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Background: Overall 25% of women in India (aged 15–24 years) lead an unhygienic lifestyle during their menstrual period and currently, almost 8% of women suffer from two common reproductive tract infection problems. Objectives: The study examined the factors playing a crucial role in accustomed with unhygienic menstrual practices and established a significant causal relationship between unhygienic menstrual practices as a consequence of two most common RTIs problems among Indian women aged 15–24 years. The study used the 5th round of Indian Demographic and Health Survey data (NFHS-5) held on 2019–2021. A total of 36,038 women were included in this present study for gathering information related to menstruation and RTIs problem. Results: The result revealed that the women residing in rural areas (AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11–1.42), had no education (AOR: 2.59; 95% CI: 2.28–2.94) or very basic education, belonged to the middle-class family (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 2.12–2.37), believed in Muslim religious belief (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.97–2.47), affiliated to ST category (AOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.05–1.69), had no toilet facilities at home (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.26), was from central India (AOR: 3.30; 95% CI: 2.95–3.69) are more likely to be usual with unhygienic lifestyle practices during menstruation. Conclusion: Findings suggest that a lack of hygienic lifestyle during menstruation had an adverse outcome on RTIs problems like genital sore or ulcers and abnormal genital discharge. The study also emphasized that 'empowerment of women' as an essential indicator in accepting the desired hygienic level of menstrual practices controlling the other confounding factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women in the fisher communities in coastal regions of Bangladesh are engaged in a wide range of fishery activities. However, there is limited evidence available on the occupational hazards and risks experienced by them. Method: The study was conducted among fishing colonies in Cox's Bazar and Chattogram districts in Bangladesh. This was a cross-sectional study blending qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative component comprised five focus group discussions to understand the occupational context, hazards, and risks faced by the fisherwomen, informing the questionnaire design for the subsequent survey. The quantitative survey involved a sample of 207 women from fisher communities, gathering socio-demographic information, occupational hazards, risks, and health and safety practices. Findings: The study found a high occurrence of occupational hazards, health risks and limited availability of preventive measures among the women in fisher communities. Occupational hazards include physical safety hazards such as slippery surfaces and fish cutting instruments, and physical hazards like prolonged sun exposure and noise. Chemical hazards like pesticides and saltwater, ergonomic hazards such as prolonged uncomfortable posture and heavy lifting, and biological hazards including inadequate sanitation facilities were prevalent. The study also identified the potential occupational risks, and the outcomes resulting from the hazards, including injuries (87.44%), musculoskeletal conditions (69.08%), skin diseases/conditions (56.52%), eye complaints (33.82%), severe respiratory distress (24.15%) and high incidence of self-reported communicable diseases. Most women (78.26%) did not use personal protective equipment, and the majority (93.72%) lacked a workplace first aid kit. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of occupational hazards and health risks, including injuries and diseases, among Bangladeshi women in fisher communities with insufficient safety measures. Collaboration among government, NGOs, development partners, fisheries stakeholders, and the community is imperative for targeted training, innovative procedures, ergonomic solutions, provision of protective equipment, and advocacy to enhance the well-being of these women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a chronic and progressive disease characterised by changes in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, leading to glucose intolerance. The foetal heart in GDM is affected throughout the gestational period, which may result in hyperplasia and hypertrophy of myocardial cells. Aim: To determine the cardiac function and structural changes in infants of gestational diabetic mothers using Dopplerechocardiographic data. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 30 infants of mothers with GDM and 30 infants of non diabetic mothers at the Department of Physiology, R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, in collaboration with the Departments of Paediatric Medicine and Cardiology from January 2023 to August 2023. Neonatal screening echocardiography was performed by a cardiologist using a Philips Echocardiograph machine, Model: EPIQ 7C, Software Version: 4.0.2, with a linear convex probe of S8-3 MHz frequency to assess cardiac structure and function using 2D, M mode, and Conventional Doppler. The parameters studied included aortic root diameter (mm), left atrial diameter (mm), Interventricular Septal (IVS) in diastole (mm), left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole (mm), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (mm), left ventricular internal diameter in end systole (mm), left ventricular fractional shortening (%), and left ventricular ejection fraction (%). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version-20.0 with an Independent Student’s t-test. Results: The mean gestational age for the cases was 38.50±2.57 weeks and 39.30±1.97 weeks for controls. The mean maternal age for cases was 25±4.37 years and for controls was 27±5.03 years. The left atrial diameter in cases (12.83±2.14 mm) was significantly smaller than that of the control (14.20±0.55 mm). The left ventricular posterior wall diameter in diastole was significantly increased in cases (4.53±0.50 mm) compared to controls (3.87±0.35 mm). Significant differences were observed in the interventricular septum in diastole {cases: 4.73±0.45 mm, control: 3.97±0.32 mm} and in the left ventricular internal diameter in end systole {cases: 12.30±1.84 mm, control: 13.83±1.02 mm} between cases and controls. Aortic root diameter was increased in 13.3% of cases. The percentage of left ventricular fractional shortening (cases: 35.47±3.74%, Control: 38.53±2.43%), Left Ventricular Ejection fraction (cases: 67.63±4.52%, control: 72.17±4.89%) were significantly decreased in cases compared to control. