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Abstract Background In India, an increase in malaria cases by 21% (223,961 cases) has been reported between 2022 and 2023. Madhya Pradesh ranks 10th in malaria burden, with Mandla district selected for the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) to demonstrate the feasibility of malaria elimination in a hard-to-reach, tribal-dominated, and hilly forested district. A Constant Contact Community-based Epidemiological Investigation (C3EI) was undertaken by continuous engagement with the community for real-time data collection, mapping of malaria cases, identification of risk factors, and monitoring of intervention outcomes designed to drive effective strategies for malaria elimination. Methods The study mapped 1,143,126 individuals from 248,825 households in the year 2017 in Mandla district for constant contact surveillance. Fortnightly household visits were conducted to inquire about febrile episodes, with on-spot diagnosis and treatment. Data collection was done using the SOCH mobile application, and analysis using R. Results The constant contact household surveillance revealed that out of 956,795 individuals, 230,780 (24.12%) unique individuals reported one or more febrile episodes, with a total of 322,577 febrile episodes and 490 malaria episodes (RDT positive). Males had a higher risk of malaria infection than females (OR = 2.62; p

Abstract Background Fusarium wilt is a devastating soil-borne fungal disease of tomato across the world. Conventional method of disease prevention including usage of common pesticides and methods like soil solarisation are usually ineffective in the treatment of this disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify virulence related genes in the pathogen which can be targeted for fungicide development. Results Pathogenicity testing and phylogenetic classification of the pathogen used in this study confirmed it as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) strain. A recent discovery indicates that EF1α, a protein with conserved structural similarity across several fungal genera, has a role in the pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae, the rice blast fungus. Therefore, in this study we have done structural and functional classification of EF1α to understand its role in pathogenicity of Fol. The protein model of Fol EF1α was created using the template crystal structure of the yeast elongation factor complex EEF1A:EEF1BA which showed maximum similarity with the target protein. Using the STRING online database, the interactive information among the hub genes of EF1α was identified and the protein–protein interaction network was recognized using the Cytoscape software. On combining the results of functional analysis, MCODE, CytoNCA and CytoHubba 4 hub genes including Fol EF1α were selected for further investigation. The three interactors of Fol EF1α showed maximum similarity with homologous proteins found in Neurospora crassa complexed with the known fungicide, cycloheximide. Through the sequence similarity and PDB database analysis, homologs of Fol EF1α were found: EEF1A:EEF1BA in complex with GDPNP in yeast and EF1α in complex with GDP in Sulfolobus solfataricus. The STITCH database analysis suggested that EF1α and its other interacting partners interact with guanosine diphosphate (GDPNP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP). Conclusions Our study offers a framework for recognition of several hub genes network in Fusarium wilt that can be used as novel targets for fungicide development. The involvement of EF1α in nucleocytoplasmic transport pathway suggests that it plays role in GTP binding and thus apart from its use as a biomarker, it may be further exploited as an effective target for fungicide development. Since, the three other proteins that were found to be tightly associated Fol EF1α have shown maximum similarity with homologous proteins of Neurospora crassa that form complex with fungicide- Cycloheximide. Therefore, we suggest that cycloheximide can also be used against Fusarium wilt disease in tomato. The active site cavity of Fol EF1α can also be determined for computational screening of fungicides using the homologous proteins observed in yeast and Sulfolobus solfataricus. On this basis, we also suggest that the other closely associated genes that have been identified through STITCH analysis, they can also be targeted for fungicide development.

Aim: To evaluate the role of combined Mantoux test and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels in the diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis (TB) and ocular sarcoidosis. Materials and Methods: A prospective and observational study including patients with bilateral granulomatous uveitis diagnosed both radiologically and clinically as ocular TB or ocular sarcoidosis within a six-month period. CT Thorax/CT abdomen was done, and findings were noted. Mantoux test and serum ACE levels were recorded, and findings were correlated. Results: The study included a total of 60 patients: 32 patients with ocular TB and 28 patients with ocular sarcoidosis. Using Mantoux test, 84.4% in the TB group tested positive and were correctly identified (sensitivity), and 96.4% in the sarcoid group tested negative and were correctly identified as sarcoidosis. Hence, the association between Mantoux test and diagnoses was statistically significant (P < 0.001). In the TB group, 25 subjects had normal and seven had elevated serum ACE levels. In the sarcoidosis group, 22 subjects had elevated and six had normal serum ACE levels. Hence, 78.1% were correctly identified with normal serum ACE levels (sensitivity) in the TB group and 78.6% were identified with elevated serum ACE levels in the sarcoidosis group, and the proportion difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Mantoux test and serum ACE levels are cost-effective investigations and can be used for the diagnosis of ocular TB and sarcoidosis when combined with clinical and radiological evidence. The combined use of serum ACE and Mantoux test is useful in differentiating between sarcoidosis and TB.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is the common manifestation of coronary heart disease that develops from occlusion of coronary arteries. Several risk factors of MI were identified, but data pertaining to genetics and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of MI is limited. Therefore, the present study attempts to analyze the peripheral blood transcriptome information of MI patients and unveil the key genes involved in the pathogenesis of MI. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from the blood sample for illumine sequencing, and raw data obtained were subjected to quality control (QC) using the FastQC tool, followed by trimming of raw data by the fastp tool. Further processed high-quality data were aligned onto the human reference genome using HISAT2 aligner. Gene quantification was done using the feature Counts plugin in the subread package. The raw read counts were given as input to the differential expression analysis (DESeq2) R package for the computation of differentially expressed genes. Gene set enrichment analysis for gene ontology was done using the clusterProfiler R package. Results: A total of 609 genes were significantly expressed in the present study, of which 561 genes were upregulated and 48 genes were downregulated. This study presents overall changes in genes involved in different categories such as biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components in responses to MI. Conclusions: The significantly deregulated genes identified in the present study not only indicate the molecular and cellular changes but also suggest the scope for the detection of specific gene markers for MI.

