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In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Army in India launched several "small wars" (Callwell's term). Historians have concentrated on the small wars along the North-West Frontier. This article shifts the focus to the east to understand how the Army in India's troops were supplied and transported while fighting small wars along the North-East Frontier between 1888 and 1892. When colonial troops were deployed in difficult terrain with a hostile climate, proper logistical support was vital for the maintenance of military effectiveness. Callwell rightly noted that small wars were actually campaigns against nature. This article shows that an amalgam of indigenous (South Asian) and imported European elements resulted in the emergence of a hybrid logistical apparatus to sustain the British-Indian forces along the India-Burma Frontier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), significantly influences cancer-related mortality and is frequently considered by poor therapeutic responses due to genetic alterations. Cancer cells possess an inclination to develop resistance to individual treatment modalities, thus it is necessary to investigate several pathways simultaneously to obtain insights that will aid in the establishment of improved therapeutic approaches. Exploring regulated cell death (RCD) mechanisms offers promising avenues to augment immunotherapy by reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, we investigated the prospective of microwave plasma-infused nitric oxide water (NOW) to initiate immunogenic cell death (ICD) while concurrently modulating autophagy and ferroptosis signaling in LUAD-associated A549 cells. Plasma treatment results in stable NO species nitrite/nitrate (NO 2 −/NO 3 −) in the water, altering its physicochemical properties. Analysis of ICD markers reveals increased expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) at both protein and mRNA levels post-NOW exposure. Intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) accumulation suggests NO-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, triggering autophagy induction. Flow cytometry and western blotting confirm alterations in autophagy regulators Beclin 1 and SQSTM1. Furthermore, NOW treatment induces lipid peroxidation and upregulates ferroptosis-associated genes, as determined by qRT-PCR. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging reveals autophagosome formation and loss of cristae structures, corroborating the occurrence of autophagy and ferroptosis. Our findings propose that NOW may considered as inducer of ICD and the stimulation of other RCD-related proteins may enhance the anti-tumor immunogenicity. [Display omitted] • Nitric Oxide enriched water (NOW) mediates immunogenic lung cancer cells death. • Mitochondria membrane potential and activity is suppressed via NOW in cancer cells. • NOW-exposure upregulated autophagy mediating protein and gene expressions. • Ferroptosis regulating genes are sensitized after NOW exposure to cancer cells. • NOW suppressed the immunosuppressive receptor proteins; CD47 and PD-L1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the number of resistant bacteria resistant to treatment is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. These bacteria are created in wounds and injuries and can be transferred through hospital equipment. Various attempts have been made to treat these bacteria in recent years, such as using different drugs and new sterilization methods. However, some bacteria resist drugs, and other traditional methods cannot destroy them. In the meantime, various studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma can kill these bacteria through different mechanisms, making cold plasma a promising tool to deactivate bacteria. This new technology can be effectively used in the food industry because it has the potential to inactivate microorganisms such as spores and microbial toxins and increase the wettability and printability of polymers to pack fresh and dried food. It can also increase the shelf life of food without leaving any residue or chemical effluent. This paper investigates cold plasma's potential, advantages, and disadvantages in the food industry and sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article describes some of the recent advances in ultra‐trace determination of uranium in various natural water bodies such as drinking water, underground water, seawater, etc. using total reflection x‐ray florescence (TXRF) spectrometry. Uranium is one of the most hazardous element having chemical as well as radio‐toxicity. However, due to its low concentration in water samples, direct determination is seldom possible in samples with high salt content. Various sample preconcentration and selective extraction techniques for uranium such as solvent extraction, dispersive liquid–liquid micro extraction, solid phase extraction, and membrane based preconcentration methods are summarized in this article. TXRF is a very versatile micro‐analytical technique with detection limits in picogram range and having multielemental analysis capability. TXRF determination of uranium using U Lα as the analytical line has many analytical challenges and difficulties, mainly due to the severe interference with Rb and Br, both are commonly available in natural water samples. This article highlights some of these challenges, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the different sample preparation techniques used so far for uranium determination in natural water samples by TXRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional L1 adaptive controller utilizes high adaptation gain to quickly adapt time varying uncertainties and disturbances. However, it contaminates the control signal with high frequency components. To eliminate this high frequency signal, it uses a low pass filter with fixed structure. Yet, the main problem with this fixed structured filter is that it may cancel the estimated values of uncertainties and disturbances along with the high frequencies. To overcome this problem, in this research work, an adaptive fuzzy low pass filter is proposed in place of the fixed structured filter of the L1 adaptive controller. In this proposed research work, the filter changes its structure according to the time varying uncertainties and disturbances. Hence, the contributory part of this work is that the proposed adaptive fuzzy filter efficiently cancels out high frequency components without nullifying the estimated values of uncertainties and disturbances from the control signal. The stability of the proposed adaptive fuzzy filter-based L1 adaptive controller is guaranteed analytically. The proposed method is employed on an electromechanical actuator, viz., DC motor experimental setup to validate its effectiveness. Adequate cancellation of high frequency signal incurs smooth control signal which in turn provides lower control energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Background Methods Results Conclusion To report the UK experience of rolling out Transfusion Camp.Transfusion Camp is a structured education programme developed in Toronto, with the aim of reducing knowledge gaps in transfusion medicine in postgraduate trainees. It consists of didactic lectures viewed online by the participants, then interactive, locally delivered seminars. Since 2015, it has been rolled out in the United Kingdom, and is now available in four centres. Here, we report the UK experience of Transfusion Camp and outcomes.Trainees are recruited via the training programme directors in each region. Pre‐ and post‐course assessments are administered using the validated BEST (Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion) test, with possible scores 0–20, and confidence measured on an A‐E Likert scale.Since 2015, 130 trainees have participated in Transfusion Camp in the United Kingdom. Trainees from all specialties significantly improved their BEST‐test scores after attending the course (mean score 11.6/20 before the course, compared with 14.3/20 after the course), and confidence in managing transfusion‐related issues was also significantly improved.We recommend that all centres consider offering Transfusion Camp to trainees in haematology and other specialties that frequently use blood transfusions, such as anaesthesia/ICU, Internal Medicine and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study establishes a relationship between commuting time and academic attainment of Bachelor of Technology students in face-to-face lectures and labs. A group of 244 students from a private university in India participated in this study. Surveys were conducted to know the specific effect of commuting time on students' academic performance and their physical and mental state. This study reveals that commuting time has a negative correlation and a weak or moderate effect on academic performance. The results exhibited that 53% of commuting students found commuting a hindrance in class punctuality and regularity while 86% of students felt constant stress of getting debarred in the exam, in case of failing to maintain required attendance. This study will help academic administrators to frame academic policies to create a better academic environment for higher education students in India as well as in the countries having compulsory attendance policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papain a protease enzyme naturally present in the Carica papaya has gained significant interest across several industries due to its unique properties and versatility. The unique structure of papain imparts the functionality that assists in elucidating how papain enzyme works and making it beneficial for a variety of purposes. This review highlights recent advancements in papain extraction techniques to enhance production efficiency to meet market demand. The extraction of papain from the Carica papaya plant offers various advantages such as cost‐effectiveness, biodegradability, safety, and the ability to withstand a wide range of pH and temperature conditions. Key findings reveal that non‐conventional papain extraction techniques offer significant advantages in terms of efficiency, product quality, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, papain treatment enhances the value of final products due to its anti‐bacterial, anti‐oxidant, and anti‐obesity properties. The ability of papain to hydrolyze a wide range of proteins across various conditions makes it a suitable protease enzyme. While the study emphasizes the advantages of papain, the study also acknowledges limitations such as the continuous research and development to optimize extraction processes which will help unlock papain's potential and meet the growing demand. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is concerned with a class of singularly perturbed semilinear parabolic convection‐diffusion partial differential equations (PDEs) with discontinuous source function. Solutions of these PDEs usually exhibit a weak interior layer at one side of the point of discontinuity along with a boundary layer at one side of the spatial domain. We begin our study by proving existence of the analytical solution of the considered nonlinear PDE by means of the upper and lower solutions approach; and the ε$$ \varepsilon $$‐uniform stability of the analytical solution is established by using the comparison principle for the continuous nonlinear operator. In order to realize the asymptotic behavior of the analytical solution, we derive a priori bounds of the solution derivatives via decomposition of the solution into the smooth and the layer components. For an efficient numerical solution of the nonlinear PDE, the time‐derivative is approximated by the Crank–Nicolson method on an equidistant mesh, and we approximate the spatial derivative by a finite difference scheme on a suitable layer‐adapted mesh. We establish the comparison principle for the nonlinear difference operator to prove the ε$$ \varepsilon $$‐uniform stability of the discrete solution and further construct a suitable decomposition of the discrete solution for pursuing the convergence analysis. The computational method is proven to be parameter‐robust with second‐order time accuracy in the discrete supremum norm. The theoretical estimate is finally verified by the numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new Zn(II) Schiff base complexes, [ZnLCl2] (1), [ZnLBr2] (2) and [ZnL(SCN)2] (3), have been synthesized by adding Zn(II) salts of chloride and bromide to a compartmental ligand with NNO donor prepared through the simple condensation of pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde and a substituted aniline. The complexes have been identified using standard physicochemical methods, and their solid‐state structures have been determined through single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The phosphatase‐like activity of all three complexes has been investigated using 4‐NPP as the model substrate in a DMSO/water medium. Complex 1 exhibits the highest level of phosphatase activity. The reactivity trend shows that complex 1 > complex 2 > complex 3. A plausible mechanism and the causes underlying the activity trend have been explored through DFT study, ESI‐mass spectra and 31P experiments. Complex 1 shows promising potential for use in gene‐targeted therapeutics due to its remarkable performance in DNA digestion. The excellent DNA cleavage result of complex 1 has led to the investigation of its molecular docking interaction with the liver cancer 2 receptor to study its anti‐liver cancer activity. Furthermore, in vitro anticancer activity of complex 1 also shows excellent antiproliferative activity against hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the principal props of British imperialism in South Asia was the British Imperial Army in India. Logistics was important for supplying and transporting the army at the distant theatres to annex new territories and cow down the rebels. The First Anglo–Burma War occurred between the British-Indian Empire and the ruler of Ava in Burma. This conflict, which lasted from 5 March 1824 to 24 February 1826, was an amphibious war. The primary aim of this article is to study the logistics of the British Imperial Army in India, and the secondary objective is to throw some light on the Burmese logistics. An attempt is made in this essay to show the interconnections between ecology, logistics and military organisations of the British-Indian state and Ava. The First Anglo–Burma War can be located at the interface of preindustrial and industrial wars. The animal and human resources of Bengal and Madras presidencies, utilisation of certain indigenous ‘technologies’ (like country boats, rafts, etc.) and technological superiority in gunpowder weapons (both on land and at sea, like gunboats, corned powder, cast iron guns, etc.) enabled the East India Company (EIC) to muddle through and emerge victorious, albeit at a high financial and manpower cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION An increasing incidence of metabolic disorders emphasizes the need to explore natural treatments. Spirulina, a microalga with a rich nutrient profile, offers a promising