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the development of ventricular hypertrophy and compromised myocardial contractility in infants of diabetic mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since time immemorial, molluscs have been a popular source of food in North East India. Given the historical importance of snail consumption in the region, the current investigation was carried out to assess the nutritional properties of mollusc meat/tissue and shell. Three species of freshwater snails (Cipangopaludina sp. Brotia costula, Filopaludina bengalensis) and the bivalve Lamellidens sp. were identified from five states of North East India. Proximate and elemental analyses of mollusc meat revealed high amounts of nutrients (more crude protein (range 26.75–22.83%) and low fat (3.82–2.70%)) and minerals (especially calcium). Additionally, high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed (maximum 1.95% in B. costula). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible‐light assisted a very simple and mild protocol for photocatalytic oxidative transformation of thioamide to amide group has been realized in cyclic system. For this purpose 5‐arylalkylidene‐rhodanine derivatives were chosen as model substrates to afford thiazolidine‐2,4‐diones. Light mediated reactions are intrinsically beneficial, since activation occurs by cleanest energy source light. Here K2S2O8 is used as terminal oxidant which does not leave any hazardous and corrosive waste to discard after the reaction fostering the practices of green chemistry. This is the first report of conversion of thioxo group in rhodanine derivatives into the corresponding oxygen analogue by visible light photo‐catalytic method. The reaction was very general since various 5‐arylalkylidene‐rhodanines underwent the reaction smoothly affording high product yields. Moreover, the broadness of this protocol was further established by applying this reaction on other systems like 3,4‐dihydropyrimidine‐2(1H)‐(thio)ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait phase monitoring wearable sensors play a crucial role in assessing both health and athletic performance, offering valuable insights into an individual's gait pattern. In this study, we introduced a simple and cost-effective capacitive gait sensor manufacturing approach, utilizing a micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane dielectric layer placed between screen-printed silver electrodes. The sensor demonstrated inherent stretchability and durability, even when the electrode was bent at a 45-degree angle, it maintained an electrode resistance of approximately 3 Ω. This feature is particularly advantageous for gait monitoring applications. Furthermore, the fabricated flexible capacitive pressure sensor exhibited higher sensitivity and linearity at both low and high pressure and displayed very good stability. Notably, the sensors demonstrated rapid response and recovery times for both under low and high pressure. To further explore the capabilities of these new sensors, they were successfully tested as insole-type pressure sensors for real-time gait signal monitoring. The sensors displayed a well-balanced combination of sensitivity and response time, making them well-suited for gait analysis. Beyond gait analysis, the proposed sensor holds the potential for a wide range of applications within biomedical, sports, and commercial systems where soft and conformable sensors are preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionAlcohol consumption among tribal male adolescents in India is a significant social concern. Tribal adolescents are particularly vulnerable and tend to lean toward alcohol addiction. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce some necessary footsteps to reduce alcohol consumption. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the association of various latent factors with the alcohol-drinking behavior of tribal adolescents.The study collected data from 600 tribal adolescents from the Dooars region, with 241 of them reported consuming alcohol. The study aimed to confirm the theoretical development of hypotheses regarding peer pressure, parental discord, stress, attitude toward alcohol, and food insecurity as exogenous latent factors influencing the alcohol-drinking behavior of tribal adolescents. In this context, the study adopted both measurement and structural models using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM).The findings revealed a significant path relationship between alcohol drinking behavior and various exogenous factors like peer pressure (β = 0.214, p = .000), parental discord (β = 0.121, p = .009), stress (β = 0.170, p = .000), attitude toward alcohol (β = 0.110, p = .004), and food insecurity (β = 0.510, p = .000). This study developed a reflective measurement model, and the evaluation of reflective measurement models was conducted, assessing internal consistency, convergent validity, and discriminant validity, yielding satisfactory results.To tackle alcohol issues among tribal adolescents in the Dooars region, effective strategies should be employed. These include educating in schools, highlighting tribal role models, aiding peers with alcohol dependence, providing life skills training, and addressing parental discord and food insecurity through awareness campaigns, workshops, and better infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their high strength‐to‐weight ratio. However, the manufacturing process of FRP composites is intricate, requiring precise control over multiple parameters, which can be challenging. To ensure top‐notch product quality and bolster confidence in the durability of composite materials, it requires a uniform curing evaluation technique and a predictive strength model. This study presents a rapid nondestructive quality inspection technique for composites, involving three distinct studies that employ machine learning techniques in combination with the frequency‐dependent dielectric response of materials. The first study introduces a nondestructive method for swiftly inspecting the cure state (degree of cure) of composite samples. This technique combines broadband dielectric spectroscopy with supervised machine learning algorithms, particularly support vector machines. The second study employs advanced artificial neural networks like multi‐layer perceptron to predict the tensile strength, a measure of mechanical performance, of composite materials. The results demonstrate an accurate classification of the curing state with 96.7% accuracy and a prediction of tensile strength with 87.5% accuracy. The final study explores the application of machine learning in quality monitoring of prepreg (raw materials for FRP) aging at room temperature. Highlights: Integration of machine learning with frequency‐dependent dielectric measurement offers efficient method for inspecting and monitoring the curing state and mechanical performance of composite materials.Machine learning and frequency‐dependent dielectric response used to accurately assess the curing state of fiber‐reinforced polymer composites with 96.7% accuracy, which saves the time and effort and also reduces the need for destructive testing.Advanced artificial neural networks, specifically multi‐layer perceptron, employed to predict mechanical performance of