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The present era sees the dominance of wind energy conversion systems as a leading technology in renewable energy. Various technologies have been devised to harness wind energy, with variable speed systems emerging as particularly advantageous. Consequently, these systems are designed to operate at specified speeds using power electronic interfaces, maximizing power extraction from the wind. The integration of Permanent Magnet Generators (PMGs), directly linked to the wind turbine lacking a gearbox, allows operation at minimum speeds. To stabilize the continuously fluctuating output voltage of the PMG, power electronic converters are extensively utilized in Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS), ensuring a consistent voltage and frequency output. The voltage gain of Traditional matrix converters (MCs) is limited to less than 0.866. In turn, the Z-source (ZS) and discontinuous QZSDMC, as well as ZS IMCs, topologies have achieved voltage gains exceeding 0.866. However, the former provides complicated commutation issues from DMC, while the latter incorporates a Z source network in the DC link, resulting in a non-all-silicon solution. A novel continuous QZSDMC and QZSIMC are suggested, wherein a qZS network incorporates the grid-side filtering function. This design eliminates the need for an additional input filter in the proposed system. Three newly introduced topologies of ZSDMC, QZSDMC and QZSIMC are thoroughly compared across various parameters including voltage gain, current and voltage ripples, inductor current and capacitor voltage stresses, filtering capabilities, input current, and output voltage Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), finally efficiency. The paper presents their control and modulation methods to achieve the desired performance levels. Experimental comparisons validate the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the potential of the proposed QZSDMC as a promising topology.

This article proposes a dual space vector PWM control technique for a three-phase to five-phase quasi Z-source direct matrix converter (QZSDMC). The proposed circuit consists of a quasi-impedance source network along with a five-phase traditional matrix converter. With the observation of bidirectional operating capability and the utilization of shoot-through duty ratio, the proposed converter can ensure both buck and boost operations. This converter overcomes the voltage transfer ratio restriction and poor voltage regulation of the traditional matrix converter. Also, this converter ensures continuous input current with an absence of input LC filter components. The proposed direct AC to AC power converter gives an alternate solution to the multiphase drive system instead of the traditional voltage source inverter. The developed dual space vector PWM control technique for three-phase to five-phase voltage conversion is derived from the basic space vector PWM approach. The proposed dual space vector PWM technique utilizes 90 active states and 3 zero vector states among 243 switching states. The QZSDMC has been analysed with a dual space vector PWM approach along with the distribution of shoot-through state in the zero vector. The proposed topology along with the control strategy has been simulated using MATLAB/Simulink environment.

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process weld for the 4 mm thickness of the ASTM A36 steel plate with varied heat input parameters of 0.608 kJ/mm, 0.900 kJ/mm and 1.466 kJ/mm, respectively. The effect of different heat inputs on microstructure, corrosion, and mechanical characteristics of developed weld joints are examined by three zones: heat-affected zone, welded zone, and base metal zone. The optical microscopic results of weld joints illustrate that fine grain structure leads to enhance welding strength. It is revealed that the increased heat input parameter on the weld joint shows a decreased tensile strength and hardness of the weld joint. The corrosion resistance of the weld joint is evaluated by Potentio-dynamic polarization. It facilitates that the corrosion rate of the weld joint is decreased with increasing heat input, which results indicate the best and worst corrosion micrograph of the polygonal ferrite and ferrite plus polygonal ferrite. However, the weld joint prepared with 0.900 kJ/mm heat input found maximum corrosion resistance.

Research and developments on preparing electrode material for lithium-ion batteries are burgeoning nowadays widely. In this study, we used the high energy ball-milling method to prepare pure and samarium-doped lithium manganese oxide (Li4Mn5O12) and investigated its structural, morphological, and electrical properties. The XRD spectrum for the produced materials confirmed the phase purity and crystallinity of the material. The fourier transform infrared spectrum was used to determine the different sorts of vibrations between molecules. The particle size with the presence of polyhedral-shaped morphology was certified by using SEM and TEM analysis. EDS mapping was used to assess the elemental composition and purity of the samples. Complex impedance spectroscopy analysis was used to investigate the temperature dependency of the materials’ electrical properties, and high conductivity (1.15 × 10−7 S cm−1) was reported for samarium-doped lithium manganese oxide at 100°C, and its dielectric relaxation behavior was examined.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with poor clinical outcomes; autopsy studies of TBI victims demonstrate significant oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) death post TBI; an observation, which may explain the lack of meaningful repair of injured axons. Whilst high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and its key receptors TLR2/4 are identified as key initiators of neuroinflammation post-TBI, they have been identified as attractive targets for development of novel therapeutic approaches to improve post-TBI clinical outcomes. In this report we establish unequivocal evidence that HMGB1 released in vitro impairs OPC response to mechanical injury; an effect that is pharmacologically reversible. We show that needle scratch injury hyper-acutely induced microglial HMGB1 nucleus-to-cytoplasm translocation and subsequent release into culture medium. Application of injury-conditioned media resulted in significant decreases in OPC number through anti-proliferative effects. This effect was reversed by co-treatment with the TLR2/4 receptor antagonist BoxA. Furthermore, whilst injury conditioned medium drove OPCs towards an activated reactive morphology, this was also abolished after BoxA co-treatment. We conclude that HMGB1, through TLR2/4 dependant mechanisms, may be detrimental to OPC proliferation following injury in vitro, negatively affecting the potential for restoring a mature oligodendrocyte population, and subsequent axonal remyelination. Further study is required to assess how HMGB1-TLR signalling influences OPC maturation and myelination capacity.

