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Background: The exact prevalence of dementia in Australia is ambiguous. Australia is a vast continent with a small population, and 80% of the population live in five cities. This study explores recent changes in the prevalence of dementia. It also investigates geographic remoteness as a potential risk factor for developing dementia. Methods: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), a nationally representative database, was used to conduct this study. A total of 74,862 and 65,487 individuals from 2015 and 2018, respectively, were considered for this study. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between dementia and geographic remoteness for older adults aged 65 years and over. Results: The results reveal that from 2015 to 2018, the prevalence of dementia among adults aged 65 years and older was higher in 2018 (5,229 per 100,000) than in 2015 (5,099 per 100,000). Significant geographical differences in the prevalence of dementia are observed among Australian adults, and this trend appears to be increasing. Furthermore, the unadjusted model revealed that, in 2015, older adults living in major cities had 1.29 (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.17–1.41) times higher odds of having dementia compared with their counterparts from outer regional and remote areas. In 2018, the adjusted model found that older adults living in major cities had 1.12 (AOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.25) times elevated odds of having dementia than their peers living in outer regional and remote areas. Conclusion: There is a rising prevalence of dementia in Australia. Further investigation is required to identify the causes of this increase. Increased public health initiatives should concentrate on behavioural characteristics and contextual environmental factors to ameliorate this trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People who are overweight and obese suffer from significant health impacts that have increased globally. Concurrently, usage of information and communication devices such as television and mobile phones have also been growing, affecting people's weight. This study examined the association between watching television and owning a mobile phone with overweight and obesity among reproductive-aged women in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs). Data of 21 LLMICs reported between 2015 and 2020 were collected from the Demographic and Health Surveys. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the association into three pooled segments: a group of 21 countries, the World Bank income classification and the regional categorisation of the countries. The all-inclusive prevalence of overweight or obesity was found at 27.1% among 175,370 reproductive-aged women, and this prevalence varied among countries. Overall, the odds of being overweight or obese were 1.20 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–1.24), 1.40 (AOR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.35–1.44) and 1.18 (AOR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.03–1.35) times higher among those who watched television less than once a week, at least once a week and almost every day, respectively, compared with those who did not watch television. Besides, women's mobile phone ownership is more likely to experience overweight or obesity (AOR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.67–1.77). Consistent results were found for the countries categorised according to the World Bank income and regional classification. Focus on sedentary behaviour, such as television watching and mobile phone use, of women and regional or country-specific innovative strategies and programs are of great immediate importance to decrease the prevalence of overweight and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity prevalence is increasing in many countries in the world, including Asia. Maternal obesity is highly associated with fetal and neonatal deaths. This study investigated whether maternal obesity is a risk factor of fetal death (measured in terms of miscarriage and stillbirth) and neonatal mortality in South and South-East Asian countries. Methods: This cross-sectional study pooled the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from eight South and South-East Asian countries (2014–2018). Multivariate logistic regression was deployed to check the relationships between maternal obesity with fetal and neonatal deaths. Finally, multilevel logistic regression model was employed since the DHS data has a hierarchical structure. Results: The pooled logistic regression model illustrated that maternal obesity is associated with higher odds of miscarriage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.20–1.33) and stillbirths (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27–1.67) after adjustment of confounders. Children of obese mothers were at 1.18 (aOR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.28) times greater risk of dying during the early neonatal period than mothers with a healthy weight. However, whether maternal obesity is statistically a significant risk factor for the offspring's late neonatal deaths was not confirmed. The significant association between maternal obesity with miscarriage, stillbirth and early neonatal mortality was further confirmed by multilevel logistic regression results. Conclusion: Maternal obesity in South and South-East Asian