composite materials with 87.5% accuracy, enhancing confidence in product reliability.Novel dielectric measurement technique integrated with machine learning algorithms enables prepreg age monitoring at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are major health issues which are going to have a significant impact in an aging global population. Osteoporosis, which reduces bone density and increases fracture risk, and sarcopenia, which causes muscle loss and strength loss, have a complicated risk profile with consequences that go beyond bone and muscle health. This chapter illuminates the complex link between osteoporosis and sarcopenia, including overlapping causes, clinical consequences, and new treatments. This chapter covers bone and muscle biology, age-related changes that cause osteoporosis and sarcopenia, and the importance of physical exercise and diet in their prevention and management. It also discusses clinical evaluation methods, risk assessment and diagnostic criteria for early diagnosis and intervention. Novel therapies and continuing research in the management of osteoporosis and sarcopenia are also discussed. Medications, exercise, and nutrition can promote bone and muscle health. This chapter aims to explore the recent concepts by elucidating the complex relationship between osteoporosis and sarcopenia and advocating for integrated care paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens has emerged as a challenge in health care settings resulting in high rates of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to describe the trends and burden of AMR in a tertiary care hospital. A retrospective observational study was undertaken from October 2018 to March 2021 in a clinical microbiology laboratory where local priority pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns were analyzed. Organism identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Out of 9948 isolates, Enterobacteriaceae (58%) were mostly isolated followed by Staphylococci (18.6%), Non-fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) (13.7%), and Enterococci (8.4%) respectively. Highest isolation was from inpatient department (61.3%); 31.5% from outpatient, and 7.2 % from intensive care units. Klebsiella pneumoniae (26.9%) was most isolated organism, mostly from respiratory samples; Escherichia coli was isolated mostly from urine (40.7%). Almost half of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers while >50% of Enterobacteriaceae and NFGNB isolates were resistant to one or more Carbapenems. Frequency of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was 44.7%, Vancomycin resistant Enterococci was 1.2%. A rising trend of resistance to cephalosporins and carbapenems along with fluoroquinolones was observed. Our study has witnessed a high prevalence of Gram negative pathogens with increasing resistance to commonly applied antimicrobials during the surveillance period which can act as a guiding tool in devising local antimicrobial priorities, antibiotic policy, and proper antimicrobial prescribing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete crystal structures of two as-made zeolites with the ITQ-52 structure (IFW framework type), where an alkylphosphonium and an aminophosphonium dications have been used as their respective organic structure-directing agents, have been solved by three-dimensional electron diffraction. Both organic cations have also been located within the 10-ring that connects the cavities of the IFW framework using the diffraction data. [Display omitted] • Zeolite ITQ-52 can be obtained using different organic structure directing agents. • The location of the directing agent can be obtained using 3D electron diffraction. • Different diffraction techniques can be used depending on the samples. • Due to their resemblance, both organics locate in similar positions in the channels. • Changing the organic agent modifies the location of trivalent atoms in the zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behaviour of 4‐[trans‐4‐(trans‐4‐propylcyclohexyl)cyclohexyl]benzonitrile, C22H31N, 1, has been examined. This compound has two different solid phases, denoted I and II, and exhibits thermotropic liquid‐crystalline behaviour, with a remarkable interval of stability of the mesophase between the lower melting solid phase (75 °C) and the isotropization temperature (247 °C). The crystal and molecular structures of solid phase I have been determined at 173 K. The cyclohexyl rings both adopt the chair conformation and are equatorially substituted. The packing of 1 in the crystalline state is driven by the antiparallel arrangement of cyano dipoles with the formation of close contacts involving the strong cyano acceptor and weak aromatic C—H or aliphatic C—H donors. The crystal packing is discussed and compared with X‐ray diffraction data in the liquid‐crystalline state. The combination of thermal analysis, optical polarizing microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis suggests that the mesophase is a partially ordered smectic phase. The lamellar structure of the mesophase is retained in crystalline solid phase II obtained by cooling the liquid‐crystalline phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principal objective of this study is to employ non-destructive broadband dielectric spectroscopy/impedance spectroscopy and machine learning techniques to estimate the moisture content in FRP composites under hygrothermal aging. Here, classification and regression machine learning models that can accurately predict the current moisture saturation state are developed using the frequency domain dielectric response of the composite, in conjunction with the time domain hygrothermal aging effect. First, to categorize the composites based on the present state of the absorbed moisture supervised classification learning models (i.e., quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network-based multilayer perceptron (MLP) classifier) have been developed. Later, to accurately estimate the relative moisture absorption from the dielectric data, supervised regression models (i.e., multiple linear regression (MLR), decision tree regression (DTR), and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) regression) have been developed, which can effectively estimate the relative moisture absorption from the dielectric response of the material with an R¬2 value greater than 0.95. The physics behind the hygrothermal aging of the composites has then been interpreted by comparing the model attributes to see which characteristics most strongly influence the predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study compares the results of two different chemical treatments of plant fibers reinforcement in terms of mechanical performance and their environmental impact considering sustainability. Jute/Hemp/Flax and their hybrid bidirectional mats were treated separately with two different chemicals namely sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3). The impact of the treatments on the mechanical performance