Cathodic electrodeposition (CED) was used to coat the cast magnesium alloy Mg-9Al-1Zn-xRE with aluminum powder and epoxy. Immersion and salt spray tests (ASTM B117) at room temperature for a total of 240 hours have been performed to assess the corrosion performances of AZ91D magnesium alloy. At each 24-hour interval, the samples were checked for any damage or deterioration of the coating surface morphology. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the phases, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS analysis confirmed the phase composition. The electrochemical results show that CED epoxy coatings have superior adhesiveness and corrosion resistance compared to powder-coated aluminum and cast magnesium. The salt spray and immersion test results also confirm that CED epoxy coating exhibits good corrosion resistance.

Lightweight materials are extremely needed for the manufacturing of industrial parts and are used in aerospace, automobile body shops, biomedical instruments, etc. Aluminium alloy is one of the light-weight materials, and it fulfills the industrial demands based on their natural strength/stiffness, enhanced temperature permanence, superior wear, and corrosion resistance. This experimental work considered aluminium alloy (AA8014) with reinforced particles of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) for preparing aluminium hybrid composites. Hybrid composites are prepared by a stir casting process involving different process parameters. L27 orthogonal array is used for optimizing the stir casting parameters with the assistance of the statistical Taguchi approach. Stir casting parameters are the percentage of reinforcement (4%, 6%, and 8%), stir speed (400 rpm, 500 rpm, and 600 rpm), stir time (20 min, 25 min, and 30 min), and molten temperature (700 oC, 800 oC, and 900 oC). Mechanical performance such as wear and microhardness of the hybrid composites is evaluated. Minimum wear and higher microhardness are encountered at a percentage of reinforcement = 6%, stir speed = 400 rpm, stir time = 30 min, and molten temperature = 900°C. In wear analysis, the percentage of reinforcement highly influences the wear properties (7.06% contribution). In microhardness analysis, molten temperature parameter is the extreme influencer (11.15% contribution).

In this research work, the analysis of mechanical and metallurgical properties of AZ91D + XCe + XLi cast magnesium (Mg) alloys in adding cerium (Ce) and lithium (Li), where X can be varied. The destructive tests viz. mechanical test, tensile strength test, and microhardness test are used to investigate mechanical properties of AZ91D alloy in adding various weight percentages viz. 0.5, 1, 2, of Ce and Li. This result of this present investigation reveals that there will be refinement of grain size on AZ91D alloy in adding Ce and Li. The formation of second phase Al2Ce that has superior melting point, changes the distribution of the phase Mg17Al12 from a continuous network morphological transition to a tiny and dispersive distribution along the grain boundary. Furthermore, adding Li to the AZ91D magnesium alloy lowers the corrosion current density in a 3.5 percent NaCl solution, improving the alloy’s corrosion resistance. The results show that the AZ91D magnesium alloy, which contains 0.5 percent Ce + 1.0wt.%, outperforms other magnesium alloys.

Nanocrystalline powders of 4 mol.% GdO1.5-4 mol.% SmO1.5 doped ZrO2 (4Gd4SmSZ) has been synthesized by co-precipitation process. Their phase transformation and crystalline growth behavior was investigated by Thermo gravimetric-Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) after calcinations at different temperatures. The XRD, Raman spectra and HRTEM results confirm the nature of tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO2). The prepared 4Gd4SmSZ powders, remains in the single metastable tetragonal phase over the whole calcination temperature ranging from 873 K to 1273 K for 2 h. The crystallite size varies from 11.98 nm to 18.90 nm with increase of temperature from 873 K to 1273 K. The activation energy of the prepared powders at low temperature is considerably lesser than that at a higher temperature. The annealed 4Gd4SmSZ powders had shown excellent phase stability at 1573 K for 100 h. Keywords: Zirconia, Coprecipitation, Rare earth oxide, Phase transformation, Tetragonal, Activation energy