countries is associated with a greater risk of fetal and early neonatal deaths. This finding has substantial public health implications. Strategies to prevent and reduce obesity should be developed before planning pregnancy to reduce the fetal and neonatal death burden. Obese women need to deliver at the institutional facility centre that can offer obstetrics and early neonatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-piercing riveting (SPR) is a method used for joining sheet materials by creating a mechanical interlock between the sheets. SPR is of increasing interest in automobile industries due to its suitability for joining lightweight, high strength and dissimilar materials. The quality of an SPR joint from cross-sectional perspective is primarily characterized by the amount of mechanical interlock known as rivet flaring. Other parameters, such as rivet head height, bottom thickness and effective length of the rivet in the bottom sheet are also considered as quality parameters. However, the many factors that determine the quality of an SPR joint are poorly described in the literature and, as a consequence, the opportunities to develop new product and optimize the process are limited. In this paper, several of the key parameters that affect the quality of an SPR joint are described and some assistive technologies that have the potential of improving the quality of a joint are discussed. This is a zone in the field of SPR joining which has plenty of research opportunities. Innovative progress will be achieved by a combination of techniques, together with industrial trials and laboratory simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ChatGPT, a sophisticated online chatbot, sent shockwaves through many sectors once reports filtered through that it could pass exams. In higher education, it has raised many questions about the authenticity of assessment and challenges in detecting plagiarism. Amongst the resulting frenetic hubbub, hints of potential opportunities in how ChatGPT could support learning and the development of critical thinking have also emerged. In this paper, we examine how ChatGPT may affect assessment in engineering education by exploring ChatGPT responses to existing assessment prompts from ten subjects across seven Australian universities. We explore the strengths and weaknesses of current assessment practice and discuss opportunities on how ChatGPT can be used to facilitate learning. As artificial intelligence is rapidly improving, this analysis sets a benchmark for ChatGPT's performance as of early 2023 in responding to engineering education assessment prompts. ChatGPT did pass some subjects and excelled with some assessment types. Findings suggest that changes in current practice are needed, as typically with little modification to the input prompts, ChatGPT could generate passable responses to many of the assessments, and it is only going to get better as future versions are trained on larger data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutron diffraction was used to describe the residual stress distributions in self-piercing riveted (SPR) joints. The sheet material displayed a compressive residual stress near the joint, and the stress gradually became tensile in the sheet material far away from the joint. The stress in the rivet leg was lower in the thick joint of the softer steel sheet than in the thin joint of the harder steel sheet. This lower magnitude was attributed to the lower force gradient during the rivet flaring stage of the SPR process curve. This study shows how the residual stress results may be related to the physical occurrences that happened during joining, using the characteristics curve. The study also shows that neutron diffraction technique enabled a crack in the rivet tip to be detected which was not apparent from a cross-section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a parametric study of the mechanical behaviour of self-pierced riveted (SPR) joints of steel sheets in two loading conditions (lap-shear and cross-tension). Higher strength was always observed in lap-shear testing than in cross-tension. In both loading conditions, the strength of a joint was greatly influenced by the hardness and thickness of sheet materials and die depth. An empirical model was developed to predict the joint strength in cross-tension loading using characteristic joint data determined directly from the SPR process (force-displacement) curve. All predictions of joint strength fell within 10% of the measured joint strength. Finally, a relationship was established between the joint strength in lap shear and cross-tension with < 8% error. The developed relationship provides a useful tool for further studies especially for different rivet and die geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and effective model has been developed to determine rivet flaring in self-piercing riveted (SPR) joints. Both interrupted and un-interrupted SPR experiments were performed with recording of force and punch displacement data. Based on the analysis of experimental SPR process data and the examination of cross-sections of SPR samples, two key points of the force–displacement curves were identified that mark the start ( d 0 ) and end ( d max ) of rivet flaring, respectively. It was found that these two events were able to be related to the path of the tip of the flaring rivet and hence the internal characteristics of the SPR samples via a simplified geometric