Abstract The three-dimensional genome organization influences diverse nuclear processes. Here we present Chromatin Interaction Predictor (ChIPr), a suite of regression models based on deep neural networks, random forest, and gradient boosting to predict cohesin-mediated chromatin interaction strength between any two loci in the genome. The predictions of ChIPr correlate well with ChIA-PET data in four cell lines. The standard ChIPr model requires three experimental inputs: ChIP-Seq signals for RAD21, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 but works well with just RAD21 signal. Integrative analysis reveals novel insights into the role of CTCF motif, its orientation, and CTCF binding on cohesin-mediated chromatin interactions.

Abstract Background Resistance against artemisinin-based combination therapy is one of the challenges to malaria control and elimination globally. Mutations in different genes (Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, Pfk-13 and Pfmdr1) confer resistance to artesunate and sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (AS + SP) were analysed from Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, to assess the effectiveness of the current treatment regimen against uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum. Methods Dried blood spots were collected during the active fever survey and mass screening and treatment activities as part of the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project (MEDP) from 2019 to 2020. Isolated DNA samples were used to amplify the Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, Pfk13 and Pfmdr1 genes using nested PCR and sequenced for mutation analysis using the Sanger sequencing method. Results A total of 393 samples were subjected to PCR amplification, sequencing and sequence analysis; 199, 215, 235, and 141 samples were successfully sequenced for Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, Pfk13, Pfmdr1, respectively. Analysis revealed that the 53.3% double mutation (C59R, S108N) in Pfdhfr, 89.3% single mutation (G437A) in Pfdhps, 13.5% single mutants (N86Y), and 51.1% synonymous mutations in Pfmdr1 in the study area. Five different non-synonymous and two synonymous point mutations found in Pfk13, which were not associated to artemisinin resistance. Conclusion The study has found that mutations linked to SP resistance are increasing in frequency, which may reduce the effectiveness of this drug as a future partner in artemisinin-based combinations. No evidence of mutations linked to artemisinin resistance in Pfk13 was found, suggesting that parasites are sensitive to artemisinin derivatives in the study area. These findings are a baseline for routine molecular surveillance to proactively identify the emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant parasites.

This study addresses the persistent challenge of polysulfide dissolution in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries by introducing magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles as a novel additive. MgO was integrated with sulfur using a scalable process involving solid-state melt diffusion treatment followed by planetary ball milling. XRD measurements confirmed that sulfur (S8) retains its orthorhombic crystalline structure (space group Fddd) following the MgO incorporation, with minimal peak shifts indicating slight lattice distortion, while the increased peak intensity suggests enhanced crystallinity due to MgO acting as a nucleation site. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy demonstrated sulfur’s characteristic vibrational modes consistent with group theory (point group D2h) and highlighted multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT′s) D, G, and 2D bands, with a low ID/IG ratio (0.47), which indicated low defects and high crystallinity in the prepared cathode. The S–MgO composite cathode exhibited superior electrochemical behavior, with an initial discharge capacity (950 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C), significantly improved compared to pristine sulfur’s. The presence of MgO effectively mitigated the polysulfide shuttle effect by trapping polysulfides, leading to enhanced stability over 400 cycles and the consistent coulombic efficiency of over 99.5%. After 400 cycles, EDS and SEM analyses confirmed the structural integrity of the electrode, with only minor fractures and slight sulfur content loss. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed the enhanced performance.

Amidst the swift expansion of the electric vehicle industry, the imperative for alternative battery technologies that balance economic feasibility with sustainability has reached unprecedented importance. Herein, we utilized Perovskite-based oxide compounds barium titanate (BaTiO3) and strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanoparticles as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries from straightforward and standard carbonate-based electrolyte with 10% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive [1M LiPF6 (1:1 EC: DEC) + 10% FEC]. SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 electrodes can deliver a high specific capacity of 80 mA h g−1 at a safe and low average working potential of ≈0.6 V vs. Li/Li+ with excellent high-rate performance with specific capacity of ~90 mA h g−1 at low current density of 20 mA g−1 and specific capacity of ~80 mA h g−1 for over 500 cycles at high current density of 100 mA g−1. Our findings pave the way for the direct utilization of perovskite-type materials as anode materials in Li-ion batteries due to their promising potential for Li+ ion storage. This investigation addresses the escalating market demands in a sustainable manner and opens avenues for the investigation of diverse perovskite oxides as advanced anodes for next-generation metal-ion batteries.

Silicon (Si) has attracted worldwide attention for its ultrahigh theoretical storage capacity (4200 mA h g−1), low mass density (2.33 g cm−3), low operating potential (0.4 V vs. Li/Li+), abundant reserves, environmentally benign nature, and low cost. It is a promising high-energy-density anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), offering a replacement for graphite anodes owing to the escalating energy demands in booming automobile and energy storage applications. Unfortunately, the commercialization of silicon anodes is stringently hindered by large volume expansion during lithiation–delithiation, the unstable and detrimental growth of electrode/electrolyte interface layers, sluggish Li-ion diffusion, poor rate performance, and inherently low ion/electron conductivity. These present major safety challenges lead to quick capacity degradation in LIBs. Herein, we present the synergistic effects of nanostructured silicon and SrTiO3 (STO) for use as anodes in Li-ion batteries. Si and STO nanoparticles were incorporated into a multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) matrix using a planetary ball-milling process. The mechanical stress resulting from the expansion of Si was transferred via the CNT matrix to the STO. We discovered that the introduction of STO can improve the electrochemical performance of Si/CNT nanocomposite anodes. Experimental measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy provide evidence for the enhanced mobility of Li-ions facilitated by STO. Hence, incorporating STO into the Si@CNT anode yields promising results, exhibiting a high initial Coulombic efficiency of approximately 85%, a reversible specific capacity of ~800 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1, and a high-rate capability of 1400 mA g−1 with a capacity of 800 mA h g−1. Interestingly, it exhibits a capacity of 350 mAh g−1 after 1000 lithiation and delithiation cycles at a high rate of 600 mA hg−1. This result unveils and sheds light on the design of a scalable method for manufacturing Si anodes for next-generation LIBs.