solution for obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. This study provides a meticulous analysis of spirulina powder, evaluating its physicochemical attributes and technofunctional properties through the use of advanced analytical techniques.Spirulina powder demonstrated strong flowability, substantial water and oil absorption capacity, and moderate foaming characteristics. The ethanolic extract of spirulina was found to be a repository of phenolic (6.93 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (7.17 mg QE/g) compounds, manifesting considerable antioxidant activity with a 58.49 g kg−1 inhibition of 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The extract also exhibited pronounced inhibitory effects on lipase and amylase enzymes, with inhibition percentages of 72.05 g kg−1 and 70.28 g kg−1, respectively, and displayed a glucose retention capacity of 1.28 mg dL−1 (68.52 g kg−1) in a dialysis membrane assay. These results suggest its efficacy in modulating obesity and glycemic control. The powder also showed a potent anti‐inflammatory response by mitigating protein denaturation.Spirulina powder is a potent natural agent with multiple health benefits, meriting its incorporation into functional foods. It could be suitable for application in the food industry, offering a natural strategy to combat metabolic diseases. This research adds to the scientific literature on spirulina, paving the way for future research into its utilization. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Precision Prostatectomy (PP) is a viable treatment option for men with unilateral dominant cancer who are interested in preserving functional outcomes. To date, the data published about the outcomes of this technique has come from a single center only (Henry Ford - HF). We present the surgical, functional, and oncological outcomes of the first series of patients to undergo PP outside of HF, to demonstrate the safety and reproducibility of the technique. Methods: Between 2022 and 2023, PP was offered to select patients who were interested in preserving their functional status. Men who underwent PP were followed at 3 monthly intervals; information regarding their functional status was simultaneously obtained. Men who had biochemical recurrence were advised to undergo remnant biopsy. If residual cancer was detected, then remnant removal was performed. Results: The median age and median PSA of the study group was 63 years and 6.89 ng/ml respectively. The median operative and console times were 196.5 and 154 minutes. No intra-operative complications were noted. Three patients had a total of three post-operative complications. Three patients had biochemical recurrence; cancer was not detected in any of these patients on postoperative biopsies of the prostatic remnant. At 12 months, 91% of patients reported using 0 pads/day and 90.9% of pre-operatively potent patients were potent at 12 months. Conclusion: PP is a safe and reproducible technique that can ensure cancer control and preservation of functional status in select patients. Further studies with large sample sizes and longer follow-up are required to ascertain the long-term outcomes of this surgical technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Concomitant chemoradiation with cisplatin is standard treatment for non-metastatic head and neck cancers, but often limited by toxicities, especially deranged renal function and hearing complications. This leads to limited cycles of cisplatin due to challenges in administration and is not suitable for patients with poor renal function and hearing issues. Need of the study: Not enough data is available for patients who are not suitable for cisplatin administration along with radiation either due to sensitivity to cisplatin or the adverse effects mentioned earlier. Docetaxel has been recently observed to benefit such patients in overall response outcome including Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) when administered concurrently with radiation. Improved clinical response with minimal toxicity to normal tissue is seen with docetaxel, as it is a phase-specific agent. Therefore, this would be a good alternative to Cisplatin in patients with deranged kidney function and sensorineural hearing loss. Aim: To estimate the adverse event profile and compliance of docetaxel with radiation. Methodology: This prospective observational study will be conducted in the department of Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology at Sidharth Gupta Memorial Cancer Hospital, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Sawangi (M), Wardha, Maharashtra, India, starting from May 2024 to May 2025. Patients with pathologically confirmed non-metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), who are planned for Concurrent Chemoradiation (CCRT) but not suitable for cisplatin, will receive concurrent weekly docetaxel at a dose of 15 mg/sqm. Radiotherapy (RT) will be delivered according to the institutional protocol, daily dose of 200 cGy for five days a week will be given. Continuous monitoring during treatment will include weekly clinical evaluations, regular blood tests (haemoglobin, blood counts, renal functions), and grading of adverse events (CTCAE v5 criteria). Treatment response will be assessed via clinical evaluation and CECT scans (RECIST v1.1). Statistical analysis will be performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and will involve analysis of categorical variables with Chi-square and Fisher-exact tests, and continuous variables with unpaired t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Time to event analysis will be done using the Kaplan-Meier method with p-value <0.05 considered significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by a flagellate protozoan from the genus Leishmania, transmitted by an insect vector belonging to either the genus Phlebotomus spp. or Lutzomyia spp. This disease is considered one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide due to its high detection rate and the morbidity it causes. A 70-year-old woman from a low-income background, with no significant medical or drug history and no other general constitutional symptoms, presented with an asymptomatic, exophytic, granulomatous growth that has a reddish hue. The growth is located on the lingual aspect of the mandibular anterior teeth region and has been progressing over the past six months. Radiographic features suggested associated chronic periodontitis along with hyperdense calcified deposits. On excisional biopsy and histopathology, the excised specimen revealed characteristic Leishmania amastigotes and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. An abdominal ultrasound was advised to rule out any visceral involvement, but no significant findings were observed. The present case is particularly intriguing due to oral mucosal involvement by Leishmania sp. without associated primary visceral or cutaneous lesions, especially given the male predilection (M:F=7:5) and the most common site involved being the posterior palatal region for Leishmaniasis. The present case represents a rare instance. Considering the difficult socio-economic circumstances, the involvement of the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates an understanding of the need for collaboration in supporting underprivileged communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for refrigeration and air conditioning plays a crucial role in energy consumption. It is one of the important aspects which plays a crucial role in the food, human comfort, and energy problems of any country. Rapid consumption of