approach. A linear relationship between the rivet flaring and ( d max – d 0 ) was thus established. The study shows that in the absence of a finite element model, the experimental characteristic force–displacement curve can be used directly to estimate the rivet flaring without having to cut the SPR joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on laboratory objectives in engineering education research is scattered and inconsistent. Systematic literature reviews identified the need for better understanding. This paper ranks the laboratory learning objectives across the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains to improve scaffolding. It provides an opportunity for reflection, a pathway to confirm assessment alignment, and opens future research areas. To accomplish this, the Laboratory Learning Objectives Measurement (LLOM) instrument is used to survey 160 academics from around the world representing 18 engineering disciplines. The results suggest that the collective ranking order does represent a framework that can be used broadly. However, for greater alignment with consensus thinking, discipline rankings should be used. The cognitive domain was deemed the most important. These results provide the community's opinion and may not necessarily be best practice, providing an opportunity for reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplementation be provided to all pregnant women living in undernourished populations, usually defined as having a prevalence > 20% of underweight women, to reduce the risk of stillbirths and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Few geographies meet this threshold, however, and a large proportion of undernourished women and those with inadequate gestational weight gain could miss benefiting from BEP. This study compares the effectiveness of individual targeting approaches for supplementation with micronutrient-fortified BEP vs. multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) alone as control in pregnancy in improving birth outcomes. Methods: The TARGET-BEP study is a four-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in rural northwestern Bangladesh. Eligible participants are married women aged 15–35 years old identified early in pregnancy using a community-wide, monthly, urine-test-based pregnancy detection system. Beginning at 12–14 weeks of gestation, women in the study area comprising 240 predefined sectors are randomly assigned to one of four intervention arms, with sector serving as the unit of randomization. The interventions involving daily supplementation through end of pregnancy are as follows: (1) MMS (control); (2) BEP; (3) targeted BEP for those with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m2 and MMS for others; (4) targeted BEP for those with pre-pregnancy BMI < 18.5 kg/m2, MMS for others, and women with inadequate gestational weight gain switched from MMS to BEP until the end of pregnancy. Primary outcomes include birth weight, low birth weight (< 2500 g), and small for gestational age, defined using the 10th percentile of the INTERGROWTH-21st reference, for live-born infants measured within 72 h of birth. Project-hired local female staff visit pregnant women monthly to deliver the assigned supplements, monitor adherence biweekly, and assess weight regularly during pregnancy. Trained data collectors conduct pregnancy outcome assessment and measure newborn anthropometry in the facility or home depending on the place of birth. Discussion: This study will assess the effectiveness of targeted balanced energy and protein supplementation to improve birth outcomes among pregnant women in rural Bangladesh and similar settings. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05576207. Registered on October 5th, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden of multimorbidity has been observed worldwide and it has significant consequences on health outcomes. In Australia, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is comparatively low amongst Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, yet no studies have examined the effect of multimorbidity on HRQoL within this at-risk population. This study seeks to fill that gap by employing a longitudinal research design. Methods: Longitudinal data were derived from three waves (9, 13, and 17) of the household, income and labour dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. A total of 1007 person-year observations from 592 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals aged 15 years and above were included. HRQoL was captured using the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and multimorbidity was defined using self-reports of having been diagnosed with two or more chronic health conditions. Symmetric fixed-effects linear regression models were used to assess how intraindividual changes in multimorbidity were associated with intraindividual changes in HRQoL. Results: Approximately 21% of Indigenous Australians were classified as experiencing multimorbidity. Respondents had statistically significantly lower HRQoL on the SF-36 sub-scales, summary measures, and health-utility index in those observations in which they experienced multimorbidity. Among others, multimorbidity was associated with lower scores on the SF-36 physical-component scale (β = − 6.527; Standard Error [SE] = 1.579), mental-component scale (β = − 3.765; SE = 1.590) and short-form six-dimension utility index (β = − 0.075; SE = 0.017). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that having multiple chronic conditions is statistically significantly associated with lower HRQoL amongst Indigenous Australians. These findings suggest that comprehensive and culturally sensitive health strategies addressing the complex needs of individuals with multimorbidity should be implemented to improve the HRQoL of Indigenous Australians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation is an efficacious intervention in pregnancy for improving birthweight and is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) in countries with high maternal undernutrition. Few countries have implemented BEP programmes due in part to high cost, lack of data on acceptability and feasibility, and complexity of delivery. We sought to address implementation gaps in BEP interventions through a formative study designed to understand implementation outcomes. We conducted 52 in‐depth interviews and 8 focus‐group discussions with married women of reproductive age, family members, health care providers and pharmacists in three unions of the Gaibandha district in rural Bangladesh. Interviews were translated and transcribed in English and analysed using an analytic framework for implementation science in nutrition. BEP was viewed as an acceptable and appropriate intervention to combat undernutrition in this setting. There was a lack of clarity on who should or could be responsible for providing/distributing BEP in a way convenient to mothers. Many participants preferred door‐to‐door delivery and thought this approach could address social and gender inequities, but providers mentioned already being overworked and worried about adding new tasks. Participants were concerned about the affordability of BEP and opportunity costs associated with travel to proposed distribution sites such as ANC or pharmacies. Women in these communities do not always have the agency to travel without supervision or make purchasing decisions. BEP supplementation is a complex intervention; future trials seek to assess ways to overcome these implementation challenges and inform a long‐term systems‐owned BEP intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation in pregnancy is recommended in the context of undernutrition for the reduction of small‐for‐gestational age neonates and stillbirths. To inform an effectiveness trial, we evaluated the acceptability of a packaged, ready‐to‐eat fortified BEP product among women of reproductive age and their health care providers (HCPs) in rural Bangladesh and explored the feasibility of adhering to daily supplementation. We implemented a formative study using focus groups discussions with women (n = 29) and HCPs (n = 17) to introduce the product and investigate components of acceptability. A “trials of improved practice” activity was conducted in subset of women (n = 16) to evaluate adherence to BEP over a 2‐week period, followed by focus group discussions to identify challenges with adherence and strategies employed. Contributors to BEP acceptability included the product's sensory attributes, such as taste, smell and texture; the attractive packaging and informative labelling; and the perceived benefits of use. Participants also identified household and community level factors influencing the adoption of BEP, such as trust in the provider, cultural beliefs on supplement use in pregnancy, and family member tasting and approval. Over the 2‐week period, women consumed over 80% of the supplements provided to them and identified strategies for adherence, including visual aids and reminders from family members or providers. HCPs recommended targeted communication messages for mothers‐in‐law to foster a supportive home environment. Findings informed changes to the BEP product to improve acceptability and shaped the content of communication messages to optimise adherence in a forthcoming effectiveness trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the suitability of stone fruit seed as a source of biodiesel for transport. Stone fruit oil (SFO) was extracted from the seed and converted into biodiesel. The biodiesel yield of 95.75% was produced using the alkaline catalysed transesterification process with a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 6:1, KOH catalyst concentration of 0.5 wt% (weight %), and a reaction temperature of 55 °C for 60 min. The physicochemical properties of the produced biodiesel were determined and found to be the closest match of standard diesel. The engine performance, emissions and combustion behaviour of a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with SFO biodiesel blends of 5%, 10% and 20% with diesel, v/v basis, were tested. The testing was performed at 100% engine load with speed ranging from 200 to 2400 rpm. The average brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency of SFO blends were found to be 4.7% to 15.4% higher and 3.9% to 11.4% lower than those of diesel, respectively. The results also revealed that SFO biodiesel blends have marginally lower in-cylinder pressure and a higher heat release rate compared to diesel. The mass fraction burned results of SFO biodiesel blends were found to be slightly faster than those of diesel. The SFO biodiesel 5% blend produced about 1.9% higher NOx emissions and 17.4% lower unburnt HC with 23.4% lower particulate matter (PM) compared to diesel fuel. To summarise, SFO biodiesel blends are recommended as a suitable transport fuel for addressing