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LiSBs) offer high energy density, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, making them promising for future energy storage. This study explores using BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles (NPs) to tackle challenges such as lithium polysulfides (LiPs) and shuttle issues in LiSBs. It employs a solid-state melt diffusion technique, encapsulates sulfur in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SCNTs), and utilizes BFO for effective polysulfide control. Herein, composite cathodes of sulfur (S)/SCNTs (abbr. SCNT) were fabricated, and cells were designed using a BFO-coated separator (SCNT-BFS). In addition, a cathode modification was performed with composite S/SCNTs/BFO (SCNT-BF), and a comparative analysis was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the BFO in the separator and the cathode. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the increased current peak intensity at lower reduction potential in SCNT-BF and SCNT-BFS indicated control of higher-order LiPs (Li2Sx, where 4 ≤ x ≤ 8), resulting in the generation of more stable lower-order products (Li2S2/Li2S). The charge/discharge analysis revealed controlled LiPs, resulting in high-capacity retention in SCNT-BF (∼75%) and SCNT-BFS (∼88%) over 200 cycles, which yielded capacities of 526 and 700 mAh/g at C/8 (1C = 1675 mA/g). These promising results suggest that incorporating BFO into the cathode and separator can advance the commercialization of durable LiSBs.

India contributed approximately 66% of the malaria cases in the WHO South-East Asia region in 2022. In India, approximately 44% of cases have been reported to be disproportionately contributed by approximately 27 districts.1 A comparative analysis of reported malaria cases between January 2017 and December 2022 was performed in Mandla district, which is the site of a model malaria elimination demonstration project (MEDP) in Madhya Pradesh (MP), India. Compared to 2017, the decrease in malaria cases in Mandla from 2018 to 2022 was higher than MP and the rest of the country. The reduction of cases was significant in 2018, 2019, and 2021 (p < 0.01) (Mandla vs. MP) and was highly significant during 2018–2022 (p < 0.001) (Mandla vs. India). Robust surveillance and real-time data-based decisions accompanied by appropriate management, operational controls, and independent reviews, all designed for resource optimisation, were the reasons for eliminating indigenous malaria in Mandla district. The increase in infection rates during the months immediately following rains suggests that surveillance, vector control, and case management efforts should be specifically intensified for eliminating imported and indigenous cases in the near-elimination districts to work towards achieving the national elimination goal of 2030.

Transition metal oxides are considered to be highly promising anode materials for high-energy lithium-ion batteries. While carbon matrices have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing the electrical conductivity and accommodating the volume expansion of transition metal oxide-based anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), achieving an optimized utilization ratio remains a challenging obstacle. In this investigation, we have devised a straightforward synthesis approach to fabricate CuO nano powder integrated with carbon matrix. We found that with the use of a sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) based binder and fluoroethylene carbonate additives, this anode exhibits enhanced performance compared to acrylonitrile multi-copolymer binder (LA133) based electrodes. CuO@CMC electrodes reveal a notable capacity ~1100 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 following 170 cycles, and exhibit prolonged cycling stability, with a capacity of 450 mA h g−1 at current density 300 mA g−1 over 500 cycles. Furthermore, they demonstrated outstanding rate performance and reduced charge transfer resistance. This study offers a viable approach for fabricating electrode materials for next-generation, high energy storage devices.

The urgent demand for stable electrode materials, especially for the anode, arises in the pursuit of high-energy Li-ion batteries. This research focuses on bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and uncovers its performance through a straightforward, commercially viable synthesis route, along with the optimization of binders and electrolytes. By employing a sodium carboxymethyl cellulose binder and fluoroethylene carbonate additives, the Bi2O3 anode demonstrates significantly enhanced performance compared to prior studies. It attains an impressive initial capacity of approximately 750 mA h g−1, exhibits excellent rate capability at 1000 mA g−1 and maintains stable cycling performance over 6000 cycles.

Substrates play an important role in influencing the physical properties of any thin film for different applications. The current work provides a brief overview of various substrate effects on CdSe thin film. XRD pattern reveals that CdSe films on FTO are more crystalline. The optical spectrum of CdSe films is highly affected by different substrates. The electrical properties of all samples were investigated using Hall and I-V measurements. CdSe films on FTO show higher electrical conductivity than others.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) at advanced stages is rarely curable, underscoring the importance of exploring the mechanism of CRC progression and invasion. NOD-like receptor family member NLRP12 was shown to suppress colorectal tumorigenesis, but the precise mechanism was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that invasive adenocarcinoma development in Nlrp12-deficient mice is associated with elevated expression of genes involved in proliferation, matrix degradation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Signaling pathway analysis revealed higher activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, but not NF-κB and MAPK pathways, in the Nlrp12-deficient tumors. Using Nlrp12–conditional knockout mice, we revealed that NLRP12 downregulates β-catenin activation in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby suppressing colorectal tumorigenesis. Consistent with this, Nlrp12-deficient intestinal organoids and CRC cells showed increased proliferation, accompanied by higher activation of β-catenin in vitro. With proteomic studies, we identified STK38 as an interacting partner of NLRP12 involved in the inhibition of phosphorylation of GSK3β, leading to the degradation of β-catenin. Consistently, the expression of NLRP12 was significantly reduced, while p-GSK3β and β-catenin were upregulated in mouse and human colorectal tumor tissues. In summary, NLRP12 is a potent negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and the NLRP12/STK38/GSK3β signaling axis could be a promising therapeutic target for CRC.

Abstract Targeted therapies, such as endocrine therapies (ET), can exert selective pressure on cancer cells and promote adaptations that confer treatment resistance. In this study, we show that ET resistance in breast cancer drives radiation resistance through reprogramming of DNA repair pathways. We also show that pharmacological bromodomain and extraterminal domain inhibition reverses pathological DNA repair reprogramming in ET-resistant breast tumors and overcomes resistance to radiation therapy.

CdSe and CdSe:Te thin films were grown on Si p-type substrates by RF magnetron sputtering method. The doping percentage of Tellurium (Te) in CdSe was 7% for the CdSe:Te thin film. The results show that after the doping of Te in the CdSe thin film, the conductivity changes from n-type to p-type and the mobility of the CdSe thin film increased. The conductivity of Te doped CdSe was found to be in order of 10−6 Ω−1 cm−1, while without doping it was 10−5 Ω−1 cm−1. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of CdSe, Te and Si.

