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Jyoti Mani,1 Shailender Madani2 1Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; 2Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, USA Background: Abdominal migraine (AM) is a common cause of chronic and recurrent abdominal pain in children. It is characterized by paroxysms of moderate to severe abdominal pain that is midline, periumbilical, or diffuse in location and accompanied by other symptoms including headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, or pallor. Despite the presence of comprehensive diagnostic criteria under Rome IV classification of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and International Classification of Headache Disorders, it continues to be an underdiagnosed entity. Overview: The average age of diagnosis is 3–10 years with peak incidence at 7 years. Most of the patients have a personal or family history of migraine. Pathophysiology of the condition is believed to be similar to that of other FGIDs and cephalic migraine. It is also well recognized as a type of pediatric migraine variant. A careful history, thorough physical examination, and use of well-defined, symptom-based guidelines are needed to make a diagnosis. Selective or no testing is required to support a positive diagnosis. It resolves completely in most of the patients. However, these patients have a strong propensity to develop migraine later in life. Explanation and reassurance should be the first step once the diagnosis is made. Nonpharmacologic treatment options including avoidance of triggers, behavior therapy, and dietary modifications should be the initial line of management. Drug therapy should be considered only if symptoms are refractory to these primary interventions. Conclusion: More research focused on pathophysiology and management of AM needs to be carried out to improve outcomes in affected children. Keywords: children, abdominal pain, gastroenterology, headache

Jens Mani,1 Stefan Vallo,1 Maximilian P Brandt,1 Kilian M Gust,1 Claudia Bartsch,1 Johannes Daechert,1 Igor Tsaur,1 Georg Bartsch,2,* Axel Haferkamp1,* 1Department of Urology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, 2Department of Urology, Johannes Gutenberg University Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany *These authors contributed equally to this work Purpose: This study compares early complications after cystectomy and urinary diversion (UD) stratified by the surgical focus and case load of two different department chairpersons in a single institution in two time periods. Creating clear data about complications that can affect the quality of life is an important tool for patients to decide whether and where to perform this extensive surgery. Hypothesis: A team of surgeons with a clear focus on pelvic surgery leads to lower complication rates in radical cystectomy. Materials and methods: Radical cystectomy was performed in two separate time periods under the patronage of two different chairmen in the same university hospital. The patient data were analyzed retrospectively and the complications 30 days after surgery were assessed using the Clavien–Dindo classification. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the severity of complications between the two time periods, A and B, in total (P70 years, P≤0.001) tumor grade (low grade, P

Jens Mani,1 Eva Juengel,1 Ilhan Arslan,1 Georg Bartsch,1 Natalie Filmann,2 Hanns Ackermann,2 Karen Nelson,3 Axel Haferkamp,1 Tobias Engl,1,* Roman A Blaheta1,* 1Department of Urology, 2Institute of Biostatistics and Mathematical Modeling, 3Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: Many patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as primary treatment or symptom relief for a variety of illnesses. This study was designed to investigate the influence of surgical removal of a tumor-bearing urogenital organ on CAM use.Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 350 patients underwent major urological surgery for kidney, prostate, or bladder cancer at the Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. Data from 172 patients (49%), who returned a questionnaire, were retrospectively evaluated using the hospital information system along with the questionnaire to objectify CAM use 2 years before and after surgery.Results: From the 172 patients returning questionnaires, 56 (33%) used CAM before and/or after surgery and 116 (67%) never used CAM. Of the 56 CAM users, 30 (54%) used CAM presurgery and 53 (95%) used CAM postsurgery, indicating a significant change of mind about CAM use. Patients of German nationality used CAM significantly more than patients of other nationalities. Higher educational status (high-school diploma or higher) was a significant factor in favor of CAM use. The most common type of CAM used before/after surgery was an alternative medical system (63/49%), a manipulative and body-based method (50/19%), and a biological-based therapy (37/32%). Information about CAM, either provided by medical professionals or by other sources, was the main reason determining whether patients used CAM or not.Conclusion: The number of patients using CAM almost doubled after surgical removal of a cancer-bearing organ. Better awareness and understanding of CAM use by medical professionals could improve patient counseling. Keywords: complementary and alternative medicine, surgery, urologic cancer