energy and fossil fuels depletion results in the onset of energy crises thus, the research on absorption refrigeration systems has been widely promoted because the input energy supply for the systems can be a low-grade heat available from solar, geothermal, and/or waste heat from Industries. Solar refrigeration and air conditioning is an attractive and promising applications of solar energy because the cooling demand and the availability of solar energy are in phase and solar cooling can be made cost-effective. The present work includes the solar energy option and the potential for cooling with various range of parameters such as availability of solar radiation, environmental effects, types of collectors, types of solar cooling systems in general, and closed/open/continuous/multistage/hybrid and advanced absorption refrigeration cycles in particular. A literature survey has been carried out for possible improvements in the performance of solar absorption cooling systems and different solar collection and storage options. The most suitable solar cooling option viz. absorption refrigeration with the solar operation, historical developments, and commercial products. Advanced absorption cycles and novel cooling systems have also been presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fasting denotes abstinence from food or drink or both for well-being, ritualistic, and spiritual purposes. This study was conducted to explore the effect of Navratras fasting on anthropometric parameters, biochemical factors, and pro-inflammatory biomarkers. Materials and Methods: This study was a short-term longitudinal follow-up study conducted during Navratras (Oct 2020) in a residential medical college campus in western Maharashtra. Assessment of the participants based on anthropometry, biochemical, and pro-inflammatory markers was done at three-time points 7 days before the start of intermittent fasting (T1) (before the start of Navratras), at the end of intermittent fasting (the last day of the festival) (T2) (during Navratras), and 1 week after completion of intermittent fasting (T3) (after the end of Navratras). Results: A total of 50 subjects participated in the study, and the mean age of study participants was 33.6 ± 10 years. There was a significant reduction in body weight (P = 0.001), waist circumference (P = 0.001), and hip circumference (P = 0.05) during the intermittent fasting period (T2). Significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.01) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.01) were observed in the T2 and T3 time points of sampling. However, a significant increase in TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 levels was observed during the T2 phase (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The current exploratory study evaluating the importance of intermittent fasting during Navratras showed a significant reduction in certain anthropometric as well as biochemical parameters. It is recommended that intermittent fasting may be considered by individuals who are overweight and need to improve overall health. However, it is important that like any other weight-loss program, intermittent fasting should also be undertaken under medical supervision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a fractional-order model in the Caputo sense to describe the interaction between tumor and immune macrophages by assuming that the pro-tumor macrophages induce a Holling type-II response to the tumor. Then, the basic properties of the solutions to the model are studied. Local stability analysis is conducted at each of the equilibria in the model, and a numerical study is performed with varying activation rates of type-II or pro-tumor macrophages and the order of the fractional operator. The numerical findings suggest that type-I or anti-tumor macrophages can stabilize the system if the activation rate of type-II or pro-tumor macrophages is low. Still, for a higher value of the activation rate for type-II or pro-tumor macrophages, the proliferation of tumor cells is uncontrollable and the system becomes unstable. Furthermore, the stability of the system decreases as the order of the fractional operator increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic spintronics has emerged as a promising field for exploring novel spin-based phenomena and devices, offering the potential for low-power, flexible, and biocompatible electronics. The interface between metallic ferromagnetic and semiconducting organic layers plays a pivotal role in spin injection, transport, and extraction processes in these devices. Therefore, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the magnetic properties at these interfaces is essential for advancing device performance and functionality. This work explores the magnetic properties at the interface between thin Fe film and the C60 layer. We employ a multi-technique approach, combining the magneto-optic Kerr effect, which provides a global assessment of magnetic properties, and depth-resolved grazing incidence nuclear resonance scattering (GINRS) under X-ray standing wave conditions, enabling us to probe magnetism with high spatial resolution within the interfacial region. GINRS measurements reveal intriguing behavior at the interface, characterized by reduced hyperfine fields in diffused 57Fe layers. This observation suggests the formation of superparamagnetic clusters, which significantly influence the magnetic properties at the interface. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between ferromagnetic materials and organic semiconductors at the nanoscale, offering potential avenues for tailoring magnetoresistance effects in organic spintronic devices and contributing to the fundamental understanding of spin-dependent phenomena in organic spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of quinoline-thiazole appended 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole were synthesized by performing Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction ("Click" reaction) and fully characterized by various spectral techniques like FTIR, NMR and HRMS. These compounds were evaluated for in vitro antimalarial activity against plasmodium falciparum. All the compounds (7a–7y) exhibited moderate to good activity in comparison to standard drug Quinine. Compound 7r (IC50 0.19 µg/mL) displayed appreciable activity comparable to Quinine (IC50 0.268 µg/mL). Further antimicrobial screening of the synthesized substituted triazoles were also carried out against two gram (+) bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis), two gram (–) bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia) and two fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger). Results revealed that compound 7r reflected promising antimicrobial activity among the synthesized library of molecules. Molecular docking studies of broadly active antimalarial disubstituted triazoles 7m and 7r were explored in the active site of enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) to have the probable mode of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts over the independence of judiciary as one of the European Union's core democratic values is one indicator of democratic backsliding among its member states. Based on the Europeanization framework, we compare this conflict in German, Polish and Spanish print media and Twitter from 2019 to 2021. In the countries that are strongly affected by the value conflict, Poland and Spain, Europeanization is less evident. In contrast, the German discourse shows a high degree of Europeanization. We demonstrate that the print media is strongly