participating operators. Responses were analyzed using standard methods.Forty-two respondents had a mean 178.2 ± 89.2 yearly AF ablations, with 42.4 ± 11.9% being paroxysmal (PAF). Most operators performed ablation with uninterrupted or minimally interrupted anticoagulation (66.7% and 28.6%). Left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus was most commonly ruled out with transesophageal echocardiography (33.3% and 42.9% for PAF and persistent AF). Consistent with registry design, radiofrequency energy (92.1% ± 18.8% of cases) and zero fluoroscopy ablation (73.8% goal 0 fluoroscopy) were common. The majority of operators relied on index-guided ablation (90.5%); Mean Visitag surpoint targets were higher anteriorly vs posteriorly (508.3 ± 49.8 vs 392.3 ± 37.0, p 0.01), but power was similar. There was considerable heterogeneity related to gaps in current knowledge, such as lesion delivery targets and sites of extra-pulmonary vein ablation (most common was the posterior wall followed by the roof). Peri-procedural risk factor management of obesity, hypertension, and sleep apnea was common. There was a mean of 3.0 ± 1.2 follow-up visits at 12 months.REAL-AF operators were high volume low fluoroscopy "real world" operators with good follow-up and adherence to known best-practices. There was disagreement related to knowledge gaps in guidelines.

INTRODUCTION Single-center observational studies have shown promising results with fragmented electrogram (FE)-guided ganglionated plexus (GP) ablation in patients with vagally mediated bradyarrhythmia (VMB). We aimed to compare the acute procedural characteristics during FE-guided GP ablation in patients with VMB performed by first-time operators and those of a single high-volume operator. METHODS AND RESULTS This international multicenter cohort study included data collected over 2 years from 16 cardiac hospitals. The primary operators were classified according to their prior GP ablation experience: a single high-volume operator who had performed > 50 GP ablation procedures (Group 1), and operators performing their first GP ablation cases (Group 2). Acute procedural characteristics and syncope recurrence were compared between groups. Forty-seven consecutive patients with VMB who underwent FE-guided GP ablation were enrolled, n = 31 in Group 1 and n = 16 in Group 2. The mean number of ablation points in each GP was comparable between groups. The ratio of positive vagal response during ablation on the left superior GP was higher in Group 1 (90.3% vs. 62.5%, p = .022). Ablation of the right superior GP increased heart rate acutely without any vagal response in 45 (95.7%) cases. The procedure time was longer in group 2 (83.4 ± 21 vs. 118.0 ± 21 min, respectively, p