engine emissions problems and improving combustion performance with a marginal sacrifice of engine efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) traps heat from the sun, and thereby prevents oceans from becoming frozen solid to keep the earth habitable. CO2 emission also stimulates global warming and increases the pace of climate change. For such contradictory influences, researchers across the globe have shown interest in examining the relationship among energy, emission, trade and commerce, focusing on different regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Investigation from a developed country perspective is understudied. Hence, this research aims at analysing how trade and commerce, urbanisation, energy consumption, and economy affect the volume of CO2 emission in Japan. The World Bank database was used to collect data for 1960–2010. The findings suggest that the inverted U-shaped relationship between economic progress and carbon emissions follows the Environmental Kuznets Curve theorem. However, per capita energy consumption has no significant impact on emission in the long run; the trade volume does not directly affect the emission of CO2 in Japan. Besides, the ratio of the urban population shows a negative impact on carbon emission in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Any form of long-term physical or mental impairment might negatively influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL, as an independent concept, covers a wide range of characteristics that includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual functions. People with disabilities are continuously exposed to multiple barriers that deteriorate their HRQoL. It also creates impairment in performing physical activities. However, experts opine regular physical exercise as an intervention to help disabled people. This research aims to investigate the association between disability and physical activity with HRQoL among the adult population in Australia. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study utilized the most recent 19 waves of data (2002–2020) from the nationally representative Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. Component summary scores such as physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS), and SF-6D utility scores were utilized to measure HRQoL. Random-effects GLS regression technique was fitted to estimate the association between disability and physical activity with HRQoL, after adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and health-related characteristics. Results: Disability was negatively associated with the PCS (-5.95), MCS (-2.70) and SF-6D (-0.060) compared with non-disabled counterparts. However, respondents engaged in the recommended level of physical activity had substantial gain in PCS (b = 0.96), MCS (1.57), and SF-6D (0.021) scores. Besides, the results showed that performing the recommended level of physical activity in the presence of disability has lessen the negative effect of disability/ positive moderating effect of physical activity on PCS, MCS, and SF-6D scores by 1.84 points, 0.82 points, and 0.013 percentage points, respectively. Conclusion: This study found an inverse association between disability and HRQoL among Australian adults. However, physical activity was associated with improved HRQoL. Therefore, public health interventions, such as the orientation of physical activities, have a higher potential to dwindle the burden regarding HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The next generation Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants integrated with Thermal Energy Storage (TES) offer a promising solution for dispatchability, reliability, and economic concerns associated with renewable energy technologies. However, the expected operational life of up to 30 years proves to be a major challenge due to the impact of high temperatures and corrosive eutectic salts utilised in the latent heat TES systems. Additionally, the system is under varying degrees of stress that can accelerate corrosion mechanisms. Unfortunately, this stress corrosion relationship is often neglected during the material compatibility assessment. This study utilises a novel static immersion testing approach with three designs of modified Compact Tension (CT) specimens manufactured from AISI 316L to investigate the interaction of alloys under stress with various eutectic salts at up to 750 °C for up to 1000 Hours. The results indicate that oxidation is accelerated up to four times and Intergranular Corrosion (IGC) up to two times in the high-stress region of the test samples. Furthermore, the findings suggest that static immersion testing using CT specimens can be regarded as an effective approach to assess the influence of stress on corrosion and conduct a reliable material assessment for latent heat TES systems and CSP plants. • Stress severely affects corrosion rate/propagation within alloys in molten salt/air • Prestressed 316L compact tension specimen used to examine stress assisted corrosion • Oxidation accelerated up to four times due to stress at 650 °C in air • Stress accelerated IGC up to two times at 650 °C in NaCl/Na 2 CO 3 salt • Stress induced breakdown of oxide layer in solar salt leads to localised corrosion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic methylation converts inorganic arsenic (iAs) to monomethyl (MMA) and dimethyl (DMA) arsenic compounds. Body mass index (BMI) has been