Implantation of ion at low temperature and nitriding through plasma process at low-temperature prevents the corrosion resistance in stainless steel material. The outcome of nitriding process is to form precipitation of CrN on the surface. For the current research work, plasma nitriding techniques are adopted to nitride AISI 304 at low-temperatures at 5hrs, 10hrs, 15 hrs. The enriched layers are formed with combine nitrogen lead to increase in surface hardness. Austenitic and duplex steels produce expanded austenite on the material surface. Behavior of wear was monitored by pin on disc tester. The case depth were monitored and compared with a sample which is not treated. The morphology of surface were monitored and compared with the electron microscopic images. Finally hardness measurements were carried out with Rockwell hardness tester.

Martensitic stainless steel exhibits a lower corrosion resistance, higher hardness, wear resistance, and strength, but no ductility. As a result, tempering techniques have been used to stabilise the ductility. AISI 420 stainless were chosen and prepared in cylindrical shape for a dimension of 35 mm length, 10 mm diameter. The specimens were tempered to 245°C, 345°C, 445°C temperatures respectively and termed as T1, T2 and T3. The material which is not treated is kept on the other side for results comparison. Testing of hardness was taken up by Rockwell method. Wear tests were carried out for all the specimens using pin-on disc wear analyser. The changes in microstructure were distinguished with all the samples and were captured by electron microscopic techniques. The goal of the test is to determine, the best treated specimen suited for a particular application. It was noted that, phase change from martensite stage to residual austenite is determined.

In this manuscript, we are reporting the role of ferroelectric nanoparticles (FNPs) coated separators in capacity retention at high current density (200 mA/g) on S/SWCNT composite cathodes. The ferroelectric nanoparticles of Bi0.925Gd.075Fe0.95Ni0.05O3 (BGFNO) of spontaneous polarization 2.5 µC/cm2 were coated on commercial separators (PP) as well as doped in sulfur/SWCNT composite cathodes. Our results show a discharge capacity retention of 72% by using commercial separator polypropylene (PP); however, a capacity retention improvement of more than 100% was obtained for FNPs coated separator, which has been placed on the anode side as well as on the cathode side. It is observed that the FNPs coated separator due to spontaneous polarization on the anode and cathode side acts as a repulsive charge on the separator surface to retard polysulfide migration via electrostatic repulsion and protects the surface of lithium from dendrite formation due to which it gains high capacity retention as well as stability. The coated separator controls the transport of carrier ions and side reactions; however, the FNPs doped cathode acts as an absorption center for polysulfides to enhance the electrochemical performance of the cells. The significance of this study is to design an efficient methodology, which could protect electrodes from dendrite formation via coated separator and modified cathode with the FNPs via suppressing the polysulfide formation to achieve high capacity retention and electrochemical cycle stability.

The features of ferroelectric materials and their applications are presented. State-of-the-art employment of characterization techniques, and the properties of ferroelectric materials are described. Classification of ferroelectric materials, phase transitions, and diffuse phase transition (DPT) have been discussed. Properties of ferroelectrics, polarization-field hysteresis, dielectric hysteresis, reversal of spontaneous polarization, and dielectric properties have been explained. Besides these, piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of materials have also been demonstrated. The applications of ferroelectric thin films have been discussed with a specific focus on acousto-optic (AO) properties and their applications.

Jennifer M Wang,1 Sundaresh Ram,2 Wassim W Labaki,1 MeiLan K Han,1 Craig J Galbán2 1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 2Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USACorrespondence: Craig J Galbán, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, BSRB, Room A506, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA, Tel +1 734-764-8726, Fax +1 734-615-1599, Email cgalban@med.umich.eduAbstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is heterogenous in its clinical manifestations and disease progression. Patients often have disease courses that are difficult to predict with readily available data, such as lung function testing. The ability to better classify COPD into well-defined groups will allow researchers and clinicians to tailor novel therapies, monitor their effects, and improve patient-centered outcomes. Different modalities of assessing these COPD phenotypes are actively being studied, and an area of great promise includes the use of quantitative computed tomography (QCT) techniques focused on key features such as airway anatomy, lung density, and vascular morphology. Over the last few decades, companies around the world have commercialized automated CT software packages that have proven immensely useful in these endeavors. This article reviews the key features of several commercial platforms, including the technologies they are based on, the metrics they can generate, and their clinical correlations and applications. While such tools are increasingly being used in research and clinical settings, they have yet to be consistently adopted for diagnostic work-up and treatment planning, and their full potential remains to be explored.Keywords: lung disease, medical imaging, phenotyping, clinical, quantitative

Multiferroic materials capable of robust magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature are currently being explored for their possible multifunctional device applications. Highly (100)-oriented Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)x(Zr0.53Ti0.47)1−x (PZTFTx) thin films (x = 0.2 and 0.3) with a thickness of about 300 nm were grown on La0.67Sr0.33CoO3 (LSCO)-buffered MgO 100-oriented substrates via the pulsed laser deposition method. An analysis of their X-ray diffraction patterns suggests the stabilization of the orthorhombic phase in the thin films at room temperature. Dielectric spectroscopic measurements of the metal–insulator–metal (Pt/PZTFTx/LSCO) thin-film capacitors as a function of temperature revealed a diffuse ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition around Tm ~520 and 560 K for the x = 0.2 and 0.3 thin films, respectively. Well-saturated electrical hysteresis loops with large remanent (Pr) and saturation (Ps) polarizations were observed in these capacitors, which indicates the establishment of intrinsic ferroelectric ordering in the thin films at room temperature. These thin films retained ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic ordering up to 300 K and showed saturation magnetization values of 8.3 (x = 0.2) and 6.1 (x = 0.3) emu/cm3 at room temperature. The magnetoelectric coupling constants of 2040 mV/cmOe (x = 0.2) and 850 mV/cmOe (x = 0.3), respectively, were obtained at an in-plane bias field at room temperature. The present study demonstrates that PZTFTx thin films are multiferroic at room temperature with large magnetoelectric couplings, and these materials may be suitable for use in magnetic sensors and spintronic device applications.