Due to high vapour pressure at ambient conditions, exposed mercury contributes significant vapour concentration in working atmosphere. Ventilation is a conventional, cheap and very effective method to bring down the concentration of hazardous materials like mercury vapour below permissible limit. In this work a numerical model was developed to obtain intuitive understandings of the spatial distribution of mercury vapors from an exposed surface. The model was validated with experimental data generated using a precinct ventilation system with 8.14% absolute average error. a Validated model was used to study the effect of air flow rate (100–1200 LPM) and impact of architectural design of the containment for fixed exposed mercury surfaceon the final (diluted) mercury concentration. Comparative analysis shows that modification in structural design offers a reduced volume averaged exit mercury concentration and also the reduced peak mercury concentration(Cpeak) in the computational domain. Computational approach outlined in this work can be used to estimate spatial variation of mercury vapor concentration and to locate and quantify regions of high local concentration of mercury in various geometries.

The corrosion behaviour of Mg–6Al–1Zn + XCe (where X = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt% Ce) alloys, aged for 18 h at different temperatures of 180 °C, 200 °C, 220 °C and 240 °C, was studied in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The salt spray test was conducted in accordance with ASTM-B117 standard (fog test). The corrosion morphologies, corrosion rate and the composition of the corrosion products were investigated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results show the cerium addition and ageing treatment has significantly influenced the corrosion morphologies and the corrosion rate. In AZ61 alloy, the intermetallic β (Mg17Al12) phase acts as a corrosion barrier and upon ageing the Al4Ce phase precipitates along the α grain boundaries. The precipitation modifies the β phase to form more continuous network which subsequently reduces the corrosion attack in the chlorine environment. Salt spray test result shows the AZ61 alloy with 1.5 wt% Ce aged at 220 °C exhibits the better corrosion resistance.

The corrosion behavior of cast Mg–6Al–1Zn + XCa (Where X = 0.5,1.0,1.5 and 2.0 wt.% Ca) magnesium alloy, aged at different temperatures of 180 °C, 200 °C, 220 °C and 240 °C was investigated in accelerated corrosion test chamber according to ASTM-B117 Standard (salt spray test). The exposed alloys were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. The microstructural refinement due to calcium addition and ageing treatment results in the improvement of corrosion resistance of the experimental alloy. Corrosion rate decreases due to fine precipitation of the β (Mg17Al12) phase distributed along the α-grain boundaries during ageing. Intermetallic phases act as a barrier, which makes the alloy more resistant to corrosion. Results found that better corrosion resistance of the alloy was observed in Mg–6Al–1Zn + 1.5 wt.% Ca with 180 °C ageing temperature. The corrosion behavior of Mg–6Al–1Zn + XCa alloy exhibited by ASTM B117 salt spray testing and electrochemical polarization measurements showed similar trends concluding that the calcium addition and ageing temperature decreases the corrosion rate.

In the crystal of the title hydrated molecular salt, C8H12NO+·Cl−·H2O, the water molecule makes two O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, generating [010] zigzag chains of alternating water molecules and chloride ions. The cation is bonded to the chain by an O—H...O hydrogen bond and two weak C—H...Cl interactions. Weak aromatic π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separation = 3.5175 (15) Å] occurs between the chains.

The title salt, C8H12NO+·Br−·H2O, is isomorphous with the chloride analogue [Seethalakshmi et al. (2013). Acta Cryst. E69, o835–o836]. In the solid state, the cations, anions and water molecules are interlinked by a network of O—H...O, O—H...Br and C—H...Br interactions. The water molecule makes two O—H...Br hydrogen bonds, generating [010] zigzag chains of alternating water molecules and bromide anions. The cation is involved in two intermolecular C—H...Cl interactions in the chloride salt, whereas three intermolecular C—H...Br interactions are observed in the title bromide salt. This additional intermolecular C—H...Br interaction links the adjacent water and bromide zigzag chains via cationic molecules. In addition, weak π–π stacking interactions are observed between pyridinium rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.5664 (13) Å].