elite-centric, while Twitter shows a higher actor visibility and inclusivity. However, we also identify important country differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Matrix Waring problem is if we can write every matrix as a sum of k -th powers. Here, we look at the same problem for triangular matrix algebra T n (F q) consisting of upper triangular matrices over a finite field. We prove that for all integers k , n ≥ 1 , there exists a constant C (k , n) , such that for all q > C (k , n) , every matrix in T n (F q) is a sum of three k -th powers. Moreover, if −1 is k -th power in F q , then for all q > C (k , n) , every matrix in T n (F q) is a sum of two k -th powers. We make use of Lang-Weil estimates about the number of solutions of equations over finite fields to achieve the desired results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical students are subjected to tremendous physical, emotional, and social stress. Depression is highly prevalent among medical students. Objectives: The objective of this study was to know the prevalence of depression and its association with overweight and obesity among students of the Medical College of Tripura. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among Medical Students of Tripura Medical College from January 2020 to February 2020. A total of 75 students were included in this study, considering 10% as a non-response rate. Then, 25 students are taken from each semester by simple random sampling (lottery method) technique. Beck Depression Inventory scale, along with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, was used to collect data. Collected data were compiled and analyzed on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v.16. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of depression among medical students was 60%. Obesity and overweight were seen among 24% of students. Depression was more common in the <20 years age group (64.3%), males (61.2%), schedule caste (85.7%), and students from the middle class (75%). Depression was seen among 55.6% of overweight and obese students. Conclusion: The present study has shown that the prevalence of depression in medical students is very high, and a similar trend has been seen in studies done globally. Depression was more common in <20 years, male, overweight, and obese medical students. Future research such as the role of mental health promotion programs, regular practice of yoga, and exercise in the reduction of depression and obesity in medical students, might be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin Combination Use in COVID-19 Patients -- An Umbrella Review [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large quantities of nutrition-rich food wastes reach dumpsites due to improper management. Anaerobic digestion (AD) has the potential to produce biogas from such wastes and reduce carbon footprint. The present study was aimed at developing an indigenous, user-friendly, compact digester to produce biogas from household kitchen waste (KW) in decentralized manner. A survey (1041 households) showed 0.5 kg/d KW generation per family. The mixed KW has average 0.08 g total solids (TS) and 0.048 g total volatile solids (VS). The study involved for the first time, a comparison of the efficacy of cow dung inoculum from rural/urban areas with different feeding bases. Ten each (30 L) rural (RCD)/urban (UCD) digesters (average 24kgVS/m³ feedstock concentration, FC; 0.8 kgVS/m³ organic loading rate, OLR) were run in AD cycle for 90d. RCD digesters produced 173-462 mL/gVS, while only four UCD digesters produced biogas (115-273 mL/gVS). Amongst various substrate-to-water ratios, 1:3 ratio gave the best biogas yield (352-384 mL/gVS). Scaleup parameters were calculated for designing 0.5/0.25 kg/d KW fed digester. The study is novel in reporting for the first time significant effect of inoculum source and developing compact indigenous biogas reactor for in situ management/utilization of KW to produce clean cooking fuel with scope for addon controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles method with double electron attachment (EOM-DEA-CCSD) is capable of computing reliable energies, wave functions, and first-order properties of excited states in diradicals and polyenes that have a significant doubly excited character with respect to the ground state, without the need for including the computationally expensive triple excitations. Here, we extend the capabilities of the EOM-DEA-CCSD method to the calculations of a multiphoton property, two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections. Closed-form expressions for the 2PA cross sections are derived within the expectation-value approach using response wave functions. We analyze the performance of this new implementation by comparing the EOM-DEA-CCSD energies and 2PA cross sections with those computed using the CC3 quadratic response theory approach. As benchmark systems, we consider transitions to the states with doubly excited character in twisted ethene and in polyenes, for which EOM-EE-CCSD (EOM-CCSD for excitation energies) performs poorly. The EOM-DEA-CCSD 2PA cross sections are comparable with the CC3 results for twisted ethene; however, the discrepancies between the two methods are large for hexatriene. The observed trends are explained by configurational analysis of the 2PA channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses the concept of 'small war" to analyze military confrontations between the Mughal Empire and the Ahom Kingdom of Assam during the seventeenth century. The Mughals launched a series of conventional campaigns on the land and along the rivers. The Ahoms responded with both conventional and guerrilla attacks. For the Mughals, military operations in Assam were limited wars; the Ahom monarchy was a nuisance. However, the Mughal Empire posed an existential threat to the Ahom Kingdom, and the Ahoms fought for their survival. In the Mughal-Ahom confrontations, geography and managerial factors functioned as crucial drivers. Despite technical and firepower superiority, the Mughals were defeated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of halibut oil cream, containing omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and D, and hydroxyproline, on burn wound healing in rats. Acute dermal toxicity tests confirmed its nontoxicity. Wistar rats were divided into five groups: a control, a positive control treated with silver sulfadiazine 1% (SSD), and three groups treated with 3%, 9%, and 27% halibut oil cream Formulation (HBOF). The SSD and HBOF groups showed significant healing improvements compared to the control. Histopathological analysis indicated increased collagen production in the HBOF groups, suggesting halibut oil cream’s potential as a topical treatment for burn wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin B12, a water‐soluble essential micronutrient, plays a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes in the human body. This review meticulously examines the structural complexity and the diverse mechanisms through which vitamin B12 exerts its preventive effects against a spectrum of health conditions, including pernicious anaemia, neurological disorders, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and complications in foetal development. The selection of articles for this review was conducted through a systematic search across multiple scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Criteria for inclusion encompassed relevance to the biochemical impact of vitamin B12 on health, peer‐reviewed status and publication within the last decade. Exclusion criteria were non‐English articles and studies lacking empirical evidence. This stringent selection process ensured a comprehensive analysis of vitamin B12's multifaceted impact on health, covering its structure, bioavailable forms and mechanisms of action. Clinical studies highlighting its therapeutic potential, applications in food fortification and other utilizations are also discussed, underscoring the nutrient's versatility. This synthesis aims to provide a clear understanding of the integral role of vitamin B12 in maintaining human health and its potential in clinical and nutritional applications. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to handle second order lead processes with time delay, this paper provides a unique dominant pole placement based filtered PID controller design approach. This method does not require any finite term approximation like Pade to obtain the quasi-polynomial characteristic polynomial, arising due to the presence of the time delay term. The continuous time second order plus time delay systems with zero (SOPTDZ) are discretized using a pole-zero matching method with specified sampling time, where the transcendental exponential delay terms are converted into a finite number of poles. The pole-zero matching discretization approach with a predetermined sampling period is also used to discretize the continuous time filtered PID controller. As a result, it is not necessary to use any approximate discretization technique, such as Euler or Tustin, to derive the corresponding discrete time PID controller from its continuous time counterpart. The analytical expressions for discrete time dominant pole placement based filtered PID controllers are obtained using the coefficient matching approach, while two distinct kinds of non-dominant poles, namely all real and all complex conjugate, have been taken into consideration. The stabilizable region in the controller and design parameter space for the chosen class of linear second order time delay systems with lead is numerically approximated using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) based random search technique. The efficacy of the proposed method has been validated on a class of SOPTDZ systems including stable, integrating, unstable processes with minimum as well as non-minimum phase zeros. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the regulations set by world environmental safety organizations it is strongly recommended to phase out R134a in domestic refrigeration units. In recent times, low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants such as R600a and R13I1 are considered as possible alternatives in small capacity systems. To investigate the flow behavior of low GWP refrigerants (R600a and R13I1) in straight capillary tube finite volume based CFD software Ansys Fluent 2022 R2 is used. In this study, various lengths and diameters of straight capillary tubes are considered to analyze their effect on the flow characteristics of refrigerants such as pressure, temperature, volume fraction, and velocity. The present model has been validated against both numerical and experimental studies, demonstrating good agreement with existing literature. It has been observed that flashing (vaporization) starts from the tube wall and after the formation of vapor phase flow varies drastically along the length of the capillary tube. The numerical investigation shows that there is a 90–95% increase in mass flow rate when tube diameter is increased from 0.66 to 0.86 mm whereas decrease in capillary tube length results in 10–15% increase in mass flow rate. Additionally, it was noted that the velocity of refrigerant R600a exceeded that of refrigerant R13I1 by 75% and was 5% higher than that of refrigerant R134a. Moreover, the mass flow rate of R13I1 was observed to be 105% higher than that of refrigerant R600a, and 5% higher than that of refrigerant R134a for the same operating conditions. Further it is understood that the cooling time required with R600a is less when compared to R13I1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of next-generation nonvolatile memories, there is a strong demand for resistive random access memory (ReRAM) devices that are affordable, stable, and simple to produce. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered extensive research attention across diverse fields due to their remarkable chemical adaptability, stability, and exceptional structural variability. In this work, a ReRAM device has been fabricated that incorporates a solution-processed thin film of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67), a material of MOFs class, as the resistive switching (RS) layer. This Al/ZIF-67/ITO structured device possesses a consistent RS behavior with a high on/off resistance ratio of ∼ 10 4 . The retention of low resistance state and high resistance state have been shown up to 10 4 s. Furthermore, the device also shows a consistent switching for 500 cycles of pulse switching signals of +6 V/−1.8 V (set/reset). Based on the impedance spectroscopy analysis, a filamentary switching mechanism has been established for the RS behavior of the device. The robust and enduring performance, coupled with the substantial on/off resistance ratio and high retention of the states, makes this device a promising candidate for nonvolatile ReRAM applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The keystone design perforator island flap (KDPIF) is unique among local flaps because of its high potential for adaptation. We describe our experience with the use of the keystone flap for the reconstruction of a variety of defects in different regions of the body concerning its versatility, surgical outcomes, complications, postoperative pain, operative time, and esthetic outcomes. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at our institute from June 2021 to June 2023 where the use of KDPIFs in resurfacing soft tissue defects of different etiopathogenesis was evaluated and the data were analyzed. Results Forty-four patients were included in the study with soft tissue defects of various etiologies and at different locations. The largest flap raised was 18 × 10 cm and the smallest was 4 × 2 cm. The average intraoperative time for completion of the procedure was 74.86 minutes (range: 45–120 minutes). The success rate of flap survivability was 95.45% with two patients having total flap loss necessitating another reconstructive option. Partial flap dehiscence which healed secondarily was observed in two patients. Postoperative pain showed a significant fall of 83.7% from baseline and 82.9% of cases were extremely satisfied with the esthetic outcome. Conclusion The keystone flap is a valuable reconstructive tool in the armamentarium of a plastic surgeon. It is technically reproducible, suitable to be done in resource-limited settings, and provides contiguous tissue with good vascularity and fewer complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the literature concerning the applications of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP, recognised as a valuable Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) tool, has demonstrated effective utility across various decision-making contexts. The article focuses on a specific subset of the diverse applications of AHP that may be of particular interest to both scholars and practitioners. Furthermore. the article critically evaluates several studies published in esteenied international journals, offering a succinct summary of numerous referenced publications. The papers are categorised based on suggested themes and their respective application areas. To capture