Acquired mutations in the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the gene encoding estrogen receptor α (ESR1) are common mechanisms of endocrine therapy resistance in patients with metastatic ER+ breast cancer. The ESR1 Y537S mutation, in particular, is associated with development of resistance to most endocrine therapies used to treat breast cancer. Employing a high-throughput screen of nearly 1,200 Federal Drug Administration–approved (FDA-approved) drugs, we show that OTX015, a bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor, is one of the top suppressors of ESR1 mutant cell growth. OTX015 was more efficacious than fulvestrant, a selective ER degrader, in inhibiting ESR1 mutant xenograft growth. When combined with abemaciclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, OTX015 induced more potent tumor regression than current standard-of-care treatment of abemaciclib + fulvestrant. OTX015 has preferential activity against Y537S mutant breast cancer cells and blocks their clonal selection in competition studies with WT cells. Thus, BET inhibition has the potential to both prevent and overcome ESR1 mutant–induced endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer.

Composite Electrolytes (1-x)CsH2PO4/xTiO2(0≤x≤0.4) were prepared and analyzed the structural, thermal, and transport properties. We have investigated the ionic conductivity of composite electrolytes highly pressurized pellets and found that the conductivity of pure CsH2PO4 (CDP) increased three orders of magnitude at the transition temperature. The conductivity value of the composites is greater than pure CDP after 250°C. Arrhenius plots have confirmed the conductive nature of ionic conduction. The dehydration behavior and thermal stability of the materials were observed in terms of differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis, and found that the minimum weight loss for the composite 0.6CDP/0.4TiO2. The electrodes were prepared with the technique of vapor deposition.

FOXA2 encodes a transcription factor mutated in 10% of endometrial cancers (ECs), with a higher mutation rate in aggressive variants. FOXA2 has essential roles in embryonic and uterine development. However, FOXA2’s role in EC is incompletely understood. Functional investigations using human and mouse EC cell lines revealed that FOXA2 controls endometrial epithelial gene expression programs regulating cell proliferation, adhesion, and endometrial-epithelial transition. In live animals, conditional inactivation of Foxa2 or Pten alone in endometrial epithelium did not result in ECs, but simultaneous inactivation of both genes resulted in lethal ECs with complete penetrance, establishing potent synergism between Foxa2 and PI3K signaling. Studies in tumor-derived cell lines and organoids highlighted additional invasion and cell growth phenotypes associated with malignant transformation and identified key mediators, including Myc and Cdh1. Transcriptome and cistrome analyses revealed that FOXA2 broadly controls gene expression programs through modification of enhancer activity in addition to regulating specific target genes, rationalizing its tumor suppressor functions. By integrating results from our cell lines, organoids, animal models, and patient data, our findings demonstrated that FOXA2 is an endometrial tumor suppressor associated with aggressive disease and with shared commonalities among its roles in endometrial function and carcinogenesis.

In this study, we are reporting the impact of the incorporation of ferroelectric nanoparticles (FNPs), such as BaTiO3 (BTO), BiFeO3 (BFO), Bi4NdTi3Fe0.7Ni0.3O15 (BNTFN), and Bi4NdTi3Fe0.5Co0.5O15 (BNTFC), as well as the mass loading of sulfur to fabricated solvent-free sulfur/holey graphene-carbon black/polyvinylidene fluoride (S/FNPs/CBhG/PVDF) composite electrodes to achieve high areal capacity for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The dry-press method was adopted to fabricate composite cathodes. The hG, a conductive and lightweight scaffold derived from graphene, served as a matrix to host sulfur and FNPs for the fabrication of solvent-free composites. Raman spectra confirmed the dominant hG framework for all the composites, with strong D, G, and 2D bands. The surface morphology of the fabricated cathode system showed a homogeneous distribution of FNPs throughout the composites, confirmed by the EDAX spectra. The observed Li+ ion diffusion coefficient for the composite cathode started at 2.17 × 10−16 cm2/s (S25(CBhG)65PVDF10) and reached up to the highest value (4.15 × 10−15 cm2/s) for S25BNTFC5(CBhG)60PVDF10. The best discharge capacity values for the S25(CBhG)65PVDF10 and S25BNTFC5(CBhG)60PVDF10 composites started at 1123 mAh/gs and 1509 mAh/gs and dropped to 612 mAh/gs and 572 mAh/gs, respectively, after 100 cycles; similar behavior was exhibited by the other composites that were among the best. These are better values than those previously reported in the literature. The incorporation of ferroelectric nanoparticles in the cathodes of Li-S batteries reduced the rapid formation of polysulfides due to their internal electric fields. The areal capacity for the S25(CBhG)65PVDF10 composites was 4.84 mAh/cm2 with a mass loading of 4.31 mgs/cm2, while that for the S25BNTFC5(CBhG)60PVDF10 composites was 6.74 mAh/cm2 with a mass loading of 4.46 mgs/cm2. It was confirmed that effective FNP incorporation within the S cathode improves the cycling response and stability of cathodes, enabling the high performance of Li-S batteries.

Structure, phonon, and energy storage density in Sr2+-substituted lead-free ferroelectric Ba1−xSrxTiO3 (BSTx) for compositions x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.7 were investigated using X-ray diffraction, Raman, and ferroelectric polarization measurements as a function of temperature. The samples were tetragonal for x = 0.1 with a large c/a ratio. The tetragonal anisotropy was decreased upon increasing x and transforming to cubic for x = 0.7. The changes in structural and ferroelectric properties were found to be related to the c/a ratios. The temperature-dependent phonon spectroscopy results indicated a decrease in tetragonal–cubic phase transition temperature, Tc, upon increasing x due to a reduction in the lattice anisotropy. The intensity of ~303 cm−1 E(TO2) mode decreased gradually with temperature and finally disappeared around the tetragonal ferroelectric to cubic paraelectric phase at about 100 ℃ and 40 ℃ for x = 0.1 and 0.3, respectively. A gradual reduction in the band gap Eg of BSTx with x was evident from the analysis of UV-visible absorption spectra. The energy storage density (Udis) of the ferroelectric capacitors for x = 0.7 was ~0.20 J/cm3 with an energy storage efficiency of ~88% at an applied electric field of 104.6 kV/cm. Nearly room temperature transition temperatures TC and reasonably fair energy storage density of the BSTx capacitors were found.