Background: Os naviculare in general alters the functional and anatomical balances of the longitudinal plantar arch. A substantial number of the posterior tibialistendon fibersinsert on the accessory ossicle instead of its insertion on tarsal and metatarsal bones resulting in unbalanced stress forces on the tendon. The presence of an accessory navicular type II or type III is a risk factorfor PTT tendinopathy and possible PTT tear. Methodology: In this single subject case study, the participant reported with the pre-diagnosed Os naviculare. On examination at initial presentation, the navicular tuberosity of the affected foot was prominent as compared tothe contralateral limb. The site was tender on palpation. Ankle range of motion was within normal ranges except ankle dorsiflexion was slightly compromised. Mild pain on active and resisted was noted. Functional tests like star excursion balance test, single leg standing could not be performed due to pain. Pre and post protocol assessment was graded and measured on Cumberland ankle instability tool. The tenderness was recorded using numeric pain rating scale. Star excursion balance test was performed one on 8 th day and post protocol. MWM was performed at distal tibiofibular joint on 6 days every week for 3 weeks alongside the conventional regime exercises and ultrasound was applied post treatment session. Result: Result of this study suggested that addition of MWM of distal tibiofibular joint in theconservative exercise protocol was effective in the reduction of pain, dysfunction and improveddynamic control. Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that the addition of MWM of distal tibiofibular joint alongside conservative management shows appreciable effect in improving dysfunction, dynamic stability and reducing pain in individual with congenital Os naviculare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydro energy is one of the world's most abundant and valuable renewable electricity sources. Hydropower is an important source since it is a clean, sustainable, and cost-effective source of energy. The most perilous characteristic that affects the performance of the hydraulic turbine and its allied parts is the cavitation phenomenon, which is clear as the increase of vapor bubbles in the liquid through any hydraulic turbine. Cavitation causes vibration, which is very harmful to turbine guide bearings and their supporting structures. Sometimes heavy vibration causes cracks in the civil structure of the powerhouse where the bulb turbines are installed. The performance of the bulb turbine and the stability of the powerhouse structure are studied with the effect of cavitation, vibration, and deformation of the turbine casing. Experimental measurements are used to determine at what force the shape of cavitation is very destructive and crucial when the local pressure is less than the vapor pressure of the flowing water, at which static pressure cavities begin to breed and ruin. This paper focuses on small hydropower stations with bulb turbine installations, which emphasized the performance improvement of these turbines by avoiding cavitation on the runner blades. Allowing some cavitation on these machines is also recommended, which is within repairable condition, and the cavitation pitting can be repaired during annual maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel organic nonlinear optical material 4-dimethylaminopyridinium l-tartrate dihydrate (DMAPT·2H2O) (C11H16N2O6·2H2O) was synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, FT-NMR, FT-IR, and FT-Raman spectral studies. Single crystals of average dimensions 15 × 2 × 2 mm3 were grown by the solvent evaporation method from an aqueous solution at pH 3.60 at constant temperature (30 °C). The crystal structure was solved by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method and belongs to the orthorhombic, noncentrosymmetric space group P212121 with unit cell dimensions of a = 7.2903(5) Å, b = 11.7980(7) Å, c = 16.2981(10) Å, and Z = 4. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) showed that the compound decomposes at 75 °C. The optical transmittance window was found to be 310−1100 nm. The Kurtz and Perry powder test illustrates the phase matching property of DMAPT·2H2O, and the powder second harmonic generation efficiency is 1.13 times greater than that of KDP. The laser induced surface damage threshold for the grown crystal was measured as 9.72 GW/cm2 with a Nd:YAG laser assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the use of sensors and supporting technologies has become indispensable in the assessment of tribological behavioral patterns of composites. Furthermore, the current investigation focused on the assessment of the tribological behavior of the Al–SiCp composite for high-temperature applications. Moreover, the Al–SiCp composite was fabricated by adapting the liquid metallurgy route with varying weight percentages of SiCp (x = 3, 6, and 9). Density, hardness, and high-temperature wear tests were performed to evaluate the hardness and tribological characteristics and properties of modern-day advanced composites. Moreover, the inclusion of SiCp enhanced the advanced composite materials hardness from 60 HV to 110 HV due to a high degree of refinement of the α-phase. Subsequently, the fabricated samples' wear behavior was assessed by varying the wear parameter viz. the applied load (20 N and 30 N) and sliding distance (250 m, 500 m, 750 m, and 1000 m) with the constant sliding velocity (0.45 m/s) for various temperatures (40 °C, 150 °C, and 250 °C). Moreover, the results revealed that the enhancement in the reinforcement percentage improves the wear resistance. Consequently, the wear rate decreased at 250 °C, possibly owing to the development of the oxide layers. Therefore, the occurrence of delamination and plastic deformation were evidenced in the wear-out surface, thereby depicting the prevalence of delamination and the abrasive wear-mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of climate-smart agriculture in high rainfall zone lies in understanding the rainfall trend and planning or modifying the cropping system for maximum yield. Moisture stress in critical crop growth stages is detrimental to the crop and drastically reduces the yield. Udhagamandalam region in Western Ghats is a high rainfall area and is largely cultivated by vegetable crops. Rainfall trend based crop planning would enhance the crop yield without water stress. A study was carried out at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Dhemaji, Assam focused on assessing the long-term seasonal and monthly rainfall trends of Udhagamandalam region, Tamil Nadu using non-parametric tests and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA). Daily rainfall of 62 years from 1960–2021 was analyzed with non-parametric tests, viz. Mann-Kendall and modified Mann-Kendall and ITA to find the seasonal rainfall characteristics. Mann- Kendall (3.055) and modified Mann-Kendall (3.055) tests showed a significantly increasing trend in the annual and seasonal monsoonal rainfall. ITA revealed either a significant positive or a negative trend in all the months except February, with the highest trend in June (2.625). In contrast to standard non-parametric tests, ITA detected a significant positive trend in all seasons and annual rainfall, except in cold winters where the trend is negative. The long-term trend analysis results suggest that the ITA is more precise for rainfall trend analysis than standard non-parametric tests and can be used to evaluate hidden variations of rainfall trends. Hence, ITA is recommended for analyzing rainfall trends for crop planning in high-rainfall regions. IT analysis of 62 years of rainfall data of Udhagamandalam suggested that vegetable crop planning can be done by farmers from August–November months as the rainfall trend during this period is assured as an increasing trend of rainfall pattern was observed.