the evolution of AHP applications, references are categorised according to decision issues and applied techniques. For ease of comprehension, the references are presented in several tabular formats, facilitating readers ability to extract immediate and pertinent information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This epidemiological model forecasted reductions in recurrences and recurrence treatment cost savings with adjuvant atezolizumab vs best supportive care among Canadians with stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at national and provincial levels. The population had resected, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1)–high (≥50%), EGFR−, ALK−, stage II-IIIA NSCLC eligible for adjuvant treatment. Patients with recurrence or death and the costs of treating recurrences were estimated for those receiving adjuvant atezolizumab or best supportive care each year (2024–2034). Proportions of patients expected to be event free up to 10 years after treatment initiation were extrapolated with parametric survival analyses. In the base case analysis, 240 fewer recurrences were estimated to occur over 10 years (2024–2034) with adjuvant atezolizumab vs best supportive care across Canada, with 136 (57%) and 104 (43%) fewer locoregional and metastatic recurrences, respectively. Projected costs of treated recurrences were CAD 33.2 million less over 10 years with adjuvant atezolizumab at a national level (adjuvant atezolizumab, CAD 135.8 million; best supportive care, CAD 169.0 million). This model predicts a considerable long-term reduction in recurrences and substantial treatment cost savings with adjuvant atezolizumab vs best supportive care for patients with PD-L1–high early-stage NSCLC in Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a class of singularly perturbed semilinear parabolic convection-diffusion initial-boundary-value problems exhibiting a boundary layer. This type of model problem often appears in modeling various physical phenomena, particularly, in mathematical biology; and thus, it requires effective numerical techniques for analyzing them computationally. For this purpose, we approximate the considered nonlinear problem by developing two efficient fitted mesh methods followed by the extrapolation technique. The first one is the fully implicit fitted mesh method which utilizes the implicit-Euler method for the temporal discretization; and the other one is the implicit-explicit (IMEX) fitted mesh method which utilizes the IMEX-Euler method for the temporal discretization. The spatial discretization for both the numerical methods is based on a new hybrid finite difference scheme. To accomplish this, the spatial domain is discretized by an appropriate layer-adapted mesh and the time domain by an equidistant mesh. At first, we analyze stability and study the asymptotic behavior of the analytical solution of the governing nonlinear problem. Then, we perform stability analysis and establish the parameter-uniform convergence of both the newly proposed methods in the discrete supremum norm. Thereafter, we analyze the Richardson extrapolation technique solely for the time variable to improve the order of convergence in the temporal direction. Hereby, we provide a comparative error analysis to achieve parameter-robust higher-order numerical approximations (concerning both space and time) for the considered nonlinear problem utilizing two new algorithms on a nonuniform grid. The theoretical outcomes are finally supported by the extensive numerical experiments, which also include comparison of the proposed numerical methods along with the fully-implicit upwind method in terms of the order of accuracy and the computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing trend of using artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning algorithms, in medical diagnostics, revolutionizing healthcare by improving efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. However, the use of artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics comes with the critical need to explain the reasoning behind artificial intelligence‐based predictions and ensure transparency in decision‐making. Explainable artificial intelligence has emerged as a crucial research area to address the need for transparency and interpretability in medical diagnostics. Explainable artificial intelligence techniques aim to provide insights into the decision‐making process of artificial intelligence systems, enabling clinicians to understand the factors the algorithms consider in reaching their predictions. This paper presents a detailed review of saliency‐based (visual) methods, such as class activation methods, which have gained popularity in medical imaging as they provide visual explanations by highlighting the regions of an image most influential in the artificial intelligence's decision. We also present the literature on non‐visual methods, but the focus will be on visual methods. We also use the existing literature to experiment with infrared breast images for detecting breast cancer. Towards the end of this paper, we also propose an "attention guided Grad‐CAM" that enhances the visualizations for explainable artificial intelligence. The existing literature shows that explainable artificial intelligence techniques are not explored in the context of infrared medical images and opens up a wide range of opportunities for further research to make clinical thermography into assistive technology for the medical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N‐Heterocyclic compounds have been appealing pharmacophores in their use as drug production substrates. In this review paper, the cyclization of N‐heterocycles, using iron as a catalyst, and their mechanistic pathways have been highlighted and presented comprehensively. This paper will provide researchers with in‐depth knowledge of their approach to synthesis by employing a greener way rather than a conventional one. The present review firmly establishes that iron catalysts by their innate ability and inherent potential to acquire the four oxidation states coupled with their easy accessibility, inexpensive, and environment‐friendly nature have remained the mainstay in chemistry as the evergreen catalyst in the domain of organic synthesis. This review paper extensively explores iron‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐heterocycles, elucidating mechanistic pathways and emphasizing greener synthesis methods. Iron's versatility, accessibility, and eco‐friendliness solidify its position as a cornerstone in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Patients who underwent red blood cell (RBC) transfusion from donors who later developed multiple spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) have recently been identified to have increased risk of ICH themselves. This increased risk of ICH was hypothesized to be related to iatrogenic cerebral amyloid angiopathy (iCAA) transmission. Two cases are presented who had RBC transfusion as an infant and presented with CAA at a relatively young age decades later. Method: Cases were identified by prospectively asking all patients at our CAA outpatient clinic (November 2023 to January 2024) about a medical history with RBC transfusion or history with a high likelihood for RBC transfusion (e.g., hemolytic disease, trauma with massive hemorrhage). Eligible patients were all diagnosed with CAA, CAA with concomitant hypertensive arteriopathy or iCAA, and without hereditary CAA. Results: Between November 2023 and January 2024, 2/35 (6%, 95% confidence interval 2%–19%) outpatient clinic patients had a history