of developed polymeric composites was found to be positive when compared to non‐treated fiber‐reinforced composites. Alkaline treatment showed better mechanical properties as compared to sodium bicarbonate treatment while using a low concentration solution, but the situation was reversed when a higher concentration solution was used. The present study also compares the pH value of the residue chemical solution after both the treatments which is a direct indicator of the acidic level present in the solution. Interestingly, the pH value of the residue chemical solution after the sodium bicarbonate treatment of the fibers was found in the neutral range indicating that the solution is not harmful to the environment and helps in maintaining sustainability while disposing of after the treatment. On the other hand, the ph value (measure using a pH meter) of the sodium hydroxide solution was in the strong alkaline indicating harmful effects in the disposing area. The environmentally friendly treatment of natural fibers with sodium bicarbonate could have a large commercial potential for polymeric composites for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SMA of various real-scale anaerobic digester sludges were evaluated under varying substrate and temperature conditions. • Use of a novel an AI-based approach, SVR model to predict the SMA based on the experimental data. • Effects of temperature, and VFA/alkalinity ratio on the SMA under varying substrate conditions based on the SVR model. • Identifying the most sensitive input parameters influencing SMA using the SVR model. • SVR model demonstrated high predictive accuracy with an R2 value of 0.97 and a low RMSE. The present study focuses on predicting the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of anaerobic sludges through an AI-based approach, specifically, Support Vector Regression (SVR). The data required for SMA prediction of anaerobic sludges was obtained experimentally from a batch test. The sludges were augmented with different substrates, i.e., Phenol, Ethanol, Acetic Acid, Sodium Acetate, Glucose, and Molasses at different temperature ranges from six locations in Delhi, India. The model reveals that the highest SMA values were observed for the anaerobic sludges with sodium acetate and acetic acid as substrates at mesophilic temperature. On the other hand, SMA was found to be the least when phenol was used as a substrate at all the studied temperatures and for all the locations. The SVR model was also used to study the influence of various factors, viz., COD, pH, Total Solids, and VFA on the SMA. The model showed that COD was the most sensitive input parameter influencing the SMA value and pH the least. The SVR model demonstrated a strong ability to capture complex non-linear relationships between physicochemical parameters and SMA, outperforming the traditional statistical models. The predicted results indicate that the SVR model and the experimental results are closely aligned with the theoretical plots, achieving an R2 value of 0.97 and a very low RMSE. This novel SVR approach would notably ease the prediction of SMA from basic physicochemical parameters owing to the challenges associated with acquiring SMA through experimental investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the software industry, 85% of development tasks involve maintenance. A developer's typical job involves more code reading and less code writing. Since code reading is an integral part of comprehension, efficient code reading emphasizes a better understanding of code execution. The more efficiently a code is read, the more it reduces maintenance time. Thus, the developer's reading pattern can help to estimate how efficiently a developer can read and comprehend code that can improve software productivity. Quantifying the comprehension effort spent while reading a code can help to explore the developer's efficiency. The primary goal of this study is to quantify the comprehension effort using code reading patterns. An eye-tracking sensor tracks the developer's eye movements while reading the code. The backward gaze transitions and internal navigation are identified from the reading pattern of the code and used to compute program comprehension effort. An experiment was to collect the data where 41 subjects were asked to read five short C programs. The findings of the study infer a significant correlation between comprehension effort and fixation points. This study explores the involvement of non-experts in higher comprehension efforts than expert ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesized new electrode material for the supercapacitor application. Polyoxovanadates (POVs) have been used for energy storage electrode materials due to their fast multi-electron redox properties. The formation of SDV/GO composites was confirmed using various analytical methods, e.g., Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), followed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The composite electrode's electrochemical behavior was studied using a neutral 1 M sodium sulphate (Na2SO4) solution in three-electrode cyclic voltammetry (CV) system. The SDV/GO composite electrode showed a specific capacitance of 306 F/g for a scan rate of 5 mV/s and a corresponding energy density of 42.4 Wh/Kg. Galvanostatic charge/discharge exhibits a specific capacitance of 310 F/g with energy densities of 43.08 Wh/kg. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which was used to investigate interface property, yielded a considerably higher power density of 172.41 KW/kg with an equivalent series resistance of 5 Ω. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of biological phosphate is very important for environmental and health care applications. In this study, a new ratiometric fluorescent probe (E)-N′-(3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-2-hydroxybenzylidene) picolinohydrazide (BTP) is developed and exhibits a prominent excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer (ESIPT) mechanism. The probe BTP undergoes a unique phosphate induced hydrolytic reaction in mixed aqueous solution which produces a colorimetric change associated with a huge red-shift of ∼130 nm in the UV–visible absorption spectrum. Initially, BTP exhibits a strong fluorescence emission as the ESIPT process is 'on' and the tautomeric hydrogen remains flexible and is free to give two tautomeric forms. Eventually, after the addition of PO43−, the two tautomeric forms break and thereby shift the equilibrium towards the 'enol' form. The phosphate ion binds with BTP which is associated with a ratiometric change and accounts for an enhancement in the fluorescence intensity with a large blue shift and the limit of detection value of 8.33 × 10−8 M in a mixed aqueous medium. The binding constant (1.92 × 105 M−1) proportionally reflects the stability of the complexation between the binding sites of BTP with the guest PO43− anion. The probable mechanism is supported by the NMR spectroscopy studies. The sensing phenomenon is found to