The challenges facing tree orchard production in the coming years will be largely driven by changes in the climate affecting the sustainability of farming practices in specific geographical regions. Identifying key traits that enable tree crops to modify their growth to varying environmental conditions and taking advantage of new crop improvement opportunities and technologies will ensure the tree crop industry remains viable and profitable into the future. In this review article we 1) outline climate and sustainability challenges relevant to horticultural tree crop industries, 2) describe key tree crop traits targeted for improvement in agroecosystem productivity and resilience to environmental change, and 3) discuss existing and emerging genomic technologies that provide opportunities for industries to future proof the next generation of orchards.

Venetoclax and obinutuzumab are becoming frontline therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Unfortunately, drug resistance still occurs, and the combination could be immunosuppressive. Lysosomes have previously been identified as a target for obinutuzumab cytotoxicity in CLL cells, but the mechanism remains unclear. In addition, studies have shown that lysosomotropic agents can cause synergistic cell death in vitro when combined with the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, in primary CLL cells. This indicates that targeting lysosomes could be a treatment strategy for CLL. In this study, we have shown that obinutuzumab induces lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP) and cathepsin D release in CLL cells. Inhibition of cathepsins reduced obinutuzumab-induced cell death in CLL cells. We further determined that the lysosomotropic agent siramesine in combination with venetoclax increased cell death in primary CLL cells through an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cathepsin release. Siramesine treatment also induced synergistic cytotoxicity when combined with venetoclax. Microenvironmental factors IL4 and CD40L or incubation with HS-5 stromal cells failed to significantly protect CLL cells from siramesine- and venetoclax-induced apoptosis. We also found that siramesine treatment inhibited autophagy through reduced autolysosomes. Finally, the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine failed to further increase siramesine-induced cell death. Taken together, lysosome-targeting drugs could be an effective strategy in combination with venetoclax to overcome drug resistance in CLL.

Slope stabilization is a tedious process since various human activities being carried out in various parts of the world have led to land use changes that has indirectly affected slope stability. Permanent structures are being used for slope stabilization which are costly and cannot be adopted in a large scale. Slope stabilization by establishing grasses with the support of Jute Geotextiles is an alternative method for stabilization of slopes in hilly areas. Set of field studies were conducted at ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC), Regional Centre, Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu, India with the objective to study the effect of various Jute Geotextiles (JGT) on runoff, soil loss, survival and growth of tea. Results of three years field study on efficacy of various types of open weave JGT namely 500, 600 and 700 GSM on slope stabilization showed that 700 GSM open weave JGT proved to be more effective in reducing runoff, soil and nutrient loss and increased soil moisture retention capacity of the soil. However, height and growth of tea plants were better under 500 and 600 GSM JGT. Considering the scope of tea cultivation in sloppy areas, rehabilitation of land slide areas using tea plants, optimal moisture requirement and better growth of tea plants, it is suggested that 500 GSM open weave JGT will be more effective for slope stabilization with tea plants.

In the present study, we investigated the fumigant potential of five edible essential oils (EOs) against Sitophilus oryzae and their phytochemical residues in treated grains. Among the tested EOs, peppermint oil proved significantly effective (P ≤ 0.05) on S.oryzae at 400 μl/L air concentration, inducing 83 and 100% mortalities in with-food and without-food conditions respectively over 72 h exposure. In addition, it was also observed that the binary mixtures of peppermint + lemon oil (1:1 ratio) produced an equivalent effect to that of peppermint oil alone treatments. The phytochemical residue analysis by GC-MS revealed the presence of six compounds upon 72 h exposure to EOs. Further, the analysis of physico-chemical properties of the compounds indicated a positive correlation between polar surface area (PSA) and its residual nature. The residue levels of eugenol were significantly elevated corresponding to its high PSA value (29) in clove and cinnamon oils. On the other hand, the compounds with zero PSA value imparted very less or no (D-Limonene, caryophyllene, pinene and terpinolene) residues in treated grains. With respect to the most active peppermint oil, L-menthone, menthyl acetate and eucalyptol residues were at 67, 41 and 23% levels respectively. The outcome of the present study indicate the peppermint oil as a potent fumigant against S. oryzae, and although the residues of phytochemicals in treated grains is higher; they belong to the generally recognised as safe (GRAS) status leaving no harmful effect.