Quaternary chalcogenides have gained significant attention in thermoelectric (TE) material research for their high thermoelectric conversion efficiency. The present work investigates the optimisation of the thermoelectric performance of Cu2NiSnSe4 utilising the energy filtering effect through the incorporation of CuO into a host matrix. The impact of varying the weight percentage of CuO on the TE properties of the nanocomposite materials was studied and compared with that of pristine Cu2NiSnSe4. It was observed that the presence of impurity phases significantly enhances phonon-boundary scattering, leading to a substantial decrease in lattice thermal conductivity, particularly in conjunction with the grain boundaries created by the nanocrystals. For pure samples, the maximum power factor was 1480 μW m−1 K−2 at 673 K. Stronger phonon scattering at the interface boundaries created between the Cu2NiSnSe4 matrix and CuO inclusions resulted in a low thermal conductivity of 1.01 W m−1 K−1 for the 10 wt% composite sample. The Cu2NiSnSe4/10 wt% CuO composite had a maximum zT of 0.69, which was 1.4 times higher than that of the Cu2NiSnSe4 matrix at 673 K. Additionally, an increase in CuO composition resulted in a uniform increase in the Seebeck coefficient and a simultaneous decrease in thermal conductivity, ultimately contributing to the attainment of the highest figure of merit for these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth-adequate quaternary chalcogenides like Cu2NiSnS4 with more complex crystal structures can become non-toxic and cost-effective thermoelectric (TE) materials. TE materials, by employing the energy filtering effect through appropriate energy bandgap, have enhanced their TE efficiency. The composition of CuO in Cu2NiSnS4 matrix has enhanced the Seebeck coefficient (S) and declined the thermal conductivity (κ) simultaneously, due to the decrement of carrier concentration (n), by increasing the wt% of CuO in the composites. The highest power factor of 270.88 μW m−1 K−2 at 573 K is recorded for 30 wt% composites. The 30 wt% composite material thermal conductivity exhibited a low value of 0.442 W m−1 K−1 through stronger phonon scattering at the interface boundaries formed between the Cu2NiSnS4 matrix and CuO compositions. A maximum zT of 0.35 for the Cu2NiSnS4/30 wt% CuO composite was obtained, 75% larger than that of the Cu2NiSnS4 matrix at 573 K. This strategy of introducing metal oxides into the metal sulphide matrix for obtaining efficient TE performance could be extended to other eco-friendly quaternary chalcogenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, thermoelectric (TE) materials have seized great attention for their role in clean energy conversion applications. Cu2S are p-type super-ionic conductors featuring a narrow band gap of 1.7 eV while exhibiting outstanding thermoelectric characteristics. The Cu2S matrix and the CuO nanoinclusions were successfully synthesized via solvothermal and hydrothermal routes, respectively. The morphological observations made through scanning and transmission electron microscope ensured the homogeneous distribution of CuO nanoinclusions in the Cu2S matrix, hence, the formation of standard Cu2S/CuO composites. In this work, we have introduced a "combined strategy" to boost the figure of merit (zT). The Seebeck coefficient reached the maximum of 271.86 μVK−1 at 573 K for the 20 wt% CuO sample (a 71.45% gain when compared to the pure Cu2S) owing to the filtration of low-energy carriers at the CuO potential barriers (2.5 eV). The Cu2S/20 wt% CuO sample achieved the minimum thermal conductivity values. At 573 K, We recorded a vast power factor value of 952.66 μWm−1 K−2 (32.23% gain) for the Cu2S/15 wt% CuO sample. These values are vastly higher than previously reported for the copper sulfides-based TE materials. Consequently, an optimised zT value of 0.44 (214.29% gain) was accomplished for the Cu2S/15 wt% CuO sample at 573 K. The strategy presented in our study can also be extended to other TE materials, especially for the promising copper chalcogenides to improve their zT values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2Te1 − xSex alloys (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) were prepared by ball milling followed by hydrogen decrepitation method. The structural, chemical state and morphology of the prepared samples were analysed using XRD, XPS and FESEM analysis. From the XRD analysis, it is confirmed that pure phase of Cu2Te is formed in pristine and additional structural formation was present in substituted samples. The electrical resistivity (ρ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) of Cu2Te1 − xSex alloys (x = 0,0.05,0.1,0.15 and 0.2) were measured as a function of temperature range between 303 and 673 K. The ρ of Cu2Te at 673 K is 3.88 × 10–4 Ωm and drastically reduced in the Cu2Te0.8Se0.2 sample is to be 9.99 × 10–5 Ωm. The Seebeck coefficient value increases at a higher (x = 0.2) content 159.24 µV/K compared to other samples. Higher power factor was achieved in the (x = 0.2) sample values of 220 µW K−2 m−1 at 673 K. Cu2Te0.8Se0.2 sample show relatively high figure of merit (zT) of 0.295 at 673 K, compared to other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This review addresses the important global issue of increased sludge accumulation from wastewater treatment plants, which poses serious environmental challenges due to heavy metals and high levels of organic pollution. The study provides a thorough review of sludge-to-value-added product recovery methods, including anaerobic digestion, composting, vermicomposting, and pyrolysis. Method: The review highlights recent advances and examines the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Given the significant loss of organic components before sludge generation, a unified strategy for value-added product recovery management is crucial, as the study emphasizes. Results: The study provides important standards for choosing the best technique for sustainable sludge management from a waste-to-resources standpoint. Conclusion: The study shows sewage sludge's potential as a valuable organic resources with higher nutrient compositions (Nitrogen 2.5 - 5.5%, Phosphorus 0.8 - 2.5%, Potassium 1.5 - 3.5%, Calcium 1.2 - 4.5%, and Magnesium 0.3 - 0.8% respectively) and its possible uses in agriculture. Research Highlights • Emerging investigation on recycling sludge waste to value added end products has been addressed • Progressive methods on sludge management have been articulated • Pros, cons and limitations of various sludge management practices were also addressed • Agricultural applications of value added products obtained from sludge have been discussed