be reversible towards Zn2+ and thus the sensor beautifully mimics the INHIBIT logic gate. Observations have been made in fluorescence imaging studies with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) which indicates that BTP can be employed to successfully monitor the phosphate ion in human PBMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagation of a weak Gaussian probe pulse through a closed-loop Λ system with permanent dipole moments (PDMs) is investigated in presence of a strong control field along with a third field. The presence of PDMs allows multiphoton excitation, which is otherwise forbidden. The PDMs modify the Rabi frequencies of the probe, control, and the third field inside the medium which noticeably affects the propagation of the probe pulse. The probe pulse is amplified during propagation with its Gaussian shape intact. Due to unprohibited two-photon excitation, it is possible to amplify a probe pulse whose frequency is twice the control field’s frequency, with the help of the third field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites are the innovative form of materials used at the nanoscale (1–100 nm in size). Parent materials are insufficient to satisfy the desired requirement to fulfill all the needs, hence to enhance various performances of composites, a suitable nanofiller (nanoparticle) can be used. The present study focuses on nanocomposite properties, types, and characteristic features. Nanocomposites that take advantage of fibers and nanofillers synergistically contribute to improved properties and environmental conditions by making them suitable for a wide range of applications (aerospace, automobile industries, electronics, biomedical, etc.). Nanocomposites are now being used in almost every field and find a wide spectrum of applications, including waste water treatment, corrosion protection, and so forth. In the present study, the effect of excessive use of nanoparticles (nanotoxicity) has also been addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on rainfall-induced landslides are essential for protecting the lives and property in hilly regions. Augmented numerical investigation considering geotechnical, geological, and environmental parameters of the slope for the past landslides and potential slip surfaces helps in identifying appropriate triggering mechanisms and preventive measures. In this work, numerical modelling was carried out for predicting the time of landslide occurrence of a shallow landslide based on the laboratory estimated soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) data, net rainfall infiltration, runoff, and geological characteristics of the study area. The accurate estimation of the SWCC was vital in the back-analysis of a landslide as SWCC directly governs the hydraulic and shear strength characteristics of the unsaturated slope. Instantaneously measured SWCC by the sensors severely overestimated the suction values for a given water content for the studied soil at different compaction densities. The back-analyzed rainfall-induced slope stability analysis of the case study showed that the estimated factor of safety variation with time by using the conventional SWCC estimation was inconsistent with the observed time of failure. A laboratory method was proposed to evaluate “equilibrium SWCC” data to account for the hydraulic equilibrium between the suction sensor and the field soil. The equilibrium SWCC data accurately predicted the time of landslide occurrence and slip surface. Further, the present study also highlighted the significance of the field density and net rainfall infiltration, considering climatic data, on forensic investigations through sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise pollution caused by urbanization and industrial development must be effectively controlled to provide a pleasant living atmosphere. Different synthetic fiber materials have good acoustic performance, yet synthetic fiber materials have a high cost and have adverse effect on the environment. Natural fibers are a good alternative to synthetic fibers in terms of acoustic properties and they are also less expensive and have less environmental impact. Several factors affects the acoustic behavior of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs). The present article focuses on the effect of different processing methods, reinforcement architecture, fiber diameter, laminate thickness and density on the acoustic performance of NFRPCs. Reinforcement architecture has been proved to be the best option in order to tailor the various acoustic properties of the composite laminates without even changing other physical properties. The challenges, future scope and potential applications of natural fibers in acoustic applications (home theaters, offices, cinema halls, automobiles, etc.) have also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aviation and automobile industries have recently depended on thermoset epoxy-based prepreg as a raw material for manufacturing composites. Since prepregs have a limited out-life (i.e., the maximum storing time allowed at room temperature), they must be stored in refrigerators at low temperatures. If not maintained, they can often adversely affect the desired quality of the final product. Prepregs are often discarded once the prepreg out-life ends, leading to a loss of millions of dollars and a detrimental impact on the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a simple method to monitor prepreg aging/degradation in order to ensure its usability or repurpose prepreg usage. In this study, we used broadband dielectric spectroscopy to monitor the degradation state of the glass fiber/epoxy prepreg sample stored at room temperature, and the data has been used to predict the mechanical performance of the final manufactured composite part. The frequency-based nondestructive dielectric measuring technique was used to calculate the dielectric strength and relaxation time of the prepregs. The dielectric strength decreased and relaxation time increased with aging, allowing the aging progression to be captured. Furthermore, with aging, the real permittivity value changes to a lower value and the relaxation peak in imaginary permittivity with respect to frequency shifts to a lower frequency. The physics behind this dielectric measurement method has been understood in the context of analyzing the prepreg's cure kinetics parameters, which has been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Overall, this simple dielectric-based monitoring technology will provide confidence in the future use of degraded or out-of-life raw material systems for manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Aetiology of pneumonia can be identified using multiple diagnostic tools including culture, serology and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR); common pathogens include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, some atypical bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Aim: The study was undertaken to find out the bacteriological agents causing Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in under five year children and to compare the conventional culture and PCR in identifying the pathogen. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Department of Microbiology and Department of Paediatrics in a tertiary care centre of Assam, India between March 2016 to September 2018. The study was undertaken with 200 under five year old children who were clinically diagnosed as CAP. Oropharyngeal (OP) swabs and blood culture were processed for bacteriological culture. PCR assay of OP swabs for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus etc., including atypical bacteria like Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae were performed. Data entry, database management and statistical analysis were performed using Epi-Info software version 7.0. Results: A total of 200 subjects were included in the present study with a male:female ratio of 1.63:1. Most of the study subjects were <11 months of age. Most common isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae (26.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25%) from OP swabs; blood culture revealed mostly Staphylococcus aureus (59%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (25%). PCR assay of OP swabs were found positive mostly for Staphylococcus aureus (47%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.5%) while two children were positive for Haemophilus influenzae; Bordetella pertussis was detected in one child. On evaluation, PCR assay in detecting the bacterial pathogen was found statistically more significant than conventional culture of OP swabs (p<0.05). Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the most common bacterial organisms in the study. PCR assay was found to be more useful in diagnosing the pathogen for bacterial pneumonia including those difficult to grow in conventional culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, intrinsic image decomposition algorithms interpret shading as one unified component including all photometric effects. As shading transitions are generally smoother than reflectance (albedo) changes, these methods may fail in distinguishing strong photometric effects from reflectance variations. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to decompose the shading component into direct (illumination) and indirect shading (ambient light and shadows) subcomponents. The aim is to distinguish strong photometric effects from reflectance variations. An end-to-end deep convolutional neural network (ShadingNet) is proposed that operates in a fine-to-coarse manner with a specialized fusion and refinement unit exploiting the fine-grained shading model. It is designed to learn specific reflectance cues separated from specific photometric effects to analyze the disentanglement capability. A large-scale dataset of scene-level synthetic images of outdoor natural environments is provided with fine-grained intrinsic image ground-truths. Large scale experiments show that our approach using fine-grained shading decompositions outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms utilizing unified shading on NED, MPI Sintel, GTA V, IIW, MIT Intrinsic Images, 3DRMS and SRD datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structures of difluorine derivatives of p‐terphenyls (nTm) have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. For the unsymmetrical substituted compounds 2′,3′‐difluoro‐4‐methyl‐p‐terphenyl (1T0, C19H14F2) and 4‐ethyl‐2′,3′‐difluoro‐4′′‐methyl‐p‐terphenyl (1T2, C21H18F2), the crystal structure is disordered, with molecules statistically entering the crystal in up and down orientations, with full superposition of all the atoms, except for those of the terminal groups (H/methyl for 1T0 and methyl/ethyl for 1T2). For triclinic 2′,3′‐difluoro‐4,4′′‐dimethyl‐p‐terphenyl (1T1, C20H16F2), with the space group P, the two crystallographically independent molecules have the same conformation, which is different from monoclinic 1T0 (space group C2) and 1T2 (space group C2/c). A common feature of the conformation of the three compounds is the noncoplanar twisted arrangement of the three rings of the p‐terphenyl moiety. Two‐dimensional (2D) Hirshfeld fingerprint plots are consistent with H...H and C...H contacts in the crystal packing. For the three compounds, the phase behaviour has been investigated by POM (Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. 1T2 is mesogenic, with enantiotropic nematic behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we assess the self-sealing and swelling ability of the compacted granular bentonite (GB) under an inorganic salt environment and induced overburden stresses from the landfill waste. The laboratory permeation tests with high ionic strength salt solutions reveal that the GB fails to seal and exhibits a significant mechanical collapse under different applied stresses. The applicability of GB in the form of geosynthetic clay liners as the bottom liner facilities in landfills that produce high ionic strength salt leachates, therefore, remains a serious concern. We propose an additional barrier system based on kaolin, for the first time, to address this problem. The proposed kaolin-GB layered system performs satisfactorily in terms of its sealing and swelling ability even in adverse saline conditions and low overburden stresses. The kaolin improves the osmotic efficiency of the self and also helps the underlying GB layer to seal the inter-granular voids. The estimated design parameters by through-diffusion test suggest that the kaolin-GB layered system effectively attenuates the permeant flux and suitable as a landfill liner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a triphenylamine and rhodamine-B (donor–acceptor) hybrid switch (TPRH) was rationally designed, synthesised and characterised as a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) ratiometric fluorescent chemosensor for specific sensing of Al3+ over other important metal ions in mixed aqueous solution. We proposed that the sensor in hand (TPRH) is non-toxic and can be successfully employed to detect the Al3+ ion in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), showing intracellular 'FRET-ON' mechanism. The orientation of the probe was designed in such a way that the fluorescence (or Förster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) proceeded from the 'donor moiety' triphenylamine to the 'accepter moiety' rhodamine-B. This fluorescent probe was found to be highly selective towards Al3+ over other important guest metal ions, including Fe3+ and Cr3+. Considering the adverse effects of Al3+ ions on human health and also on the environment, the development of sensitive and specific tools for the detection of Al3+ ions is of great value. The limit of detection (LOD) of TPRH was found to be in the order of 10−8 M. The TPRH–Al3+ complex showed reversible binding with demetallation in the presence of EDTA. In accordance with this reversibility, the fluorescence output at 576 nm from two active