Increasing yield is a primary goal of mass insect rearing for food and feed, and diet impacts insect life-history traits that affect yield, such as survival, development time and body size. However, experiments rarely test the nutritional requirements of insects from hatch to adulthood, and so little is known about how the full developmental macronutrient intake impacts the survival, growth and adult body size of mass-reared insects. Here, we applied the nutritional geometry framework and reared individual tropical house crickets ( Gryllodes sigillatus ) from hatch to adulthood on a wide range of protein : carbohydrate diets. We measured weekly food consumption, survival, development time to adulthood and adult body size and mass, and calculated a yield metric to extrapolate our individual-level results and predict how diet influences yield at the mass-rearing level. Yield was maximized on a 3 P : 1 C diet, as crickets fed this diet were most likely to develop into adults and grew maximum mass and body size. When provided with a choice between diets, crickets selected a relatively balanced 1.05 P : 1 C diet throughout development, but males consumed 17% more protein than females. Our results represent a crucial first step towards determining the optimal standard feed formulation required to maximize cricket farming yield., Competing Interests: M.J.M., E.R.M., H.A.M., and S.M.B. have a research partnership with Entomo Farms, a producer of insects as food and feed., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Objective: Benign spinal intradural tumors are rare entities and there have been relatively few case series describing the epidemiology and characteristics of these tumors. Here, we evaluate the presentation, demographics, pathology and outcomes associated with the surgical management of spinal meningioma in our unit over a 6-year period., Results: A total of 68 cases presented to the operating surgeon during a 6-year period. Of these, over 80% ( n  = 55) were in females. Seventy-nine percent of the meningiomas were observed in the thoracic region ( n  = 54). Weakness and gait disturbance were the most common presenting complaints. Surgery significantly improved both motor outcome ( p  < 0.001) and health related qualities of life (SF36, p  < 0.01).Seventeen percent of spinal meningioma cases ( n  = 12) had a preceding cancer diagnosis. Of these 75% ( n  = 9/12) were attributable to breast cancer. Overall, breast cancer preceded a diagnosis of a spinal meningioma in 16.4% of female cases (9/55). This is higher than expected number of breast cancer based on UK population and those reported in literature for breast cancer and intracranial meningioma., Conclusion: Spinal meningioma is disproportionately over-represented in females. Patients present with neurological deficits and surgery improved both neurology and patient reported quality of life. Relative to the known UK prevalence of breast cancer, there is a significantly higher than expected association between spinal meningioma and a preceding history of breast cancer.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia worldwide. Aducanumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting amyloid-beta, became the first disease-modifying treatment for mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild AD dementia and suggested that removing amyloid from the brain, especially in early AD, might make a difference in slowing cognitive decline., Areas Covered: In this review, the authors outline aducanumab's clinical efficacy as shown through key clinical trials and discuss its approval by the Food and Drug Administration under the accelerated pathway, which sparked both hope and controversy. We also discuss the importance of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities as a major side effect of aducanumab and all subsequent monoclonal antibodies targeting amyloid-beta., Expert Opinion: Aducanumab, became the first monoclonal antibody that provided at least partial support for the amyloid hypothesis by demonstrating slowed cognitive decline by removing amyloid from the brain, although full FDA approval now seems unlikely due to discontinuation of its development. Its introduction raised awareness of ARIA, highlighted the significant costs and need for informed consent in treatment, and emphasized the importance of long-term, diverse, and combination therapy data for future AD treatments targeting amyloid and tau.