The study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors. The study includes 9754 participants, out of which 6403 were found to be associated with hypertension. Among 6403 participants 27.75% were newly diagnosed with hypertension during examination. The present study showed, age as one of the significant risk factors for prevalence of hypertension. Further observations revealed that, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in alcohol-intake, tobacco-smoking/chewing participants and sedentary life style is also one of significant risk factor for hypertension. Overall increased rate of hypertension pose a biggest challenge for health sector in Dharwad district.

Background: Limited information is available on the aetiology and semen profiles of male infertility in Indian population. Aim: The aim of this study is to study the clinical and semen characteristics of men attending the infertility clinic and also to understand the impact of World Health Organization (WHO) 2010 reference values on the diagnosis of male infertility. Setting and Design: A retrospective study evaluating the medical case records (January 2005 to December 2015, [n = 1906]) of men attending infertility clinic in Mumbai, India. Materials and Methods: The aetiology was classified based on the andrology evaluation and other investigations. Semen profiles were compared during the years 2005–2010 and 2011–2015 using WHO 1999 and WHO 2010 criteria, respectively. Statistical Analysis: The Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests were performed using Open Source Epidemiological software and Social science calculators. Results: The aetiology of male infertility was determined in 62% of the men; while the cause remained undetermined in 38%. Varicocele (25%), urogenital infections (10%), sexual dysfunctions (8%) and vas aplasia (8%) were identified as major aetiologies in our cohort. Men with sexual dysfunctions and vas aplasia were significantly higher during the years 2011–2015 as compared to 2005–2010. Men having normozoospermia (10%) and azoospermia (3%) were increased, whereas those having oligoasthenozoospermia (17%) were reduced in 2011–2015 as compared to 2005–2010. According to WHO 1999 criteria , 12-15% of men showed abnormal semen profiles. The semen parameters of these men became normal on using WHO 2010 reference values. Conclusions: Varicocele is the most common aetiology in infertile men. Idiopathic infertility was seen in a higher proportion among the infertile men.

The bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of chromatin reader proteins bind to acetylated histones and regulate gene expression. The development of BET inhibitors (BETi) has expanded our knowledge of BET protein function beyond transcriptional regulation and has ushered several prostate cancer (PCa) clinical trials. However, BETi as a single agent is not associated with antitumor activity in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We hypothesized novel combinatorial strategies are likely to enhance the efficacy of BETi. By using PCa patient-derived explants and xenograft models, we show that BETi treatment enhanced the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) and overcame radioresistance. Mechanistically, BETi potentiated the activity of RT by blocking DNA repair. We also report a synergistic relationship between BETi and topoisomerase I (TOP1) inhibitors (TOP1i). We show that the BETi OTX015 synergized with the new class of synthetic noncamptothecin TOP1i, LMP400 (indotecan), to block tumor growth in aggressive CRPC xenograft models. Mechanistically, BETi potentiated the antitumor activity of TOP1i by disrupting replication fork stability. Longitudinal analysis of patient tumors indicated that TOP1 transcript abundance increased as patients progressed from hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to CRPC. TOP1 was highly expressed in metastatic CRPC, and its expression correlated with the expression of BET family genes. These studies open new avenues for the rational combinatorial treatment of aggressive PCa.

The present study is a comparative study between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) signaling and antioxidative enzymatic signaling and deals with induced systemic resistance (ISR) in enhancing the disease resistance in typical tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum L.) infected by the collar rot fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii (Teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii) by priming with Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and their microbial consortia by a single strain of Bacillus subtilis, and P. fluorescens as well as by developed microbial consortium with both bacteria. Leaf samples were collected after different durations of pathogen inoculation, i.e., 1, 2, 3, and 4 days, and the systemic level of oxidative stress parameters, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), photosynthetic apparatus, superoxide radicals, and enzymatic antioxidants, were studied. Plant mortality under various treatments in two different seasons was calculated. The highest H2O2 was scavenged by the microbial consortium-treated plants (B1P1) and the lowest in pathogen-challenged plants (PC) compared to the untreated control. Cellular damage and reduction in the chlorophyll pigments were the highest at 48 h, and the photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) was evaluated from 24 to 96 h; the lowest values were observed for pathogen-challenged plants and the highest for B1P1. Enzymatic antioxidants showed the maximum value for B1P1 and the minimum for PC compared to the unchallenged control. Furthermore, an analysis of variance and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted to examine the effect of the evaluation time (ET) and inoculation conditions (ICs) alone and in combination (ET × IC) on the physiological and biochemical parameters; accordingly, the score and the loading plots were constructed. Tomato root sections inoculated with different treatments were observed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to validate the potentiality of primed biocontrol agents in controlling the invasion of the pathogen. Further studies on the potential of this isolate to enhance the plant growth at the field level would strengthen the possibility of using the isolate as an alternative for organic fertilizers and pesticides.

Abstract Background There are uncertainties about prostate cancer‐related anxiety's (PCRA) associations with health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) and major depression, and these could affect the quality of mental healthcare provided to prostate cancer patients. Addressing these uncertainties will provide more insight into PCRA and inform further research on the value of PCRA prevention. The goals of this study were to measure associations between PCRA and HRQOL at domain and subdomain levels, and to evaluate the association between PCRA and probable (ie, predicted major) depression. Method We analyzed secondary cross‐sectional data from the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness & Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS—a population‐based cohort of prostate cancer patients enrolled shortly after diagnosis [between January 2011 and June 2013] and followed prospectively). Patient‐reported measures of PCRA and HRQOL from 1,016 enrollees who participated in NC ProCESS’s 1‐year follow‐up survey were assessed. Outcomes of interests were a) linear correlations between contemporaneous memorial anxiety scale for prostate cancer (MAX‐PC) and Short Form 12 (SF‐12) scores, and b) measures of association between indicators of clinically significant PCRA (ie, MAX‐PC > 27) and probable depression during survey contact (ie, SF‐12 mental component score ≤43). Results PCRA measures had notable associations with SF‐12’s mental health subscale (assesses low mood/nervousness [rho = −0.42]) and emotional role functioning subscale (assesses subjective productivity loss [rho = −0.46]). Additionally, the risk of probable depression was significantly higher in participants with clinically significant PCRA compared with those without it (weighed risk ratio = 5.3, 95% confidence interval 3.6‐7.8; P