of RBC transfusion and none had a high likelihood medical history. The cases presented at age 47 and 57 and had already developed severe CAA. Conclusions: Red blood cell transfusion might be a possible mechanism for iCAA; however, further prospective data collection and experimental evidence concerning blood transmission of amyloid‐β are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber band constriction syndrome has been described in the literature, although there are very few case reports. Non-healing recurrent tenosynovitis and synovitis of the wrist joint demonstrating a circular rubber band on imaging has not been described before. Imaging studies showed retained circular band deep to the extensor tendons, embedded within the joint capsule. Surgical removal of the band by open incision led to a dramatic improvement in the outcome of the patient. Level of evidence V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preclinical low‐count positron emission tomography (LC‐PET) imaging offers numerous advantages such as facilitating imaging logistics, enabling longitudinal studies of long‐ and short‐lived isotopes as well as increasing scanner throughput. However, LC‐PET is characterized by reduced photon‐count levels resulting in low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), segmentation difficulties, and quantification uncertainties. Purpose: We developed and evaluated a novel deep‐learning (DL) architecture—Attention based Residual‐Dilated Net (ARD‐Net)—to generate standard‐count PET (SC‐PET) images from LC‐PET images. The performance of the ARD‐Net framework was evaluated for numerous low count realizations using fidelity‐based qualitative metrics, task‐based segmentation, and quantitative metrics. Method: Patient Derived tumor Xenograft (PDX) with tumors implanted in the mammary fat‐pad were subjected to preclinical [18F]‐Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)‐PET/CT imaging. SC‐PET images were derived from a 10 min static FDG‐PET acquisition, 50 min post administration of FDG, and were resampled to generate four distinct LC‐PET realizations corresponding to 10%, 5%, 1.6%, and 0.8% of SC‐PET count‐level. ARD‐Net was trained and optimized using 48 preclinical FDG‐PET datasets, while 16 datasets were utilized to assess performance. Further, the performance of ARD‐Net was benchmarked against two leading DL‐based methods (Residual UNet, RU‐Net; and Dilated Network, D‐Net) and non‐DL methods (Non‐Local Means, NLM; and Block Matching 3D Filtering, BM3D). The performance of the framework was evaluated using traditional fidelity‐based image quality metrics such as Structural Similarity Index Metric (SSIM) and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE), as well as human observer‐based tumor segmentation performance (Dice Score and volume bias) and quantitative analysis of Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) measurements. Additionally, radiomics‐derived features were utilized as a measure of quality assurance (QA) in comparison to true SC‐PET. Finally, a performance ensemble score (EPS) was developed by integrating fidelity‐based and task‐based metrics. Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) was utilized to determine concordance between measures. The non‐parametric Friedman Test with Bonferroni correction was used to compare the performance of ARD‐Net against benchmarked methods with significance at adjusted p‐value ≤0.01. Results: ARD‐Net‐generated SC‐PET images exhibited significantly better (p ≤ 0.01 post Bonferroni correction) overall image fidelity scores in terms of SSIM and NRMSE at majority of photon‐count levels compared to benchmarked DL and non‐DL methods. In terms of task‐based quantitative accuracy evaluated by SUVMean and SUVPeak, ARD‐Net exhibited less than 5% median absolute bias for SUVMean compared to true SC‐PET and lower degree of variability compared to benchmarked DL and non‐DL based methods in generating SC‐PET. Additionally, ARD‐Net‐generated SC‐PET images displayed higher degree of concordance to SC‐PET images in terms of radiomics features compared to non‐DL and other DL approaches. Finally, the ensemble score suggested that ARD‐Net exhibited significantly superior performance compared to benchmarked algorithms (p ≤ 0.01 post Bonferroni correction). Conclusion: ARD‐Net provides a robust framework to generate SC‐PET from LC‐PET images. ARD‐Net generated SC‐PET images exhibited superior performance compared other DL and non‐DL approaches in terms of image‐fidelity based metrics, task‐based segmentation metrics, and minimal bias in terms of task‐based quantification performance for preclinical PET imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The requirement of amplification for wide-bandwidth, compensation of attenuation for long-distance, and high-speed communication generates a need for highly efficient amplifiers. There are several types of amplifiers, such as semiconductor and fiber amplifiers. However, Raman amplifiers have some benefits over others, such as being less expensive and having high-gain bandwidth products. A low noise figure and high and flat gain are advantages of second-order Raman amplifiers over first-order amplifiers. There are various ways to implement second-order Raman amplifiers by using dispersion compensating fibers (DCF) or single-mode fibers (SMF) of different configurations. In this paper, a novel hybrid amplifier has been proposed. This is a combination of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and a Raman amplifier. Here, the Raman amplifier uses second-order Raman pumping for amplification, which is based on second-order stimulated Raman scattering (SO-SRS). Here, the Raman fiber is a single-mode fiber (SMF). Simulation has been done for output power, gain, and noise figure (NF). A comparison of first-order and second-order hybrid amplifiers has been done for the above parameters. Also, the proposed second-order hybrid amplifier has been compared to one of the previous versions. The results obtained show improvement in terms of output power, gain, and NF. The lowest NF obtained for the proposed amplifier is 4.42 dB at Raman length of 15 km and second order pump power of 450 mW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn the world of disruptive technology, Al–Cu joints are quite in demand for electric vehicle batteries and other ion battery applications. Fusion welding is the less preferred method due to its many disadvantages; friction stir welding has the potential to become a sustainable process for producing a sound dissimilar Al–Cu joint. A study of multiple hybridization to the Friction Stir Welding (FSW)was made by utilizing two different energy sources of ultrasonic energy and electric current. The improvement is the property by different combination of the hybridization studied for utilizing the multiple hybridization technique to the FSW process for improving the weld efficacy and defects free weld even in case of dissimilar joints. Mechanical properties obtained by varying the process parameters have been studied and compared. Three process parameters have been selected including ultrasonic energy (10 KHz), electric current (75–125 Amps), rpm (400–600 rpm) and transverse tool rate (30–50 mm/min). A remarkable improvement in the mechanical property has been monitored by adding electric current to the UAFSW. Similar optimistic results in the improvement of the property have been found by adding Ultrasonic energy to RHFSW. The comparative study in the mechanical property had been presented to explain the improvement in the weld efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]