Background: Lesion resolution is often observed in children with myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), and asymptomatic lesions are less commonly reported in MOGAD than in multiple sclerosis (MS)., Objective: We aimed to evaluate brain MRI changes over time in paediatric MOGAD., Methods: Retrospective study in eight UK paediatric neuroscience centres. Acute brain MRI and available follow-up MRIs were reviewed. Predictors for lesion dynamic were evaluated using multivariable regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to predict risk of relapse, disability and MOG-Ab status., Results: 200 children were included (MOGAD 97; MS 103). At first MRI post attack, new symptomatic and asymptomatic lesions were seen more often in MS versus MOGAD (52/103 vs 28/97; p=0.002 and 37/103 vs 11/97; p<0.001); 83% of patients with MOGAD showed at least one lesion's resolution at first follow-up scan, and 23% had normal MRI. Only 1 patient with MS had single lesion resolution; none had normal MRI. Disappearing lesions in MOGAD were seen in 40% after the second attack, 21% after third attack and none after the fourth attack.New lesions at first follow-up scan were associated with increased likelihood of relapse (p=0.02) and persistent MOG-Ab serostatus (p=0.0016) compared with those with no new lesions. Plasma exchange was associated with increased likelihood of lesion resolution (p=0.01). Longer time from symptom onset to steroids was associated with increased likelihood of new lesions; 50% increase at 20 days (p=0.01)., Conclusions: These striking differences in lesion dynamics between MOGAD and MS suggest greater potential to repair. Early treatment with steroids and plasma exchange is associated with reduced likelihood of new lesions., Competing Interests: Competing interests: OA-m receives funding from the Association British Neurologists, MS Society and the Berkeley Foundation’s AW Pidgley Memorial Trust. RF has received grant funding from the NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme. CH has received educational and travel grants from Merck Serono and Bayer and Biogen. ML receives research grants from Action Medical Research, the DES society, GOSH charity, National Institute for Health Research, MS Society, and SPARKS charity; receives research support grants from the London Clinical Research Network and Evelina Appeal; has received consultation fees from CSL Behring, Novartis and Octapharma; received travel grants from Merck Serono. OC is a member of independent DSMB for Novartis, gave a teaching talk on McDonald criteria in a Merck local symposium, and contributed to an Advisory Board for Biogen; she is Deputy Editor of Neurology, for which she receives an honorarium., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: Patients with aggressive thyroid cancer are frequently failed by the central therapy of ablative radioiodide (RAI) uptake, due to reduced plasma membrane (PM) localization of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). We aimed to understand how NIS is endocytosed away from the PM of human thyroid cancer cells, and whether this was druggable in vivo., Experimental Design: Informed by analysis of endocytic gene expression in patients with aggressive thyroid cancer, we used mutagenesis, NanoBiT interaction assays, cell surface biotinylation assays, RAI uptake, and NanoBRET to understand the mechanisms of NIS endocytosis in transformed cell lines and patient-derived human primary thyroid cells. Systemic drug responses were monitored via 99mTc pertechnetate gamma counting and gene expression in BALB/c mice., Results: We identified an acidic dipeptide within the NIS C-terminus that mediates binding to the σ2 subunit of the Adaptor Protein 2 (AP2) heterotetramer. We discovered that the FDA-approved drug chloroquine (CQ) modulates NIS accumulation at the PM in a functional manner that is AP2 dependent. In vivo, CQ treatment of BALB/c mice significantly enhanced thyroidal uptake of 99mTc pertechnetate in combination with the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor vorinostat/SAHA, accompanied by increased thyroidal NIS mRNA. Bioinformatic analyses validated the clinical relevance of AP2 genes with disease-free survival in RAI-treated DTC, enabling construction of an AP2 gene-related risk score classifier for predicting recurrence., Conclusions: NIS internalization is specifically druggable in vivo. Our data, therefore, provide new translatable potential for improving RAI therapy using FDA-approved drugs in patients with aggressive thyroid cancer. See related commentary by Lechner and Brent, p. 1220., (©2023 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Utilizing semiconductors for photocatalytic processes in water bodies as an approach to environmental remediation has gained considerable attention. Theoretical band position calculations revealed a type-II step-scheme charge flow mechanism for ZnCr 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (ZCr/gCN), emphasizing effective heterojunction formation due to synergies between the materials. A composite of agglomerated nanoparticle ZnCr 2 O 4 (Zinc chromium oxide - ZCr)/g-C 3 N 4 (graphitic carbon nitride - gCN) nanosheets was synthesized using the ultrasonication and leveraging the heterojunction to enhance degradation efficiency and active sites participation. The synthesized sample was characterized by XRD, XPS, FTIR, BET, HRSEM, EDX, HRTEM, EIS PL, and UV-visible spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the successful formation of pure ZnCr 2 O 4 , g-C 3 N 4 (gCN), and their composite without any secondary phases. Optical investigations demonstrated a red shift (444-470 nm) in UV-visible spectra as ZnCr 2 O 4 content increased. Morphological assessment via HRSEM unveiled agglomerated nanoparticle and nanosheet structures. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of gCN with the tri-s-triazine breathing mode at 807 cm -1 , and the identification of octahedral Zn-O (598.11 cm -1 ) and tetrahedral Cr-O (447.01 cm -1 ) metal bonds within the spinel structure of ZnCr 2 O 4 . A Surface area of 134.162 m 2 /g was noticed with a microporous structure of pore radius 1.484 nm. Notably, the 15% ZCr/gCN composite achieved a remarkable 93.94 % (Rhodamine B-RhB) and 74.36 % (Ciprofloxacin - CIP) within 100 and 120 min, surpassing the performance of pure gCN. Improved degradation was attributed to higher charge separation (photo-excited electrons and holes), reducing charge recombination, as supported by photoluminescence and photoelectrochemical analyses. The presence of active species like superoxide during degradation was confirmed through a scavenger test. The stability analysis confirms the sample's stable nature (without secondary phase formation) after degradation. This work underscores the potential of ZnCr 2 O 4 based metal-free compounds intended for effective environmental remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF) has become increasingly popular given its less invasive nature. This study aims to assess radiological obliteration rates after surgery and EVT for SDAVF in a major tertiary referral centre serving a population of 2.2 million., Method: A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with SDAVF between February 2010 and February 2018 was undertaken, identifying baseline demographics, treatment modality and the final radiological outcome (i.e., persistence of the SDAVF). Patients were identified from the departmental neurovascular database, clinical notes and imaging reports., Results: Twenty patients were identified with an angiographically confirmed SDAVF. Two (10%) were managed conservatively. Nine patients (45%) underwent EVT. Obliteration was achieved in one patient (11%) after a single procedure, while one patient required two sessions. Further surgery was required in five patients (56%) to achieve complete obliteration. Nine patients (45%) underwent surgical disconnection as first treatment. Obliteration was radiologically confirmed in eight patients (89%). No radiological (MRI or angiographic) follow-up data was available for two patients (one from each group) and these were excluded from analysis. In this study, the obliteration rate of SDAVF after surgery was superior compared to EVT (p <0.01)., Conclusion: Complete obliteration and recurrence rates after single treatment with EVT were inferior compared to surgical intervention. EVT may be better suited for specific presentations of SDAVF either in isolation or as an adjunct in multi-modality treatment. A national registry of outcomes may aid ongoing refinement of patient selection for EVT.