The composites of CsH2PO4/NaH2PO4/TiO2 were prepared by chemical route. The structural, thermal, and conductive properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal analysis, and conductivity measurements, respectively. CsH2PO4 shows a superprotonic phase transition from the monoclinic to the cubic phase at 230 °C at which the conductivity increases by four orders of magnitude. The initial dehydration event that occurred in CsH2PO4 was observed at 250 °C and the dehydration behavior also decreased at high temperatures due to the additives. The performance of CsH2PO4 was improved based on conductivity and stability by adding TiO2 and NaH2PO4. 5CsH2PO4/3NaH2PO4/2TiO2 and 6CsH2PO4/2NaH2PO4/2TiO2 were found to have the lowest weight loss compared to other composites. The conductivity also increases up to 1.5 orders of magnitude at lower temperatures. The conductivity was found to be highest for the composite 8CsH2PO4/1NaH2PO4/1TiO2 with a value of 1.4 × 10−2 S cm−1.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesized via a block copolymer-assisted hydrothermal method and the phase purity and the crystal structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffractometer spectra shows the hexagonal phase symmetry of α-Fe2O3. Further, the vibrational study suggests Raman active modes: 2A1g + 5Eg associated with α-Fe2O3, which corroborates the Rietveld analysis and orbital analysis of 2PFe. The superparamagnetic behavior is confirmed by magnetic measurements performed by the physical properties measurement system. The systematic study of the Congo red (CR) interaction with IONPs using a UV-visible spectrophotometer and a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry system equipped with a triple quadrupole mass analyzer and an electrospray ionization interface shows effective adsorption. In visible light, the Fe2O3 nanoparticles get easily excited and generate electrons and holes. The photogenerated electrons reduce the Fe3+ ions to Fe2+ ions. The Fe2+/H2O2 oxidizes CR by the Fenton mechanism. The strong adsorption ability of prepared nanoparticles towards dyes attributes the potential candidates for wastewater treatment and other catalytic applications.

A colour-variant strain of Aureobasidium pullulans FB-1 was used for the production of pullulan in a stirred tank reactor in a medium composed of sucrose, ammonium sulphate, yeast extract, K2HPO4, NaCl and MgSO4. Maximum pullulan production (4.8%, w/v) was obtained at an agitation rate of 300 rpm and aeration of 0.75 vvm in a stirred tank reactor (1 L) with a fermentation time of 6 days. Fourier transformed infrared and NMR spectrum of crude pullulan from A. pullulans FB-1 revealed solely α-(1→6) linked maltosyl units, in accord with the generally accepted structure of pullulan. Hydrolysis of crude pullulan, i.e. digestion with pullulanase also confirmed the identity as well as homogeneity of the produced pullulan. XRD analysis of crude pullulan verified its amorphous nature. Thermal analysis showed melting range of crude pullulan from 245.99–295.71 °C.

Objective Large data on the clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 in the Indian population are scarce. We analysed the factors associated with mortality in a cohort of moderately and severely ill patients with COVID-19 enrolled in a randomised trial on convalescent plasma.Design Secondary analysis of data from a Phase II, Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma to Limit COVID-19 Associated Complications in Moderate Disease.Setting 39 public and private hospitals across India during the study period from 22 April to 14 July 2020.Participants Of the 464 patients recruited, two were lost to follow-up, nine withdrew consent and two patients did not receive the intervention after randomisation. The cohort of 451 participants with known outcome at 28 days was analysed.Primary outcome measure Factors associated with all-cause mortality at 28 days after enrolment.Results The mean (SD) age was 51±12.4 years; 76.7% were males. Admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 2.4±1.1. Non-invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation and vasopressor therapy were required in 98.9%, 8.4% and 4.0%, respectively. The 28-day mortality was 14.4%. Median time from symptom onset to hospital admission was similar in survivors (4 days; IQR 3–7) and non-survivors (4 days; IQR 3–6). Patients with two or more comorbidities had 2.25 (95% CI 1.18 to 4.29, p=0.014) times risk of death. When compared with survivors, admission interleukin-6 levels were higher (p10 (9.97, 3.65–27.13, p1.0 mg/L (2.50, 1.14–5.48, p=0.022), ferritin ≥500 ng/mL (2.67, 1.44–4.96, p=0.002) and lactate dehydrogenase ≥450 IU/L (2.96, 1.60–5.45, p=0.001) were significantly associated with death.Conclusion In this cohort of moderately and severely ill patients with COVID-19, severity of illness, underlying comorbidities and elevated levels of inflammatory markers were significantly associated with death.Trial registration number CTRI/2020/04/024775.

In this research, the shuttle effect and the low sulfur activation of lithium–sulfur batteries were mitigated by coating the cathode side of Celgard 2400 separators with mixtures of carbon black/chitosan or carbon black/polyvinylidene fluoride using the simple slurry technique. Carbon nanoparticles and the polar groups of the polymers were responsible for boosting the reaction kinetics of sulfur and the chemical and physical trapping of lithium polysulfides. The adsorption of sulfur species in the coated separators was confirmed by the morphologic changes observed in the AFM and SEM images and by the new elements presented in the EDX spectra after 100 charge/discharge cycles. The high intensity of the peaks in the cyclic voltammograms and the long plateaus in the discharge profiles support the improvement in the reaction kinetics. The batteries with the carbon black/chitosan- and carbon black/polyvinylidene fluoride-coated separators reached high specific discharge capacities of 833 and 698 mAhg−1, respectively, after 100 cycles at 0.5 C. This is promising for this kind of technology, and detailed results are presented in the article.

BRD4 belongs to the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family of chromatin reader proteins that bind acetylated histones and regulate gene expression. Pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 by BET inhibitors (BETi) has indicated antitumor activity against multiple cancer types. We show that BRD4 is essential for the repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and mediates the formation of oncogenic gene rearrangements by engaging the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway. Mechanistically, genome-wide DNA breaks are associated with enhanced acetylation of histone H4, leading to BRD4 recruitment, and stable establishment of the DNA repair complex. In support of this, we also show that, in clinical tumor samples, BRD4 protein levels are negatively associated with outcome after prostate cancer (PCa) radiation therapy. Thus, in addition to regulating gene expression, BRD4 is also a central player in the repair of DNA DSBs, with significant implications for cancer therapy.