positively associated with arsenic methylation efficiency (higher DMA%) in adults, but evidence in pregnancy is inconsistent. We estimated associations between anthropometric measures and arsenic methylation among pregnant women in rural northern Bangladesh. We enrolled pregnant women (n = 784) (median [IQR] gestational week: 14 [13, 15]) in Gaibandha District, Bangladesh from 2018 to 2019. Anthropometric measures were BMI, subscapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), fat area (MUAFA), and muscle area (MUAMA). Arsenic methylation measures were urinary iAs, MMA, and DMA divided by their sum and multiplied by 100 (iAs%, MMA%, and DMA%), primary methylation index (MMA/iAs; PMI), and secondary methylation index (DMA/MMA; SMI). In complete cases (n = 765 [97.6%]), we fitted linear, beta, and Dirichlet regression models to estimate cross-sectional differences in iAs%, MMA%, DMA%, PMI, and SMI per IQR-unit difference in each anthropometric measure, adjusting for drinking water arsenic, age, gestational age, education, living standards index, and plasma folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine. Median (IQR) BMI, subscapular skinfold thickness, triceps skinfold thickness, MUAC, MUAFA, and MUAMA were 21.5 (19.4, 23.8) kg/m2, 17.9 (13.2, 24.2) mm, 14.2 (10.2, 18.7) mm, 25.9 (23.8, 28.0) cm, 15.3 (10.5, 20.3) cm2, and 29.9 (25.6, 34.2) cm2, respectively. Median (IQR) iAs%, MMA%, DMA%, PMI, and SMI were 12.0 (9.3, 15.2)%, 6.6 (5.3, 8.3)%, 81.0 (77.1, 84.6)%, 0.6 (0.4, 0.7), and 12.2 (9.3, 15.7), respectively. In both unadjusted and adjusted linear models, all anthropometric measures were negatively associated with iAs%, MMA%, and PMI and positively associated with DMA% and SMI. For example, fully adjusted mean differences (95% CI) in DMA% per IQR-unit difference in BMI, subscapular skinfolds thickness, triceps skinfold thickness, MUAC, MUAFA, and MUAMA were 1.72 (1.16, 2.28), 1.58 (0.95, 2.21), 1.74 (1.11, 2.37), 1.45 (0.85, 2.06), 1.70 (1.08, 2.31), and 0.70 (0.13, 1.27) pp, respectively. Anthropometric measures were positively associated with arsenic methylation efficiency among pregnant women in the early second trimester. • Anthropometric measures were positively associated with arsenic methylation efficiency in pregnancy. • Associations were independent of plasma biomarkers of micronutrient status. • Results suggest adiposity was more relevant than lean mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Maternal micronutrient deficiencies may adversely affect fetal and infant health, yet there is insufficient evidence of effects on these outcomes to guide antenatal micronutrient supplementation in South Asia.Objective: To assess effects of antenatal multiple micronutrient vs iron-folic acid supplementation on 6-month infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes.Design, Setting, and Participants: Cluster randomized, double-masked trial in Bangladesh, with pregnancy surveillance starting December 4, 2007, and recruitment on January 11, 2008. Six-month infant follow-up ended August 30, 2012. Surveillance included 127,282 women; 44,567 became pregnant and were included in the analysis and delivered 28,516 live-born infants. Median gestation at enrollment was 9 weeks (interquartile range, 7-12).Interventions: Women were provided supplements containing 15 micronutrients or iron-folic acid alone, taken daily from early pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum.Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was all-cause infant mortality through 6 months (180 days). Prespecified secondary outcomes in this analysis included stillbirth, preterm birth (<37 weeks), and low birth weight (<2500 g). To maintain overall significance of α = .05, a Bonferroni-corrected α = .01 was calculated to evaluate statistical significance of primary and 4 secondary risk outcomes (.05/5).Results: Among the 22,405 pregnancies in the multiple micronutrient group and the 22,162 pregnancies in the iron-folic acid group, there were 14,374 and 14,142 live-born infants, respectively, included in the analysis. At 6 months, multiple micronutrients did not significantly reduce infant mortality; there were 764 deaths (54.0 per 1000 live births) in the iron-folic acid group and 741 deaths (51.6 per 1000 live births) in the multiple micronutrient group (relative risk [RR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86-1.06). Multiple micronutrient supplementation resulted in a non-statistically significant reduction in stillbirths (43.1 vs 48.2 per 1000 births; RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.99; P = .02) and significant reductions in preterm births (18.6 vs 21.8 per 100 live births; RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.91; P < .001) and low birth weight (40.2 vs 45.7 per 100 live births; RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.85-0.91; P < .001).Conclusions and Relevance: In Bangladesh, antenatal multiple micronutrient compared with iron-folic acid supplementation did not reduce all-cause infant mortality to age 6 months but resulted in a non-statistically significant reduction in stillbirths and significant reductions in preterm births and low birth weight.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00860470. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IMPORTANCE Maternal micronutrient deficiencies may adversely affect fetal and infant jama.com health, yet there is insufficient evidence of effects on these outcomes to guide antenatal micronutrient supplementation in South Asia. OBJECTIVE To assess effects of antenatal multiple micronutrient vs iron-folic acid supplementation on 6-month infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cluster randomized, double-masked trial in Bangladesh, with pregnancy surveillance starting December 4,2007, and recruitment on January 11, 2008. Six-month infant follow-up ended August 30,2012. Surveillance included 127 282 women; 44 567 became pregnant and were included in the analysis and delivered 28 516 live-born infants. Median gestation at enrollment was 9 weeks (interquartile range, 7-12). INTERVENTIONS Women were provided supplements containing 15 micronutrients or iron-folic acid alone, taken daily from early pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was all-cause infant mortality through 6 months (180 days). Prespecified secondary outcomes in this analysis included stillbirth, preterm birth (<37 weeks), and low birth weight (<2500 g). To maintain overall significance of a = .05, a Bonferroni-corrected a = .01 was calculated to evaluate statistical significance of primary and 4 secondary risk outcomes (.05/5). RESULTS Among the 22 405 pregnancies in the multiple micronutrient group and the 22 162 pregnancies in the iron-folic acid group, there were 14 374 and 14142 live-born infants, respectively, included in the analysis. At 6 months, multiple micronutrients did not significantly reduce infant mortality; there were 764 deaths (54.0 per 1000 live births) in the iron-folic acid group and 741 deaths (51.6 per 1000 live births) in the multiple micronutrient group (relative risk [RR], 0.95; 95% Cl, 0.86-1.06). Multiple micronutrient supplementation resulted in a non-statistically significant reduction in stillbirths (43.1 vs 48.2 per 1000 births; RR, 0.89; 95% Cl, 0.81-0.99; P = .02) and significant reductions in preterm births (18.6 vs 21.8 per 100 live births; RR, 0.85; 95% Cl, 0.80-0.91; P < .001) and low birth weight (40.2 vs 45.7 per 100 live births; RR, 0.88; 95% Cl, 0.85-0.91; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In Bangladesh, antenatal multiple micronutrient compared with iron-folic acid supplementation did not reduce all-cause infant mortality to age 6 months but resulted in a non-statistically significant reduction in stillbirths and significant reductions in preterm births and low birth weight. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00860470 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver has become a potent agent that can be effectively applied in nanostructured nanomaterials with various shapes and sizes against antibacterial applications. Silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) based-antimicrobial agents play a major role in different applications, including biomedical applications, as surface treatment and coatings, in chemical and food industries, and for agricultural productivity. Due to advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology, different methods have been used to prepare Ag NPs with sizes and shapes reducing toxicity for antibacterial applications. Studies have shown that Ag NPs are largely dependent on basic structural parameters, such as size, shape, and chemical composition, which play a significant role in preparing the appropriate formulation for the desired applications. Therefore, this review focuses on the important parameters that affect the surface interaction/state of Ag NPs and their influence on antimicrobial activities, which are essential for designing future applications. The mode of action of Ag NPs as antibacterial agents will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous development of microelectronics requires mechanically enhanced insulating materials with a lower dielectric (low- k) constant. To accomplish this, in this paper, low- k polymer nanocomposites were reinforced with hydrophobic ethane-bridged mesoporous organosilica (EMO) particles as fillers. In this study, three types of EMOs such as pure EMO, EMO functionalized with trimethoxyphenylsilane (PTS) (EMO-PTS) group, and EMO functionalized with 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]urea (UTS) (EMO-UTS) group were prepared via sol-gel self-assembly method. Mesostructures and surface areas of synthesized EMO particles were successfully characterized by XRD, TEM, and BET, whereas 13C and 29Si CP/MAS NMR spectra were also evidenced the presence of organic functional groups in the final EMO particles. Then, these filler materials were employed along with PMDA-ODA PAA (polyamic acid) solution for making efficient polyimide (PI) polymer composites. The good dispersion of EMO/EMO-PTS/EMO-UTS fillers into polyimide (PI) matrix were investigated using cross-section of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atom force microscopy (AFM). UV–visible spectroscopy has also shown optical transmittance more than 80% in the visible range. Dielectric constant (DC) was also found to be reduced from 3.42 (in PI) to 2.51 (in polymer composites) upon addition of 2–3 wt% of filler materials. The addition of these fillers into polymer PI has also significantly enhanced modulus, hardness and glass-transition temperature of the final composites. These results strongly suggest that EMO and functionalized EMO with either PTS or UTS could be used as promising " reinforcing mesoporous filler and low-k materials " with polyimide. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]