The contact efficacy of two amorphous silica powders 1 and 2 procured from Imery's chemicals, Lompoc, CA, USA, were evaluated against the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). The efficacy of the silica two powders was evaluated by exposing 10 adults of T. castaneum to twelve different concentrations of silica powder 1 and 2 for 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Mortality assessments were made after 14 d, and data on adult progeny production were recorded at 42 d. Complete mortality of T. castaneum was observed when adults were exposed for 36 h to concentrations of 1.5 to 5 g/m 2 of silica powder 1. Conversely, in tests with silica powder 2, complete mortality was only achieved when adults were exposed for 48 h to concentrations ranging from 0.75 to 5 g/m 2 . Silica powder 1 exhibited greater efficacy in inhibiting adult progeny production in T. castaneum , particularly at a concentration of 2.0 g/m 2 after 24 h exposure. Overall, silica powder 1 displayed superior performance in terms of adult mortality and the suppression of T. castaneum adult progeny production. This advantage can be attributed to the smaller particle size of silica powder 1 when compared to silica powder 2.

Introduction: Hospital discharge is a highly critical and complex process that is prone to medical errors, poor communication, and ineffective synchronization of transitional teams. Improving safety during postacute care transitions has become a national focus. Simulation-based training is an underutilized method of instruction for medical resident transitions of care education., Methods: As an integral part of a transitions curriculum, 36 PGY 1 residents from internal medicine and transitional year residency programs underwent a discharge simulation utilizing a trained simulated participant (SP) and a lay caregiver. The objective of the training was to implement a simulation-based education intervention to improve transition practices and discharge communication in graduate medical education. A faculty observer used a case-specific discharge rubric to standardize feedback to the resident and observed the resident navigate the electronic medical record (EMR) for discharge orders. Pretest and posttest surveys assessing resident attitudes and confidence regarding specific areas of the discharge process were distributed to all participating residents for completion., Results: Thirty-six internal medicine and transitional year residents (100%) completed an observed discharge simulation with an SP and a separate encounter with the EMR discharge navigator. All 36 residents (100%) completed the pretest survey, and 23 (63%) completed the postsurvey evaluation. Postsurvey results showed residents agreed (92%, p < .05) that the simulation increased their confidence in safely discharging a patient., Discussion: Simulation encounters are an effective adjunct to postacute care transition education., (© 2023 Sizemore et al.)

The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding process weld for the 4 mm thickness of the ASTM A36 steel plate with varied heat input parameters of 0.608 kJ/mm, 0.900 kJ/mm and 1.466 kJ/mm, respectively. The effect of different heat inputs on microstructure, corrosion, and mechanical characteristics of developed weld joints are examined by three zones: heat-affected zone, welded zone, and base metal zone. The optical microscopic results of weld joints illustrate that fine grain structure leads to enhance welding strength. It is revealed that the increased heat input parameter on the weld joint shows a decreased tensile strength and hardness of the weld joint. The corrosion resistance of the weld joint is evaluated by Potentio-dynamic polarization. It facilitates that the corrosion rate of the weld joint is decreased with increasing heat input, which results indicate the best and worst corrosion micrograph of the polygonal ferrite and ferrite plus polygonal ferrite. However, the weld joint prepared with 0.900 kJ/mm heat input found maximum corrosion resistance., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)