We report the first direct synthesis of graphene on SiO2/Si by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. Graphene deposition was conducted at low pressures (35 Torr) with a mixture of methane/hydrogen and a substrate temperature of 970 °C followed by spontaneous cooling to room temperature. A thin copper-strip was deposited in the middle of the SiO2/Si substrate as catalytic material. Raman spectroscopy mapping and atomic force microscopy measurements indicate the growth of few-layers of graphene over the entire SiO2/Si substrate, far beyond the thin copper-strip, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed negligible amounts of copper next to the initially deposited strip. The scale of the graphene nanocrystal was estimated by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

We demonstrated the efficient coupling of BiFeO3 (BFO) ferroelectric material within the carbon–sulfur (C-S) composite cathode, where polysulfides are trapped in BFO mesh, reducing the polysulfide shuttle impact, and thus resulting in an improved cyclic performance and an increase in capacity in Li-S batteries. Here, the built-in internal field due to BFO enhances polysulfide trapping. The observation of a difference in the diffusion behavior of polysulfides in BFO-coupled composites suggests more efficient trapping in BFO-modified C-S electrodes compared to pristine C-S composite cathodes. The X-ray diffraction results of BFO–C-S composite cathodes show an orthorhombic structure, while Raman spectra substantiate efficient coupling of BFO in C-S composites, in agreement with SEM images, showing the interconnected network of submicron-size sulfur composites. Two plateaus were observed at 1.75 V and 2.1 V in the charge/discharge characteristics of BFO–C-S composite cathodes. The observed capacity of ~1600 mAh g−1 in a 1.5–2.5 V operating window for BFO30-C10-S60 composite cathodes, and the high cyclic stability substantiate the superior performance of the designed cathode materials due to the efficient reduction in the polysulfide shuttle effect in these composite cathodes.

The compound 0.9[KNbO3]-0.1[(BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3−δ] (KBNNO), a robust eco-friendly (lead-free) ferroelectric perovskite, has diverse applications in electronic and photonic devices. In this work, we report the dielectric, ferroelectric, and structural phase transitions behavior in the KBNNO compound using dielectric, X-ray diffraction, and Raman studies at ambient and as a function of temperature. Analyses of X-ray diffraction (XRD) data at room temperature (rtp) revealed the orthorhombic phase (sp. Gr. Amm2) of the compound with a minor secondary NiO cubic phase (sp. Gr. Fm3m). A direct optical band gap Eg of 1.66 eV was estimated at rtp from the UV–Vis reflectance spectrum analysis. Observation of non-saturated electric polarization loops were attributed to leakage current effects pertaining to oxygen vacancies in the compound. Magnetization studies showed ferromagnetism at room temperature (300 K) in this material. XRD studies on KBNNO at elevated temperatures revealed orthorhombic-to-tetragonal and tetragonal-to-cubic phase transitions at 523 and 713 K, respectively. Temperature-dependent dielectric response, being leaky, did not reveal any phase transition. Electrical conductivity data as a function of temperature obeyed Jonscher power law and satisfied the correlated barrier-hopping model, indicating dominance of the hopping conduction mechanism. Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic studies over a wide range of temperature (82–673 K) inferred the rhombohedral-to-orthorhombic and orthorhombic-to-tetragonal phase transitions at ~260, and 533 K, respectively. Several Raman bands were found to disappear, while a few Raman modes such as at 225, 270, 289, and 831 cm−1 exhibited discontinuity across the phase transitions at ~260 and 533 K.

Development of lead-free BaTiO3/NiFe2O4/BaTiO3 (BTO/NFO/BTO) trilayer structure thin films is significant for the realization of eco-friendly and implantable microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based devices. In the present work, we report BTO/NFO/BTO trilayer structure as a representative ferroelectric/ferromagnetic/ferroelectric (FE/FM/FE) system deposited on Pt(111)/TiO2/SiO2/Si using Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique. We report the ferroelectric, magnetic, and ME properties of BTO/NFO/BTO trilayer nanoscale heterostructure having dimensions 140/80/140 nm, at room temperature. High room temperature dielectric constant ~2145 at 100 Hz with low dielectric loss ~0.05 at 1 MHz is observed. Further, the deposited (BTO/NFO/BTO) tri-layered thin films showed magnetoelectric, multiferroic behavior with remanent polarization of 8.63 μCcm−2 at about 0.25 MV/cm and a reasonably high saturation magnetization of ~16 emu/cm3 at ~10 kOe is witnessed at room temperature. Tri-layered films have shown interesting magnetoelectric (ME) coupling coefficient (αE) ~54.5 mV/cm Oe at room temperature.

Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST-0.5) thin films (600 nm) were deposited on single crystal MgO, SrTiO3 (STO), and LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates by pulsed laser deposition at an oxygen partial pressure of 80 mTorr and temperature of 720 °C. X-ray diffraction and in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction routinely ascertained the epitaxial quality of the (100)-oriented nanocrystalline films. The broadband microwave (1–40 GHz) dielectric properties were measured using coplanar waveguide transmission line test structures. The out-of-plane relative permittivity (ε⏊/) exhibited strong substrate-dependent dielectric (relaxation) dispersions with their attendant peaks in loss tangent (tanδ), with the former dropping sharply from tens of thousands to ~1000 by 10 GHz. Although homogeneous in-plane strain (ϵǁ), enhances ε⏊/ with εMgOBST−0.5⏊/>εSTOBST−0.5⏊/>εLAOBST−0.5⏊/ at lower frequencies, two crossover points at 8.6 GHz and 18 GHz eventually change the trend to: εSTOBST−0.5⏊/>εLAOBST−0.5⏊/>εMgOBST−0.5⏊/. The dispersions are qualitatively interpreted using (a) theoretically calculated (T)−(ϵǁ) phase diagram for single crystal and single domain BST-0.5 film, (b) theoretically predicted ϵǁ-dependent, ε⏊/ anomaly that does not account for frequency dependence, and (c) literature reports on intrinsic and extrinsic microstructural effects, including defects-induced inhomogeneous strain and strain gradients. From the Vendik and Zubko model, the defect parameter metric, ξs, was estimated to be 0.51 at 40 GHz for BST-0.5 film on STO.