chemical inputs, namely, Al3+ and EDTA, followed a truth table of an INHIBIT logic gate. Moreover, cytotoxic studies found that the probe was safe to use in a biological system with good cell membrane permeability. More importantly, the bio-imaging of living human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) showed that TPRH could be used as an effective fluorescent probe for a prominent ratiometric in vitro detection of the transition trivalent metal ion Al3+. We evidenced a significant (p < 0.05) shift from blue to red fluorescence when Al3+ was added to the cell suspension, thus proving TPRH as a good candidate to detect intracellular Al3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastable polymorphs typically display higher solubility than their thermodynamically stable counterparts, whilst having dissimilar mechanical and biopharmaceutical properties. It is unsurprising then, that generic and innovator companies alike pursue isolation and characterisation of these materials. Here we report the determination of the crystal structure of the metastable form II of loratadine using a combination of low-resolution 3D electron diffraction data and density functional theory. Importantly, electron diffraction was able to establish that the crystallites were phase pure i.e. no other polymorphic forms were identified throughout the sample. 3D data collected at room temperature circumvented potential phase changes, conveniently preserving the metastable polymorph during structural elucidation. The limited resolution of the electron diffraction data (>1 Å), combined with the complexity of configurational disorder and possible beam-induced amorphization, meant that the structure could not be obtained by ab initio direct methods. This is a recurrent situation for nanocrystalline pharmaceutical crystals. Instead, two possible starting models arose from simulated annealing based on diffraction data alone. Density functional theory energy minimisation followed, determining the correct model, with an independent validation of the experimental structural solution, comparing favourably to single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Our results reveal a promising protocol enabling the exploitation of electron diffraction data with limited resolution obtained from beam sensitive organic materials. The method is widely extendable to a number of pharmaceutical compounds that are not amenable for the growth of large single crystals required by X-ray diffraction, and for which efficient structure determination is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, highly flexible and conductive dry electrodes were developed using a biocompatible polymer (poly (ethylene dioxythiophene): poly (styrene sulfonate), (PEDOT:PSS)) loaded mechanically robust laser-induced graphene (LIG). The circular-shaped LIG electrode with an area of 0.7854 cm2 was directly patterned using a CO 2 laser. The PEDOT:PSS was spray-coated on the LIG to enhance the electrical conductivity (164.2 Scm−1) and electrode robustness. The prepared electrodes were characterized by the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Raman Spectra. Experimental results showed that the surface resistivity and skin contact impedance of the electrode were 17.4 Ω/sq and 385 kΩ at 10 Hz. The impedance at the electrode–skin interface was relatively stable, thereby the SNR value of the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal obtained from the fabricated electrodes (12.9 dB) was comparable to Ag/AgCl electrodes (13.3 dB). The electrodes could be effectively and symmetrically attached to the skin since it is thin and flexible. The fabricated electrodes were successfully operated when the participant is resting, and fewer motion artifacts are observed during movement. Finally, ECG signals were demonstrated in a mobile application for real-time and long-term monitoring by attaching participants' fingers with optimized dry electrodes. Image 1 • Laser-induced graphene based novel flexible dry electrodes were developed for electrocardiogram monitoring. • The electrodes were fabricated employing a simple spray coating technique to coat PEDOT:PSS on direct laser patterned LIG. • The fabricated electrodes exhibitted high-quality ECG signals under different movement conditions and long-term stability. • ECG signals were demonstrated in a mobile application by attaching participants' fingers with the developed electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly polymorphic BCR-ABL kinase domains have been reported to harbor more than a hundred mutations, and among these, 40–60% have been identified as influencers of imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance. The emergence of IM resistance poses a significant challenge in the management of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). M351T (rs121913457), E255K (rs387906517), and Y253H (rs121913461) are of particular clinical significance due to their association with high-level imatinib resistance. This study was conducted to investigate the potential role of three significant SNPs in CML progression due to IM resistance. During the study period from 2018 to 2022 (48 months), the blood samples from 219 Reverse transcriptase-PCR-confirmed CML patients following RNA extraction and cDNA preparation were subjected to M351T, E255K, and Y253H mutation analysis by PCR–RFLP. After agarose gel visualization, the samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing to confirm the nucleotide change at the polymorphic loci. The wild-type genotype of all three ABL1 SNPs under investigation exhibits a significant reduction in frequency among IM non-responders compared to the responder group. The CGT haplotype frequency exhibits a significant difference between IM responder (4.2%) and non-responder (11.8%) (p = 0.002 < 0.05). Further, CGC haplotype was observed solely among the imatinib non-responder patients with a frequency percentage of 3.3% (p = 0.004), whereas the said genotype was absent among the responder group. A reduced overall survival rate was observed with deviation from wild-type genotype (M351T loci (T > C) with 1.217 times, E255K (G > A) with 1.485 and Y253H (T > C) with 1.399 times increase in hazard ratio) thereby enhancing mortality risk due to disease progression. The significant increase in the frequency of M351T, E255K, and Y253H loci among the IM non-responder group indicated their probable association with the development of IM resistance among CML patients. A haplotype frequency distribution pattern analysis of ABL1 loci further identified the CGC haplotype as an independent predictor for IM resistance. As such the study highlights the importance of patient characteristics, genotype distribution, and haplotype frequency distribution in predicting the response to IM treatment and clinical outcomes of CML patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male fertility in farm animals is considered as an important economic trait. The phenomenon of spermatogenesis plays a dynamic functional role in determining the viability of sperm and thereby can impact on fertility-driven complications. The process of spermatogenesis is controlled by numerous molecular factors and requires a precisely regulated pattern of gene expression. The role of small noncoding RNAs in altering gene expression has been extensively studied. However, limited information is available apropos their role in yak spermatogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate the assessment of some significant microRNAs and their expression pattern in the body tissues and sperm of fertile and subfertile yak from Arunachal Pradesh besides identified a novel class of sperm enriched small RNA ‘mature-sperm-enriched small RNA’ (mse-tsRNA) in Yak spermatozoa. The RNA was extracted from tissue and sperm using 27 gauge needles and subsequently reverse transcribed into small RNA cDNAs. The PCR positive sperm-predominant miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) for their expression in fertile and subfertile yak. Of the 22 microRNAs, the miRNA19a, miRNA142 and miRNA143 showed higher expression in the subfertile yak, whereas expression of miRNA7d, miRNA23a and miRNA23b were found elevated in the fertile animal. The presence of these small noncoding RNAs in yak sperm and testis indicated the legitimate involvement of their role in yak bull fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated high-performance paper-based epidermal sensors on biocompatible nylon-membrane without utilizing any harmful chemicals & complicated processes. The proposed epidermal sensor was fabricated using thermally reduced graphene oxide and a nylon-membrane (TRGO/NM). The epidermal sensor (TRGO/NM) has been developed to reduce the usage of Ag/AgCl (sticky sensor). The sensor demonstrates high sensitivity (sheet resistance = 40 Ω/sq.), because skin-contact impedance was ∼20KΩ at low frequency. We found that the TRGO/NM sensor developed micro-gaps on the surface of NM, which generated resistance changes under tensile and compressive strain. The TRGO/NM sensor shows fast response time (∼0.5 s), relaxation time (∼0.5 s), and a highly stable with an excellent bending-stretching response. We applied the epidermal sensor for obtaining electrocardiography (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), and electromyography (EMG) as well as monitoring human motions also. The biocompatibility of the TRGO/NM sensor was confirmed by performing the cytotoxicity test. Image 1 • A low-cost and simple method to fabricate thermally reduced graphene oxide and nylon-membrane (TRGO/NM) based biocompatible dry sensors for bioelectric measurements is presented. • The fabricated sensor was attached perfectly on top of the epidermis layer. As a result, the contact impedance of the epidermis layer-sensor interface was low and stable. • The TRGO/NM sensor showed no cytotoxicity, implying that it can be utilized for a lengthy-time, unlike Ag/AgCl sensors. • This TRGO/NM based flexible dry paper sensor exhibits good electrical performance, flexibility, reusability, biocompatibility, and wearability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: As obesity is a risk factor for functional decline in both genders, and the risk increases with body mass and obesity has a profound effect on disability and quality of life. Proprioception is a deep sensation that control activation of the dynamic restraints and motor control. In this study we have tried to find out the gender specific effect or difference of knee proprioception in both weight bearing and nonweight bearing position. Method: Variables such as age, sex, height, body weight and BMI were evaluated. Subjects with BMI 30 or more were taken for further joint position test of knee joint. Subjects were positioned in single limb standing and high sitting position and asked to replicate the target angle. Performed angle was recorded and compared with the actual angle. Results: There is a significant difference between joint position sense among male and female obese individuals in which female obese subjects have performed more Joint Position Sense Error than male obese subjects. Conclusion: Obese female subjects have reduced proprioception than obese male subjects in which responsible factor are additive effect of both ligament laxity and excessive weight in female lead us to such a result. Irrespective of the gender specific result it is well recommended for undergoing close chain kinematic protocol exercises which can help in developing lower limb joint proprioception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) is an advanced non-traditional material removal process which can machine almost all types of thin hard-to-cut materials. The quality of its machining operation can be effectively enhanced while selecting the appropriate settings of its different input parameters through the application of optimization techniques. This paper aims in obtaining the optimal combination of four AWJM control parameters, such as water jet pressure, stand-off distance, abrasive mass flow rate and traverse speed while machining of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Grey relational analysis combined with fuzzy logic is employed here for attaining the most favored values of the process outputs (responses), i.e. material removal rate, surface roughness, kerf width and kerf angle. The effects of varying AWJM process parameters on the measured responses are further studied through the developed interaction plots, while the contributions of those process parameters are identified through analysis of variance technique. The response surface plots would further help in determining the attainable values of the corresponding process parameters to realize the desired quality of the considered responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in modeling of various machining processes has been the topic of immense interest among the researchers since several years. In this direction, the principle of fuzzy logic, a paradigm of AI technique, is effectively being utilized to predict various performance measures (responses) and control the parametric settings of those machining processes. This paper presents the application of fuzzy logic to model two non-traditional machining (NTM) processes, i.e. electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electrochemical machining (ECM) processes, while identifying the relationships present between the process parameters and the measured responses. Moreover, the interaction plots which are developed based on the past experimental observations depict the effects of changing values of different process parameters on the measured responses. The predicted response values derived from the developed models are observed to be in close agreement with those as investigated during the past experimental runs. The interaction plots also play significant roles in identifying the optimal parametric combinations so as to achieve the desired responses for the considered NTM processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]